USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Norriton Presbyterian Church, Montgomery County, Penna : regarded as the oldest church in Pennsylvania, claiming connection with the great Protestant Reformation ; including historical gleanings > Part 1
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NORRITON
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNA.
Regarded as the Oldest Church in Pennsylvania, claiming connection with the great Protestant Reformation.
INCLUDING
HISTORICAL GLEANINGS
Pertaining to the Early Settlers and Representatives of the several Religious Denominations, especially of Eastern Pennsylvania.
· BY REV. CHARLES COLLINS, Member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North.
" Remember the days of old ; consider the years of many generations. Ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee." -Deuteronomy xxxii, 7.
The old stone meeting-house still stands Where are the men, whose toiling hands Reared these firm walls, and built this place ? They've pass'd from earth-no mind can trace.
Two hundred years the winds have swept O'er graves ot those, once loved, long wept ; Some few inscribed, some without name, But " dust to dust "-all marked the same.
COMPILED FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Special Edition, Limited. Published by the Author.
HERALD PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT NORRISTOWN, PA. 1895
G-33 C692
FROM THE LIBRARY OF
REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D.
BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO
THE LIBRARY OF
PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Divisioni SC- 10112
Seoties
BRARY OF PRINCE UN
JAN 20 1932 TH Y
ICAL S
NORRITON
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNA.
Regarded as the Oldest Church in Pennsylvania, claiming connection with the great Protestant Reformation.
INCLUDING
HISTORICAL GLEANINGS
Pertaining to the Early Settlers and Representatives of the several Religious Denominations, especially of Eastern Pennsylvania. vv BY REV. CHARLES COLLINS, Member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North.
" Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations. Ask tby father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee." -Deuteronomy xxxii, 7.
The old stone meeting-house still stands Where are the men, whose toiling hands Reared these firm walls, and built this place ? They've pass'd from earth-no mind can trace.
Two hundred years the winds have swept O'er graves ot those, once loved, long wept ; Some few inscribed, some without name, But " dust to dust"-all marked the same.
COMPILED FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Special Edition, Limited. Published by the Author.
HERALD PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT NORRISTOWN, PA. 1895
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Introductory words .
I
The church records lost .
The first landing of Hollanders 2
2
The discovery of the Schuylkill river
3
The arrival of the Swedes, 1637, and of English and Welsh settlers Names of a few of the first American-Holland churches 4
3,4
Early Germans settling in Pennsylvania 4
A reference to the foreign emigration to Pennsylvania, from 1620 to 1742 . Settlements of Friends, or Quakers, 1680-1700 .
4,5
The Hollanders, place of worship 1660; the land from the Indians 5 5 Wm. Penn's deed of sale to Wm. Penn, Jr., dated October 2, 1704 . 5 6 A change of land owners, 1700-1715. Hollanders, Germans and Scotch-Irish A reference to the principles of these devoted Protestant Christians
They were Presbyterian in faith, and imbued with Calvin's teachings 7 8
The founding of the Presbyterian (Holland) church in Pennsylvania, 1670 Persecution, imprisonment and banishment were the dreadful factors . 8
Arriving in United States, they were scattered along the coast from Mass- achusetts, south to Georgia
9
A reference to Rev. Francis Mackemie at Rehoboth, Md., 1683; Snow Hill, Md .; Duck Creek, Christiana and New Castle, Del. . 9
Some Hollanders in Philadelphia, in 1662. The Hollanders, Scotch and Welsh, combine with Wm. Penn to purchase New Jersey . . Interesting notes as to the pioneer religious settlers in eastern Penna., 1671, The Hollanders settle in Bucks county, Pa., at North and South Hampton ; also Germantown
10
Rev. Paulos Van Vleck preaches at Neshaminy and Bensalem, in Bucks county ; also at Germantown and Norriton, 1705-10 . II
12
The above statement confirmed by the late Rev. Abram. O. Halsey . . A direct reference, and description of the old Norriton church, as it appear- ed about sixty years ago ..
13
Names of the pastors 50 years ago, the Sunday singing school, and the grave-yard as it then appeared .
14
Church building repaired, 1844; some of the broken memorial stones dis- appear .
15 15
An imaginary picture, or description, of the original place of worship. landers, the original members I6
Names of some found upon tomb stones, dating prior to the Revolution
17
Names discovered by the writer in 1835 and since, most of them in a fair state of preservation
IS 19
Norriton, the mother of all the Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania Church extension in the Presbyterian denomination may be traced to the old Norriton in 1730 .
