USA > Pennsylvania > Historical notes relating to the Pennsylvania Reformed Church, V. I > Part 7
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111. November 17. George Weber and Sara Beever.
112. November 22. George Lever and Cathrine Shive.
113. November 22. Daniel Heller and Barbary Jacoby.
114. December 24. Joseph Been and Magdalena Hitner. 1813.
115. January
2. George Sherer and Mary Rex.
116. January 14. Jacob Roth and Hannah Weidner.
117. March 2. Christopher Mattis and Hanah Lewis.
118. March
21. Charles Roberts and Mary Sylvis.
119. April 8. George Beever and Anna Levellyn.
120. May
1. Rev. John Weiand and Cathrine Trichy
121. May 4. Abraham Weber and Elizabeth Hittner.
122. July 22. Christian Fisher and Elizabeth Lukens.
123. July
31. Samuel Hause and Sarah Kulp.
124. August 22. Joseph Lower and Anna Keiser.
125. October
5. Henry Spere and Margareth Siesholtz.
126. October
7. Joseph Harner and Hanah Smith.
128. November 2. Abraham Beaver and Elizabeth Lightcap.
129. November 4. Samuel Jacoby and Susanah Freedly.
130. November 4. Isaac Beaver and Sarah Moor.
131. November 14. John Kneedler and Nancy Shive.
132. December 14. Henry Hertel and Cathrine Been.
133. December 23. Jacob Shive and Elizabeth Shemel.
134. December 30. Jacob Dager and Elizabeth Kupp.
1814.
135. January
20. John Smith and Sarah Korper.
136. January
27. Joseph Tetweiler and Maria Meier.
137. February 25. Jacob Preis and Margreth Smith.
138. February
3. Joshua Bonde and Elizabeth Bilgerd.
139. March
6. Isaac Bilgerd and Nory Heineman.
1.10. March 10. Dr. John Jacobs and .Cathrine Scheetz.
141. March 11. Jonathan Jones and Elizabeth Miller.
142. March 20. William Harner and Ellin White.
143. April 23. Philip M. Werner and Regina Arwine.
144. April 2.5. Ellen Carmon and Patty Johnson.
145. May 22. Abraham Been and Margareth Jans.
146. June 9. Thomas MeIntive and Eve Noss.
147. June
19. Edward Thompson and Edith White. (To be Continued. )
HISTORICAL NOTES
RELATING TO THE
PENNSYLVANIA REFORMED CHURCH.
VOL I No. 3. July 10. 1899.
$1 00 PER ANNUM.
Edited by Henry S. Dotterer.
Perkiomen Publishing; Co .. 1605 N. THIRTEENTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
Random Thoughts.
The present state of our Church-what can a thoughtful man say of it? Onr ancestors were of the Reformed faith in Europe. In this new country they re- mained in the household. During the six or more generations embraced in the Provincial, Revolutionary and National eras, they and their descendants con- tinued steadfast. The thoughtful man has seen many fall away from his side, and enter other communions; but as for himself he has resisted the blandish- ments and the inducements to forsake the Church of his fathers. He is a lay- man, let us stay, in contact with the im- portant business and political activities in our progressive conntry. He is a practical man He is up with the times. Ile is trained, as are all Americans, to measure the value of effort by results.
Two hundred and sixteen years ago came the first settler of the Reformed faith to Pennsylvania. Two centuries of Church work according to the stand- ards of the Reformed faith are accom- plished. What is the result? A mem- bership in the United States of 238,644 -less than a quarter of a million in a population exceeding seventy millions of souls. Is this a gratifying exhibit in a country absolutely free from religious persecution, and peculiarly favorable for the spread of Protestantism? For nearly two centuries not a year has passed that thousands of Reformed immigrants have not landed on our shores. These have multiplied in the order of nature. Where are their children and children's children? And as to home missionary
work, what outcome is there to show? The thoughtful layman loves his Church. He has hoped, and still hopes, for a showing by it in the spread of the Gospel of Christ worthy of its matchless history in the days of the Reformation. Contemplating it calmly, how can he regard its present numerical, social, financial, intellectual and spiritual con- dition? What are "the signs of promise?"
