USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 41
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"In times of war, and not before, God and the soldict men adore; When the war is over and all things righted, The Lord's forgot and the soldier slighted."
The Church had another period of supplies, after the death of Mr. Boyd, for two years, James Joyce and Mr. Doak officiating the greater part of the time. In 1815 the Reverend Alexander Boyd was called and remained pastor for
23 The following is a copy of a lottery ticket used on that occasion: "Newtown Presbyterian Church Lottery, 1761. N. 104. This Ticket entitles the Bearer to such Prire as may be drawn against its Number, if demanded within Six Months after the Drawing is finished, subject to such Deduction as is' mentioned in the Scheme.
(Signed) JNO. DENORMANDIE."
2.4 Probably.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
twenty years, the two Boyds filling the same pulpit nearly three-quarters of a century.25 Under him the church enjoyed a season of prosperity. and great revivals took place, 1822-23. The Sabbath-school was organized, 1817, the teachers of which were fined for non-attendance. Mr. Boyd was succeeded by the Rev. Robert D. Morris,26 Kentucky, a graduate of the Princeton semi- nary, who preached his first sermon at Newtown, April 22, 1838. This was a fortunate selection and during his pastorate of nineteen years he made his mark on the church and community. The building was re-modeled in 1842, the com- municants increased and some of the pastor's energy instilled into the congre- gation. Mr. Morris resigned, 1856, and subsequently took charge of the Ox- ford Female College, Ohio, where he died. In October, 1869, an interesting centennial was held in the old church, and was the occasion of a pleasant re- union for many who had been long separated.
From the Newtown church, and the academy, a kind of adjunct to it, there have gone forth some twenty-five or more ministers of the gospel, some of whom became prominent. In the church is an ancient straight-back chair, said to have belonged to William Penn, probably at Pennsbury. Since the resignation of Mr. Morris, the pastors of the church have been the Reverends George Bur- rows, Henry F. Lee, S. J. Milliken, George C. Bush, 1866, W. McElroy Wylic, 1877, and Thomas J. Elins, 1888, In 1874 there were two hundred and twenty- three communicants. In the carly days the staunchest supporters of the church came from Upper Makefield, among whom were the Keiths, the Slacks, the Stewarts and the Torberts.
The New Britain Baptist church is the sixth in our group. For several years the Welsh Baptists of that township, and the neighboring settlers of the same faith, attended the Montgomery church of which many were members. Becoming tired of going so far to church at all seasons, they asked that another meeting-house be built nearer to them. This was so violently opposed by the leading men who lived near the Montgomery church, that the petitioners took great offense at it. This began a strife that required years to reconcile, and it was not long before the congregation was divided into two parts with a separate communion. About the same time a doctrinal difference, touching the "Son- ship of Christ," sprung up between them which widened. the breach. This state of things continuing without hope of reconciliation, the New Britain party re- solved to build a meeting-house for themselves. This they carried into effect, 1744, on a lot of two acres, partly the gift of Lawrence Growden, erecting a stone church, 30x40 feet, a school-house and stabling .? The congregation
25. Alexander Boyd died at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, June, 1845, in his 65th year.
26 Mr. Morris was the son of Colonel Joseph Morris, who removed from New Jersey to Mason County, Kentucky, 1794, where he was born August 22, 1814. The Morrises, Mawr-rwycc, meaning war-like, powerful, trace their descent from Welsh ancestors. 933. After the death of Cromwell his ancestor fled to Barbadoes to escape the wrath of. Charles Il., whence the family came to this country. On the mother's side . he descended from the Deshas, who fled from France, 1685, and settled at New Rochelle. New York, whence they came to Pennsylvania and made their home near the Water Gap, when that country was part of Bucks county. They removed to Kentucky, 1784. and shared the perils of the "Bloody ground." . Mr. Morris was a graduate of Augusta college, Kentucky, and licensed to preach, 1838.
27 Where the present church is located.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
consisted of about seventy families and the Reverend Joseph Eaton29 preached for them at £40 a year, assisted by . Reverend William Davis," who succeeded him at his death. Down to 1823 this church was called the "Society meeting- house," because it was built on land that had been owned by the "Free Society of Traders."
