USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. III > Part 62
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without regular call or ordination. He said he had done this partly in compliance with the earnest solicitation of the people-who would be edified by an unordained teacher, than re- main entirely destitute of spiritual nourishment-and partly on account of having been desti- tute of other means of support; and he humbly entreated me to lend him my counsel and assistance, that he might obtain from the Fatherland a regular ecclesiastical induction into the office of the ministry, and afterward be properly installed as pastor in some churches that might desire his services. I gave him to understand that I was not yet sufficiently well acquainted either with his abilities or manner of life, nor with the disposition toward him of these congregations, in which he had hitherto performed his irregular labors, but that I hoped in the ensuing Spring to be able to investigate the matter and report to the respective Synods as the circumstances of the case would seem to warrant, and then await their orders."
In June, 1747, Mr. Schlatter visited the Springfield Church, and thus writes of the result of his investigations :
"In Saucon, Fark (Forks) Springfield etc. the people are well satisfied with Mr. Conrad Wierts, of Zurich, excepting few. Poverty does the man great harm in his ministry, but because the man is of good spirit and no one can say any evil of him, therefore the truth in regard to his person and said congregations should be reported to Holland."
In 1749 the Coetus received Mr. Wurtz on probation, and requested permis- sion to ordain him, but before a reply was received from Holland he had re- moved to New Jersey, and was there ordained by the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, June 5, 1752. He was the first Reformed minister in the Province of New Jersey. He became pastor of a congregation worshiping in a log church near Ringoes, at Larison's Corner, where he had charge for ten years. He was also the first pastor of the German Reformed Congregation at Fox Hill, Alex- andria, Rockaway (Lebanon) and German Valley, also serving an Amwell con- gregation at intervals. His ministry in this section began in 1750, and continued until 1762. He lived during this period in an old stone mansion, still standing, near Lebanon, which he is said to have built. It is a fine example of Colonial architecture and in a good state of preservation. He received a call from Zion Reformed Church at York, Pennsylvania, and removing to that town was in- stalled as their pastor, May 9, 1672, and officiated as such until his death, Sep- tember 21, 1763. During his brief pastorate a new large stone church was erected, to replace the old block church erected in 1747; eighty-three children were baptized by him and the congregation largely increased.
At the death of Mr. Wurtz, the floor of the church was not yet laid and he was buried under the altar. In this church erected under the pastorate of Rev. Johannes Conrad Wurtz, in 1763, were held several sessions of the Continental Congress, while York was the temporary national capital during the occupation of Philadelphia by the British. It was burned down on Wednesday night, July 5, 1787.
Rev. Johannes Conrad and Anna (Goetschius) Wurtz had one daughter, be- fore mentioned, as baptized at Christ Church, Philadelphia, and five sons : Con- rad, John, George, Peter and Maurice. Conrad, the eldest, died in Roxbury, New Jersey, in 1787, leaving a widow Anna and several daughters. The names of Conrad Wirtz and John Wirtz appear on the tax list of Tulpehocken town- ship, Berks county, Pennsylvania, for 1779, as land owners there, but they probably belonged to a different family.
JOHN WURTS, second son of Rev. Johannes Conrad and Anna (Goetschius) Wurtz, was born in Pennsylvania, probably in Springfield township, Bucks county, June 30, 1744. His parents removed to Rockaway, New Jersey, when
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he was at a tender age, and he was reared and educated in that locality. On arriving at man's estate he settled at Flanders, Morris county, New Jersey, where he married, June 8, 1773, Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Susanna (John- ston) Grandin. He became a prominent and successful iron manufacturer and accumulated a large fortune for that day. He was an ardent patriot during the Revolutionary war, but probably did not render any military service, since he was employed in manufacturing cannon and cannon balls for the use of the American army. He was held in high esteem in the community in which he lived. He died September 14, 1793, and is buried in the cemetery at Mount Pleasant, Morris county, New Jersey.
Daniel Grandin, grandfather of Sarah (Grandin) Wurts, was a French Pro- testant, born 1694, who emigrated from the Isle of Jersey, and settled at Colt's Neck in Monmouth county, New Jersey. His wife, Mary (Throckmorton ) Grandin, born 1695, was a daughter of Job Throckmorton, and his wife, Sarah Leonard, daughter of Henry Leonard, an iron merchant of Pntypool, Wales, who came to Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1626, and later removed to New Jersey, where he was associated with Louis Morris in building, near Freehold, in 1675, the first iron works in the Middle States.
