USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Historical sketch of old Hanover church > Part 4
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2
0
Crawford, John
3
1
9
Sloan, Alexander
3 15 0
Crawford, Wm.
3 17
0
Snodgrass, John
4
8 0
Cathcart, Wm
1
2
0 Snodgrass, Rev. James
1 11
0
Campbell, John.
0
5
6
Sturgeon, Robert
4 19 0
Dearmond, Richard
4 19 0
1 13 0
Dixon, James
2 7
11
Stewart, Wm
3 11 0
French, James
2
7
11
Stewart, John
1 13
0
Ferguson, David.
6 14 3
Todd, David
3
0
6
Do. in trust
2 14
1
Todd, John
7 14 0
Ex'r Crain estate
2 2
12 3
Thomson, John
3
6
0
Finney, Widow
2
3
0
Ward, George
1 16
4
Freckleton, Robert
2
3
0
Wilson, James
4 19 0
Finlier, Michael
1 18
6
Wilson, William
2 14 3
Fleming, Robert.
3
6
0
Wallace, Benjamin, esq
3
6
0
Finley, Richard.
0 16
6
Wilson, James, esq
4 19
0
Finney, John
2
2
0
Wilson, Andrew. 3
2
9
Graham, Hugh
4 19
0
Ward, Thomas 1
9
7
Green, Timothy, esq
8 16 0
Young, Andrew
2
4
0
Graham, Henry
3 6
0
Young, James
2
4
0
Hume, John
2 18
4 Young, Widow
3
4
6
Hill, John
2 19
6 Young, James, jr
1
13 0
Harrison, Isaac
5 10 0
Young, Andrew, jr Robinson, John. 7
2
1
3
Johnston, James
2 15 0
6 Stewart, Samuel
3
6
0
Kennedy, Robert
2
2
0 Rogers, James
3
0
6
Low, James.
1
7
6 Bell, Samuel
2
9
6
Lee, Andrew
3 6 0 Snodgrass, Wm
2 16 1
Whole amount assessed on the congregation was
293 16 2
3
0
Kennedy, Thomas
2
9
The following description of Mr. Snodgrass is given by his son, the Rev. Dr. W. D. Snodgrass, of Goshen, N. Y. :
In person my father was about 5 feet 11 inches in height. His
4
3
Andrew, Hugh
5 10 0
M'Cormick, Henry
M'Elheny, John
2 13 0
Campbell, Wm
2
15 0 Sturgeon, Jeremiah
Sloan, John
Todd, Widow
4 12 6
Finney, Samuel
9
6
36
HANOVER CHURCH.
frame was erect, strong and in every respect well developed. His hair was dark and changed to an iron-gray, though it never became white, even in his last years. He was of a pleasant countenance and amiable disposition, remarkably free from anything calculated to incur the dislike or displeasure of those with whom he had inter- course, fond of society, animated in conversation, and in every way agreeable to all around him. His bodily health during the greater part of his life was almost uninterrupted. He was temperate, sim- ple and regular in his mode of living, and for years in succession was not absent from his pulpit a single day on account of sickness. As a preacher he had by nature the advantage of a good voice. He spoke distinctly, was animated and earnest, and drew the matter of his discourses directly from the Bible. During a considerable por- tion of ministry his Sabbath morning exercise was in the form of an exposition or lecture. He selected a book generally from the New Testament, and commented upon it from beginning to end, se- lecting larger or smaller passages as his judgment dictated, and closing with extended practical remarks. He was clear, logical and forcible in his statements of truth, and was regarded by his minis- terial brethren, who knew him best, as an able, impressive and profit- able preacher."
Rev. Wm. Simonton, his grandson, who knew him only in his later years, gives the following as his impression of him thirty-one years after death : "I only remember him as an old man, with sil- very hair, and stooped with age. He was of medium height and of a little more than medium weight. His complexion was light, his features regular, except the end of the nose, which was somewhat prominent and inclined upward ; with a mild and pleasant expres- sion of countenance. The color of his eyes I cannot with certainty recall, but I think they were gray."
