USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 40
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The churches, founded during the period of which we write, were properly the pioneers of denominational religion between the Delaware and the Lehigh and form a cluster of great historic interest. The history of the religious move- ments of the first forty or fifty years of the eighteenth century will not be com- plete without a brief sketch of these societies. First, in order, is Neshaminy Presbyterian church, of Warwick." The date of its foundation is not known. the loss of early records breaking its chain of history but it was probably as early as 1726, possibly before.3 The first known pastor was Reverend William
of Saratoga. It called forth the severest denunciation, and much pathetic prose and verse were written upon it. Among others, Joel Barlow, the distinguished American poet, wrote a poein upon the event, beginning :
"One deed shall tell what fame great Albion draws; From those auxiliars in her barbrous cause; Lucinda's fate. The tale ye nations hear ; Eternal ages trace it with a tear."
4 The historians of the Presbyterian church have erroneously claimed Paulus Van Vleck as the pastor at Neshaminy, 1710, which carries its founding back to that date, if not prior. Van Vleek was pastor at Bensalem and at the North and Southampton Dutch reformed churches at that time one branch of which was called Neshaminy, though usually spelled "Sammany," and never had any connection with the Warwick church. This correction in the early history of the Neshaminy church throws great uncer- tainty over the date of its foundation. This was never a Dutch congregation. In 1743 it was known as "the congregation of Warwick, in ye forks of Neshaminy."
5 This powerful seet in this state had a small beginning. The visit of Francis Makennie to Philadelphia. 1602. is thought to have led to the gathering of dissenters at the Barbidoes store-house. John Watts, a Baptist ininister, preached for them for a time. hut, 1698 they called Jedediah Andrews, of New England. In 1704 they built a meeting-house on Market street. enlarged it, 1729, when they adopted the Presbyterian form of church government. With this 'exception the early churches of this denomina- tion in Pennsylvania were Scotch-Irish.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Tennent, called from Bensalem in 1726.512 He likewise preached at Deep Run, called the "Upper congregation," and, 1734. the newly-formed church at New- town asked for one-fourth of his time, but Deep Run refused her consent.
In 1740, the Reverend Francis McHenry was chosen his assistant. Mr. Tennent was never regularly installed, but the people met and chose him for their pastor, and the Presbytery afterward ratified their action. He was an active, thorough-going pastor, but not entirely guiltless of stirring up strife in the church, and his crusade against the Old Side, his pastoral duties and the management of the college kept him fully employed. A new church edifice was erected on the site of the present building, 1743, the last year of his pas- torate.
On December 1, 1743, Reverend Charies Beatty was ordained "to the con- gregation of Warwick in ye forks of Neshaminy," on a salary of £60, increased to fioo, or $260 at the end of twenty years. Here Mr. Beatty spent his life, absenting himself from his charge only on three occasions, on a missionary visit to the frontiers, 1766, when chaplain to Franklin's regiment, 1755," and a visit to the West Indies, 1771, to collect money for Princeton college and where he died. In 1745 Neshaminy and "adjacent places" raised £14. 5s. Iod. to build a school-house and buy books for Brainard's Indians. The division in the church was consummated during his pastorate. The old church was in the present graveyard, where it stood for several years after the new one was built. Mr. Beatty was succeeded by Reverend Nathaniel Irwin, 1774, who was in- stalled May IS, and remained until his death, 1812.7 He began on a salary of $346, raised to $452, 1798. He was a man of varied and extensive information, possessed great scientific knowledge, and was passionately fond of music. He exercised a wide influence in church and state, and, for several years, controlled the politics of the county. Ile was instrumental in having the county seat re- moved to Doylestown. As a slur upon the clergy and church for interfering, some one made a charcoal sketcli on the walls of the old court house, Newtown,
51/2 This was without doubt the origin of Neshaminy Presbyterian church. It cor- responds with the date of the arrival of the first installment of the Ulster Scots who formed the congregation, and with the date of the donation of the land for the church by William Miller.
6 Franklin says: "We had for our chaplain a zealous Presbyterian minister, Mr. Beatty, who complained to me that the men did not generally attend his prayers and exhortations. When they enlisted they were promised, besides pay and provisions a gill of rum a day, which was fortunately served out to them half in the morning and 1.alf in the evening, and I observed they were punctual in attending to receive it, upon which I said to Mr. Beatty: 'It is perhaps below the dignity of your profession to act as steward of the rum, but if you were to distribute it out just after prayers. yon would have them all about you' He liked the thought, undertook the task, and with the help of a few hands to measure out the liquor, executed it to satisfaction, and never were prayers more generally or more punctually attended. So that I think this method preferable to the punishment inflicted by some military laws for non-attendance on divine service."
