USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Centennial biography : Men of mark of Cumberland Valley, Pa., 1776-1876 > Part 11
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" I am your affectionate Father, " JOHN ARMSTRONG."
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GENERAL JOIIN ARMSTRONG.
He was not only a member but an elder in the first church which was organized in the town of Carlisle, and to which the Rev. George Duffield, D. D., who married his sister, was called to be the first pastor. His name appears as a representative of that church in the Presbytery of Donegal, for the first time near that period, and frequently afterwards until the date of his death. He was much interested in opposing the infidelity which became prevalent in this country soon after the American and the French Revolutions, and we find that he corresponded freely with Dr. Cooper, an eminent divine in this vicinity, to induce him to compose and publish a treatise which was directed against that tendency but still remains only in manuscript. Although the congregation with which he was connected here was not formed until after the great schism which ruptured the Presbyterian Church was consummated, and although he exhibited no evidences of a partisan spirit, he was thrown by circumstances and by what seemed a hearty preference among those who sympathized strongly with the New York Synod. He appears, however, to have taken a prominent part in the building of the house of worship on the public square, which, for some considerable time, belonged exclusively to the rival congregation. The epitaph on his tombstone in the Old Cemetery of Carlisle, which he himself originally surveyed and laid out, informs us that he was "eminently distinguished for patriotism, valour and piety, and departed this life March 9th, 1795, aged 75 years."
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HUGH WILLIAMSON, M. D., F. R. S.
MONG the early Scotch-Irish immigrants to the Province of Pennsylvania was John Williamson, from Dublin, who settled in Chester county about the year 1730. Soon after his arrival, he was united in marriage with Mary Davison, a native of Derry, who came to the same county with her father, George Davison, when a child of about three years of age. In 1752 he removed to Shippensburg, where he died a few years afterwards.
Of ten children-six sons and four daughters, who were the fruit of this marriage, and all of whom reached positions of respectability and usefulness,-one, at least, the eldest son. attained more than ordinary eminence, and from his residence with his mother for a considerable time in Shippensburg, after his father's decease, deserves a notice among the distinguished sons of Cumberland valley.
Hugh Williamson being slender and delicate his father resolved to give him a liberal education. After the common preparatory instruc- tion, he was sent at an early age to learn the languages, at the academy at New London Crossroads, Chester county, under Rev. Francis Allison,-the Busby of the Western Hemisphere. Among the pupils of that seminary, may be mentioned Charles Thomson, Dr. John Ewing, Thomas Mckean, and Benjamin Rush. After Dr. Alli- son's transfer to Philadelphia, Hugh Williamson went to the academy at Newark, Delaware, where he prepared for college. He entered the Philadelphia college in 1753, remained there for about four years, and graduated A. B. May 17, 1757. He was fond of mathematics, and became a proficient in Euclid. He became early impressed with a sense of religion, and while with his mother devoted much time to the study of divinity, under the auspices of Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, with a view to the clerical profession. In 1759, he went to Connecticut, where he still pursued his theological studies, and was licensed to preach the gospel. He preached but a short time-not exceeding two years -- when he found that his health and strength of lungs would not permit the duties of the office, and he was never ordained. Moreover, the memorable controversy in the Presbyterian church, between the adherents of Whitefield and the old orthodox party, proved a source of disgust to him, which induced him to withdraw from theological pur-
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suits, to which he had been sincerely attached. He accordingly left the pulpit and entered upon the study of medicine.
In 1760, he received the degree of A. M. in Philadelphia college ; and soon after, was appointed Professor of Mathematics in that insti- tution ; but continued his medical studies.
October 8, 1763, he gave notice of his intended resignation of the professorship; and in 1764, he went to prosecute his medical studies at the University of Edinburg. He afterward spent a year in London at his studies, and from thence crossed over to Holland, and com- pleted his medical education at Utrecht. Having passed the usual examinations, and submitted a Latin thesis, he obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Having spent some time in traveling on the con- tinent. of Europe, he bent his course toward his native country.
