be supplied the two churches until April, 1831, — a
period of four years and a half, — when he resigned
and removed to Welch Tract, Del.
June 3, 1827, Ja'.ne-s B. Bowen, by request of the
CITY OF LAM BKKT VILLI.-:.
L'77
church, stated his views n itb reference to the preach-
ing of the gospel, together with his reasons for con-
cluding thai he was called to the work. It was there-
upon resolved thai opportunity be given him on the
nexl Wednesday evening to exercise his gifts. At a
subsequent meeting it was
" Itetolvcd, That meetings bo hold overy othei Tuesday for the purpose
<<r giving liiin on opportunity t.i speak before them."
Again (Oct. 4, 1827), it is recorded that,
i ' in u consideration of the weakness of our little church, 11 is agreed
to giro Brothel Bowel] tho liberty ot oxe ig hi within the
bounds of the neighboring chun lies for four monUis, that we may have
the opinion <>t '>m brethroo of other churches concerning bis call to the
ministry."
Jan. 10, 1828, the church gave Mr. Bowen a general
licensi in preach. On the 22d of October of tin- next
year he was ordained to the work of the ministry,
Elders Trott, Boggs, Bateman, and Matthews officiat-
ing. In April/1830, he was dismissed by letter for
the purpose of becoming pastor of a church in Mont-
gomery Co., Pa.
The rli n i-rl i nt LambertvUle, with six other churches,
agreed to withdraw from the New Jersej Association
mi I let. 2, I -J-. l'"i I In- purpn.-e ill' liiriiiiiiL' tin' < Vntral
New Jersey Association, which Association was duly
organized in the Bame nth, al Bightatown.
•Ill July il, IS:! I , lieell.se In ] ■1. -: I . - 1 1 till' gospel W a-
given i" Benjamin Braker, late of England.
September 10th of the same Mar i >:i -\ i < I I!. Stout,
wlio had been baptized into the fellowship of the
church on April 19, 1829, was granted permission to
preacb the gospel for a season in the b id
neighboring churches, and on Oct. 18, 1881, a full
license was given him. On March 31sl followin b
wa> chosen a suppl) for one j ear, and on the 10th of
the i n â– \ i May In- was ordained, Elders John Boggs,
Joseph Matthews, James B. Bowen, and Charles
Bartolette officiating.
From November, L831, until April, 1832, wheD Mr.
Stout took charge, the pulpil was supplied bj
Joseph Wright, who hail previously been pastor of
the First Baptist Church of Butternuts, Otsei
N. Y. The previous pastor of the Lambertville
Church In-Ill decidedly the views of tl â– known as
"Old-School Baptists," and the church was so leav-
ened with his teaching thai Mr. \\ right's advocacy of
Sundaj -schools, foreign missions, and ministerial edu-
cation were distasteful to many, ami in consequence
he withdrew. June 5, 1883, Mr. Stout, who bad sup-
plied the pulpil since April 1st of the previous year,
was called as pastor for one year, and on Jan. 1, 1834,
a call was made to him to become pastor without
limit of time, lie served the church for over five
for six n tli- in connection with the Baptist
t'lmreli of .New Britain, Pa., after that for three years
in connection with the Baptist Church of Harborton.
I'lie remainder of his pastorate was exclusively con-
fined to the l.amli, ri\ ill, • Ihurch. lie resigned April
16, 1887, to become pastor of the Baptist Church at
Middletown, N. J., where he continued in the active
duties of the ministry until In- death, in I 376.
When Mr. Stout became the pastor of the church
here the membership numbered only 19; when he
I hi- charge it had increased to 86. The
largest number received in any one year during his
ministry was 36 ; the whole number baptized was 45.
In 1835 the church edifice was enlarged. The work
was commenced in July and finished in October.
• in Oct. I. 1830, J. S. Eisenbrey was licensed to
preach the gospel. Oct. 25, 1837, a call was presented
to Klder I-'.. Saxton, which he declined. On Dei
her :.'<! of the Bame year a call was extended to Mr.
