William Worth

William Worth (1745–1808) was a Baptist minister in Daretown, Upper Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey, best remembered in local and church histories for his "apostasy" into Christian Universalism. Biography William Worth was born April 21, 1745, in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. He received his education at the Hopewell Baptist School from its founding in 1756 to its discontinuance in 1767. In 1762, sixty acres had been purchased for 80 pounds from John Mayhew, who conveyed title to Jacob Elwell, John Mayhew Sr., and John Dickison in trust for the church. However, the deed was later determined to be defective and in 1809 a second deed was conveyed by John Mayhew, Esq., Sarah Worth (Rev. Worth's surviving widow), Susannah Smith and Lydia Davis, heirs of John Mayhew the elder. In 1771 a dwelling house was built for the pastor. Ministry He was the first minister of the Pittsgrove Baptist Church in Daretown. That congregation was formed in 1771, by dismissal (division) from the church at Cohansey. The severance was approved at a meeting April 6, 1771, and signed at a meeting May 9, 1771. Among the members forming the new congregation were John Mayhew Sr., and John Mayhew, likely the father and brother of his wife, Sarah Mayhew. William Worth was associated with the new Mount Bethel Baptist Meetinghouse in 1767 when it was dismissed (divided) from the Scotch Plains Baptist Church. Rev. Worth and his wife joined the Pittsgrove congregation on May 16, 1771, and he was ordained pastor to that congregation that day.