John Throckmorton, father of Job, and grandfather of Mary (Throckmor- ton) Grandin, came from England with Roger Williams in the ship "Lyon" in 1631, and was one of the original proprietors of Rhode Island.
Samuel Grandin, father of Sarah (Grandin) Wurts, was a son of Daniel Grandin, above mentioned. He was a lawyer at Freehold, New Jersey, and later removed to Flanders, Morris county, where he became a large landholder. He purchased from his father-in-law, Samuel Johnston, the iron-works at Flanders, which eventually passed to his son-in-law, John Wurts, the title deeds showing the signatures of Judge Johnston and Samuel Grandin, being in pos- session of John S. Wurts, Esq., of Philadelphia. Samuel Grandin was a mem- ber of the Church of England. He is said to have held office under the Colon- ial government. He died in August, 1776, just at the opening of the Revolu- tionary war. His wife Susanna was the eldest daughter of Judge Samuel John- ston, and was born at "Sidney," her father's seat in Kingwood township, Hun- terdon county, New Jersey, July 8, 1729. She and her sister, Mary, wife of Colonel Charles Stewart, are said to have been the best read women in the Province.
Judge Samuel Johnston, "only son and heir to William Johnston, deceased, late of Trenton", came of ancient family, the eldest male of which was for many generations steward of Stewards of the County Annanandale, as shown by the grant of arms in which they are described as "an ancient, great and war- like family, who derive their name from the Barony of Johnston". who "did great service in suppressing the thieves who during the war between the two nations, committed great depredations on the borders, and thereupon were granted the device of a Winged Spur to denote their diligence." Their ances- try has been traced back to Sir John de Johnston, living in 1296.
Judge Samuel Johnston located in Kingwood prior to 1730, in which year he was one of the founders of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. He was commis- sioned by the Council of State a Judge of the Quorum, March 28, 1749, and was recommissioned, April 21, 1768. His fine stone mansion 'Sidney," still
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standing, is a fine specimen of Colonial architecture. Its thick stone walls and massive portals were not intended simply to beautify the structure but to protect the family from the inroads of the savage Indians, and is said to have been the place of refuge of the early settlers, for miles around during the Indian troubles. Here also Judge Johnston held court on Monday of each week, to try local issues. It became the resort of culture and talent, and opened to a wide hospitality. Judge Johnston was a gentleman of exalted virtues, much renowned for his unbounded hospitality and benevolence. He died in 1785. He was twice married; (first), in 1728, to Sarah Oakly, born 1707, died June I, 1739, by whom he had seven children. Mary, the second daughter, was the wife of Colonel Charles Stewart, of Washington's staff, a member of Con- tinental Congress, etc., whose beautiful home, "Lansdowne", adjoining the Johns- ton home, was the place of entertainment of many officers of the American army during the revolution, even Washington and his wife being guests there. Judge Johnston married (second) in 1740, Mary Cazier, by whom he had nine children, the eldest of whom, Colonel Philip Johnston, born August 27, 1841, left his class at Princeton to serve in the last French and Indian war, and was killed while leading his regiment at the battle of Fort Washington, during the Revolution.
John and Sarah (Grandin) Wurts had eight sons, seven of whom eventually became identified with Philadelphia, and more or less prominently identified with the development of the material resources of eastern Pennsylvania.
Samuel Grandin, the eldest son, after a brief career at sea, during whichi he was present at the siege of Tripoli, settled down as the manager of an iron furnace in New Jersey, and died there. A particular account of George, the second son, is given below. Maurice, William and Charles Stewart Wurts be- came prominent merchants of Philadelphia, at different periods. These three brothers all became interested in the coal lands in the Wyoming and Lacka- wanna valleys. In 1813, when Colonel Hollenbach had brought to Philadelphia the first load of anthracite coal, it was purchased by William and Maurice Wurts, who had already been investigating the wilderness in reference to coal deposits and the means of getting it transported to the sea-board. After demon- strating its utility as a fuel in grates, they took up a systematic investigation of the coal fields in person, and securing in 1814 the services of David Nobles, purchased large tracts of land, and took out their first coal in 1816.
They gained control of several thousands of acres of land including the site of Carbondale. The next step was to provide means of transportation. Their first coal was floated down on rafts and crudely-devised barges. The Wurts brothers, early in their connection with the coal interests, began to agitate the question of building the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and finally succeeded in incorporating the company in 1823. The work of building it began in July, 1825, and it was opened in October, 1828, one hundred and seven miles long, with one hundred and seven locks; the summit being five hundred and eighty- five feet above sea level, and its total cost, $2,037,117. It was operated for many years almost solely under the management of Maurice Wurts and his younger brother John, other members of the family being closely identified with it.