The General Synod at Titlin wisely decided not to undertake to consolidate the Church papers.
The early records of the First Reformed Church of Philadelphia are in course of translation and transcription for the genealogical branch of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. John F. Lewis, Esq., of Philadelphia, is having this ex- tensive and important work done at his own expense. The records begin 1747.
In the city of Rotterdam are two churches in which the preaching and services are conducted in the English langnage-the Scotch Church, in con- nection with the Dutch Reformed Classis of Rotterdam, and St. Mary's,of the Eng- lish Church. The pastor of the Scotch Church is Rev. J. Irwin Brown, M. A., B. D. Americans are cordially wet- comed by the officers and pastor, and will find the services home-like and in their own language. The Scaten Church was founded in Rotterdam in 166. At the time of the religions persecutions in Scotland, thousands of refugees comme over to Rotterdam and became members of this congregation.
34
HISTORICAL NOTES.
The Pennsylvania Church Corre- spondence at the Hague.
BY HENRY S. DOTTERER.
The Hague, the capital of The Nether- lands, is a beautiful and wealthy city. Its people are in large part public officials and the Dutch nobility. The Queen has her home at the capital. The represen- tatives of the governments of the world reside here. It is an aristocratic and consequently an expensive city. The natives call it 's Gravenhage, and den Haag. Here the national Church has its headquarters. Upon Java-Straat, a fashionable street, away from the busy centre, is the Archief van de Algemeene Synode der Nederlandsche Hervormde Kerk-the Archives of the General Synod of the Reformed Church of the Nether- lands.
Before my departure from home, Dr. Dubbs, of Franklin and Marshall College, informed me that somewhere in Holland was stored the voluminous corre- spondence between the Pennsylvania and Dutch Churches during our pro- vincial times, and he charged me to make every effort to discover these records, so needful to us to a full under- standing of our colonial church history.
After Mrs. Dotterer and myself were comfortably domiciled with a private family, natives of the country, in the city of Rotterdam, I began inquiries for the Pennsylvania records. In our do- mestic circle was a literary gentleman, Mr. D. Veen, who suggested to me to write concerning the matter to the Presi- dent of the General Synod, Rev. Dr. Perk, who is also the pastor of the French Reformed congregation of Ams- terdam. This was done, and a reply came, in these words:
Amsterdam, 23 December, 1895.
two volumes, No. 74, bearing the title Pensylvanica, but they are not the works you ask for. Probably you will find them in the acta of the Provincial Synod of South Holland anno 1618-1810, whose secretary is A. Loeff, at Dordrecht.
M. A. PERK.
The title "Pensylvanica" pointed to strongly to the desired documents to be passed over. Application to Rev. Dr. Overman brought this generons response:
Ik zal U a. Dinsdag, 7 Januari, wachten alhier Javastraat 84, alwar het archief is, en dat Gij bereiken kunt met de tram van 't Station van den Holl. Spoorweg.
's Gravenhage, 3 Januari, 1896.
De Secretaris van de Algemeene Synode der Nederlandsche Hervormde Kerk,
L. OVERMAN.
Translation : I shall await von on Tuesday, January 7, at Si Java street, here, where the archives are, and which you can reach by the tram from the Station of the Holland railway. The Hague, 3 January, 1896.
The Secretary of the General Synod of the Netherland Reformed Church, L. OVERMAN.
