A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

who daily pass by this house think of the reminiscences connected with it, or stop to glance the eye
towards its antique appearance.
Captain Webb, it is most likely, preached in Trenton in 1769. There was a Mr. Singer, an
Englishman, as we have been informed, with whom Captain Webb was acquainted, who entertained
him on his first visit to this town; and became a Methodist. He and Conrad Cotts, who was the first
Methodist class leader in Trenton, were chief men in the society, in the beginning. It seems highly
probable that societies were formed by Mr. Webb in Burlington, New Mills, and Trenton, about the
same time -- namely, in 1770 or 1771.
The first Methodist society mentioned by Mr. Asbury, as being in Jersey, was the Trenton society.
Under date of July 22, 1772, he says, "In meeting the small society of about nineteen persons, I gave
them tickets, and found it a comfortable time. They are a serious people; and there is some prospect
of much good being done in this place." "Asbury's Journal," vol. i., p. 21.
Mrs. Hughlett Hancock was received by Mr. Asbury into the Methodist society, in the latter part
of 1771 or early in 1772. She was probably considered a member at Trenton at first. Mr. Hancock's
became a home for the preachers. She was alive in 1802, and warm in her first love.
This reception of Mrs. Hancock by Mr. Asbury, it appears, was as Mr. Asbury was going from
Philadelphia to New York, in the latter end of 1771.
The Methodists of Trenton, after holding their meeting for a few years in the court house, school
houses, and private houses, provided an humble place for them to worship in. When Benjamin
Abbott first preached in Trenton, which was about 1778 or 1779, he says, on page 58 of his life: "I
went to Trenton, and our meeting house being turned into a stable by the army, they gave me leave
to preach in the Presbyterian meeting house." Probably it was about 1773 that this Methodist meeting
house was provided for the Trenton society.
About the same time that Captain Webb established preaching in Burlington, New Mills, and
Trenton, Mr. Chew's house, near Carpenter's Landing, became another appointment for preaching.
Mr. Thomas Taper lived not far from Mr. Chew; his house also became a place for the Methodists
to preach in. He was the father-in-law of John Firth, the compiler of the Rev. Benjamin Abbott's life.
In the society which was raised up about this time in this region, Messrs. Chew and Taper were chief
men. The old Methodist chapel called "Bethel" was subsequently founded in their neighborhood.
Thomas and Margaret Taper entertained Bishop Asbury in 1806, -- they had then been feeding the
Lord's prophets nearly forty years.
Many anecdotes have been related by the Methodist preachers and people concerning Mr. Chew,
and we hope to be excused for converting one of the best of them into history. Father Chew, like
many Methodists during the revolutionary war, was conscientiously against bearing arms, and, on
that account, was regarded as an enemy to his country. An attempt was made to confiscate his estate.
He was brought into court where the judges were sitting with powdered locks. When his name was
called he stepped up, looking them in the face, and taking the initiative, inquired of them: "Were ever