REVEREND
EZRA KING
by
Thomas R. Bayles
Patchogue Advance
January 5, 1961
Photo from the Donald Bayles collection.
The Rev. Ezra
King, pastor of the Middle Island and South Haven
Presbyterian churches from 1810 to 1844, was born in East
Marion July 24, 1784. His father was Jeremiah King, a
soldier in the Revolution, and he was a direct descendant
of William King of England, who settled in Salem, Mass.,
in 1635. Ezra King received his early education in his
native village, taught school a few years, and then
decided to study for the ministry.
He studied at
Clinton Academy in East Hampton, and in 1808 commenced
the study of theology under the Rev. Aaron Woolworth,
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bridgehampton. He
completed his course under the Rev. Lyman Beecher, pastor
of the Presbyterian Church at East Hampton, and in 1809
was licensed to preach by the Long Island Presbytery.
In May 1810 he
was called to supply the parishes of Middletown (Middle
Island) and South Haven, and in the spring of 1811 he was
given a call to become the pastor of these two churches.
On October 14, 1811 he married Lydia Youngs of East
Marion, a descendant of the Rev. John Youngs, first
minister of the Southold Church in 1640. They moved into
the house, which had been built by the Rev. Herman
Daggett, the minister before him. It stood across the
road from the Middle Island Church. He later bought the
house and farm adjoining it of about 100 acres that
extended up Church Lane to Half Mile Pond or Pine Lake as
it is now called. This farm also included a tract on the
east side of the road adjoining the church, and on a part
of which is now located the Presbyterian Church manse,
that was purchased in 1959. In addition to the work as
pastor he conducted his farm, and also taught pupils at
his home, before the first school in Middle Island was
built about 1816, that stood just east of the church. He
was also appointed by the town as one of the school
inspectors for several years. His wife died September 24,
1814, leaving him with two small children, Thomas and
Lydia.
On September
10, 1816 he married Eliza Helme of Miller Place and six
children were born to them: Her grandmother was Hannah
Smith, daughter of Major William Henry Smith, a son of
Col. William Tangier Smith, who settled in Setauket in
1686, and later purchased the Manor of St. George from
the Indians.
Eliza Helme,
while a girl of 13 years of age, attended a school for
gir!s conducted by Mrs. Lyman Beecher in her home at East
Hampton in 1806, and while there made a beautiful picture
of a Biblical scene embroidered in colored silk floss, as
taught by Mrs., Beecher. This picture has hung for a
great many years on the wall in the homestead of Mrs.
Richard M. Bayles of Middle Island, mother of Thomas and
Albert Bayles, and who was a granddaughter of the Rev.
Ezra King and his wife, Eliza.
It was an
active life that "Priest King" (as he was
affectionately called by the members of his parishes)
led, and he covered his immense territory mostly on
horse-back. In addition to Middle Island and Yaphank this
included South Haven, which extended from Moriches to
Patchogue. It was during his pastorate that the South
Haven
Church was
built in 1828, which has just been moved to a new
location in Brookhaven, Also, the present Middle Island
Church was built in 1837, while he was here, to replace
the first one built in1766, The church record for April
30, 1837 contains the following record with regard to
leaving the old meeting house: "May much seed that
has here been sown yet spring up and be abundantly
realized in a glorious harvest that shall wave in
immortal beauty over the dust. and remains of this
demolished temple." Thirty-six members were received
into the church during that year.
The Autumn of
1833 was a time of sorrow for pastor King, as his aged
mother died October 15, and his wife, Eliza, December 21,
leaving him with -six children under 15 years of age, and
one of them a baby of 11 months.
By 1839 his
health began to fail from overwork in caring for his
large family, his farm and two churches, so he asked the
Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral relations between him
and the two churches, which was done, and the union that
had existed between the churches was ended. At this time
the combined membership of the two churches was 184.
The Rev. Mr.
King continued as stated supply in the Middle Island
Church until 1844, when he retired and moved with his
family to Miller Place, where he built a home which
stands just south of the home of Milton Davis. Here he
lived until his death February 7, 1867, in the
eighty-third year of his life and was laid to rest in the
cemetery across the road from the church he had served so
long in Middle Island.
He was held in
the highest esteem and affection by the two churches of
his parish, and suitable resolutions were inscribed in
the Session records of both churches. Through the efforts
of William Sidney Smith of Longwood, a monument was
erected in 1868 to his memory by the members of his two
churches, which carries the following inscription:
"Grateful friends have erected this monument in
memory of their beloved pastor, who for 34 years devoted
the vigor of his life to the united parishes of
Middletown and South Haven. By his ardent piety, eloquent
preaching and fervent prayers, his warm affection, true
friendship and courteous dignity, he has left an enduring
example to both church and the world."
The Rev. Mr.
King was pastor at Middle Island for 34 years, the
longest time of any minister in the history of the
church. As we look back over the 150 years since he came
to Middle Island, we find, many changes have taken place,
but the Middle Island Presbyterian Church still serves
the community, and is active and growing at the present
time under the leadership of the Rev. Edwin G. Townsend,
who came to the church as pastor in 1958.
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