| 12. | Richard Heath was born on 14 Jul 1759 in Kingwood Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey (son of Andrew Heath and Magdalene (..) Heath, Mrs); died on 13 Feb 1849 in Kingwood Twp, Hunterdon Co, New Jersey. Other Events and Attributes:
- Birth: 14 Jul 1759, Delaware Twp, New Jersey
Notes:
Richard is buried in the Old School Baptist Church Cemetery, Locktown, New Jersey.
In J.P. Snell's " History of Hunterdon & Someset Counties", Snell wrote that Richard's father, Andrew served in his place during the Revolutionary War believing Richard too young to serve. However the New Jersey Adjutant General's Offices a record of Richard having enlisted as a private in the 2nd Regiment of the Hunterdon County Militia under Captains Ely, Schenk, Stout, Phillips, Gearhart, and Hoppock, making several monthly tours. Richard's name was on the 1792 Kingwood Township Militia roll. His name is found in the daybook of John Waterhouse who kept the old Kingwood store in 1796, having purchased a 1/2 gallon of rum for seven shillings.
Richard Heath and his wife Catherine Rittenhouse were members of the Kingwood Baptist Church, incorporated on 22 May 1742, when members of the Old School Baptist Church in Hopewell wanted a church closer to their homes in Baptistown. Their assiation with the church is recorded in the Kingwood Baptist Church Records, published in 'Hunterdon County Records 1701-1838" by Phyllis D'Autrechy. The author states that the church minutes indicate the church took an active part in maintaining the moral fiber of its members and settled disputes between them. Church members were sent to admonish those who did not attend services regularly or were guilty of cardplaying, profanity, drinking and other behavior frowned upon. The admonished were able to present their cases at the next business meeting, and if found innocent or confessed to the wrongdoing were invited to "keep his place", thereby retaining membership. Exclusion from the sacraments and final dismissal resulted if the member neglected to answer the charge against him.
The first record of Richard was on 16 September 1787 when he was baptized at the age of twenty eight, followed three months later by the baptism of "Cattron" on 02 December 1787. Four years later on 24 January 1791 Richard and Catherine were ruested to appear at the next meeting, together with his brother John; the record does not state the reason. Two years later the records indicate that on 04 March 1793 Richard and Catherine were excluded, together with brother John. John was restored to membership three years later; Richard and Catherine a week later on 07 March 1796. Richard's activity in the church continued and he with two other members were delegated to ask the Reverend Garner A. Hunt, their pastor, why he had departed from their faith and order; on the first of May Rev. Hunt had joined the Presbyterians. On 10 September 1808 Richard was to procure "cole" and be a messenger to the Philadelphia Association, representing the church. Richard entered on 03 June 1809 a complaint against Thomas Dalrymple who was suspended, but later restored to membeship. Richard's daughter Elizabeth Emmons was baptized in June 1808 and was received into membership on the 19th of the same momth. At the 10 February 1810 Richard paid $ 57.25 when the trustees met at Francis Roberson's house and settled with those who held subscription papers. Richard was the moderator at the 17 March 1810 meeting, and was one of two members selected to meet with the Flemington Baptist Church to counsel them on the best method for obaining a minister.
His daughter Elizabeth Emmons was dismissed by letter on 12 May1810. At a special meeting on 08 November 1810 Richard was selected to serve on the committee which was to meet with the Amwell church regarding the need of a minister fo both churches. Richard and the committee reported on the 29 July 1811 that Rev. James McLuaghlin agreed to be their minister fo one year. Richard served as moderator for several meetings, and the last mention of him in the records was on the 01 January 1819 meeting at the Baptistown meeting house when it was agreed to build a new meeting house in the lower part of the congregation, or near Mr. William Dilt's, this meeting house was completed by 24 June 1820.
REFERENCES; Family records of Louise H. Tunison
History of Hunterdon & Somerset Counties
J.P. Snell, pgs 371,377,395
Kingwood Baptist Church Records
Letter 05 Jun 1940, Office of NJ Adjutant General
Hunterdon County Historical Assoc.
Official Register of NJ Officers & Men in the Revolution
W.S. Stryker, pg. 624
Recollections of Baptistown
J. Bellis, 1892, pg. 8
Richard married Catherine Rittenhouse about 1782 in Kingwood Mm, Hunterdon, New Jersey. Catherine (daughter of William Rittenhouse and Rebecca Harned) was born about 1762; died on 10 Jan 1830. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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Abt 1847 - Aft 1880 (~ 34 years)