John Frelinghuysen (minister)

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John Frelinghuysen (1727-1754)

Tombstone
Born 1727
Holland
Died September 5, 1754
Old Dutch Parsonage in Somerville, New Jersey
Resting place
 Somerville Cemetery, Somerville
Occupation Minister
Spouse(s) Dinah Van Bergh
Children Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753-1804)
Parents Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen

John Frelinghuysen (1727 – September 5, 1754) also known as Johannes Frelinghuysen was a minister in colonial New Jersey whose work in education laid the groundwork for the establishment Rutgers University (as Queen's College in 1766) and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary (in 1784). [1][2]

Biography

John Frelinghuysen was the second son of Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen (1691–1749), a German who had lived for a short time in Holland before emigrating in 1720. John married Dinah Van Bergh (1725–1807), and they had two children: Eva Frelinghuysen (1751 – c. 1826), Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753–1804), who became a major general in the American Revolution.

John preached in the revivalistic style of Calvinism that his father was known for as part of the First Great Awakening. He continued to serve the parishes in New Jersey that his father had served at Raritan, Millstone, and North Branch. John lived in the Old Dutch Parsonage in Somerville until his death where he served the three local congregations. He took in students and a room in the house served as a Dutch Reformed religious seminary. This center of education was a forerunner of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary and Queen's College, which later developed into Rutgers University.[2][3]

John married Dinah VanBerr and had the following children:

  • Eva Frelinghuysen (1751-c1826) who married Casparus Van Nostrand
  • Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753-1804) Major General who was buried in Weston, New Jersey.

John died in 1754 and was buried at the Somerville Cemetery, Somerville.[1] His widow, Dinah, married Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh (1735/6–1790) in 1756. Hardenbergh, one of Rev. Frelinghuysen's last theological students, would continue the work to establish a Dutch Reformed college, Queen's (Rutgers), in 1766 of which he would become its first president.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Encyclopedia of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press. 2004. ISBN 0-8135-3325-2. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Founding of Queen's College, From "Seminary of Learning" to Public Research University: A Historical Sketch of Rutgers University, by Thomas J. Frusciano, University Archivist, Rutgers University Libraries. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  3. ↑ Library History, Raritan Public Library. Retrieved February 6, 2012.

External links


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