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HISTORY
of the
Manokin Presbyterian Church
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Gc 975.202 P93f Ford, Harry Pringle History of the Manokin Presbyter -- jan Church, Princess Anne, Md.
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MANOKIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Photographed in 1900
HISTORY c
of the
Manokin Presbyterian Church
Princess Anne, Maryland
THE PUBLIC 1 | (
11
1
BY
BRARY
HARRY PRINGLE FORD
Member of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia C
PHILADELPHIA : JAMES M. ARMSTRONG, PRINTER, 718 SANSOM STREET. 19IO.
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To my Grandfather, ROBERT PATTERSON, a member of the Manokin Session for nearly fifty years;
To my Mother, ELIZABETH PATTERSON FORD, who united with this church at the age of seventeen;
And to all God's children who have in any way aided in making the work of this hallowed and venerable organization a source of spiritual comfort and blessing along the years-this labor of love is affection- ately and gratefully dedicated.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
Introductory
7
Pastors and Stated Supplies 11
The Church Buildings
34
Interesting Events from Sessional Records
41
Dr. Heaton's Historical Sermon
65
List of Ministers
82
List of Elders
84
List of Communicant Members
87
Early Presbyterianism
91
Outline Life of Francis Makemie.
94
INTRODUCTORY.
The Manokin Church of Princess Anne, Maryland, is one of the oldest Presbyterian church organizations of our country. "According to reliable tradition," it shares with the Rehoboth, Snow Hill, Pitts Creek and Wicomico churches the honor of having been organized about 1683 by the Rev. Francis Makemie, the recognized founder of organized Presbyterianism in America.
While we have no special desire to claim for this church priority of organization, yet it is certain that one of the first buildings in America used by a Presbyterian congregation stood on or near the site of the present Manokin Church. As is well known, all these Makemie churches were, at the time of their organization, in what was then Somerset County, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland; and this, surely, is honor enough for any one section of our land.
It is no small distinction for Somerset to have been thus prominent in the pioneer work of establishing the great Pres- byterian Church in America-the Church which inspired and developed the patriotic manhood that made the Revolutionary War not only possible, but successful. The learned historian Bancroft declares that "the Revolution of 1776, so far as it was affected by religion, was a Presbyterian measure;" and again he says: "The first voice raised in America to destroy all con- nection with Great Britain came from the Scotch-Irish Presby- terians." In "American Church History," Volume VI, page 69, the statement is made that "the members of the Presbyterian Church bore the brunt of the struggle for independence, from the Hudson to the Savannah." We all recall the famous saying of Sir Horace Walpole before the English Parliament: "Cousin America has run off with a Presbyterian parson ;" and that of King James : "Presbytery agreeth as well with monarchy as God and the devil."
8
History of the Manokin Presbyterian Church.
Somerset County Presbyterians were quick to respond to their country's call in those heroic days, and gladly went forth to fight her battles. Some of them reached high official rank. Colonel George Handy, who subsequently became an honored Elder of the Manokin Church, was on the staff of the famous Light-horse Harry Lee, father of General Robert E. Lee. Those who fought were supported and encouraged by those who re- mained at home. In speaking of the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Ker, Dr. A. C. Heaton says : "Tradition has it that both pastor and people espoused warmly the cause of the colonies, and that on the Sabbath, both went to the sanctuary clad in the popular costume, fustian, and unitedly lifted up their prayers for the blessing of God upon their cause."
From the days of the Revolution, many of the most talented and influential men of Maryland have been associated with the Manokin and other Makemie churches.
The church has been always most intimately and helpfully connected with the best interests of the community, and has contributed materially to the intellectual, social and spiritual betterment of the people. Princess Anne is an attractive social centre, with a well-deserved standing for unaffected culture and refinement; and within its borders and surrounding neighbor- hood have lived, in homes of comfort and affluence, many distin- guished and cultured families which have freely dispensed the most gracious and charming hospitality .*
The writer of this history was not so fortunate as to be a member of the Manokin fold, as he was born, and lived until early manhood, in a distant part of the county, yet because of the loyal devotion of some of his people to the church, it has
* In this connection, it will be interesting to read what Dr. Van Rensselaer writes about the hospitality of Princess Anne; and what Rev. Mr. Robinson says about the church and its people. These two references may be found in the chapter, entitled, "Pastors and Stated Supplies."
9
Introduction.
always been dear to him; and because they loved it, and because of what the church has stood for throughout the years, he has found pleasure in preparing this brief story of its usefulness.
