Somerset County NJ Archives Biographies.....Samuel PARRY, 1845 - 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/njfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 8, 2008, 5:10 pm Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor (1917) PARRY, Samuel, Rev., Clergyman, Antiquarian. The Rev. Samuel Parry was born at Lambertville, New Jersey, March 29, 1845, and died at his home on East Main street, Somerville, New Jersey, September 9, 1915, son of Samuel and Selinda (Van Syckel) Parry. His paternal ancestors were members of the Society of Friends and to this fact may be traced some of the more prominent traits of his personality, and some of his more distinct preferences in things religious. His ancestors came from Wales to this country near the close of the seventeenth century and settled in the Penn Colony near Philadelphia, where many of his relatives yet reside. His maternal ancestors, Van Syckel, came from Holland in 1658, settled on Long Island, New York, a branch later settling in New Jersey. Samuel Parry, father of the Rev. Samuel Parry, was a miller, son of Samuel Parry, a farmer near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Selinda Van Syckel was a daughter of Daniel Van Syckel, a merchant of Milford, New Jersey. Not long after the birth of the Rev. Samuel Parry, his parents moved to Clinton, New Jersey, where at the age of sixteen years he joined the Presbyterian church. He attended the public schools until about seventeen, then entered Blairstown Academy, where he thoroughly prepared for college. He chose Yale as his alma mater, there pursued a full course, a conscientious, painstaking student, ranked in scholarship in the upper third of a class of strong men, and was graduated A. B., class of 1868. Of strong build and great physical as well as intellectual power, the young man took the keenest delight in athletics, and at Yale was prominent in aquatic sports. He made his freshman crew, rowed in the Varuna shell in his sophomore year, rowed in the varsity crew against Harvard in his junior and senior years, being stroke of the varsity shell in the memorable race with Harvard in 1868, which was rowed on Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester, Massachusetts. He was also Commodore of the Yale navy, and is remembered at Yale as one of the men of the long ago whose courage and determination carried the "blue" to victory and built up that tangible something known as the "Yale spirit." The next four years following his triumphs and graduation at Yale, with Phi Beta Kappa mark in scholarship, were spent: One year at Blairstown Academy as instructor, two years at Princeton in theological study at the seminary, one year at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, whence he was graduated, class of 1872. Thus prepared for the holy profession he had chosen, he became a member of the Elizabeth (New Jersey) Presbytery, and on April 30, 1873, was ordained and installed pastor of the Presbyterian church at Pluckemin, Somerset county, New Jersey. There he took root in the hearts of his people and for exactly thirty-three years they knew no other pastor and he no other pastorate; in fact Pluckemin was his first, last and only pastorate, although after his resignation, April 30, 1906, until his death, he found congenial fellowship and a sphere of increasing usefulness as teacher of a Men's Bible Class in Somerville First Reformed Church, and as an interested helper in the chapel at East Somerville. The Presbytery of Elizabeth chose Rev. Samuel Parry as its permanent clerk in 1885, and in 1888 he was chosen to be its stated clerk, an office he held continuously until the day of his death. He represented the Presbytery at three sessions of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, was for a long time permanent secretary of the Raritan Ministerial Association, and from its organization until 1912 was secretary of the Inter-Church Federation of Somerset County. Mr. Parry was a life-long student of history, and after his retirement devoted a large part of his time to historical research and reading. He was an authority on local history and biography, his investigations covering the entire history of the Raritan Valley. On Tuesday, March 12, 1901, he delivered an historical discourse on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, in which he sketched the history of the churches of the village and vicinity from the year 1720 and gave the biographies of the pastors and most of the ruling elders of the Presbyterian churches since 1851. A notable attendance of his fellow ministers on the occasion of his simple funeral gave evidence of the high esteem in which he was held. From the discourse delivered by the Rev. Dr. John T. Kerr, we quote: Samuel Parry needs no one to speak for him. His life has been an open book. It speaks for itself to all who look or listen. He was a man physically. God had endowed him richly with strength which he loved to use in work or sport, and coupled with his great strength was great skill. He could throw himself into a hard athletic struggle, then turn from