USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An historical catalogue of the St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia, with biographical sketches of deceased members > Part 2
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Charitable Work .- Many pages of the first Minute- book are devoted to entries of applications for assistance, a number were copied in full accompanied by the action taken in each case, and all show the great need for such a Society. It required considerable time to inquire closely into the necessities of each case, and it was found necessary later to divide the city into districts, so that the Officers and Assistants could reach the needy more quickly and give proper help, and also avoid duplications, as even then, when a party had been aided by one Assistant, he could promptly call on another with the same result. Many of the records
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are pathetic, of women misled, children suffering, men searching for work, the sick requiring medicines and medi- cal attendance, the dead to be buried. There are entries of applicants found unworthy, but their cases also required attention.
Later Officers of the Society .- The high standing of the officers elected at the first meeting has been referred to, and brief mention made of the social position and political services of the President, Doctor Graeme.
James Hamilton, who had previously served as Mayor of Philadelphia, and to whose foresight is largely due the erection of the old City Hall at Fifth and Chestnut Streets, was in 1750 Lieutenant-Governor of the Province. He was the oldest son of the celebrated lawyer, Andrew Hamil- ton, one of the prime movers in locating the " State-House," now Independence Hall, in the present Independence Square.
At the first Anniversary of the Society, on St. Andrew's day, November 30, 1750, the Assistants reported that they had waited upon the Governor (Hamilton) with a copy of the Rules, and that " His Honour desired to become a member of the Society," " which being unanimously agreed to, a deputation was sent to wait upon him with a certificate of his election."
The Society then proceeded to elect officers for the next year, and Governor Hamilton was promptly elected President and so served during the years 1750-1754. In October, 1754, Hamilton resigned as Lieutenant-Governor, and was succeeded in that position by the Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, of the New Jersey family of that name. Governor Morris was a descendant of the distinguished Scotch family with which the Duke of Montrose was allied. He was promptly elected a member of The St. Andrew's Society, and at the November meeting of that year was elected its President. He was relieved as Governor in 1756 by William Denny, who had the disadvantage of not being a Scotsman and consequently was not eligible as a
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By Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
BUSH HILL, PHILADELPHIA
Country-seat of Andrew Hamilton, Esq., erected 1740 on a plot covering 153 acres, north of Vine Street from 12th to 19th Streets, Philadelphia Bequeathed to his eldest son, Hon. James Hamilton, President The St. Andrew's Society, 1750-1753, 1759-1763
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INDIAN QUEEN HOTEL.
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By Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
INDIAN QUEEN HOTEL Located on east side of Fourth Street below Market. One of the most noted Inns of that period
THE ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY met here August 31, 1773, and until November 30, 1776, when, as our Minutes state, "the meeting adjourned without supping on account of the unsettled state of the times." The Society also met here as late as 1791
Synopsis of Early Records
member and President of the Society ; so Dr. Graeme served in the interim until October, 1759, when Hamilton was in- duced by the Penns to again accept office as Lieutenant- Governor, and was again elected President. He so served until November, 1763, when Dr. Graeme, whose fine hand could be seen in these selections, resumed the office, holding it until the year preceding his death, when John Inglis was elected President, and he was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. William Smith.
An entry on the Minute-Book for August 30, 1776, states-
The Sec'y advertised according to custom but the President and Vice-President judg'd proper to put off this meeting owing to a number of the members being out of town, or more particularly on account of the convulsed and unsettled state of the times.
The last meeting recorded in this Minute-book is that of November 30, 1776, at the "Indian Queen " Tavern. The members recorded present were Rev. Dr. William Smith, President; Capt. John Macpherson, David Sproat, William McMurtrie, Thomas Dundas, William Tod, and the Secretary, Aneas Urquhart. The Minutes state-
It was unanimously agreed by the members present that the officers of last year be continued and that the petitions from objects of distress be referred to the old committee. The Company then adjourned themselves without supping having first agreed to allow Mr. Lee a full compensation for his trouble in preparing to entertain them. (Signed) ANEAS URQUHART, Secretary.
Independence of the mother country had been declared and so announced in the " State-House " yard nearly five months preceding that date, and the war was on, destined to continue for five weary years.
We find no Minute-book following this meeting until that which records the Anniversary at the "City Tavern." November 30, 1786, an interval of ten years, but fortunately the books of the Treasurer have been preserved.