" He always preached memoriter. His sermons were written very compactly, in a kind of short-hand, in which the vowels were omit- ted. When committing them he paced the room. They were me- thodical, clear, scriptural, spiritual and evangelical. Father once remarked that he had 'never heard grandfather use an ungrammat- ical expression in the pulpit.' He was discriminating and accurate in his statements, and in the delivery of his discourses he never hesitated or recalled a word. His voice and enunciation were good, though he used but a few notes of the scale. There was not, there- fore, as much variety in his tones as is desirable in a public speaker.
37
HANOVER CHURCHI.
His manner was solemn and impressive. His gestures, as I remem- ber them, were confined for the most part to the hands, which peered out of very long coat-sleeves. The gestures were made with the fore-arm resting upon the Bible or pulpit. His ' principal prayer' was long, systematic and comprehensive. It embraced the parts of prayer given in the Directory for Worship, Chap. V, and generally in the order there observed. He believed in the Divine control of nature's operations, and in times of drought he prayed for ' season- able and refreshing showers.' Nor did he omit to give thanks for the same when the hopes of the husbandman were filled."
" I remember hearing him say that punctuality ought to have a place among the cardinal virtues. He exemplified these virtues by beginning the services from ten to five minutes before the ap- pointed time. This was his habit. He took a deep interest in pub- lic affairs, and entered heartily into conversation upon the topies of the day, but habitually interjected serious reflections and suggested a spiritual improvement of the subject without interrupting the flow of thought or turning it into a channel distinctly religious. He had a very happy faculty of this kind. He used it with effect in impressing the minds of the young and without giving offenee to any class of the thoughtless and indifferent. In this respect his conduct eame nearer to that of the ideal minister than that of any I have ever known."
RULING ELDERS OF OLD HANOVER.
[SO FAR AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASCERTAIN THEM.]
Lazarus Stewart, 1735,
Robert Boal,
-
Samuel Sturgeon,
Robert Grier, 1738,
James Wilson,
Henry M'Cormick,
John Cunningham, 1738, Thomas Bell,
Brice Innes,
Thomas M. M'Cormick,
David Ritchie,
John M'Ilheny,
James Johnson,
James Todd,
Robert Fleming,
William Brown,
Robert Sloan, Senior,
Mr. Snodgrass lived in Hanover until his death, which occurred July 2, 1846. He was a man of energy and decision. German set- tlers gradually bought up the farms. It was related to the writer by the Rev. Dr. Wm. R. De Witt, that at one time during Mr. Snod- grass' ministry he was elected township constable. Some of the new-coming settlers were altering their road-lines, contracting the highway. Probably Mr. Snodgrass objected. In contempt and ridicule, not believing he would serve, the people chose him eonsta- ble. They were mistaken. He at once qualified, appointed a dep-
38
HANOVER CHURCH
uty, who went through the township and compelled every offender to re-set his fences upon the right lines.
The church was very weak at the time of his death and never had another pastor. The building fell into decay, and was at length, in 1875 or '76, taken down. The care of the Glebe funds and the cemetery grounds was placed in the hands of trustees. But three church members remain in 1877. They will probably be transferred to Paxtang church, and the Hanover church be stricken from the roll of Presbytery.
39
HANOVER CHURCH.
HANOVER CHURCH BURIAL RECORD.
[The following list of deaths has been copied from the tomb- stones in the Old Hanover grave-yard, except those marked with an asterisk. (*), which have been collated from other sources :]
NAME.
WHEN BORN.
WHEN DIED.
Ainsworth, John,
1740,
Ang. 14, 1812
Ainsworth, Margaret, w. Jno.,
1744,
Sept. 13, 1828
Allen, Eleanor, w. Jos.,
1769,
Feb. 1, 1834
Allen, Elizabeth, w. Wmn.,
Mar.,
1705,
May 3, 1800
*Allen, Jane, w. Jos.,
1729,
Aug. 7, 1804
Allen, Jean,
1801,
Aug. 27, 1812
*Allen, Joseph,
Jan. 25, 1769,
Oct.
