USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Middle Spring > History of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, Middle Spring, Pa., 1738-1900 > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
The Middle Spring
Presbyterian Church,
Middle Spring, Pa. 1738=1900. BY
JBelle Mckinney Days Swope
"Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife, Their sober wishes never learned to stray; Along the cool sequestered vale of life They kept the noiseless tenor of their way."-Gray
NEWVILLE, PA., TIMES STEAM PRINTING HOUSE. 1900.
2 3000 '01
To my husband Gilbert E. Swope, in loving remembrance of his fondness for gencalogical research.
4SU JHT
THE MIDDLE SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
PREFACE.
It was the desire of my husband, Gilbert E. Swope, autlior of "A History of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church," that I should publish the data he collected regarding the Middle Spring congregation, arranging the records according to the plan he outlined, thus completing, what to him was a labor of love. I have endeavored to carry out his wishes as nearly as possible, and it has been a pleasure to follow the guidance of one, who, though talented and successful in literary pursuits, willingly laid aside his pen, at a time when his career seemed brightest, reposing in me the confidence, that his cherished work would not fail of completion.
We are convinced that nothing can be added to the history of the church life, so fully and excellently prepared by Rev. S. S. Wylie, in 1876. The book, however, is out of print, and as the result of a demand for a similar work, this vol- une has been carefully compiled, and the archives of the con- gregation preserved in the form herewith presented.
The records prior to 1800 were burned, but all that could be obtained, relating to the church during the nineteenth cen- tury, has been collected, and by research and diligent labor, valuable genealogical and historical data has been rescued from oblivion. No congregation that we know of, offered a greater number of brave men, to be sacrificed, if needs be, for the independence of our nation; 10 church has given more of her sons to the ministry, and no people are better fitted to defend the doctrines of Presbyterianism and the glories of the christian faith, than the adherents of Middle Spring. We gratefully acknowledge and express our appreciation of the interest and co-operation of Dr. William H. Egle, Rev. S. S. Wylie, and J. W. Strohm, who have rendered assistance in completing this contribution to the history of Cumberland Valley.
Belle Mckinney hays Swope,
27emville, pa.
1738=1900.
Middle Spring Presbyterian Church.
Sketch of the Church by Rev. S. S. Wylie.
THE aboriginal owners and occupants of Kit- tochtinny (now improperly called Cumberland Valley)- - the word means "endless mountains" -were the Delaware tribes, called also Leni Lenapes. They held the country from the Delaware River to the Kittochtinny or North Mountain, and as far South as the Potomac. The Shawnese Indians, who moved North from Florida in 1689, it would seem also occu- pied a portion of this valley lying along the Conodo- guinet. Both the Delaware and Shawnese tribes were partially conquered by the Six Nations, and removed at an early period to the banks of the Ohio.
The Six Nations, called also the "United People", and by the French the Iroquois, were a powerful In- dian confederacy of at first five and afterwards six tribes who, in the earlier part of the last century, held undis- puted sway from the Atlantic to the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, and as far south as the head waters of the Delaware and Susquehanna. They gradually extend-
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THE MIDDLE SPRING
ed their power over south-eastern Pennsylvania, includ- ing this valley. Partial treaties were made between the Proprietary Government and the "united people" in 1700, and at other subsequent dates; but it was not until October, 1836, when there assembled in Philadel- phia, twenty-three chiefs of the Six Nations, that a full and absolute title to all the land west of the Susque- hanna, including our own beautiful valley, was granted to Thomas, John and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn. A copy of this deed is in the office of the Dep- uty Secretary of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Settlements were made in this valley several years pre- vious to this treaty. Scotch Irish settlements were made at Octorara Creek and at Pequea in 1717, and at Pax- ton and Donegal in 1722. John Harris came to the present site of Harrisburg, in 1725. On or before the year 1730, the Chambers brothers, attracted by the glowing accounts of the great springs and fine water powers of this valley, given by early adventurers, left their homes on Fishing Creek, a short distance above Harrisburg, and settled at three of the great springs of the valley; Benjamin and Joseph at Falling Spring, James at Big Spring, and Robert at Middle Spring, on land now in possession of W. D. Means.