Upon his return, Dr. Williamson practiced medicine in Philadelphia for a few years. In 1768, he was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society. His health failing, he resolved to try mercantile pursuits, but meanwhile, for a time, devoted himself to literary and philosophical investigations. In January, 1769, he was appointed by the Philosophical Society on a committee, with the Rev. Dr. Ewing, David Rittenhouse and Charles Thomson, to observe the transit of Venus, which occurred on the 3d of June in that year ; and soon after to observe the transit of Mercury, which took place November 9, 1769. In that year, also, he philosophised on the comet. in 1770, he pub- lished observations on Climate, in the " American Philosophical Trans- actions." In 1772, he visited the West Indies, to collect contributions in aid of the Newark academy. In 1773, Governor John Penn certified to the " good credit and reputation " of Rev. John Ewing and Hugh Williamson, who were authorized to proceed to Europe to solicit further aid for said academy. They persevered under difficulties until the autumn of 1775, when hostilities with the colonies commenced. Dr. Ewing returned home ; but Dr. Williamson resolved to remain, and make further efforts for the academy. Dr. Williamson was the first to report the destruction of tea, at Boston. On that occasion he ven- tured to declare his opinion, that coercive measures by parliament would result in civil war. Lord North himself declared that Dr. Williamson was the first person who, in his hearing, intimated the probability of such an event. Dr. Williamson, while in London, was the man, (probably with the aid, or at the suggestion of Sir John Temple,) who procured the letters of Hutchinson, Oliver and others, and caused them to be delivered to Dr. Franklin, who sent them to
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Boston, for which Wedderburne, before the privy council, called Franklin a " thief."
After causing the Hutchinson correspondence to reach Dr. Franklin, it was deemed expedient by Dr. Williamson to take an early convey- ance next day for Holland. It was supposed by John Adams, that Mr. David Hartly, a member of parliament, and a good friend of the Americans, was the person through whom the letters reached Dr. Franklin. On the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Williamson returned to the United States, and engaged for a time with a brother in trade with the West Indies. His residence then was at Edenton, North Carolina. In 1779-80, when the British took possession of Charleston, South Carolina, a large draft of military from North Carolina was ordered for the relief of South Carolina, on which occa- sion, the commander, Governor Caswell, placed Dr. Williamson at the head of the medical department. After the battle of Camden, August 18, 1780, which the doctor witnessed, he requested General Caswell to give him a flag, that he might go and attend to the wounded North Carolina prisoners. The General advised him to send some of the regimental surgeons. inasmuch as his duty did not require him to go. Dr. Williamson replied that such of the regimental surgeons as he had seen refused to go-afraid of the consequences. "But," said he, " if I have lived until a flag will not protect me, I have outlived my country; and, in that case, have lived a day too long." He went and remained two months in the enemy's camp, rendering good service to the sick of both armies, where his skill was highly esteemed. At the close of the war, Dr. Williamson served as a representative of Edenton, in the House of Commons of North Carolina.
He was next sent to Congress from " the old North State," where he continued for three years. Writing to President Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, from New York, while in Congress, January 14, 1785, about John Franklin and the other Connecticut intruders, at Wyoming. Dr. Williamson says in the conclusion of a letter :- "I have taken the liberty of giving you a full information, as I cannot cease to feel myself interested in the peace and reputation of a state which gave me birth." In the year 1786, he was one of the few delegates sent to Annapolis, to revise and amend the Articles of Confederation of the union ; and in 1787, he was a delegate from North Carolina to the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States. Dr. Williamson was a zealous advocate of the new Constitution and was a member of the state convention which adopted it. He served in the first and second Congresses, and then declined a re-election. In January, 1789,
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HUGHI WILLIAMSON, M. D., F. R. S.
he married Miss Maria Apthorpe, of New York, where he came to reside, and had two sons, who both died young. He continued indus- triously to write on various philosophical subjects; was an advocate of the great New York canal system ; an active promoter of philanthropic, literary, and scientific institutions; and in 1812, gave to the world his History of North Carolina.
