Old Sands Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of Brooklyn, N.Y. : an illustrated centennial record, historical and biographical

Preface

There is much in the history of every church, and in the life-story of each individual Christian to illustrate and magnify the grace of God. A short time before that eloquent minister of Jesus Christ, Thomas Sewall, "rose in rapture to the upper skies," he said to a friend: "I reckon that most of the literature of heaven will be the storied illustration of divine wisdom and goodness in the experience of poor, saved sinners. O my God! on those bright shelves of marvels, far down and obscure, yet there may a little tract be found, entitled, ' How it pleased God through Jesus Christ, his Son, to save soul of Thomas Sewall."*

While it is neither possible nor needful that there should be in this world such impartial, unerring, and all-comprehending records as heaven will disclose, when "we shall know even as also we are known," yet in my opinion, we might and should possess a carefully prepared history of .the work of the people of God in each particular locality, and at least a brief record of the lives of the ministers and members of every church. This desirable work I have accomplished in the case of one of the older and more prominent societies of our Methodism. The history of Old Sands Street Church for about one hundred years, including a roll of all the ministers, officers, etc. , is condensed into nine brief chapters, so that the far greater part of this work is biographical. About four score and ten pastors and presiding elders, most of whom are deceased, have by appointment of the authorities ministered to this church. To the carefully written biographies of these preachers I have added as complete an account as I could give of the nineteen hundred members whose names are found in the books. A friend, referring to the large number of memorials of eminent men here grouped about the history of one local church, with characteristic humor remarked, "It seems like hanging a very heavy weight on a very small nail."

It will require but a brief paragraph to explain how this work came to be written. Having undertaken some years since to prepare a history of Methodism in Suffolk County, N. Y. , I found that it would be well-nigh impossible to make a satisfactory history of the church within that small territory, which in the earlier days formed only a part of a large and well defined circuit, namely, the whole of Long Island. I then formed the purpose to prepare a Cyclopedia of Long Island Methodism, containing an account of every circuit and of every local church, (including sketches of the founders and prominent members,) also of every pastor and presiding elder — a work as yet incomplete, but on which a large amount of labor has been bestowed. Searching for facts on the west end of Long Island, especially concerning Brooklyn Methodism, I had soon accumulated so much material appertaining to the mother ot Brooklyn Methodist churches, that I was almost compelled to make a separate volume, entitled Old Sands Street Church. The prospect of the speedy abandonment of the original site so long and so successfully held by Methodism in Brooklyn, gave additional interest to the subject. The official board and many friends of the church and of the pastors expressed their hearty approval of my purpose, and this encouragement held me to my task when its accomplishment seemed almost impossible.

To one engaged in such researches it becomes painfully apparent that many noble ministers and laymen have passed away, of whose services the church has preserved no suitable memorial. On the other hand, after attempting to "count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel" within even a small territory, one just begins to realize how truly "the world itself could not contain the books," if memoirs of all the saints were recorded.

It is not an easy task to prepare memorials of persons long since dead, about whom little or no timely record has been made. Dr. Abel Stevens writes thus iv Preface.

concerning this kind of literary labor: " The private correspondence, the collection of documents, the harmonization of conflicting statements, the grouping of events, lacking often the most essential connecting links, the portraiture ofcharacters historically important, but almost totally obscured in undeserved oblivion, present embarrassments which may well constrain the writer to throw down his pen in despair." ... ,

Avery few of the prominent ministers, whose life history is here given, turned aside from the right way. To have exhibited only the better side of their lives and characters, would- have been to write romance, and not history or biography ; therefore, the two or three who fell, are set for th as admonitory beacons. ' In this I follow the example of the chief historians of our Church, who record the backslidings of good and eminent men, and their lapse into crime.

I have written, and here inserted, scores of memorials of the deceased wives of the preachers. This has cost a great deal of personal inquiry and correspondence, since comparatively little note has been made of them in the annals

of our Church.

In another direction my toil has been rewarded, namely, the diligent research concerning the posterity of the preachers, and the early members of old Sands Street Church, whereby I have been able to illustrate one important truth concerning the righteous, that " his seed is blessed." It may prove not a little instructive to observe how much stronger in some families of Methodist preachers and laymen, than in others, is the attachment to our own denomination, and to study the reasons for that difference.