From 1730 to 1736, the Proprietary encouraged im- migration to this valley, no doubt to hasten its posses- sion from the Indians. In 1734, a commission was granted to Samuel Blunston,, authorizing him to grant licenses, in writing, to settle land west of the Susque- hanna. They were an inception of title to much of the most desirable lands of this valley, with which the In- dians were generally satisfied. This, with the suspen-
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
sion of the Maryland line controversy, and the acknowl- edged fertility of the soil, and the beauty and attract- iveness of the county, caused a rapid influx of inhab- itants, so that in 1736, the settlements extended from the banks of the Long Crooked River to the banks of the Potomac. There were small settlements of Ger- mans near Greencastle, and also along the west bank of the Susquehanna made at this time, with a Welsh settlement made on what is now called Welsh Run, in Franklin county, but with these exceptions, the whole Kittochtinny Valley was peopled by Irish and Scotch- Irish, or their immediate descendants, which was true of this valley up to 1750.
We find, as might have been expected that one of the first arrangements of these early settlers, was to have the gospel preached in their midst. The most of them had been reared in the stimulating atmosphere of the Protestant faith; they had been taught to worship God, nor was the precious legacy of a free, unfettered relig- ion which they and their fathers purchased by blood and persecution, to be neglected or forgotten by them, though living in the midst of the hardships and perils of a life in the wilderness. We find that they soon made application to Presbytery for supplies to break unto them the bread of life; and the labors of these de- voted pioneers of the gospel, form the germs of the churches stretched throughout this valley.
In 1732, Donegal Presbytery was formed by the Synod of Philadelphia, the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of which then included the country now comprised in Dauphin, Lancaster, Adams, York, Cumberland, Frank- lin and Perry counties. At a meeting of this Presby-
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THE MIDDLE SPRING
tery, held at Nottingham, Oct. 16, 1734, there is this record: "Ordered that M. A. Craighead, supply over the river, two or three Sabbaths in November." This is the first Presbyterial record of preaching in this val- ley, and Mr. Alexander Craighead, then quite a young man, has the distinguished honor of being the first pio- neer, who, by order of Presbytery, proclaimed Christ and Him crucified, among these hills and valleys. On two subsequent occasions he was sent on the same mis- sion.
In 1735, Rev. John Thompson, was sent to the set- tlement along the Conodoguinet. He had formerly been pastor of Chestnut Level Church, but now seems to have been an itinerant in the employ of Donegal Presbytery.
Rev. Samuel Gelston, who formerly had been settled at New London, Chester County, Pa., was in 1736, sent by Presbytery to O'Pekin, in Virginia, Conestoga and Conodoguinet. In this same year, Rev. William Ber- tram, then pastor of Paxton and Derry Churches, also was sent and preached along the Conodoguinet. This year-1736-supplies were first sent to "Conococheague settlement." I have little doubt but that some of these ministers, and it may be others whose names are lost, preached in this vicinity. Certain it is, that there were quite a number of settlers in 1736, stretched along the Conodoguinet and its south branch, and the same is true of Middle Spring, from its month to near its source. It was the almost invariable practice of the early settlers to locate along streams of water and gush- ing springs. This will account for these places being settled first.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The commonly accepted theory, in relation to the early history of this church, and one which has been generally believed, and consequently found its way in- to public print, is that this church does not date back prior to the year 1740, which is several years later than some others adjacent, and that Rev, John Blair was its first pastor, both of which are incorrect.
In the early Donegal minutes, this church, with Big Spring, was called by the general name of "Hopewell." To distinguish it from Big Spring, which was called Lower Hopewell, this church was called Upper Hope- well. We learn from Rupp's History of the six coun- ties, that this valley in the year 1735, was divided into two large townships, by a line running north from the South Mountain, by the way of the Great Spring, to the Kittochtinny, or North Mountain; that the eastern- most was called Pennsborough, the western Hopewell. Middle, Rocky and Big Springs, were all in the limits of Hopewell township. In like manner. as the church- es of Carlisle and Silver Spring, first took their original general name of Pennsborough from the name of the township in which they were situated, so Middle and Big Spring took their original, general names from the township of Hopewell, in which they were situated. So also the churches throughout the Conococheague set- tlement, took their general name, Conococheague, from the name of the district, just as the Pennsborough churches were distinguished by Upper and Lower, and the West; so Hopewell was distinguished by Lower and Upper, by the flow of the water. Big Spring being called Lower and Middle Spring, Upper Hopewell. As additional evidence that these churches bore these
10
THE MIDDLE SPRING
names in their early history, we quote from the Done- gal records of 1739. "Nottingham, June 2, 1739 .- Mr. Cavin is ordered to supply at Upper Hopewell; time not specified.