The New Britain congregation made repeated overtures of reconciliation with the parent church at Montgomery, but without success. In 1746 they asked a hearing before the Philadelphia association, but that body, committed to the Montgomery interest, refused them because their letter "came into the association disorderly." The request was renewed, 1747, but the association positively refused to hear the allegations of the "Society party." The follow- ing year the association recominends that when their ministers preach among the "Society party" they exhort them to be reconciled, otherwise they will be encouraging the faction. Growing weary of their attempts to get dismission from mother church, and hopeless of recognition by the association, they resolved to complete their organization as a religious body. They adopted a general confession of faith, and October 28, 1754, the constitution of the new church was signed by twenty-two members."" When the Montgomery church saw the division was inevitable, they gave the New Britain party a regular dis- missal and the following year they were admitted into the association. During these difficulties Benjamin Griffiths led the Montgomery party, and Reverend Joseph Eaton the seceders31 as they were called.
On the death of Mr. Eaton, Mr. Davis was made pastor and the Reverend Joseph Thomas (ordained, 1766), called as assistant. During their joint pastorate there was a considerable increase of members, among them Simon Butler from Montgomery church, 1758. In 1764 there were fifty-three mem- bers. The Reverend Joshua Jones"" succeeded Mr. Davis at his death, 1761, and resigned, 1795. The old meeting-house was torn down, 1815, and a new one built on or near its site. The latter has been enlarged and improved within recent years and a chapel erected. The accommodations are not sec- ond to any church in the county. The first school house stood until 1815,
28 Mr. Eaton was born at Radnor, Wales, August 25, 1679, came to America at the age of seven years, was ordained October 24, 1727, and died April 1, 1749. He took sides with the New Britain party from the first. The distinguished Isaac Eaton, Hopewell, New Jersey, was his son.
29 Mr. Davis was born in Glamorshire, Wales, 1695, came to America 1722, but went back and returned here, 1737, settled in Chester county, then removed to New Britain, where he officiated until his death, 1768. His two children, William and Mary, married into the families of Evans and Caldwell.
30 The following were the names: Isaac Evans, David Stephen, Evan Stephen. John Williams, Walter Shewel. Joshua Jones, William George, Clement Doyle, William Dungan, John James, David Morgan, Thomas James, David Stephen, Jr., Thomas Humphrey, Mary James, Mary Shewel, Mary James ( Aaron's wife), Margaret Phillips. Elizabeth Stephen, Jane James, Catharine Evans and Margaret Doyle.
31 During these troubles a proposition was made to build a new meeting-house on "Leahy hill," a location now unknown. There was a little Baptist flock fourteen miles from New Britain, among the Rockhills, that had some connection with that church.
32 Mr. Jones was born at Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1721, came to America ia 1726. was ordained in 176t, and died December 26, 1802.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
when a new one was built which was enlarged, 1857. The graveyard was enlarged, 1846, by the purchase of additional ground of David Evans. The church was not incorporated until 1786. The membership of the church has fluctuated at different periods in its history. At the end of the first thirty- i tir years there were three less than when constituted. There was an in- crease from 1788 to 1823, when there were one hundred and forty-eight mem- bers, then a falling off until 1848, when there were forty-three members less than a quarter of a century before. At the end of the first century the mem- bers numbered two hundred and fifty-two. The church is now in a very flourishing condition, and exercises a wide influence for good.