It has been my aim to be accurate as to facts, names, dates, etc. ; but the mass of details is so great, and the chances for mistakes are so many, that it cannot, by any means, be supposed that I have avoided all errors. No known source of information has been neglected. I have made use of all the available books containing the data required, besides innumerable newspapers, magazines, inscriptions on gravestones, manuscript journals, letters from hundreds of correspondents, and testimonies of hundreds of old people, many of whom have fallen asleep since my interview with them. In the foot-notes and in the body of the work I have given due credit to a large number of authorities.

The portraits and other illustrations, to the number of eighty-six, have been obtained through much trouble and expense, but they certainly add greatly to the value of the work. Of the eighty-nine pastors and presiding elders, twenty-five died leaving no likenesses, at least none that can now be found. Portraits of twelve others are omitted, contrary to my earnest desire and solicitation. Upward of eighty interesting autograph signatures are herein reproduced. A few of those desired I have been unable to find.

It is scarcely necessary to refer to the literary character of this work. The aim has been to put on record certain valuable facts in as direct and concise a form as possible, even at the sacrifice of an elegant and graceful style.

The researching and the writing have been a labor of love, and with a consciousness of having attempted to perform a real service for the Methodist Episcopal Church, I now submit to the reader this imperfect fruit of my labor, in the hope that the reminiscences I have preserved will fill the mind of many an aged Christian with bright pictures of the past, and wake the

" Echoes that start When memory plays an old tune on the heart."

I trust, also, that these pages will serve as a source of instruction and inspiration to the middle-aged and the young, as they are hereby reminded how "other men labored," and we have "entered into their labors." And not a little satisfaction is afforded by the hope that, possibly, future writers concerning Methodism, will find in this volume a permanent record of valuable facts that would otherwise have been forever lost in oblivion.

E. WARRINER.

Clinton, Conn., February, 1885.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

