Early Clergy of Pennsylvania and Delaware, S. F. Hotchkin, 1890 - Chapter 5, DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Sally Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ EARLY CLERGY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE. BY REV. S. F. HOTCHKIN, M.A. Author of The Mornings of the Bible, History of Germantown, &c. P. W. ZIEGLER & CO., PUBLISHERS, NO. 720 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 1890 Copyright, 1890, by Rev. S. F. Hotchkin. NOTE: Use URL: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/1picts/hotchkin/early-clergy.htm to access other chapters. DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 52 CHAPTER V. DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. PROVOST ERIC BJORK. - (The varied spelling of proper names has been purposely retained.) Mr. Rudman selected Eric Bjork as his fellow-laborer. Trinity church, Wilmington, was built largely by his toilsome efforts, and that of his church warden, Charles Springer. The church was consecrated on Trinity Sunday, A.D., 1699. Mr. Bjork also built the rectory. He worked zealously and prudently, "scraping together" money needed for his work. John Stalcop gave the land for the church and churchyard. Bjork returned to Sweden in 1714, taking his American wife, whose maiden name was Christina Stalcop (being the daughter of Peter Stalcop), and five children. That was the first American family given back to Sweden. He died in 1740. Bjork closed his well-kept church-book with some lines. I add a portion of them: "Grant now, O Lord, our God, Christina Church thy blessing, That there may never fail souls thy rich love possessing; Her shepherds grant thy grace, her sleep do thou so guard, That with thy flock in heaven they have their great reward." He closes thus: "But Christ is all my trust, my everlasting song." PROVOST ANDREAS HESSELIUS reached here in 1712, and in 1713 took charge of Christina. He exhorted the people to a regard for baptism and the Lord's Supper, and stirred up the vestry to oversee the lives of the flock. He served the English at St. James's Church, DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 53 Stanton, monthly, and the English Propagation Society agreed to give him a stipend if he would do some work in vacant churches in Pennsylvania. He labored with the Indians who were among the Swedes. In 1723 he was recalled. After his return to Sweden he published a book on "The Swedish Church in America." He died in 1733. SAMUEL HESSELIUS. - This clergyman was assistant minister at Wicacoa. He was ordained in the cathedral of Skara in 1718. For a time he officiated and resided at what is supposed to have been Molatton (now Morlatton), or Douglassville, in Berks County. In 1760 George Douglass was a vestryman here. An old church (St. Gabriel's) long drew the attention of the railway traveler. The Reverend John Long of late years erected a new one. Rev. Edward J. Koons has just resigned its rectorship. The people of this parish tearfully besought Hesselius to come to them. The present rector, Rev. W. Du Hamel, gave an interesting history of this parish in the Standard of the Cross, Febuary 15th, A.D., 1890. Rev. Gabriel Falk was the first regular pastor from 1735 to 1740; Rev. Henry Muhlenberg gave some care to the parish, Rev. Alex. Murray, an English Missionary, Rev. Jno. Wade, Rev. Jno. Armstrong, and Rev. Levi Bull, D.D., Rev. Caleb Good, Rev. George Mintzer, Rev. Wm. Homman, Rev. H. F. Whitesides, and Rev. Messrs. George Barker, Oliver Shaw, Edward Jones and Edmund Leaf preceded Rev. John Long in the rectorship. This clergyman also served Matzony (Matson's Ford), now Conshohocken, with the other parish. In 1723 he was transferred to Christina, to succeed his brother Andrew. He was in America till 1731, and died in 1755. REV. PETER TRANBERG came hither in 1726, and had the care of Racoon and Pennsneck, but in 1739 was DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 54 transferred to Christina. His New Jersey parishes regretted his loss, but the English and Swedes welcomed him to Christina. He had mastered the English language, and officiated at St. James's English Church, Stanton, Delaware, and St. John's, Concord, Pa., and Marlborough, Pa., and other places. This "pious and meek" and warm-hearted man, after twenty-two years of labor in this country, after attending "the funeral of a married pair" at Pennsneck, was "taken deadly sick in the house of the deceased, and four days thereafter fell asleep in the Lord, in the same place, on the 8th of November, 1748." At the funeral, in Christina Church, the English missionary, George Ross, preached. He was "the oldest minister in the country." A Swedish sermon was preached by Rev. Gab. Naesman, "at that time the only Swedish minister left in the country." A stone in the church covers the body of Mr. Tranberg. Acrelius added some verses to the close of Mr. Tranberg's church record in memory of this indefatigable man. They were versified by Malcolm Maceuen. The following is a portion: "How happy he who yields his breath, Secure of triumph over death, Who thro' the faith that Jesus gave Can gladly sink into the grave. When the chief Shepherd shall appear, To call him from his labor here, Is he not happier, labor done, Than one whose toil has just begun?" Mr. Tranberg "had been loved by all, because he had ministered to