it and, taking into his strong hands so small an instrument as a pen, he could produce handwriting which seemed rather the work of an engraver than that of an athlete. He was a Christian man in every sense, and a manly Christian. Men took refuge under the shadow of his manliness. He merited their confidence by the integrity of his own character, and rewarded it. Wherever he was known, that same feeling of confidence was felt. His brotherly manner, his modest bearing, the evident sincerity of his Christian life and the genial play of his humor greatly endeared him to all. After his death the Synod of New Jersey, in a manner unusual to that body, thus expressed their appreciation of his life and service: The committee appointed to examine the records of the Presbytery of Elizabeth make note of the fact that the hand which for twenty-seven years has been submitting the records of this Presbytery to the Synod is now stilled in death. The work of Rev. Samuel Parry as stated clerk of the Presbytery of Elizabeth has been notable for the period of its continuance and the remarkable fidelity with which it has been performed. The volumes of minutes as written by him are models of neatness and accuracy and it is recommended that the Synod bear testimony to this fact by entering this statement upon the minutes of the Presbytery of Elizabeth. Rev. Samuel Parry married at Somerville, New Jersey, December 1, 1875, Harriet E. Cornell, who survives him. During their forty years of married life, Mr. and Mrs. Parry made many extended tours of travel both at home and abroad, their foreign journeyings including tours of the Holy Land and Europe. After his retirement they removed to Somerville, New Jersey, where Mrs. Parry yet resides. Their only child, a son, born March 24, 1881, died the following day. Mrs. Parry is a daughter of Rev. Frederick Frelinghuysen Cornell, a former pastor of Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, son of Rev. John Cornell and his wife, Maria Frelinghuysen, daughter of General Frederick Frelinghuysen of the celebrated New Jersey family. Rev. John Cornell was born at Northampton, Pennsylvania, in 1774. He pursued courses of classical study at the Log College, Neshaminy, Pennsylvania, entered Queen's College at New Brunswick where he completed his course in 1795. He then pursued the study of theology under Dr. Livingston, at Flatbush, Long Island, and was licensed to preach about the year 1798. He was engaged in the holy calling of a minister of the Presbyterian church from 1798 until 1821 at Allentown, New Jersey. He was highly regarded as an amiable and faithful teacher of the Gospel. In 1821 he retired from the active ministry, and from that year until 1828 conducted a classical academy at Somerville, New Jersey, and from 1828 until 1835 a similar institution at Millstone, New Jersey, where he died. In his academies he devoted himself seduously to the instruction of youth, and there passed from under his teachings many young men who later became eminent in the ministry and other learned professions. Professor Lindsey, of Princeton, voiced his appreciation of his work by a public statement that of all the students who came to him none were better prepared than those who came from under the instruction of the Rev. John Cornell. He married Maria, daughter of General Frederick Frelinghuysen, a lady of great amiability and eminent piety. Rev. Frederick Frelinghuysen Cornell, son of Rev. John Cornell and his wife, Maria Frelinghuysen, was born at Allen-town, New Jersey, November 16, 1804. He was graduated from Princeton (College of New Jersey), class of 1825, and New Brunswick Theological Seminary, 1828. He became a member of the Newtown Presbytery in 1829; professor of languages, College of Mississippi, at Natchez, 1828-29; missionary at Stuyvesant for three months in 1829; at Columbiaville, 1829-31; at Marshallville, 1831-32; Montville, 1833-36; pastor of Manhattan Reformed Dutch Church, New York City, 1836-56, and pastor of Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, 1856-64. In 1866 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Union College. He died August 7, 1875, aged seventy-one years, half a century of which had been spent in the Christian ministry as student, instructor, missionary and pastor. He was a man of strong intellectuality, consecrated purpose and charming personality. He married Elizabeth Clock Bell, daughter of Jacob and Phebe (Clock) Bell, who was born February 28, 1822, died February 21, 1882. Their eldest daughter, Harriet E. Cornell, married the Rev. Samuel Parry whom she survives. To the memory of three earnest, faithful, consecrated ministers of the Gospel and their devoted wives, this tribute of love and respect is dedicated. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN VOLUME III MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 1917 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/nj/somerset/bios/parry-s.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/njfiles/ File size: 10.4 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nj/somerset/bios/parry-s.txt