1. Thomas Webb Frontispiece.

2. Woolman Hickson Preaching his First Sermon in Brooklyn — opposite 6

3. A Portion of Sands-street church-yard 11

4. Brooklyn in 1798 12

5. Old White Church 16

6. Kirk's Printing-office' opposite 18

8. Sunday-school Certificate of Admission 28

9. Parsonage and Sunday-school Building on High-street 29

IO. Sands-street Church — Interior View 40

ir. Rev. Freeborn Garrettson opposite 69

12. Rev. Henry Willis " 76

13. Rev. Thomas Morrell " 79

14. Rev. William Phoebus " 91

15. Rev. Aaron Hunt " 100

16. Rev. Ezekiel Cooper " 123

17. Rev. George Roberts " 133

18. Rev. William Thacher " 156

19. Rev. Samuel Merwin " 164

20. Rev. Elijah Woolsey " 179

21. Rev. Daniel Ostrander " 187

22. Rev. Reuben Hubbard " 192

23. Rev. Lewis Pease 197

24. Rev. William Ross opposite 206

25. Rev. Nathan Bangs, D.D " 211

26. Rev. Alexander M'Caine 216

27. Rev. Peter P. Sandford, D.D opposite 225

28. Rev. Henry Chase, A.M " 229

29. Rev. Laban Clark, D.D " 232

30. Rev. Stephen L. Stillman 244

31. Rev.- Samuel Luckey, D.D opposite 247

32. Rev. Seymour Landon " 252

33. Rev. Noah Levings, D.D " 258

34. Rev. James Covel. Jr., A.M " 263

35. Rev. John C. Green 268

36. Rev. Charles W. Carpenter 271

37. Rev. John C. Tackaberry opposite 275

38. Rev. John Kennaday, D.D " 279

39. Rev. John Luckey. 283

40. Rev. Bartholomew Creagh opposite 288 vi Illustrations.

PAGE

41. Rev. William H. Norris opposite 296

42. Rev. Fitch Reed, U.U 300

43. Rev. Stephen Martindale opposite 304

44. Rev John J. Matthias " 319

45. Rev. John B. Merwin, D.D " 325

47. Rev. Henry J. Fox, D.D " 331

48. Rev. Levi S. Weed, D.D " 334

49. Rev. Buel Goodsell " 339

50. Rev. Wilbur F. Watkins, D.D " 344

51. Rev. Bernard H. Nadal, D.D " 351

52. Rev. Daniel Curry, D.D., LL.D " 357

53. Rev. Charles Fletcher " 360

54. Rev. Benjamin Pillsbury, D.D " 365

55. Rev. Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D.D., LL.D " 369

56. Rev. Edwin E. Griswold, D.D " 373

57. Rev. Thomas G. Osborn, A.M " 389

58. Rev. Freeman P. Tower, A.M " 394

59. Rev. George Taylor " 397

60. Rev. John S. Breckinridge, A.M " 401

6f. Rev. Ichabod Simmons, A.M " 405

62. Memorial of Jacob Brown 416

63. Rev. Daniel De Vinne opposite 424

64. Hon. John Dikeman 430

65. John Garrison 437

66. John E. Hanford 440

(>-. Joseph Wesley Harper opposite 441

68. Memorial of J. Wesley Harper 443

69. Joseph Herbert 446

70. Aaron Kingsland 451

71. Rev. Robert M. Lockwood opposite 456

72. Rev. William M'Allister " 459

73. Andrew Mercein 463

74. Susanna Moser 457

75. Joseph Moser 468

76. I Ion. Moses F. Odell opposite 470

77. Memorial of M. F. Odell 47I

7$. Mary Powers ,yc

79. William I. Preston opposite 476

80. Rev. Elnathnn Raymond " 470

81. Rev. Marvin Richardson, D.D 483

82. Thomas Sands ^gg

83. Rev. Nicholas Snethen 402

' A. Robert Snow 4q6

5. Memorial of the Summerfields 507

86. George J. Yining c;6

Contents

INTRODUCTION, Pages 1-4

Chapter I

A Pioneer Church — Capt. Webb and the First Methodist Sermon— Woolman Hickson — Sermon in the Street — Peter Cannon's Cooper-shop— Class formed— Date decisively Ascertained— Thomas Foster, First Presiding Elder— John Dickins — Brooklyn an Outpost of New York Station — Henry Willis, Elder — Freeborn Garrettson joins Dickins in New York — Thomas Morrell, Elder, with Garrettson — Robert Cloud, John Merrick and William Phoebus in New York and Brooklyn — J. B. Matthias visits Brooklyn — David Kendall appointed to Long Island in 1790 — Reinforced by Wm. Phoebus and Aaron Hunt^- Jacob Brush, Presiding Elder — Brooklyn becomes a part of Long Island Circuit— Small Class — Services in Private Dwellings — Benj. Abbott and his Colleague on ,Long Island — Brooklyn Sinners crying for Mercy — Accessions — Few Foot-prints remain — The Rec^ ord on High — Other Pastors; Brush, Ragan, Boyd, Totten and Strebeck— Nicholas- Snethen, a Class Leader in Brooklyn — Church Incorporated — First Trustees — First Church Edifice — Sermon by Bishop Asbury — Ezekiel Cooper and Lawrence M'Combs, New Preachers in New York and Brooklyn — George Roberts, Presiding Elder — Brooklyn a Station— First Stationed Preacher— Thirty-five Members— Gradual Growth 5— u

Chapter II

A French Artist and his Picture of Brooklyn — Sylvester Hutchinson, Presiding Elder- Andrew Nichols and the Oldest Church Register — List of Members to the Year 1800 — Hannah Stryker — First Death— Richard Everitt — Cyrus Stebbins — David Buck— Peter Jayne — Ezekiel Canfield — Church Edifice Enlarged — People Forsaken by a Pastor — Wm. Thacher, Presiding Elder — Samuel Merwin — Preachers' Boarding Place — James Harper — Price of Board — Samuel Thomas — Pastor's House Rent — Joseph Moser, Sexton— His Duties — Salary — Church-yard — Precious Dust. — Another Boarding Place— John Garrison — Oliver Sykes 12 — 14