"Chestnut Level, Sept. 5, 1739 .- A supplication from the people of Hopewell, requesting supplies, was presented."
"Conococheague, Nov. 17, 1739,-Mr Thompson is ordered to supply at Lower Hopewell, on the last Sab- bath of this month."
"Ordered that Mr. Anderson supply at Upper Hope- well tomorrow, and Mr. Boyd at Lower Hopewell to- morrow. Mr. Cavin to supply at Upper Hopewell the fourth Sabbath of December, the first Sabbath in Feb- ruary, and the the third Sabbath in March. Mr. Sank- ey at Hopewell, the 5th inst."
A writer in an issue of the Presbyterian, of Feb. 15, 1853, whose article in every other respect evinces much learning and accuracy, affirms that Middle Spring Church, in its earliest history, was called Upper and Big Spring Lower Hopewell. Webster, in his history of the Presbyterian Chuch in America, states the same. We are disposed to believe from some hints that Rocky Spring Church was also called by the name of Upper Hopewell. The Donegal records say :
"Pequa, Oct., 1738 .- Robert Henry, a commissioner from Hopewell, complained that the people of Falling Spring are about to encroach upon Hopewell congrega- tion." This was in the matter of building a house of worship at Falling Spring. the old Presbytery rule being ten miles apart. Now it would be utterly absurd to suppose that the people of Big Spring, twenty miles dis-
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
tant, and great folly to suppose that the people of Mid- dle Spring, thirteen miles distant from Chambersburg, would complain of this matter to Presbytery. But if Rocky Spring was then called and included in Hope- well charge, the explanation is plain enough, as it was but five miles distant from Falling Spring. In that year Rocky Spring had been granted by Presbytery the privilege of erecting their first house of worship on the ground it now occupies for that purpose, and for Falling Spring to erect their house five miles distant would be a proper ground of complaint to Presbytery as an en- croachment upon their congregational territory. Again Richard Webster in his history in speaking of Rev. John Blair, incidentally remarks that Rocky and Middle Spring were both called Upper Hopewell.
We are, we think, warranted in the conclusions, that Big Spring was in its early history, called Lower, Middle Spring Upper Hopewell and Rocky Spring perhaps the same, and the general name, Hopewell, des- ignated them all !. These conclusions are important in determining who was the first pastor.
The first pastor of this church, in connection with Big Spring, was Rev. Thomas Craighead, who may also have preached at Rocky Spring. At a stated meeting of Donegal Presbytery, held at Chestnut Level, April 6, 1737, Robert Henry, the Commissioner from Hopewell, asks for the services of Mr. Thomas Craighead as stated supply, which was granted. "Nottingham, June 22nd, 1737 .- The people of Hopewell request of Presbytery the privilege of making out a call to Mr. Thomas Craighead." "Derry, Nov. 17, 1737 .- A call was pre- sented to Presbytery by the people of Hopewell for the
12
THE MIDDLE SPRING
services of Mr. T. Craighead, which was accepted by him."
He was not installed as pastor over the people of Hopewell for almost one year after this date, or until the second Tuesday of October, 1738, and for two reasons: The first was that there existed difficulties in settling the boundery lines between Hopewell and Penns- borough, and erection of one of the houses of Hopewell The second was that Mr. Thomas Craighead had, with- out consulting his session, suspended his wife from. "church privilege" because she failed to live in peace in the same house with her daughter-in-law. He did not live to enjoy his labors in this charge quite seven months, but died in the last of April, 1739.
The reasons which have led to the conclusion that he was the properly constituted minister of more than the church which is now called Big Spring, are these :
First. Every other minister contemporaneous with him, had charge of from two to four congregations. On Nov. 15, 1732, Rev. William Bertram was installed over Paxton and Derry. On Nov. 14, 1739, Rev. Samuel Thompson was ordained pastor of Upper and Lower Pennsborough. Rev. Samuel Cavin, from Nov. 15, 1737, acted as stated supply to all the churches of the Conococheague settlement until Nov. 16, 1739, when he was installed pastor of Falling Spring and Greencastle. If, therefore, Mr. Craighead was pastor only of Big (for that was then called Lower Hopewell), this is the only exception throughout the valley. But where is the evidence that at this time Big Spring or any other church near us had the means and the population to support a pastor herself ?
