Nicholas Van Sant

Nicholas and Mercy Van Sant

The following information was recorded by a visitor to this site who was kind enough to allow me to share it here with you. It was copied from the headstones in an old cemetery on Old Church Road, off Route 542 in Lower Bank. There are apparently more headstones there, but at present these two rather unique transcriptions are all they had time to record:
Mercey Van Sant - wife of Rev. Nicholas Van Sant
Died Jan 8 1880, in the 91st year of her age.
Convicted in youth she continued a faithful member of the M.E. Church during her long life. Loving the church, she was punctual in attendance on the means of grace even in old age, possessing a rich experience. In prayer she devoutly and eloquently talk'd with God, and in the class her experience was given with positiveness and joyous glow which frequently culminiated in shouting the praises of God. Exemplary in her home, she live'd to see her children converted and four of her sons ministers of the Gospel, and most of her children's children brought to Christ. Her death was peaceful and triumphant.
"O may I triumph so,
When all my warfare's past
And fend in death, my latest foe
Beneath my feet at last."

Rev. Nicholas Van Sant Sr.
Born Nov. 3 1788 died March 6, 1879
He was a member of the M.E. Church 73 years and a local preacher almost 60 years, was ordained April 17, 1831, lived with his wife of his youth 70 years. Honest in his dealings: uncompromising with sin, firm and fearless in the advocacy of Temperence earnest and unswerving as a Christian skilled in the word of God he was instructive as a preacher, and always preaching by his holy life. Exempllifying the Christian graces and virtues, his long life was remarkable in Goodness and usefulness. Honoring his parents his days were long in the land and his numerous posterity rise up to call him Blessed.
"Servant of God well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past
The battles fought, the race is run
And thou art crowned at last."

Regarding the above mentioned Van Sant family, the following information about their family was found in the New Jersey Courier of November 26th,1903.:

Children of Nicholas and Mercy Van Sant

James Van Sant
Nicholas Van Sant
Nathaniel Van Sant
Joel Van Sant
Isaac Van Sant
Reverend S.M. Van Sant
Mayor H.D. Van Sant of Island Heights
Samuel Van Sant
John Van Sant, who married Lydia Anderson, daughter of Elias Anderson, jr.. They were the parents of:
- Samuel R. Van Sant. He married the sisterof David Anderson (who was the father of Charles Pitman Anderson, of Toms River) Samuel's wife was also a sister to: George Anderson, father of William Anderson of Stapleton, Staten Island; and to Amy Anderson, who first married a Mr. Imlay and had a daughter, married to Dr. Shinn of Lakehurst; Amy's second husband was a Captain Newell.

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this page was last updated on April 29th, 2000