History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 68

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 68

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energy and devotion of this people that sustained the army in the field in the many dark hours of that contest, and which, under the guidance of Providence, carried this country successfully through the struggle for freedom.

When the subject of the dissolution of all connection between the colonies and the mother-country was before the Continental Congress, it was John Witherspoon, a Scotch Presbyterian clergyman, and a descendant of John Knox, who is reported to have said,-

" That noble instrument on your table, which secures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He who will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy the name of a freeman. Although these gray hairs must descend into the sepul- chre, I would infinitely rather they would descend thither by the hand of the public executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country !"

Words which were potent in securing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Many of the most eminent men in the nation are and have been of this race. It has furnished five Presidents of the United States, eight Governors of Pennsylvania, a majority of the judges of this State, and a full proportion of the legislators, State and National, and of those who have occupied other high official positions. And in the church, those of her blood may well be proud of the names of those who have ministered at her altars and taught in the colleges and seminaries of the land.

The race is also noted for its firmness, perseverance, and undaunted energy in whatever it undertakes, and those characteristics have aided in carrying it successively through many a conflict.

Its character for firmness-perhaps it might be called stubbornness-is somewhat facetiously but well illustrated in the prayer of the Scotch elder, who besought the Lord that he might be always right, adding, " For thou knowest, Lord, that I am very hard to turn ;" or, as expressed in the Scottish dialect, " Ye ken, Lord, that I am unco hard to turn." This trait has held its own for centuries. They were a people who wanted light on every subject, and informed themselves and made up their minds, and after that it was commonly about as easy to move the hills as to stir one of them out of his opinions. They meant to be right, and they meant to stick to it. Their tenacity of purpose was remarkable. They came to their conclusions logically and fairly, and had a mortal hatred of giving up.

Another characteristic of this people was their strong individuality. They had opinions and convictions of their own, and they had a way of holding them which was their own. They took nothing second-hand. They were de- cided, earnest, high-spirited, independent, and set in their way, and not ashamed to declare just what they believed and meant to do. They never kept any man in the dark as to their political or religious convictions. The Scotch -Irish- man must choose for himself. He never follows a leader blindly, and in this respect differs widely from his Celtic brother of the same soil. His individual rights must be observed. In a regiment of a thousand such men there will be just one thousand men thinking, knowing, and judging for themselves, and about as independent a body as human history presents.

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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

Another marked trait in their character was their face- tiousness. Probably no people were so prone to look on the humorous side of things, and this trait is possessed in a large degrec by their descendants.

GREAT VALLEY AND CHARLESTOWN.

The oldest Presbyterian Church in Chester County is the " Great Valley," in Tredyffrin township, where there was a congregation as early as 1710, but which was not regu- larly organized until 1714. That township having been settled by the Welsh, this congregation was in its earlier days largely Welsh in its composition, although there was from the commencement a commingling of Scotch-Irish and English with them.

It was first ministered to by Rev. Malachi Jones, who preached to them until 1720, when the Rev. David Evans, who had previously to the advent of Mr. Jones occasionally ministered to them, became their pastor. In that year (1720) a church building was erected which stood for over seventy years. Mr. Evans was pastor about twenty years, when, owing to troubles in the congregation, he resigned. His education and attainments were of a high grade, but he was an eccentric and high-spirited man, excitable, and very vacillating in his course.

There is a tradition in the neighborhood that before leaving, and stung by what had occurred, he announced he would preach his farewell sermon. This drew a crowd, expecting something sharp and spicy, and they were not disappointed. In brevity the sermon took the palm from Dean Swift's celebrated charity sermon. It was this : " Goats I found you, and goats I leave you." The acerbity which so uttered itself, however, soon passed away, for in two years he again addressed the " goats" as a church of Christians.

The next pastor was Rev. John Rowland, who it seems was somewhat irregularly installed, owing to the division which then existed in the Presbyterian Church at large into what were known as "Old Side" and " New Side." There was a strong opposition to Mr. Rowland, which in 1741 culminated in his being debarred from preaching in the church by the " Old Side," who were in the majority in the congregation. After his expulsion he preached for a time to his adherents in barns and other places, until they erected a church building for him in what is now Charles- town village, the foundation of which was laid in 1743, on land that was given by Job Harvey, a Friend. That was the origin of the Charlestown Presbyterian Church. The principal men concerned in the organization of this church were David Humphries, David John, Griffith Jones, Lewis Martin, and Anthony Pritchard.