Chapter III

Joseph Crawford— Elijah Woolsey— John Wilson— Death of Mrs. Woolsey— Interesting Marriage Record — Slavery in Brooklyn — Daniel O strand er— Debt Cancelled — Parsonage Lot Given— Parsonage built— Andrew Mercein, Thomas Kirk and Gerge Smith, Building Committee— Reuben Hubbard— Ebenezer Washburn— Another Pastor leaves his Flock— Amusing Comment— The Station supplied— Thomas Drummond— Old Church, Dimensions— Negroes in the Gallery-The Building moved— New Church Edifice—Remembered as the "Old White Church"— Wm. Thacher's Labors— Asbury in the New Church— Lewis Pease stationed in Brookyn— Health fails— Thomas Drummond, (a second time) Pastor— Samuel Merwin returned— Nathan Emery and Joseph Crawford, Pastors— The Sexton instructed— Candle-light— Boys looked after— Catechism v i i i Contents.

taueht by Thomas Drummond— List of Learners— Thomas Sands proposes the Establishment of a Sunday-school— Kirk's Printing-office— DeVinne's School-room— Robert Snow Andrew Mercein, Joseph Herbert, Daniel DeVinne and John G. Murphy, Founders of the Sunday-school— Printed Address— Methodism takes the lead— Devinne's Description of the School— Children saved from the Street— Wild Boys— Brooklyn Sunday-school Union— Methodists among the First Officers— Union Sunday-school- Held in a District-school Building— Methodist Teachers— James Engles— Richard Cornwell and Wife— John Dikeman and wife — James Herbert 15 — 19

Chapter IV

Presiding Elden, ~nd Pastors — Union Sunday-school — Lack of Teachers — Opposition from Church Memocrs— The School suspended— Resumed after three Years— Mew Sunday-school Building— Happy New Year— Swarms from the Old Hive— Methodists left alone— Prosperity— Increase of Colored Members — Separate Place of Worship — Still under the Supervision of Sands-street Pastors— "African Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church"— Secession of the Colored People— Quarterly Conference Action — Subsequent Increase of Colored Methodists in Brooklyn— Alexander M'Caine resigns— Henry Chase succeeds him— Lewis Pease's Ministry — Revivals — Camp-meeting at Musketo Cove— Large Increase — Yellow Hook — Class formed — Germ of Bay Ridge Methodism — Original Members — Wm. Ross' Second Term— York-street Church organized — Death of Wm. Ross — M. B. Bull, Supply— Burial of John Summerfield — Thomas Burch and S. L. Stillman, Pastors— Class formed in Red Hook Lane — Gratifying Increase of Members. . . . , . • . . 20 — 23

Chapter V. A Record Of Twenty Years; 1827-1846

S. Luckey, S. L. Stillman and S. Landon, Pastors — Young Men's Missionary Society — Ann Eliza Luckey — Marsden VanCott — Anniversary — S. L. Stillman — Dr. Reese — D. Ostrander, Presiding Elder— N. Levings' and J. Covel's Ministry — Hempstead Harbor Camp-meeting — Revival — Sailors converted— "Grog stopped"— Another Refreshing —

John N. Maffit — Committee on Delinquents — J. C. Green, C. W. Carpenter, J. Tackaury, Pastors — Washington-street Church and Parsonage erected — A Circuit with three Churches — Thomas Burch's Second Term — John Kennady — First Annual Conference in Sands-street Church — John Luckey — Property divided — Churches separate — Bartholomew Creagh — Salary $600.00 — Church Extension contemplated — Liberal Offer declined — No Steeples allowed — W. H. Norris' First Pastoral Term — Fitch Reed — Anothe^ Session of the N. Y. Conference in Sands-street Church — Stephen Martindale, Presiding Elder — Peter C. Oakley — First Board of Stewards— L. M. Vincent's Ministry — Revival —Old White Church demolished— Regretted by the Older Members — New Brick Church Dedication— Sermons by Chas. Pitman, Nathan Bangs, Noah Levings and David Reese —Vote against petitioning for a Favorite Minister— J. J Matthias, Presiding Elder — H. F. Pease, Pastor— N. Bangs, Pastor with J. C. Tackaberry— New Parsonage. 24 — z8

