USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Warwick in Bucks County > History of Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick, Hartsville, Bucks County, Pa., 1726-1876 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
HISTORY OF
tion to the sorrowing; to direct the penitent sinner to the Lamb of God, and the broken-hearted to Him who alone can bind up the wounds He himself has caused. He was peculiarly solemn and impressive in his discourses at funerals, and his words then often touched many hearts. Rev. A. Prior once stated to me, that he recollected but little of Mr. Irwin; but that on one occasion, which will be forever impressed on his memory, he came to attend the services in the church at the funeral of a young lady of the congregation by the name of Hart. The House of God was occupied by a large assembly, many of them the young companions of the deceased, and that their Pastor preached a most touching discourse from the text, " Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters ; give ear unto my speech." Before he had concluded almost all before him were in tears. He usually preached without a manuscript before him, and seldom wrote out his sermons in full. Yet he was deemed an earnest, forcible, and effective preacher, “ rightly divid- ing the word of truth," and giving to each of his hearers a portion in due season, having not the fear of man, but the fear of God, before his eyes. He preached the sermon at the funeral of Rev. James Greir, Pastor of the Presby- terian Church at Deep Run, in 1792, which was pub- lished. He also preached the sermon at the ordination of Rev. Thomas Dunn, as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, now a part of Philadelphia, June 19, 1811. Mr. Dunn was the first settled minister in that church, and a man of unusual zeal and earnestness, and his labors were crowned with much success.
Mr. Irwin never wrote much for the press, and we have
1
163
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
few specimens of his composition, by which we might form an idea of his style and manner of preaching. But he was regarded by those who knew him best and were most fitted to judge, as an eloquent and able expounder and defender of the Christian faith. Dr. Alexander, in the "History of Log College," says,
" When the General Assembly in the year 1811 de- termined to establish a Theological Seminary for the more thorough training of her candidates for the sacred office, there was much diversity of opinion respect- ing the most eligible site for the Institution. Between Princeton, N. J. and Chambersburg, Penn., the chief competition existed. But there were a few persons who were strongly in favor of placing it on the very site of Log College. Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, then Pastor of the church at Neshaminy, and a man of profound understand- ing, was earnestly desirous that it should be planted on the ground where a building had once stood to which the Presbyterian Church owes so much. And to manifest his sincerity and zeal, Mr. Irwin left in his will one thou- sand dollars to the Seminary, on condition that it should ultimately be located on this site."
In this connection it may be proper to state that he left in his will $500 to Princeton College, the interest of which should be applied as a prize for an annual oration, to be delivered by one of the members of the American Whig Society, of which organization he was one of the founders, and which he regarded with affection as long as he lived. The following is an extract from his will, in which he makes the legacy referred to :
164
HISTORY OF
To the Trustees of the College of New Jersey I give one share in the capital stock of the Bank of Pennsylvania, in special trust and confidence, that they shall and will yearly, or when required, em- power to draw the dividend such person or persons, as the Ameri- can Whig Society at Princeton shall designate by a written request under the hand of the secretary, for the time being, of said Society. And in the confidence, that the said Society shall and will give the annual and semi-annual dividends from time to time to the best orator belonging to the Society, who is an under-graduate and not yet entered into the last term of the senior year, the preference to be decided publicly or privately by such persons, and under such regulations, as the said Society shall from time to time prescribe. And in the further confidence, that if the said Society or Trustees in their behalf shall become a body corporate in law, the Trustees shall and will legally transfer the said share.
Prof. Cameron, in his historical sketch of the Whig Society, says : "I regret to add, that in the financial crisis of 1837 this legacy was reduced to one-tenth of its original value, and that it utterly disappeared in that of 1857."