1, 1839
Allen, Mary, d. Wm. and N.,
1802,
July 4, 1822
Allen, Nancy,
1766,
Jan. 2, 1845
Allen, William,
1709,
Dec. 23, 1784
Allen, Col. William,
1744,
Oct. 13, 1794
Allen, William,
1766,
Nov. 11, 1844
Andrews, Ann, w. Hugh,
1768,
May 1, 1797
Andrews, James,
1734,
May 7, 1784
Andrews, Jane, w. Robert,
1731;
June 17, 1787
Andrews, Dr. John,
1766,
Jan.
5, 1793
Barnett, Jane,
Dec. 22, 1769,
May
9,1830
Barnett, Jolin,
1751,
Sept. 2, 1797
Barnett, John,
Aug. 18, 1752,
May
5, 1823
Barnett, John,
1772,
1817
"Barnett, Mary, w. Moses,
Sept. 9, 1762,
Mar. 10, 1806
Barnett, Mary, d. Wm. Montgomery,
1773,
June 1, 1802
Barnett, Susanna,
1796,
Mar. 7, 1762
Barnett, Thomas, sr.,
Nov. 13, 1761,
Mar. 28, 1836
Barnett, Thomas, jr.,
1794,
Mar. 13, 1858
Bell, Ann, w. Thos.
1744,
Sept. 18, 1804
Bell, ('atharine, w. Jas.,
1782,
Oct. 1, 1826
Bell, James,
1772,
Mar. 6, 1841
Bell, Mary, w. Thos.,
1758,
Aug. 11, 1820
Bell, Thomas,
1737,
June 23, 1815
Boal, Frances,
1751,
Aug. 27, 1779
Boal, Mary, w. Robert,
1756,
Aug. 22, 1804
Branden, James,
1771,
Sept. 6, 1804
Byers, James,
1746,
Sept. 8, 1804
Byers, John,
1751,
Jan. 12, 1797
Campbell, John,
1732,
June 1, 1781
*Campbell, C'apt. W'm.,
July 3, 1804
Cathcart, Abby, w. Wm.,
1770,
June 1, 1825
Cathcart, James,
1772,
Apr. 27, 1816
('athcart, Sarah, w. Wm.,
1737,
Sept. 25, 1304
Cathcart, William, sen.,
May 2, 1728,
Jan. 8, 1797
Craig, Jonn, k. by the Indians,
Oct. 22, 1756
Craig, Isabel, w. John, k. by the Indians,
Oct. 22, 1756
('lokey, Mary,
Mar.,
1794,
Oct. 13, 1799
Crain, Geo ge,
1739,
May 12, 1796
1817
Allen, Joseph,
Feb.,
June 10, 1802
Barnett, Mary,
Barnett, Martha, (Snodgrass, )
40
HANOVER CHURCH.
NAME.
WHEN BORN.
WHEN DIED.
'Crain, Jean,
1705,
Feb. 15, 1753
Crain, Mary,
1736,
Apr. 8, 1789
*Crawford, John,
1780,
Feb. 18, 1811
Culbertson, Ann,
[aged 72 years. ]
Davis, Martha, w. Wm.,
1728,
May
7, 1793
Dearmond, Eleanor, w. Rd.,
May
4, 1753,
Feb. 19, 1830
Dearmond, James, s. Rd.,
Oct.
2, 1782,
Jan. 7, 1812
Dearmond, Margaret,
Mar.
1, 1793,
May 6, 1824
Dearmond, Richard,
Sept. 1, 1743,
Nov. 17, 1802
Dillon, Nancy,
1760,
Ang. 30, 1850
Dixon, Ann,
1786,
Feb. 3, 1848
Dixon, James,
1708,
Sept. 19, 1782
Dixon, James,
1804,
Jan. 20, 1824
Fleming, Margaret, w. Roh't,
1734
Dec. 13, 1813
Fleming, Mary, w. Samuel B.,
1806,
Nov. 10, 1836
Fleming, Capt. Robert,
1737,
Feb. 4, 1817
Fleming, Sammel,
1761
Aug. 3, 1851
Fleming, Samuel B.,
1797,
Jan. 19, 1855
Fleming, Sarah, w. Sam'I,
Mar. 13, 1771,
Jan. 21, 1831
Fleming, Sarah, d. Sam'l,
Oct.
