USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Historical sketch of old Hanover church > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08181515 5
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/historicalsketch00robi
ISD (Dauphinda, )
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
OLD HANOVER CHURCH,
BY
REV. THOMAS H. ROBINSON, D. D. -
WITH A NOTICE
OF THE
CHURCH AT CONEWAGO, BY A. BOYD HAMILTON.
PUBLISHED BY THE DAUPHIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1878. N .T.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 4901 Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. 1896
1
PATRIOT PUBLISHING COMPANY, 320 Market st., Harrisburg, Pa.
BINDING NUMBER OF 1900.
2553
PREFATORY.
T "THE Publication Committee of the Historical Society of Dauphin County, in pursuance of one of the objects of its organization, to preserve the records of the early settlements of the county, take pleasure in presenting to its members the second number of its contributions to the historical literature of this locality-the proceedings and addresses on the occasion of the Centenary of Independence, July 4, 1876, being the ini- tial publication. The present pamphlet comprises
1. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF OLD HANOVER CHURCH. By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D.
2. NOTES RELATING TO THE CHURCH AT CONEWAGO, AND THE NEW-SIDE GRAVE-YARD IN LOWER PAXTANG TOWNSHIP. By A. Boyd Hamilton.
The history of Old Hanover Church will prove of great value, especially for its genealogical data, meagre though that may be, and will be highly appreciated not alone by the mem- bers of the Society, but by the descendants of the many good and true whose dust lies within the stone-walled enclosure on Bow creek, a tributary of the Swatara, three miles from Man- ada Gap. The record given in these pages comprises all infor- mation accessible worthy of preservation. The Notes relating to a Congregation of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians of which little has been known, will also be an acceptable contribution. In the hope that these records herewith presented will awaken more anxious inquiries and tend to the preservation of every letter, document and newspaper relating to the biography or early history of our county of Dauphin, the Committee sub- mit with pleasure the following pages.
1
John and Wm. Smith.
Win. Snoddy.
Samuel Finney.
Es Andrew Murray.
& William M'Clure.
# William Thome.
Robert Porterfield.
& Rov. James Snodgrass.
PULPIT.
& John Barnett.
- Robert Boal.
to Jolin Sloan.
ce Allen Sturgeon.
+ Andrew Young.
John Harrison.
Robert Freckleton.
y Brown and Graham.
oo Robert Stewart.
James Bell.
J. M'Clure and Cathcart.
James French and John Todd.
Alex'r M'Creight.
23
= Jos. Allen.
Joseph M Bay. 36
David Ferguson and Robert Rogers.
James Wilson.
22
= Uncle Hill [Robert. ]
John Boone. 35
Moses Barnett.
James Todd.
21
15 David M'Creight.
Widow M Roberts.
34
27 Widow Martin. Widow Kerr.
James Ramsey.
20
Robert Fleming.
Alex'r M'Ilhenny.
28 J. and J. Young.
Thomas Barnett
19
14
[John] Ainsworth. John Campbell.
Barnett M'Nitt.
32 33
John Hampton.
Henry M'Cormick. IS
5, James Kirk.
NEGRO PEW.
31
08 . 6%
James Clokey.
John M'Hhenny and John Snodgrass.
17
16
James Todd. David Todd.
24 |25:26
PLAN OF HANOVER CHURCH. (Occupants of Pews about 1800.)
EARLY HISTORY OF
OLD HANOVER CHURCH, DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
BY REV. THOMAS H. ROBINSON, D. D.
INSCRIPTION ON THE INNER FRONT WALL OF HANOVER CHURCH.
[The following inscription was cut on a large stone formerly occupying a place in the front wall of the Church, high up. This stone, since the demolition of the Church, has been lying in the grave-yard, and the lettering, owing to its exposure, can only be discerned by the fingers : ]
HOC TEMPLUM, . REV. ADMODUM JACOBO SNODGRASSO, CONCORPORATO PRO COETU HANOVERENSI A JOHANNE M'FANDIENE ÆDIFICATUM A. D. 178S.
INSCRIPTIONS IN HANOVER GRAVE-YARD.
