USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Historical discourse delivered on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church : Chester County, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1870 > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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REDMOND.CONYNGHAM
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01203 2204
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HISTORY
OF
UPPER OCTORARA CHURCH.
1720-1870.
١
١
MI
VANINGEN, SNYDER.
UPPER OCTORARA CHURCH, ERECTED IN 1840.
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE
DELIVERED ON THE OCCASION OF THE
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
ctorara
Presbyterian 1 harch,
CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
SEPTEMBER 14, 1870.
BY J. SMITH FUTHEY, EsQ.
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION AND AN APPENDIX.
PHILADELPHIA : HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER. Nos. 1102 AND 1104 SANSOM STREET. 1870.
288 -
1378389
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
SUCCESSION OF PASTORS, .
1-
.
ORDER OF EXERCISES, . 9
ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION,
15
CORRESPONDENCE,
19
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE, .
21
APPENDIX.
A .- Church organization, 1870, . . 151
B .- List of surnames of the earliest members of the congre- gation, . . 151
C .- Patent for church lands, . 152
D .- Names of pewholders given on a draft of the old church, 153 E .- List of subscribers to rebuilding of graveyard wall in 1790, ·
· . 154
F .- First call given to Rev. James Latta, . . 155
G .- Charter of Incorporation, . 156
H .- List of Trustees, . 158 I .- List of persons buried in the old "New Side" graveyard, 159 K .- List of persons buried in Upper Octorara graveyard, . 160 L .- Surnames of members of congregation, 1870. . 184
SUCCESSION OF PASTORS
OF
UPPER OCTORARA CHURCH.
REV. ADAM BOYD, ordained and installed October 13, 1724; re- signed October 19, 1768; died November 23, 1768; pastor forty-four years.
REV. ANDREW STERLING, ordained and installed over the 2d or New Side Congregation, in 1747; deposed April 24, 1765; died in August, 1765; pastor eighteen years.
REV. WILLIAM FOSTER, ordained and installed over the United Congregation, October 19, 1768; died September 30, 1780; pastor nearly twelve years.
From 1780 to 1785, the congregation was supplied by Presby- tery.
REV. ALEXANDER MITCHEL, installed December 14, 1785; pas- toral relation dissolved May 5, 1796; pastor nearly eleven years.
From 1796 to 1810-fourteen years-the congregation was sup- plied by Presbytery.
REV. JAMES LATTA, took charge of the congregation October 1, 1810; ordained and installed April 2, 1811; pastoral rela- tion dissolved October 1, 1850; pastor forty years.
REV. JAMES M. CROWELL, ordained and installed June 3, 1851; pastoral relation dissolved April 14, 1857; pastor nearly six years.
REV. ALEXANDER REED, ordained and installed October 8, 1857; pastoral relation dissolved October 20, 1864; pastor seven years.
REV. JOHN J. POMEROY-present pastor-installed November 14, 1865.
ORDER OF EXERCISES
AT THE
CELEBRATION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF TIIE UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
SEPTEMBER 14, 1870.
FORENOON.
I. INVOCATION, by Rev. Thomas Love.
II. ANTHEM-"O Come Let us Sing."
III. READING OF SCRIPTURES, Psalm cxxii., by Rev. James L. Scott.
IV. PRAYER, by Rev. Justus T. Umsted.
V. HYMN.
All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell, Come ye before Him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed, Without our aid He did us make ; We are His flock, He doth us feed, And for His sheep, He doth us take,
O enter then His gates with praise, Approach with joy His courts unto ; Praise, laud, and bless His name always, For it is seemly so to do.
2
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UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Because the Lord our God is good, His mercy is for ever sure ; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure.
VI. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE, by J. Smith Futhey, Esq. VII. SONG, " A Hundred Years to Come."
Where ! where will be the birds that sing, A hundred years to come ? The flowers that now in beauty spring, A hundred years to come ? The rosy lips, the lofty brow,
The heart that beats so gaily now,
O where will be love's beaming eye, Joy's pleasant smile, and sorrow's sigh A hundred years to come ?
Who'll tread for gain these rural ways, A hundred years to come ? Who'll fill this church with songs of praise, A hundred years to come ? Pale, trembling age, and fiery youth,
And childhood with its heart of truth,
The rich, the poor, on land and sea, Where will the mighty millions be A hundred years to come ?
