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UNDER PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK BISHOPS 83
back, Eva Lehman, Matthew and Charlotte Goeck. But what became of
these people or their descendants very’ little is known. Up to a few years
ago, there were Millers and Lehmans, but the other names are not found in
or about Bridgeton parish. That some lost their faith we can readily sup-
pose, but the presumption is that the disturbances consequent upon the Ameri-
can Revolution scattered them to other sections of the country, so that even
now it is impossible to locate the house where Father Farmer held the first
services in this section; his Register merely calls it Cohansey Bridge and
Cumberland County.
The last baptism recorded by Father Farmer at Cohansey Bridge was in
November, 1779. After that we find no records of Catholic services being
held here till 1848, when the Rev. John McDermott of Salem came occa-
sionally, The Catholics who did remain or who came later found their way
to Port Elizabeth or Pleasant Mills, as from 1816-1848 these were the only
regularly-attended stations in that district, but about this date the Redemptor-
ist Fathers from St. Peter’s began to make yearly visits to Millville, and the
Catholics of Bridgeton went there to attend Divine Services. Rev. Fathers
Bayer, Coudenhove and Haltzer, C. S. S. R., were particularly active mis-
sionaries at this period on the West Jersey Missions.
In 1848-30 Rev. E. Q. S. Waldron of Gloucester made his way into this
section and visited the scattered Catholics. These visits were continued
by his successors, Rev. H. B. Finnegan, 1750-51, Rev. J. F. Hannigan, ’51-52,
when it became a Mission of Salem under Rev. John McDermott, who kept
watch over the few Catholics of Cumberland, Salem and Cape May Counties.
Following Father McDermott came Rev. Cornelius Cannon who for fifteen
years had charge of the church at Salem, during part of which time Bridgeton
was attended from that place till about 1863, when the Mission of Bridgeton
was placed in charge of the Redemptorist Fathers of St. Peter’s, 5th and
Gerard Ave., who came monthly and held services in private houses and also
in Grosscup’s Hall. About 1863 Bridgeton became a Mission of Millville, and
in 1863 Joachim Hayman was in charge, and in 1864 Rev. Joseph Wirth.
From June 16, 1864, Rev. Martin I. Gesner of Millville attended the
Catholics of the Bridgeton district. He it was who, in 1864, built the first
Catholic Church in Bridgeton. The church was built upon a lot located at
the corner of Pearl and North Streets, given to Rt. Rev. Bishop Bayley for
that purpose by old Mrs. Charles Miller of Deerfield. The church was dedi-
cated by Bishop Bayley in June, 1867.
At this date (1867) there were about thirty Catholic families in and
around Bridgeton, and Father Gesner worked very hard to organize and
build up this parish. The old church is still standing (1905), a monument to
his zeal and untiring labors, but time is showing its traces, and a new church
is one of the works the future Catholics must do.
Father Gesner remained in charge till February 9, 1873, when he was
_ transferred to Elizabeth Port and was succeeded by Rev. Theophilous Degan,
a Hollander, who as pastor of St. Mary’s attended Bridgeton twice a month,
Father Degan built the present rectory and remained in charge until 1878,