In Memory of The Rev'd MAT. WOODS who died Sept'r 13th 1784 in the 27th Year of his Age and 3d of his ministry. During the short term of his ministry he approved himself as a diligent faithful Servant of CHRIST. In him were united Learning, Judgment, and eminent Piety, with great meekness, self diffidence and humility.
This marble was the donation of his affectionate People. Serve Christ humbly on earth, if you expect to reign triumphantly with him in heaven.
Rev. JAMES SNODGRASS Pastor of the Presbyterian Congregation of West Hanover during a period of 58 years, and 2 months. He was born in Bucks co. Pa., July 23d 1763 Licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in Dee. 1785. Ordained & Installed by the Presbytery of Carlisle in May 1788; and departed this life July 2d 1846, In the 84th Year of his age.
Your fathers where are they, and the prophets do they live forever Zech. I; v.
DEDICATORY.
T HE following fragments of history, gathered from the minutes of the Presbyteries of Donegal and of Carlisle; the records of the Board of Trustees of Hanover Church, some very incomplete records of the last pastor of the church, from tax lists, tradition, &c., are respectfully dedicated to the descendants of "Old Hanover," by one of their number who has felt a special interest in rescuing from oblivion whatever memorials he could obtain of a church whose earthly history is ended, save as she lives in her widely seat- tered children. It has been deemed wisest. in a few instan- ces to preserve the ancient spel- ling of proper OLD HANOVER CHURCH. means. The original name of Old Hanover Church was Monnoday or Manada, the Indian name of a creek which, breaking through a gap in the Kittatinny mountains, becomes, after a few miles, a tributary of the Swatara. The old church stood about three miles from the moun- tains and eleven from Harrisburg. Visiting the place a few months ago, the writer found only scattered remnants of the ancient stone structure, and close by the walled grave-yard where the "Fathers of ye olden time " are sleeping. A fund for the repairing of the grave- yard, obtained by the sale of the church building and from other sources, is in the hands of a body of trustees. The building was in
8
DEDICATORY.
dilapidated condition and had been wholly unfit for the use of wor- ship for a score or more of years. It was, as the engraving of it shows, a plain, stone, barn-like structure, but well adapted, by the strength of its walls, for the worship of many generations. The home of the last pastor of the church stands but a few rods away, and by the very gate of the parsonage yard there breaks forth, full and strong, from the hill-side, one of the many springs of cool, clear, de- lightful water, with which this entire region abounds. Here the thirsty worshippers of several generations refreshed themselves at the intervals of religious service. Two or three of the old families are still represented in the homes of the region, but the well-filled grave-yard, where many an unmarked mound, many a well-worn, moss-covered stone, with the better-preserved memorial of later times, may be seen, shows how large a Presbyterian ancestry once occupied this region. It would be pleasant to the compiler of these memorials, to receive from any of the descendants of Old Hanover to whom they may come, such further facts and traditions of the early times as they may possess. He would also take this occasion to return his thanks to his fellow-members of " The Historical So- ciety" for very valuable aid in exhuming and preparing parts of this record ; especially to those unwearied delvers after the history of the early times in central Pennsylvania, Messrs. A. B. Hamilton and W. H. Egle, M. D.
T. H. R.
EARLY HISTORY OF "OLD HANOVER."
1735. In 1735 the Presbytery of Donegal, then the only Pres- bytery of the Presbyterian Church in America west of Philadelphia, was in session at Nottingham, Chester county, Pa., in the month of September. This Presbytery had been created by order of the Synod of Philadelphia in September, 1732. The original members of it were Rev. Messrs. James Anderson, Adam Boyd, William Ber- tram, John Thomson and Robert Orr. On the 3d of September, 1735, a supplication was presented from "A people on the borders of Suitara Congregation, desiring the countenance of Presbytery in building a new meeting house in order to have supplies;" which being read, the Rev. William Bertram, the pastor of the Swatara Congregation, reported that his people desired him to signify to the Presbytery that they desire them to defer granting said supplication until they be heard. The matter was deferred until the next meet- ing of Presbytery.
At a session of Presbytery held at the same place, October 7, 1735, the affair of the people of Manada Creek was again deferred.