19
Subsequently the two churches were united, as the "Ncrriton and Providence," 19
A statement as to the antiquated appearance of the old building in 1775 . . 20 The original building was of logs . 21 An extract of an historical sermon by the writer, in July, 1876 ; description of the ancient log church and its surroundings 21-23 A brief extract from Rev. Dr. Thos. Murphy's book, "The Log College" . 23, 24 Names of the preachers who labored at Norriton and Providence churches, 1714-1894 24
Noted revivals of religion at Norriton : Rev. Wm. Tennent, pastor, 1726;
Rev. John Tennent, of Freehold, N. J .; also, a memorable awaken-
ing, under Rev. John Rowland, 1739-40, laboring as a licentiate . 25
Rev. John Rowland's ordination, 1741, and pastor of Lower Providence and Charlestown Presbyterian churches in 1742 . . 25, 26
6,7
IO
The oldest grave-stones had Holland names Hol-
PAGE
An historical division in the Presbyterian denomination follows. This
schism separates the Norriton and Providence churches . 26 Rev. John Rowland's narrative, written in 1744, one hundred and fifty years ago. He refers to the Providence congregation ; then alludes to a revival of religion in their midst 27, 28
A remarkable event in the history of the Rev. John Rowland, and his prov- idential deliverance. He was arrested as a horse thief. His death in 1747 . 29, 30
Rev. John Campbell installed in 1753 30
Reunion of the Presbyterian denomination took place in 1758.
The two
churches, Providence and Norriton, amicably united again . 31
Rev. Wm. Tennent became pastor in 1782, and continued until 1812 . 31
The Knox family. Reminiscences of Mrs. Margaret Knox, as gathered by the writer. Her memory of Rev. Dr. Tennent . . 31,32 Wm. McGlathery, leader of the singing in the Norriton church · 33, 34 The old church used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War, 1777. Gen. Washington visits the church . 34
The Assembly passed an Act in 1785 to pay for repairs to the church . 34
Mention of Rev. Geo. Whitefield, 1743; Rev. David Evans, 1713; Rev. Wm. Tennent, Rev. Richard Treat, and Rev. Nathaniel Irwin; also
David Rittenhouse and Benjamin Franklin at the Norriton church . 34, 35 Matthias Rittenhouse conveys a small piece of land to "ye said Norrington Presbyterian Meeting-house," in 1737. An extract from the deed . 35
David Rittenhouse, the astronomer. Historical sketch ; reminiscences per- taining to his earlier years, and the Norriton farm . 36-39
The Armstrong family; among the earliest settlers of Norriton ; an inter- esting history . 38-40
The Thompson family ; at Norriton, and in other parts of Montgomery county, 41 The Norris family ; descendants of Thomas Norris, of London. Isaac Nor- ris, founder of the township, Norriton. The old homestead on the Schuylkill river, known as Norris Hall . . 42, 43
Archibald Thompson becomes proprietor of a property, the Norris farm- house, later the Jeffersonville Inn. Items concerning the Thompsons 44
*Col. John Bull purchases 543 acres from Charles Norris, September 17, 1777. Col. Bull sold the plantation just named to Dr. Wm. Smith, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1779 45
Norristown laid out upon part of this land in 1784 45
The Knox family, and some of the descendants 45
The McCrea family, formerly of Norriton 45
John l'atterson ; some items of history ; also Robert Hamill 46
The Porter family. Robert Porter, arriving 1720; Gen. Andrew Porter ; later, David R. Porter, Gen. James M. Porter, etc. . 47
Judge Thomas Burnside, and Francis Burnside, of Norriton 47
Daniel Evans, an early settler in Norriton 47
John Baker and his descendants; other worthy names mentioned 47,48
Norriton church building repaired in 1893 . 48
Norriton, Providence and Jeffersonville churches, referred to as bearing a close relationship 49
The New and Old School division in 1837; resulting in a division in the
Providence church in 1843 49
The Jeffersonville church organized in October, 1843; its members with-
drawing from the Providence church
50
The Centennial Presbyterian Church, of Jeffersonville, built upon a new site, 1875-6 . 50, 51 Interesting Revolutionary facts associated with the new Centennial church ground . 51,52
Presbyterianism dates back to 1644 ; church of Hempstead, Long Island . 52 Conclusion. Two practical lessons. A brief, retrospective glance at the old church . 52-54
*Col. Bull removed from Virginia, and died in Northumberland county, Pa., 1824.