1, 1807,
July 13, 1828
Ferguson, Andrew, s. David,
1793,
Ang. 29, 1804
Ferguson, David,
1761,
Mar. 20, 1848
Ferguson, David,
June,
1791,
Aug. 18, 1793
Ferguson, Jane, w. David,
1753,
Nov. 18, 1824
*Ferguson, Sarah, w. John,
1760,
Aug. 5, 1823
Forster, Mary, w. Jno.,
1796,
Jan. 31, 1823
Freckleton, Margaret,
1757,
Apr. 10, 1824
French, Capt, James,
Jan. 26, 1777,
July 19, 1851
French, John,
1742,
Aug. 7, 1783
Graham, James,
1736,
Mar. 22, 1786
Graham, Jane, w. John,
Dec. 27, 1788,
Jan. 2, 1819
Green, Elfy, w. Tim.,
1735,
Dec. 28, 1765
Green, Jean, w. Tim.,
1748,
Feb. 18, 1774
Grimes, Elizabeth, w. Sam'],
1757,
Oct. 4, 1792
llampton, John,
1761,
May 11, 1850
Hampton, Joseph A.,
1814,
Nov. 26, 1837
Hampton, Mary, w. Jno.,
1771,
Sept. 27, 1858
Hampton, Samuel,
1811,
June 2, 1865
Hampton, Samuel D.,
1808,
Ang. 21, 1837
Harrison, Francis, w. Jno.,
1781,
Apr. 15, 1813
Harrison, Isaac,
17.14,
Jan. 31, 1806
Harrison, James,
1788,
Apr. 6, 1810
Harrison, Gen. John,
Jan.
8, 1775,
Feb. 28, 1837
Harrison, Rachel, w. Jno.,
1787,
Nov. 10, 1829
Harrison, Samuel,
1781,
Dec. 8, 1799
iHarrison, Sarah, w. Isaac,
17-18,
May 14, 1806
Harrison, Stephen,
179.1,
July 31, 1821
Hatton, Frederick,
May,
1774,
June 3, 1835
Hatton, Mary, w. Fred.,
June 2, 1795,
July 7, 1840
Heaslet, Mary Ann,
1713,
July 18, 1796
Innis, Brice, sen.,
1711,
Feb. 18, 1778
Innis, Dr. Brice,
1751,
Jan. 6, 1778
Innis, Elizabeth, w. Brice,
1715,
Jan.
3, 1788
Kell, Elizabeth,
1750,
Feb.
6, 1805
*Kennedy, Thomas,
Jan.,
1803
Kirk, Margaret, w. James,
1776,
June 5, 1831
Kunckleman, Jacob,
Feb. 13, 1769,
Feb. 20, 1820
Lingle, Daniel,
1795,
Dec. 31, 1865
Long, Martha,
[defaced. ]
41
HANOVER CHURCH.
NAME.
WHEN BORN.
WHEN DIED.
M'Bay, Nancy, w. Wmn.,
1790,.