Mr. Irwin also bequeathed in his will four shares of Pennsylvania Bank stock, or $2,000, to the corporation of the Church, in trust for the use of his sister, Jane Mc- Eachran. He had perfect confidence that the trust would be properly fulfilled by the men with whom he had long been associated. Samuel Mann and Samuel Hart, Esq., were appointed to receive the dividends, and retain them subject to the order of the corporation. Mrs. McEachran lived at Spencertown, N. Y. After her death he directed that these shares of the stock of the Pennsylvania Bank should pass to Neshaminy Church, the income of which was to be sacredly used forever for the support of the
165
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Gospel in the congregation to which he so long minis- tered. At the division of the Church in 1838 one-half of this legacy was paid by the Trustees to the portion of the congregation which withdrew and built a house of wor- ship subsequently in Hartsville. The half of the stock which remained in possession of Neshaminy Church was lost by the failure of the bank in 1857.
The witnesses to Mr. Irwin's will were John Long and Jesse Rubinkam.
The Records of the Session of the Church of Neshaminy seem to have been kept very imperfectly previous to 1835, and probably for considerable periods none were made at all. None are known to be in existence for the time prior to that year. A Record of Births, Baptisms and Marriages is preserved, which extends back to 1788; if any was made of those items previous to that date it is now lost. On account of the lack of Sessional Records it is not possible to give even an approximate estimate. of the number of additions to the communion of the church, which were secured during Mr. Irwin's pastorate. In the year 1794 there were seventy members in regular standing in the church. From May 12, 1788, to March 3, 1812, there are recorded in the Book of Baptisms 24 per- sons baptized, marked as adults, and 369 infants. The adults were persons admitted to the communion from the world, who had not been baptized in infancy, and there were no doubt a much larger number admitted who had received the ordinance of baptism on the faith of their parents, in early years, of whom no record is now found.
During the ministry of Mr. Irwin, and perhaps pre- viously, the bread was distributed to the communicants
166
HISTORY OF
at the Lord's Supper, on a glass plate, which has been pre- served, and is now in the possession of Miss Mary Weir of Norristown, formerly one of the members of Ne. shaminy Church. When she was asked whether she would part with this relic of the past, she said that she preferred to retain it as long as she lived, which would not be many years, in memory of her former pastor, Mr. Irwin.
Mr. Irwin was twice married, first to Martha Jamison, daughter of Henry Jamison of Centreville, Bucks Co., Pa., about the year 1777, by whom he had two children, a son and a daughter. The son, Henry, grew up to man's estate, was fond of society, and was the life of every social circle into which he was thrown. But he was led to in- temperance by evil associates, which caused his father deep sorrow and embittered his declining years. Henry was married to Miss Walker of Warrington, Bucks Co., and had several children, who after their father's death removed with their mother to Ohio. He died Feb. 7, 1812, aged 32 years, a few weeks only before the death of his venerable parent.
Rev. Mr. Irwin's daughter, Mary, was the object of in- tense affection on the part of her father, and was brought up with the utmost care and solicitude. She was a lovely young lady, intelligent, amiable, and respected for many excellent qualities, and married Dr. William Hart of Newtown. They had one child, which died in infancy, July 19, 1802. She herself died, September 28, 1802; and her husband was removed to another world August 13, 1810.
After the death of his first wife, which occurred in
167
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Chester Co., Pa., about the year 1806, he was married a second time, to Priscilla Mckinstry, with whom he lived happily until the close of his life, and who was a most discreet and sensible helpmeet for him in the manage- ment of his domestic affairs.
Repeated afflictions in the last part of Mr. Irwin's earthly course severely tried his fortitude, faith and pa- tience, but he endured them all with heroic Christian courage and submission to the divine will. They weaned him from the world, diminished his hold upon this life, and were, perhaps, the means of bringing him to its ter- mination at an earlier period than if the divine hand had been stretched out over him always in a way which men usually call merciful. His last sickness was not protracted beyond a few days, and only one Sabbath intervened be- tween the time when he was able to fill his pulpit and the day when his mortal remains were conveyed to the grave. A large concourse of people attended his funeral, not only from his own congregation but from all the sur- rounding region, and it is commonly said that the line of vehicles conveying the people had scarcely ceased to leave the residence of the deceased when the front of it reached the church, though the distance is a mile and a half; the great assemblage from near and far testifying to the pop- ular estimate of his influence and his worth. The funeral exercises were held in the church, where he had for nearly forty years preached the everlasting Gospel, the sermon being delivered by Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D., pastor of the First Church, Philadelphia.