Daniel Kelsey, of Cohansey, N. J., which he accepted,
entering upon his duties early in the following Mar.
11.- was ordained Feb. 19, 1838, Elders D. B. Stout
and Joseph Wright officiating, lie served the church
about six months, when he resigned.
Elder John Segur was called to be pastor Nov. 10,
I838,and about the middle of the next month entered
upon his duties. \i the commencement of his pas-
torate a powerful religious interest was awakened
under the preaching of Elder Ketchum, an evangel-
ist, and, as the result of it, 44 persons were received
into the membership. Mr. Segur closed bis pasto-
rate April I, 1840, having served for a period of one
year and lour months.
In May, 1840, the Bev. George Young, of Burling-
ton, accepted a call, and remained until March, Isli,
when he resigned to take charge of the Baptist
i ihurch in Pati i son, N. J. In I lecember of I hi
M-ar the Bev. J. B. Walter supplied the pulpit for
three months. Hi- engagemi al «as subsequently >x-
tended, ami he remained one \ ear ami four months.
March I. 1843, letter- of dismission wen- _
I,, 20 members lor the purpose of constitute
. Baptist Church, and on the 3d of April Mr.
Walter and two other members wen- dismissed to the
same ehiireli. of whieh Mr. Walter became pa-tor.
The Bev. George Young was again called to the
pastorate ami. accepting tin- call, continued in charge
for uini months ami a hall', giving hall'. it' his time to
i ili at Sand} Ridge.
William I'.. Shrope wa- invited in • Ictober, 1844, to
supply the church until spring. In tin- following June
he was ordained ; in Januarj . 18 16, he became pastor.
A remarkable religious interest, under the preaching
oi' Elder Ferguson, an evangelist, greatly Btirred the
church, adding to its numbers ami it- strength, about
40 being received into ii- membership.
The Bev. John Davis, of Hamburg, N.J.. was
'called, May 6, l s 19, to tin- pastorate, M r. Shrope hav-
signed hi- charge tin- previous December.
Mr. Davis remained until Aug. 11. I860, when he
resigned to become agent ot' the American ami
i . Society .
• let. 26, 1851, Bev. A. Armstrong t""k pastoral
charge of tin- church, n hich at this time wa- in a low-
state, hut soon began to revive. In Is.',:: a neat ami
278
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
substantial parsonage was built, and enlarged about
three years later. The church edifice was also en-
larged and remodeled. The work was commenced in
August, 1853, and the building was rededicated March
30, 1854.
Mr. Armstrong resigned his charge Nov. 30, 1860,
having served nine years and baptized 110 persons.
The Rev. Henry A. Cordo, of New Brunswick,
succeeded him, May 1, 1861, and continued in charge
until October 1, 1864, when he accepted a call to the
First Baptist Church of Meriden, Conn.
In 1864 the church withdrew from the Central New
Jersey Association to aid in forming the Trenton
Association, but in 1870 returned to her old home in
the Central Association.
Rev. Franklin Johnson, formerly of Bay City,
Mich., became pastor Dec. 1, 1864, and served the
church until June, 1866, when he removed to Passaic,
N. J., to take Charge of the Baptist church there. It
is to him the credit is due of inciting and encourag-
ing the people to undertake the erection of the pres-
ent edifice. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles E.
Young (son of a former pastor), who continued in
charge from September, 1866, until January 10, 1869,
when, owing to failing health, he resigned his pastor-
ate. During his brief ministry here there was a large
ingathering to the membership of the church. It
was also while he was pastor that the corner-stone of
the present house of worship was laid, Sept. 9, 1868.
The building is of the Romanesque order, after de-
signs of David Gendell, Esq., of Philadelphia, and
the material is freestone, the front being of cut
stone, including the tower, which is 85 feet high.
