USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Centennial biography : Men of mark of Cumberland Valley, Pa., 1776-1876 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The original settlers of Chambersburg and vicinity were almost exclusively Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, devout believers in the West- minster Confession, and imbued with the deepest reverence for the Sabbath and the sanctuary.
Mr. Chambers himself was a disciple of this creed, and built his settlement upon the solid rock of the Calvinistic doctrine and faith. Having a profound conviction that his settlement could only be stimulated into a sturdy and healthy growth by means of the ameliora- ting and enlightening influences of education and religion, he selected. at an early day, the most eligible and romantic site in the town, and by a deed dated in 1768 donated it to the religious society, "then and thereafter adhering to the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the mode of government therein contained, and for the purpose of a house of worship, session and school-houses, and cemetery."
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War in 1775, Col. Chambers was so infirm and advanced in years, being then about seventy years of age, as to be incapable of the fatigues and exposure of a campaign so distant as the heights of Boston. Patriotism shone forth in his family. His eldest son, James, raised a company of infantry from the neighbourhood, which he commanded as captain, and in 1775, marched, accompanied by his younger brothers, William and Benjamin, as cadets, to join the American Army, then encamped on the high ground of Boston, where the Royal Army was besieged. William was about twenty-two years old, and Benjamin twenty. His three sons remained in the army during the campaign ; James having been advanced to the rank of colonel, and William and Benjamin to that of captain. They were also with the army during the arduous and trying campaigns of '76-'77 in the Jerseys, as well as at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown in 1778. On account of the infirmity
-
ยท
58
MEN OF MARK.
of their father, and the embarrassed situation of his property and pe- cuniary affairs, which had been deprived of the necessary attentions of the young men, the younger brothers. William and Benjamin, returned home and attended to the farm and mills. They occasionally, how- ever, assisted in the pursuits of Indians who had dared at times to make incursions upon the settlements about Bedford and Huntingdon.
James remained in the army until the close of the Revolutionary War, and afterwards was appointed a general of the militia, a brigade of whom, including a number of volunteers he commanded in the army to suppress the Western or Whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania in 1794.
Col. Benjamin Chambers was married twice. His first wife, whom he married in 1741, and who was a daughter of Captain Robert Patterson, of Lancaster, was the mother of his eldest son, James. After her death, which occurred in a few years, he married Miss Jane Williams, the daughter of a Presbyterian clergyman, of the Virginia colony, from Wales. He died on the 17th of February, 1788, at the age of eighty years.
REV. THOMAS CRAIGHEAD.
LTHOUGH this excellent minister spent only a small portion of his life in Cumberland valley, he properly deserves a place among its distinguished men. He was the pioneer of all its ministers, and was their general correspondent for bringing over and settling ministers from Ireland.
He was the son of Rev. Robert Craighead, a native of Scotland, who removed to Ireland, was a pastor in Derry and Donoughmore, was the author of several, even now, highly prized volumes in spiritual and controversial divinity, and twice a Commissioner of the Synod of Ulster at Loudon. Thomas was born and studied medicine in Scot- land, but he soon became a preacher, and was settled for ten or twelve years in Ireland. Near this time a large emigration of Irish Presby- terians to America took place, in consequence of the oppression of the landlords, the sacramental test, and the marriage grievances, and Thomas Craighead was induced to unite with them.
His name occurs first, in 1715, among the ministers of New England. There were many immigrants from Ireland in that region, but Mather first notices him as a preacher at Freetown, about forty miles south of Boston. He was a relative of a Mr. Hathaway of that town, and had probably gone there at that gentleman's invitation. Some difficulties arose to prevent his final settlement, with reference to the payment of his salary, in respect to which they were quite delinquent and he was perhaps impatient. Mather writes, (5th month 22d, 1718, and 5th month 21st, 1719.) entreating the people, " to give a demonstration of the wisdom that is from above " by encouraging Mr. Craighead in his work, and says that they could not be insensible that he was " a man of an excellent spirit and a great blessing to their plantation," "a man of singular piety, meekness, humility and industry in the work of God. All that are acquainted with him have a precious esteem of him, and if he should be driven from among you, it would be such a damage, yea, such a ruin, as is not without horror to be thought of." These plans appear to have been unsuccessful, for, at least, in 1723 he is said by President Stiles, to have "gone to the Jerseys." In the year 1724, (January 28th,) he became a member of Newcastle Presbytery, which then included portions of Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He was called both to Elk and to White Clay, but he accepted the
60
MEN OF MARK.
invitation to the latter place, under the condition that he should give a portion of his time to Brandywine.