all." He was buried in the aisle of Christina Church, near the pulpit. A poetic inscription closes thus: HOLY TRINITY (OLD SWEDES') CHURCH, WILMINGTON. DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 57 "To hazard health, nay, life and pleasure too, His Lord's command with ardor to pursue, For which he rests with God, in bliss to be Freed from this world to all eternity." His son Peter, a lad of nine years, is buried with him. Elsewhere a reference is made to another son as his only one, but perhaps this relates to the time of the death of the one last named. PROVOST ISRAEL ACRELIUS (sent to America in 1749). - Acrelius is distinguished as the author of the "History of New Sweden," which is longer than that of Campanius, and the last-named author did not visit this country. Dr. Collin translated a large part of this work for Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, of Princeton, N. J., to aid in his Church History. It was published by the New York Historical Society. The Rev. Dr. William M. Reynolds made a complete translation for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which has been largely used in these notes. Joseph F. Mickley, John Jordan, Jr., and Townsend Ward, all of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, gave valuable aid in carrying out the literary part of the work. Acrelius dedicated it to Queen Louisa Ulrica. He utilized the labors of Campanius and others in his book. The Provost, Rev. Dr. William Smith, of the Philadelphia Academy, gave Acrelius a letter to Dr. Secker, then Bishop of Oxford, afterward Archbishop of Canterbury. Acrelius lived until 1800; the patriarch died in Sweden at the age of eighty-six. "He sent his portrait to the widow of Petrus Tranberg, his predecessor;" it is now the property of Trinity Church, Wilmington, and was engraved for the History, and by the courtesy of Mr. Frederick D. Stone, Librarian of the Historical Society, has been reproduced for these articles. DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 58 The dedication of the History refers to "the churches among which, in a service of eight years, he offered up the powers of his life amid laborious official duties, toilsome journeys, and the endurance of severe sickness." Acrelius was appointed pastor of Racoon and Pennsneck, but after Mr. Tranberg's death was transferred to Christina before leaving Sweden. We find him giving an oration to the clergy, at a meeting in Germantown, in Latin, "on the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace," Eph. 4:3. He prepared, in Latin, a narrative of the history of the German Evangelical congregations in Pennsylvania and "adjacent countries." He left to return to Sweden in 1756, with "mutual tears" of pastor and people. He was much beloved. He preached his farewell sermon in six places, and the people followed him in large numbers. He became pastor of "Fellingsbro, in the Diocese of Westeras." He had been "Preacher Extraordinary to the Admiralty" before he came to this country. Acrelius is said to have recorded more marriages than any other Swedish clergyman in Wilmington. Rev. G. C. Bird, rector of Marcus Hook, Pa., informs me that Acrelius and other Swedish clergy are on his church records as having performed services in that parish for a time. REV. ERIC UNANDER was pastor in Racoon and Pennsneck, and became pastor in Christina. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1749. He was gladly received in Racoon, and was adapted for his work and loved by the people. He had an extended parish, and was obliged to preach both in Swedish and English almost every Sunday, while he also catechized private families, and labored for "the English congregation in Salem," and the people on Timber Creek on weekdays. He toiled diligently, even when sick, and "did not eat the bread of idleness." In 1755 he was transferred to Christina. ST. GABRIEL'S, MORLATTON, (OLD CHURCH.) DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 61 JONAS AUREN. - This clergyman was added to the company of Rudman & Biorck by the King's (Chas. XI.) order. He was to make a map of the new country, and describe its character and inhabitants. He remained some time with Mr. Rudman before traveling. Auren came in 1696. Charles XI. died and the wars of Charles XII. followed, and he was kept here ministering at Elk River, Maryland, and Racoon, N. J., and as an Indian missionary in Conestoga, Pa. He died in 1713. REV. ABRAHAM LIDENIUS came in 1712 as "assistant at all the congregations." He served first at Christina. He became pastor at Racoon and Pennsneck. He returned to Sweden in 1724, and died in 1728. His son, John Abraham, came back to this his native country and assisted Mr. Unander in these Jersey parishes and officiated elsewhere, and in 1752 went to reside at Manathanim. He died in Pennsylvania. PROFESSOR PETER KALM. - The student of American history finds the Rev. Professor Peter Kalm one of the most interesting of the early travelers who have recorded impressions of this new land. He was a distinguished naturalist and a professor in the University of Abo, in Finland, then a part of Sweden. He labored for a time in the Swedish mission in New Jersey. There was a little romance in that work. The widow of Rev. John Sandin was living in that strange land with two infant children. The professor passed from pity on to love, and served