NORRITON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
AND COLLATERAL GLEANINGS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
By Rev. Charles Collins,
Formerly minister of the Second Presbyterian Church, Norristown, Pa., 1861-'63, and later pastor of the Centennial Church, Jeffersonville, Pa., for nearly twenty years-1866-'85.
" Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. That the generations to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children."-Psalm lxxviii, 3-6.
Situated on the old Manatawny road; since A. D. 1800, known as the Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike ; five miles north of Norristown, one-third of a mile south of Fairview village, between the nineteenth and twentieth mile- stones, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
History in any of its phases, to the ordinary mind, is al- ways entertaining; and history pertaining to one's country or ancestry is always deeply interesting; while history of a gen- eral character, whether compiled from actual facts or tradi- tional, yet being the result of patient research, when carefully studied, is always exceedingly valuable, thought-stimulating and educational.
A natural desire rules largely among intelligent persons to discover if possible something of their antecedents; hence, of late years, the effort is noticeable and commendable, care- fully to collect all genealogical facts, and to encourage also, annual family gatherings.
The writer, while a school boy, became interested in the history of the old Norriton Presbyterian Church. In the providence of God, when scarcely twelve years of age, he be- gan to spend the summer months, residing adjacent to this old building, and being naturally fond of the antiquated, took hold with interest to inquire into the history of the past. Although born in Philadelphia, yet a great portion of his life has been spent in close proximity to the church and grave yard of the church in question. Herewith he humbly presents the result
2
of his patient investigation, to which, for nearly sixty years, at intervals, he has cheerfully devoted time and attention.
With reference to the written records of the Norriton church, they seem to have been irrecoverably lost. Even if such records were kept, they were probably meagre and writ- ten at irregular intervals.
Kindly, yet earnestly, may I just here call the attention of all church officials to see the importance of carefully keep- ing the records of their respective congregations, including the names of all ministers, the membership, baptisms, etc., and also provide a secure place for preserving the same.
About fifty years ago I made diligent effort to inquire concerning the Norriton Church records, conferring with the late Elder John Shearer and Trustees Jacob Custer and Fran- cis Burnside. The reply was that no records, either of the Session or Board of Trustees, could be found.
Mr. Burnside informed me, and I have since heard the same report, that many years ago, about 1760-'75, some re- cords pertaining to the said congregation were found, written in a small blank book, among a lot of old papers in an upper room of the old Fairview Inn. These records were partly written in German, presumably in low Dutch, helping to es- tablish the traditional statement (to which we shall refer later) that the primitive gathering, if not organization of this con- gregation, was made up of Hollanders.
The discovery of the Hudson river was made in 1609, and the founding of New Amsterdam, now New York city, in 1612. Therefore, it is not a matter of conjecture but a histor- ical fact, that many years before William Penn's landing in the United States, the eastern part of Pennsylvania as well as a portion of New Jersey were preoccupied by both Hollanders and Swedes.
The Hollanders, however, being a more commercial peo- ple, were earlier in the field of exploration, and reached Amer- ica years before either the Swedes or their more inland kins- men, the Germans. It is recorded that some Hollanders visited the Delaware or South river in 1598. Settlements
3
were made upon it in 1623 by Cornelius May. Only ten years later, 1633, and some of them had settled along the valley of the Schuylkill.
It is worthy of note that the existing name of the river "Schuylkill" was originally bestowed by the Dutch, from the circumstance of its mouth having been concealed by several wooded islands, which prevented a ready recognition of the place where it flowed into the Delaware. Hence, from the terms " schuil" or " schuilen," signifying concealed or hidden, and " kill," a channel stream or river, came "Schuilkil," a hidden or concealed river. Schuylkill may therefore be con- sidered a corruption of orthography. Governor Stuyvesant, in 1644, spoke of it as the " Narsche Rivierte," the little fresh river.
The Schuylkill was discovered in the summer of 1616 by Captain Hendrickson, a Dutchman, who entered its mouth in the yacht Restless. Twenty years later the Hollanders had established themselves along the river as traders, and dealt largely with the Indians for beaver skins and tobacco. At the same time they obtained liberal acquisitions of land on the river and adjacent thereto, for which cargoes of merchandise were exchanged. As an incident, it is related that an individ- ual known by the name of Old Shrunk, in 1683, caught three thousand shad in one night, and a Captain Smith six hundred cat fish at one draught.
