Madison Church

Morris County, New Jersey

THE MADISON CHURCHES--PRESBYTERIAN pp204-205.

"The first church organized in what is now Chatham township was the present Presbyterian church of Madison. It began it's existence in troublous circumstances, in opposition to the judgment of the Presbytery of Newark, within whose ecclesiastical bounds it lay, and against the wishes of Rev. Jacob Green, the pastor of the old WHIPPANONG CHURCH, who did all in his power to arrest the new movement, and from whose congregation the new church was formed. Doubtless the poor shepherd could ill spare any part of his flock in that day of small things; and then, but a few years before, those members of the old church who resided in West Hanover (as Morristown was then called) had withdrawn and formed their feeble church against the same strenuous opposition--although, indeed, Mr. Green was not concerned in this, not having yet come to Whippanong. The distances were long, many of the people being obliged to travel six, eight and even ten miles to attend church.

What is now the township of Chatham was then part of Hanover, and the church in Bottle Hill was organized under the name of the "Presbyterian Church of South Hanover," which was its ecclesiastical designation for the succeeding seventy years. The exact date of it's organization cannot be stated, nor is there known to exist any account of any services connected with it's new life. This is no doubt owing to the loss and probably destruction of the church records for the first forty years of it's existence. There is no doubt, however, that the movement began in the year 1746, and that the church was organized some time in the year 1747. In 1817 the name was changed to "The First Presbyterian Church of the Township of Chatham," which name it bore until 1846, since when it has been called "The Presbyterian Church of Madison," the name Madison having been officially given to the place about fifteen year before.

It's first elders were Paul DAY, Joseph WOOD and John PIERSON. It's members were few and nearly all of them in very limited circumstances, and able to do little toward the maintenance of the church. For nearly two years they worshiped in private houses, or in barns, and in pleasant weather in the open air. In 1749 they began to build, but were not able to finish, and became so utterly disheartened that the work for a time quite ceased. Then Luke CARTER (son of Benjamin CARTER) declared that if the congregation would not complete the work he would do it himself, whereupon a rally was made, the building enclosed, furnished with a plain pulpit, and very rudely seated with boards and slabs. It might perhaps have a happy effect upon modern worshipers here to be transferred a century or so back to those primitive sears, where neither cushions not sloping backs invited to repose, and when sermons were by no means briefer than they are now.

In this incomplete state the building remained fifteen years, when "a committee was appointed to superintend the finishing of the meeting-house," and certain persons had permission to construct pews for their own accommodation in different parts of the church, and instead of the original slat seats, it was furnished with high-backed slips. This was about the year 1765. That old building was a very simple affair; covered on all sides with shingles, and without spire or cupola, and, except the sounding board over the pulpit, which was deep blue, wholly destitute of paint within and without. It looked not unlike a large, old fashioned farmhouse. Here and there, in remote parts of New Jersey and the contiguous States, there yet linger a few of these old-time structures, suggestive both of the poverty and the piety of the men and women who built their unpretending walls in troublous times.

That primitive building was situated on the crown of our burial groung hill, two or three rods east of the spot now occupied by the GIBBONS monument. It was for the next seventy years the only house of public worship within the township, and it's history is the main source of information that comes down to us of the years immediately preceding the Revolution, whose events gather largely around the old church.

A cut of this old building, drawn by Rev. Samuel L. TUTTLE, and engraved for him on wood, is pasted into his manuscript "notes" and is seen in his printed history of the church.

For several years the society had no preacher, depending upon the presbytery or upon some occasional young man who received no pay, and not seldom upon the services of it's own elders and leading members. It's first regular preacher was Nathaniel GREENMAN, a young licentiate, who was not installed, and of whose two years' work here no record has come down to us, although he had a long and honorable record in other parts of the church."