On the morning of January 7, 1896, my first visit was made to the archives. Upon arrival at 84 Java street, Mr. Welter, the care-taker of the General Synod's building and library, showed me to the meeting room of the synod, where a cheerful fire, of English hard coal, was radiating a grateful warmth. Upon the table were lying two volumes of mannscripts, marked respectively Pensylvaniea Vol. I and Pensylvanica A. Beside them was a printed book entitled Catalogus van het Und Synodal Archief, a work of 196 pages, containing
Respected Sir: I was obliged to delay the names of the books in the library answering your letter, because I had to and an index to the manuscripts of the write to learn if the works you ask for Old Provincial Archives. are in the Synodical Library at The In a tremor of anticipation, I opened the MS. volumes, which were no other than the much-desired Pennsylvania letters. Since these writings left our Hague. Mr. L. Overman, Prinsengracht, The Hague, is secretary of the Synod. He writes me that in the Archives are
0
35
HISTORICAL NOTES.
far-off shores, one hundred to one hun- dred and seventy years ago, no Pennsyl- vanian had seen them; my hands, nervous with excitement, were the first to turn the venerable leaves; my eager eyes the first to scan these precious treasures. Here were messages from beyond the sea, penned when Pennsylvania was a dependency of Great Britain, before the name of the United States of America was coined, before the Declaration of In- dependence, many of them before George Washington was born. £ Letters from Dorsius, and Boehm, from Weiss, and Leydich, from Rieger, Schlatter, Stoy, Lischy, Otterbein and others of the Reformed clergy; from the Presbyterians, Kennedy and Tennent; the Lutherans, Brunnholtz and Muhlenberg; from Chand- ler of London ; from Dr. and Captain Diemer and merchant Arend Hassert, Jr., secretary Richard Peters, and Mayor Lawrence, of Philadelphia; requests, in- quiries and complaints from the churches at Philadelphia, Skippack, Germantown, Tulpehocken, and of Bucks county; min- utes of Cletus, controversial pamphlets, reports of law suits, financial statements; written in German, Dutch, Latin, French and English; a wealth of manuscript in- formation bearing upon the general and church history of Pennsylvania nowhere equalled abroad, with the possible ex- ception of London. Besides the two bound volumes, there is a portfolio, con- taining letters and documents relating to the Church of Pennsylvania; a bundle of papers concerning foreign churches and persons, among which is a large roll re- lating to Pennsylvania; another bundle regarding remittance of funds to the Waldenses, and the churches of Lithi- uania and Pennsylvania; and account books, entitled Kapitaalbockjes, con- taining the record by the treasurer of the investment of funds for the benefit of the Pennsylvania and other mission churches.
Rotterdam, it was my custom to go by train to The Hague in the morning, spend the day in the archives, and re- turn in the evening. It was the middle of winter, when the days are very short, compared with ours in Pennsylvania. Leaving the Beurs station in Rotterdam about nine, the Java street building was reached about ten. The trip is a pleas- ant one. Delft and Schiedam are the two stations between Rotterdam and The Hlagne. They are both world famous; the one for its gin and the other for its porcelain ware. From the car windows is presented a succession of typical Dutch views - wind-mills, tile-roofed farın honses, flat land intersected by canals; sometimes a light snow covered the green grass, and then the wool-clad sheep huddled together in close com- panionship. Every tree and every house in the landscape became familiar in these frequent trips. Did you ever in full possession of a long-coveted pleasure try to compare it as painted in anticipation by the imagination with the reality spread before you? For many years I had looked forward to just ench a sojourn. Now it was an accomplished fact. As the train sped on, sometimes 1 would look inward and back ward to the anticipation; then out ward npon the realization. There is no disappointment in Holland. You admire the countless pictorial representations of its scenery and its life; but when you are face to face with the country and its people, you feel that the half had not been told. Arriving at the archives, Mr. Welter re- sponded to the ring with a smile and a greeting. Immediately to work, was the rule; time was too precious to be wasted. At noon the good Welter sent or brought a cup of coffee, which with a pair of sandwiches constituted my luncheon. At four o'clock it became dnsk. Then taking a tram car, I was soon back to the fine railway station, awaiting the returning train, meanwhile observing with great interest the arrival and do- parture of other trains, and studying the
To examine this great collection was the work of nearly two months. At. intervals, however, I turned away from this absorbing task to spend a day or passengers in the waiting rooms of the two elsewhere. Pleasantly located at three classes of travellers. By and by
36
HISTORICAL NOTES.
