Benedict, David, A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America, Volume I, Boston: Lincoln & Edmands, printers, 1813, pp. 571-573.

          “It is natural to think, that the first preaching of Believer’s Baptism, at Hopewell, was owing to Jonathan Stout’s settling in the parts; and it is inferred from the church records, that from the settlement of Mr. Stout, to the constitution of the church, which was a period of nine years, that Messrs. Simmons, Eaglesfield, &c. from Middleton; were the men who preached here; neither of whom was ordained. Mr. Simmons afterwards went to Charleston, South-Carolina. From the constitution of the church to the coming of the Rev. Isaac Eaton, was another period of 33 years; during 15 of which, Joseph Eaton of Montgomery attended the place regularly once a month. After his desisting his visits, Thomas Davis, of the Great Valley, came to Hopewell, and preached statedly to the people for about four years, and then resigned to go to Oysterbay, on Long Island. Mr. Davis was brother to Rev. John Davis of said Valley; he was born in the parish of L’lanfernach, and county of Pembroke, Wales, in 1707; he arrived in America, July 27, 1713; was ordained at Great Valley, and died at Yellow Springs, February 15, 1777, in the 70th year of his age. From his departure, the place was supplied for two years, by Messrs. Carman, Bonham, and Miller; and glorious years they were - 55 souls were converted and added to the church; a meeting house was built, &c.

          “The first minister who can be said to have been the settled pastor of this church, (for those before mentioned were but transiently among them) was ISAAC EATON, A.M. He was son of Joseph Eaton of Montgomery, joined Southampton church, and commenced preaching in early life. Mr. Eaton came to Hopewell in the month of April, 1748, and on the 29th of November following, was ordained pastor of the church by Messrs. Carman, Curtis, Miller, and Pots. He continued in the pastorship to July 4, 1772, when he died in the 47th year of his age; he was buried in the meeting house; and at the head of his grave, close to the base of the pulpit, is set up, by his congregation, a piece of fine marble, with this inscription upon it:

"In him, with grace and eminence did shine,
The man, the christian, scholar, and divine."

          His funeral sermon was preached by Samuel Jones, D.D. of Pennepek; who thus briefly portrayed his character. "The natural endowments of his mind; the improvement of these by the accomplishments of literature; his early and genuine piety; his abilities as a divine and a preacher; his extensive knowledge of men and books; his catholicism, &c. would afford ample scope to flourish in a funeral oration, but it is needless." Mr. Eaton was the first man among the American Baptists, who set up a school for the education of youths for the ministry, which will be mentioned in its proper place."

Lewis, Alice Blackwell, Hopewell Valley Heritage, Hopewell, NJ: The Hopewell Museum, 1973, pp. 45-47.

          On October 30th, 1748 the Reverend Issac Eaton of Southampton, Pennsylvania was ordained at the Hopewell Baptist Church and less than a month later the Church called him to be their pastor. He settled in the community in the twenty-fourth year of his age. The Baptist ministers all taught in the old log schoolhouse which was situated west of the present borough of Hopewell. It was known for many years as the Golden School-house. So, it was assumed that the Rev. Eaton taught there from the time of his settlement until 1756. At that time he opened his own school in the academy which his father-in-law, David Stout (of Amwell), built for him on the property which is now owned by Mrs. Anne Holcombe on West Broad Street.

          Thus was founded the First Baptist Academy in America. Isaac Eaton was the first among American Baptists to set up a school to educate young men for the ministry. This school continued very successfully for eleven years. However, additional supplies and equipment were needed and in 1762 the Philadelphia Association wrote relating the need to Baptists in England. They told of the needs of the infant seminary saying there were no more than twenty-four pounds a year pledged to its support. They asked that some books and a small apparatus and such things not to be had in this area, be supplied. It is not known if any aid was received from England.

Academy was Successful

          The Academy was successful and because of this the Baptists sought a place to build an institution of higher learning along the eastern seaboard. They obtained a Charter from the State of Rhode Island and there built the Rhode Island College in Providence. The Academy in Hopewell flourished for three years after the founding of the College in Providence, then it closed its doors in 1767. This was a serious mistake, as the Rhode Island College had no Academy from which to draw Baptist candidates for the Ministry.

          About 35 years later Morgan Edwards wrote of the Academy of Hopewell. His feeling of deep regret and concern over the closing of the school was vividly portrayed. "The following," he said, "are the names of the divines who received the first rudiments of learning at this academy, viz: James Manning, D.D., and president of Rhode Island College; Samuel Jones, D.D., Hezekiah Smith, AM. (D.D.), David Thomas, A.M., Charles Thompson, A.M., David Jones, A.M., also Rev. Messers. John Sutton, David Sutton, James Talbot, John Blackwell, Joseph Powell, William Worth and Levi Bonnell."

          During Rev. Eaton's Pastorate, the Hopewell Church was the leading and most influential Baptist Church in America. He was considered the most distinguished scholar and divine then in the Baptist pulpit. The writer feels that his health did not permit him to continue his duties at the Academy as this record is found: "The Rev. Isaac Eaton, A.M., who for upwards of 24 years was Pastor of this Church from the care of which he was removed by death on the fourth of July, 1772, in the 47th year of his age." He was buried under the pulpit and later the stone was moved to the east side of the church in the wall of the foundation where it can now be seen. It is thought that this stone was placed in the churchyard in 1822. At that time the old stone church built in 1747 was torn down and replaced by the present brick building.

Elizabeth Hobbs, Benefactress

          It was under the pastorship of this distinguised man that the first benefactress of education among the Baptists, Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs,* left a legacy of 350 pounds. This was "for the education of pious young men for the ministry of the Baptist denomination, and Mr. Eaton and John Hart were left executors to administer the same." Mrs. Hobbs was buried beside her husband John, a weaver, near the church on the northeast side.

          It is said that this first Baptist academy on the American Continent was the cradle of Brown University; the name later given to the college in Providence, and the small academy in Hopewell gave the idea to the Baptist ministers that an institution of higher learning was needed. Thus Isaac Eaton, in Hopewell, provided the first link in the chain of our institutions of learning. This is surely a worthy heritage in our Valley's history.

*Mrs. Elizabeth Hobbs made her will in 1763