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Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church (1827) New Burnswick, NJ

In 1827, Jane and Joseph Hoagland with other Blacks in the New Brunswick area, perhaps with the assistance and encouragement of a circuit rider, organized to form a congregation of the A.M.E. Church. They held meetings and prayed, perhaps in private homes, while they worked and saved to make their dream come true. The Hoaglands contributed a parcel of land to which the land purchased in 1829 was added and the first church was built.

It is a safe estimate that there were approximately 8,000 slaves in New Jersey when Mt. Zion Church was planted, and that there was an increase in the number of free Blacks.  However, there is no known record for New Brunswick to prove whether the founders of Mt. Zion were only those 53 or more free Blacks, whether they were only the 150 or more enslaved Blacks or whether they were from both groups. Whatever is the case regarding the founders, it is almost certain that both free men and slaves have worshipped here, for even if the church was founded only by the free, it is likely that some owners would have permitted their slaves such church attendance.

(SOURCE:  MOUNT ZION A.M.E. CHURCH)

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