USA > Maryland > Harford County > History of Harford County, Maryland : from 1608 (the year of Smith's expedition) to the close of the War of 1812 > Part 9
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HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
more remotely from their first selected spot, and in- clined them to choose another location for a new church. With this state of things we approach the period at which our written authenticated record begins.
About the year A. D. 1718 we find that a piece of land, containing two acres, was given and deeded to the vestry of St. George's Parish, by James Phillips, for the purpose of building a church upon it. This was a park of an ancient tract of land, known as "James' Park," and a more beautiful and appropriate spot could hardly have been found. The lot borders on a small meandering stream, and is distinguished by clusters of large primitive oaks, whose wide spreading branches seem to proclaim to the passer-by that the spot which he is approaching is holy ground; whilst to the east- ward an extensive champaign country stretches out as far as the eye can reach, with its fertile fields and com- fortable homesteads. By this consecrated, sacred spot many a traveler wends his way, as it borders immedi- ately upon the great highway, along which most of the travel of this region must pass; whilst for more than a mile, as the stranger of every land and clime is whirled along upon the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, the most prominent and attractive object that meets his gaze is "Spesutia church" and its embower- ing oaks. Indeed, no one can visit or look upon this spot without at once being impressed with its surpass- ing beauty. But to pass on to the second church edifice erected in St. George's Parish. This church was built about the year of our Lord 1718, at which time we find that the Rev. Evan Evans, D. D., was the incum- bent. The probability is that during the incumbency
147
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
of this rector the second church building was erected. This, like the first, was a wooden building, though, perhaps, on a larger scale, and of much more sub- stantial fabric, for at this time, as every family seems to have been a church family, the congregation must have been very large, and extensive accommodations were consequently required. But whatever might have been the capacity or expensiveness of this church build- ing, it had quite gone into decay before it was again rebuilt. In its dilapidated condition the materials were finally sold at a public vendue, and were purchased by Dr. Alexander Stenhouse for the small sum of £5.8s. There was also at this time a vestry house on the same lot, which being in a better state of preservation than the church, seems to have remained for several years after the latter was removed.
The next rector was the Rev. Robert Weyman, who was inducted in the year 1722. Prior to this he had been supplying the parish temporarily. In 1724 Rev. John Humphreys produced letters of induction from his excellency, Charles Calvert, Governor of the Province of Maryland.
In the year 1725 Rev. John Holbrook was inducted. In 1726 Rev. Charles Smith produced letters of induc- tion from his excellency, Charles Calvert, Governor of the Province. This reverend gentleman seems to have been somewhat refractory, as the following letter shows :
"Sir, I perceive, notwithstanding my letter to you, wherein I ordered you to conform to the government or else to return your induction, that you have done neither. I therefore positively require you to deliver
148
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
your induction to the bearer, as you will answer to the contrary. CHARLES CALVERT.
"To the Rev. Charles Smith, in Baltimore County." "Ist May, 1726."
On the 4th of June, 1726, at a vestry meeting, the following letter was presented :
"MARYLAND, BY THE HON. CHARLES CALVERT, EsQ., "Captain-General and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Vestry of St. George's Parish in Baltimore Co. "Greeting: Whereas, the Rev. Stephen Wilkinson hath been sent and recommended by the Rev. Father in God, Edmond, Lord Bishop of London, Diocesan of this Province, to officiate as minister of the Church of England, I do hereby appoint the said Stephen Wilkin- son minister of your parish, willing, and requiring you to receive him as such, and strictly command you to be aiding and assisting him; to the intent, he may have the full benefit of the forty pounds of Tob. per poll, raised for the support of the ministers of your parish, and all other rights, dues and perquisites to the said office belonging.
"Given at Annapolis, this 25th day of May, 1726."