Feb. 16, 1845
M'Bay, William B.,
1792,
Sept. 27, 1837
M'Clure, Frances,
1778,
Jan. 23, 1809
M'Clure, James,
1733,
Nov. 14, 1805
M'Clure, James,
1780,
Sept. 10, 1815
M'Clure, John,
1781
Aug. 22, 1827
M'Clure, Samuel,
Feb.,
1814,
Mar. 14, 1839
M'Cormick, Henry,
1769,
Feb. 24, 1828
M'Cormick, Jane,
1764,
Aug. 6, 1844
*M'Cormick, William,
M'Cormick, William A., s. Thos. M.,
[Infant, ]
Feb. 13, 1837
M'Creight, Elizabeth, d. Jas.,
1772,
Aug. 25, 1837
M'Creight, James, esq.,
1741,
Nov. 21, 1807
M'Creight, James, s. Jas.,
1778,
July 18, 1825
M'Creight, Jeannet, w. Jas.,
1751,
Sept. 13, 1828
M'Creight, William, s. Jas.,
1792,
Dec. 17, 1814
M'Elhenny, John,
Sept. 11, 1754,
June 25, 1806
M'Elhenny, Mary Ann,
Nov.,
1770,
May 27, 1805
M'Elhenny, Mary,
1733
Aug. 4, 1807
M'Elhenny, Thomas, sen.,
1745.
Sept. 1, 1829
M'Elhenny, Thomas,
Feb.,
1777,
Aug. 19, 1839
M'Elhenny, Thomas,
July 4, 1781,
June 27, 1868
M'Kinney, Esther, w Jno.,
1743,
Feb. 23, 1818
*M'Nair, Martha, (Sturgeon, )
1774,
Jan. 11, 1803
Palmer, Mary Ann, d. Jno.,
Mar. 6, 1798
Petticrew, David,
1713,
July 2, 1784
Porterfield, Ann,
1783,
Dec. 2, 1835
Porterfield, Gracey,
1784,
July 29, 1793
Porterfield, Elizabeth,
1793,
Nov.,
1800
Porterfield, Elsie, w. Robert,
1763,
July 28, 1828
Porterfield, John M.,
1795,
Mar. 27, 1820
Porterfield, Robert, sen.,
1757,
Aug. 28, 1829
Porterfield, Robert,
1786,
June 22, 1836
Porterfield; Wallis,
1797,
May 11, 1822
Ramsey, David,
1745,
Sept. 18, 1787
Ramsey, James,
1773,
Apr. 27, 1833
Reed, Adam, esq.,
1703,
Feb. 2, 1769
Reed, Mary, w. A.,
1712,
June 11, 1783
Robertson, James,
1724,
Mar. 17, 1792
Robertson, Margaret, w. Wmn.,
1723,
Mar. 3, 1775
Robertson, Sarah, w. Wm.,
1744,
Aug., 1781
Rogers, Andrew,
1746,
Sept. 19, 1782
Rogers, Andrew, s. Rob't,
Nov.,
1806,
Feb. 26, 1835
Rogers, Effey, w. Rob't,
Oct.,
1783,
Jan. 25, 1811
Rogers, Col. John,
Dec. 6, 1799
Rogers, James,
1735,
Apr. 18, 1790
Rogers, James, jr.,
1768,
May 16, 1823
Rogers, Martha, w. Jas., jr.,
1765,
Aug. 23, 1839
Rogers, Timothy, s. Rob't,
Oct. 15, 1821
*Rogers, William,
Oct., 1802
*Rogers, Jane, w. Wm.,
1754,
Mar. 29, 1822
Sawyer, John,
Oct. 25, 1772,
May 5, 1837
Schell, John,
Jan. 17, 1802,
Aug. 25, 1822
*Simonton, John M.,
-
1825
Simonton, Dr. William,
1788,
May 17, 1846
Sloan, Alexander,
1785,
Jan. 11, 1812
Sloan, James,
1775,
Dec. 1, 1820
Sloan, Nancy, w. Jas.,
1785,
June 18, 1837
Snodgrass, Ann,
1749,
May 25, 1807
Snodgrass, Ann,
1797,
Jan. 14, 1842
.
Oct. 26, 1811
M'Creight, Sarah, d. Jas.,
1795,
July,
1810
-
-,
",
*Simonton, Dr. William, sen.,
Apr. 24, 1800
Robertson, William,
Feb. 9, 1794
42
HANOVER CHURCH.
NAME.
WHEN BORN.
WHEN DIED.