the station people came to know the oft- one end is the President's desk, and returning foreigner. In time, too, the beside him that of the Secretary. It making of the trip became as familiar, this table sit the members of the Council despite the unlike surroundings, as a trip from Philadelphia to Germantown. The time between the two cities is 30 to 35 minutes. Occasionally Mrs. Dotterer would accompany me, and make copies or notes from the papers. As said before this work was not performed on consecu- tive days. At intervals, work in the City Library and South Holland Re- formed archives at Rotterdam would require attention. Interspersed, too, were trips - sometimes for pleasure, sometimes for research-to Delfhaven- whence the Pilgrims sailed, to Leyden, to Dordrecht and to Delft.
Since then, Dr. Good and Prof. Hinke have visited this historical "Klondike." Others will doubtless follow. The ac- commodating Dr. Overman will have put to the task many times, I fancy, his friendly disposition to satisfy the wants of the American historians. My opin- ion is that there will not be entire peace until all the documents relating to Penn- sylvania in that repository are copied in extenso and brought back to this side for the ready use of our students and writers.
Java street is a stylish thoroughfare, on which are the fine homes of wealthy residents. The commodious building occupied by the General Synod of the Netherlands is admirably arranged for the care of the tons of documents and records of the Church and for the meet- ing of the delegates. The more valuable records are stored in a large fireproof vault on the first floor back. The council chamber, in which I conducted my labors, is on the second floor, is on the second floor. It is a room about thirty feet long, fronting on Java street, about twenty feet deep, and of proportionate height. Three large windows face the street; they are draped with lace and dark green curtains. Opposite these are two double doors, draped in dark green curtains. In the middle of the room is a table about eighteen feet long, set lengthi- wise, covered with green broadeloth; at.
when convened for business pertaining to the Reformed Church of the Nether- lands. Twenty-three Inxurious chairs, upholstered in brown leather, surround the table for the nse of the delegates. Upon the table are twelve nickel-plated inkstands on trays; from the ceiling is suspended a chandelier, ornamented in brass and nickel, with five globes. It one end of the room are three oil paint- ings, one of which is the work of "Cor- nelis van Haerlem. Haerlem, 1562-1638." The subject of another is The Samaritan Woman. At the other end of the room is a white marble mantel, upon which rest a mirror in oak, a black marble clock and ornaments. Oak cabi- nets are on each side of the mantel, alove which are oil paintings-one, The Goklen Calf ; another, Christ Preaching to the People. On the floor is brown linoleum, covered with a heavy rug. In this ar- tistic chamber is carried on the legisla- tion for the welfare of Holland's great Church.
Reformed Church Literature.
Der in der Americanischen Wikinnsz Unter Menschen von verschiedenen Nationen nnd Religionen Hin and wieder herum Wandelte Und ver- schiedentlich Angefochtene Prediger, Abgemahlet und vorgestellet In einem Gespraech mit Einem Politic) und Neugeborenen, Verschiedene Stuck in- sonderheit Die Nengeburt betreffende, Verfertiget, und zu Beforderung der Ehr Jesn Selbst ans eigener Erfahrung an das Licht gebracht. Von Georg Michael Weiss V. D. M. in Philadelphia: Ge- druckt bey Andrew Bradfordt, 1729.
Rev. Prof. W. J. Hinke recently con- tributed a bibliographical notice of this publication to the Reformed Church Mes- senger. It is a pamphlet of 34 pages. It is in the Congressional Library, Wash- ington, D. C.
37
HISTORICAL NOTES.
Jacob Hiltzheimer's Diary.
[ Concluded. ]
Firma !
March 17. * Rec". a Letter from England from John Allen, Esq'. Requesting me to Look out for 2 or 3 horses for John Penn, Esq'. June 24. * ** In the afternoon met the Dutch Company, at the Lutheran School house and på. off my ace'. as per Receipt, and Took to Sell 10 Lottery Tickets from 3721 to 3780.
Sept. 4. Went to Spring Garden to see my Aunt Klages, who Died this morning. She did not Live Much above a year after my mother, which two was Sisters.
