Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 11

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 988

USA > Pennsylvania > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 11
USA > Wyoming > Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 11

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became identified with St. Stephen's Church of Wilkes-Barre, of which the Rev. James May was then rector, and in 1834 was chosen a member of the vestry. Other members at this time were Judge David Scott, Judge John N. Conyngham, Judge William S. Ross, Henry F. Lamb, Nathan- iel Rutter, William B. Norton, Thomas H. Mor- gan, Houghton B. Robinson, Hendrick B. Wright, E. W. Sturdevant, Judge George W. Woodward. The son, Richard Sharpe (5), in after years became a vestryman and warden of the same parish, and the other son, William, be- came one of the founders, a vestryman and warden of St. Clement's parish. The latter died in Wilkes-Barre in August, 1872, leaving a widow, a son William, and four daughters. Richard Sharpe (4), died September 16, 1836, his second wife and five daughters surviving him.

In 1838, the second year after his father's death, the son Richard Sharpe (5), went to Sum- mit Hill, Carbon county, where later he embarked in an active career as one of the pioneers of the anthracite coal trade. He formed a partnership in 1845 with Ira Courtright, George Belford and John Leisenring, and some time later Francis Weiss was taken into the firm and still later, Asa Foster. This firm in 1853 undertook the mining of coal in Foster township, Luzerne county, on lands leased from the Tench Coxe estate. Their colliery was named "Council Ridge," from a tradition that Indian tribes had held their councils there, and the village which grew up was called Eckley. The lease under which this firm was operating expired in Decem- ber, 1874, Mr. Sharpe having then been identi- fied with the coal mining industry for more than a quarter of a century. This period of primitive methods in an industry which became later so enormously developed would furnish a story of unusual interest. After closing the business at Eckley in 1874, Mr. Sharpe made his home in Wilkes-Barre, where he continued to live until his death, April 21, 1895. Having had a suc- cessful career, he was minded to retire from ac- tive business. In 1881, however, Mr. Sharpe and his former partner Francis Weiss deemed it

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

advisable to lease certain lands purchased by them in 1863 to the proposed Alden Coal Com- pany. The tract was situated in Newport town- ship, Luzerne county, and in this operating com- pany Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Weiss took a large share of the capital stock, as well as an active interest in the management of its affairs. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Sharpe's experience in the conduct of matters connected with the de- velopment and mining of anthracite coal extended over half a century, from the early beginning to the time of his death. He was president of the Alden Coal Company and of the Wyoming Valley Manufacturing Company, a director of the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, direc- . tor in the Vulcan Iron Works, vice-president of the City Hospital, trustee of the Home for the Friendless, life member of the Wyoming His- torical and Geological Society, and identified with other organizations.

His extended experience in methods of coal mining, his ready mind, his impressive person- ality that gained confidence and hield respect, naturally made Mr. Sharpe's counsel much sought, and the kindness and readiness with which he responded gained him many a life long friend. He was a business man of fine attainments and large sagacity. His patlı was not a royal road to wealth. The wilderness had to be conquered, and the methods then used in coal mining were necessarily primitive. He possessed to a remark- able degree the qualities of patience, industry, perseverance and courage, and these stood him in good stead in times when he, with the business world in general, had reason to feel apprehensive as to results. His business career throughout shows his fine traits of faithfulness and determ- ination. It also shows a healthy, fair, upright spirit, regardful always of the rights of others, with a resolute purpose never swayed by trick or scheme or flimsy methods or creation of ficti- tious values. Whatever Richard Sharpe en- gaged in was undertaken honestly and carried through with an unsullied personal integrity. Though his business career was a successful one, the acquisition of a fortune was never to him a controlling ambition. His horizon was widened

by culture and a philanthropic spirit. His gen- erous inclination to befriend needy individuals and to contribute to benevolent enterprises went hand in hand with his increasing ability to exer- cise the same. Alive to the spiritual and social as well as the material welfare of his employees, he was largely instrumental in the erection of church edifices and buildings for their recreation. So strong was his personal following that after the operation of the Alden Coal Company had begun, in 1881, there were among the employees the children and even grandchildren of former Summit Hill `and Eckley operatives.