Snodgrass, Benjamin,
1731,
July 1, 1804
Snodgrass, Rev. James,
July 23, 1763,
July 2, 1846
Snodgrass, John,
1746,
Jan. 2, 1829
Snodgrass, John,
1787,
Jan. 20, 1808
Snodgrass, Martha, w. Rev. James,
Nov. 12, 1760,
Dec. 20, 1828
Snodgrass, Mary, w. Jno.,
1747,
Mar. 11, 1838
Snodgrass, Mary, w. Jno.,
1777,
Feb. 8, 1815
Snodgrass, Mary, d. Jno.,
1768,
Mar. 17, 1773
Snodgrass, Nancy, w. Rev. Jas.,
1770,
Jan. 24, 1839
Snodgrass, William,
1774,
Oct. 18, 1800
Snodgrass, William,
1746,
Aug. 6, 1811
Snodgrass, William, jr.,
Dec. 7, 1799
*Sterrett, John,
Nov., 1797
Stewart, Frances,
1720,
Nov. 16, 1790
Stewart, Mary, w. Wmn.,
1736,
Feb. 22, 1780
Stewart, Martha, 2d w. Wmn.,
1743,
Ang. 9, 1799
Stewart, William,
1738,
July 14, 1803
Stewart, Susan, d. Rob't,
1836,
May 13, 1856
*Stewart, Samuel,
Sept. 16, 1803
Sturgeon, Allen,
1795,
July 31, 1865
Sturgeon, Eliza, w. Allen,
1794,
Jan. 1, 1848
Sturgeon, Margaret, w. Sam'],
1754,
Oct. 9, 1831
Sturgeon, Martha, d. Sam'],
April,
1785,
Oct.
4, 1801
Sturgeon, Jane, w. Rob't,
1744,
Feb. 21, 1809
Sturgeon. Robert,
1739,
June 30, 1805
*Sturgeon, Samuel, sen.,
Jan., 1795
Sturgeon, Samuel.
174],
Oct. 2, 1801
*Sturgeon, Mrs., w. Sam'l, sen.,
Sept. 20, 1803
Thorne, Margaret, w. Wmn.,
1780,
Feb. 20, 1863
Thorne, William,
1777,
Oct. 16, 1848
Todd, Anne,
[Infant,]
May 30, 1795
Todd, David,
1751,
Nov. 9, 1803
Todd, Eli James,
1830,
Aug. 27, 1839
Todd, Hugh,
1788.
Dec. 16, 1809
Todd, James,
1748,
Sept. 1. 1791
Todd, James,
1801,
July 2, 1831
Todd, Mary,
1719,
Feb. 15, 1775
Todd, Mary,
1756,
Dec. 25, 1813
Todd, Mary, d. Pav.,
Nov.,
1785,
Feb. 2, 1795
Todd, Sally,
1780,
Dec. 27, 1831
Todd, William,
[Infant, ]
July 5, 1784
Todd, James,
1712,
Sept. 9, 1783
Todd, John,
1742,
Sept. 14, 1804
Vanderslice, Eleanor, w. Dr. Jno.,
Oct. 27, 1805,
Jan. 20, 1830
Vanderslice, Dr. John S.,
1801,
Sept. 23, 1841
Wilson, Androw,
1759,
Sept. 11, 1800
*Wilson, Ann, w. Jas.,
1752,
Jan. 6, 1801
Wilson, Eliza,
July,
1802,
Aug. 18, 1817
Wilson, Isabella,
1792,
Sept. 20, 1812
Wilson. James,
1798,
Nov. 14, 1817
Wilson, Martha, w. And.,
1768,
Dec. 20, 1811
Wilson. Martha,
1789,
Noy. IS, 1811
* Wilson, Sally, d. Jas.,
1785,
Jeb. 10, 1810
*Wilson, Samuel,
Oct. 9, 1823
Woods, Rov. Matthew,
17.57,
Sept. 13, 1781
*Wallace, Gen. James,
Dec. 17, 1823
*Wallace, Benjamin, esq.,
Dec. 5, 1803
*Wallace, Rachel, ir. Gen. James,
l'eb. 15, 1823
Young, William,
-
1796
Todd, James Wilson,
1816,
Apr. 15, 1837
THE
CONEWAGO CONGREGATION OF
PRESBYTERIANS, Londonderry Township, DAUPHIN COUNTY. 1730-1796
BY A. BOYD HAMILTON.