Sept. 5. Sunday. Clear. In the afternoon went with Aunt Foster and my Daughter Kitty to Spring Garden to the Burial of my Aunt Klages (my mother* Sister) and from the Burial-ground to the Church, where the Reverend Mr. Weinberg Preach'd the Funeral Sermon, Suitable to the Text, which was Chosen by my Aunt her self, some time before her Death. It was in the Second of Timothy Chap: 4th and Ver: the 7º and 8º. N. B. : She was born in the year 1721.
Oct. 11. * In the afternoon went to Germantown. Went to the Academy and Ent" my son Billey to Go to School there and p4 20/ Entrance. Nov. 15. Enter" Boby to go to s" school.
Nov. 14. Sunday. Clear. Rec4 2 Letters from Germany, one from Stephen Spengler dated 12" Apr. 1773, the other from my sister Dated 26 May Do.
Dec. 27. * * There was a meeting at the State house and was agreed that the Tea Ship should Take the Tea back.
1774.
May 2. * % In the Evening met the Amicable Fire Comp'y at Browns in Arch Street, My Self Clerck to said Comp'y.
June 5. Sunday. Clear. In the afternoon went, the first time, to the New Church in Race Street Lately Finish'd Took Possession of a Seat in Pew Numb 52.
Aug: 28. Sunday. Clear & warm. Went to Church in forenoon. Weinbergs Text was Jeremiah the 9th Vers 24th. the Latter part thereof.
Sept' 1. Thursday. Very Close & warm. * In forenoon went to Church to hear the Rever. M. Weinberg Preach a Sermon Suitable to the Meeting of the Great Congress which is to begin Next Monday in this City. His Text was in the 16th Chap: of the proverbs the 9th Vers, and here follows the Words Amans Heart Deviseth his Way but the lord Diretech his Steps.
Sept. 18. Sunday. Warm. * In the afternoon went to Church. The Same time Henry Mugs wife was Buried and M. Weinberg Took her Text, Second of Timothy, Ch'. 4th and V: 7 & 8.
. .
38
HISTORICAL NOTES.
Oct. 25. In the Evening went to the New Calvin Church in Race street and heard the Reverend Win Pierecy Preach. His Text was Zech :- riah chap. 4th & Vers 7" (and here follow the words) Who art thon O great Mountain ? before Zerubbabel Thou shalt be come aplain and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shonting Crying Grace, Grace, unto it. The Explanation of these words Lasted one hour and five minutes. 1423
Chester County Churches.
In the year 1846, Frederick Sheeder wrote a paper giving his personal recollections of the section of Chester county comprised in Vincent and Pikeland townships. This contribution to local history has not been pub- lished, but the manuscript is preserved in the library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Frederick Sheeder was born in Saarbrück, Germany, February 20. 1777 ; arrived at Philadelphia with his parents, brothers and sisters, No- vember 26, 1793. He became a resident of East Vincent township in 1800.
The following paragraphs are taken from Sheeder's manuscript:
ZION'S CHURCH IN PIKELAND.
This edifice was commenced in 1771 and finished in 1774. It was used as a hospital the time General Washington lay at the Springs. The church on the hill was also used for the same purpose. The train of sick brought was one mile long. This was after the retreat after the battle of Brandywine.
THE CHURCH ON THE HILL ..
In the first or the old church built here are the names of Rev. Leidy, Rev. Bumb, Rev. Dallacker and Rev. Herman as preachers. In the time of the last named a new church was built. Then followed Rev. John C. Guldin and Rev. J. R. Kooken. The hill church is styled the German Reformed Church in Vincent Township. The old log church was const- crated May 27, 1758, under the pastorate of Rev. John Philip Leydich. At the foot of the hill on which this church is built is a plain monument. a pyramid about eight feet high inclosed by a strong wall, adjoining the Ridge road, creeted in memory of the patriot soldiers who fell in the Revo- lutionary battles in this vicinity in 1777.
Holland's Steadfastness and Generosity.