He was baptized in infancy in the ancient church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Langham, England, in the shadow of which his forefathers for generations lie buried. It was at the sug- gestion of Mr. Sharpe and with his liberal assist- ance that this church, a fine specimen of ecclesi- astical architecture dating from the twelfth cen- tury, was restored 1874-75. A tablet upon its walls bears record of this fact. After taking up his residence in Wilkes-Barre he became actively interested and identified with St. Stephen's par- ish, Rev. Henry L. Jones, S. T. D., rector, and like his father he became a vestryman, as al- ready noted, afterward a warden, this close relationship continuing until his death. His identification with the Episcopal church was throughout his life strongly marked. He loved his church and showed this in many ways by taking his share of the burdens of maintenance, by sitting in its councils, by faithful, remarkably faithful attendance at its' services. More than this, he was familiar with the Church's history and with the history and significance of its liturgy and doctrine. As a sequence of his churchman- ship, there was revealed one of the finest traits of his character, his giving, which was generous and timely always, and yet utterly without osten- tation. Here was exemplified the true spirit of charity. It is to such like examples of honor and industry, of open-handed generosity. wide comprehension of the duties of the citizen, of the husband and father and churchman, that we must look for the inspiration of generations to follow. At the time of his death his rector,

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

Rev. Dr. Henry L. Jones, who had known him long and intimately, remarked: "Throughout a long life, whose duties have been performed with conscientious, but with unostentatious fidel- ity, he has been found worthy of love and honor. We celebrate a triumph, not a defeat-a life per- fected. The grief of those who knew him best in his most fitting memorial; their sorrow his sweetest praise. Gentle and loving in the family : in the relations of business marked by strict integrity and kindly interest in those employed by him, in all efforts for the good of the com- munity prompt and generous in response-all these he was. Surrounded by those nearest to him, their loving ministrations soothing his dying pillow-unfaltering faith in the promises of the Gospel sustained him when heart and flesh were failing. As a little child he placed his hand in that of the Heavenly father and passed to his reward."

It would be difficult to imagine one interested in so many of the 'avenues of religious, charit- able and business matters who could mointain throughout the years a more absolutely unobstru- sive spirit. He was endowed with great per- sonal force, and not less remarkable because so quiet, self-contained and perfectly under con- trol. His face, which could shine with rare sweet- ness. was an index of much in his character- a character eminenty noble and dignified. These qualities were recognized by his casual as well as his closest friends, as indicated in their attitude of deference and respect. And that he, on the other hand, gladly yielded the homage due from him to others. is shown in his life- long love and reverence for the memory of his own father and mother. Possessed of a familiar knowledge of the Bible and a carefully nurtured love of good books, he gradualy stored his library with works of literary value. He de- lighted in the English classics, was familiar with them, and from a well stored mind he could recite many a gem of prose and verse. He had a rare sense of humor, and the merry twinkling of his eye and the lighting up of ris face revealed his appreciation of pure wholesome merriment, but his quiet dignity never unbent to innuendo

or expletive or unseemly jest. He had, more- over, a keen appreciation of the beautiful in na- ture and found great diversion in the cultivation of trees and flowers, and frequently sought re- creation and entertainment in travel.

On September 22, 1847, Richard Sharpe mar- ried Sally Patterson, born in Huntington town- ship, Luzerne county, June 27, 1819, died in Princeton, New Jersey, June 14, 1905 : her re- mains were interred at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- vania, June 17th. She was a daughter of Thomas Patterson,2 born near Londonderry, Ireland, July 7, 1775. died April 29, 1844, and of his wife Mary Denison, born January 2. 1779, married January 2, 1802, died June 10, 1858. daughter of Colonel Nathan and Elizabeth Sill Denison.

Colonel Nathan Denison commanded the left wing of the patriot forces at Wyoming, July 3. 1778: born September 17, 1740, died January 25, 1809, member of committee of correspond- ence, 1775 : member Connecticut Assembly, 1776, 1778. 1779 and 1780, member executive council. Philadelphia, 1787 ; associate judge. 1798; mar- ried Elizabeth Sill, of Wyoming Valley, born November 22, 1750, died April 27, 1812.

Mary Denison, eighth in descent from Elder William Brewster, of Cambridge University, England, who drafted in the cabin of the May- flower the first written constitution of the Eng- lish settlers in America ; also eighth in descent from John and Agnes Denison of Stratford, Eng- land, through Captain George Denison and Anna Borodell. (See Denison Family).

There were born to Richard and Sally ( Pat- terson) Sharpe one son, Richard, Ph. B., Yale, 1875 ; and six daughters: Mary A .: Elizabeth Montgomery: Emily, died January 30, 1870; Sallie : also a daughter who died an infant. Oc- tober 29, 1857; and Martha. Of these, Richard married Margaret W. Johnston, daughter of Colonel William Preston Johnston and his wife,

2. Thomas Patterson, son of Ezekiel and Eliza- beth (Smiley) Patterson, who were married in 1751. and grandson of Archibald and Martha (Colbert) Pat- terson, who were married in 1728, also grandson of Archibald and Alleveah (Montgomery) Smiley, who were married in 1738.