In 1733, Mr. Craighead removed to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and in September of that year he received and accepted a call to Pequea, where he was installed October 31. Donegal Presbytery, of which he now became a member, always speak of him as "Father Craighead," and appear to have had a peculiar veneration and love for him He was very active in planting and building up churches in that region. His preaching was remarkably fervent and often attended with revivals. His theology was strictly conformed to the West- minster Confession, for which he displayed a special attachment, and which he subscribed first, both in Newcastle and Donegal Presbyteries.
Mr. Craighead's pastoral relation to the church of Pequea, was dissolved September 19th, 1735. On the 27th of the next month he was appointed by Presbytery to supply " the people of the Conodo- guinit," by which was meant the congregation of Upper Penns- borough, whose place of meeting was a mile or two northwestward of Carlisle. After fulfilling this appointment, and a subsequent once at Hopewell, he received a call from the people of Hopewell, which he was prepared to accept, but as there were some difficulties respecting " the boundaries" between that congregation and that of Pennsborough, action in the case was delayed. He, however, supplied the people of Hopewell, whose place of meeting was at "the Big Spring," now New- ville. Some difficulties followed him on account of his continuing to debar his wife from the communion. After quite a long consideration of the affair in Presbytery, Mr. C. declared his resolution to admit his wife to sealing ordinances for the future, and Mrs. C. expressed her aversion against overhauling former unhappy differences, declaring that "her husband lived in desirable peace and unity with her;" when Presbytery declared itself satisfied, and withdrew all action in the case. On the 17th of November, 1737, the call of the people of Hopewell was renewed and accepted, and his installation was ordered "at some convenient time before the next stated meeting." His pastorate there, however, was of only a short duration. He was now an aged man, though his earnestness and power remained unabated. A descendant of his, (Thomas Craighead, Jr., of Whitehill, Cumberland county.) declares that under his discourses not unfrequently so intense were the emotions of his hearers, that they were unwilling at the proper time to disperse. At such times he would continue his impassioned discourse while his audience were melted in tears. On one of these occasions, (near the close of April, 1739,) he became exhausted, and hastened to
-
! .
61
REV. THOMAS CRAIGHEAD.
pronounce the benediction ; waiving his hand he exclaimed, " Farewell ! farewell !" and sank down and expired. His remains are reported to lie, without a monument, under the corner stone of the present house of worship at Newville.
Mr. Craighead had four sons: Thomas, whose daughter, Elizabeth, married Rev. Dr. Matthew Wilson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Philadelphia ; Andrew, who died a bachelor, at White Clay creek ; John, who was a large landholder near Carlisle, Pa., and whose descendants are numerous, two of them being eminent ministers in the Presbyterian Church. Jane, one of his three daughters, married Rev. Adam Boyd, whose descendants are well known in Baltimore and vicinity. Alexander, the third son, was early introduced into the ministry under his father, and was licensed to preach (October 8th, 1734.) and ordained and installed over the church at Middle Octorara, Presbytery of Donegal, November 18th, 1735. He was probably the first to whom the duty was assigned of supplying two Sabbaths, at three different times, (October 16th, 1734, April 4th, 1735, and Septem- ber 3d, 1785,) ior "the settlement over the river." He was, however, never an inhabitant of the Cumberland valley. He was an ardent supporter of Whitefield and the revivals. His zeal betrayed him into some irregularities which became the subject of much discussion before the Synod. Before any result was reached the Synod was divided, and he adhered to the New Brunswick party. On the refusal of that party to revive "The Solemn League and Covenant," he separated from them and attempted to establish churches in connection with the Reform Presbyteries. In 1749, he removed to Augusta county, Va., but his congregation being scattered on the news of Braddock's defeat, (1755,) he removed to Mecklenburgh county, N. C. In July, 1753, his name appears again on the roll of the New York Synod, and on that of New Castle Presbytery in 1754. In 1758, he became pastor of a congregation at Rocky River, N. C., in the vicinity of which he lived and died, (March, 1766.) much respected and beloved. He has numerous descendants in the South and West, and one of these, Thomas B. Craighead, was an eminent minister in Tennessee, though finally suspended for some errors in doctrine, (1824.)