The next pastor of Great Valley was Rev. Samuel Evans, a son of their former pastor, Rev. David Evans, who had left them so cavalierly. He was installed in 1742, and served until 1747, and is spoken of as a man of de- cided ability. After this the church was for several years without a regular pastor, and dependent upon supplies. In 1753, Rev. John Kinkead appears to have been installed and to have remained for a time.

In 1761, Rev. John Simonton was settled, and con- tinued as pastor until his death in 1791. He is said to 32

have been a sound and judicious minister, but, being con- stitutionally inclined to ease, he was neither animated in the pulpit nor diligent in the discharge of parochial duty. Tho leading members in 1761 were :

Isaao Davies, Thomas Mckean, Enoch Abraham, John Griffith, Daniel Beaton, John Thompson, James Davies, David Davies, Wil- liam Hudson, John Christy, Daniel John, Isaac Abraham, Llewollyn Davies, Thomas Waters, Thomas Harris, Hugh Reed, William Bell, John Shaw, Hugh Frazer, Thomas Wilson, Robert Stevens, Erasmus Lloyd, Jonathan Davies, and Joseph Davies.

The church was incorporated in 1788, the names of the corporators being John Davies, John Christy, John Grif- fiths, John Templeton, David Wilson, David Cloyd, John Maxwell, Robert Todd, Thomas Harris, Matthew Neely, Jame's Davies, and Thomas R. Kennedy. During the ministry of Mr. Simonton there were some differences in the congregation growing out of the fact that members of Scotch Irish blood had become numerous, and in the dispu- tatious which arose with the old Welsh settlers there was not always an agreement of sentiment.

Mr. Rowland, who, as has been seen, was instrumental in the erection of the Charlestown Church in 1743, died in 1747. He was succeeded at Charlestown by the Rev. John Campbell, who died in 1753. After his death the congre- gation was dependent for a series of years upon supplies, some of whom served them for a number of years, and among whom were Rev. John Griffith, a Welshman, Rev. Benjamin Chestnut, an Englishman, and Rev. John Car- michael, afterwards of Brandywine Mauor Church. In 1774, Rev. Daniel McCalla was installed, and continued until the breaking out of the Revolution, when he left and became a chaplain in the army.

In 1791 the two churches of Great Valley and Charles- town, after half a century's separation, united upon Rev. John Gemmill as their pastor. In 1793 the Great Valley congregation erected a new house of worship, which is still in use. It has at different times been enlarged and improved. Mr. Gemmill was pastor until 1798. He was a man of power, and of great popularity, and had a repu- tation for eloquence which has survived him.

April 17, 1799, Rev. William Latta became pastor of these united churches, and so continued until his death, Feb. 19, 1847, a period of nearly forty-eight years. He was a fine scholar, au earnest, effective, and instructive preacher, and a public-spirited citizen. He was succeeded by Rev. Wil- liam R. Bingham, who was pastor from Feb. 28, 1848, until Jan. 3, 1859. The succeeding pastors have been Rev. Robert M. Patterson, installed Aug. 25, 1859; Rev. Ed- ward P. Heberton, from April 13, 1868, to Oct. 4, 1871, and Rev. Samuel Fulton, who was installed Oct. 18, 1872.

The Charlestown Church separated from the Great Val- ley on the resignation of Mr. Bingham, and in 1859 united under one pastorate with the church in Phoenixville. It was subsequently united with East Whiteland during the pastorate of Rev. John C. Clyde, and is now again con- nected with Phoenixville.

In 1864 the congregation of Great Valley celebrated their one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, on which occa- sion Rev. Robert M. Patterson read a history of the church.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

UPPER OCTORARA.

The Upper Octorara Church, in Sadsbury township, one mile north of Parkesburg, was organized in 1720. The prefix " Upper" was subsequently given to distinguish it from Middle Octorara, in Lancaster County, and Lower Octorara, now Lower West Nottingham.

Prior to 1724 it was supplied by Rev. David Evans and Rev. David Magill. The first regular pastor was Rev. Adam Boyd, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, who was installed Oct. 13, 1724. Previous to this date a log church building had been erected. Mr. Boyd was at that time thirty-two years of age, and ten days after his ordination was married to Jane, daughter of Rev. Thomas Craighead. His original field of labor was quite extensive, and- em- braced that now occupied by several congregations.