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Second. There is strong evidence to believe that Rob- ert Henry, who, at this time and on various occasions acted as commissioner for Hopewell to Presbytery, be- longed to Upper and not to Lower Hopewell.
Third. There is good evidence for the statement that at that time (1738) this section of the Valley, between Shippensburg and the North Mountain, was as thickly settled as almost any other portion of it. It is a matter of history that the first land in this valley taken up un- der the "Samuel Blunston license" was by Benjamin Furley, and afterwards occupied by the Herrons, McCombs and Irvins, a large tract lying along the Con- odoguinet, in the direction and in the neighborhood of Orrstown.
At the house of Widow Piper, in Shippensburg, as early as 1735, a number of persons from along the Con- odoguinet and Middle Spring, met to remonstrate against the road which was then being made from the Susque- hanna to the Potomac through "The Barrens," but wanted it made through the Conodoguinet settlement, which was more thickly settled. This indicates that at this time a number of people lived in this vicinity.
Fourth. A writer, whose name we are ignorant of, in an old, religious newspaper, in an article entitled, "The Three Springs," uses these words: "The congre- gation beyond the Susquehanna which first settled a pastor, was callen Upper and Lower Hopewell. His name was Thomas Craighead."
Fifth. Rev. Richard Webster, in speaking of these three churches, in connection with Rev. John Blair, says: "These places had been served by the Rev. Thomas Craighead." To any thoughtful, unprejudiced
14
THE MIDDLE SPRING
mind, the evidence is sufficient that Thomas Craighead, at this church, as well as at Big Spring, pointed men to the cross, and that these churches were honored above any others in this valley, in having first the "ministry of the word."
After the death of Mr. Craighead, Hopewell charge "was supplied by Donegal Presbytery." Rev. Samuel Thompson, James Anderson, Samuel Cavin, and Rich- ard Sankey acted as supplies in 1739. Shortly after this, or in 1741, occurred the first and lamentable rup- ture in the Presbyterian Church of America. This schism grew out of the conflicting views of the great re- vival which in 1732 commenced in New Jersey, and in a short time swept over most of the AtlanticStates: some ascribing it to God as a genuine work of the Spirit; oth- ers looked upon it as a work of man and the devil ; some said it was of the head; others of the heart.
Another cause of this schism was the conflicting views of the standard of education to be insisted upon of can- didates for admission into the ministry. The one party at first more numerous, and in most respects the more rigid in their views, composed of the Synod of Philadel- phia, were called the "Old Side." The other party, at first represented by the New Brunswick Presbytery, and afterwards by the Synod of New York, were called the "New Side," or "New Sights."
This painful schism sent a ploughshare through all the churches, and the "Three Springs" were no exception. A majority of the people of these three congregations, as well as a majority of the people of the other churches of the valley adhered to the "New Side." The Old Side party in these three churches had, for a time, the ser-
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
vices of Rev. James Lyon, a probationer of Donegal Pres- bytery. The "New Side" had the services of Rev. James Campbell-the unconverted minister-and he was fol- lowed by the eloquent, pathetic Welshman, the Rev. John Rowland.
On December 27, 1742, Rev.John Blair was installed pastor of the Middle Spring Church, in connection with Big Spring and Rocky Spring. The old session records cf his ministry, though very largely occupied with what might seem to many, petty cases of discipline, and though not giving his first name, throws some light upon the division of his labors among these three congregations. The record says the "ministers labors shall be equally di- vided, a third part to each place, as being most for the glory of God, and the good of his people."