.
REV. SAMUEL THOMPSON.
N the minutes of the Presbytery of Donegal for Nov. 16. 1737, it is recorded that "Mr. Samuel Thompson, lately from Ireland, produced credentials and recommendatory letters." and on the next day, he was " received as a probationer and exhorted to diligence in his studies." He was at the same time appointed to " supply at Pennsborough, the first four Sabbaths to come." This is the first authentic notice we have found respecting the subject of this sketch.
He continued to supply the two churches of Upper and Lower Pennsborough, although application was made from the people at Falling Spring, (Chambersburg.) for his appointment there in 1738. It was during this period that some complaint was made of him before Synod, on account of a letter which he had written, in which were " some things very offensive to the honourable proprietor." On his being interrogated by his Presbytery, "he acknowledged his impru- dence and inadvertency in writing said letter, which was designed to signify not his own but his people's thoughts, and which he never expected to go any farther than the one to whom it was directed." A number of the people of Pennsborough being present, "took the whole blame of the writing on themselves, and declared that they were provoked thereunto by their being credibly informed that some in authority had threatened to order a constable to pull Mr. T. out of the pulpit on the Sabbath, and drag him at an horse's tail to Newtown." This acknowledgment was, on the whole, accepted, but a member of Presbytery was sent "sharply to rebuke the people for constraining him to write the letter." The request of the two congregations of Pennsborough to have him ordained and installed over them was, for some time, declined on account of arrearages due to former supplies. but finally a satisfactory arrangement was made respecting them, and after "public advertisement at the meeting-house door, that if any would advance any lawful objection against his being set apart to the work of the holy ministry, it should then be given," he was publicly ordained and installed Nov. 14, 1739.
The pastorate of Mr. Thompson continued for nearly ten years, (1739-19.) In 1745, he was released from his charge of Lower Penns- borough, (Silvers' Spring,) "on account of bodily weakness," though
63
REV. SAMUEL THOMPSON.
he was still directed "to be generous and industrious in preaching there, according to his convenience and their necessity." Under his labours, the congregation of Upper Pennsborough became very numerous and influential. The building in which they worshiped was insufficient to accommodate the multitudes who assembled, especially on sacramental occasions, and not unfrequently, in fair weather, they collected in a grove on the high bank of the Conodoguinnett. He resided on the extensive glebe which the proprietors had given in fee simple to the congregation, and he is said to have cultivated it to a large extent with his own hands. He was, however, a good scholar, as was in fact indispensable to meet the high demands of his hearers and the ecclesiastical wants of that day. Cases of discipline were numerous in his church, which he appears to have managed with wis- dom and fidelity. In two instances he was himself charged with immoralities, but after a careful investigation he was, in the one case, reproved for prevarication, but in the other was honourably cleared by his Presbytery and restored to his ministerial office, from which he had been suspended during the inquiry .. So many "unhappy jealousies and disputes " had however arisen in the course of these judicial cases, that Mr. Thompson " doubted whether he could be further useful in this congregation," and at his own request and with his people's con- sent he was released from his pastoral connection with it, November 14, 1749.
It was during the pastorate of Mr. Thompson at Pennsborough that the first division of the Presbyterian church took place, (1743-58). He was made an object of special attack by those who charged min- isters with unfaithfulness to their flocks, and a spirit of schism was strongly expressed among his people. He, himself, adhered to the Philadelphia Synod, or what was called the Old Side, but his congrega- tion is said to have been among those which were " divided during the revival." There is no record of the organization of the church which was formed during these dissensions at Carlisle.