The dimensions of the building are: width, 53J feet,
length, 101 feet, exclusive of the tower. The lecture-
room is under the main audience-room, but raised
above the level of the street, and will comfortably
seat 400 persons. In the rear are rooms for church-
parlor, infant-school, and library.
In 1869 the corporate name of the church was
changed, by act of Legislature, from " Lambertville
Baptist Church" to " The First Baptist Church of
Lambertville." The lecture-room was dedicated
March 17, 1870.
Rev. A. D. Willifer was called to the pastoral
charge Sept. 27, 1869, and came on November 7th.
He continued pastor until February, 1874.
Rev. Charles H. Thomas, the next pastor, com-
menced his labors Nov. 16, 1874, but in December,
1879, removed to Philadelphia, having accepted a
call in that city. He was succeeded by the present
pastor, the Rev. W. M. Mick.
The whole number received into the membership of
the church from the date of its organization to Jan.
1, 1881, is as follows: By baptism, 695; by certifi-
cate, 220 ; experience, 31 ; restoration, 23. Dismissed
by letter, 299 ; excluded, 171 ; deceased, 93. Present
membership, 396.
The names of those who have served as deacons
are as follows : William Garrison, Lemuel Howell,
William Drake, Isaac Fergus, James Ashmore, John
R. Swallow, Thomas S. Murray, Charles McDonald,
George H. Larison, William O. Talcott, John H.
Roberts, Philip Marshall, Levi Stout, Theodore
Housel, Levi Clawson, Alexander Grant, Martin L.
Reeve, Lewis S. Paxson, George Pierson, Henry
Stout, Thomas C. Horn, William G. Moore, John
Van Horn.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.*
It is impossible to fix the date when Methodist
itinerants first preached the gospel in this place. The
tradition is that the itinerant who preached in New
Hope frequently served here, long before any society
was formed.
In the early part of the present century a Quarterly
Meeting was held in Hunterdon County, not far from
Lambertville. In the spring of 1837 the Rev. Mr.
Heavender and the Rev. James M. Tuttle were ap-
pointed to labor in the Flemington Circuit. They
made a bi-weekly appointment for preaching at the
house of Mrs. Gerhart, on Coryell Street, — the house
now occupied by William Lyman, Esq., opposite Ly-
ceum Hall (the old Methodist church).
Soon after this appointment was made a class was
formed, which consisted of the following persons :
Mrs. Gerhart, Mrs. Bateman, Newton Bateman, John
Silvers, and James Taylor. There were a few others,
whose names have not been obtained. The ministers
who commenced this work here in 1837 were returned
to the circuit the following year.
Permission was granted to preach in the room where
a day-school was kept by Robert M. Foust. This was
in the frame building, now turned into a dwelling, next
to the residence of Mr. Charles Barber, on the west
side of Union Street, between York and Coryell
Streets. The attendance on the preaching increased,
and soon the necessity for erecting a house of worship
became apparent.
John Silvers was appointed the first class-leader in
the infant church ; but, as he lived at Mount Airy,
the duty of leading generally devolved on Newton
Bateman, his assistant.
In 1839 the society in Lambertville was attached to
that of Pennington. The circuit was known in Con-
ference as the Pennington and Rock Ridge mission.
Isaac Winner and Thomas Henry were the ministers.
Mr. Henry took an active part in erecting the church
building, which was completed in 1839, and is now
known as Lyceum Hall. The trustees were Jesse
Matthews, of Amwell ; Wilson Bray, of Kingwood ;
John Silvers, of Mount Airy; Alexander Coryell, of
Lambertville; and Thomas Henry, the minister in
charge. The building committee consisted of Alex-
ander Coryell and Thomas Henry. The church was
* For the particulars of the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church
of Lambertville wo are indebted to a series of articles oil that subject pub-
lished in tho Lambettville Beacon.