His remains were deposited, as he desired, at the spot in the burying-ground, over which the pulpit in the origi-
168
HISTORY OF
nal church once stood, and on a horizontal marble tablet over his grave is the following inscription.
REV. NATHANIEL IRWIN. DIED MARCH 3D, 1812. AGED 65 YEARS, 4 MOS., 15 DAYS.
To this sad tomb, who e'er thou art, draw near ;
Here lies a friend to truth; of soul sincere, Of manners unaffected and of mind Enlarged; he wished the good of all mankind ; Calmly he looked on either life, for here His peace was made, and nothing left to fear.
His widow, Mrs. Priscilla Irwin, survived him until August 3, 1822, when she died, aged 62 years, and her re- mains were laid beside those of her revered and beloved husband.
CHAPTER XV.
PASTORATE OF REV. R. B. BELVILLE.
After the death of Rev. N. Irwin the Neshaminy Church remained for a year and a half without a Pastor, the services of the sanctuary meantime being conducted by supplies and candidates. Among the latter, the two who received most favor, were Rev. John McKnight and Rev. Robert B. Belville. At the election for Pastor, Mr.
169
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Belville received a majority of the votes of the congrega- tion and church, and subsequently signified his willing- ness to accept the call.
* He was born at or near New Castle, Delaware, in 1790. His ancestors were Huguenots, who came to this country from France, soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which occurred in 1685. Two brothers of the family came at the same time and settled, one in South Carolina, and the other on Long Island. Mr. R. B. Bel- ville was one of the descendants of the Long Island branch, as are also those of that name who reside at the present time in Delaware. A third brother, being a Catholic, remained in France, and from him Dr. Nicolas Jacques Emanuel De Belleville, formerly of Trenton, N. J., was descended. This gentleman was an eminent physi- cian, who emigrated to the United States from France, in 1777, with Count Pulaski, and after serving in the Fed- eral Army for more than a year, as a surgeon, settled in Trenton to practice his profession. He was highly es- teemed for his medical skill and social qualities, and was sometimes summoned to attend Joseph Buonaparte, the exiled King of Spain and brother of Napoleon I, who re- sided for some years at Bordentown.
Rev. R. B. Belville obtained his literary education partly under the tuition of James Ross, the author of the Latin Grammar which was the most complete and valu- ble elementary work on that language which had at that time been published in this country, and partly at the
* For information concerning Mr. Belville's early life, I am in- debted to his son, Rev. Jacob Belville, D. D.
170
HISTORY OF
University of Pennsylvania. Previous to his studying for the ministry of the Gospel, he taught an academy with marked success, at Wilmington, Delaware, and also at Burlington, N. J. When he took charge of the academy at Wilmington, he discovered that it was required among the rules of the institution, that the Principal should open the exercises each day with prayer. He was not then pious ; the requirement led him to serious reflection ; his mind was deeply affected with a sense of his own weakness and sinfulness, and his need of pardon and divine help, and at length he dedicated himself to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not long after making a profession of religion, he felt it to be his duty and privilege to enter the sacred office, and with this in view he pursued the study of Theology, under the instructions of Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, President of Princeton College, shortly before the estab- lishment of the Theological Seminary at that place by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which occurred in 1812. He was soon invited to preach at Ne- shaminy, and his natural, graceful eloquence, his clear voice and commanding appearance, as well as his pleasant manners and social qualities out of the pulpit, made a favorable impression at once upon many in the congrega- tion.
He was chosen Pastor in May, 1813, and taking proper time for consideration upon so important a matter, was ordained and installed October 20th, of the same year, on which occasion Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D., Sr., preached the sermon. The congregation at this time was not very large, and the roll of communicants was small. He was,
171
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
however, promised $600 a year as his salary, which at that period was regarded as a good income by most min- isters whose lot was cast outside of large towns and cities. This was paid regularly, and it may be here remarked to the credit of the people of Neshaminy, that they have al- ways been faithful in fulfilling their pledges to their pas- tors, and thoughtful in providing for their comfort. They have looked upon them as the ambassadors of Christ, and for His sake have endeavored to meet their engagements to them, and promote their welfare according to their ability.
