CHAPTER III.

AARON BURR BORN, AND LEPT AN ORPHAN.

Ebmovai. to Pkinoeton — Last Laboks and Death op Peesident Btter — Chab<
AOTBB AND Death of Mes. Bukk — The Oephaned Childeen—Saeah Buee.

Two children blessed the union of President Burr with Es¬
ther Edwards; Sarah Burr, born May 3d, 1754 ; and Aaeon
Buee, bom February 6th, 1756. Newark, in New Jersey,
was the birth-place of both these children.

The college buildings at Princeton were nearly completed
when Aaron was born. In the autumn of that year, the re¬
moval took place ; the college of New Jersey added a local
habitation to its well-earned name. The president, to the
great sorrow of his congregation, resigned the pastorship of
the Newark church, which he had served for twenty years
with the ever-growing love of its members. The good people
would scarcely let him go. They said that the connection
between pastor and flock, like that between husband and
wife, was indissoluble, except by death or infidelity. To this
day, the First Presbyterian church* of Newark cherishes
with affectionate pride the memory of this man, eminent
among the many eminent men who have stood in its pulpit.

To Princeton, then, the president and his family removed
late in the year 1756. A letter by one of the trustees of the
college at that time, sets forth that " the salary of the presi¬
dent is two hundred pounds proclamation money, with the
perquisites, amounting at present to about thirty pounds, and
yearly increasing; a lai*ge, well-finished dwelling-house, gar¬
dens, barn, out-houses, etc., with a considerable quantity of
pasture-ground and firewood, do also belong to the president."

* History of the Pirst Church at Newark, N, J., by Rev. Dr. Steams.