After a long life devoted to the best interests of humanity, Dr. Hugh Williamson died suddenly, at New York, on the 22d of May, 1819, in the 85th year of his age. Of him it may safely be predicated, that he was an ornament to his country, and one of the most eminent and useful men which it has yet produced. An interesting memoir of hin was prepared and published by the distinguished Dr. Hosack, of New York, and has now a place in the transactions of the New York His- torical Society.
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GEN. JOHN ARMSTRONG, JR.
ENERAL JOHN ARMSTRONG, Jr., deserves rank as one of Pennsylvania's distinguished sons of the earlier period, although he experienced severe criticism as well as a large amount of popularity at different periods of his career. He commenced his public activity at an age when his passions may have unduly influenced his judgment, and may possibly have given a hasty direction to his whole life. But no one can question the purity of his motives or the high order of talent which he give to his work.
He was several years younger than his brother James, having been born at Carlisle, November 25th, 1758. At an early age he was sent to Nassau Hall, and for a while enjoyed the instruction of Dr. Wither- spoon, who entered upon the presidency of that institution during his course. Under such an influence the warm patriotism which belonged to his family was sure to be cherished, and we are not surprised to find that even while a student in college, at the early age of eighteen, he was enlisted as a member of a Pennsylvania regiment. Shortly afterwards he became an Aid-de-camp to the same Gen. Hugh Mercer who had served under his father in the expedition against the Indians at Kittanning. Associated with him, in the regiments under this gallant officer, were many youths belonging to the best families of Philadelphia and vicinity. It was at the disastrous battle near Stoney Brook, N. J., that the melancholy duty devolved upon Major Armstrong of bear- ing from the field and ministering to his dying commander during a week of suffering. Near the same time he became acquainted with Gen. Gates, who showed so much interest in him that he received an invitation to become a member of that General's staff. With the rank of Major he continued on that staff until the close of the war, a warm friend and admirer of his illustrious commander.
When the army was encamped at Newburgh, N. Y., in the winter of 1782-3, and while negotiations for peace were in progress, much solici- tude was felt by the soldiers with respect to their arrearages of pay. Con- gress had passed resolutions not only for their payment, but for a half pay to officers who should serve to the conclusion of the war; but there were no funds for such a payment, and the needful ratification of nine states had not been obtained and now seemed improbable. Under these circumstances the officers and men became impatient of the long delay
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and the uncertainty of future payment, and an anonymous address was circulated through the camp calling a meeting to consider their grievances, which was followed on the next day by another, which set forth in forcible terms the complaints of the army. In this and in other papers the officers and soldiers were exhorted to decline the perform- ance of any military duty during the remainder of the war, and to lay down their arms on the return of peace, unless Congress would satisfy their reasonable demands. It required all the wisdom of the Com- mander-in-Chief to restrain the impetuous spirit of the troops under these eloquent and apparently just appeals, and it was not until pro- vision was made for the satisfaction of their claims that the danger passed away. These addresses were subsequently avowed by Armstrong to be his composition, at the request of many of his fellow officers, under the impression that the tardy movements of Congress needed some excitement. Washington at the time felt himself called upon to speak of these "Newburgh letters" in terms of great severity, but in after years he saw reason to change his opinion, and in a friendly letter to the writer's father he said, "I have since had sufficient reason for believing that the object of the author was just, honourable and friendly to the country, though the means suggested by him were certainly liable to much misconstruction and abuse."