Chapter VI

J. B. Merwin and Dr. Bangs, Pastors— W. H. Norris Pastor a Second Term— Church and Parsonage burned and rebuilt— Building Committee— Sunday School and Class Rooms —Juvenile Missionary Society— Constitution— First Officers— Missionary Festival— Wesley Harper speaks— Ole Bull— Class Names adopted 29-31

Chapter VII. A Record Of Twenty-eight Years; 1857-1884

Statistics— Large Benevolent Collections— Chaplain M'Cabe— Pastors of this Period— List - of Presiding Elders— Holding the Fort -Interesting Anniversaries— Grand Missionary Jubilee— Model Way of Giving— L. S. Weed and D. Terry— Another Festival— Decorations—Musical Instruments— Old Fire Bucket— Henry Ward Beecher's Address- Almost a Century— Ever Young and Vigorous— Growth of the City— East River Bridge —Utter or $125,000 declined— What will become of the Church Organization?— Proposed Combination of Churches not accomplished— The Old Grave Yard— Outlook for Time- Outlook for Eternity— The Itinerant System Illustrated— Ten Thousand Sermons— Hallowed Memories— Unwritten History 32_4o

Contents. ix

Chapter VIII. Record Of Ministerial Appointments And Statistics

i. A Chronological List of Presiding Elders— 2. A Chronological List of Pastors, with the Numbers reported, including Probationers, at the Close of their Respective Terms 41-44

Chapter IX. A Record Of Official Members, Etc

1. Local Preachers— 2. Licensed Exhorters — 3. Class Leaders— 4. Trustees— 5. Stewards— 6. First Male Sunday School Superintendents—7. Second Male Superintendents— 8. Third Male Superintendents—9. Fourth Male Superintendents— First Female Superintendents— ii. Second Female Sup'ts— 12. Secretaries— 13. Treasurers—14. Librarians— 15. Organists— 16. Male Teachers :-Intermediate and Senior Departments — 17. Female Teachers :-Intermediate and Senior Departments — 18. Sup'ts and Teachers of the Infant Department-19. Officers of the Juvenile Missionary Society-20. Sextons. 45-58

Book II. Biographical Record Of Ministers

VVOOLMAN HICKSON.

Founder of Brooklyn Methodism — Early History Unknown — Pastoral Record — Faithful Ministry — Rhoda Laws' Conversion — Thomas Haskins' Testimony— Hickson in New York and Brooklyn — Jesse Lee's and Dr. Wakeley's Account of his Last Hours — Tenderly cared for — Lamented — Uncertainty concerning the Location of his Grave — Neither Portrait nor Signature 59-62

II. Thomas Foster

Elder in Hickson's Time — Birth — Pastoral Record — Heroic Service — Primitive Notions — Fringes not allowed— Thomas Smith's Tribute — Useful Local Preacher — Death — Grave — His Wife — Of Methodist Stock — Sleeps beside Him 63-64

III. John Dickins

Hickson's Colleague — Native of London — College Training — Joins the Methodist Church in Virginia — Conference Record — Asbury's Comment — Makes the First Move toward the Establishment of a Methodist Educational Institution in America — First to approve of the Organization of American Methodism— Author of the Name of the Denomination — J. B. Matthias hears Him — "My Thundering John Dickins" — Book Steward and Pastor— Two Men's Work — Founder of the Great "Book Concern" — Rapturous Death — Last Resting Place — Noble Traits — Eminent Attainments — First Methodist Pastor's Wife in this Region — A Protracted and Beautiful Life — Children of John and Elizabeth Dickins. 65-68

IV. Freeborn Garrettson

His Eminent Rank— Native of Maryland — Methodist Influence— Converted on Horseback — Emancipates his Slaves — Alarmed to find Himself a Preacher — Ezekiel Cooper hears x Contents.

him— Long Connection with Brooklyn— Persecutions and Labors— Herald of the Christmas Conference— Wesley's Choice for Bishop— General Conference Record— His New York

District Compeer of Lee in New England — Perils and Accidents — Honorable and Happy