The names of the pastors at New Britain from the resignation of Mr. Jones are as follows: William White, 1795, called to the Second Baptist church, Philadelphia, Silas Hough, 1804. was stricken with palsy while preaching in the pulpit, and died. 1823, John C. Murphy, 1819. James Mc- Laughlin, 1825, Eugenio Kinkaid, called for a year, January. 1830, but de- clined and went to India, where he became famous as a missionary, Samuel Aaron, 1830, one of the most eloquent public speakers the county has ever produced, Joseph Mathias, 1833, and who frequently officiated as a stated supply, Thomas T. Cutchien, 1835, Samuel Nightingale, 1838, Heman Lin- coln, 1845, William Wilder, 1850, Levi G. Beck, 1855, A. C. Wheat, 1859. W. M. Whitehead. 1867. Levi Munger, called in April, 1872, N. C. Fetter, May 13, 1879, ordained, June 24 and resigned in February 1890. Mr. Fetter was succeeded by Thomas C. Davis and he by Eugene B. Hughes.33
The seventh and last, of our group of "Historic Churches," is the To- hickon Reformed church on the south bank of Tohickon creek in the north- west corner of Bedminster township. As early as 1738-40. several families
33 Of the pastors, at New Britain, the Reverends Mr. Aaron and Mr. Mathias are noticed elsewhere. The Reverend Samuel Nightingale was one of the most famous of recent pastors. He was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, December 11, 1792, and passed his early life in the hardware business in Baltimore and Philadelphia. He had no regular training for the ministry, but, feeling called upon to take up "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon," he entered the church. He was called to the pastorate of the New Britain Baptist church in 1838, where he officiated until January, 1845. He passed several subsequent years of his life at Doylestown without a charge, but officiated at various churches occasionally. In 1846 he attempted the erection of a Baptist church in Doylestown, bought a lot and got the walls up to the first floor, when the want of funds caused him to relinquish it, after spending $630. He was unique in the pulpit, but an able expounder of the Gospels. He seldom, if ever, prepared his sermons ; lie selected his subject, thought it over, and was then prepared to hurl the truth at the enemy. He was married to Emma Billington of Philadelphia, June 8, 1814. and was the father of seven children. His eldest daughter, Annie, was the second wife of Judge Richard Jones, American Consul General to Egypt under Mr. Buchanan's administration. and his youngest, Mrs. Kuhn, died in Doylestown in 1904. Mr. Nightingale went to Phila- delphia near the close of the sixties. where he died March 3. ISSI. The Reverend Heman Lincoln was a New Englander, began life as a school teacher, studied Divinity at the Newton Seminary, and was subsequently a Professor there for nineteen years, dying in 1887. He was noted for his scholarship and was an eloquent speaker. He taught a classical school several years at New Britain. He succeeded Mr. Nightingale, as pastor, January 1, 1845. The Reverend Mr. Fetter, a native of Bucks county, and grandson of the Reverend Thomas B. Montanye, 'many years pastor at Southampton, subsequently filled the pulpits of Spokane, Washington, and Doylestown.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
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of French Huguenots and some Germans and Swiss were settled in that vi- cinity.3+ They first met at each others houses for Sunday worship, one of their number reading the scriptures, another making a prayer, while all joined in singing one or more hymns from the hymn book brought from the father- land. The present Reformed pastor has in his possession, a volume used at these meetings, wherein are bound the bible, hymn book, Heidelburg Cate- ehism and Palatinate liturgy. In this way most of the early congregations were formed in Bucks county of all denominations, In these meetings the Tohickon church had its birth, and grew from its small beginning. There are traces of an earlier attempt at organization, but nothing was done toward securing a permanent church home prior to Sept. 1, 1743, when a small lot was bought of Blasius Boyer, by the Reformed congregation of Rockhill township, across the creek from the present church. Upon this lot a log schoolhouse was built; the organization of the congregation completed and here public worship was held for some time. In 1753, the trustees of the Reformed and Lutheran congregations bought a lot on the east side of the Bethlehem road, in Bedminster for five shillings, on which Tohickon church was shortly erected. This was at a point where the townships of Rockhill, Bedminster and Haycock meet; the Tohickon creek separating Bedminster and Rockhill from Haycock, and the Bethlehem road dividing Rockhill from Bedminster. This was an objective point for that section of country and the location had much to do with building up the congregations. The church property has been owned, jointly, from the beginning, setting an example in religious life other denominations might profit by. The present church lot contains eight acres.
On this lot have stood three church buildings almost on the same site, the first, as already stated, built 1743. One authority says this was a wooden structure; another that it was stone, the latter probably correct. It had an earthen floor. The second church, 1766, was stone without floor or stove, hip roof, chancel laid with brick, and galleries on three sides. At a later date a wooden floor was laid and stoves introduced. A third church was built. IS38, about where its predecessor had stood for almost a century, built of stone 60 by 30 feet. with galleries on three sides. It was remodeled, 1884. and improvements added. IS97. The seating capacity is 1000, and the two congre- gations have about that number. The church of 1766 had an organ that cost $1500, presented by Peter Heany, but the records do not say when. The second and present organ, bought 1839, and made in Echigh county, still leads the congregation in their devotional exercises. The first sheds for sheltering teams were erected 1860. and a cemetery association, organized in the church. but independent of it, was effected, 1873. The first interment, Henry John-
34 What is known as the Reformed church of the United States (formerly German Reformed) and the Reformed church in America (Dutch Reformed church), are the two streams, united for over one hundred years in this country, that came flowing down from the ancient reformation movement with name unchanged. The general devotional standard is the Heidelburg Catechism, formed and adopted at Hcidelburg, Germany, 1563, at a meeting of Theologians, assembled at the request of Elector Frederick III., called "The Pious." Hlis great desire was to have some fixed doctrinal basis for all Germany, then greatly disturbed by hotly contending and rival religious factions. The Catechism became popular and was the Catechism of the first regularly organized Protestant church.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 313
son, was made in October. The church property is one of the most valuable in the county and few have larger attendance.