"Mr. Richard Sankey, a theological student from Ireland, having produced his certificate at last meeting before the members of Pres- bytery, and been taken under its care, the Presbytery ordered that he endeavor to acquaint himself with the brethren before our next meeting, and also endeavor to prepare some preliminary extempore trials against our next meeting."
At a session of the Presbytery held at Middle Octorara, Lancas- ter county, November 20th, Lazarus Stewart appeared to prosecute a supplication of Manada Creek for a new erection.
Rev. Messrs. Craighead and Anderson, who had been appointed to consider the matter of dividing Rev. Mr. Bertram's congregation, reported that the Congregation of Derry desired to be separated from Paxton as ' 'inet congregation, and to have their bounds defined. The Pre , desired to be better informed about the distances
10
HANOVER CHURCH.
and situation of the people before coming to a decision in these matters, and appointed Rev. James Anderson, and "any brother whom the standing committee of Presbytery may designate" to act with him, to " perambulate the bounds and borders of the congre- gation of Derry and the people of Manada some time next spring, said brethren to take particular notice of the meeting house of Manada, its distance from the meeting house of Derry." They are also empowered to fix the bounds of said people, and to determine concerning the meeting house of Manada.
Paxtang, Derry and Manada, afterwards known as Hanover, were at this time under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Bertram, making a very large and widely scattered congregation. The meeting houses were at Paxtang and Derry, but as new settlers came in, and new lands were taken up, the boundaries of the congregation enlarged, and new meeting houses were needed. The people of Manada were settled along Manada creek, towards the Kittatinny or Blue Hills eastward and northward. The district covered by Mr. Bertram's charge was from fifteen to twenty-five miles in length and breadth, reaching from the Conewago creek to the mountains, and embracing all the people east of the Susquehanna, beyond the western line of the Donegal congregation, Rev. Mr. Anderson's. It was by com- mon consent a law of the times, that meeting houses should be about ten miles apart, so that the people might not be compelled to travel too far for Sabbath worship. The formation of new congregations was often a matter of difficulty and much dispute, as was also the location of new " meeting houses."
The region along Manada creek to the mountains was settled rap- idly, and the people early began to feel the inconvenience of going so far as Derry to church, and moved for a new " erection or con- gregation." At that carly day they were all Irish or Scotch-Irish, and were connected with the Presbyterian church. The boundaries of congregations and the location of meeting houses were determined by the Presbytery with considerable authority.
At the meeting of Presbytery, November, 1735. Mr. Sankey, or Sanekey. or Zanchy, as the name is variously given, was questioned by Presbytery on Divinity and Philosophy, and having satisfied the body with his answers, he was directed to write a sermon on Prov. III. 6: " In all thy ways acknowledge Him." &c., to be read before the Standing Committee at their first meeting, who, if they see cause, shall appoint him another subject for discourse as a piece of trial at the next meeting of Presbytery. On December 10, 1735,
IL
HANOVER CHURCH.
Mr. Sankey delivered his discourse on Prov. III, 6. It was approved and he was directed to prepare another for Presbytery on Psalm XLIII, 3 : " O send out Thy light, &c."
1736. On May 25, 1736, the Presbytery met at Nottingham. Rev. James Anderson, Mr. Andrew Galbraith and Mr. William Max- well, a ruling elder from Paxtang, were ordered to meet on Tuesday before the next meeting of Presbytery at Derry, to be held on the first Monday in September, in order to perambulate the " bounds " between the people of Derry and Manada.
On May 26th Mr. Sankey delivered a lecture on the XXIII Psalm, which was approved, and he was ordered to prepare an exegesis or critical exercise on "An Christus qua Mediator, sit orderanda."