We all within our graves shall sleep, A hundred years to come ? No living soul for us will weep, A hundred years to come ? But other men our lands will till, And others then our streets will fill, While other birds will sing as gay, And bright the sun shine as to-day, A hundred years to come ?
VIII. BENEDICTION, by Rev. B. B. Hotchkin.
11
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
AFTERNOON
I. ANTHEM.
II. PRAYER, by Rev. E. E. Adams, D.D.
III. HYMN.
How did my heart rejoice to hear My friends devoutly say, " In Sion let us all appear, And keep the solemn day."
I love her gates, I love the road ; The church, adorned with grace, Stands like a palace built for God, To show His milder face.
Peace be within this sacred place, And joy a constant guest ; With holy gifts and heavenly grace Be her attendants blest.
My soul shall pray for Sion still, While life or breath remains ; There my best friends, my kindred dwell, There God, my Saviour, reigns.
IV. REMARKS ON PRESBYTERIANISM, by Rev. Nathan Grier Parke.
V. HYMN.
I love Thy kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The church our blest Redeemer saved With his own precious blood.
I love Thy church, O God ! Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend, To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
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UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
Jesus, Thou Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring.
Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Sion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.
VI. PERSONAL REMINISCENCES, by Rev. John L. Withrow and Rev. Samuel T. Lowrie.
VII. HYMN.
God bless our native land ! Firm may she ever stand Through storm and night ; When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of winds and wave, Do Thou our country save, By Thy great might.
For her our pray'rs shall rise To God above the skies,- On Him we wait ; Thou who has heard each sigh, Watching each weeping eye, Be Thou for ever nigh ; God save the State.
Our fathers' God ! to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing : Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light ; Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.
13
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
VIII. PASTORAL REMINISCENCES, by Rev. James M. Crowell, D.D., and Rev. Alexander Reed, D.D.
IX. DOXOLOGY.
Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to th' eternal Son, Glory to the Holy Spirit, Hail the blessed Three in One ; Hallelujah ! Hail the blessed Three in One.
X. BENEDICTION, by Rev. M. B. Grier, D.D.
1
ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION.
BY ALFRED P. REID, ESQ.
At a meeting of the Session of Upper Octorara Church, in 1869, the pastor-Rev. John J. Pomeroy-suggested the pro- priety of celebrating the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of founding the church.
The suggestion was at once acted upon, and J. Smith Futhey, Esq., of West Chester, Pa., a son of the Church, and a gentleman noted for his love of antiquarian research, was invited to prepare the historical address for the occasion.
Wednesday, September 14th, 1870, was subsequently fixed upon as the day for the celebration.
It was a beautiful autumnal day; nature seemed in harmony with the occasion, and smiled benignantly upon this rural spot, among the old oaks, beside the silent resting place of an honored ancestry.
The trustees had recently repaired the church building, re- cushioned the pews, and put the graveyard in order at consider- able toil and expense. Everything presented a neat and comfort- able appearance, and one could cheerfully yield himself up to the associations of the past, and the enjoyments of the occasion.
Although but a limited notice had been given of the Anniver- sary, there was such a gathering as these sacred precincts had never witnessed. Crowds of people came from far and near, many of them had not seen the church for years, some never, but ties of affinity and attachment to this venerable pillar of the truth, drew them aside from their ordinary avocations to this celebration. The
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URPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
meeting house was crowded to overflowing, long before the hour for the exercises to begin, arrived.
Few churches in our country can trace back their history as far as Upper Octorara. It is one of the early landmarks of Presby- terianism in our land.
Within its fold have lived earnest, holy lives, spent in the ser- vice of the church. From it have gone out men rich in intellectual and moral worth, and of exalted aims. Many streams of blessings scattered far and wide, trace their source to this well-spring of Zion. Very proud of her history are those who have grown up under the shadow of old Octorara Church.
