account-book, in the form of a ledger, and once well bound in parchment, kept by the second pastor, Caleb Smith, and commenced in 1751. In this are found the names of his parishioners, of a number of boys instructed by him, and an account of the settlement of his estate by the executors. After his death the trustees kept their records in it, and copied into it the charter obtained in 1783. And from that time the minutes of the trustees, and those of the annual meetings of the parish, have been preserved. From these and other sources much knowledge has been obtained respecting the parish during the last century. The labor involved in researches of this kind is peculiarly tedious. Let the reader imagine himself starting from the mouth of the Mississippi, without a map, to trace backward its lengthened flow to its dis tant sources. Let him think of following the trunk up to its branches, and these to their tributaries, and these to their thousand little feeders and inlets. Such a labor is this. It has sometimes required months to trace some family stream to its ancient springlet. Many an afternoon has been passed in the old graveyard, among monuments so bronzed and moss-grown by the long action of the elements, as almost to defy the hand of Old Mortality. Recourse has been had to historical societies, to ecclesiastical records, to old account-books and journals, to deeds and wills, to town records, and to the living descendants of pastors and others noticed in the history. The list of Church officers and the statistical tables are the result of investigations renewed and persevered in for a year or more. Of all this the reader will have little thought as his eye runs over the pages. But as the beauty and pleasure of life, or the value of any work of art, is a result depending on a thousand indispensable details and trifles, even so is it with a historical narrative. The present labor will have its reward, if, in this "walk about Zion," the writer has gathered anything worthy of being "told to the generation following." In that portion of the work which relates to the early settlements of the town, free use has been made of Dr. Stearns' History of the First Church in Newark; and much personal aid has been received from Dr. Samuel H. Congar, "the indefatigable antiquarian of Newark," and librarian of the New Jersey Historical Society. Indeed, without the kind interest taken in the work by the latter gentleman, the history in its present expanded form would never have been undertaken. In the biographical notices of two of the pastors (Smith and Hillyer), much information has been drawn from Sprague's Annals of the American Pul pit. For many facts relating to Jedediah Chapman, the writer is indebted to his grandson, Rev. Robert H. Chapman, D. D., of Asheville, N. C. He is also under obligations to Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer, of Philadelphia, Rev. Dr. Sprague, of Albany, Rev. Dr. Murray, of Geneva, Rev. Dr. Krebs, of New York, and a number of others, for their courteous responses to his inquiries. The brief notices given of other religious societies in Orange are from statements kindly furnished by their present pastors. That of the Bloomfield Church is from the published historical discourses of its late pastor, Rev. J. M. Sherwood. While the particular subject of this history is the Mountain Society, it will be seen to be identified through a long period with a general history of this part of the old township of Newark. The author has undertaken it in the hope of doing an acceptable service to his fellow-townsmen of every class, as well as to the congregation to whom he ministers. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. A Hundred and Forty Years Ago-Glance at the Colonies-Ante- neck Purchase CHAPTER II. THE MOUNTAIN SOCIETY. Half a Century-A Generation Gone-Presbyterianism and Con- Boundaries-A "Dissenting Ministry "-First Meeting-House- Spirit of the Settlers-Samuel Pierson, the Carpenter-Hands Graduation at Killingworth-Labors on Long Island-Death of his Wife-Removal to New Jersey-Deeds and Dates-Home- stead and Farm-Revival of 1734-5-Negro Plots-The Great Land Monopoly-Its Rights Examined-Measures of Defence- Prosecutions and Riots-The Rioters Vindicated-Defence of Samuel Harrison's Day-Book-Parsonage House — The Young Minister-The Church Presbyterian-The Minister's Marriage- Parsonage Memories-Wood-Drawing-More Riots-A Queer Wind - Influence on the Provincial Assembly - Indictments and Fines-Second Meeting-House-Contract for Finishing— Pewholders and Rates-A Hurricane-Death of Mrs. Smith- Sanctified Sorrows-Second Marriage-Mr. Smith's Character- Letters to Rev. Joseph Bellamy-Settlement of Mr. Chapman- |