Pastor: Woodbridge, NJ 1707-14
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In September 1710, Rev. Wade and his congregation were admitted to the newly formed Philadelphia Presbytery. During the tenure of Rev. Wade the Presbyterian movement in America was rapidly growing stronger. There were, however, some in Woodbridge who chose to remain with the Church of England. This gave rise later to the formation of an Episcopal Church on the north part of the "Kirk Green". Also, during this period the congregation was split between those who wished to remain independent and those who wanted to be Presbyterian. A long, bitter battle ensued. Mr. Wade counted approximately 120 members in his congregation in 1707, He seemed to have had a capacity for antagonizing many people as illustrated by a letter written by some parishoners to Rev. Vaughan, a well known Episcopal clergyman, highly placed in the Church of England: "Sir, The unhappy difference between Mr. Wade and the people of Woodbridge is grown to that height that we cannot join with him in the worship of God as Christians ought to do." Mr. Wade also served as Town Clerk during some of his time in this town He officiated at the wedding of Rev. John Allen and Deliverance Potter (of Woodbridge) on October 24, 1707.
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