One hundred thousand homes were forsaken by Reformed families rather than you allegiance to Philip the Second, King of Spain, and the Roman pontiff. Thousands were slain and many found refuge among Reformed brethren in Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain. After- wards Holland, in turn, became the asylum for the Huguenots, the Puri- tans, and the oppressed of all lands. -CYRe's CORT.
L
--
39
HISTORICAL NOTES.
The Church at Market Square.
BY HENRY S. DOTTERER.
Continued.
REV. SAMUEL GULDIN.
In the year 1710 a strong character was added to Germantown's Re- formed contingent. That year Samuel Guldin, a minister of the Reformed Church of Switzerland, came to Pennsylvania. He was born in the city of Berne. He first preached in the neighborhood of Berne, but his repu- tation as a forcible pulpit speaker led to his election as associate pastor of the minister of Berne, and subsequently he became the minister of the three chief churches of the city. His fervid presentation of Christian truth gave offenee to his ecclesiastical superiors. , He was accused of Pietism, and in 1699 declared guilty of the charge. He was then rele-' gated to the pastorate of an inferior and obscure congregation outside of Berne. On the 16th of January, 1710 (probably 171?), then a resident of Roxborough township, he bought 275 acres of land located along Wissa- hiekon creek. Residing so near Germantown, and sometimes in the the town. he became intimately acquainted with his Reformed brethren here, and as would be expected he preached to them occasionally. After his coming to Pennsylvania he issued three pamphlets. The first of these, dated 1718, entitled Kurtze Apologie, is a self-vindication of his course at Berne; the second, also in 1718, is a short Guide with Contrasts for the explanation and defence of Divine Truth; the third, in 1743, was an argument in opposition to the coalescence of the several religious de- nominations as proposed by Count Zinzendorf and his friends in Pennsyl- vania at that time. In the first and last of these publications he repre- sents himself as former preacher in the three principal churches of Berne, in Switzerland. Guldin was possessed of a considerable estate. Besides his Roxborough property, he owned land in Oley, and personal property as well. He has been heretofore regarded as one of the original settlers of Oley, a fertile region in the present Berks county, but recent investigation indicates that he never lived there, and that his son of the same name was the Oley pioneer. "The Roy. Samuel Guldin died in Philadelphia on the last day of the year 1745, aged eighty-five. He left a curious paper in- tended for his last will and testament, a medley of business directions and pious admonitions, a inixture of English and German and Latin. His purpose was to dispose judiciously of his considerable means, remember- ing old friends, designating laudable benevolent interests, and caring appropriately for his immediate family. But the paper having not been executed was inoperative.
Thus we see there was a steady, although small, stream of incoming colonists of the Reformed faith, who located in and about Germantown in
40
HISTORICAL NOTES.
the earlier years of the Province. The great rush of the Palatines came later. What opportunities had these primitive settlers to worship after the manner of their fathers in Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and France? Prior to 1710 we know of no clergymen of their faith in the Province. It may be, however, that upon occasion one or another of the Reformed dominies at Manhattan Island penetrated southward through the wilderness-such is, and always has been, the indomitable missionary spirit of the Holland Church-to bring the Word to his fellow Chris- tians at Germantown. If any did, there was an open door for him here. There was built as early as 1686 a house of worship for the com- mon use of the people. Pastorius, in one of his letters to Europe, says: "Wir haben allhier zu Germantown An. 1686 cin Kirchlein für die Gemeinde gebauet"-We built here in Germantown in the year 1686 a small church for the community. It was built for the Gemeinde -- the community. Gemeinde, it is true, is in America usually understood to mean a religious society or congregation. But in Germany the word means primarily a political district, comprising in its limits a State church. A Gemeinde there comprehends all the inhabitants of the district, irre- spective of their church connection. The government of Germantown was set up, by special permission of Penn, upon the lines then and still in vogue in the villages, or dorfs, of Germany. So it happened that Pastorius caused the erection of a Kirchlein für die Gemeinde-a small church not for any particular denomination, there being no State church in Pennsylvania, but for the use of the community in general.
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