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Before inquiring into the proofs of meetings of The St. Andrew's Society during those years for which Minutes are missing, it is well to recall that war between the Colonies and Great Britain had begun with the skirmish at Lexing- ton, April 19, 1775, and it was Captain John Pitcairn (pos- sibly the British officer of that name, elected as Honorary Member in 1752) who there ordered the " rebels " to dis- perse. On June 17th following, the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and there Pitcairn was killed while gallantly leading his men.
The British troops occupied Philadelphia from Septem- ber 26, 1777, to June 30, 1778, and the Scotch folks were treated to a sight of the noted 42nd Highlanders in their kilts coming now as enemies, whereas on a previous visit they were friends. As soon as it was known that the British soldiers were on the march to enter Philadelphia, both Con- gress and the Executive Council united to strip the city of everything which would contribute to the comfort of the enemy. All kinds of provisions were ordered to be trans- ported except the barest necessities for families, and this was being done until the British troops entered.
The horsemen under Washington patrolled the country for miles around to prevent provisions reaching the city. Captain Allan McLane, repeatedly referred to in Dr. Weir Mitchell's " Hugh Wynne," was one of the " rough-riders " engaged in this work. McMinn, in " The Frontier with Colonel Antes," says of the city, " There was the most awful poverty and want, also, and such want that exceeded the sufferings at Valley Forge."
Flour rose to three guineas per hundred, potatoes six- teen shillings a bushel, beef seven shillings and sixpence a pound, and other things in proportion.
The financial condition of the country may also be judged by an entry on the books of the Treasurer of The St. Andrew's Society, James Craig, Jr., for November 30, 1779, when he shows balance in the treasury of £9.12.6,
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" which reduced to specie as of Ist March, 1779, at 10 for one is 19 shillings 3 pence."
In 1778 David Lenox and Gavin Hamilton paid as entrance fees for membership each £11.5, which represented the actual fee of £1.15. Other members then elected paid smaller sums.
The members were naturally divided in their opinions as to Independence. The two Stedman brothers, founders and active members of the Society, vestry-men in Christ Church, were steadfast in loyalty to their king. Charles Stedman was Vice-President of the Society in 1755 and again in 1760. Alexander Stedman was a justice of the Supreme Court of the Province in 1764. They had accumu- lated large properties in Lancaster County and in Phila- delphia, which were confiscated, when they returned to the old country and there died. Charles Stedman, a son of Alexander, born in Philadelphia, December 22, 1755, bap- tized in Christ Church, entered the British service at the outbreak of the war, at the age of twenty-one, and was a commissary in the South. When the war closed, he went to England, and in 1794 issued in two volumes a " History of the Origin, Progress, and Termination of the American War." A copy of this work in the possession of the His- torical Society of Pennsylvania has interlined corrections and additions, apparently made by himself. The maps are very interesting to the student of Revolutionary times.
David Sproat, Vice-President 1772-73, present at the St. Andrew's meeting November 30, 1776, joined the British service when that army was at the Brandywine prior to entering Philadelphia, and he was later assigned the pitiful task of oversight of the British prison ships in New York harbor. An account relative to Mr. Sproat and this service is elsewhere recorded in this volume which, by official docu- ments, relieves him of the odium then cast upon him. He was a prominent merchant in Philadelphia and his property also was confiscated.
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Andrew Elliott, who married Eleanor, daughter of George McCall, one of the most active members, Vice- President in 1754 and again in 1759, was appointed in 1764 Collector of Customs in New York and in 1780 was made Lieutenant-Governor of that Province. He there did his duty faithfully and conscientiously in responsible positions assigned him, until the war closed, when he returned to Scotland, where he died in 1797. He also had been engaged in mercantile business in Philadelphia.
On the side of the Colonies the gallant youth, Captain John Macpherson, member 1773, lost his life with his chief, General Montgomery, at Quebec; Arthur St. Clair, from Westmoreland County, elected honorary member November 30, 1775, became a major-general; and Dr. Hugh Mercer, elected in February, 1757, from the present Franklin County, who had served with honor in the Braddock and Forbes campaigns in Western Pennsylvania, fell mortally wounded at Princeton, then a brigadier-general in the Revolutionary service.
The Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse, now the First City Troop, repeatedly called on for service by General Washington, was officered during the entire period of the war by First Sergeant Thomas Leiper (later our Vice- President) and Second Sergeant William Hall, the latter at the time being Secretary of the Society. William H. Tod, Esq., William Turnbull, David Lenox, Matthew Irwin, and James Craig, Jr., were also members of the First Troop of Horse. Captain Robert Smith, whose biography follows in this volume, served from New York. He was twice wounded and retired on that account. On coming to Philadelphia, he enlisted in 1781 as a private in this notable troop. James Craig, Senior, Treasurer of the Society, was owner and part owner of a number of armed privateering vessels during the war. He was appointed by Congress January 9, 1776, with Robert Morris and others a Com- missioner of Naval stores. Doubtless other members were
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By courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
CITY TAVERN
Second Street, southwest corner of Gold, now Moravian, Strect. Occupied temporarily by the Masons during the Revolution THE ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY met here first November 30, 1783, and for all meetings of the years 1785-1788 and thereafter occasionally until 1794
Synopsis of Early Records
in the military and naval service whom we cannot now directly locate.
Members of the Society were also large contributors of moneys for carrying on the war. In 1780 a fund of 300,000 pounds was raised by the " National Bank for the United States of America " for supplying provisions to the army. Among the larger subscribers were: Thomas Leiper, 4000 pounds ; Matthew Irwin, 5000; William Hall, 2000; Samuel Inglis, 2000; William Turnbull, 1000; and these with other members of the Society were giving their services freely to the Colonies in various directions. Samuel Inglis served as Treasurer of the Society 1767-69 and died September 17, 1783. This fund was closed finally in 1784, having distributed three million rations and other needed supplies to the army.
To recur now to the years for which the Minutes of the Secretary are missing, November 30, 1776, to November 30, 1786.
The second Minute-book in possession of the Society records an Anniversary Meeting at the City Tavern, No- vember 30, 1786.
James Wilson, who had become a member of the Society in 1768 and whose fame was to become as wide and lasting as the nation, is recorded as President, and he so served during the next ten years of his useful, busy life. He is recorded February 28, 1775, as having made a special donation for the use of the Society.
The Rules of the Society were copied in full in this book, followed by the signatures of fifty-three members; of this number the names of twenty-seven are recorded on the Treasurer's books as members prior to 1776, showing continuance of the Society during the war. There is no reference on these Minutes to any interregnum of meetings.
Treasurer Craig's books show the following entries for fees of new members for November 30, 1778: “Gavin Hamilton, £15.5; Captain George McNaughton, £4.17;
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George Clayton, £4.15; David Lenox, £11.5; James Heron, £7.10." He reported a balance then in his hands of twenty- four pounds, twelve shillings and sixpence. (See reference to depreciated currency, page 12.) For November 30, 1779, he reported from " New Members: Captain John Angus,* £1.15; Captain John Young, £1.15; Captain Thomas Huston, £1.15;" these military titles would show that they were in the service. Receipts for dues entered for same period, one pound each, from Thomas Leiper, William Hall, James Craig, Jr., David Lenox, William Murray, William Semple, and James Heron, all noted as members prior to the outbreak of the Revolution.
No advertisements have been found for meetings in 1778 and 1779, but the records of the Treasurer are con- clusive as to continuance of the Society during those years. In 1779 Thomas Leiper was given £12.15 to distribute per orders for relief of applicants.
For later years, until the entries were made in the second Minute-book in our possession, November 30, 1786, printed notices of meetings follow :
-1780-
Pennsylvania Gazette, November 29th :
The Members of The ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY and their visiting friends are requested to attend their Anniversary Meeting, to-morrow Evening at Six O'clock at the City Tavern.
W. HALL, Secretary.
John Henderson, of New Orleans, is noted as having contributed to the Society this year three pounds.
-1781- Pennsylvania Gasette, February 28th :
The Members of The ST. ANDREW's SOCIETY are requested to attend their Quarterly Meeting this Evening at 6 o'clock at the Coffee-house.
WILLIAM HALL, Secretary.
* See sketch of Captain Angus in this volume.
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Pennsylvania Gasette, November 27, 1781 :
The Members of THE ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY
are requested to attend their Anniversary Meeting on Friday night at Six o'clock in the Evening at Mr. Byrne's Tavern on Front Street. WILLIAM HALL, Secretary.
