The Presbyterian Ministerial Directory of 1898 showed John Murphy Rogers born 18 March 1818 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was ordained on 15 May 1844 in Machodoc, Virginia in Westmoreland County.
The General Catalogue of Princeton University (1746 - 1906) lists John Murphy Rogers as attending Princeton University from 1839 - 1942 and receiving his A.M. at Princeton in 1840. He served as Chaplain, New Jersey State Prison from 1878 - 1893. The Reverend died in 1899.
The necrology report in the Synod's 78th annual report published in 1900 contained this report on John Muphry Rogers:
JOHN MURPHY ROGERS was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, March 15th, 1818. His father, William L. Rogers, was an army officer in the war of 1812, and removed with his family to Princeton, N. J., some time prior to 1836. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1837. Afterwards he studied law, but finding himself called to the ministry, he abandoned his chosen profession, and entered the Princeton Seminary, and graduated in 1842. He was ordained by the Presbytery of West Jersey May 15th, 1844, and installed pastor at Woodbury, N. J., where he remained until 1847. In 1850 he became pastor at Middletown Point (now Matawan), which pastorate continued until 1867. He then removed to Princeton, where he remained for two years without a charge; but in 1873 he became pastor in Morrisville, Pa., which church he served until 1877, making his home meantime in Princeton. From 1878 to 1893 he served as Chaplain of the New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, N. J. fie then returned to his birthplace, Machodoc, Westmoreland County, Va., where he peacefully passed away November 19th, 1899, in the eighty-second year of his age.
John M Rogers was a 30 year old Virginia native, according to the 1850 Federal Census, which showed him as a Presbyterian clergyman living in Raritan Township, NJ with his wife Jane (24) and daughter Eliza (6). The wife was born in Virginia and daughter in New Jersey.
John M Rogers was a 42 year old Virginia native, according to the 1860 Federal Census, which showed him as an Old Side Presbyterian (OSP) clergyman living in Matawan with his wife Jane (36) and daughters Lizzie (15) and Anna (8). The wife was born in Virginia and the two children were born in New Jersey. He had $5,000 worth of property.
John M Rogers was a 52 year old Virginia native, according to the 1870 Federal Census, which showed him as a Minister living in Princeton, NJ with his wife Jane (45), daughter Anita (17) and son William (9), as well as his mother Jane (68). The wife and mother were born in Virginia and the two children in New Jersey. He had a total of $35,000 worth of property.
According to Presbyterians Pioneer at Matawan, pp. 35-36:
Soon after becoming its pastor, [Reverend Rogers] acquired a large dairy farm on New Brunswick Avenue, about one-thousand feet west of the old Mount Pleasant Church. The farm remained in his possession until three years after he left the Church. Today, Mr and Mrs Clarence G Linden, members of the congregation, live in a home converted from a former storage building on the farm. The original homestead burned.
Near the end of the Rev Mr Rogers' pastorate, in 1867, the Church was enlarged and improved at a cost of about four thousand dollars. During alterations services were held in the First Baptist Church until February 1868.
After leaving the Church, the Rev Mr Rogers became Protestant chaplain of the New Jersey State Prison at Trenton.
Presbyterians Pioneer adds that the manse at 230 Main Street was built in 1853, which would have been during Reverend Rogers' early tenure at Matawan.
Hello Pat. I came across your very interesting research while going through some old family silver and refreshing my memory about John Rogers. (His grandson married into my family.)
ReplyDeleteJames and Harriet Luttrell Rogers of Allentown, New Jersey had six children. (They were Samuel and Benjamin Rogers of Bordentown, William Rogers of Princeton, Nancy (Anna) Basse wife “Baron” Detamar Basse, Mary wife of James Sarmiento, and Elizabeth (Silver) of Philadelphia.
Harriet was a daughter of Henry Lawes Luttrell, Earl of Carhampton and Elizabeth Mullen of Trenton, whom he met while serving in H.M. 48th Regiment of Foot. Elizabeth lost her husband to his military duty, a romantic story, but was finally left alone with her daughter Harriet. Elizabeth in 1766 married a young lawyer David Brearly, Chief Justice of New Jersey, who took responsibility for Harriet’s education. Brearly died in 1790 at the age of 45.
James Rogers (b. 1763) was the son of Isaac Tallman Rogers of Allentown and served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1787-90. He died May 29, 1791
37 S. MAIN STREET, Allentown Residence Records dating as far back as 1777 identify this building as a dry goods/mercantile store owned by James Rogers.
When James died Harriet married David Brearly, Chief Justice of New Jersey, who took responsibility for the children’s education. Brearly died in 1790 at the age of 45.
The children of Harriet and James Rogers:
Benjamin joined the Navy and was captured in the war of 1812, released by the intercession of his grandfather the Earl of Carhampton. Entered the West Indian Trade and probably died in New Orleans.
Samuel had a similar career to his brother Benjamin.
Isaac ( b. 1786) was lost at sea (merchant service) before the war.
Willliam lived in Princeton. William served in the War of 1812 in Westmoreland County, Virginia and returned after the war to marry Ann Murphy and take her back to Princeton. They had two children John Murphy Rogers and Anita Rogers (m. Williams). After she died he married her sister Jane and died in Princeton 1866. Anita’s son John Rogers Williams inherited the portrait of Mary Sarmiento.
Nancy (Anna) Maria Basse was the third wife of Baron Dettmar Basse of Germany, who met him when he visited Joseph Bonaparte at his Point Breeze estate in Bordentown, New Jersey.
Mary born 1782, marriedJuly 16, 1808 James Sarmiento. She survived him and died January 10, 1874 at the age of 92. They had four children. Her daughter Josephina married Biddle of Philadelphia.
1817-32 Joseph Bonaparte in New Jersey at Point Breeze. Anna Rogers may have met Dettmar Basse there as he had been a diplomat in the Paris court of Napoleon, Joseph’s brother. Basse came to America and prospered, naming a town in Pennsylvania after his daughter by his first wife (Zelie). There is a small museum there containing family letters and other items.