('LTV OF LA.MliKKTVILLK.
dedicated i" 1 K4' i by tin- Rev. Charles Pitman and
D. W. Bartine.
In tin' spring of 1840 the Rev. J. Lewis was ap-
pointed to Labor in the Pennington charge. TheCon-
ference gave him a nominal supervision of the church
:it Lambertville, with the understanding that a young
man by the nun f Noah Edwards should be sent
to minister to the people. Mr. Edwards was quite
successful in his efforts to promote the welfare of the
church.
About this time Jeremiah Hod', who had recently
ciime into the neighborhood, became identified with
the church. This estimable and somewhat eccentric
man had long been a .Methodist, and had done very
earnest and efficient work for his denomination in
other parts of the Slate, lie was universally known
as ''bather Hull'," and his quaint and pointed say-
ings were often repeated by his acquaintances and
friends.
In lsii the Lambertville charge was detached from
that of Pennington, and the Rev. William Rogers was
appointed pastor. lie was a devout and earnest man,
but, on account of feeble health, could perform bul
little work.
In 1842 the church was placed on the Flcmiuutou
circuit, and the Revs. J. W. McDougal and T. T.
Oampfield were appointed the preachers. There was
great religious interest in all parts of the circuit, and
the I bert vi lie Church shared largely in' the results.
In 1843 the Revs. Edward and Joseph F. Canfield
were appointed lo labor on the l-'h miic'toii Circuit,
which -till included Lambert ville. I luring ibis year
8 church was built in West Amwell, which is now-
known as the " Rock church."
< In the old records of that SOCiet] are the following
familiar names: Jesse Matthews, a local preacher and
steward; Nelson Abb. ,u, an exhortcr ; John I'dy,
Joseph Abbott, ami John Q. Taylor, Leaders; Walter
llarbourt and Manville Dayton, members, and many
other- whom space will noi permit us to mention.
Ill the list is the name of Levi Larue, who i- lo.w a
member of the New Jersey Conference. The Rock
church remained in connection with the Lambert-
ville Church until L858, when ii was detached, and,
with the church at New Market, formed into an inde-
pendent charge.
Lambertville was made a separate charge in L844,
and the Ke\ . Mr. Putnam was appointed pastor. His
ministry here was quite successful, lie was suc-
ceeded, in L846, bj the Rev. A. E. Ballard, who was
a single man, and consequently required but a small
support. But, small as his salar; was, the church was
so weak in number- and resources that it wa-\er\
difficult to raise it. Under bis ministry there wa- a
large aeee— ion to the church, ami a greater stimulus
iven to christian activity among it- members
than ever before.
The Rev. Thomas T. Campfield was again sent to
this charge in L846, and his labors were not without
good results. He continued here but one year, as
most of his predecc-sors had, and was followed, in
1*17. by the Rev. E. H. Stokes, who remained two
year-, " greatly beloved by all the people and emi-
nently successful as a minister of the gospel."
" In L849 the Rev. E. Hance was appointed pastor.
Through his exertions, aided by the presiding elder,
the Rev. John K. Shaw, the church debt was greatly
reduced. For many year- the feeble society staggered
under a heavy debt, which at one time brought the
church mar the verge of ruin. Lor the reduction
of this debt the society i- greatly indebted to Mr.
I lane,-."
lb- was succeeded, in 1851, by the Rev. A. M.
Palmer. Through Mr. Palmer's efforts the parsonage
was built. "His pastorate was also blessed with an
. \t. n-ive revival of religion in the Rock Church.
"In l>Ci.'i the Rev. Enoch Green was appointed
pastor. Some valuable members were added to the
church under his mini-try. In this year the Rev.
Benjamin L. Thomas, a local preacher and a member
of the Lambertville Church, joined the Conference.
Hi- health, however, failed, and he located the Same
year.
"In 1 *.">."> the Rev. S. E. Post became pastor."
During his ministry the church edifice was remod-
eled and many were added to the membership.