While pastor of this church he purchased and owned the farm adjoining Middle Spring church lands. Here it is said he and his wife, a Miss Durborrow, of Phila- delphia, lived in a style quite above that of their plain countrified parishioners. The people, it is said, were very kind to Mr. Blair and his young wife, so that they often had a superabundance of the good things of this life, but it is added that this kindness took a more sub- stantial form, viz: Several of the prominent men of the church met, among whom were David Herron, John Finley, John Reynolds, and John McClay, and deeded to him a farm, then owned by the church, of from two to two hundred and fifty acres, with the explicit under- standing that Mr. Blair, would stay and preach for them his lifetime, but Mr. Blair being a shrewd, covet- ous, worldlywise man, sold the farm, placed the money in his pocket, and then soon left the church. This tra-
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THE MIDDLE SPRING
dition has floated down the stream of time, and is now believed by many in this community. There is, how- ever, not the shadow of a truth in the story, and has the effect of tarnishing the reputation of an otherwise good, zealous and godly minister. There is a patent recorded, Dec. 4, 1753, taken out by John Blair, to secure a warrant for two hundred and twelve acres of land, dated October 5, 1743, situated in the manor of Louther, Lancaster, afterwards Cumberland and Frank- lin counties, by virtue of which, Thomas and Richard Penn deeded this same farm to John Blair, in consid- eration of £32 17s. and half penny "quit rent" due each year. This farm he held for seventeen years and sold it to Samuel Rippy. The exact date of his leaving this field of labor, is involved in no little uncer- tainty. Seeing he was never a member of the Donegal Presbytery (because he belonged to the New Side party) its records in no way assist us, and the minutes of the New Castle Presbytery, (New Side,) the one to which he belonged, are so far as can be ascertained, hopelessly lost. Webster, in his history, and Sprague, in his "An- nals of the American Pulpit" who quotes from Web- ster's manuscript, both give the date of his leaving the " Three Springs" of Dec. 28, 1748. The last record in the session book of his ministry kept for this church, is dated Feb. 1, 1794. There is, on the other hand, evi- dence which favors a much later date as the correct time of his leaving this church. There are in existence two receipts the first one reads thus- -
Received of John Johnson the just and full sum of two pounds, fourteen shillings, being four shillings over his full subscription for these five years last past.
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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
" Nov. 24, 1747. by me, John Blair." A second-
Sept. 11, 1757, received from John Johnson, two pounds, two pence, which appears to me to be in full of steepens due Rev. John Blair. "by me, David Megaw."
A careful reading of these two receipts indicates a much later date than 1748 as the time of Mr. Blair's re- signation. If he left Middle Spring in 1748, then his life for ten years until 1757, the date of his settlement at Faggs' Manor, is a blank. Neither Hodge, Alexander, Sprague or Webster, who refer to him in their histories, throw any light upon this period of his life. Is it like- ly that this man in the prime of life and in the full possession of his many talents, could or would have re- mained in idleness these many years ? Is it not more reasonable to suppose that he was still laboring in the vineyard of the Lord ? Again, Sprague, Webster and Alexander assign as the only cause of his leaving this field to be " trouble with the Indians." But any one conversant with the history of those times, is well aware that throughout this valley in 1748 there was scarcely an isolated Indian murder. Dr. Alexander in his history of the "Log College" in speaking of Mr. Blair uses this rather striking language : "By reason of the hostile incursions of the Indians, his people were obliged to leave their rude habitations on the frontier, and retreat into the more densely populated parts of the colony. Mr. Blair never returned to the place from which he was driven by the incursions of the savages. Such language does not comport with the events of the year 1748. But we all know after the disastrous defeat of Braddock, on the 9th of July 1755, and the retreat of
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THE MIDDLE SPRING
Dunbar, the tardy, this Valley, in every part, was swept by fire and sword, and scalping knife and tomahawk of an exultant foe, when thirteen-hundred and eighty-four refugees were huddled together in the fort at Shippens- burg, and seven hundred families left this valley and their all, for their lives, and removed to Lancaster and York Counties, Pa. Dr. Alexander's description of the cause of this leaving, corresponds exactly to the period of 1755 and 1756. It can perhaps never be definitely settled when John Blair left the Valley, but the weight of evidence seems to favor a later date than 1748.
After he left, these churches were supplied by men- bers of the New Castle Presbytery (New Side) up to the date of the re-union in 1758. Amongst these were some very distinguished men: Rev. Joseph Tate, the eloquent John Strain, Rev. Andrew Boyd, Rev. Charles Beatty and Rev. Gilbert Tennent.
At a meeting of Donegal Presbytery in 1760, Middle Spring Church, (first time this name is given on Pres- bytery records) presented a call to Rev. John Carmichael of New Brunswick Presbytery. This call was never accepted.
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