Cornelius Van Sickle, the first child of Andrew Van Sickle and Mary Landen, was born in Hunterdon County, in the State of New Jersey about the year 1741. He married (about 1768) his second cousin, Miss Anne Van Sickle, by whom he had eight children--all daughters.
Cornelius is said to have walked (before 1781) from Hunterdon to Sussex County with a willow cane which he cut in two and planted on the homestead in Wantage Township, (near what was called the "Van Sickle School House" in 1880) from which grew two large trees. He was very supple, as well as athletic, and many traditions exist in regard to his wonderful feats of strength and agility.
Many years prior to its legal formation, ministers from the Minisink Dutch Reformed Church held worship services in the Clove Valley. Traditionally, services were held in Helmet Titsworth’s barn or in private homes until a log chapel could be built. One church historian recorded a romantic anecdote that according to tradition that during summer months the congregation’s first pastor, the Rev. Elias Van Bunschooten, would ride down the countryside several miles below the Clove to a certain great spreading pine tree and there standing in its ample crotch would preach to gatherings on the hillside on Sunday afternoons.
Cornelius signed a petition for a new church, along with Garret Van Sickle, John Van Sickle, David Compton (father of Stephen Compton who was the subject of a previous post on this blog), Jacob Compton, and 50 others on 21 August 1787. It read as follows:
"To the Reverend Classis of New Brunswick:
"Gentlemen - We, inhabitants of the Clove and its vicinity, Beg Leaf to present ourselves in the following manner: Our ancestors a few in number who formerly belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church settled Our County about forty years since under part of which time the Reverend Mr. Thomas Romin By permission of his Church Council and people of the Minissink preached some of his time amongst us. By his leaving them we Became again Destitute till the Reverend Mr. Bunscooting was installed in Minissink Congregations, who labored some time amongst us, whose labors to appearans has Been attended with the Blessings of God, So as we have upwards of thirty communicant members Amongst us. We the under Mentioned being Ardently Desirous of the propagation of the Gospel and of being settled under the Constitution of the Low Dutch Reformed Church, Beg permission that you would be pleased to Grant and Appoint the Reverend Mr. Elias Bunschooting or any parson or parsons you may think proper to assist us in appointing and establishing us proper Church officers in order to Rule and Represent us for the future, and Grant us such supplies in our Destitute state as you in your wisdom shall think Meet and Necessary. May the Blessing of Almighty God attend your Councills and we your petitioners are in Duty Bound to Pray."
The petition was approved and a log church was erected in 1787 at a site about 150 feet south of the present day Clove Church. The Reverend Elias Van Bunschooten, having received the calling, then became the first pastor of this Church. The Church was organized with 50 members - 25 males and the same number of females. The Church grew and flourished until the death of Rev, Van Bunschooten in 1815. Another pastor could not be found and in 1818 the Clove Church became the First Presbyterian Church of Wantage. In 1829, the old log meeting house was torn down and a new church was erected at the present site.
Cornelius was elected Deacon of the Clove Dutch Reformed Church in 1801, and was distinguished for his piety.
He died in Sussex County, New Jersey, about the year 1820. His daughters, Anna Van Sickle, (wife of Stephen Compton), and Rachel Van Sickle removed to Western New York, and Elizabeth Van Sickle to Pennsylvania.
From "A history of the Van Sickle family in the United States of America"...pp.100-101
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