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Rosa Duncan, and grandaughter of General Albert Sidney Johnston; and Martha married Henry St. George Tucker, LL. D., son of Hon. John Randolph Tucker, LL. D., of Virginia. The children of Richard and Margaret (John- ston) Sharpe are Rosa D., Elizabeth M., died April 15, 1900, Caroline J., Margaret J., and Richard (7). H. E. H.

DORRANCE FAMILY. Rev. Samuel Dor- rance, a "Scotch Presbyterian lately arrived from Ireland, a graduate of Glasgow University, li- censed to preach by the Presbytery of Dumbar- ton, and bringing with him satisfactory testi- monials of his ministerial character and stand- ing from several associations in Scotland and Ireland." Thus the eminent man is mentioned in the "History of Windham County, Connecti- cut."

The early history of the Dorrance family in New England says that on April 17, 1723, the people of Voluntown, in the Connecticut colony, called Rev. Samuel Dorrance to preach the gos- pel in that town, at a salary of £60 per year, "for the present," and £50 in such species suitable to promote his building and settling. At the same time the people who extended the call, "as a special token of their love and goodness," in or- der to provide their new minister with a com- fortable place of abode, presented him with "five thousand shingles, three pounds money in shingle nails, five pounds in work, three pounds in boards and plank, two hundred clapboards, breaking up two acres of land, a cow and a calf."

The Voluntown church was the first perma- nent and for a long time the only Presbyterian church in Connecticut. It was proposed to cel- ebrate the ordination of Mr. Dorrance on Oc- tober 23, 1723, and to that end letters were sent to the ministers in New London, Canterbury, Preston, Plainfield, and Killingly, inviting them to join in the ceremony on that occasion ; but be- fore the day set for the ordination the feelings of many of the townpeople had been swayed by conflicting emotions, and they became divided in opinion respecting the settling of Mr. Dorrance as their pastoral head and spiritual guide. He

had been followed into Voluntown by several families of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and who also had accompanied him to New England at the time of his immigration. They not only set- tled round him, but bought lands, and as they were an industrious people they soon began to prosper and improve their condition. There were among them men of excellent character, but in the estimation of the older settlers they were foreigners and were regarded with suspicion, and some objections were made to Mr. Dorrance's ordination. Notwithstanding, Mr. Dorrance was duly ordained on December 23, 1723, and soon afterward the prejudice which had swayed the minds of his opponents were swept away, and the Scotch-Irish minister at Voluntown won by his works the affections of all its people, and was the spiritual head of the church in that town until his death, November 12, 1775.

Rev. Samuel Dorrance had five sons and one daughter. Of the sons Lemuel remained in Vol- untown, and served in the Revolutionary army ; Samuel settled in Coventry, Rhode Island : James removed to Brooklyn parish, and also served in the Revolutionary army, and John and George settled in the Wyoming valley on lands held by the family unto the present time.

John Dorrance, son of Rev. Samuel, born 1733, died single July, 1804. He was the defen- dant party in the famous test case between the Pennamites and the Yankees over the validity of the Connecticut titles, the action being entitled "Van Horne, lessee, vs. Dorrance," which was made the subject of exhaustive review by the late Governor Hoyt. He is said to have returned to Voluntown, where much of his later life was spent.

Lieutenant Colonel George Dorrance, son of Rev. Samuel Dorrance, was one of the notable characters in Wyoming valley history. He was born March 4, 1736. died July 4, 1778, the day following the tragic affair at Wyoming, when, a prisoner and weakened by sufferings and a se- vere wound, his captors killed him. As he had lived, so George Dorrance died-a hero and a patriot. He appears to have been made the especial object of savage vengeance, for he had

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

led various armed parties against the Indians and Tories, and had succeeded in dispersing them. In 1777 he led a company of eighty men against one of their camps on the Wyalusing and put them to rout. As lieutenant colonel he commanded the American left wing under Colo- nel Denison, July 3, 1778, and it was he who gave that famous order, "stand up to your work, sir," when one of his men showed signs of faltering. He appears as a private in Captain Hall's com- pany, Major Backus's regiment of light horse, Connecticut troops, with Lemuel and James in 1776, but in October, 1775, he was commissioned by the Assembly lieutenant in the second com- pany of the Twenty-fourth regiment of Connec- ticut militia for Wyoming. He was promoted major of same regiment, succeeding Major Will- iam Judd, May, 1777, and lieutenant colonel, succeeding Lazarus Stewart, October, 1777, and was serving in that rank until July 3, 1778. He was the founder of the Dorrance family in the Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania.