-1782-
Pennsylvania Gazette, November 27th :
The Annual Meeting of The ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY will be held on Saturday next, the 30th instant at Six o'clock in the Evening at Mr. Byrne's Tavern Where the Members are requested to attend.
WILLIAM HALL, Secretary.
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Pennsylvania Gazette, November 26th :
The Members of The ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY are requested to attend their Anniversary Meeting on Monday next at the City Tavern at Six o'clock in the Evening. W. HALL, Secretary.
As elsewhere noted, William Hall served through the entire period of the war as Sergeant in the, now, First City Troop, and his movements with his command, in the various calls made on it, may account for the loss of a Minute-book during his service as Secretary. He was succeeded as Secretary by William Semple.
-1784-
No advertisements of Meetings have been found for the year 1784, but the dues of members reported at the meeting held November 30, 1786, referred to below, cover this period.
-1785- Pennsylvania Packet, May 27th :
The Members of The ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY are desired to attend their Quarterly Meeting at the City Tavern on Tuesday, the 31st, inst. at 7 o'clock in the Evening. WILLIAM SEMPLE, Secretary.
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A similar call for the Quarterly Meeting of August 31st and for the Annual Meeting November 30th, of that year, appeared in the same paper, signed, " WILLIAM SEMPLE, Secretary."
It is thus clear that The St. Andrew's Society was sus- tained more or less efficiently during the entire period of the Revolutionary War. When that was ended, the people were greatly impoverished, but with a sublime courage and hope they set themselves resolutely to build up a nation, and in that great work such men as Alexander Hamilton, Honorary Member, and James Wilson, President of the Society, were preeminently leaders.
-1786-
As stated above, the second Minute-book in possession of the Society begins with the record of a meeting at the City Tavern, on November 30, 1786.
As this Minute-book until it was closed in 1833 records in nearly every instance the meeting places for both Quar- terly and Anniversary Meetings, it is not necessary to sup- ply here further details, but, for easier reference hereafter, the dates and places of all meetings of the Society that have been ascertained from press notices and the Minutes have been now recorded in a special book.
It was not until 1793 that formal provision was made in the Rules for furnishing medical attendance and legal advice to those in need, though the Minutes show in frequent references that such had received prompt attention, when Doctors Andrew Ross, William Currie, and William Mc- Ilvaine were elected Physicians of the Society, and William Moore Smith, Esq., and Richard Lake, Esq., were elected Counsellors.
No provision seems to have been made in the earlier years for the office of Chaplain, nor even in the Charter of 1791, though the application for that charter was signed by the Reverend William Marshall as Chaplain and he is recorded as so serving 1788-1793.
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In closing this sketch it is only necessary to observe that the records prove that The St. Andrew's Society of Phila- delphia, the first in this country to make Scottish birth or descent a requisite for membership, was grounded, as the old-time preachers expressed it in the " fundamentals," and has ever since kept to the traditions of its past, making only such changes in its rules and practice as changing conditions of the times have proven necessary.
THE STRONG BOX OF THE SOCIETY
The original Rules required the Treasurer to provide a "Strong Box " " wherein should be safely lodged the Rules and Orders of the Society, with all Moneys in Stock and the securities for the same " " to be produced at each Anniversary Assembly for the Inspection and Examination of the members."
On May 31, 1750, the President reported that he had given an order on the Treasurer for 3 pounds, 3 shillings and 9 pence " for the Strong Box for the use of the Society, and for a coffin and shroud for Walter Elliott."
This was certainly a peculiar combination, but the " Strong Box," now 164 years old, a relic of a long-past age, is in the Society's office, and in it the old charters, sundry old papers, and the copper-plates herein referred to have been preserved. The box is 27 by 18 inches and 15 inches in height, and is arranged to be opened by two keys. A figure of Saint Andrew with the cross is dimly shown on the lid, which will be repainted and a descriptive plate added.
SEAL OF THE SOCIETY
The Rules also provided for a "Large Seal " with a Thistle and Crown and the motto of Scotland : " NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT."
A seal was donated to the Society and duly acknowledged by letter of July 22, 1751, to Messrs. Innes & Clarke, mer-
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chants of London, and they were voted honorary member- ship.