CONEWAGO CHURCH.
T' "HIS narrative has no claim to originality, or to be of any spe- cial interest ; yet the facts presented are too precious to be lost, and however void of general interest they may be found, are worth preserving in this permanent form. In a very few years all trace of the godly men who formed this congregation would have been lost, and the episode here preserved, is therefore worth exami- nation, imperfectly as it is presented.
As early as July, 1718, there was a considerable population above the mouth of Conoy creek, in Chester, now Lancaster, county, on the east bank of the Susquehanna river. From 1720 to 1725 many of the restless spirits of it migrated further westward, mostly into the broad and well-watered valley of the Conewago creek, now the division line between the counties of Lancaster and Dauphin. These emigrants settled mainly along a road which in after days came to be the Harrisburg, Elizabethtown and Lancaster turnpike. The location nearly midway between Elizabethtown and Middletown. These settlers were emigrants from the Province of Ulster, Ireland. They were all of the Presbyterian faith, and having, as is supposed, erected a place of worship, began early in 1735 to agitate the ques- tion of a settled pastor. From that time, as we know, they were fur- nished with supplies by the Presbyteries of Newcastle and Done- gal. In 1741 they subscribed a sufficient sum and were furnished with a permanent pastor.
As long ago as 1796 all trace of the position of the church build- ing was obliterated from the face of the earth. No tradition or relic remains of it, notwithstanding very diligent inquiry has been made for information respecting its location. A ruinous burial place is .all that is left of what was once an active congregation of Presby- terians, "amid a land of gushing springs."
Thus it has happened, that at the period when the researches rel- ative to this extinct congregation were made, not a dozen persons
4
46
CONEWAGO CHURCH.
in the county of Dauphin, except a very few in immediate vicinity to a couple of deserted burial places, knew enough about it to "point the spot where active men and women rested from all earthly toil an hundred years ago."
In 1877, as will be observed by the papers which are embodied, Rev. William A. West, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian con- gregation at Harrisburg, received a letter from a clerical friend in North Carolina. To enable him to frame a reply to his correspond- ent, many inquiries were instituted, generally without success. It is the purpose of this sketch to present a brief narrative of the steps taken to obtain information respecting an historical fact, of which we were so ignorant.
The Rev. Dr. E. F. Rockwell writes :
COOL SPRINGS, IREDELL CO., N. C., January 24, 1877.
James Hall and wife, Prudence (Roddy) Hall, the parents of Rev. James Hall, D. D., who went to General Assembly sixteen times, and was wedded 1803, came here and settled on Fifth creek, near Bethany church, 1751-2. They had a certificate: "That James Hall and his wife Prudence (Roddy) Hall heath lived in this con- grigation ever since it was erected, & heave behaved themselves cristianly & soberly without aney publie scandal known to us, & heave been partakers of sealing ordinances amonghst us, & may be recived into aney cristian society wherever God in his Providence shall order their lott, is certified this 20t day of august 1751 by the session att Conawago.
THOMAS BOWMAN, JOHN M'QUEEN, ROBERT MORDAH, JAS. MORDAH."
HUGH HALL,
We are desirous to know where and whether there is any record like this-any names yet remaining there like these? The first four are names of the Scotch-Irish settlers here from Pennsylvania about that time. These parties had a son Hugh Hall. We have found twenty-four or twenty-five ministers of the Gospel among the de- scendants of James and P. Hall, and about twenty-eight females have married preachers. Rev. Robert Hall, who died last Novem- ber at Oxford, Ohio, was a grandson. They have spread out all over the country. I preach one-half of the time at Bethany church, which is the name of a post office near by, you may see on Colton's map (atlas.) We had our Centennial celebration August, 1875, and had a large assembly.