JOHN WURTS, the youngest of the eight brothers, was graduated from Prince-
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ton, and studying law in Philadelphia under Hon. Horace Binney was admitted to the Philadelphia bar, October 2, 1816. He practiced in that city with dis- tinction for several years. He was a member of the State Legislature and represented Philadelphia in the nineteenth United States Congress in 1825-7 after which he was United States District Attorney for Pennsylvania. He suc- ceeded his brother Maurice as president of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and with singular wisdom and ability extricated it from great embarrassments, and conducted its affairs for twenty-seven years. He went abroad for his health in 1859, and died in Rome.
GEORGE WURTS, second son of John and Sarah (Grandin) Wurts, was born in Lamington, New Jersey, June 29, 1777. He studied medicine under Dr. Hunt, at Newton, New Jersey, and located at Montville, Morris county, New Jersey, where he practiced his profession. His house was the temporary home of his widowed mother and younger brothers for a number of years. He had a large and laborious practice, extending into the counties of Essex and Ber- gen. He was a man of remarkable physical strength and endurance, and many stories are told of his athletic feats when a young man; one relates that he was able to outdistance all competitors in a foot race when handicapped with a heavy fence rail. When about fifty-five years of age, in making a hasty trip to the bedside of a suffering patient, his horse fell on him, injuring his knees so severely as to eventually cause his death.
After enduring great suffering, he was taken to New York for advice and treatment by a specialist, and as a last resort his leg was amputated by Dr. Stephens of that city, one of the most skillful surgeons of his day. During the operation Dr. Wurts exhibited the most remarkable coolness and endurance, insisting on being placed in a sitting position that he might witness the ampu- tation. After a long and painful illness, which he endured with christian and manly fortitude, he died at the home of his brother William in New York City, March 8, 1835, and was buried at Parsippany, New Jersey, his remains being later removed, with those of his elder brother, Samuel Grandin Wurts, and de- posited in the cemetery at Orange, N. J.
Dr. George Wurts married Abigail, daughter of Amos and Esther Pettit, granddaughter of John Pettit, great-granddaughter of Nathaniel Pettit, and great- great-granddaughter of Thomas Pettit.
Thomas Pettit, born about 1610, was in Boston, Massachusetts, as early as 1634. He located at Exeter, where he was awarded six acres and thirty poles of land as his share of the land divided among the thirty-four founders of the town. He served as selectman of Exeter from 1652 to 1655, and in the latter year formed one of a party of New Englanders who migrated to Newtown, Long Island, where he was named as marshal, May 8, 1657. His name ap- pears on the list of freeholders at Newtown in 1666, and on the Charter from Governor Dongan in 1686. By his wife, Christian ( Mellows) Pettit, he had at least three sons, Thomas, Nathaniel and John.
Thomas Pettit, son of Thomas and Christian (Mellows) Pettit, was born at Exeter, Massachusetts, in 1645, and accompanied his parents to Newtown, Long Island, in 1655. On April 23, 1668, he was granted ten acres of land in Hempstead meadow. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and on September 13, 1673, is of record as refusing to take the oath of allegiance
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though promising fealty. His name appears on the Dongan Charter of 1686, but soon after that date he removed to Hopewell township, then Hunterdon county, and obtained the grant of a tract of land on the Delaware near the mouth of the Assunpink, within the present limits of the city of Trenton, where he died in 1718, leaving a widow Mary, and children : Moses, Judith, Nathaniel, Elias, Jane, Jonathan and John.
John Pettit, son of Nathaniel and Mary Pettit came to New Jersey from Long Island prior to 1737, his youngest son Charles having been born in Am- well, New Jersey, in that year. He removed to Philadelphia prior to 1759, where he engaged in marine insurance in partnership with Andrew Reed, and conducted a large business in underwriting under the firm name of Reed & Pettit with offices in Front street, a few doors below Walnut.
The six sons of John Pettit were all prominent men. Jonathan was a Colon- ial justice at Hardwick, where he died in 1768. Charles, born in New Jersey, in 1737, died in Philadelphia, September 6, 1806, was a colonel in the Revolu- tionary war, Colonial secretary of the Province of New Jersey, member of Continental Congress, one of the founders of the University of Philadelphia, president of the Insurance Company of North America, etc. Isaac remained loyal to the English crown, and was placed in the custody of his loyal brother Amos, and later removed to Canada. John lived and died in Sussex county, New Jersey, where his descendants still reside. Nathaniel was a justice of Sussex county, New Jersey, and that county's first representative in the Gov- ernor's Council, in 1772.