It is impossible to tell who were the first supplies of the Tohickon congregation, for doubtless the spiritual welfare of the German pioneers was not neglected prior to the erection of a church building. Tradition says, that ten years prior to 1754, Lutheran ministers, and, no doubt, Reformed also, , occasionally visited the wilderness. Among the names given are Messrs Rauss and Schultz, but, beyond these names we know nothing of them. The congregation was too poor to pay the salary of a regular minister, or even the half of it. For many years it was called Keichline's church, and it is said Andrew and Charles Keichline gave a lot for it. The church does not appear to have liad a regular pastor prior to 1749, when the Rev. Jacob Riesz had charge, as is seen by the oldest record book, wherein he made the following entry: "I, Rev. Jacob Riesz, pastor of the Reformed congregation at the Tohickon, in Bedminster township, Bucks county, Pa., commenced my pas- torate work among this flock, August 27, 1749." Now, in regular order are the following names of pastors: Reverend Egidia Hecker, Christopher Gobsecht, Casper Wack, John Theobald Faber, Michael Kern, John William Ingold, Nickalus Pomp, Jacob Senn, John Andrew Strassburger, Joshua Derr, and Peter S. Fisher, twelve in all, from 1719 to 1871, when Rev. Jacob Kelim,35 began his pastorate.
Some of the pastors were educated men, latinism appearing frequently in their records, particularly in their entries of baptisms, viz. : uxor ejus, teste erant parente ipse. The Rev'd Egidia Hecker began his record thus : "April 19, 1756, Johanne Egidia Hecker, hoc tempore Reformatae Religionis pastor Tohickon." The congregation had the privilege of having for its pastor Rev'd Casper Wack.
Persecution drove the Reformed church people from France and Palati- nate into Germany, from thence into Holland and England, and from these countries, the stream of immigration flowed into this country, where settle- ments were made in all the colonies from New York to Georgia on the Atlantic seaboard. The first Reformed congregations in this state and county, were organized by the pioneers and their descendants, and have maintained them to the present. For over one hundred years, the Dutch and Germans were not formally separated, but held a common relation to the "Mother Synod" of Holland, nor is there any recorded action or event by which they were separ- ated; but the Dutch, having the centre of their religions activity in New York, and the Germans theirs in Pennsylvania, they simply drifted apart, and finally, in 1747-48. organized separate synods, which have continued to the present time, with the most friendly relations between them, having essenti- ally the same doctrine and the same government. Such, in a word, is the gen- eral origin of the Reformed church of America.
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35 In 1898-09. while this edition was in course of preparation for the press, a local newspaper said: "Reverend Jacob Kchm, Sellersville, has severed his connection with Christ Reformed church. near Telliord. He served the congregation twenty-eight years. This church was the mother church of most of the Reformed churches in this section. A few years ago its serquecentennial was celebrated. The congregation had a member- ship of four hundred. Reverend Perry Ratzell, of Souderton, will temporarily fill the vacancy. Reverend Kehm will continue to serve the congregation at Telford and Tohickon."
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
The names of the pastors who served the congregation in the Revolution has escaped us, as also that of the first Reformed minister educated in Amer- ica, and the first to use the English language in public service, but he resided in Hilltown, ten miles from the present church. The average pastorate, of the first twelve pastors, was a little over ten years. One of the pastors, the Rev'd John Andrew Strassburger, began and ended his ministerial labors here, never serving any other pastoral charge, dying. 1860, at the age of 64.36 One of the twelve pastors lies buried in the old grave yard which sur- rounds the church, viz., Jacob Riesz. A few years ago, while the present pas- tor was looking for some names in the oldest part of the grave yard, his atten- tion was drawn to a tombstone conspicuous among the rest, and upon examin- ing it, found the following inscription: "Rev. Jacob Riesz, formerly Reformed preacher here: was born April 10, 1706, and died Dec. 3, 1774, aged 68 y. 7 m. and 23 days."
