The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-08-02
REV. HEZEKIAH
SMITH, DID.
A MoliiS County Boy Of TIE
Early Day. One Of Wash
ingtOn's ChapIains.
BY Ex-MAYoR N0PMAN FOX


The first convert baptized and unit
ing with the Morristown Baptist
Church was Hezekiah Smith, a young
man living in Hanover township. one
who was destined to be leader iii
church and state The Life Of the
Rev. Hezekiah Smith, d. d.. Of Haver-
hill, Mass. by r. A. Guild, LID.
Librarian of Brown University Is
volume which presents not only the
story Of q useful life but also a graphic
picture Of scenes Of the Eighteenth
Century.
He was born at Hampstead, Long
Island, April 21st, 1887. at the are
Of nineteen he became the subject of
religious impressions, and Feb. 18TH.
1856, was baptised BY the Rev. John
Gano, the first pastor of the Morris
town Baptist Church His thoughts
were turned towards the ministry and
he became one of the first pupils Of
the Rev. Isaac Eaton at the Hopewell
lN, y.) Academy, which was after
wards removed to Rhode Island and
was developed into Brown University.
ln 1859 he entered the Sophomore
Glass at Princeton College and took
his Bachelors degree in 1852 Among
others Of his classmates who attained
distinction was james Manning Of
Elizabeth, the first president Of Brown.
A month after graduation he set
out on an eyangelizing tour to the
Carolinas. In a single year he rode on
horseback 4, 23s miles, preaching as he
journeyed In Sept. 1868, at Charles
ton, he was ordained an evangelist
The next February he returned by
sloop to New York.
He then made a preaching tour
through New England. Iii July lie
arrived at HaverhiIl, Mass, where his
discourses commanded great interest
and where the next May there was or
ganized a Baptist church, Of which he
became pastor, serving them for forty
years, till his death in 1906. He was
one of the best specimens of the early
New England clergy, a man Of wide
influence In social as we'll ais religious
concerns. His labors were not con-
fined to his own parish, but be inter
ested himself III the affairs Of the col
ony at large, and he made extensive
preaching tours through regions where
there was religious destitution,
He is widely known as one Of the
Chaplains Of the Revolutionary Army.
He was always interested in civil as
we'll as religious matters. In his
Journal for 1866 we find the following
entry: Thursday, July 24th.
Preached two sermons, one In my
meeting house and the other at New
Rowley. 1t was a good Thanksgiving
Day, which day was by authority set
apart as a day OF thanksgiving on ac-
count OF the repeal of the Stamp Act. 7
But this slight clearing of the sky was
followed by ever thickening tempests
and in IT'S we find him with young
men of his town among the troops
around Boston. Among his papers is
a somewhat extended outline of a SER
mon on The Soldiers Spiritual Ar
NOR, " which according to note at
the end was composed to preach the
18th Of June, l775, at Cambridge,
amongst Col Nixon's regiment, in
consequence Of an invitation by letter
from the Colonel himself. Had not
this been carefully written out the
world might have lost it, for on Satur-
day the 17th, came the battle of Bum
ker Hill and it is doubtful if the next
day the excitement had SO far sub
sided as to allow the men to give due
attention to this well-prepared dis
course.
Under date Of July 18th, l775, the
church records say" Voted, That
our pastor shall comply with the re-
quest Of Col Nixon and supply as
Chaplain the quarter part OF the time
for the future in his regiment, " In
this regiment were many from Hayer-
hill Col. John Nixon was present as
soldier at the siege Of Louisburg in
l745 was captain in the attack on
Ticonderoga and in the battle of Lake
George was at the head Of company
Of minute men at Lexington, and at
Bunker Hill received wound from
which he never recovered. He was
made Brigadler General, Aug, 9th,
l776, and placed by Washington in
command of Governors Island. He
was again severely wounded at Still
water, receiving permanent injuries.
EHe and the Chaplain were warm per-
sonal friends.
1 Chaplain Smiths letters 10 his
wife give many vivid details Of Wash-
| ington's siege Of Boston When the
army was transferred to New York. he
went as Chaplain Of Nixon's and
Reeds regiments, arriving there April
f15th. When the latter was sent to
Canada, Webb's took its place. The
next December, after an absence from
home Of a year and eight months, he
took furlough.
Among the papers left BY him is a