Amos Pettit, second son of John Pettit, and father of Abigail ( Pettit) Wurts, was a freeholder in Brighton, (Hohnsonburg) 1764-89, and an incorporator of Christ Church in 1774. He was born in 1724, died in 1790. He was an ardent patriot during the trying years of the Revolution, as shown by the fact that his two Tory brothers, Isaac and Nathaniel, were put in his charge by the Committee of Safety, to see that they did not communicate with the enemy until they were permitted to remove to Canada. By his wife Esther he had three daughters, Polly, Matilda Chambers, Abigail, wife of Dr. George Wurts.
WILLIAM WURTS, sixth child of Dr. George and Abigail (Pettit) Wurts, was born at Montville, Morris county, New Jersey, November 25, 1809. He entered Amherst College, but was unable to finish his course there on account of ill health. After leaving college he joined a party of engineers, under Major A. K. Sykes, but his health soon becoming restored by out-door life, be- gan the study of law in the office of his brother John Jacob Wurts, at Easton, Pennsylvania, and removed with him to Montrose, Susquehanna county, where he was admitted to the bar in 1830. He removed to Carbondale and began the practice of law there, being the first resident lawyer at that place. In 1836 he removed to Wilkes-Barre and associated himself with his brother, John Jacob, who had removed to that place. He continued to practice law at Wilkes-Barre until 1847, when he returned to Carbondale and engaged in other business, for the reason that too close attention to professional work had impaired his health.
As a lawyer Mr. Wurts was studious and industrious. He was well read in the elementary principles of the law, and had the legal acumen needed to make the proper application of these principles in his practice. He was not an eloquent speaker, in the common acceptation of the term, but he had a good
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flow of language, and his speeches before the court were convincing and his earnest manner held the attention of the jury. Facts, rather than fanciful flights of oratory, characterized his pleadings, and he never indulged in any of the tricks too often practised by members of his profession.
At Carbondale Mr. Wurts engaged in more active employment for several years, and for a time was much benefitted by active out-door life, but disease had taken such a hold upon a constitution never very vigorous, that he was at last compelled to withdraw altogether from work. He eventually sought relief and rest at Clifton Springs, but after a short sojourn there, without receiving any benefit, he was taken home, where he died on the very day of his arrival, July 15, 1858.
William Wurts was a member of the Presbyterian church and was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church at Wilkes-Barre until his removal to Carbon- dale, where he was an elder of the church until his death. He married, March 17, 1836, Lucretia Jeannette Lathrop, whose ancestry is as follows:
The Lathrop family was founded in America by Rev. John Lothropp, was was a great-grandson of John Lowthorpe, of Lowthorpe, in the Wapenstake of Dickering, East Riding of Yorkshire, who early in the sixteenth century was living in Cherry Burton, a parish located about four miles from Lowthorpe. He belonged to the junior branch of the family, but was a gentleman of quite extensive landed estates. His name appears on the subsidy Roll in Yorkshire in 1545 in Cherry Burton.
Robert Lowthorpe, son of Rev. John Lothropp, succeeded to his father's es- tates in Cherry Burton, and died leaving a will dated July 16, and probated October 28, 1558, which mentions his wife Ellen, (who survived him fourteen years) sons: Thomas (the eldest), John, Lawrence; daughter Margaret; and his three sisters.
Thomas Lowthorpe, the son, was born at Cherry Burton, married (first) Elizabeth. Clark, who was buried at Etton, July 29, 1574, and (second) Mary who was buried at Etton, January 6, 1588. He removed from Cherry Burton to Etton, Wapenstake of Harthill, East Riding of Yorkshire, about 1572, and died there in 1606, leaving a will dated October 5, 1606, which was probated January, 1607. He had sons: Robert, Markes, Lawrence, Joseph and Bartholomew; and daughters: Margaret, wife of Robert Hodgeson, Isabel Burns, Katharine, wife of William Aket, Lucy and Jane Lowthorpe.