7 Mr. Irwin was born in Chester county, October IS. 1746, educated at William and Mary college. Virginia, and at Princeton where he had James Madison for classmate. Ile was twice married. His first wife was Priscilla MeKinstry, born 1760, his second. Mary Jamison, who died August 3, 1822." Mr. Irwin was the first to encourage Jolin Fitch in his steamboat invention.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
which represented Mr. Irwin in his shirt sleeves with a rope around the build- mg and his body, and pulling in the direction of Doylestown with all his might. During his pastorate, 1775, the church was enlarged. In his will he left one thousand dollars to the l'resbyterian theological seminary, on condition that it be located on the site of the Log College, and five hundred dollars to the "Amer- ican Whig society," Princeton college, of which he was one of the founders, IF(r). He rode to church on an old mare called "Dobbin," and composed his serions as he jogged along the road and across the fields.
The Reverend Robert B. Belville succeeded Mr. Irwin, and was ordained and installed October 20, 1813, remaining in charge a quarter of a century, re- signing, November, 1835, on account of ill-health. He was an eloquent and able preacher, and, during his pastorate, there was a large increase of members. After the resignation of Mr. Belville the pulpit was filled by supplies until Jan- uary, 1839, when those claiming to be the majority called the Reverend James P. Wilson, a young man teaching a classical school in the neighborhood, who was installed February 26. This gave great offense to the rest of the congre- gation who organized a new church, and erected a board "Tabernacle" in the woods on the Bristol road, at the top of the hill above the church. This con- gregation identified itself with the Old School organization, and Mr. Wilson's with the New School. Thus the question of "schools" divided the congregation, as the "Sides" had done a century before. These troubles led to a law-suit, but a compromise was effected by a division of property, when the Old School party built a new church at Hartsville. The congregation prospered under the ministry of Mr. Wilson, the church building was enlarged and improved, 1842, and the members largely increased. At his resignation, 1847, to accept the presidency of Delaware College, the Reverend Douglas K. Turner was called to the charge, who was ordained and installed April 18, 1848. His pastorate extended through a quarter of a century to April 20, 1873, and was a period of prosperity in the church. A lecture-room was built at Hartsville, 1849, the graveyard enlarged, 1852, a new wall around it and further addition made, 1857, an organ purchased, 1853, and a Gothic chapel in the graveyard erected, 1871. During his pastorate three hundred members were added to the church. Mr. Turner was succeeded by the Reverend William E. Jones, who was in- stalled pastor October 23, 1873. and followed by Reverend William K. Preston, who began his labors the first Sabbath in May, IS84.
The Southampton Baptist church, the second of the group, had its origin in the meeting of Keithians at John Swift's home, Southampton, from the di- vision among Friends, down to 1702. They now united with the Pennypack church, but continued their meetings at regular intervals, at John Swift's, John Chamberlin's and Jolin Morris's, to about 1732, meanwhile John Watts,? John llart, Samuel Jones, George Eaton912 and Jenkins Jones preaching for them. In 1732 John Morris gave a lot to build a meeting-house on, and one hundred
8 He was the son of Doctor James P. Wilson, who was born at Lewes, Delaware, 17ty. was a distinguished Presbyterian minister and died near Hartsville, 1830. His. remains lie near those of Mr. Tennent, in the old graveyard. The son, who died 1849. was buried at the same place.
9 He preached at Pennypack from December, 1690, to August 27, 1702, when he died at the age of 41.
91/2 The will of George Eaton, Lower Dublin, Philadelphia county, was executed September 14. 1706, and probated October 16. It is recorded in Book 6 pp. 33-41. register's office, Philadelphia.
Southamptonner.