In 1741 the church was rent in twain by the " Old Side" and " New Side" controversy, and a new church organized by those of the " New Side," bearing the name of " The Second Congregation of Upper Octorara," over which the Rev. Andrew Sterling was pastor from 1747 to 1765. They worshiped in a church edifice which they erected on the farm lately of Cyrus Cooper, now belonging to David Parke, overlooking the Great Valley. During this divi- sion Mr. Boyd continued his relations to the old church, and also ministered to the " Old Side" portion of the Brandy- wine Manor Church. In 1768 the divisions were healed, and the two churches of Octorara became again one. Mr. Boyd died Nov. 23, 1768, aged seventy-six years, having been pastor for a period of forty-four years. The stone covering his grave records that he was " eminent through life for modest piety, diligence in his office, pru- dence, equanimity, and peace." Early in his pastorate the second church edifice, built of stone, was crected. He left four sons and six daughters, and his descendants are now numerous. One of his sons, Col. Andrew Boyd, was lieu- tenant of the county of Chester during the Revolution.

In 1768, Rev. William Foster became pastor of the re-

UPPER OCTORARA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ERECTED 1769, TORN DOWN 1840.

united congregation. One of their first acts after the re- union was the enlargement, in 1769, of the old church to double its former capacity, making it substantially a new building, and also the erection of a " session-" or " study- house," as they were then called, which is still standing in a corner of the present graveyard. The church edifice

which had been used by the " New Side" was sold and removed. An old graveyard still marks the spot where it stood.

Mr. Foster was pastor until his death, Sept. 30, 1780, at the age of forty-one years. He was evidently a man of very superior mind, and was much esteemed by all who knew him for his solid sense and unaffected piety. His wife was a daughter of the celebrated Rev. Samuel Blair, of Fagg's Manor, and he was a brother-in-law of Rev. John Carmichael, of Brandywine Manor. Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., of Pequea, the father of the celebrated Samuel Stan- hope Smith and John Blair Smith, was an uncle of Mrs. Fos- ter. During the Revolutionary war Mr. Foster was an ardent patriot, and so obnoxious did he become to the British by his zeal in the cause of the patriots that they planned an expedition to capture him, but it was foiled through the vigilance of his friends. Many of his descendants have filled positions of prominence and usefulness both in church and State, among them the late Hon. Henry D. Foster, of Westmoreland Co., Pa.

Rev. Alexander Mitchell succeeded Mr. Foster in the pastorate, and served from 1785 until 1796. He was a scholar and a man of excellent mind, and social in his dis- position, but as a preacher he was not popular. He died Dec. 6, 1812, at the age of eighty-one ycars.

The following list gives the surnames of families con- nected with the congregation at different times during the last century. In this list of 82 surnames about 30 are borne by members of the congregation at the present day :

Alison, Allen, Arthur, Boggs, Blelock, Boyd, Boyle, Bailey, Craw- ford, Cowan, Clingan, Cochran, Copeland, Dickey, Davidson, Divan, Dougherty, Filson, Fleming, Foster, Futhey, Forsyth, Fulton, Grier' Gilfillan, Gardner, Good, Glendenning, Heslip, Hope, Hamill, Hen- derson, Hershberger, Irwin, Kerr, Kinkead, Kyle, King, Keys, Kil- patrick, Liggett, Lockhart, Luckey, McAllister, McNeil, McClure, McPherson, Mcclellan, McCune, MeKim, McWilliams, Mitchell, Mor- rison, Moody, Officer, Parke, Pinkerton, Porter, Rowan, Richmond, Ramsay, Robb, Ruth, Sharpe, Scott, Sloan, Sandford, Summeril, Stewart, Smith, Stille, Thompson, Wilkin, Wiley, Wilson, Withrow, Wentz, Wright, Wells, Wallace, Wigton, and Young.

After 1796 the congregation was without a regular pastor until 1810, when Rev. James Latta was installed. He remained in charge until 1850, a period of forty years. The present church edifice was erected during his pastorate, in 1840, and the graveyard enlarged, covering the site of the former edifice. Mr. Latta died May 30, 1862, at the age of seventy-five years. The house in which he resided had at the time of his death been the residence of ministers of the gospel about one hundred and twenty years.

