JoHN PIERSON was the youngest son of the Rev. Abraham Pierson (Harv. Coll. 1668), and was born in Newark, New Jersey, where his father was then minister, in 1689 or 1690. His mother was Abigail, daughter of George Clark, of Milford.
In 1694 his father settled in Killingworth, Connecticut, where he lived, as pastor of the church, and after 1701 as Rector of the Collegiate School, until his death in 1707.
The son studied theology, and resided for a few years in the eastern parish of Guilford, Connecticut, probably as a teacher. As early as 1714 he was preaching in Woodbridge, New Jersey, to the Presbyterian Church which had endeavored, but in vain, to secure his father as its minister in 1669. He was ordained at Woodbridge, April 29, 1717, the officiating clergymen being Jedediah Andrews (Harv. Coll. 1695), of Philadelphia, John Prudden (Harv. Coll. 1668), of Newark, Joseph Morgan, of Freehold, Robert Orr, of Maidenhead, and Jonathan Dickinson.
In the divisions which affected the Presbyterian body, he favored the “New Side,” under the leadership of Jonathan Dickinson, whose parish adjoined his, and who was his intimate friend; when in 1746 the College of New Jersey received its first charter, his name stood next to Dickinson's in the list of Trustees; and when Dickinson's death occurred, the next year, it was his duty to preach the sermon at the funeral. He retained his connection with the College until 1765.
In 1752 he was dismissed from his pastorate, at his own request, and the manuscript records of the church preserve the testimony that “he was justly reputed and esteemed a worthy and able minister, sound in the faith, and of exemplary conversation and conduct. He well supported the dignity of his office, and had but few equals in his day, in theological knowledge.” Another account, in an official letter sent to England by the Rev. Thomas B. Chandler (Y. C. 1745), the Episcopal missionary at Elizabethtown, states that Mr. Pierson was dismissed in consequence of his being somewhat dull, and too feeble an antagonist of the Episcopal Church, which had a strong foothold in Woodbridge.
His next settlement was in Mendham, New Jersey, where he remained for ten years (1753–62).
He then removed to Jamaica, Long Island, and resided for a short time on a farm belonging to his second wife, Judith Smith, who died there, October 19, 1764, in her 67th year.
He then went to live with his daughter, Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. Jacob Green (Harv. Coll. 1744), the minister of Hanover, New Jersey, and in this home he died, August 23, 1770, in his 81st year.
His tombstone describes him as “an eminent divine; an excellent casuist; a faithful searching preacher; a devout and steadfast Christian; an undaunted reprover; a peculiar economist; stern in his behavior, yet benevolent and kind. He passed through many scenes of life without a blemish in his behaviour." Three sons and four daughters survived him.
He first married (July 18, 1716) Ruth, second daughter of the Rev. Timothy Woodbridge (Harv. Coll. 1675) of Hartford, Connecticut, who died in Woodbridge, January 7, 1732–3, aged 37 years, leaving two daughters and a son. The sermon at her funeral, by the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, was printed (N. Y., 1733).
He published:—
1. A Sermon preached at the ordination of the Rev. Aaron Burr, January 25, 1737-8.
2. The Faithful Minister. A Funeral Sermon [from Eph. vi, 21], preached at Elizabeth-Town, October 9, 1747. Occasioned by the Death of the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Dickinson. . . N.-Y., 1748. 8°, pp. 24. [M. H. S. N. Y. H. S. Y. C.
3. Christ, the Son of God, as God-Man Mediator. A Sermon [from Heb. i, 4, 5] Preached at Newark . . May 8, 1751. Before the New York Presbytery in their Session there. Boston, 1751. 8°, pp. 29. [M. H. S.
4. A Discourse on the Nature and Benefits of Christ's Intercession. 1765. 12°, pp. 24. [Libr. Co. of Philad.
AUTHORITIES.
Dally. Woodbridge and Vicinity, 173–6.
Green, Discourses delivered in the College of N. J., 298.
Mitchell, Woodbridge Record, 28.
N. E. Hist. and Geneal. Register, xxxvii, 34.
Records of the Presbyterian Church, 1706–88, pp. 39, 41, 43.
Stearns, First Church in Newark, 122, 178, 179.
Webster, Hist. of the Presbyterian Church, 357.
Whitehead, Contributions to E. Jersey History, 388, 391.