Baptist
Church.
and twelve acres to support the minister. The house was erected and services held one Sunday in the month by Joseph Eaton, Montgomery, and by Jenkins Jones on a week day. The congregation retained its connection with Penny- pack until 1745. when it was constituted a separate church. The request was signed by fifty members, and among them we find the names of Watts, Dungan, Hart, Potts, Gilbert. Yerkes, etc., the leading men of that section. Reverend Joshua Potts was the first pastor called and remained to his death, 1761. and the first persons baptised were Thomas Dungan. Warwick, and Hannah Watts, . Southampton. For many years the baptisms took place in the dam of Stephen Watts, on the farm now owned by a son of the late Judge Ulysses Mercur, near Davisville. The dam spoken of was the same on which John Fitch made a trial of his model of a steamboat about 1785. At that day marriages had to be published three times, and they who did not take the advice of the church in such matters, were esteemed "disorderly," a matter of discipline borrowed from the Friends.10 In 1748 Oliver Hart and Isaac Eaton, both members, were li- censed to preach, and became distinguished ministers. The former was called to Charleston, South Carolina, the latter to Hopewell. New Jersey. The parson- age house and barn were built in 1762, and a wall around the graveyard the same year.
In 1763 Doctor Samuel Jones became pastor at Pennypack and Southamp- ton, but resigned charge of the latter, 1770. His joint salary was £So. In 1768 Joseph Richardson, a member, was suspended. and afterward excommunicated. for cheating hs pastor in the purchase of a negro. June 1, 1770, the Reverend Erasmus Kelly was called to the pastorate in place of Mr. Jones, receiving the rent of the parsonage farm and Eso in money. He left in August. 1771.1 In February, 1772. William Vanhorne was called to succeed Mr. Kelly and or-
10 It is recorded at this period that John Eaton, a member, was suspended for "some unbecoming carriage" at the election at Newtown.
II Erasmus Kelly was born in this County, 1748, educated at the University of Pennsylvania and began to preach, 1760 He was called to Newport, Rhode Island. 1771, and remained until the war broke out, then went to Warren, in that state, where the British burnt the parsonage and his goods. He returned to Pennsylvania until the war was over, when he went back to Newport, where he died, 1784.
3
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dained May 27, following. He remained in charge of the church and congre- gation until the fall of 1785, or the winter of 1786. He joined the Continental army at Valley Forge, January 1, 1778, and served as chaplain of General Glover's brigade until the summer of 1780, when he returned to Southampton. Meanwhile the church depended on supplies. While the enemy held Pitiladui- phia, meetings for worship and business were interrupted on account of their frequent incursions into the surrounding country. A new meeting-house, forty by thirty-two feet was erected, 1773, on a lot bought of Thomas Folwell, 1770, and the old meeting-house was fitted tip for a tenant.12 Mr. Vanhorne left "on account of the increasing expenses of his family, the insufficiency of his salary and the little prospect there was of its being better.13
.After Mr. Vanhorne left Southampton the pulpit was supplied by David Jones1312 from the Great Valley, Chester county, who came in April, 1786, and left 1792, and Thomas Memmenger from January 1, 1794, until probably 1801, when the Reverend Thomas B. Montanye, of New York, was called to the charge. During the twenty-eight years of Mr. Montanye's pastorate, South- ampton enjoyed a very prosperous period, the members were numerous. con- gregation large, and the standing of the church second to none of the denomina- tion.14 The church was rebuilt and enlarged, 181.1. About that time a flourish- ing Sunday school was organized of which Christopher Search was president. and William Purdy and John Davis, directors. In 1822 Juliann B. Anderson received a Bible from the school for having committed the entire New Testa- ment to memory.13 The pastors, in succession, since the death of Mr. Montanve
12 Probably the building used many years for a school-house, that stood near the sexton's house but torn down long ago. Among those baptised, 1773, was Daphne, a slave woman of Arthur Watts, well-remembered by the author.
13 William Vanhorne, son of the Reverend Peter Peterson Vanhorne, was born at Pennypack, 1746, educated at the academy of Doctor Samuel Jones, and received the degree of A. M. from the college of Rhode Island. He was ordained at Southamp- ton May 29, 1772. He was a member of the convention that framed the first constitution of Pennsylvania. He preached at White Plains, New York, until 1807, and died at Pittsburgh, October 13th, on his way to Lebanon, Ohio, where he intended to settle. His father was a native of Middletown, this county.
131/2 The Rev. David Jones left a distinguished record, and we clip the following notice of his death from a newspaper of the period: "February 6, 1820, on his farm, Chester county, in the 84th year of his age, Rev. David Jones, Chaplain of the Continental army, and in the war of 1812-15. He was buried on the Sth at the Baptist burying ground in the Great Valley."