There came up to this festival many of the clergy, especially of the old Presbytery of New Castle, with which the church was so long connected. The following were present :- Rev. James M. Crowell, D.D., of St. Peters' Church, Rochester, N. Y .; Rev. Alexander Reed, D.D., of the Central Church, Philadelphia, both of whom were former pastors of the church ; Rev. John J. Pome- roy, its present pastor ; Rev. Thomas Love, one of the oldest living members of New Castle Presbytery ; Rev. Alexander G. Morrison, of Coatesville; Rev. John M. Dickey, D.D., of Oxford; Rev. Philip J. Timlow, of Leacock Church, Lancaster County ; Rev. Ezra E. Adams, D.D., Professor in Lincoln University; Rev. Beriah B. Hotchkin, of Marple Church, Delaware County ; Rev. Justus T. Umsted, of Faggs' Manor Church; Rev. Matthew B. Grier, D.D., editor of the Presbyterian, Philadelphia ; Rev. Nathan Grier Parke, of Pittston, Luzerne County ; Rev. James L. Scott, Principal of Seminary, Hammonton, New Jersey ; Rev. William F. P. Noble, of Penningtonville; Rev. Joseph M. Rittenhouse, of Middle Octorara ; Rev. Lorenzo Westcott, Professor in Lincoln University ; Rev. Joseph S. Gilmer, of Kennett Square; Rev. Samuel T. Lowrie, of Abington, Montgomery County ; Rev. John L. Withrow, of Arch Street Church, Philadelphia; Rev. David W. Moore, of Lower Brandywine Church, Delaware; Rev. John P. Clarke, of Little Valley Church, Mifflin County ; Rev. Anthony C. Junkin, of Red Clay Creek Church, Delaware; Rev. James Roberts, of Coatesville; Rev. John Rea, of Downingtown; Rev. William W. Heberton, of Brandywine Manor, and Rev. William W. Dalbey, Pastor of the Baptist Church in Penningtonville.
17
ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRATION.
The exercises, which were well arranged and admirably suited to the occasion, were presided over by the Rev. John J. Pomeroy.
The Historical Address occupied two hours in its delivery, and was listened to with the utmost attention, and unflagging interest, by the vast congregation. The Historian had not time to present all the material he had gathered together. His intimate acquain- tance with the antiquarian history of the county, and especially of this part of it, the place of his birth, had enabled him to draw upon stores accessible to few but himself. It was an exceedingly valuable discourse, chaste in its diction, admirably blending the details of history with the quaint usages and reminiscences of the past, and enlivening the dry bones of minute facts with the anec- dotes and humor of the times as preserved in tradition.
At its conclusion, the audience was dismissed to partake of the bountiful refreshments the people of the congregation had pro- vided. The arrangements for this object were admirable, and the temporal wants of all were abundantly supplied.
After an hour thus spent, and in social intercourse, and in visit- ing the adjacent cemetery, the congregation reassembled.
Rev. N. G. Parke was introduced and spoke on Presbyterian- ism ; lucidly sketching its history and characteristics.
Rev. John L. Withrow, son of a former ruling elder in Upper Octorara, touchingly referred to his early associations in the church, and to personal incidents connected therewith.
Rev. Samuel T. Lowrie, a descendant of the first elder Arthur Parke, also gave some personal reminiscences of his family, and their connection with this church.
J. Smith Futhey, Esq., read interesting letters from several of the descendants of the Rev. William Foster, a pastor of the church in the olden time.
Dr. Crowell and Dr. Reed spoke of their connection with the church, and paid fitting tributes to the many good men and women, now deceased, with whom they were associated while pastors, and to the affection and esteem which they had ever had from the con- gregation, and gave interesting reminiscences of their pastorates.
The music was excellent,-good, old fashioned congregational sing- ing, such as we love,-led by a well trained choir.
18 UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The shades of evening were drawing close around before the vast assembly broke up and dispersed to their homes. It was a day long to be remembered in the annals of the church-a day when old associations were renewed, ties of Christian friendship strengthened, and the broken links in her history re-united. It will long live in our memory as a day replete with profitable thought and reflection, and delightful entertainment.
-
CORRESPONDENCE.
-
UPPER OCTORARA MANSE, September 24, 1870.
J. SMITH FUTHEY, EsQ.,
DEAR SIR :
Your admirable Historical Address, de- livered on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth Anniversary of the Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, has created the very general desire on the part of our congregation and friends of our Church, to see it in printed form.
At a joint meeting of the Session and Board of Trustees, the undersigned were appointed a committee to make known to you this desire, and to respectfully solicit a copy of your Address for publication. We earnestly hope this urgent request will meet with your favorable response.
Very truly and sincerely, Yours,
JOHN J. POMEROY, Pastor of Upper Octorara Church.
SAMUEL WALKER, Ruling Elder. GEORGE M. BOYD, President of Board of Trustees.