When the church was first committed to his care, it consisted, probably, of about 50 members. Accessions were frequently made to its membership during his pas- torate, and several powerful revivals of religion were en- joyed. There was a considerable awakening soon after the commencement of his ministry, and in 1822 a remark- able visitation of the Holy Spirit occurred, by which the church was greatly increased in size and strength. There were admitted to the communion, as we find from a for- mer list of members-
September 22, 1822. Males 28
Females 48
- 76
January 19, 1823.
Males 8
Females 11
19
May 11, 1823.
Males 2
Females
4
6
101
One hundred and one persons in less than eight months ; being 38 males and 63 females.
172
HISTORY OF
In 1832 and 1833 a gracious outpouring of the Spirit was experienced, perhaps more remarkable than that of ten years previous. It was preceded, as Rev. Jacob Belville, D. D., remarks, "by long preparation and prayer. In September, 1831, a protracted meeting was held, which resulted in the addition of eleven persons to the commu- nion of the church. This was a great disappointment to the pastor and session." The blessing was so much smaller than they had desired and looked for. Hoping that God would more abundantly bless them, if they waited upon him with importunate entreaties, the pastor persuaded the elders and some of the church to commence at once the observance of a "Twilight concert of prayer " for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit ; all praying, wher- ever they might be at the setting of the sun, for this ob- ject, and in these petitions a large portion of the church at length united.
In the winter of 1831-32, or in the fall of 1832, Mr. Belville established six Bible Classes in different parts of the congregation, which met in school-houses or private residences, for prayer and the study of God's word, most of which he attended. These were maintained with much interest, and prepared the way for special services in the church. In January, 1833, meetings were held for three or four days consecutively in connection with the commu- nion, which were attended with great interest, and the minds of a large portion of the congregation were aroused to the serious consideration of their duty to God and their danger out of Christ. The religious interest con- tinued to increase until February, when Dr. Ezra Stiles Ely, of Philadelphia, spent a day at Neshaminy, and
173.
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
preachel four times in one day. A large number of con- versions took place in connection with these means of grace, and it is said, that "in May one hundred were admitted to the communion, and in September forty more. Of these 140 persons Mr. Belville stated, that he never knew of but one, that went back to the world and proved unfaithful to his vows."
From the Book of Baptisms of the church we find, that there were baptized March 17, 1833, thirty-nine per- sons, 14 males and 25 females. All the others who were admitted to the Lord's Supper in May, must have been baptized in their infancy on the faith of their parents.
In 1815, not long after the beginning of Mr. Belville's pastorate, he purchased a tract of forty acres of land near the church, from William Hart, on which he erected a house and barn, as the congregation did not then possess a parsonage ; and about this time, viz .: October 2, 1815, he was married to Miss Mary Gaw, of Princeton, N. J., a most estimable young lady, who by her piety, prudence, sound sense, intelligence, good management, and earnest zeal in the cause of Christ, proved to be a most suitable companion and helper in his work.
After a few years he found his salary inadequate to the support of his family; the congregation were not pre- pared to increase it sufficiently, and they did not wish him to accede to overtures which had been made by . another congregation that he should settle among them, where he would receive a larger salary. He determined to engage in teaching. Loller Academy, at Hatborough, Montgomery Co., four miles from Neshaminy, then stood in need of a Principal. Mr. Belville obtained the appoint-
174
HISTORY OF
ment, rented his farm, and made preparations to move to Hatborough, where he could not only superintend the academy, but attend to the wants of his church likewise. At this juncture he was told by the Trustees of the school that no religious instruction would be permitted in the institution. He immediately resigned the place they had offered him, secured the cancelling of the lease of his farm, built a school-house on his own grounds, and in six weeks from the time of his resignation of the post at Hatborough he began his school with eleven boys as boarding scholars, and a few day scholars soon began to attend. In obtaining pupils he was greatly aided by Rev. James P. Wilson, D. D., Sr., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, who used his in- fluence in favor of the new school among the people of his charge. Mr. Belville continued to teach nine years, when finding his pecuniary circumstances more easy, he gave up his school, and devoted himself entirely to the ministry of the Word.
