A native of Malden, Massachusetts, where he was born to Jacob and Dorothy (nee Lynde) Green* in January 1722, the Rev. Jacob Green died at the age of 68. Celebrated as the first pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hanover, NJ, where he served for 44 years, he exemplified the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment, and had pursued many other vocations in addition to his religious calling, eventually becoming one of the best known men of his day.
Rev. Green's father died when he was a toddler, and his widowed mother afterwards married John Barrett. When he was seven years old, his mother and step-father moved to Killingly, Connecticut, where young Jacob spent most of his remaining formative years. His beloved mother died c.1740-41, while he was still attending Cambridge College (present day Harvard University). Following his graduation in 1744, the 22-year-old Green stopped in Elizabethtown, NJ, en route to points further south, and was inspired to stay and use his talents in New Jersey. Well-versed in law and medicine in addition to theology, he entered the political arena as a Whig, and was an early advocate for American independence. He was also the first prominent New Jerseyan to condemn slavery. In 1776, while serving as a Morris County representative to the NJ Congress, he helped draft the state's first constitution, and during the Revolutionary War served in the Gloucester County Militia. The dynamic statesman-clergyman's talents also extended to the entreprenurial as the owner of both a gristmill and a distillery. Rev. Green's first wife, the former Anna Strong, died of tuberculosis in 1756. His second wife, Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Rev. John Pierson of Woodbridge, survived him by twenty years. His spouses' gravestones--Anna's of colonial brown sandstone, Elizabeth's of Federal era marble--flank the eroded marble ledgerstone which covers his grave. A military marker citing his Revolutionary War service is at its head. The lengthy inscription on the ledgerstone (see below) serves as an apt eulogy.
Rev. Green's father died when he was a toddler, and his widowed mother afterwards married John Barrett. When he was seven years old, his mother and step-father moved to Killingly, Connecticut, where young Jacob spent most of his remaining formative years. His beloved mother died c.1740-41, while he was still attending Cambridge College (present day Harvard University). Following his graduation in 1744, the 22-year-old Green stopped in Elizabethtown, NJ, en route to points further south, and was inspired to stay and use his talents in New Jersey. Well-versed in law and medicine in addition to theology, he entered the political arena as a Whig, and was an early advocate for American independence. He was also the first prominent New Jerseyan to condemn slavery. In 1776, while serving as a Morris County representative to the NJ Congress, he helped draft the state's first constitution, and during the Revolutionary War served in the Gloucester County Militia. The dynamic statesman-clergyman's talents also extended to the entreprenurial as the owner of both a gristmill and a distillery. Rev. Green's first wife, the former Anna Strong, died of tuberculosis in 1756. His second wife, Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Rev. John Pierson of Woodbridge, survived him by twenty years. His spouses' gravestones--Anna's of colonial brown sandstone, Elizabeth's of Federal era marble--flank the eroded marble ledgerstone which covers his grave. A military marker citing his Revolutionary War service is at its head. The lengthy inscription on the ledgerstone (see below) serves as an apt eulogy.
A native of Malden, Massachusetts, where he was born to Jacob and Dorothy (nee Lynde) Green* in January 1722, the Rev. Jacob Green died at the age of 68. Celebrated as the first pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hanover, NJ, where he served for 44 years, he exemplified the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment, and had pursued many other vocations in addition to his religious calling, eventually becoming one of the best known men of his day.
Rev. Green's father died when he was a toddler, and his widowed mother afterwards married John Barrett. When he was seven years old, his mother and step-father moved to Killingly, Connecticut, where young Jacob spent most of his remaining formative years. His beloved mother died c.1740-41, while he was still attending Cambridge College (present day Harvard University). Following his graduation in 1744, the 22-year-old Green stopped in Elizabethtown, NJ, en route to points further south, and was inspired to stay and use his talents in New Jersey. Well-versed in law and medicine in addition to theology, he entered the political arena as a Whig, and was an early advocate for American independence. He was also the first prominent New Jerseyan to condemn slavery. In 1776, while serving as a Morris County representative to the NJ Congress, he helped draft the state's first constitution, and during the Revolutionary War served in the Gloucester County Militia. The dynamic statesman-clergyman's talents also extended to the entreprenurial as the owner of both a gristmill and a distillery. Rev. Green's first wife, the former Anna Strong, died of tuberculosis in 1756. His second wife, Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Rev. John Pierson of Woodbridge, survived him by twenty years. His spouses' gravestones--Anna's of colonial brown sandstone, Elizabeth's of Federal era marble--flank the eroded marble ledgerstone which covers his grave. A military marker citing his Revolutionary War service is at its head. The lengthy inscription on the ledgerstone (see below) serves as an apt eulogy.
Rev. Green's father died when he was a toddler, and his widowed mother afterwards married John Barrett. When he was seven years old, his mother and step-father moved to Killingly, Connecticut, where young Jacob spent most of his remaining formative years. His beloved mother died c.1740-41, while he was still attending Cambridge College (present day Harvard University). Following his graduation in 1744, the 22-year-old Green stopped in Elizabethtown, NJ, en route to points further south, and was inspired to stay and use his talents in New Jersey. Well-versed in law and medicine in addition to theology, he entered the political arena as a Whig, and was an early advocate for American independence. He was also the first prominent New Jerseyan to condemn slavery. In 1776, while serving as a Morris County representative to the NJ Congress, he helped draft the state's first constitution, and during the Revolutionary War served in the Gloucester County Militia. The dynamic statesman-clergyman's talents also extended to the entreprenurial as the owner of both a gristmill and a distillery. Rev. Green's first wife, the former Anna Strong, died of tuberculosis in 1756. His second wife, Elizabeth, who was the daughter of the Rev. John Pierson of Woodbridge, survived him by twenty years. His spouses' gravestones--Anna's of colonial brown sandstone, Elizabeth's of Federal era marble--flank the eroded marble ledgerstone which covers his grave. A military marker citing his Revolutionary War service is at its head. The lengthy inscription on the ledgerstone (see below) serves as an apt eulogy.
Inscription
"Under this Stone are deposited the
remains of the Rev'd
Jacob Green A.M.
First Pastor of this Church; who
died May 24, 1790 Aged 68 Years
of which 44 were Spent in the
Gospel Ministry in this Place;
He was a man
Of temper even, firm and resolute,
Of affections temperate, steady,
And benevolent;
Of genius solid, inquisitive
And penetrating;
Of industry, active and unwearied;
Of learning, various and accurate;
Of manners, simple and reserved;
Of piety, humble, enlightened,
Fervent, eminent.
As a preacher he was
instructive, plain, searching
Practical;
As a pastor, watchful
Laborious, ever intent
On some plan for the
Glory of God and the
Salvation of his flock.
And by the divine blessing
Happily and eminently
Successful."
Gravesite Details
*Info re: Dorothy Lynde Green - "Annals of the American Pulpit: Presbyterian" by WB Sprague, pub. 1860
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