WEST CHESTER, PA., Oct. 3, 1870.
GENTLEMEN :
In compliance with your request, I herewith place at your disposal the discourse delivered on the occasion of the one hundred and fiftieth Anniversary of the Upper Octorara Presby- terian Church.
.
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UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The task of its preparation-undertaken at the request of the Session of the Church-was to me a very grateful one, and the consciousness that it has been esteemed of sufficient value to justify its committal to the press, is an abundant reward for the labor bestowed upon it.
Thanking you for the kindness of the terms in which the request has been conveyed,
I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. SMITH FUTHEY.
To REV. JOHN J. POMEROY, MR. SAMUEL WALKER, MR. GEORGE M. BOYD,
Committee.
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD, CONSIDER THE YEARS OF MANY GENE- RATIONS ; ASK THY FATHER AND HE WILL SHOW THEE ; THY ELDERS, AND THEY WILL TELL THEE .- Deuteromony xxxii. 7.
WALK ABOUT ZION, AND GO ROUND ABOUT HER; TELL THE TOWERS THEREOF. MARK YE WELL HER BULWARKS, CONSIDER HER PALACES ; THAT YE MAY TELL IT TO THE GENERATION FOLLOWING .- Psalm xlviii. 12, 13.
IT is a time honored usage of all civilized people, to commemorate leading events of their past history. The Jews had their periods for thanksgiving and re- joicing, in commemoration of great national events, such as the feast of the Passover and the Jubilean festivals; and their days of fasting, commemorative of particular national calamities, such as the fall of Jerusalem. A portion of the Christian world hold in especial reverence the supposed birth-day of the Saviour of mankind, and of that in which he rose from the dead, and in the memorial feast of the Lord's Supper, we commemorate an event, the most astound- ing that has ever transpired in this fallen world. There is scarcely a nation or people, who have not some memorial usages by which to renew the recol- lection of great events. We, as Americans, observe as holidays the anniversary of the natal day of him
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UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
who is not inappropriately styled "the Father of his country," and of the day in which, as a nation, we flung our banner to the breeze and bade defiance to the power that would enslave us.
And we have come here to-day, to celebrate what may be appropriately termed, the sesqui-centennial anniversary of the existence of this Church.
A century and a half has been accomplished, since a congregation of Presbyterian emigrants met on this spot, to worship the only living and true God, in the simple forms used by them in the land of their birth ; and from that day to this, on almost every returning Sabbath, a congregation of worshipers has met here, the everlasting truth has been proclaimed, and the sound of prayer and praise has ascended to the most High.
There are interesting associations connected with the history of this Church and its surroundings. It takes us back to a period when the country here was new, and very thinly settled-when it was the home and the hunting ground of the Indian. It takes us back to the colonial days of our country-to a period less than one hundred years from the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, and but thirty-eight years after the arrival of William Penn. Aside from Philadelphia and a few very small neighboring towns, such as Chester and New Castle, the country here and in parts adjacent, was then-with few except- ions-almost an unbroken wilderness.
It is true, one hundred and fifty years is not a very long time in the history of an old nation, but in
23
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
ours, it is. To those accustomed to look upon the hoary castles of the old world-those monuments of a thousand years-that date to the time of the Crusades and beyond, a century and a half may seem but a brief space of time; but to us, whose past extends but a little way back, ere it is lost in dim- ness and uncertainty, "a hundred and fifty years ago," seems to belong to a remote age.
When we reflect that it is but a little over three hundred and fifty years since the existence of this Continent was made known to the European powers; that it is little more than half that period since the spot where Philadelphia now stands was a forest, occupied by the Red Man, we see that this Church is one of no inconsiderable American antiquity.
The Session of this Church have esteemed the present period, a suitable one in which to take a retrospective glance at her past history, and to trace it from its obscure beginnings, through its different phases, down to the present time, and they have in- vited me to the performance of this grateful, but somewhat laborious task.
In the performance of this duty, I have endeavored to carry out the spirit of the words of Moses which I have just quoted. I have-so far as the sources were available-remembered for you the days of old in the history of the Church, and considered the years of the generations which have elapsed since its foundations were laid. I have asked the fathers, and they have showed me; I have consulted the elders, and they have told me, and the information which I
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UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
have thus gathered, meagre though it may be, I come-as far as I am able-to set in order before you to-day.