Marriage— " Traveler's Rest "— Asbury's Friendship— Last Sermon— Last Words Triumphant—Memorial Stone— Character and Work— Mrs. Garrettson — Pioneer Methodist in Rhinebeck— Beautiful Life and Character— Miss Mary Garrettson— Brilliant Intellect —Incidents— Loving Zeal for God 69-75

V. Henry Willis

Presiding Elder and Pastor in Brooklyn — A Saint Indeed — Birth and Early Ministry — Ministerial Record— Soul on Fire — Frail Body — Self-support— Letter to Freeborn Garrettson — Receives William Thacher into the Church — Lorenzo Dow's Marriage — Ordained by Asbury — Portrait— Canonicals — Triumphant Death— Burial— Asbury's Love for Willis — The Bishop Blesses his Children — Mrs. Willis— Daughter of an Eminent Layman— Rare Intelligence and Piety — Outlives Husband and Children — Death and Burial — Portrait Preserved. .............. • 76-78

VI. Thomas Morrell

Native of New York— Parentage — Brave Revolutionary Officer — Honorable Wounds — Conversion— Successful Failure in Preaching — Appointments — Builds and Dedicates Forsyth-street Church — Morrell and Dickins hold an Official Interview with Washington — Travels with Asbury — u Help Yourselves to Tea" — Answer to William Ham mett— Asbury's Comment — A " Solemn " Wedding — Unique Personal Appearance — Buried in a Vault — His Wives— Rev. T. A. Morrell, his Son 79-83

VII. Robert Cloud

Birth — Converted in a Soldier's Uniform — Pastoral Appointments — First Location on Record —Travels extensively — Why so little Known ? — The Reason Suggested — His Fall — Reinstated— Labors in the West — President of a State Bible Society — Adheres to the Methodist Episcopal Church— Peaceful Death— His Grave— A Positive Character— His Likeness Lost— Mrs. Cloud— Six Children— Dr. Caleb Wesley Cloud 84-88

DAVID KENDALL.

U^AK^^^lt^W^^^^-^Ym in the Active Ministry

Contents. xi

XII. Aaron Hunt

Birth— Boyhood— A Happy Convert— Leads in Family Prayer— Hears Benj. Abbott— Appointed Class-leader— First Sermon— Sent to Long Island— Conference Record— Little Farm— Small Salary— Location— Introduces Methodism into Danbury, Conn --"According to Discipline "— " Breaks up New Ground "—The People wonder-Originates the Motion to adopt the Two Years Rule— Introduces the Custom of inviting Penitents to the Altar— Wife dies— Second Marriage— Stilwellite Secession— An Old Connecticut Law- Mr. Hunt contends for Methodist Preachers' Rights— He wins— His Last Days— Closing Hours— Position and Character— Place of Burial— His Three Wives and his Children 100-108

XIII. Benjamin Abbott

A Most " Memorable " Man— Unpromising Youth— Rescued from the Depths of Sin— Family Blessed— Begins to Preach— " Hell Neck "—Persecution— Great Power attends his Words— Joins Conference— Appointments— Not a Learned Man— " Thundergust Sermon —Happy Death— Ostrander's Memorial— Mrs. Abbott— David, their Son. 109-114

XIV. John Ragan

An Irishman— Joins Conference in America — Appointments— Traces of him in New Brunswick— Greatly Useful on his Last Charge— Death by Yellow Fever— Grave— An Honorable Tribute by his Brethren 115-116

XV. James Boyd

On Long Island Circuit in 1792— Brief Record— Marriage in Nova Scotia— Withdrawal from the Church— Returns to the United States— Efforts to Trace him Further as yet Unsuccessful II7

XVI. Joseph Totten

Dedicates the Original Sand-street Church— First Stationed Preacher — Birth — Conversion — One of the Founders of Staten Island Methodism — His Marriage — Itinerant Record—General Conference Delegate — Old Rule concerning Quarterage for Preachers' Children adopted on his Motion — Last Sermon on Staten Island — Selects a Burial Place; — Sudden Death — Burial — Character — Personal Appearance— His Wife — His Descendants. 118-120