We are proud of the Eastern Shore, with its noble records of the past; of Somerset County, which has contributed so much to the best interests of our land; and especially of the dear old church, which has always steadfastly stood for right culture, godliness, and sound spiritual doctrine. May its blessed influ- ence ever abide !
Witherspoon Building, Philadelphia, Pa.,
H. P. FORD.
September, 1910.
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Pastors and Stated Supplies.
PASTORS AND STATED SUPPLIES.
With a spiritual ancestry drawn from men and women of heroic blood, with a Church history associated with many of the most inter- esting eras and incidents in the annals of the human race, we should be unworthy of our high descent were we to let the records of the past die away from our memories .- REV. HENRY C. MCCOOK, D. D.
So many tender memories cluster about the majority of our old churches, that it does not seem right to let the story of their usefulness and the names of those who were once prominently associated with the work, be forgotten; yet such is all too fre- quently the case. We are, as a rule, apt to be indifferent to the past, and comparatively little effort is made to preserve the records of the days of old.
Much that would be most interesting in the history of the Manokin Church is now lost beyond recall; by-gone years relentlessly hold the secret of its beginnings ; but we are grateful that, even at this late day, much can be gathered and recorded that should be preserved.
Somerset County, Maryland, was organized in 1666, and contained within its bounds what are now known as Worcester and Wicomico counties. It was here that American Presby- terianism had one of its most important beginnings-which culminated, in 1706, in the organization, in Philadelphia, of the first Presbytery, which was, as Dr. William Henry Roberts is careful to emphasize, "the first ecclesiastical organization in America free from European control."
Even as early as 1666, many settlers had made their homes along the many winding creeks and rivers of the southern por- tion of the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. Many of these "were Calvinists in faith and believed in the government of the congregation by Elders." It is known that in 1672 there
12
History of the Manokin Presbyterian Church.
were several places of worship in Somerset County, and one of these, according to Dr. John S. Howk, in "Rehoboth by the River," was "at the house of Christopher Nutter, at Manokin." Rev. Robert Maddux was the preacher; and Dr. Howk says: "We have good ground for claiming Robert Maddux as a Presbyterian."
In his "History of the Presbytery of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Central," page 45, Dr. Alfred Nevin writes : "The Presbyterians had their meeting houses in Snow Hill, Pitts Creek, Wicomico, Manokin and Rehoboth, as early as 1680."
The Rev. Thomas Wilson, whose name does not appear in the "Index of Presbyterian Ministers, 1706-1881," as he labored before the organization of our first Presbytery in 1706, was, "according to records of sister churches," the Pastor of the Manokin Church from 1686 to 1698. It is known that Ephraim Wilson, Sheriff of Somerset County in 1693, was a Presbyterian. He was the ancestor of some of the most prominent families of the country. His granddaughter, Esther, became the wife of the Rev. Jacob Ker.
Dr. McIlvain says, in "Early Presbyterianism in Maryland," "There can be little doubt that he was the Thomas Wilson, Pastor at Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland, where the poor man was nearly starved to death on twelve pounds a year. Still less doubt can there be, that he is the Thomas Wilson to whom Colonel William Stevens, on May 20th, 1681, assigns 'a parcel of land called Darby, containing 350 acres.'"-Land Records, Annapolis, Liber 21, p. 314.
Dr. McIlvain adds this interesting information : "He seems to have been the first 'godly minister' who accepted Stevens' invitation to come to America. To him, then, we owe the founding of the first of the famous Somerset County churches. His career in Maryland is unknown to us outside of the record books. Until very recently, his presence in the county was unknown. He was the first Pastor of the church at Manokin,
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Pastors and Stated Supplies.
now Princess Anne. He appears as its Pastor in several docu- ments, such as the will of John Galbraith, 1691." A copy of this will is found on page 205, ""The Days of Makemie," by Dr. L. P. Bowen. The bequest in the will referred to is: "I give and bequeath unto Mr. Thomas Wilson, Minister of the Gospel at Manokin, five thousand pounds of pork, convenient to him or his order within twelve months after my decease." Mr. Gal- braith left a similar bequest of five thousand pounds of pork to "Mr. Samuel Davis, Minister at Snow Hill," and also to "Mr. Francis Makemie, Minister of the Gospel at Rehoboth Town."