Mr. Anderson reported that the perambulation between Derry and Manada had been fulfilled. and gave in the statements of the com- mittee in writing. Debates and pleadings were had between the parties at length. Afterwards the Presbytery retired into " The little House." [This was a small building near the Derry church, which was used as a study for the pastor, and also as a room for the church session and other purposes.] After consideration and debate, the Presbytery resolved to erect the people of Manada into a distinct congregation, and approved the place where they had begun to build as most suitable for a meeting house. Mr. Lazarus Stewart engaged to the Presbytery that all persons who belong to or shall join them- selves to the new erection, who are in arrears to Mr. Bertram shall pay up. On the next day it was agreed by the people of Manada and Derry, and ordered by the Presbytery, " that the people on the borders of these two congregations, that is. between the meeting houses and beyond the creek of Snitara, shall on or before the first of November next, declare in an orderly way, i. e. before some elder or principal man in the congregation, which they make choice of, whether they will join the congregation of Derry or Manada, and after said first day of November none who dwell in bounds shall be at liberty to alter their choice but by the concurrence of both the congregations or order of the Presbytery."
September 2. Mr. Sankey delivered his discourse on Rom. II, 3, and his essay on "An Christus," &c., both of which were approved, and he was ordered to prepare a sermon on Rom. III, 31, and also to be prepared to defend his thesis against next meeting.
October 26, Mr. Lazarus Stewart reported at a meeting of Presby- tery in "Dunagal" that nothing had been done in paying arrears to
12
HANOVER CHURCH.
Rev. Mr. Bertram, because no list of arrears had been rendered, but that they were ready to act when an account is rendered.
October 27, Mr. Sankey gave a popular sermon, and was further examined in Languages and Philosophy, acknowledging the West- minster Confession and Catechisms, and promising to conform to the Directory, and to give subjection to the Presbytery, and was licensed to preach the Gospel as a probationer.
November 10, it was ordered that Messrs. James Gelston and Rich- ard Sankey supply Pequea and Manada by monthly turns alternately until the next meeting of Presbytery.
1737. April 6, in pursuance of a supplication from the people of Manada, Mr. Bertram was ordered to supply that people on the last Sabbath of April, and to convene the people on some day of the following week, in order to moderate a call to Mr. Sankey.
June 22, a supplication and a call to Mr. Sankey was presented to Presbytery by John Cunningham and Robert Grier, commissioners from the congregation of Hanover, (Manada,) by which said commis- sioners are empowered to promise towards Mr. Sankey's support among the people of Hanover as their orderly pastor, the annual pay- ment of sixty pounds, i. e., one-half in cloth and the other in par- ticular commodities, as flax, hemp, linen yarn and cloth, together with several gratuities mentioned in said supplication. Said call was recommended to Mr. Sankey's consideration till the next meet- ing of Presbytery. He was appointed to supply Paxtang and Han- over alternately, and to open the next meeting of Presbytery with a sermon from Rom. VI, 21.
PASTORATE OF REV. RICHARD SANKEY.
August 31, Presbytery met at Middle Octorara. Mr. Sankey opened with a sermon from Rom. VI, 22, preaching from that verse by mistake. The discourse was approved as a part of trial, and he was ordered to prepare an exegetical discourse on the Resurrection of Christ as a " common head." He accepted the call from Hanover, and was appointed to supply the pulpit till the next meeting of Pres- bytery.
October 6, Mr. Sankey opened Presbytery with a sermon from Mark XVI. 9. which was accepted as a part of his trial. The people of Hanover asked that Mr. Sankey's ordination and installation be hastened. Hle was ordered to supply them until the next meeting of Presbytery.
13
HANOVER CHURCH.
Mr. Sankey at this time got himself into trouble. It came out that he had sent to a Mr. Hunter, of New Castle Presbytery, a ser- mon containing some very considerable errors in point of import- ant doctrines of religion. Mr. Hunter used the sermon as one of his trial pieces before the Presbytery, and was in consequence set aside by Presbytery. It was then agreed by the Presbytery that Mr. Sankey should be appointed as correspondent to attend a meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle, and clear up the matter. He went thither, and on inquiry it was found that he had sent notes of a sermon to Mr. Hunter, and that said notes did contain such errors as were reported, but that Mr. Sankey had not only condemned and laid aside such erroneous notes from all use, but had sent a letter of contrition with said notes to Mr. Hunter, which did not come into his hands. The Presbytery, after much and serious considera- tion, concluded that, although upon a serious review of Mr. San- key's conduct both before and after his being preacher, we cannot see any ground to suspect him of unsoundness of the faith, yet we condemn as a great and gross imprudence his writing and sending forth such notes, and thereby giving such occasion for stumbling both to ministers and people, and therefore judge that he ought to be severely rebuked by the moderator for the same, and strictly cautioned to act with more circumspection for the future, and to guard against all offensive conduct either in this or any other kind. Mr. Sankey, being called in. was accordingly rebuked, which he cheerfully submitted to. He was ordered to deliver an exposition of Psalm XV. and to prepare a Presbyterial exercise from Rom. VIII, 4, at the next meeting. [P. S. The two passages seem to have been given as a reproof to Mr. Sankey's unrighteousness.]