On the return of peace he appears to have retired for a while to private life, though his brilliant qualities would not allow him to remain obscure. Unlike his older brother and his father, he became a warm partisan of the Democratic party, which subsequently supported Jefferson. For a time he held the office of Secretary of State in Pennsylvania under Gov. Franklin, and served at least one term as a member of the old Congress. In 1789 he married a sister of Chan- cellor Livingston, and took up his residence at Redhook on a beautiful bank of the North river, New York. This brought him into the most cultivated and refined circles of New York society, and he devoted his time ostensibly to agriculture, but more really to social and literary pursuits. By an almost unanimous vote of both houses of the New York Legislature he was elected in iSoo to represent that state in the U. S. Senate, but in 1804, before the expiration of his term, he was sent by President Jefferson as Minister to France. During the six years in which he retained that office he gained high honour from his government for not only his skill under difficult circumstances, but for many services for which he never received or sought compensation. For most of this time, as there was no Minister of the United States to Spain, he was called upon to act also in that capacity. His mission
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abroad closed at his own request in 1810. At the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain in 1812 he was commissioned a Brigadier General, and had command of the District of New York. In this position he came into conflict with many of his superiors, inasmuch as the whole policy pursued met with his decided disapproval. With great reluctance he consented in IS13 to assume the duties of Secretary of War, under President Madison, for he did not conceal his contempt of the qualifications of the Generals in command and of the principles of the campaign. He soon found himself in collision with those military officers on whom he was dependent for the execution of his orders, and not unfrequently with the President himself. The recol- lection of his "Newburgh letters " was revived against him, and the failure of a number of his schemes, unsupported as they were by his associates, completed his mortification. The ill success of the expeditions against Canada, and the capture of Washington, gave his enemies apparent reasons for demanding his retirement. In his subsequent defence he pointed out the reasons for his failure, and he bitterly com- plained of the President for allowing him to be misrepresented.
After his retirement from office he gave himself up to literary pursuits. He wrote and published two interesting treatises on farming and gardening, a severe review of General Wilkinson's memoirs, some biographical papers, and a History of the War with Great Britain. It is said also that he partially wrote a History of the American Revolutionary War, and we may well regret that a history, for the writing of which he was so well qualified, was not completed. With some obvious faults, for which allowance is easily made, it must be conceded that he was a genuine lover of his country, an incorruptible and able foreign Minister, a forcible and clear writer, and a virtuous and honourable citizen. He died April ist, 1843, at his country seat at Red Bank, New Jersey, in his eighty-fifth year. A daughter still survives him, the estimable wife of William B. Astor, of New York city.
REV. GEORGE DUFFIELD, D. D.
HIS eminent patriot and divine was the third son of George Duffield who had left the north of Ireland and had settled first in Octorara township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, at some time between 1725 and 1730. He is supposed to have descended from a Huguenot family which had taken refuge under the British crown in consequence of the revocation of the edict of Nantz. At the time, however, in which the subject of this sketch was born, (October 7, 1732,) the family resided at Pequea, in the same county, on lands which still remain in possession of some descendants. The father died there at the advanced age of eighty-four years, having been "noted for his stern integrity and devoted piety."
The son, George, received his preparatory education at Newark, Delaware, and graduated at Nassau Hall in 1752. He then spent four years as a tutor in the academy and the college where he had been educated, but having become hopefully pious under the preach- ing of Dr. Robert Smith, of Pequea, he studied theology under the instruction of that divine, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Newcastle, March 11, 1756. Three days before his licensure, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Blair, of Fogg's Manor, and in the autumn of that year, he was sent to supply some vacancies in the valley of the Shenandoah. During the next year he preached in some parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and his labours were attended with revivals of religion, especially in the neighbourhood of Princeton and Fogg's Manor.
In consequence of those dissensions which had resulted in the great Presbyterian schism of 1741-58, a new congregation had been formed in Carlisle, but within the limits of the church of Upper Pennsborough. On the re-union, in 1759, Mr. Duffield had evidently been labouring for some time in this new congregation. When the call from Carlisle and Big Spring, (Newville,) was presented to him, early in 1759, he had become a resident of the former town, and had married for his second wife, Margaret, a sister (Webster says a daughter.) of John Armstrong, and an elder of the new church. A house of worship had been commenced, for we find that the Synod were grieved that year, at the divided state of the people in Carlisle and recommended that only one house of worship be erected in that town. He accepted of
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the call, engaging to give one-third of his time to the church of Big Spring, but he was not actually ordained and installed until the third Wednesday of September, 1759. He had entered warmly into the re-union and had himself chosen to be connected with the Presbytery of Donegal, though, as he declared at the time, "he hardly expected much comfort in it for awhile." Accordingly we find that for years an unhappy state of feeling existed between him and his neighbour, Rev. John Steel, and their respective congregations. More than once. causes of dispute were carried up to the higher judicatories of the church, who, "after mature and serious deliberations, unanimously agreed that the grounds on which these unhappy differences were built, were not sufficient to raise them to such a height as they have come to."