There are those who believe the Manokin Church to have been organizd by Francis Makemie in 1681-83 (see Dr. Heaton's Historical Sermon, first paragraph) ; although the evidence seems to be very clear that a church was here before he came to America. Makemie returned to Europe for a brief visit in 1704.
In 1684, William Traill and Samuel Davis were in Somerset County. Traill seems to have been a man of much prominence. Robert Traill, his father, was a Scotch clergyman. The son was born in 1640, and came to America in 1682, after having been Moderator of the Irish Presbytery of Laggan. Briggs says : "It is likely that he went to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, whence Colonel Stevens wrote to his Presbytery for a minister."
A marriage celebrated by Samuel Davis on the 26th of February, 1684, is recorded in the Somerset County records. He appears to have labored in Snow Hill from 1686 to 1698- the exact period that the Rev. Thomas Wilson labored in the Manokin Church. McIlvain says: "His name appears as one of the three ministers set apart to form the Presbytery of Snow Hill in 1716." Messrs. John Hampton and John Henry were the other two. (Minutes of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, 1716, page 46.) In 1719 he assisted in "setting apart" Rev. William Stewart for the Gospel ministry in the Manokin Church. This service was held at Rehoboth (Minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia, 1719, p. 55). Mr. Davis died 1724-5.
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History of the Manokin Presbyterian Church. 9
Sheriff Whittingham, of Somerset County, reported in 1687, to Governor Nicholson's request "that the Sheriffs of this Pro- vince return a list of .... churches, chapples or places of wor- ship" in the county, that there are three dissenting meeting- houses in Somerset-"one in Snow Hill, one on the road going up along the seaside, and one at Manokin, about thirty feet long, plain country buildings." (Dr. McIlvain gives as his authority for this statement, "The Rolls Office, London, Maryland Docu- ments, 111, B. 39.")
Francis Makemie returned from Ireland in 1705, bringing with him John Hampton and George McNish. In November of that year, Makemie waited upon the Somerset County Court, and requested that these ministers might be qualified to serve "the four meeting-houses" in Somerset, of which Manokin was one. "The business was long delayed," says Webster in his "History of the Presbyterian Church in America," "but at last, Governor Seymour issued his order, and McNish and Hampton presented it to the Court and were qualified June 12th, 1706, to preach att the meeting-house near Mr. Edgar's, the meeting-house att the head of Manokin, the meeting-house att Snow Hill, and the meeting-house on Mr. Joseph. Venable's land. Captain Venable was at that time one of the Justices on the Bench ; his residence was on the Wicomico."
The first mention of the Manokin Church in the official records of the Presbyterian Church is in the Minutes of the Presbytery which met in Philadelphia in May, 1708. Mr. George McNish attended this meeting. The record is, "Ordered that Mr. Taylor write to the people of Manokin and Wicomico, excit- ing them to their duty to pay what they promise to Mr. McNish."
On the Minutes of the Presbytery for May 11th, 1709, is the following: "A letter from the people of Manokin and Wicomico read and considered. A call also sent from them to Mr. McNish, was not accepted by him." From the Minutes of
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Pastors and Stated Supplies.
the following year, we learn that "Mr. McNish agreed to go down some time before winter to Manokin."
At the direction of Presbytery, Mr. McNish took part in the "inauguration" of Mr. John Hampton over the Snow Hill Church in 1708. He himself was never installed Pastor over the Manokin Church, although he labored there several years.
"As late as 1711," according to Dr. McIlvain, "Rev. Alex- ander Adams writes to the Bishop of London, that he is the only clergyman of the Church of England in Somerset County, and very poorly paid, while the Presbyterian churches are carefully supplied."
REV. THOMAS BRATTON.
In the Minutes of Presbytery, meeting in Philadelphia, September 17th, 1712, we find that "Mr. Robert Wilson, being commissioned, did present a letter from the people of Manokin and Wicomico, relating to their church affairs, in answer to a letter sent to them last year; and also a call to the Rev. Thomas Bratton, with a paper of subscription for his encouragement. And it is ordered that a letter be writ to the said Mr. Thomas Bratton, with respect to the said call, in favor of the people." Thomas Bratton came to Maryland in 1711. Evidently he vis- ited the field and preached to the people of Manokin, but his earthly labors were soon over. He died in October, 1712, shortly after the meeting of Presbytery referred to above.
REV. ROBERT LAWSON.
