"An excerpt from the prologue to the earliest church record book of Ye Olde Yellow Meeting House recites the history of the congregation before it was formally organized as an independent church in 1766. It begins:
‘Giving an account of ye first settlement & progress of the Baptists at Crosswicks: or Upper Freehold.
The Holy Scripture (which is ye word of ye living go, & ye only certain rule of faith & practice) doth inform us, that ye memory of the just is blessed—and, that the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. The design therefore of this following brief account of ye first settlement & progress of ye people call Baptists at Crosswicks: or Upper Freehold, in ye eastern division of the Province of New Jersey; Is, (not only for the present use, but) to perpetuate their blessed memories to the future ages.’
In its earliest days the church’s congregation, known variously by the names above, were members of the Baptist church at Middletown and, although they met together as a separate group as early 1700, they did not form an independent church until 1766 long after the present structure was built in 1737. They were first ministered to by Mr. John Burrows and then ‘Diverse other Eminent & able Ministers from other parts’ as the prologue tells us.
Land for their meetinghouse was deeded to this earliest congregation by Thomas & Rachel Saltar in 1720. Their son John lies buried in the oldest marked grave in the cemetery, having died August 29, 1723. Elisha Lawrence, buried nearby in 1724, was one of the first church members.
It was during the ministry of John Coward [1] that the present church structure was built. Coward was brought up in the Church of England, which may account for the high pulpit.
In 1766 the Church members were formally dismissed from the church in Middletown and soon thereafter ordained their first regular pastor, Rev. David Jones, who later became famous as a chaplain in the Revolution and later wars."
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Upper Freehold Baptist Church
Yellow Meeting House Rd
Red Valley, N.J.
The Old Yellow Meeting House (Upper Freehold Baptist Church), which is in Upper Freehold Township, can be reached by driving east from Imlaystown on route NJ-526 approximately 2.3 miles to a crossroad, then turning left and driving north on Old Yellow Meeting House Road 0,6 mile to the churchyard on the left.
The New Jersey Churchscape Website entry (with photo)
The old church is no longer used for regular worship services, but is maintained by the Friends of Old Yellow Meeting House, which is located in Imlaystown, NJ. This organization may be contacted at the following address:
Friends of Old Yellow Meeting House
Box 1717, Imlaystown, NJ 08526
For more information about the Old Yellow Meeting House and its Friends