14 The family descends from Thomas de la Montagnie, who arrived from France in 1661, and settled in New York. He was a Baptist minister, and probably a Huguenot. Thomas B. was the son of Reverend Benjamin Montanye, born in New York, January 29, 1769. He entered the ministry at the age of eighteen, and was a pastor several years at Warwick, New York. He was a man of the most sterling character, and has left a number of descendants, among whom is Judge Harman Yerkes, of the Bucks County Courts, in the maternal line, through his youngest daughter.
15 At his residence Southampton township, September 29. 1829, Revd. Thomas R. Montanye, aged near 61. His last sermon was preached at the funeral of Mrs. Amanda M. Lloyd, daughter of Enos Morris. Esq .. Newtown, member of the Bucks Co. bar: wife of the late John Lloyd. and mother of the late E. Morris, and Henry C. lloyd. Mrs. Lloyd died the evening of September 16, and was buried at Southampton.
30
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
have been Messrs. James B. Bowen, Alfred Earl, William Sharp, William Harding, William J. Purrington and Silas H. Durand. The church building was improved in recent years and a handsome residence built for the pastor, near by, out of the proceeds arising from the sale of the parsonage farm. The church will seat about twelve hundred. It was incorporated, 1794. For many years a good classical school was kept in the old stone school-house near the church.
Deep Run Presbyterian, the third church in our group, is one of the very oldest in central Bucks county, its organization followed the settlement of the Scotch-Irish in Bedminster and adjoining townships. No doubt meetings were held at private houses previously, and when William Tennent was called to Neshaminy, 1726, Deep Run was his "Upper congregation." A log meeting- house was erected, 1732, on a lot given by William Allen, and the same year the church joined the Philadelphia Presbytery. It was not called Deep Run until 1738 and was incorporated, 1792. In 1767 Mr. Allen gave the church one hundred acres for a parsonage.
The first settled minster was the Reverend Francis McHenry,16 who was called, 1738 or 1739. He preached every third Sunday for Mr. Tennent, and Neshaminy asked for one-half his time, which was not conceded. Mr. Mc- Henry continued pastor at Deep Run until his death, 1757, working hard for the church, but leading an uneventful life. He was followed by the Reverend James Latta, also of Scotch-Irish parentage, 1761.17 He remained in charge nine years. His salary was fixed at 165, a little over $200 in Pennsylvania currency. The parsonage house was erected the same year he took charge, and the meeting-house repaired, 1766. During his pastorate the deed for the par- sonage farm was executed to him and his successors in the ministry, to be hell by the congregation "so long as not without a regular minister for more than five years at any one time." This land was part of a grant by William Penn to Francis Plumstead, and thence to others, 1704. Mr. Latta resigned, 1770. In the summer of 1773 the Reverend Hugh Magill was called to the pastorate of the church, but three years afterward the trustees resolved, unanimously, that "his usefulness is lost" and he was ordered "to clear the plantation" by April 15, 1776, but we are left to conjecture as to the cause of trouble. In 1775 or 1776 the "Deep Run lottery" was organized, probably to raise money to pay for building the parsonage or repairing the church. The members and congregation purchased five thousand two hundred tickets. valued at £2.850.
Mr. Magill was succeeded by the Reverend James Greir, 15 Plumstead. 1776,
16 Mr. MeHenry came of an old Irish family, which is first heard of on the small island of Rathlin to the north of Ireland, whence they were driven to the glens of Antrim, by the MacDonalds, of Scotland. There they lived secluded from the world, retaining their nationality and religion, and speaking the Irish language. Ile was born, 1710, educated for the ministry, and. with two brothers, immigrated to America, 1735. settling at Craig's settlement north of the Lehigh. He was licensed to preach Novem- ber 10, 1738, and ordained at Neshaminy. July 12. 1730. Ile frequently preached at Newtown and Red Hill. Ilis, wife, born May 21, 1719, died October 19. 1793.
17 Mr. Latta was born. 1732, came to America when a boy, was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, ordained, 1759, resigned at Deep Run, 1770, and died in Lancaster county, ISOI.