The gentleman just appointed by the governor seems to have been quite popular for a time. He continued as rector of the parish through a space of eighteen years. Towards the close of his incumbency he be- came very careless, permitting the parish library to be abused and the glebe to go into decay. It seems that this glebe, containing two hundred acres, was bought a few months after he became settled as rector of the parish ; it was located on "Swan Creek," and is now
149
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
the most productive land in Harford county. It was subsequently sold and another bought in a more healthy part of the parish. This was again sold and is the location of Harford Furnace. The money arising from this sale is invested in bank stock, and yields more than one-half of the rector's salary. Thus, even now, do the present members of St. George's Parish enjoy the benefits of those two hundred acres of land bought one hundred and seventy-five years ago, having served annually for so many years to aid in the support of the ministration of the Gospel among the parishioners.
Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, whose end we have found to be so different from his first entry into the parish, died un- wept, unhonored and unsung. At the time of his death, which was the 25th of March, 1744, the vestry ap- pointed a committee, consisting of "Capt. James Phil- lips, Col. Thomas White, Capt. Peregrine Frisbee, and Mr. Richard Ruff, to acquaint the governor of the death of Mr. Wilkinson, and request him not to in- duct another minister disagreeable to the parishioners."
The next appointment was Rev. Hugh Carlisle, in the year 1744. During his rectorship the church had become so dilapidated that thoughts were entertained of rebuilding. In 1745 a petition was drawn up to the Assembly for a levy on the taxables for this purpose. This, however, was not carried into effect until several years subsequently. A new rector, the Rev. Andrew Lendrum, was inducted in the year 1749. The follow- ing year a new petition was sent to the Assembly for 75,000 pounds of tobacco, payable in November, 1754- 55 and 56, for the purpose of rebuilding the church. Now the work was prosecuted with vigor and resulted in replacing the old dilapidated £5 8s. church with a fine
150
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
brick one. It is probable that the parish at this time was at the height of its prosperity. It had grown strong and influential. They devised a house on a more extensive and grand scale-a house which, at that early day and in this then rude wilderness country, was a monument that reflected credit on their zeal and liberality. This was the second time Spesutia Church had been rebuilt, and probably improved in size and cost every time. It stood very near the old wooden one, which, as stated, was sold to Dr. Stenhouse. As we learn from a resolution of the vestry, the old one was sold on a credit of six months and was to be taken away within a given time. The purchaser, however, failing to do this, the vestry notified him that if it should fall against the new one after the time for its removal had elapsed, he should be required to pay all damage the new one might sustain in its fall. This statement is important, because some have said that this second building stood in one place, and some in another, and all that it was located in a different place to the true- one. This seems to be rather an unimportant enquiry, but in giving a history of the church it is right to cor- rect a common error, and thereby attach to this spot a sanctity which the hallowed purposes it has so long served must give it.
The church now built was of brick, fifty-seven feet long and thirty-five feet wide. The floor was laid with flagstone. The pulpit stood on the north side and was overhung by a canopy. The windows and doors were arched ; there was also a fine arched chancel, and this church was furnished with an organ. It was a very substantial building. It stood for almost a hundred years. The foundation was deeply laid, being of hard
15I
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
brick, three feet thick. The timbers in the roof were very large and of the best sawed oak, well framed to- gether, and in a fine state of preservation when taken down. It has been supposed that the brick were of English manufacture, but this is a mistake, for we find that in the month of June, 1756, Capt. John Hall took the contract for burning and delivering one hundred thousand for the sum of £185 Is. 8d. In the following year Mr. John Deaver engaged to put up the brick and furnish forty-seven thousand eight hundred and seventy-five more, which were required to complete the work, for £177 Ios. currency ; and Samuel Wallace con- £430. The house was finished in 1758. The whole cost, £430. The house was finished in 1758. The whole cost, including flagstone, velvet cushions, linen for surplices, was about $3,500. The church stood without any alter- ation up to June, 1832, when the interior underwent entire renovation and alteration. The flagstone floor was taken up; the high pulpit with its hanging canopy was removed ; the large, square, high pews were taken out ; the fine arched windows and doors were contracted into square ones. The cost of the whole was about $1,000, raised principally by means of a fair conducted by the ladies. So it stood until the year 1851, when it was found necessary to raze it to its foundations and rebuild it entirely.