On his dismission from Upper Pennsborough, he went to reside at Great Conewago, in Adams county, near Gettysburg, where he was installed as pastor, and appears to have spent his time peacefully and usefully. On several occasions he was sent to supply destitute settle- ments in Virginia. He was dissatisfied with the arrangement of the Presbyteries on the re-union, (1758.) and for the remainder of his min- isterial life attended but once on the meetings of the re-united Synod, and took no part in the meetings of his Presbytery. In the final adjustment of matters however, he appears to have acquiesced, and to
64
MEN OF MARK.
have lived in harmony with his co-presbyters. In 1779, he requested leave to resign his charge " on account of his infirmities of old age," and the commissioner from his congregation reports that his people " have afforded a gratuity for his support, which is satisfactory to him, and acquiesce with him in his request." Although this request was complied with, he continued in this partial connection with that people until April 29th, 1787, when his death took place, after a ministry in this region of forty-six years.
He was probably married when he first settled at Pennsborough, as an inscription, accompanied by a coat of arms, on a tombstone in the old cemetery on the Conodoguinnett, reads: "Here lys ye body of Janet, wife of ye Rev. Samuel Thompson, who deceased September ye 29, 1744, aged 44 years." As the fruit of this marriage he had at least one son, William, who was sent to England for his education and there took orders as a minister in the Episcopal church. He was sent to this country under the support of the "Society for the Propa- gation of Religion in Foreign Parts," was the rector of St. John's church, in Carlisle, and was eminently useful in ministering to the dis- tressed people of Cumberland and York counties, during the Indian wars. Among his descendants were James Hamilton, Esq., and Mrs. J. V. Thorn, lately of Carlisle.
.
ROBERT WHITEHILL.
AMES WHITEHILL was born February Ist, 1700, and died at Pequea, Lancaster county, Pa., February 2d, 1766, and was the father of eleven sons and daughters.
Robert, his son, was born July 29th, 1738, in the Pequea settlement, before Lancaster county was organized. He enjoyed, when a lad, the advantages of a good elementary education, such as the common country schools afforded; but subsequently, by reading, enlarged his stock of useful information, which proved alike beneficial to himself and serviceable to his country.
In 1770, Mr. Whitehill purchased from the proprietaries of Pennsyl- vania, two tracts of land in Lauther Manor, which was not re-surveyed and divided into lots until 1766, though much of the land immediately west of the Manor had been taken up and settled thirty years before Mr. Whitehill moved to Cumberland county.
In the Spring of 1771, he left Lancaster county, and on the land thus purchased, erected the first stone house in the Manor, within two miles of the Susquehanna river ; which he occupied till the time of his death, on the Sth day of April, 1813.
Mr. Whitehill long represented Cumberland county in various capacities. He was elected a member of the Convention held in Philadelphia, in July, 1776, in which the Declaration of Independence by Congress was approved, and other highly important measures were adopted, among which were the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the Bill of Rights, &c., &c. He was also a member of the Assembly held in Philadelphia, in November, 1776, which continued in session until the 18th of September, 1777, when it was removed to Lancaster, and assembled there the 29th of September, 1777, continuing in session until the 11th of September, 1778. Subsequently to this he was occasionally a member of both branches of the Legislature. He was a member of the Convention that adopted the Constitution of 1790, though in the printed Constitution his name does not appear, because he was so much opposed to some of its provisions that he refused to affix his name to it. He was also a member of the Convention that agreed on the part of Pennsylvania to the Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Whitehill was a member of the House of Representatives
- -
66
MEN OF MARK.
during the stormy sessions of 1798, 1799 and 1800. In 1801, he was elected to the Senate, and was the Speaker during the trial on impeachment of the Judges of the Supreme Court. In IS05, he was elected to Congress, and was four times re-elected, and was a member at the time of his death. It is said he served longer, in a represen- tative capacity, than any other man in Pennsylvania, and it was his proud boast that he never intrigued for a nomination, nor solicited a vote.
REV. JOHN CRAIGHEAD.