In 185" the Rev. Joseph Ashbrook was appointed
pastor. Some valuable member- were added to the
church under his ministry. The Rev. John Fort suc-
ceeded him, in L859, and under his charge the church
continued to flourish.
In 18lil the Rev. John Stephenson was appointed
to labor here. Be had been in the Wesleyan ministry
in England, and abont 1865 returned to that country,
where he is now laboring as a clergyman in the Es-
tablished Church. "His preaching was appreciated
by the church here, and blessed of < Lod in the salva-
tion of -oiils. During this year i IStil | many of the
church-members entered the sen ice of their country :
-one- fell on the field of battle, other- suffered in rebel
prisons, and some returned to their homos after three
or four years of faithful service."
In 1868 the Rev. Ti as Banlon, D.D., assumed
pastoral charge, and in the following winter, during
the special services, a general and widespread interest
was awakened in the church, resulting in a large ad-
dition to the membership,
The next pastor was the Rev. J. B. Graw, D.D..
who came here in the Spring of L866. In June of
that year the congregation resolved to build a mw
bouse of worship. On August 1-t the work was com-
menced, and in the summer of 1866 the church was
dedicated. The dedication sermon was preached by
the Rex . Bishop Simpson,
The new edifice i- well proportioned and tastefully
ami substantially built It is 56 feet in width by s| >
in length, exclusive of tower. Much credit is due to
.. Drs. Banlon and Graw for the erection of
280
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
this building, — to the one for his agency in securing
an eligible site, and to the other for urging the people
on to the inception and completion of the work
which they had had in view.
Dr. Graw was succeeded in the pastoral charge by
the Rev. Henry M. Brown, who remained two years.
The next was the Rev. William Walton, who was
here three years. The Rev. John S. Heisler suc-
ceeded Mr. Walton in the spring of 1873, but had
charge of the church only one year. During that
year, however, there were many members added. The
Rev. Charles R. Hartranft was the next in succession,
and the first to occupy the tasteful parsonage which
had been built during the previous year. The Rev.
Richard A. Chalker was sent here by Conference the
next year (1875), and was returned for the two fol-
lowing years. The present pastor, the Rev. Henry
G. Williams, came in March, 1878, and was returned
by Conference for the two following years. His
pastoral term will expire in March, 1881.
The present officers of the church are :
Trustees, William Johnson, John J. German, Alexander Silvers, Wil-
liam F. Herr, Rufus Eeed, M.D., George K. Mellick, Wesley Case.
Stewards, John B. Conine, Austin Green, Johnson J. Lair, Thomas E.
Louden, William H. Wilmot, Charles W. Bunn, John H. Kennedy,
George M. Shamalia. Bundai/schriul Xujh>rhilai<laU, Kufus Reed, M.D.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The corner-stone of the Roman Catholic church
was laid in the summer of 1842. After the ceremony
was finished the large congregation present was ad-
dressed by the Very Rev. Dr. Moriarty, at that time
pastor of the church of St. Augustine, Philadelphia.
The service of the church had been at intervals ad-
ministered here at the houses of members of that
denomination before there was any church edifice
built.
Among the first to officiate here was the Rev. Daniel
McGorian. He was pastor at that time, if we mistake
not, of St. John's Church, Trenton.
The Rev. John Charles Gilligan afterwards offici-
ated here, and it was under his ministry that the
church was built. He was succeeded by the Rev.
John P. Makin, who subsequently went to Trenton,
where he labored for so many years, much beloved by
his people and respected by the community generally.
If we are correctly informed, the next incumbent
of the priesthood was the Rev. Mr. Hannegan, dur-
ing whose ministry the parsonage was built. Next to
him came a French priest, the Rev. Mr. Jego, who
odiciiitcd here from early in 1854 until 1861.
lie was succeeded by the Rev. James Carney, who
was an incumbent of the pastoral office for two years,
when he sickened and died, deeply lamented by the
people of hi* parish. His immediate successor, the
Rev. James Gallon, remained only one year. For
the next three years — namely, from 1864 to 1867 — the
pastoral functions were discharged by the Rev. James
O'Keefe. He was followed by the Rev. Hugh Mur-
phy, who remained until 1873, when the Rev. P. F.