Having gone thus far with the three several churches that have been built in St. George's Parish, it is neces- sary to go back to the year 1760, in order to take some note of the vestry acts. We find in this year a curious act : "The vestry proceeds to business and taxes the undermentioned persons as bachelors:
-
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HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Estate. Tax.
Wm. Osborn
£300
£I
¥ Garret Garretson
300
I
John Peacock.
300
I
James Kimble
300
I
Philip Gover
300
I
W. Husband, Jr
300
I
James Lee, Jr.
300
I
Isaac Webster
300
I
Samuel Wallis.
300
I
J. Billingsley, Jr 300
I
Wm. Wood. 300
300
I
John Cooper. 300
300
I
Stephen Cooper
300
I
John Wilkinson 300
I
David Tate
100
5s.
David Maxwell
100
5s.
Richard Johns
300
£1
.Joseph Hill
300
I
J. Lee Webster
300
I
J. Worthington
300
I
John Love.
300
I
Thos. Husband
300
I
Samuel Wilson
300
1
George Clark
300
I
David Clark
300
I
Josiah Lyons 300
I
F. Billingsley 100
5s
Richard Keen 100
5s.
R. Dallam, Jr
100
5s.
Robt. Bryarly, son of Robert
100
5s.
I
Robert Dunn
I
Thomas Cooper
153
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
Estate. Tax.
Robert Darby.
100
5s.
Sam'l Perryman
100
5s.
James Foster
100
5s.
Joseph Bromley
100
5s.
James Creswell.
100
5s.
Joseph Wilson
100
5s.
M. Webster
100
5s.
Ed. Hanson
100
5s
William Hill 100
5S.
Wm. McClure.
100
5s.
Moses Hill
300
£I
Nathaniel Giles.
300
I
C. Worthington, Jr.
300
I
The register was ordered to make a "fair copy of this list of bachelors, to affix it at the church door for the above persons to make their objections why they should not be taxed, if they have any." A very summary, and, one would think, convincing argument this in favor of matrimony, and no doubt told during the ensuing year in the number of devotees of hymen's altar.
About this time a chapel was built on Deer Creek, at a place called the "Trapp ;" it was the same in every particular, as to size and fashion, as Spesutia Church. The rector of St. George's officiated in it at stated times. In the year 1851, some of the remaining church- men applied to the vestry for a new parish, including that site, with a view of rebuilding, which was granted ; they applied to the convention of the diocese and were received as an independent parish.
In the year 1769 the Rev. John Porter was inducted. It is stated by some that he used to walk by the
154
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
river shore and practice his sermon for the next Sunday. He was a highly gifted speaker and attracted great crowds, and while preaching a pin might be heard in falling, so still and attentive were the listeners. He lived but a little time and died in the parish, deeply lamented by all. In 1770 the Rev. William Edmond- son was inducted.
In the year 1772 the Rev. William West was in- ducted. He seems to have been a very popular and useful rector. He continued about eleven years and was the rector during the Revolutionary War and re- signed with a view of accepting a call to St. Paul's, Baltimore. For several years before and after the famous year '76 there were no vestry meetings. The first meeting after the Declaration of Independence was June 7, 1779; the gentlemen elected were Edward Ward, Francis Holland, Greenberry Dorsey, Alexander Rigdon, John Rumsey, Aquila Paca, Jr., and Edward Hall; William Loney and John Farmer, church war- dens. James Childs was chosen register. In 1783 Rev. James Wilmer was chosen rector; in 1787 Rev. John Ireland, and in 1792 Rev. John Allen was rector. The latter had considerable mathematical skill, and was of great eccentricity of character. Many inno- cent and amusing anecdotes are now related of him. He labored long and well and died lamented. Though not rector of the parish when he died, he was brought here and buried at the east end of the church by the side of his wife. Rev. Mr. Handy seems to have been an assistant to Mr. Allen. He labored in the town of Havre de Grace, where a church has since been built. This, at a latter period, became an independent parish.