1738. April 6, Mr. Sankey opened Presbytery at Donegal with an exposition of the XV Psalm. The Presbyterial exercise was deferred until the next meeting, and he was ordered to preach a popular sermon from John I, 29.
At the meeting in June, he delivered both the exercise and the sermon, and they were both approved. The next meeting of Pres- bytery was appointed at Hanover, on the last Wednesday of Au- gust, when Mr. Sankey was to have his extempore trial, and if ap- proved, to be ordained and installed on the next day, the last Thurs- day of August. 1738. Rev. Wm. Bertram was appointed to preside.
August 30, the Presbytery of Donegal met for the first time at Han- over. Present: Ministers-Thomas Craighead, Alexander Craig- head, William. Bertram, James Anderson, Adam Boyd, John Paul,
14
HANOVER CHURCH.
Samuel Black, John Thomson. Ruling Elders-Matthew Atchison, Daniel Henderson, James Carothers, John Christy and Hugh Scott. Mr. Sankey gave his extempore trial, which was approved, and all other parts of trial, and it was ordered that he be ordained to-mor- row. Richard Sankey was ordained and received as a member of the Presbytery of Donegal, and was installed as the first pastor of the Hanover church.
1745. The next reference to Hanover in the minutes of Pres- bytery is in June, when it met again at Hanover. The pastoral rela- tion between Mr. Sankey and Hanover church is declared to be in a satisfactory condition. The people are, however, in arrears of sal- ary. It was customary whenever the Presbytery met at a particular church to make a thorough examination into the condition of affairs. They first called the pastor before them in private and questioned him about the elders and the people ; then they called the elders and questioned them about the pastor and people ; lastly, the represen- tatives of the people were called and questioned, in private also, about the pastor and elders.
1745 to 1750. * The Presbytery of Donegal and the churches were now passing through a stormy period-the period of the Old and New Light controversy, raised in connection with the revivals of Whitefield and the Tennents. The state of religion became shame- fully low. The feuds were bitter. The ministry, by their conduct, brought reproach upon religion, and sometimes upon good morals even. The vice of intemperance seems to have prevailed, and even the clergy indulged to excess. There was also a looseness of morals made painfully evident in the reports before Presbytery. The re- cords give, however, little history of the churches. The Presbytery became divided, the original Presbytery of Donegal adhering to the Old Light party. The minutes are very brief and were very negli- gently kept for years. But little business was done. They close very abruptly in 1750. Mr. Sankey was still the pastor of Hanover, but we have no history of his work there or of the state of the church.
Nine years of the records of Donegal Presbytery now disappear, and with these all history of the Hanover church. Mr. Sankey continued in the pastoral care of the church.
1759. In 1759, June 5, the records of the Presbytery of Donegal are resumed. Mr. Sankey is still a member of Presbytery and resid-
# The members of Old Hanover Congregation as early as 1750, less than twenty years after its founding, may be gathered from the list of taxables in Rupp's History of Dauphin County, p. 206.
15
HANOVER CHURCH.
ing at Hanover. At this period, from 1756* to 1764, the entire region was greatly harrassed by Indian wars. The savages, spurred on by
# Hanover Ass'ts for the King's Use, 1759.
£. s. d.
£. s. d.