Family traditions state that Colonel Dorrance was twice married ; some authorities say that his children were born of his first marriage, others believe that he had issue by both wives; and there has always been some uncertainty as to the names of his wives. Elizabeth Fish has been mentioned as his first wife, and so has the name of Miss Murphy. His daughter Mary married Stephen Buckingham, and died at the birth of her first child Mary, who married Samuel Sut- ton, youngest son of pioneer James Sutton ; and this Mary Sutton once said to Colonel Charles Dorrance that the first wife of his grandfather was a Miss Murphy. Kulp says he was twice married, and had two daughters by his first wife and three sons by his second wife-Robert. Gershom and Benjamin-and that Elizabeth, the second wife, subsequently married Ensign Jabez Fish, who was at the battle at Wyoming and es- caped ; that Robert served in the company of Cap- tain Samuel Ransom until the close of the war,and afterward was killed in the western army, Novem- ber 4, 1791, at St. Clair's defeat ; that Gershom went back to the old home in Voluntown ; and that Benjamin was the youngest of the three

sons. Another account gives the names of the daughters as Elizabeth, who married a Whit- ney ; Susanna, who married Samuel Tubbs ; and Polly (or Mary) who married Stephen Buck- ingham.

Colonel Benjamin Dorrance, youngest son of Lieutenant Colonel George Dorrance, born in Voluntown, 1767, was a child when his father's family removed to the Wyoming valley and set- tled in the locality where he afterward lived, and which has since been called "Dorranceton." Colo- nel Benjamin was in Forty Fort at the time of the battle of Wyoming, and to the day of his death retained clear recollections of all that took place ; hence he was always regarded as an authority on the events of that period. He possessed excellent business qualities, was thrifty and progressive, and was one of the most popular men of his day. He was elected sheriff of Luzerne county in ISO1 ; was a member of the state legislature 1808- IO-12-14-19-20, and again in 1830; was one of the organizers and the first president of the Wyoming Bank of Wilkes-Barre. He was also a colonel in the state militia, and generally was so addressed.

Colonel Benjamin Dorrance married, Novem- ber 25, 1795, Nancy Ann Buckingham, born 1767, died February 2, 1834, daughter of Jedediah Buckingham and his wife Martha Clark. Jede- diah Buckingham was a descendant of the fifth generation of Thomas Buckingham, the Puritan ancestor of all the American Buckinghams, and who was one of the company to which Eaton and Hopkins, two London merchants, and the two ministers, Davenport and Prudden, belonged. This company sailed from London in the early part of 1637, and landed in Boston June 26. On March 30, 1638, the company sailed for Quinni- pack (New Haven) in the colony of Connecticut. Here the name of Thomas Buckingham appears among the "Names of Planters and Division of Lands according to the estate and Heads of Families." Late in 1639 Thomas the Puritan removed with his family to Milford, and was one of the company who under the pastorate of Prud- den settled that town. Thomas also was one of the seven founders of the church in Milford, a

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truly good man, and a leader among the settlers. His youngest son Thomas, born 1646, entered the ministry, preached in Wethersfield in 1664. in Saybrook in 1665, and was settled pastor of the latter church from 1769 to his death in 1709. He was one of the founders and followers of Yale College from 1700 until he died. Rev. Thomas' wife was Hester Hosmer. They had a son Thomas, born September 29, 1670, married Mar- garet Griswold, and who was a prominent man in town affairs and in the church, and was owner of considerable land in Lebanon. This Thomas and Margaret had a son Thomas, born January 24. 1693. married Mary Parker, and died De- cember 13. 1760. He was a seafaring man, and, like his father, was a man of consequence. He was the father of Jedediah, born Saybrook, Jan- uary 20, 1727. died Columbia, July 9. 1809 : mar- ried Martha Clark. died May 20. 1829. Their children were : Sarah, born 1753, died in infancy ; Thomas, born 1755; Joshua and Mary (twins), born 1757: Jedediah P., born 1758: Sarah, born 1761 : Stephen, born 1763. married (first) Mary Dorrance, and (second) Polly Brewster : Esther : Martha : and Nancy Anna, born 1767, married Benjamin Dorrance.