155
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
In 1815, Rev. Daniel Stephens, D. D., was chosen rector, a gentleman greatly beloved. In 1820 Rev. Wil- liam Jackson was elected rector. He remained but two years; but his mild and Christian deportment and zeal for his Master's cause left him a warm place in the affections of the parishioners. In 1823 Rev. J. Reynolds was chosen rector. In 1829 Rev. Edward Y. Higbee; he was a popular preacher and greatly re- vived the parish, both spiritually and temporally. It was under his rectorship that the church was repaired and changed in its interior arrangement. This change, though it destroyed the architectural proportions of the building, conduced very much to the comfort and con- venience of minister and people. In 1833 Rev. Robert Loyd Goldsborough was elected rector ; in 1841 Rev. Thomas F. Billopp, and in 1845 Rev. S. W. Crampton.
In 1851, as above noticed, the third Spesutia Church was removed to give place for the construction of the fourth, which is built upon the same hallowed site, and in part upon the same foundations on which its predecessor stood; and upon the 18th day of Septem- ber, A. D. 1851, the interesting ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the new church took place, an account of which is herewith given :
"In the name of the Holy Trinity, this corner-stone is laid with appropriate rites and ceremonies by the Rev. Savington Warren Crampton, assisted by the Rev. Joseph Trapnell, Jr., rector of St. Andrew's Church, Baltimore; Rev. George A. Leakin, rector of Trinity Church, Baltimore, and the Rev. William F. Brand, rector of St. Mary's Church, Harford county, Md.
"This is the third time Spesutia Church has been rebuilt. The first house of worship erected in St.
156
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
George's Parish was located on a place called Gravelly, about half a mile southeast of Michaelsville. That is supposed to have been a wooden house, built about the year of our Lord 1671. About the year 1718 it was rebuilt on the Cranberry, near the spot which is at present occupied. The lot of ground containing about two acres, was given by Capt. James Phillips. In 1758 it was again rebuilt. This was a fine brick building, fifty-seven feet long and thirty-five feet wide, with fine arch windows, doors and ceiling and a flag- stone floor at a cost of £792 Is. 8d. Capt. John Hall contracted to burn and deliver the bricks. John Deaver was the mason and Samuel Wallace the carpenter. This church was repaired in the year 1832, the flag- stone floor was removed, the arched windows and doors were changed into the square form and the exterior rough cast and laid off into rectangles ; the whole cost of the repairs was about $1,000.
"So it continued up to 1851, when the whole church is taken down and is being rebuilt with the same bricks, in the Norman style of architecture, and is to cost $3,465. A list of rectors from the organization of the parish, as far as can be ascertained, shows that they have been twenty-one in number, and are as fol- lows: The first was Rev. Evan Evans, D. D., incum- bent in 1718; Rev. Robert Weyman in 1722; Rev. John Humphreys in 1724; Rev. John Holbrook in 1725 ; Rev. Charles Smith in 1726; Rev. Stephen Wil- kinson in 1726; Rev. Hugh Carlisle in 1744; Rev. An- drew Lendrum in 1749; Rev. John Porter in 1769; Rev. Wm. Edmundson in 1770; Rev. William West in 1772; Rev. James Wilmer in 1783; Rev. John Ireland in 1789 ; Rev. John Allen in 1792; Rev. Mr. Handy, his
I57
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
associate ; Rev. Daniel Stephens, D. D., in 1815; Rev. William Jackson in 1820; Rev. John Reynolds in 1823; Rev. Edward Young Higbee in 1829; Rev. John Loyd Goldsborough in 1834; Rev. Thomas F. Billopp in 1841, and the Rev. Savington Warren Crampton in 1845.