After the Revolution the " crown " over the thistle was considered objectionable, and a committee was appointed to procure a new seal, the motto to be left to the President, Hon. James Wilson, and he chose " Uni Libertas ibi Patria," but this was disapproved and the old motto ordered substi- tuted.
CERTIFICATES OF MEMBERSHIP
The Rules further provided that a Certificate of Mem- bership should be furnished "under the Society's Seal signed by the President or Vice-President and Clerk," in the following form :
These are to Certify that of was by a majority of Votes regularly admitted a member of The St. Andrew's Society of Philad'a in the Province of Pensilvania at a Meeting of the Society the. .day of. Anno Domini
Given under our hands and Seal of the Society the Day and year above written
President.
Secretary
On November 7, 1750, Samuel Trotter presented a bill for £2 IIS: "To a Copper Plate with 100 Certificates." The receipt is signed by the Secretary, James Trotter, under date of October 16, 1751, and the plate, with a copy of the certificate and the bill, have been fortunately preserved in the "Strong Box " noted above.
On May 30, 1752, 300 copper-plate certificates were ordered struck, under the direction of David Hall .*
This certificate, with the thistle and crown shown in the illustration, remained in use until after the Revolution, but
* David Hall, one of the founders, was partner and in full charge of the printing business of Benjamin Franklin, later of the firm of Hall & Sellers. Biog., vol. i, page 187.
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NEMO
LACESSE
IMPU N
These are to Certify that.
was by a majority 0 Votes regularly admitted a? C Philadelphia? Member of the SeAndrew's Society of- in the Province of Pensilvania at a Meeting of the Society held? the day of Anno Domini Given under our hands & Seal of the Society the day &
year alert "i 1
ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP
The copper plate with bill for engraving and printing (the latter, dated November, 1750) are in the office of The St. Andrew's Society After the Revolution the Crown over the Thistle was effaced and the plate so changed was used until the present certificate was adopted. See page 20
Copyright, 1912, by J. B. Lippincott Company
CITY RESIDENCE OF REV. DR. WILLIAM SMITH For many years President of The St. Andrew's Society. North- east corner of Fourth and Arch Streets From " Colonial Homes of Philadelphia and Its Neighbourhood "
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the copper-plate in our possession shows clearly that the " crown " was erased and certificates thus defaced were used in this condition until November 30, 1790, when the meeting resolved :
That a new plate be procured of the Diploma of the Members of the Society agreeably to the design of Mr. Alexander Christie (member 1787).
The Rev. Dr. William Smith, John Shields, Treasurer, Alexander Christie, and Thomas Dobson * were appointed a committee for the purpose, but later reported " they could not agree on the embellishments," and it was nearly two years later, August 31, 1792, that a report from the Com- mittee was approved and the new Diploma, according to the design by Alexander Christie, adopted. One hundred copies of the certificate were then ordered to be framed at the cost of members.
This copper-plate, now in use, was engraved by Robert Scot, member 1786, the first engraver of the U. S. Mint. Twenty-three pounds, three shillings, four and one-half pence was paid him.
The signature, in fine script, " R. Scot," is on the lower right-hand corner of the certificate.
* Thomas Dobson was also a printer. See brief notice on page 67.
CONTINUATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE SOCIETY
FOR PRECEDING MINUTES SEE HISTORICAL CATALOGUE, 1907
1907, November 30. The 158th Anniversary of the Society was held at the Aldine Hotel, President Robert B. Beath in the chair. The Divine blessing was invoked by the Chaplain, Rev. James H. Lamb, D.D. The usual toasts were announced and addresses were made as follows : " Scotland," Rev. David M. Steele, Rector Protestant Episcopal Church of Epiphany and St. Luke, Philadelphia.
" The Land We Live In," Hon. Charles Emory Smith, LL.D., former Postmaster-General.
" The Lasses," Col. A. Loudon Snowden, former Min- ister to Greece.
The addresses were listened to with great interest by the large audience. The eloquent address of the Hon. Charles Emory Smith was the last public address made by him, as his death occurred within a few weeks of that time.
1908, October 31. The annual meeting for the election of officers was held at the Flanders Building, 15th and Walnut Streets. The following were elected :
S. WEIR MITCHELL, M.D., LL.D. President
HON. JOHN B. McPHERSON
Vice-President
JOHN GORDON GRAY
Vice-President
FREDERICK S. GIGER
Secretary
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