James Ayars
James Ayars [1]
a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born near Bridgeton, N. J., Feb. 20, 1805. He was converted when about twenty years old, and in 1829 was admitted into the Philadelphia Conference, wherein he filled the following appointments: Bargaintown, Cape May, Newton, and Essex Circuits; Paterson, New Brunswick; Halsey Street, Newark; Burlington, Long Branch, New Brunswick; Green Street, Trenton; Rahway; Prospect Street, Paterson; Haverstraw, N. Y.; Trinity, Jersey City; Water Street, Elizabeth; was a supernumerary during 1856-60 because of an inflammation of the throat, but engaged as secretary of the American Sunday-school Union in the West. In 1861 he resumed his position in the active ranks, and was stationed first at Nyack, then at St. Paul's, Staten Island. He was presiding elder on the Newark District from 1864 to 1867; on Elizabeth District from 1868 to 1871; was pastor at Montclair and at New Providence. In 1877 his ill-health; obliged him to become superannuate, and he continued to reside at New Providence till his death, Jan. 30,1880. Mr. Ayars was remarkably successful as an evangelist, and was a faithful and wise administrator of the Discipline. See Minutes of Annual Conferences, 1880 p.35.