"This now third rebuilding of Spesutia Church is on the same site as the former one. It is to be devoted to the service of Almighty God, in accordance with the principles of the Christian faith, as maintained by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, established upon the foundation of the Apos- tles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.
"The Rt. Rev. William Rollinson Whittingham, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Maryland, in the eleventh year of his epis- copate. His Excellency, Millard Fillmore, President of the United States. His excellency, E. Louis Lowe, Governor of Maryland.
"Frederick E. Patterson, John Paca Dallam, war- dens.
"Dr. Jacob A. Preston, John Sidney Hall, William Fitzhugh Turner, John Jay, Aquila D. Keen, Andrew Hall, William Alfred Patterson and John Cowan, ves- trymen.
"S. W. Crampton and George Wm. Hall, building committee.
"Nielson & Nielson, architects.
"Aquila D. Keen, contractor.
"Robert R. Vandiver and John Waream, sub-con- tractors for mason work.
158
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
"T W. & E. Moulton, sub-contractors for carpenters' work.
"Deposite: The Holy Bible; the Book of Common Prayer; Journal of the Protestant Episcopal Church for 1851; Journal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Maryland, for 1851 ; Church Almanac for 1851 ; Episcopal Recorder ; Churchman, Protestant Churchman; Banner of the Cross; Church Advertiser (ecclesiastica1) ; Baltimore Clipper ; American; Sun; the Harford Republican; sundry coin; a copy of an office for laying the corner-stone of a church or chapel, as used in the diocese of Maryland. Laus Deo!"
In the year 1718 the vestry were Roger Mathews, John Clark, Joseph Johnson and Gregory Farmer.
In 1722 the vestry were John Hall, John Stokes, Garrett Garrettson and Gregory Farmer.
In 1724 the vestry were John Hall, Esq., John Stokes, Jarvis Gilbert, Archibald Buchanan, Aquila Hall and John Durbin.
In 1725 the vestry were Aquila Hall, Jarvis Gilbert, Archibald Buchanan and John Gallion.
In 1726 the vestry were Aquila Hall, Archibald Buchanan, Bennet Garret, Roger Mathews, John Clark and Samuel Howell.
In 1727 the vestry were Archibald Buchanan, Ben- net Garrett, John Gallion, Roger Mathews, John Clark and Samuel Howell.
In 1744 the vestry were Col. Thomas White, Capt. Peregrine Frisby, Winston Smith, Col. John Hall, James Preston and Capt. James Phillips.
In 1749 the vestry were Parker Hall, James Osborn, John Paca, Jr., John Loney, James Garrettson, Wil- liam Dallam and Pollard Keen.
159
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
In 1769 the vestry were Richard Dallam, Aquila Hall, Francis Holland, Benedict Edward Hall, Jere- miah Sheredine and Richard Wilmott.
In 1770 the vestry were Amos Garrett, William Husbands, Aquila Hall, Benedict E. Hall, Francis Holland and Richard Dallam.
In 1772 the vestry were Aquila Hall, Benedict Ed- ward Hall, Francis Holland, William Husbands, Col. Alexander Rigdon, Richard Dallam and William Fisher.
In 1783 the vestry were George Patterson, William Smith, Samuel Griffith, Col. Josias C. Hall.
In 1787 the vestry were Samuel Hughes, Benedict Edward Hall, James Hall, William Smith, Samuel Griffith, Greenberry Dorsey and William Hall.
In 1796 the vestry were John Carlisle, William P. Patterson, Isaac Parryman, John Jolley, Samuel Grif- fith, Roger Boice, Benedict Edward Hall, Roger Mathews and James Chauncey.
In 1815 the vestry were Edward Hall, Walter T. L. Hall, John Crane, Jacob W. Giles, Samuel Hughes, Abraham Garrett, William B. Stokes and Paca Smith.