"A call from the people of Manokin and Wicomico to Robert Lawson was presented to the Presbytery by James Caldwell, which, being offered to Mr. Lawson by the Moderator, he took it into consideration, with promise to give the people an answer as soon as the circumstances of his affairs would allow." (From Minutes of Presbytery of Philadelphia, 1713.) Mr. Lawson was a member of the Dumfries Presbytery, Scotland, in 1696. On the early death of Bratton, he came to this country to supply
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History of the Monokin Presbyterian Church.
his place; but, alas! he, too, was destined to an early grave. He died in November, 1713.
REV. WILLIAM STEWART.
The Rev. William Stewart (also written Steward) was re- ceived by the Synod of Philadelphia, "from Britain," in 1718. Immediately following his reception, a call was presented to him "from Manokin and Wicomico." It was reported to the Synod of Philadelphia, which met in September, 1719, that he had been "solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry in June, 1719, at Rehoboth, Somerset County." He was the Pastor at Manokin until his death. According to the Minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia, 1735, p. 112, Mr. Stewart died in 1734-5.
REV. PATRICK GLASCOW.
In 1736, the Rev. Patrick Glascow was ordained and installed Pastor over the Manokin Church, and continued in that relation until 1741, when his name last appears on the Minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia. It is stated that he became the Rector of All-Hallows P. E. Church in Worcester County, and that he died in Snow Hill, March 23d, 1753.
REV. WILLIAM ROBINSON.
William Robinson, the famous revivalist, visited the county, and we are informed that "in 1745, a most glorious display of grace began by his ministry in Wicomico, in Somerset County, Maryland." Again we are informed that when Davies was laboring with Robinson, "the revival was great in. Somerset County." In 1747, George Whitefield visited the county, and prefaced his coming by writing, "I purpose, God willing, to do a three weeks' circuit in hunting for Maryland sinners." Evidently they were not difficult to find, for later we read, "Maryland is yielding converts to the blessed Gospel."
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Pastors and Stated Supplies.
REV. CHARLES TENNANT.
In a brief manuscript history of the Manokin Church, Col. Levin Handy wrote: "In the Somerset County Court records of 1747 is the following :
"September 23d, 1747. Whereas, Mr. Charles Tennant, a Presbyterian minister, personally present here in His Lordship's, the Right Honorable the Lord Proprietary of Maryland, County Court of Somerset County, then and there, before His Lordship's Justice in Court, judicially sitting, did take the oath appointed by the Act of Parliament, made the 1st year of King William and Mary, and repeated the declaration directed by the Act of Parliament made the 31st year of King Charles II, and sub- scribed the same, and declared his approbation of the Articles of Faith of the Church of England, and subscribed the same, ex- cept those articles, and part of an article, that is disallowed by all such dissenting ministers."
"At the same time," continues Mr. Handy, "Tennant left the following minute with the clerk:
"Sir: I desire that you will register the several places within mentioned, for public service and preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The places are as follows : at the meeting-house at Rockawakin, at the head of the Wicomico; at the meeting- house at Oliphant's ; at Broad Creek Bridge; at the dwelling of Joshua Caldwell; at Wilson Rider's; and also at the house of James Polk, Princess Anne town, at his lot No. 2."
Mr. Handy adds: "Mr. Polk's house on lot No. 2 was at the south-east corner of Main and Water Streets in Princess Anne." Tennant became Pastor of the Buckingham Church.
REV. JOHN HAMILTON.
At the meeting of the Synod of Philadelphia in 1745, John Hamilton (also written Hambleton, and thus written in the Manokin Session book), was examined and approved, and was ordained by the Newcastle Presbytery in 1746 as Pastor of the
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History of the Manokin Presbyterian Church.
Manokin Church. He continued to be the Pastor of the church certainly until 1753, when his name last appears on the Sessional records (after which there is no record of a Session meeting until 1758) ; but, far more probably, until 1755, when his name last appears in the Minutes of the 'Synod of Philadelphia as a member of the Newcastle Presbytery.
REV. JOHN ERSKINE AND REV. JOHN HARRIS.
The Manokin Church was without a Pastor for a time. During the interval, the Rev. John Erskine and the Rev. John Harris preached occasionally.
REV. HUGH HENRY.
The Rev. Hugh Henry graduated from Princeton in 1748. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Newcastle Pastor of Reho- both, Wicomico and Manokin in 1758. He died in 1762-3. (Minutes of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, 1763, p. 322.)