From what we can learn of the congregation, from the very beginning. it increased rapidly in numbers, its membership, at one time, reaching 600. It is, at least, in part the mother of all the neighboring Reformed congrega- tions, Kellers, Applebachville, Dublin, Quakertown, Ridge Road, Benjamin. or Bridgetown, Sellersville, Perkasie and Doylestown, a numerous progeny that have done much good in the past and will continue it in the future. During the present pastorate many of its members have been dismissed to other congregations, especially to Reformed churches in Philadelphia. The membership is now about 400. The present pastor writes us, that during his pastorate many changes have been effected; the Sunday school has been intro- duced, one third of the regular service is now, and has been for many years, conducted in English, and, before long, one half of each service will be con- ducted in the language of the country : as the present generation is educated wholly in the English language, no catechism in German can now be, and has not been used for years. This will force the more frequent use of English in the public and regular divine service. In this pastorate of over thirty years, other changes have taken place. Most of the older and active members when he came among them have gone to their eternal rest, and almost a new congregation have grown up around him and under his care.
The grave yard hands down the names of many of the pioneer worship- pers on the banks of the Tohickon. The author paid a visit to it many years ago and spent an afternoon in this silent city of the dead, and in the old church. The earliest stone with an inscription on it, was erected to the memory of John Heinrich Eckel, probably the ancestor of the family in that vicinity that bears this name, who died November 24, 1764, his wife, Susannah, born, 1719, surviving him until 1803, thirty-nine years of widowhood. Other stones bore the names of Felix Lehr, 1769, Michael Ott, 1767, and wife Catharine,
36 Mr. Strassburger's pastorate was one of the longest in the county, thirty-six ycars, embracing, besides Tohickon, the parishes of Indian Field. Charlestown and Ridge Road He married twelve hundred and thirty-five couples, preached ten hundred and forty- four funeral sermons, baptized three thousand persons and confirmed sixteen hundred. He wielded large influence in the upper section of the county, and was an important factor in religious and secular affairs. Ile left one son, Reverend N. S. Strassberger, of the Reformed church, born near Sellersville. 1St9, graduated at Marshall College ; after- ward studied at the Theological Seminary and was ordained, 1847. He filled some in- portant charges, including Zion's Reformed church, Allentown, Pennsylvania. He has been dead some years.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
1792, Johannes Hoenig, the original of Haney, born 1714, died 1787, and John Nonnemacher, born 1720 and died 1788. Several stones bear the name of Salade, the original of Solliday. Henry Eckel was organist in the old stone church. We noticed in this yard the same thing noticeable in all the old grave- vards of the county, the quality of head-stones four periods mark in the inter- ments; first, the primitive rock, from the foundation of the church down to about 1750, generally without inscription; followed by slate to 1775; then brown sandstone to about 1800, closing with marble, first bluc and then white. German inscriptions were universal to about 1840. The earlier stones show a sprinkling of English names; probably of settlers of this race in Tinicum, or along Deep Run. The following are names of the trustees of Tohickon church at various periods, and familiar now in the county: 1753, Martin Shaffer, Ludwig Wildonger, Jacob Rohr, John Worman, and Michael Ott, 1803, John Heaney, Jacob Solliday, Jacob Beidleman, and Philip Schreyer : U'nknown date; John K. Shellenberger, Thomas Bolomen, Thomas Freder- ick and William Keller. 1864, John Y. Fluck, Samuel Rotzell, Ephraim Krauth and Thomas Kramer.
CHAPTER XX.
BRISTOL BOROUGH.
1720.
One of the oldest towns in the statc .- Its site .-- Market town petitioned for .- Lot- owners .- Incorporated .- Fairs to be held .- Bristol in 1708 .- In 1756 .- Captain Gray- don .- First county seat .- Friends' inceting .- Work-house .- Saint James' church .- The Burtons .- De Normandies .- Dr. Francis Gaudonette .- Charles Bessonett .- The Williamses .- British troops billeted .- Attacked by refugees .- James Thornton .- The Bristol of to-day .- Industrial establishments and churches .- Captain Webb .- Lodges and societies .- The bank .- Ground broken for canal .- Old grave .- Home for aged gentiewomen .- Major and Mrs. Lenox .- Its buildings .- Bath springs .- Thomas A. Cooper .- John P. Heiss .- Taxables and population.
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