the vacant parish, and married the widow, and carried her back to her own country. The parish where the professor was a guest was that of Racoon Church, now Swedesboro. The marriage took place in Philadelphia in February, 1750. The professor traveled a year afterward, spending three years in this country. He wrote two volumes useful for science and history. DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 62 The universities of Abo and Upsala, and "the Department of Manufactures of the Diet of the Kingdom," sent him to discover seeds and plants and transfer them to Sweden." Acrelius styles him, "the celebrated Professor Kalm," and "that learned man." REV. JOHN WICKSELL succeeded Abraham Lidenius as rector of Swedesborough and Pennsneck in 1762. He was zealous for the temporal and spiritual concerns of his parish, and caused a rectory to be built at Swedesborough, and the land to be improved, and interested himself "for the charity school-house." He returned in 1774, and died A.D., 1800. The vine planted by the Swedish Church centuries ago still bears precious fruit to the glory of God in Christ. Christ Church, Bridgeport, on the Schuylkill (Upper Merion), has long been faithfully served by the present rector, Rev. A. A. Marple. Trinity parish, Wilmington, has two church buildings, under the rectorship of Rev. H. Ashton Henry. The assistant, Rev. Martin B. Dunlap, has special charge of Old Swedes' Church, which the railway traveler may see from the car windows shortly before reaching the Wilmington depot, on the right hand in going from Philadelphia to that city. Swedesboro (Trinity) Church is under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. George W. Watson. Rev. C. M. Perkins, rector of Salem, N. J., adds to the cares of that parish the oversight of St. George's Church, Pennsville, formerly styled Pennsneck. The writer of these sketches gladly endeavors to perpetuate the fact that Sweden kindly handed these distant children over to the care of the American Episcopal Church. If Sweden had sent Bishops hither before England did the reciprocity might have been more visible between Swedish and English churches, and we can hardly imagine what would have been the result. DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 63 REV. DR. JEHU CURTIS CLAY was the son of Rev. Slator and Hannah (Hughes) Clay, born February 3d, A.D., 1792, in Upper Providence, Montgomery County, Pa. He was elected rector of Gloria Dei Church in December, 1831, and entered on his work in January, 1832. He died in the rectory October 20th, 1863, holding the post nearly thirty-two years. POLSTADIUS was the first minister at Racoon and Pennsneck. He was drowned in the Delaware River in 1706. The following letter from Dr. Stevenson gives a pleasant account of the Swedish relations to an ancient church in New Jersey, while Judge John Clement's articles, which accompany it, contain an interesting delineation of Swedish and English times in New Jersey, giving due credit to the religious work of the faithful Swedes and their zealous pastors. In an article entitled "Old Racoon," the Judge argues from the record of a deed of a fishery property opposite the Swedes' Church, that the first Racoon church was near the mouth of the creek of that name, and that the second one arose near a half century later, in A.D., 1702, where the "King's road from Burlington to Salem crossed the creek about six miles from the river, where a rude bridge was built, it being near the head of navigation and where considerable traffic was carried on." This was afterwards Swedesboro. The article quoted appeared in the Woodbury Constitution, August 17th, A.D., 1887. Dr. Stevenson writes: "Your sketch of the clergy of New Sweden in the Standard of the Cross is of much historical interest, and induces me to send you articles upon the Swedes of New Jersey, written by the Hon. John Clement of this place. As they were only published in local newspapers you may not otherwise have access to them." DELAWARE AND NEW JERSEY CLERGY. 64 "In the last number, June 15th, of the Standard of the Cross, page 11, is a notice of a service held at Colestown Church, Camden County, N. J. This church was largely attended by the descendants of Swedes, who settled at the mouth of the Penisauken Creek, upon whose head-waters the church stands. The three known oldest graves in its yard are of Swedish families. viz.: Philip Wallis and his wife, buried in 1746, Humphrey Day (Deay) and wife in 1760, and Elias Toy in 1762, all of whom lived on the Delaware where Palmyra now stands, or in its vicinity. "There does not appear to have been any church in the last-named place, as the settlement was small. John Rudderow, mentioned in the papers, was an English lawyer, and adherent of the Church of England. He settled in 1680 on the Penisauken, among the English Quakers, but alongside the Swedes. Holding services in his own house and being a man of education, wealth and influence, he attracted the neighboring Swedes to attend them; and, naturally, they became the staunchest friends of the organization which eventually built Colestown Church." Christ Church, Bridgeport, Pa., lies opposite Norristown, and is also seen from the railroad. It has an ancient graveyard. The Sunday-school building is near, and the rectory is perched on a hill above, commanding beautiful views towards Bryn Mawr.