In 1820 the vestry were Col. Jacob Michael, Walter T. Hall, Isaac Parryman, John Chauncey, Benedict Hall, Major Hall, Edward Hall and George Hen- derson.
In 1823 the vestry were Col. Jacob Michael, Walter T. Hall, Jacob W. Giles, Edward Griffith, Richard Mitchel, John Chauncey, William Fulford and Major Henry Hall.
In 1829 the vestry were Col. Jacob Michael, Dr. Jacob A. Preston, John C. C. Hall, Edward Griffith,
160
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
John Chauncey, Walter T. L. Hall, George H. Perry- man and Richard Mitchell.
In 1834 the vestry were Col. Jacob Michael, Walter T. Hall, Dr. J. A. Preston, Garret V. Nelson, John S. Hall, Samuel S. Smith, Edward Griffith and Nath. M. Barren.
In 1841 the vestry were John Cowan, Sylvester Mitchel, John Budd, Bennet Nelson, Thomas Knight, William C. Polk, Col. Jacob Michael and Samuel Sutton.
In 1845 the vestry were Edward Griffith, William A. Patterson, Dr. J. A. Preston, William F. Turner, John Cowan, John S. Hall, John C. C. Hall and An- drew Hall.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HARFORD COUNTY.
Very early in the opening of the eighteenth century members of the Catholic Church began to take up lands and settle about Deer Creek and its tributaries, from the Susquehanna river in the east to the neigh- borhood of Cooptown in the west.
Of the first names that are in evidence of this im- migration, these are some of the more prominent: Wheeler, Clarke, Shea, McElroy, Foy, and at a period somewhat later, Flanagan, Cretin, Doran, McBride, Quinlan, Mattingly, Jenkins, Green, Cooper, Coskery, Cain, Bussey, Boarman, Macatee, etc., etc.
There appear to have been a more or less compact settlement made in the vicinity of Priestford; for here, at least as far as is known, the first church land was purchased.
In the year 1747 Rev. Bennet Neale, S. J., came to reside at Deer Creek. He was the grandson of the
161
HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
noted Capt. James Neale, and the granduncle of Arch- bishop Leonard Neale. Whether there were other priests residing in this region before the coming of Father Neale is not certainly known, nor have been handed down the names of any of the fathers who, without doubt, attended the faithful living in this region at regular intervals prior to Father Neale's resi- dence in the parish. The Jesuits had established an adjacent mission in Cecil county as early as 1704, and it is highly probable that Deer Creek was attended from this mission, which was known as Bohemia, being situated on Bohemia Creek. Certain it is that Father Neale was stationed at Bohemia, and thence came to make his home in this county. Some years after his arrival, that is, in 1750, he purchased of Mr. Henry Beach a narrow strip of land, "together with all the houses, gardens, fences and profits belonging or in any way appertaining thereto." This plot of ground contained but eighteen acres of land, which lay bor- dering the creek on the south side, and here one is naturally inclined to conjecture stood the missionary's home, which, in public document of the year 1756, was alluded to as "Priest Neale's Mass House," and which also gave occasion to the fording being called Priest's Ford.
In 1764 Mr. Thomas Shea, who had been a resident of Priest's Ford for fifty years, deeded to Father Neale one of his farms, which adjoined the small tract of eighteen acres just mentioned. This farm, which is still known by the name of Paradise, is now the home of Mr. R. Harris Archer, and his residence is the old chapel house which came into use for divine service some time about 1764. It is a singular structure,
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HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY.
crowning a small mount on the borders of the creek, but one story high, with thick stone walls, and having almost the appearance of an old block house used for defence against the Indians. It has been generally sup- posed to have been erected by Mr. Shea prior to his donation, but this is by no means an assured fact, for an old document, quite respectable for its authority, mentions Father Neale as the builder. It is, perhaps, not unlikely that Mr. Shea had already erected a dwell- ing, and that Father Neale made some extensive alter- ations when he took possession of the same.
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