John Lothropp (as the American pioneer of the family spelled his name) was a son of Thomas Lowthorpe by his second wife, Mary, and was baptized at Etton, Harthill, Yorkshire, December 20, 1584. He was educated at Queen's College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1601, received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1605, and that of Master of Arts in 1609. He located at Egerton, Hundred of Colehill, County of Kent, forty-eight miles from London, where he was admitted curate of a parish in 1611. He left there in 1623 by reason of having imbibed doctrinal beliefs not in accord with the Established Church, and at about this date we find him connected with the conventicles of the Puritan faith. He was called to succeed the Rev. Henry Jacob as pastor of the First Independent Church in London, ministering to the congregation in secret places of worship to evade the emissaries of Bishop Laud. Finally on April 22, 1632, he and a congregation of about seventy persons were surprised
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and captured by the minions of the law while worshipping in a private house in Black Friars, and cast into the old Clink prison at Newgate, where Mr. Lathrop (Lothropp) was confined for two years, his followers being released some months sooner.
While confined in the prison his wife died. He was permitted to visit her on her death-bed but was returned to prison, from which he was released on bond, April 24, 1634. He at once organized a party of his followers to go to New England, and they sailed on the "Griffin", arriving at Boston, September, 1634. He first located and established a church at Scituate, Massachusetts, of which he was ordained pastor, January 19, 1634-5, but removed with most of his flock to Barnstable, October 11, 1639. Here he ministered until his death, November 3, 1653.
Rev. John Lothropp married (first) Hannah Howell, who as before stated died in England while he was confined in prison at Newgate. He married a second wife in New England who survived him.
Thomas Lothrop, fifth child and eldest surviving son of Rev. John and Han- nah (Howell) Lothropp, was born in England in 1621, and accompanied his father to New England. He was admitted to the church at Scituate, May 4, 1637, and removed with his father to Barnstable, Massachusetts, where he was married, December 1I, 1639, to Sarah (Larned) Ewer, daughter of William Larned and widow of Thomas Ewer. He was surveyor of Barnstable 1641, and served the town in other official positions until his death in 1707.
Meletiah Lothrop, second son of Thomas and Sarah (Larned) (Ewer) Lo- throp, was baptized at Barnstable, Massachusetts, November 22, 1646, died there February 6, 1712. He married, May 20, 1667, Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hood) Farrar, who died May 2, 1712, aged sixty-four years. Their daughter, Elizabeth Lothrop, born at Barnstable, November 15, 1677, married, November 15, 1696, her cousin, Hope Lathrop, son of her father's brother, Joseph Lathrop.
Joseph Lathrop, seventh child of Rev. John and Hannah (Howell) Loth- ropp, was born in England in 1624. Removing with his father to Barnstable in 1639, he became later prominent in public affairs there. He was deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony for fifteen years, and for twenty-one years a selectman of the town of Barnstable. On the organization of the town in 1665 he was commissioned the first register of the Probate Court. He was lieutenant of the train band, and a member of the Council of War at the outbreak of King Philip's war in 1676. His will is dated October 9, 1700, and was probated April 9, 1702. He married, December II, 1650, Mary Ansell.
Hope Lathrop, son of Joseph and Mary (Ansell) Lathrop, was born at Barnstable, Massachusetts, July 15, 1671. As before stated he married, No- vember 15, 1696, his cousin, Elizabeth Lothrop. They removed to Falmouth, Massachusetts, from there to Tolland, Connecticut, later to Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, and finally to Hartford, Connecticut, where he died Oc- tober 29, 1736.
Meletiah Lathrop, fifth son and ninth child of Hope and Elizabeth Lathrop, was born February 20, 1714. He married, at Tolland, Connecticut, November 15, 1738, Mercy Hatch, born at Tolland, August 23, 1717, daughter of Joseph Hatch, one of the pioneers of Tolland county. In 1755 they removed to Dut-
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chess county, New York, settling in the town of Dover, where he died Sep- tember 5, 1787. His wife died in Columbia county, New York, October 16, 1788.
Ezra Lathrop, ninth child of Meletiah and Mercy (Hatch) Lathrop, was born at Kent, Connecticut, August 19, 1751. His parents removed to Dutchess coun- ty New York, when he was a small child. He married, in 1779, Miriam Thurs- ton, born September 5, 1762, daughter of Deacon Daniel Thurston, of Albion, New York, and located at New Concord, Columbia county. About 1800 he re- moved with his family into the wilderness of Chenango county, New York, locating at Sherburne, where he took up and cleared a farm on which he resided for many years, later removing to Ontario county, New York, where he died February 12, 1825. His wife died at Lockport, Niagara county, New York, February 20, 1841.
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