LOCKTOWN NJ OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE

Locktown Old School Meeting House

Locktown Got Its Name as Result of a Church Quarrel

First Church, Erected There in 1819, Is Still Standing

Old Families Have Gone

by Egbert T. Bush, Stockton, N.J., May 22, 1930

Among the good old towns and hamlets that have taken names from some trivial incidents or unimportant circumstances, Locktown stands out as probably the only one that took its name from anything like a church quarrel.

The Baptist Church of Kingwood (O.S.)1 was organized at Baptisttown in 1745. It grew and throve. By the early years of the nineteenth century, so many holders of that faith lived in the vicinity of what has now long been Locktown, that it was decided to build a church here, composed chiefly of members from the Baptisttown organization.

By deed dated May 29, 1819, Daniel Rittenhouse conveyed to Adam Williamson, Uriah Sutton and George Opdyke, “Trustees of the Baptist Church and Congregation of Kingwood,” one lot for the church building and an adjoining lot to be used for a burial place.2 The substantial stone house, still in fine condition, bears date of 1819.

Rev. David Bateman was the first pastor and served to the time of his death. By his own request he was buried under the floor of the church. If we remove the top from a table standing in front of the pulpit, directly over his final resting place, we find a neat marble slab inscribed: “Sacred to the Memory of Rev. David Bateman whom Jesus called from this life, September 10th, 1832, in the 55th year of his age.”

Dissention in the Church
The church remained harmonious and prosperous for several years. Then some dissention arose, dividing the congregation into two distinct factions. What it was all about, nobody seems to know; but things got so warm that at last one faction padlocked the doors against the other. The keeper of the tavern on the adjoining lot was not satisfied. His artistic eye detected lack of harmony. After due consideration, he came to the conclusion that three locks would harmonize better than two. So he secured the biggest padlock that could be found and fastened it against the wall, midway between the other two. Of course the ever-present wag saw his opportunity. He promptly nicknamed the place “Locktown;” and Locktown officially and otherwise, it has remained to this day.3

This interesting old church survived the storm, and prospered for many years. Then it began to dwindle. Now there are only about a dozen members, only one of whom lives in the vicinity. But it has set its indelible stamp upon the community.4

By deed dated May 8, 1832, Joseph Lair conveyed to the “Christian Church of Amwell” a lot upon which to build a house of worship, the deed providing “That the house shall be a free house according to the Principle of Christian Liberty, that it shall bear the name of Christian Chapel and shall be under control of the Christian Society so long as they act according to their views of Christian Liberty, believing as they do,” . . . Here is given a resume of the doctrines held by the organization. The house, said to have been built three years before the deed was given, is still in fine condition, and the organization is flourishing.5

The Tavern Built
The tavern on the corner lot south of the Baptist Church was evidently built by Daniel Rittenhouse soon after he sold the land for the church.6 He probably retained this desirable corner for that purpose. We find by his will dated 1843 and probated 1848, that Daniel left “the tavern property” to his wife Elizabeth, “so long as she remains my widow.” This shows the tavern as an established institution in 1843, but leaves the date of the building still a question.

In 1858, the tavern property, as the estate of Daniel Rittenhouse, was sold to Ely Britton, who sold it to Elisha Warford in 1863. Warford sold it to John Picker in 1868. After that time it had several owners for brief periods. Benjamin Horne sold it in 1907 to Mary D. Bodine, wife of Henry F. Bodine. She is still the owner and, with her son Harry B. Bodine, occupies the house. No license has been granted there for over 50 years.

From 1861 to 1863, the tavern was occupied by Elisha Warford’s daughter Mary Ann and her husband Benjamin Ellicott. They had been living in Baltimore until the Civil War made life difficult there. Ellicott kept a diary during his stay at the tavern which has been saved and archived at the Hunterdon Co. Historical Society. I hope to write about it one day for its personal view of the Civil War as well as the vicinity of Locktown. It is curious that Elisha Warford bought the tavern after the death of Benjamin Ellicott; perhaps it was to give his widowed daughter some security. Eventually, she and her children moved into her father’s house in Croton where they were counted in the 1870 census.

Like the other taverns in Hunterdon County, this one merits its own story, which must wait for another day. Mr. Bush continues with a chain of title for a farm to the north of Locktown:

May 1, 1816, Jonas Waterhouse sold to Daniel Rittenhouse a farm of 135 acres, lying northward from Locktown. The deed says: “Whereas Joshua Waterhouse at his decease was lawfully seized of 406 acres of land conveyed by certain deeds, one from George Fox, May 28, 1746, another from Israel Pemberton and wife, April 23, 1763, division having been made in 1799, Jonas Waterhouse became owner of the above 135 acres.” This farm was left by will of Daniel Rittenhouse to his sons, David and Dansill Later it became the property of George D., generally known as “Dans” Rittenhouse.

This is a wonderful and very valuable deed recital giving a chain of title back to 1746. The property was not the homestead farm of Daniel Rittenhouse, but instead an investment property, at a time when Rittenhouse was expanding his distilling operation. He no doubt had need of space for apple orchards as well as timber for the fires that kept the stills in operation.

Meeting House as it looked in 1896