Annals of the Classis of Bergen : of the Reformed Dutch Church, and of the churches under its care ; including, the civil history of the ancient township of Bergen, in New Jersey

Front matter

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Preface

The circumstances under which this work has been written, are somewhat peculiar. At the very outset of his ministerial career, the author was brought into frequent commu- 0 hication with those venerable and long-tried servants of Christ, 'Jk John Cornelison, James V. C. Romeyn, and Peter Stryker, then thiin the active duties of their respective charges, in the timefbj honored Churches of Bergen, Hackensack, Schraalenbergh, dhnd Stone House Plains. His earliest movements in his minsteral life, were under the counsels of these prudent men. riieir attachment to their mother Church was strong and unieasing. They were familiar with her early history. They mderstood the character and labors of their companions and riends, and were striving together for the faith of the gospel. Che first Churches in which it was the privilege of the writer o preach the gospel, after his licensure, were connected with ihe Classis of Bergen. In 1825, having become the pastor of he Reformed Dutch Chnrch at Acquackanonck, in Essex bounty, N. J., two of the congregations of those holy men djoined his own. Their personal intimacy was cultivated.

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Tliey often narrated past events in the history of these I Bg* m\

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Churches, which left vivid impressions on the mind.

In 1828, having entered on pastoral duty in Bergen, he was prompted to gather up such facts as were accessible to him, appertaining to the history of the Church in whose service he is to this day engaged.

In March, 1835, he published a veiy brief history of that^n Church, in the columns of the Christian Intelligencer.

Subsequently, historical matter was obtained respecting some of the other Churches of this Classis, and after the death toes of the Rev. James V. C. Romeyn, many of his papers came^wntn into the author’s possession. In these there were references, licorji serving in some degree as an index to sources of information, which, after diligent search and effort, were ascertained and resorted to.

An allusion to these facts, at a meeting of the Classis, in April, 1848, was followed by a request to embody in a Sermon, ffie res to be delivered on the 23d of May, ensuing, a succinct history [oitiiy of the older Churches of the Classis. The occasion waskinei deemed appropriate, as the Classis were then to be in session, toriDj in the First Church in Newark, and to act on applications forjandi^ constituting the Second and Third Reformed Dutch Churches, in that city. Tlie request was complied with, but the bare^well outlines of the history of these Churches was all that could be

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presented, in the brief period of the delivery of a single dis-jillior ,;

course.

Since then there has been no cessation of effort to asccrtaini|ii facts, and search into the trials, controversies and successes ofi the Churches. Several manuscript volumes, in the Dutch lam it,

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Vll lage, have been brought from their hiding places. Every uown accessible source of information has been resorted to.

In April, 1851, the attention of the Cli^sis was called to the ct of having completed the fiftieth year of its existence, and In i.e following resolution was adopted:

“Inasmuch as the Classis of Bergen has just entered on the cond half century of its existence, and as its past history is le of much enlargement, and thrilling interest, therefore.

That the Rev. Dr. B. C. Taylor be and hereby is quested, to prepare a brief yet comprehensive sketch of its 'entful history, during the aforesaid period, and that it be corded in the book of Classis, as a permanent document, for a, ture reference.”

d I Vigorous efforts have been made to obtain information edding light upon the early history of the Classis, and if the ii )cument requested, be viewed separately from the history of le respective Churches, it is believed to contain matter well viJjorthy of a permanent record. It sets forth the spirit and anner of that reverend judicator}^, in watching over and stering the Churches under its jurisdiction. In it God’s ind will be discerned, in the way in which he has led his inisters, and the Churches, through many trials and conflicts, well as through scenes of holy gladness, bj After long continued labors in gathering the documents, the 'jj| ithor could not be content with a mere detail of classical tion. Many papers of interest, pertaining to the Churches, liJid to the civil history of the ancient Township of Bergen, f}( .me under review. Some of these shed such light upon the a iibits, manners, customs, and usages of the Dutch settlers, and

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their ofFspritig, that he was constrained to include in this a history of that Township; the more so, as in several particulars, the religious and ecclesiastical operations of the commhni-|! ty were interwoven with those of their civil relations. Thw® ® often expressed desire of some of the best citizens of County, for such a history, to be blended with the ecclesiasticaiP narrative, could not be disregarded. ^

In the preparation of this work, O’Callaghan’s, Smith’s and Brodhead’s Histories of New York, and William White head’s History of East New Jersey, have been consulted. Thel^ sketches of the History of the Reformed Dutch Churches inr the United States, from the pen of the late John B. Romeyh,r' D.D., published in the “Christian Magazine,” the “Magazine oji*'®' the Reformed Dutch Church,” and the “Minutes of the Getiera Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church,” from 1800 to 1850| have been examined.

Thirty manuscript volumes, several of them very large, have been searched. So much of those in the Dutch language, was necessary, have been translated for this purpose, by th^^”*^ Rev. Giles Van de Wall, of East Millstone, N. J. To him, ai well as to the clerical brethren, and Stated Clerk of the Classis the Rev. Alexander H. Warner, and the Consistories of th< Churches, who have placed at his disposal their books of min utes, and a mass of ancient manuscripts, which have been o: great service, the most grateful acknowledgements are mad« bv the author.

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To Messrs. Hartman Van Wagenen, and John I. Van Horne of Bergen, he is indebted for the use of valuable documents it ilieir possession.

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IX pie history of the Churches constituted by the Classis, since "8, has been more readily gathered, as the author has for rly twenty-nine years, shared in the duties and responsiies of that body, and become familiar with the Churches their pastors. Memorials of these Churches are added, xtend the chain of ecclesiastical action, and pei-petuate the nory of events now passing, and especially to testify the dness and the grace of God, in the enlargement of our irches in number and usefulness.

trusting to the candor and kindness of the community, and he generosity of the public, to favor this attempt to rescue a oblivion the facts herein narrated, the book is issued 1 a consciousness of many imperfections, but not without e of usefulness.

t was intended to include in this volume memorials o; eased ministers of the Classis of Bergen, for which there good materials, but it would have extended the work bed proper limits. A separate volume of such memorials, it urposed ere long to issue.

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Contents

HISTORIES OF

L Classes of Hackensack and Bergen 15

II. Town and Township of Bergen 45