Andrew, John
0
2
6
Huston, Robert
0 2 6
Allen, Willim
0
3
6
Hutchison, Joseph, sen'r 0 2
6
Andrew, John
0 Hutchison, Joseph, ju'r. 0
2
0
Brown, Patrick
0
C1
0 Hay, John
0 2
6
Beard, James
0 CT
6
Hums, Robert
0
2
6
Bell, Robert
0 10 0
Heanes, Bartholemew
0
1
0
Brown, William
0
0
0
Harper, Adam
0
9
6
Brown, Andrew
0
3 9 Hetrick, Petter. 0
2
6
Brandon, William
0
6 Huff, Joseph.
0
1
6
Brown, Daniel
0
2
6
Hooke, Rudey
0
1
6
Bell, Thomas
0
5
0
Henderson, John
0
2
0
Bell, Thomas
0
2
6
Hill, John
0
2
0
Barnet, Martha
0
2
2
6
Brown, Samuel
0
2
6 Haloback, John
0
1
0
Brown, John
0
3
0
Innis, Brice
0
10
Brown, John
0
9
6
James, Willm
0
9
Brown, William
1
6
Kinzer, Sebosten.
0
2
0
Britebel, Gorge
0 12 0
Litel, John, Docter
0 10
0
Besor, Barnet.
0
2
6
Lard, William
0
2
0
Besor, Mathi.
0
6
Lard, James
0 10
0
Besor, Jacob
0
1
6 Merten, Alexander
0
2
9
Brown, Robert
0
2
6 Merten, Robert .
0
1
6
Breden, William
0
0
Mountgomrey, Robert 0
1
6
Diver, William
0
1
G
Montgomrey, John
0
9
6
Dixon, John
0
9
6
McFarlan, Walter
0
3
6
Dermond, Marey
0
1
6
McCormick, Henrey
0
6
Endsworth, Samuel
0
6
McCord, John
0
2
Cooper, Willim
0
2
6 McClochane, David
0
1
0
Clamer, Adem
0
2
6 McClochanochan, James
0
6
0
1
6
McCormick, John
0
2
0
0
4
6
McCraught, Anten.
0
2
0
0
2
6
McCluar, William
0
2
0
Campbel, John
0
3
6
McCluar, Thomas 0
2
0
Conygahm, Marey
0
1
6
McCluar, John
0
2
0
Curay, Robart .
0 10
0
McCluar, Elener
0
1
6
Conyngahm, Elisebath
0
9
McClintock, William 0
15
0
0
9
6
McColem, Alexander. 0
2
6
0
3
9 McColoch, John. 0
6
0
0 McClure, William 0
6
0
5
0
McCluar, ffrances
0
2
0
Foster, John.
0
7
6
McCluar, James
0
3
6
Fray, Ruddey
0
6
McQuier, Thimothey
0
5
0
Fox, John
U
6
McQuion, James
0
3
0
Finey, Thomas
0
6 McQuion, John
0
5
0
Finey, James
0
3
0 McElheney, William 0
3
0
Finey, James, jun'r
0
5
0 McNutt, Joseph. 0
2
6
Finey, Thomas, jun'r
U
2
6 McMullen, Thomas 0
0
French, James
0
6
O'heney, David 0
2
0
Glispey, Gorge
0)
6 Park, James 0
( etey, John
0
0 Prist, Thomas. 0
2
0
Graims, William.
0
0 Prist, Meray
0
2
6
Graims, William, jun'r
0
2
6 Porterfild, Robert 0
2
Gililand, John
0
1
6 Rogers, Gorge
0
3
Grinlie, James
0
0 Ripeth, Jams 0
1
6
Graims, John
0
2 0 Ripeth, Hugh. 0
1
6
Glenn, Hugh.
1 6 Ripeth, William
0
I
0
6
French, Thomas
0
0
6
McCluar, James
0
0
Dixon, James.
0
3 0
McColech, Alexander 0 10
0
9
6
Barnet, William.
6 Hutchison, John
6 Humes, Thomas 0
0 9
Clark, William
Clark, Benjamin
Clark, James
Crawford, John.
Crawford, John, jun'r Counts, Henrey
Fargison, Willian
3
6
0 9
0
16
HANOVER CHURCH.
the French, who were at hostility with England, made many incur- sions into the country along the Susquehanna. Hanover congrega- tion, lying next the mountains, was greatly exposed, and the people
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.