Our Christian Heritage goes “On Location” with Randy Melchert to a Princeton, NJ cemetery to find the grave of America’s Founding Pastors: Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, and John Witherspoon. Explore the intertwined histories of Princeton University and the prominent religious figures who shaped its early development. It highlights the legacies of Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, and John Witherspoon, demonstrating how these influential ministers – pivotal figures in the Great Awakening and champions of religious freedom – also served as presidents of the institution and profoundly impacted the intellectual and spiritual landscape of America. The narrative underscores the original purpose of Princeton as a training ground for ministers dedicated to spreading the Gospel, and connects these academic leaders to the broader narrative of American patriotism and the founding of the nation. Watch on VCY.tv
Transcript:
I’m standing outside the president’s plot of Princeton Cemetery here in Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is one of the oldest colleges in America, right up there with Harvard, Yale, and the College of William & Mary. Originally called the College of New Jersey, it traces its roots back to the Log College founded by William Tennent to train preachers for the “New Light” Presbyterian movement. These were the supporters of the religious revivals during the Great Awakening.
Let’s go look at some of the graves you’ll see inside the president’s plot.
As we enter the cemetery, a few markers stand out. One of the most prominent is that of Aaron Burr—the Aaron Burr involved in the famous duel with Alexander Hamilton, as immortalized in the Broadway musical Hamilton. Aaron Burr’s father, Aaron Burr Sr., was one of the early leaders who helped found the College of New Jersey.
Right behind Aaron Burr’s grave is that of Jonathan Edwards, the third president of the college. Yes, the Jonathan Edwards of the Great Awakening, famous for preaching “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” He promoted revivals across the region and was a close friend and associate of George Whitefield. Edwards was appointed president late in his ministry but sadly died just a few months after taking office. He’s still buried here in the president’s plot.
Who took over Princeton after Jonathan Edwards? Edwards was widely published on both sides of the Atlantic—even Benjamin Franklin advertised collections of his sermons in colonial newspapers.
The man chosen to fill the gap was Samuel Davies, buried right next to Edwards. You can see Edwards’ grave, and then Davies’. Samuel Davies served as the fourth president of the college.
Most interestingly, Davies had been a pastor in Virginia before coming to Princeton. He was one of the first non-Anglican pastors licensed in Virginia, a colony with an established state church (the Church of England). Davies arrived as a missionary and fought for the rights of English freemen to worship freely. He helped establish “reading houses” (simple meeting places where dissenters gathered to read sermons, since they couldn’t have their own ministers). One famous example was Pole Green Church—we’ve visited the site on earlier tours. (Unfortunately, the original Pole Green Church was destroyed during the Civil War, but there’s a semi-replica that gives a sense of what it looked like.)
While ministering there, Samuel Davies preached to a young boy who attended services with his mother. That boy’s name was Patrick Henry. You’ve heard of Patrick Henry’s legendary oratory as a revolutionary leader. But Henry himself said that the greatest orator he ever heard was Samuel Davies. Davies was a powerful preacher. He served for about two years before he, too, passed away.
Later, another key figure would lead the college. His tomb is a couple down from Samuel Davies—in fact, there’s a small marker noting him as a “Revolutionary Patriot.” Yes, that’s Reverend John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence and sixth president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). He led for nearly two decades, elevating the institution to new heights. Witherspoon was not only a pastor but a patriot who signed the Declaration and influenced other founding documents.
We’ll try to find the statue of Reverend Witherspoon somewhere on campus later. But this is just a glimpse of the fascinating stories here. If you get the chance, read some of the preaching by Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, or John Witherspoon. The early leaders of America’s founding colleges—including Princeton—were men deeply committed to training ministers to spread the word of God throughout the new country. Their influence on faith, education, and even the American Revolution runs deep.