The Rev. James Latta was a man of remarkable energy and firmness in every good cause, and discharged with ability, high fidelity, and unceasing earnestness the duties of the Christian ministry over fifty-two years. About the year 1828 societies for the suppression of the vice of in- temperance were formed. Mr. Latta, from the initiatory movement, was an ardent friend and advocate of the cause, and during the whole course of his ministry did all in his power for its advancement. The community in which he had his home bears upon every hand the clear and deep traces of his life and character. None that ever crossed his threshold can forget his cordial welcome, his graceful

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hospitality, or his genuine kindness, and there will long linger pleasant memories of his warm and abiding friend- ship, and his ministries of sympathy. He was extensively known, and so highly estecmed as a faithful Christian min- ister that he became the centre of a very extended circle of acquaintanceship.

Since 1850 the following clergymen have been pastors of the church : Rev. James M. Crowell, from June 3, 1851, to April 14, 1857 ; Rev. Alexander Reed, from Dec. 8, 1857, to Oct. 1, 1864; Rev. John Jay Pomeroy, from Nov. 14, 1865, to Feb. 9, 1875; Rev. William B. Reed, from Nov. 3, 1875, to Oct. 2, 1878; and Rev. James A. Marshall, the present pastor, since May 29, 1879.

The church has under its charge four church edifices,- the main building on the old grounds, and buildings for afternoon and evening services and Sunday-school purposes at Sadsburyville, Highland, and Parkesburg. The present membership of the church is about 350. Sept. 14, 1870, it celebrated its sesqui-centennial anniversary, on which occasion J. Smith Futhey delivered a historical discourse.

FAGG'S MANOR.

The region of country where this church is situated was largely settled by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and from the first the church has been a strong one. It dates from 1730, previous to which time those who organized it worshiped at Upper Octorara aud New London. The church edifice is located in the northwest corner of what was called Sir John Fagg's Manor, elsewhere referred to in this volume, hence the name of the church. It was at first called New Londonderry, from the township in which it is lo- cated, but that name soon gave way to Fagg's Manor, by which it has been known ever since.

The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Blair, who came from Ireland in early youth, and was educated at the school of Rev. William Tennent, at Neshaminy, Bucks Co., a school which became widely known under the title of the " Log College." He was pastor from 1740 until his death, June 5, 1751, at the age of thirty-nine years. All accounts speak of him as a scholar and pulpit orator, and his fame has de- scended to this day. He established a classical school at Fagg's Manor, where many men who afterwards became distinguished in life received their education.

Rev. John Blair, a brother, succeeded him as pastor in 1757. He continued the school which his brother had es- tablished, and in both the church and school was eminent and successful. In 1767 he became a professor in the Col- lege of New Jersey, at Princeton, and removed thither.

Among those who were leading men in the church at Fagg's Manor at this period were Job Ruston, James Coch- ran, John Ramsay, John Love, John Smith, John Simp- son, William Boyd, David Ramsay, Moses Ross, David Simpson, David Fleming, Montgomery Kennedy, James Gilleland, John Culbertson, John Caruthers, and Stephen Cochran, Sr.

In 1775 the congregation erected a new church edifice, which was their third building ; the second building had been erected about 1742.

The church was without a regular pastor from the re- moval of John Blair, in 1767, until Aug. 22, 1781, when

John Evans Finley was installed. He married a daughter of Job Ruston, one of the leading members of the congre- gation. Oct. 15, 1793, he resigned and removed to Ken- tucky.

After Mr. Finley's removal there was a vacancy of sev- eral years. Rev. Patrick Davidson took charge in Decem- ber, 1797, but he remained only one year. The church was then without a pastor until Sept. 9, 1809, when Rev. Robert White was installed, and a new career of prosperity was entered upon. His ministry continued until his death, Sept. 20, 1835. Mr. White was a man of untiring zeal and devotion, and was eminently successful as a pastor. His wife was a daughter of Rev. Nathan Grier, of Brandy- wine Manor, under whom he had studied theology. Two of his sons, Robert M. White and Nathan Grier White, became clergymen.

Rev. Alfred Hamilton, D.D., succeeded Mr. White, and was pastor from March, 1836, until May, 1859, when he removed to Illinois. While at Fagg's Manor he maintained an academy for young men, which he named " Blair Hall," in honor of the brothers Samuel and John Blair. Dr. Hamilton was a man of scholarly attainments and of ability as a preacher, and was eminent for his social qualities and amiable character. He was beloved by the children, and was a welcome visitor in every house. He died in Chicago in September, 1867. In 1846, during his pastorate at Fagg's Manor, the present church edifice was erected.