XVII. • GEORGE STREBECK.

Oneof Asbury's " Promising Young Men " — Brief Itinerant Career — Becomes a Lutheran Minister — Then an Episcopalian — Remarkably Popular for a Time — Founder of Zion Protestant Episcopal Church, New York City — He and his Friends establish St. Stephen's Church — No Permanent Success — Comments of Dr. Wakeley — Remarks of the Rev. J. H. Price — Goes South — No Further Definite Traces of him. . . . 121-122

XVIII. Ezekiel Cooper

Native of Maryland — Hears Freeborn Garrettson — A Lasting Impression — Sixty-two Years in the Itinerancy — Seven Times General Conference Delegate — Long Island his First Circuit— Founder of Several Prosperous Societies — Pastor in Brooklyn — Leads C. W. Carpenter to Christ — Abel Stevens' Account of Ezekiel Cooper — Great Learning and Eloquence — Powerful Debater — Another Izaac Walton — Business Talent — Book Agent — Private Fortune— Legacy — Oldest Methodist Preacher in America — Peaceful Departure — Funeral — Burial — Portrait. . 123-127 xii Contents.

XIX. Lawrence M'combs

A Native of Delaware — Converted in Youth — Conference Record — Early Ministerial Success—Location— Peaceful Death— Final Resting Place — Opinions of Kennaday, Scott, Clark, and Others— Characteristic Letter— Personal Appearance— Brief Account of his Two Wives 128-132

XX. George Roberts

Of English Parentage — Graduates from the Chimney Corner — Poor Clothes for a Preacher — Marriage — Wife's Early Death — Conference Record — Pioneer in New England — Labors and Privations — Receives Lorenzo Dow into the Church — Second Marriage — His Location explained — Physician and Local Elder — Rapturous Death — Resting Place in Mt. Olivet Cemetery — Dr. Stevens' Eulogy — Mrs. Susannah Roberts — Asbury's Affectionate Tribute — Beautiful Life and Death — Dr. George C. M. Roberts and other Children. . 133-137

XXI. Sylvester Hutchinson

A Family of Preachers — Native of New Jersey — Born Again — Record as a Conference Preacher — Voice like a Trumpet-blast — Thrilling Pictures of Pioneer Work — Personal Appearance — Various Accounts of his Trouble with Asbury — Land Agency — Marriage — Assists in founding the A. M. E. Zion Church — Joins the Methodist Protestant Church — Unaccomplished Purpose to return to his Former Church Home — Death and Burial- Wife and Children. 138-141

XXII. Andrew Nichols

Author of the Oldest Known Pvecord of the Members of Sands-street Church — List of his Appointments — Pastor in New York — A Soul Winner — Wakeley's Interesting Story — Located— More ought to be Known concerning Andrew Nichols 142-143

XXIII. Cyrus Stebbins

Birth— Pastoral Record— In his Youth a Pungent and Powerful Preacher— Not Satisfied with Methodist Doctrines and Usages— Becomes an Episcopalian Clergyman— Comments by Dr. Abel Stevens, Lorenzo Dow, and Others— Honors Received — Twice Married — Personal Appearance— Death and Burial 144-146

XXIV. David Buck

Birth and Conversion -Itinerant Record -Marriage and Location— Asbury holds forth in his Paper Mill— A Shining Light on Long Island— Elijah Hebard's Testimony— Buck's Missionary Zeal— Happy Death— Burial Place— Mrs. Buck— Friend of the Itinerants— Her Grave in Seanngtown 147-140

XXV. Peter Jayne

-Personal Description— Dr. Stevens' Tribute— Mrs. Jayne and the Children. . 150-153

XXVI. Ezekiel Canfield

Eulogized by Stevens-Native of Connecticut— Conversion— Conference Record— Marriage— Some 1 races of his Work-Last Days Triumphant— Death, Funeral, and Burial-A Good Record— Mrs. Canfield. ... „,.,..

