USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Warwick in Bucks County > History of Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick, Hartsville, Bucks County, Pa., 1726-1876 > Part 20
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FINIS.
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APPENDIX.
A. PRESENT ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH. 1876.
PASTOR.
REV. WILLIAM E. JONES.
ELDERS.
John McNair.
Henry Mckinstry.
Stacy B. Beans.
R. Henderson Darrah. ? Cephas Ross.
TRUSTEES.
Courtland Carr. John M. Darrah.
George Jamison. Wilson Brady.
Andrew Long.
Hiram Carr.
Theodore Flack.
John J. Spencer.
George Ramsey.
TREASURER. George Ramsey.
SEXTON.
Cornelius Corson.
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APPENDIX.
B. CHARTER OF INCORPORATION OF NESHAMINY CHURCH.
Act of Legislature incorporating the Presbyterian Church in the Township of Warwick, County of Bucks, Pa.
1782.
Section I. Whereas, the Minister, Elders and Members of the Presbyterian Church in the Township of Warwick, in the County of Bucks, have prayed that the said church may be incorporated, and by law enabled, as a Body corporate and politic, to receive and hold such charitable donations and bequests as may from time to time be made to their society, and vested with such powers and privileges as are enjoyed by other religious societies who are in- corporated in the State of Pennsylvania.
Sec. II. And whereas, it is just and right and also agreeable to the true spirit of the Constitution that the prayer of the said Petition be granted.
Sec. III. Be it therefore enacted, and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same,
That Richard Walker, Benjamin Snodgrass, William Scott, Wil- liam Long, Nathan Mckinstry, Giles Craven, William Walker, John Kerr, Joseph Hart, and their successors duly elected and appointed in such manner and form as hereinafter is directed, be, and they are hereby made and constituted a Corporation and Body politic in law and in fact, to have continuance forever by the name, style and title of "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, in Warwick Township, in the County of Bucks."
Sec. IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said corporation and their successors, by the name, style and title aforesaid, shall forever hereafter be persons able and ca- pable in law, as well to take, receive and hold all and all manner of lands, tenements, rents, annuities, franchises, and other heredit- aments, which at any time or times heretofore have been granted, bargained, sold, enfeoffed, released, devised, or otherwise conveyed
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to the said Presbyterian Church in Warwick Township and County aforesaid, or to the religious congregation worshipping therein, now under the pastoral charge and care of the Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, or to any other person or persons to their use and interest for them, and the same lands, tenements, rents, annuities, liberties, franchises, and other hereditaments, are hereby vested and estab- lished in the said Corporation and their successors forever, accord- ing to their original use and intention. And the said Corporation and their successors are hereby declared to be seized and possessed of such estate and estates therein as in and by the respective grants, bargains, sales, enfeoffments, releases, devises, or other con- veyances thereof, is or are declared, limited, or expressed, as also that the said Corporation and their successors aforesaid, at all times hereafter shall be capable and able to purchase, have, receive, take, hold and enjoy in fee simple, or any lesser estate or estates, any lands, tenements, rents, annuities, liberties, franchises, and other hereditaments, by the gift, grant, bargain, sale, alienation, enfeoff- ment, release, confirmation, or devise of any person or persons, bodies politic and corporate, capable and able to make the same; and further, that the said Corporation may take and receive any sum or sums of money, and any manner or portion of goods and chattels, that shall be given or bequeathed to them by any person or persons, bodies politic and corporate, capable to make a bequest or gift thereof, such money, goods and chattels to be laid out by them in a purchase or purchases of lands, tenements, mes- suages, houses, rents, annuities, or hereditaments, to them and their successors forever, or monies lent on interest, or otherwise disposed of, according to the intention of the donors.
Sec. V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that the rents, profits and interest of the said real and personal es- tate of the said Church and Corporation shall by the said Trustees and their successors from time to time be applied for the mainten- ance and support of the Pastor or Pastors of the said Church, for salaries to their clerk and sexton, in the maintenance and support of a school, and in repairing and maintaining their lot and house of public worship, burial ground, parsonage house or houses, school-
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APPENDIX.
house or houses, and other tenements, which now do or hereafter shall belong to the said Church and Corporation.