As to the Swedes, it is recorded that they first entered the Delaware river in 1637-'38, under the lead of Peter Min- uit, who had previously been in the service of the Holland Company. They purchased land upon the west side of the Delaware, from Cape Henlopen to the falls at Trenton, and westward of the river for forty miles. Later, Christina, after- wards called Wilmington, was founded. Emigrants continued to arrive. Mocopanaca, now Chester; Coaquennack, the site of the city of Philadelphia; Wicaco and Kingsessing, now the southern part of said city, became settlements. The Dutch were not idle, however, but planted themselves at New Castle and other points, scattering as far as parts of Montgom-
4
ery and Bucks counties, tilling the land to the best advantage. At Bensalem, and near Churchville, Bucks county, two churches or worshiping places were established by Hollanders as early as 1670-'75, and the latter place was designated New Holland.
Numbers of English and Welsh settlers also came to these parts previous to the arrival of William Penn ; for some English families quartered at Burlington and Salem N. J., in 1675; and some immigrants at the same time entered the Schuylkill to seek homes, but were peremptorily expelled by the Dutch and Swedes, who were jealous of any other com- petitors for the existing trade along that river.
The records of the Holland church allude to churches, viz .: Passaic, N. J., 1693, Revs. Berthoff, Coens, Du Bois, Van Driessen; Holmdel, N. J., in Monmouth county, 1695- '99, Revs. Wm. Lupardus, Antonides, Freeman, Morgan; at Smithfield, Pike county, Pa., 1737, Rev. Fayenmoet.
Of the Germans, while a few scattered names were re- ported as early as 1640-'50, as emigrants coming from New Amsterdam to Pennsylvania, yet about the first of their arrival as a body is the record of some twenty families that settled at Germantown in 1683. They continued steadily to increase, extending their settlements in the early part of the eighteenth century, principally to Hanover and Frederick townships, Montgomery county. They took up lands in the valley of Perkiomen in 1700, extending later, about 1720, to Norriton and Worcester townships, and between 1730 and 1740 to Towamencin and Salford townships, and in 1740 going into Berks and Lehigh counties.
To classify and condense the emigration alluded to we would name the Dutch or Hollanders as the pioneers, about 1620; then the arrival of the Swedes, 1637-'40; the incoming of the English Friends or Quakers, 1680-'85: the same years the arrival of the Germans, including the Mennonites, Dunk- ers, and the Swiss or Reformed denomination; also the Luther- ans. Of these original settlers the Welsh came in large num- bers, having purchased of William Penn, before leaving Eng- land, forty thousand acres in Merioneth or Merion, said land
5
extending into Chester county, now Tredyffiin township, Pa.
Later, in 1734, came the Schwenkfelders, arriving at Philadelphia and settling in Worcester, Towamencin and Sal- ford, Montgomery county; and in 1742 the arrival of those who were founders of the Moravian church in Pennsylvania.
The late Moses Auge, in his book, " Lives of Eminent Men," alludes to Rev. John Philip Boehm as arriving in Montgomery county in 1720. Also, to Rev. George Michael Weiss, from the Palatinate on the Rhine, arriving about the same time and settling at Skippack, bringing with him four hundred emigrants. Four years after Mr. Weiss' arrival, fiom a report made to the Synod of Holland, we learn that there were fifteen thousand Reformed members holding to the old Reformed Confession in America, chiefly in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Boehm's work points to Blue Bell Church in this county, and Weiss' labors to Wentz's church, Worcester township.
From another source we find that the meeting houses of the English and Welsh Friends are nearly all marked by their antiquity. As early as 1680-'85, Philadelphia, Burlington, Pemberton, and Mount Holly, N. J .; Gwynedd, 1698; a little later, Plymouth, Horsham, Oxford, Abington, Attleboro, Haverford, Lower Merion, in Montgomery county, and Uwch- lan, Chester county; Welsh Quakers, 1690; also, in Tredy- ffrin township, an old meeting house.
Thus far the writer has recited these historical gleanings as preliminary, and with the view of establishing the fact that some Hollanders, about 1660-'70, and probably holding the lands as squatters, or without legal title, first established this place of worship, subsequently known, and in later years organized as the "Norrington Presbyterian Meeting House."
Notice the fact, that it was not until October 2, 1704, that William Penn, proprietor of the province of Pennsylvania, sold to his son, William Penn, Jr., all the lands comprising the township of Norriton, Montgomery county.