Contents. xiii

XXVII. William Thacher

Porn of Congregational Parents in Connecticut— Learns the Tailor's Trade — Converted Among Methodists in Ealtiniore — Returns to New England — Jesse Lee Introduces him to the New York Methodists — His Marriage — Wife Converted — Pioneer Methodists in New Haven — Long Ministerial Career — Poor Outfit and Poor Salary — Four Preachers from the Converts on One Circuit— The First Camp-meeting East of the Hudson and the First on Long Island held under his Direction — Wife dies — Second Marriage — Enterprising Church Builder— Old White Church—" Chops a Yoke in Two "—Fights Many Battles— Champion Opponent of Abolition — Centennial Sermon — Death and Burial — Personal Description — A Veteran Teetotaler — A Pointed, Practical Preacher— Some Account of his* Wives and his Children 156-163

XXVIII. Samuel Merwin

Of English Ancestry — A Native of Durham, Conn. — Fell from the Piety of his Childhood — Restored Through Methodist Influence — Conference Appointments— Some Events of his Ministry — Death and Burial — A Truly Great Preacher — Exceedingly Popular — Interesting Testimonies by Asbury, Reed, Bangs, Luckey, Osborn, and Stevens — Widow of Peter Jayne — Married Mr. Merwin — Survived him Eight Years — Their Children. . 164-168

XXIX. Samuel Thomas

Scanty Records Concerning his Early Life — A Methodist in New Jersey — Conference Appointments— Revival in Brooklyn — Most Valuable Fruits — Honorable Tribute in Conference Minutes — His Removal to Ohio — Peaceful Death — Burial Place — Family almost Forgotten 16^-170

XXX. Oliver Sykes

Birth and Boyhood — Unusual Serious Impressions — Calvinistic Instructions — Conversion — Call to Preach — Dejection — Joins Conference — Appointments — Early Promise— Physical Infirmities — Happy Death — His Grave in Stratford — Eccentricities— Bequest to the China Mission — Quotation from his Journal 171-174

XXXI. Joseph Crawford

His Nativity— Conference Record— Great Success in Vermont— Laban Clark's Spiritual Father—A True Evangelist— His Relation to Bishop Asbury— Affecting Farewell— Mrs. P. P. Sandford's Testimony— Incidents— Sudden Close of his Ministry— Rev. Cyrus Prindle's Letter— Mr. Crawford's Last Years in Sandusky, O.— His Death and Burial Place- Personal Description — Rev. A. D. Knapp's Letter 175-178

XXXII. Elijah Woolsey

Birth— Religious Training— Methodist Preachers— Conversion— Enters the Ministry— Conference Record— Pioneer Work in Canada— Unconquerable Zeal— Hardships— Romantic Experiences— Wife dies in Brooklyn— General Conference Record—" The Supernumerary "—Last Days— Burial Place— Personal Appearance— Some Elements in his Character — First Wife's Grave in Sands-street Church-yard — Second Wife— Dr. Finch s Letter 179-183

' XXXIIL JOHN WILSON.

Native of England— Trained in Piety— A Methodist from his Youth— Emigrates to America —A Local Preacher there— Conference Record— Marriage— Scholarship— Holiness his Theme— Conference Secretary— Asthmatic Affection— Grave in Forsyth-street Uiurchyard l84-lS6 xiv Contents.

XXXIV. Daniel Ostrander

Rugged Ancestry— Early Conversion — Conference Appointments — Pioneer in New England —Remarkable General Conference Record— Unbroken Health— Marriage— Calls out Marvin Richardson — Portraiture by Gilder — Semi-Centennial Sermon — From Sixteen to Seventy-two in the Service of the Church— Death and Burial — Marked Characteristics — Clear Discernment — An Incident — Mrs. Ostrander's Interesting Character and History — Descendants of Daniel and Mary Ostrander 187-191

XXXV. Reuben Hubbard

English Ancestry— Born in Massachusetts— Early Connection with Methodism— Epitome of his Ministerial Services in Two Churches — Member of One General Conference — Glimpse of his Early Ministry— A Letter — Leaves the Methodists — Becomes a Hard-working Episcopalian Itinerant — Dr. A. B. Carter's Eulogy — A Well-merited Tribute — Death and Burial of Mr. Hubbard— His Wife and Children 192-195