18 Ile was the son of John and Agnes Greir, immigrants from Ireland, who settled in Plumstead. He was born, 1750, converted by Whitefield, graduated at Prince-
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
who continued their pastor until his death, 1791, although he had many ad- vantageous offers elsewhere. Though one of the gravest of men, he died of laughter, seeing his wife and hired man attempt to yoke an unruly hog, ruptur- ing a blood vessel in the throat. His funeral sermon was preached by Reverend Nathaniel Irwin, Neshaminy, who exclaimed, in tones of lamentation, "O, Deep Run, thy glory is departed !" Although Mr. Greir's salary was meagre enough, he received part of it in wheat. rye, Indian corn and oats. The church was now without a settled pastor until 1798, when the Reverend Uriah Du- Bois" was called. During his pastorate the Presbyterian church at Doyles- town was organized, to which he was called, and remained in charge until his death, 1821. This wider field of influence changed the destiny of Deep Run, and transferred the "seat of empire" to the new congregation."" Service is now held at Deep Run once in three months, and, at other times, both congre- gations worship at Doylestown. The church at Deep Run was the parent of a religious colony that emigrated from Bedminster to North Carolina one hundred years ago, whose descendants compose the flourishing congregation of Concord Presbyterians in Rowan county.
The Newtown Presbyterian church was established by the Scotch-Irish and English Presbyterians who settled in that section in the first quarter of the Eighteenth century. \ log meeting-house was erected, 1734, at the end of the Swamp road, a mile west of Newtown, and the Reverend Hugh Carlisle called to be the pastor there and at Plumstead. He declined because they were so far apart, nevertheless he preached for these churches until 1738.21 The Reverend James Campbell succeeded him, who supplied Newtown the summer of 1739 but declined the call in September. He probably was not the settled pastor, but continued to preach at Newtown, Tinicum and Durham, going to the Forks occasionally. Ile declined the call at Newtown because he did not think he had been "born again," but commenced to preach at the request of Messrs. White- field and Tennent, and success attended his labors. He was settled at Tohickon, 1742, but, owing to a controversy as to where the new meeting-house should be located, he left. 1749, and went South, 1758." In the fall of 1745 Newtown and Bensalem both asked for the services of Reverend Daniel Lawrence but he was sent the following spring to supply the Forks. The third pastor at New - town was the Reverend Ilenry Martin, a graduate of Princeton, who was called May, 1752, and remained to his death. 1764.
After the death of Mr. Martin the church depended on casual supplies for five years, until 1769, when the Reverend James Boyd became the settled min-
Ion, 1772, studied divinity with Doctor Witherspoon, and was licensed to preach, 1775. His brother Nathan, and his son John Ferguson Greir, both became able and prominent Presbyterian ministers.
10 He was born in Salem county, New Jersey, 1768, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, 1790, and licensed to preach, 1796. He married Martha Patterson, 1798, and took up their residence at the village of Dublin, Bedminster township.
20 In our account of the Doylestown church will be found a further notice of Mr. DuBois and his labors.
21 Mr. Carlisle, probably from England or Ireland, was admitted into the New Castle Presbytery, 1735, and joined the Presbytery of Philadelphia, June, 1746. He removed into the bounds of the Lewes Presbytery, 1738.
22 Mr. Campbell was born in Scotland, and came to America, 1739, and was or- -dained, 1742.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
ister. The present building was erected the same year, on a lot bought before 1757, the walls remaining intact to the present day. The floor was laid with brick, a two-story pulpit garnished the north side and high-backed pews re- ceived the worshipers. But little has come down to us of the long pastorate, nearly half a century, of Mr. Boyd, but that little is to his spiritual and personal credit. Ile was an able and earnest minister, the church flourished under his care, and during the trying times of the Revolution, he was a patriot and con- stant to his conn- try's cause. He died at his post, 1814. During Mr. Martin's pastorate, about 1,61, the Assembly author- ized a lottery to raise £100 to repair 2 the church, and to build or repair the. minister's rest- dence.23 Difficulty 1 arising about the collection of the money from some of the managers. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. NEWTOWN. the congregation petitioned the Leg- islature to appoint commissioners to settle their accounts. The aet was approved March 21, 1772, and Henry Wynkoop, John Harris and Francis Murray"+ were selected. :
The old church building has a bit of Revolutionary history that adds to its interest. Some of the Hessians from the field of Trenton passed their first night of captivity within its walls. When digging for a foundation for the middle post that supports the south gallery, bones and buttons were turned up. said to have belonged to an English officer who was buried in the aisle. On the wall, now covered by the frescoing. was written the following verse in red chalk, which tradition eredits to a Hessian captive, but this is extremely doubt- Inl, as the writing was in English :
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