We must naturally conclude that these pioneer Holland- ers, and who for forty or fifty years before, perhaps, were
6
dwellers upon these lands, must have acquired their rights as tenants from some of the Indian tribes, for their main thor- oughfare was the Indian road called " Manatawny."
Be this as it may, later on, and probably about 1700-'15, there was a noticeable change. The taxable owners of land now, although comparatively few as yet, were found to be of Scotch-Irish blood, Hollanders and Germans, they having combined together to purchase the lands contiguous to the old log meeting house, located in the then manor of William- stadt, in Philadelphia county.
In 1707 another great influx of Holland emigrants began ; also from Ireland and Scotland.
We proceed then to say that more than two hundred and fifty years ago numbers of men and women, representing fam- ily ties, abandoned their homes and ventured across the sea, seeking a peaceful dwelling place upon these friendly shores.
Almost without exception, Protestant in faith, though of different nationalities, yet one motive chiefly impelled them, viz., that they might worship God according to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, and the dictates of an enlightened conscience.
They loved the truth as comprised in the Gospel of Christ; they gloried in the cross, and the unspeakable privi- lege of acknowledging and honoring God by an humble life service of faith and devotion, far more than the possession of wealth, fame, or any earthly gifts. Inured to hardships and persecutions, tested by severe trials, and having suffered more or less from fiery discipline, they fled, not as miscreants or criminals, but as peace makers; and so, being constrained by conscientious principles, were led to these friendly shores, that they might enjoy liberty to worship God, and by their lives bless humanity.
Mysteriously providential, yet controlled by infinite wis- dom, were the early Protestant Christians directed to this land. Distinctly may we trace the hand of Jehovah in all their move- ments, and especially discover His grace, in delivering them from the yoke of oppression, and providing them an earthly home where none should molest or make afraid.
7
Thus they came, suffering deprivations and tossed about roughly over stormy, wintry seas. They committed them- selves to God, asking for divine protection and guidance, and after weary weeks they looked anxiously for the sight of land, until at last they were cheered with the realization of another earthly home, though in a strange country.
So, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, did the Hollanders come to New York; a little later the Pilgrim Fathers to the rock-bound coast of Massachusetts; then fol- lowed by the Swedes, the English and Welsh; other colonies of settlers from Scotland and the north of Ireland and Switzer- land; they were scattered among the hills and along the rivers of eastern Pennsylvania and states of New Jersey and Dela- ware.
But particularly of the early Hollanders, who were essen- tially Presbyterian in doctrine, together with the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, we are to speak. From these nationalities just named, we as Presbyterians feel honored in tracing our fore- fathers.
Our admiration for the well-established principles of Protestantism and the doctrines of Calvinism, leads us to point to these noble, self-sacrificing men and women, as the faithful missionaries and hardy pioneers to the untried western world.
" Amidst the storm they sang, And the stars heard and the sea, And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free.
The ocean eagle soared From his nest by the white waves' foam,
And the rocking pines of the forest roared- This was their welcome home.
What sought they thus afar ? Bright jewels of the mine ? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war ? They sought at faith's pure shrine.
Aye ! call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod,
They have left unstained what there they found --- Freedom to worship God."
.
8
. It is our purpose now, in a few paragraphs, to advert to the founding and organization of the Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania, and some reference to other places.
It is worthy of note that Pennsylvania was populated very rapidly, especially its eastern boundaries.
The persecution of the Quakers under the reign of Charles II. and his successors, and the bitter intolerance manifested towards the Protestants by the Papists, drove thousands away from the north of Ireland, who had formerly removed from Scotland.
We cannot trace the calamities and persecutions which continued through four deplorable reigns. That struggle, and the consequent scenes of blood, would of itself fill all the pages allotted for our paper.
Suffice it, that history records consecutive years of severe trials from 1637 to 1661, referring especially to the sufferings of the Irish Presbyterians.
Many were treacherously and brutally murdered; others in large numbers were banished to Scotland; and many were the cases of unjust imprisonment authorized by the Bishop of Down. Other thousands suffered almost martyrdom by ex- cessive fines, imprisonments in dreary prison cells, and cruel whippings, from 1662 to 1688.
Such were some of the providential dispensations, which seemed necessary to prepare our emigrant forefathers for exile, and probably to inspire them with a deeper appreciation for the privileges of worship and gratitude to God, for the strange way that He was pleased to lead them.
From this we may infer, that during the time of James and Charles, the north of Ireland was for a season to the Presbyterians of Scotland what New England was to the Puritans-a place of refuge from persecution, and deliverance from the chains of oppression.
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