In this review, it is natural that we should attach a particular feeling of interest to the olden time ; for societies as well as individuals, are not without curi- osity at least, and perhaps pride, in relation to their ancestry. And the Christian will ever turn to the church of his choice, as an institution claiming his affectionate regard, and its history, even back to the feeble beginning, should possess for him the highest interest.
In endeavoring however to trace the early history of this Church, I have been met with a difficulty similar to that experienced by the children of Israel, when they were required by their task-masters to make bricks. without straw; but unlike the children of Israel, who were compelled to gather straw for themselves, I have been kindly and cheerfully furn- ished with such materials as were accessible.
No records are to be found of the doings of the Ses- sion, during the first ninety years of her existence. It is highly probable that none were kept. This neglect, which seems to have been common with the Presby- terian churches of this country, has been the subject of regret with almost every one who has been engaged in investigating their early history. Our early pastors and sessions seem not to have heeded the exhortation of the Psalmist, " to walk about Zion and go round about her, and tell the towers thereof; to mark well her bulwarks and consider her palaces,
25
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
that they might tell it to the generation following." Had they done so, the labors of the historian would have been greatly lightened, and his narrative been correspondingly more interesting. And this neglect does not seem to have arisen, from the want of their attention being called to it, for I find on the early records of the Presbytery of New Castle, under date of September 12, 1717, this entry : "Appointed, that the respective ministers, members of this Presbytery, do endeavor to keep a session-book in their respective congregations."
"I regard it as the solemn duty of every church, to keep a faithful record of its history, and thus afford the opportunity to succeeding generations to know something of its origin, its progress, its vicissitudes, its foes, its struggles and its triumphs."
The ancient Jews were required "to instruct their children, that they might convey throughout all generations, the history of those divine interpositions and mercies with which they had been favored," and the obligation is no less binding upon Christian churches, thus to keep in perpetual remembrance, the dealings of God with them, for the information and encouragement of succeeding generations. I am happy to say, that the later records of this church, both the sessional records, and those kept by the trustees, are remarkably complete and accurate, and that its history, during the present generation, may be found very fully embodied in them.
The province of Pennsylvania was early attractive to emigrants from other countries. It was recom-
3
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UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
mended by its free government, by the character of its fundamental laws, its fertile soil, salubrious and temperate climate, its adaptation to a rural popula- tion, with advantages for trade, commerce and manu- factures.
These emigrants were from various parts of Europe. They were not homogeneous, but were diversified by their origin, religious principles, habits and language. This diversity, arising from their different nationali- ties, divided them into three distinctly marked classes, whose separation was maintained unbroken for many generations, and is not yet effaced.
It is a singular fact that the white races in Penn- sylvania are remarkably unmixed, and retain their original character beyond that of any state in the Union. These distinctly marked races are the Eng- lish, the German and the Scotch and Scotch-Irish. Emigrants from other countries contributed to swell the population. Among the choicest of the early set- tlers were the Swedes, the Welsh, the Huguenots, the Hollanders and the Swiss; but their numbers were small compared with those of the races I have just mentioned, and their peculiar characteristics, through admixture with the people of other nation- alities, and the mellowing influence of time, are scarcely recognizable.
The associates and followers of Penn, known as Friends or Quakers, who were mainly of English de- scent, were amongst the first emigrants, and settled chiefly in Philadelphia and the country near it, em- bracing what is now Delaware County, the eastern
27
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE.
and central portions of Chester County, and the south- ern parts of Bucks and Montgomery counties. They were an orderly, industrious and law abiding people, cultivating peace with all men.
The Germans, who came in large numbers, were of different denominations of Christians, principally Luth- eran and German Reformed, with some Mennonites, Dunkers, Moravians, Amish and others. They were orderly, industrious and frugal farmers, peaceful and honest in their relations and dealings ; a people that emphatically minded their own business, and made continual accessions to their wealth.
The third race-with which we are more immedi- ately concerned-were the Scotch and Scotch-Irish, who constituted a considerable portion of the early settlers of Pennsylvania, and from whom the greater portion of the audience before me are descended. It may not be inappropriate before proceeding further, to refer briefly to the history of this race previous to their emigration to our shores, and I do this the more readily, inasmuch as I have found in my intercourse with the people, that beyond the fact that they came principally from the north of Ireland, little seems to be known of them; and this ignorance is common, even among their descendants.
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