In April, 1760, two Presbyterian meeting-houses are mentioned as in existence in Carlisle. That in which Mr. Duffield preached was located on the east side of Hanover street, nearly opposite the present Second Presbyterian church. In spite of the contentions in which he and his people were involved, his preaching was attended with great success. He entered with all his heart into the revival spirit of that time, and was very popular as a preacher. His discourses were not generally written out in full, though from the specimens which remain, we should conclude that his manuscript was in the more difficult parts complete, while in others he trusted to the inspiration of the moment. They were highly evangelical in sentiment and urged upon impenitent men, especially, the claims of religion with unusual importunity and skill. Of a warm temperament and ardent in the assertion of his views, he often provoked controversy, but he was equally generous toward an opponent and ready to forgive. The whole population of the Cum- berland valley was then exposed to the merciless ravages of the Indians, and not unfrequently, when preaching at some retired station, his congregation were obliged to assemble with arms in their hands. His sympathies with the suffering, and his courage in meeting danger made him a popular favourite. Dr. John McDowall, at one time Pro- vost of the University of Pennsylvania, tells us that when he was but eight years of age he heard Mr. Duffield preach at Monaghan, (Dills- burgh.) from Zech. ix, 12, " Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope," when the preacher took occasion, from the entrenchments still remaining around the building, to illustrate the imagery of his text. and he ascribes his own conversion, under God, to impressions received under that discourse. The reputation he acquired brought him a number of calls to more important congregations. Twice he received
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invitations to the Second Presbyterian church, of Philadelphia, and commissioners were sent who urged the claim before Presbytery with much zeal. But his own judgment. as well as that of his Presbytery, appears to have been averse to his relinquishment of his charge at Carlisle. More than once he undertook long missionary tours into destitute regions, under the direction of his Synod, and in response to "the supplications " of the people. In 1765, he was sent to North Carolina, and directed to "tarry half a year in vacant congregations there, as prudence might direct," and the next year he was sent with his intimate friend, Rev. Charles Beatty, to preach for, at least, two months on the frontiers of Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1769, he gave up his Big Spring congregation, and was installed for one-third of his time at Monaghan, (Dillsburgh.)
On May 21st, 1772, he received a call from the Third Presbyterian church, on Pine street, Philadelphia, which after five months' indecision and careful consideration, he deemed it his duty to accept. The Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, however, to which that church belonged, and which was composed of such as had sympathized with the Old Side during the schism, and having been unable to amalgamate with any of the Presbyteries and so had been joined together by themselves, were unwilling to receive him and refused to present the call to him. It was not until the Synod had reversed their action and had permitted the congregation to prosecute their call without the action of Presbytery, that it reached his hands and was at once accepted. For some time, nevertheless, his way was obstructed, until, by the action of Synod, both minister and congregation were trans- ferred to the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, (May 26th, 1773.) An effort was made (November 11th, 1773.) by his former congregation of Carlisle to obtain his restoration to them, but without success.
During the political agitations which preceded the American Revolution, he took a prominent part on the popular side and became especially obnoxious to the official authorities. His large church edifice was on one occasion closed against him on the authority of the incorporated committee of the First church, who claimed a joint jurisdiction over it, but under the influence of a concealed political hostility. The house was opened by the officers of his congregation, and when his way was blocked up by the crowd which had assembled to hear him, he was introduced to his pulpit through a window. He had scarcely commenced the usual services, when a royal magistrate, (J. Bryant,) under the pretence of quelling a riot, commenced reading the Riot Act, and commanded the people to disperse. When other
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