The pastors of the church subsequent to Dr. Hamilton have been Revs. Justus T'. Umsted, from November, 1860, to May, 1872, and Rev. William B. Noble, from October, 1872, to March, 1881.

The church has now over 400 members in full commu- nion. On Sept. 16, 1880, it celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary, when a history of the church was read by the pastor, Rev. William B. Noble.

ROCK.

The Rock Presbyterian Church was organized in 1720. The first house of worship was in Chester County, at what is now known as the " Stone Graveyard," in Lewisville, Elk township ; the second, erected by the " New Side," in 1741, at what is called " Sharp's Graveyard," at Fair Hill, Cecil Co., Md .; and the third in the present location in Cecil County, not far from the line of Chester County. The church was at its organization called " Elk River," and bore that and other names until about 1787, since when it has been called the " Rock." The church having been origi- nally located in Chester County, and since near the line, it has always had many members in this county. The " Stone Graveyard" contains a large number of graves.

NEW LONDON.

The New London Church was formally constituted on the 26th of March, 1728. It was composed of the northern members of the Elk River congregation, now called the " Rock," whose meeting-house then stood at what is now known as the " Stone Graveyard," near Lewisville, in Elk township. The separation actually took place in 1726, two years earlier, when a place of worship was built and ar- rangements made for preaching. There were difficulties

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

attending the organization, upon which we have not space to enter.

The first pastor was the Rev. Samuel Gelston, a native of Ireland, who preached to the people for a time from Septem- ber, 1728, and then removed to the Highlands of New York.

The second pastor was Rev. Francis Alison, who was in- stalled about 1736 and remained fifteen years. In 1741 be opened an academy, elsewhere referred to in this volume, which he conducted until his removal to Philadelphia in 1752, to accept a professorship in the Philadelphia College, now the University of Pennsylvania. The second church edifice was built in his time, it is believed about the year 1744, and, considering the sparseness of the population, its dimen- sions-63 by 38 feet-were remarkable, and it was probably at that time the largest church in all the region. It had arched doors and windows and leaden window-sash; its pulpit was, according to the custom of the time, in the side of the house, and its pews were of various forms and pat- terns and colors, according to the taste or the means of their individual constructors.

After Mr. Alison's removal there was an interregnum, which continued about twenty years. Several ineffectual attempts were made to obtain a pastor, and finally the Rev. James Wilson was installed, Oct. 15, 1771, and served until Oct. 27, 1778, when he was released at his own request. After his time the congregation were again de- pendent upon supplies, either stated or occasional, for the long period of thirty-one ycars. Among these stated sup- plies were Rev. Samuel Barr, Rev. Francis Hindman, and Rev. Francis Alison Latta, all of whom were called to the pastorate but declined. Mr. Latta was a man of a fine and well-cultivated mind, and during a large part of his life he employed himself as a teacher. His last years were spent at the Moscow Academy, in Sadsbury township, where he died, April 21, 1834, at the age of sixty-seven years.

The next pastor was Rev. Robert Graham, who was installed Dec. 13, 1809, and remained until his death, Nov. 5, 1835. Two of his sons, William Sloan Graham and Walter Scott Graham, were teachers and successive princi- pals of the New London Academy. None of the descend- ants of Mr. Graham are now living.

The successor of Mr. Graham was the Rev. Robert Patterson DuBois, who was installed Nov. 20, 1836. Mr. Du Bois is descended from a French Huguenot, who emi- grated to America in 1660 for conscience' sake. His father was the Rev. Uriah DuBois, the founder and first pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Doylestown, Pa. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in July, 1824, and was for some years a teacher, and had charge of the Chester County Academy, in East Whiteland township, and then of the Doylestown Academy for several years. He was licensed to preach in October, 1835. After a pastorate of forty years, he resigned on Oct. 1, 1876, but still resides at New London.

His successor was Rev. B. F. Myers, who was pastor from April 24, 1877, to April 8, 1879. The present pastor is the Rev. David R. Workman, who was installed Oct. 23, 1879.

The present church building was erected in 1844, but extensive repairs and alterations were made in 1858-59,

and again in 1869. The church has two outposts, erected for occasional services and Sunday-school operations, one at Auburn, built in 1836, and the other at Kimbleville,. built in 1852.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 68

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162