OHN CRAIGHEAD) was the second son of John and Rachel R. Craighead, who removed from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1742, and settled on a large tract of land four miles south of Carlisle. His great grandfather was Rev. Robert Craighead, a Scotchman, who went to Ireland as early as 1657 or S, and was pastor first at Donoughmore and then at Londonderry. He subse- quently resided in Dublin, and was the author of several volumes on Practical Religion, and on the Controversy with the Prelatists of Ireland. Rev. Thomas Craighead, son of Robert, was his grandfather, who came to New England in 1715. and after preaching eight years near Fall River, Mass., removed to Delaware and was installed pastor over the Presbyterian church at White Clay creek. In 1733 he accepted a call to Pequea, Lancaster county, Pa., and afterwards to Hopewell, (New- ville, Cumberland county,) where he closed his ministry with his life.
The subject of this sketch was born in the year 1742, and passed his early youth on his father's farm. He pursued his classical studies at Princeton College, graduating in 1763. From Carlisle Presbytery, October 30th, 1765, he received a letter of recommendation to the Presbytery of Lancaster, within whose bounds he was prosecuting the the study of divinity. The latter Presbytery being in existence but a single year, he was transferred to Donegal Presbytery and appointed as a probationer, " to supply vacancies within its bounds." A call from Rocky Spring, near Chambersburg. Pa., was placed in his hands, April. 1767, as also an application for his services from Newcastle Presbytery. The latter invitation led to a correspondence between the two Presby- teries, the final result of which was an acceptance by Mr. Craighead, in October of the same year, of the call from Rocky Spring, at a salary of {100; when he presented a certificate of dismission and recommend- ation from Newcastle Presbytery (into which connection he had come by a new adjustment of the Presbyteries by Synod) to Donegal Presby- tery, and " was cheerfully and heartily received." His sermon, exegesis, examinations in Greek and Latin, and the various parts of trial, are stated as having been "fully sustained ;" and he was ordained and installed by Presbytery April 13th, 1768.
From the records of Presbytery it appears that Mr. Craighead con- tinued without interruption and with great fidelity and usefulness in
68
MEN OF MARK.
this pastoral relation until the year 1789, discharging not only his duties to his own congregation, but spending mnuch of his time, as was the custom. with these pioncer preachers, in organizing churches, and supplying settlements which had no regular means of grace. An inter- ruption of his labours occurred for one year at this time, owing to ill health, which incapacitated him both "" in mind and body to attend to the duties of his office." But we find him again regularly in his place at the meeting of Carlisle Presbytery (which had been organized in 1786) in the Spring of 1791, when he was appointed its Commissioner to the General Assembly ; and in the June meeting of 1792, supplies were provided for his pulpit in order that he might fulfil a mission on which he was sent by the Assembly. What this mission was, or the time occupied in its discharge, we are not informed. Most probably it was of a similar character to that which was frequently entrusted to the more prominent and experienced clergymen of this region-that of several months' missionary labours among the scattered members of Christ's flock who lived remote from organized churches, and were deprived of the sacraments. These missionary tours were made on horseback, over mountains and through forests, with nothing often- times to mark the road but blazed trees ; and frequently they consumed months in their prosecution, and extended to a distance of several hundred miles.
The next mention made of Mr. Craighead is in 1793 when he was again chosen to represent his Presbytery in the Assembly; and it would appear he was in the performance of all his official duties as pastor until some time in 1795 or 6, when an application was made to the Presbytery for supplies on account of his inability " to discharge the ministerial functions." His ill health continuing, and the Presbytery believing " that there are not probable symptoms of his recovery, and that his temporal circumstances are comfortable," dissolved the pastoral relation on April 9th, 1799, " solely for inability." His death almost immediately followed, taking place April 20th, 1799. His body was laid to rest in the graveyard adjoining the church where he had so long and so ably preached the Gospel, and over it an affectionate people erected a suitable memorial, on which were inscribed his name, the dates of his installation and death, and that, "He was a faithful and zealous servant of Jesus Christ."
While on his way to join the American Army in New Jersey, and in passing through Lancaster county, he stopped with his company at
* He was subject to great depressionof spirits at times, which unfitted him for preaching and pastoral duties.
F
69
REV. JOHN CRAIGHEAD.
the house of Rev. Adam Boyd, where he made the acquaintance of his daughter Jenny. After the close of the campaign they were married. His wife survived him, leaving no children.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.