"The first pastorate over the church and the longest of all was that of Azariah HORTON, beginning about 1751 and ending in November 1776." [Asariah Horton, d. March 27, 1777, at age 62 years from Smallpox. His wife, Eunice, d. August 14, 1778. They lie in the old cemetery, the grave covered with a brown freestone slab raised on pillars, inscribed, "In Memory of the Rev. Azariah Horton, for 25 years pastor of this church." "The monument, (Gibbons Monument?) stands on the crown of the hill, just at the rear of the old foundation walls, and but a few feet from where stood the pulpit from which the old pastor preached. The church was located between that spot and the ravine through which the railroad now passes."] covering all the stormy period which preceded the war of the Revolution, and closing just as the was itself began to throw churches and society into dire confusion. For the reason given before no particulars of Mr. Horton's pastorate have come down to us, but the present writer has been enabled to gather some interesting particulars of his personal history--and he was a man of influence and power in the early days of this place. He was born on Long Island, in 1715, came early with his parents to New Jersey, graduated from Yale College in 1735, and, declining a call to a promising parish on Long Island, devoted himself to labors among the Indians on the East end of the island. Mr. Horton was the first missionary sent to the heathen by the Presbyterian church, being commissioned to this work by the New York presbytery, but supported (as were David and John BRAINERD) by "the Scottish Society for the Propagation of the Gospel." His labors were blessed at the outset, and he soon baptized thirty-five Indians. The fruit of his work remained for many years, in two Indian churches; one at Poosepatuck and a larger one at Shinnecock, which churches had, until 1812, a succession of Indian pastors in the well known Rev. Samuel OCCUM, of the Mohegan Tribe, and Revs. John and Paul CUFFEE, of the Shinnecock Tribe.

Mr. Horton came to Bottle Hill in 1751, and at once took rank among the men of influence, as a member of the Synod of New Jersey, which had recently been founded.

The old church witnessed many memorable scenes as the dark Revolutionary days drew on, and during all their progress. It's first pastor was an earnest patriot, and, like his intimate friend and compatriot CALDWELL of Elizabethtown, maintained from his pulpit the civil and religious rights of the people. Among the honored ministers of that day, whose influence was so potent in awakening and maintaining the sentiment of liberty, Azariah Horton was not the least. Under the old sounding board Caldwell himself, often preached, and it was a common thing to see the soldier's uniform in the gallery, "That old meeting-house and it's pioneer minister did not a little to prepare those who dwelt here for the honors as well as the trials which divine providence had in store for them."

Mr. Horton was a man of uncommon force of character, of marked ability, and a fearless opponent of tyranny whether it were civil or ecclesiastical, for there were both in his day. He is described to us as "a plain, short, stout and very benignant man." When about sixty years of age he withdrew from the pastorate, and about a year after, while still residing here, was seized with Smallpox, then prevalent among the American troops quartered here, and died. Of the two sons of Mr. Horton one gave his life for the country, being killed in the Revolutionary War.

Of the way Mrs. HORTON helped her husband, and purchased a farm besides, by keeping a corner store in the village, we have already spoken. The remains of this admirable couple lie in the old cemetery, the grave covered with a brown freestone slab raised on pillars, and upon the stone is inscribed: "In Memory of the Rev. Azariah Horton, for 25 years pastor of this church. Died March 27, 1777, aged 62 years. Also EUNICE, his wife, who died August 14, 1778, aged 56 years." The monument stands on the crown of the hill, just at the rear of the old foundation walls, and but a few feet from where stood the pulpit from which the old pastor preached. The church was located between that spot and the ravine through which the railroad now passes.

In the year 1795 occurred the loss of all the records of the old church, covering it's whole former history from 1747. As Mr. TUTTLE says, "The loss will never cease to excite the regrets of this community." By it have forever gone, for the most part, the names and history of all the early members, throwing darkness upon the internal and spiritual history of the church, and also obliterating much which concerned the whole neighborhood, the state of society, family histories, and affairs in general; for, as we have said, here and in New England the history of an ancient church is largely the early history of the community. How this loss occurred can never now be satisfactorily known. The lapse of over four score years leaves us in the dark, and leaves also in those who are to come after us. It is greatly to be regretted that such a man as Rev. ASA HILLYER did not gather up all that was then known; for not only were the records of the old session extant in his day--lost of destroyed while he was pastor--but there were then living men and women whose memories extended to the very organization of the church.

The present writer has in his possession, as the pastor of the church, a quaint old folio book of parish records--or records of the annual business meetings of the society or congregation. It is bound in heavy parchment, and, although a century and a quarter old, is in excellent condition. The opening record is as follows:

"South hanover Wednesday ye 7th of September, An-"no D 1757, at a meating appointed and met at the "meating house and proceaded In the folowing manor By "way of Voats. Aaron BURNET modarator Stephen Morehouse CLARK."

Contributed by: Connie LaFontaine