Connolly took charge. The latter, after serving this
church three years, removed to Bordentown. His
successor was the Rev. M. J. Connolly, who came
early in the spring of 1876, but died in January,
1878.* Soon afterwards the present incumbent of the
pastoral office, the Rev. Henry Ter-Woert, was sent
here by the bishop. Since he has had charge the
church has made purchase of a valuable lot on Bridge
Street, on which it is intended to erect a new house of
worship when the financial condition of the church
will justify it.
ST. ANDREW'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
We are unable to give as full and minute an ac-
count as is desirable. Most of the facts here pre-
sented have been taken from a brief historical paper
prepared by the Rev. Dr. Putnam, of Jersey City, and
read at the reopening of the church edifice for divine
worship, Aug. 4, 1867.
"The documents at jjresent existing, consisting of
copies of letters written more than a century ago and
parochial records of equal antiquity, together with
legislative enactments and conventional journals,
show that as early as 1725 St. Andrew's Church,
Amwell, was in existence and was a flourishing
parish." It was then located at Ringos.
The parish was organized under a charter granted
by the British Crown, by a missionary of the vener-
able society "for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts." The name of the missionary does
not appear in any of the papers now accessible. "The
fact transpires, however, that a most unhappy differ-
ence arising between the pastor and his flock re-
sulted not only in his leaving there, but in nearly
breaking up and dispersing his congregation."
In 1768, some eighteen years subsequent to this dis-
astrous trouble, the Rev. William Frazer, a man of
evidently superior character, was appointed by the
venerable society a missionary to St. Andrew's Church,
Amwell, with the charge, also, of congregations at
Kingwood (now Alexandria) and Musconetcong.
There is a letter of Mr. Frazer's in existence to the
Rev. Dr. Benton, of London, describing his mission-
ary field at the time when he entered upon his task
in it. "At Amwell," he writes, "there is the shell
of a stone church, with three families only of the old
congregation remaining who have not forsaken it. At
Kingwood there are thirty families, but no church
edifice, public worship having to be celebrated in
barns and private houses, and wherever else accom-
modation can be had."
Dividing his time equally between these three con-
gregations, Mr. Frazer labored with great assiduity
and devotion until the breaking out of the Revolu-
tionary struggle, the records extant showing that his
baptisms of infants and adults numbered more than
200.
* JliB funeral waa attended by a largo congregation. The services were
conducted by the Eight Rev, Bishop Corrigan, of Newark, assisted by a
huge number of tho clergy of his diocese.
CITY OF LAMliKRTVILLE.
i'-l
As he was a loyalist, and as, of course, holding ap-
pointmenl and pay from the English society, he could
consistently omit the prayers for the kin;,' and
Parliament, public sentiment demanded the closing
of his church anil the cessation of his ministry. This
continued while the war Lasted; and, though there
are traces of his pen in his letters to the I lev. Dr.
Benton, indicating thai he was exposed to severe suf-
ferings and trials, yet his conducl inii-i have been
verj | inn lent and his character very high, as no sooner
were the hostilities over than, with general acceptance,
he opened his church again and resumed his ministry,
as appears from the following certificate, bearing the
original signatures of the wardens and vestrymen at
that time in office:
•' We, th'- -ill- i i I ■.-!-, uiinl'-ns ;iiil \i -lr\ rii'-u "f St Ami low's Chun-li,
In tin- townablp of Amu I'M, ii i \ of Hantordon, and Western Division
i "i New Jersey, do certify and declare, That tho Rov'd Wil-
liam Krii/i-r di'l "| "ii his ill n iv Ii ju said A m \\ "II "ii i hri '" I ' ' Is t,