The following circumstances relating to the church have been gathered from the Minutes of Meetings of the Board of Trustees, during Mr. Belville's pastorate.
There was for many years in the north-east part of the yard of the church a small stone house, which was often called the " Session House." It was originally designed, no doubt, as a place for meetings of the session and cor- poration, and perhaps for prayer-meetings. When there were two services on the Sabbath at the church, morning and afternoon, with an interval of an hour or an hour and a half between them, as was the fact seventy-five or eighty years ago, this room was frequently used by the
175
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
minister during the intermission as a place of retirement and meditation. But sometimes it was rented from year to year as a place of residence, to different individuals. In 1813 it was repaired by having a new roof put upon it, and James Darrah was appointed by the Trustees to superintend the work.
In 1818 a new roof was put on the church, and Hugh Long, James Darrah and Samuel Hart were the Commit- tee to superintend the work on behalf of the Trustees. This was subsequently paid for by a legacy of Henry Jamison to the amount of $500.
In 1824 Rev. Mr. Belville, the Pastor, gave a lot of ground adjoining the grave-yard, on the east side of it, to the church for burial purposes. It was fifteen rods long by about six and seven-tenths rods wide, and contained one-half of an acre. It was a very acceptable addition to the cemetery, and was much needed, as the ground hith- erto occupied for sepulture was full, and the congregation knew not where to obtain land to accommodate those who were from time to time seeking burial lots. The gift was received with expressions of gratitude by the people, and measures were immediately taken to enclose it with a substantial stone wall, as a part of the main cemetery. The following committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to defray the necessary expense, viz. : John Weir, J. Stewart Greir, John Jamison, James Hor- ner, William Ramsey, John Long, Gideon Prior. The superintendence of building the new wall and repairing the old was devolved by the Trustees upon John Harvey, William Carr, and Samuel McNair.
In 1825 the salary of the sexton was $12 per annum,
176
HISTORY OF
and he was permitted to charge $2 for digging a full- sized grave. In 1827 his salary was raised to $20, which was to include compensation for cleaning out the grave- yard whenever it might require it, filling up sunken graves, and cutting wood for the stoves at the church. In 1836 it was raised to $30.
Previous to 1828 the part of the grave-yard which was used for the interment of colored people was on the north- west corner, outside of the wall which enclosed all the remainder of the ground. Many persons were opposed, through a prejudice against the African race, to their sepulture in the same ground with the whites. But in that year it was resolved by the Trustees, the Pastor strongly advocating the resolution, that this parcel of ground, hitherto shut out, should be enclosed within the wall; and Rev. Mr. Belville was desired to superintend the work, as it was near his residence, and draw on the treasury of the church to meet the expense of the pro- posed alteration. The work was done during that sum- mer, and the people of color of the neighborhood since that date have had the same protection for their dead with others.
For many years previous to 1832, probably from the time (1775) when the church was rebuilt, there had been a door on the south side of the church, and one on the south-east end. But in 1832 the door on the side was, by order of the Trustees, walled in, and two doors were constructed on the south-east end to correspond with the main aisles ; and the high pews on the end opposite the pulpit were reduced to a level with the other pews. By the former alteration four new pews were secured, the
177
NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
aisle corresponding to the side door, which was closed up, being no longer needed. At the public sale of these new pews it seems not to have been stated with sufficient explicitness whether those who took them were to have the ownership of them in fee simple, or merely the right of occupancy on the payment of the yearly rent. James Cox, Esq., bid off one, and paid $30 for it, with the idea that he had bought the proprietary ownership to it. When the Trustees learned that this was his view of the matter, they voted to refund to him the money he had paid, on his giving a receipt and a release of all claim to the pew. The right of occupancy of the pew was then sold by auction to Samuel Long for $10.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.