Last October I was in Philadelphia. I saw Rev. J. G. Craighead, D. D. He advised me to write to Rev. W. S. Van Cleave, Gettys- burg. There was a church Conawago near there, but he replies that there are no such names on their records or tomb-stones ; says that there is or was a church of that name in Dauphin county, or-
47
CONEWAGO CHURCH.
ganized earlier than his, and suggests that I write to you for infor- mation. I hope, therefore, that you will exeuse me for troubling you with this matter. It is one of some historical interest.
In 1750 the people emigrated here, apparently in colonies, from Pennsylvania. The church of Centre in lower end of this, Iredell, county till 1753 ; Anson till 1788; Rowan, too, had a set of names, Davidson, Templeton, M'Pherson, Givens, &c. Next north, Fourth creek (now Statesville) had different names-Simonton, Allison, Stevenson, Hall, Mordah, &c. Bethany is a branch of Fourth creek. I am located ten miles from Statesville, and letters reach me either at S. or here, at Cool Springs.
Since the above was written I notice that Dr. Wm. H. Foster in Sketches North Carolina, states that Dr. James Hall was from Car- lisle, Pa. I see in Minutes Gen. Ass. Pres. Carlisle, a church Great Conewago, Rev. Joseph Henderson pastor till 1795, when he is w. c. and the church vacant. Do. 1800. But after 1801 Rev. David M'Conaughy pastor. Whether the same I am inquiring for or not I have no means of knowing."
The minutes of the original Presbytery of Donegal were first con- sulted, and the following relating to this congregation was found :
June 28, 1738. The people of Conewago ask to be erected into a congregation by themselves. P. 237.
August 31, 1738. Terms of separation between the churches of Conewago and Derry. P. 244.
October 8, 1741. Geo. Davidson from Conewago presents to Pres- bytery a supplication and call for Mr. Black.
April 5, 1743; May 26, 1743, and September 6, 1743. The name of John M'Quown is found in the lists of Ruling Elders. The church represented is not mentioned.
April 4, 1745. Presbytery released Rev. Samuel Black from his pastoral charge at Conewago in order to send him to Virginia to labor.
September 4, 1745. Hugh Hall, commissioner from Conewago, neared and asked that the relation between Mr. Black and them ·ht be renewed.
eptember 25, 1745. The above request was granted.
ith this much before us, a communication was addressed to the nal," at Middletown, Dauphin county. It appeared in that aper February, 1877. It brought a response from Samuel , Esq., of Columbia, fixing the locality of the church near
Joy, Lancaster county, erected for Rev. John Roan in 1742 ; " not that one, one in Adams county, now "Great Conewago."
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CONEWAGO CHURCH.
The call of Rev. Samuel Black was in 1741. He probably had preached to this congregation previously, as he was in the neighbor- hood, preached at Carlisle, in 1736-37, and presided at the in- stallation of Rev. John Elder at Derry and Paxtang churches in 1738. Upon inquiry it was found that Mr. Black never preached at " Great Conewago."
The question of locality was set at rest, by a communication signed " J. R." in a subsequent issue of the " Journal," in which he truly fixed the site of the church, or its grave-yard, about three- fourths of a mile in an eastern direction from GEINBURG-not " Gainesburg," as on the maps-formerly the village of Franklin. The exact location is upon the farm of Mr. J. Alwine, in London- derry township.
"J. R," (Dr. Ringland, of Middletown,) shows conclusively the ownership of the spot belonging to this extinct organization. He Says :
" The piece of ground belonging to the church was a portion of a larger tract, which was taken on a warrant bearing date the first day of August, 1743, granted to Samuel Clark by the Land Office. The land was afterwards patented to Robert Spear, by patent deed, November 8, 1785, and was called " Spear's Choice," and called for 2025 acres and the usual allowance. The patent was enrolled in Rolls Office, in Patent Book No. 4, page 99, &c. The following memorandum, accompanying a draft, will explain itself:
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