Children of Colonel Benjamin and Nancy Ann Dorrance: John Dorrance, born February 28. 1800, died April 1, 1861, of whom see later : Charles Dorrance, born January 4. 1805. died January 18. 1892. (See later). George Dor- rance, born August 30. 1807. died April 28, 1814.

Rev. John Dorrance, D. D., eldest son of Ben- jamin Dorrance and his wife Nancy Ann Buck- ingham, was born Kingston, February 28, 1800, and died April 18. 1861. He graduated from Princeton College, A. B., 1823, and from Prince- ton Theological Seminary, 1827, and was or- dained November. 1827. by the Presbytery of Mississippi. He was pastor of the Baton Rouge church from 1827 to 1830, and from 1831 to 1833 was settled over the church at Wysox. Pennsyl- vania. He was called to the First Presbyterian church of Wilkes-Barre, 1833, where he contin- ued until his death. in April, 1861, a period of twenty-eight years. Princeton College conferred

on him the degree of D. D. in 1859. He entered upon his mission with great earnestness and res- olute purpose : his zeal in the work was strong and continuous ; he strove to discharge his duty as pastor of the church, and to so build up and invigorate it that its influence and power might be felt throughout the region in the upbuilding of other churches and the gathering together of many congregations.

He extended the field of his labors throughout the county, and for a time preached regularly at Nanticoke and Newport. at regular intervals at Pittston and Providence, and at other points in the Lackawanna valley, thus preparing the way for other churches afterward established. in Tunkhannock, in Falls, and in Providence. Out of the latter subsequently grew the churches at Scranton and Pittston. Under the auspices of the mother church in Wilkes-Barre during his pastorate the Wilkes-Barre Female Institute was establisbed, 1854. and the construction of a new church building was accomplished in 1849. Dur- ing his pastorate, nearly six hundred names were added to the membership of the mother church.

Rev. John Dorrance married. December 6, 1827. Penelope Mercer. died January 7. 1860. They had children :

I. Anna Mary, born Kingston, November 20, 1825, died January 18. 1833.

2. Frances Gertrude, born January 23. 1830, died June 15. 1855: married. October 27, 1852, John Colt Beaumont, commander in United States navy. (See Beaumont family).

3. Benjamin Charles, born November 8. 1832 : entered the ministry : died unmarried Feb- ruary 2, 1859.

4. John Breckenridge, born June 1. 1834, died October 18, 1855. unmarried.

5. James Mercer, born August 10. 1836, died March 22. 1855, unmarried.

6. Charles Buckingham, born January I. 1839. entered United States navy and was killed in action, Mobile Bay. October 9. 1864.

7. Stella Mercer, born December 3. 1840, died 1904 : married May 4. 1866. George Murray Reynolds. (See Reynolds Family).

CItiranel

THE WYOMING AND LACKAWANNA VALLEYS.

8. Emily Augusta, born September 1, 1844, married, July 18, 1865, Alexander Farnham. (See Farnham family.)

Colonel Charles Dorrance, second son of Ben- jamin Dorrance and his wife Nancy Ann Buck- ingham, was born Kingston, January 4, 1805, died January 18, 1892. He was a farmer, and "the Dorrance Farm" has long been the model farm of the valley, the Colonel farming for pleas- ure as well as profit, succeeding in acquiring both results from his labors. He early introduced the short-horned cattle on his farm; from his herd the strain was opened through all the country round about, and great improvement in stock was the result. His house was ever the abode of a large and generous hospitality, dispensed with all the grace and dignity befiitting his sur- roundings. He never sought official position, ex- cept possibly that of captain of the Wyoming vol- unteers, from which he rose through the various . grades to the rank of colonel in the state militia. He was president of the Luzerne County Agri- cultural Society from its organization in 1858 to 1868. He was, with A. C. Lanning, appointed by the late Judge John N. Conyngham, LL. D., commissioner of the Luzerne county prison, and president of the board throughout his connection with it. When the Wyoming Commemorative Association was organized for the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Massacre of Wyoming, 1878, he was made president of that organization, retaining that office until his death. Colonel Dorrance was president of the Wyoming National Bank from 1835 to 1892, in which office he succeeded his distinguished father, president of the Wilkes-Barre Bridge Company, of which his father was an incorporator in 1816: and a member of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society from 1858 to 1892. He and his family were attendants at the First Presby- terian Church of Wilkes-Barre, and although not a member himself he was a liberal contributor to its support and also to the support of its depen- dencies.

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Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys, Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 11

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin Publication date: 1906 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 988

Author: Hayden, Horace Edwin
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 988