The Rev. J. T. H. Waite, who was the Pastor of the Salis- bury Presbyterian Church, the direct successor of the old Wicomico Church, from January, 1856, to May, 1867, prepared, in 1861, an "Historical Sketch of Wicomico Church," which is copied in the Session book now in the possession of the Salisbury, Maryland Church. In this sketch, he says :
"In 1762, the Session gives the first intimation of the death of the Rev. Hugh Henry, in overturing the Session of Manokin to unite in a call to another minister. Whereupon a year of discussion ensued between Wicomico, Manokin and Rehoboth, as to what part of the new minister's time each should have, which resulted in Rehoboth being cast off from this connection, showing that the other two congregations were strong enough to sustain a Pastor between them, each one paying him sixty pounds."
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Pastors and Stated Supplies.
REV. JACOB KER.
The Rev. Jacob Ker was one of the ablest pastors that the church ever had, and his ministry extended over a period of thirty-one years. The call extended to him (see "Interesting Events," 1764) was a very flattering one. He was installed in Princess Anne in November, 1764. Revs. John Harris and John Miller officiated. He continued in this pastorate until his death on the 29th of July, 1995. Mrs. Anne Holden, daughter of Francis Makemie, left him, in her will, the sum of twenty pounds. He was a pronounced patriot, as were also the members of his flock, after the manner of all Presbyterians of that history- making period. His son. Samuel, became a widely known physi- cian, and served the church as an Elder from 1796 to 1818, when he removed to Snow Hill; returning to Princess Anne, he again became a member of the Session in 1830, and served until his death in 1851.
REV. JOHN COLLINS.
The Rev. John Collins served the church as stated supply for a short time in 1796. He declined a call to the pastorate.
REV. JOHN BROWN SLEMONS.
On the 15th of April, 1799, the following call was extended to the Rev. Mr. Slemons :
"The united congregations of Manokin and Wicomico, being, on sufficient grounds, well satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, the Rev'd John B. Slemons, and having good hopes from our past experience of your labors, that your ministrations in the Gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interests, do earnestly call and desire you to undertake the pas- toral office in said congregations ; promising you, in the discharge of your duty, all proper support, encouragement and obedience in the Lord. And that you may be free from all worldly cares and avocations, we hereby promise and oblige ourselves to pay
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History of the Manokin Presbyterian Church.
you the sum of one hundred and eighty pounds, in regular annual payments during the time of your being, and continuing, the regular Pastor of these churches."
This call was signed by eight Elders of the Manokin Church and seven from the Wicomico Church. Mr. Slemons accepted the invitation, and was installed on the 27th of June, 1799. He resigned in June, 1821, after a service of twenty-one years. (See Dr. Heaton's sermon.) He died in 1832, and, according to the Handy manuscript, "was buried in the burial ground at his son's farm on the Wicomico River, as he had requested in his last will. He left an epitaph, which is inscribed on his tombstone."
The wives of Dr. Charles W. Wainwright and Mr. W. O. Lankford, present Elders of the Manokin Church, are the great grand-daughters of Mr. Slemons. Dr. Lewis W. Morris, of Salisbury, is also a great grandson of Mr. Slemons.
REV. HENRY BLATCHFORD.
In Irving Spence's "Early History of the Presbyterian Church," pp. 106-111, is a tender and touching tribute to the memory of this gifted young minister, who in his short pastorate of only a few months won the sincere affection of his people. He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1788, and came to America in 1795. He had the honor of being a member of the first class to matriculate in Princeton Theological Seminary. In June, 1822, he accepted an invitation to take charge of the churches at "Snow Hill, Pitts Creek, Rehoboth and Manokin," and entered at once upon the work, in which he was not destined long to continue. He preached in Snow Hill on the 25th of August, 1822, and died in Princess Anne, less than two weeks later-Saturday, September 7th. Spence says, in part, of the funeral service which took place the following day: "You know I have visited Princess Anne very many times, in fact, have spent
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Pastors and Stated Supplies.
much time there; but never did I see that village so quiet on any day as on that one-it was Sabbath stillness indeed. The people of the place of all classes were not only grave, but seemed awed, and their sensibilities were certainly tenderly alive. Princess Anne certainly never looked so lovely. The funeral services were performed in the church, and at the grave. In the absence of a Presbyterian minister, an Episcopal clergyman preached a sermon on the occasion. He was assisted in the other services by two brethren of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I have been in many worshipping assemblies, but that certainly was one of the most solemn and tender congregations of which I ever made a part."
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