Sec. VI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that if hereafter the building for public worship, or any other tene- ment belonging to the said Church and Corporation, shall be burnt, endamaged, or otherwise rendered unfit for use, or if hereafter the said house of public worship shall appear to be too small to ac- commodate the congregation, whereby it shall become necessary to rebuild or repair the same, that then and in such case it may be lawful for the said Corporation and their successors to make sale or otherwise dispose of any part or parcel of said real or personal estate other than the site of the house of public worship, burial ground or grounds, parsonage house or houses, school-house or houses, for the purposes aforementioned and not otherwise.
Sec. VII. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the au- thority aforesaid, that in the disposal and application of the public monies of the said Corporation, or in making sale or disposition of any part or parcel of the real or personal estate of the said Corpo- ration for any of the purposes aforementioned, and public inti- mation of a meeting of the members of said Church being given as hereinafter is directed, the consent and concurrence of the major part of the regular members of said church then met and qualified as hereinafter is directed, shall be had and obtained; and the votes hereinafter directed to be taken shall be by ballot, and also that the said Trustees, in like manner qualified, shall be admitted to vote therein as members of the said church.
Sec. VIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said Trustees and their successors shall not by deed, fine, or recovery, or by any other ways or means, grant, alien, or other- wise dispose of any manors, messuages, lands, tenements or hered- itaments in them or their successors vested, or hereafter to be vested, nor charge nor incumber the same to any person or persons whatsoever, except as hereinbefore is excepted.
Sec. IX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said Trustees and their successors, or the majority of any five of them met, from time to time, after public intimation given
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the preceding Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, from the desk or pulpit of said church, immediately after divine service, before the congregation is dismissed, or after regular notice in writing left at the house of each Trustee, and the particular business having been mentioned at least one meeting before, be authorized and empowered, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to make rules and bye-laws and ordinances, and to do everything needful for the good government and support of the secular affairs of the said church.
Sec. X. Provided always, that the said bye-laws, rules and ordi- nances, or any of them, be not repugnant to the laws of this Com- monwealth, and that all their proceedings be fairly and regularly entered in a church book to be kept for that purpose; and also that the said Trustees and their successors, by plurality of votes of any five or more of them met as aforesaid, after such intimation or notice as aforesaid, be authorized and empowered, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to elect and appoint from among themselves a President, and also to elect and appoint from among themselves or others a Treasurer and Secretary, and the same President, Treasurer and Secretary, or any of them at their pleasure to remove, change, alter, or continue, as to them or a majority of any five of them or more so met, as afore- said from time to time, shall seem to be most for the benefit of the said Church and Corporation.
Sec. XI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said Corporation and their successors shall have full power and authority to make, have and use one common Seal, with such device and inscription as they shall think proper, and the same to break, alter and renew at their pleasure.
Sec. XII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said Corporation and their successors by the name of "The Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Warwick Township, in the County of Bucks," aforesaid, shall be able and capable in Law to sue or be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any court or courts, before any Judge or Judges, Justice or Justices, in all and all manner of suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands of
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whatsoever kind, nature, or form they may be, and all and every matter and thing therein in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, within this Commonwealth, may or can do.
Sec. XIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said Corporation shall always consist of nine members, called and known by the name of "The Trustees of the Presbyte- rian Church in Warwick Township, in the County of Bucks," and the said members shall at all times hereafter be chosen by ballot, by a majority of such members met together of the said church or congregation, as shall have been inrolled in the aforesaid Book as stated worshippers with the said church for not less than the space of one year, and shall have paid one year's pew rent, or other annual sum of money, not less than ten shillings [$1.83], for the support of the Pastor or Pastors and other officers of the said church, their house of public worship and lots and tenements be- longing to the said church and corporation, and towards the other necessary expenses of the said church, and shall not at any time of voting be more than one-half year behind or in arrears for the same.
Sec. XIV. Provided always, that the Pastor or Pastors of the said church for the time being shall be entitled to vote equally with any member of the said Church or Congregation.
Sec. XV. And provided also, that all and every person or per- sons qualified as aforesaid to vote and elect, shall and may be capable and able to be elected a Trustee as aforesaid, except in case of the said church having two pastors, and one of them only to be eligible at the same time.
Sec. XVI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said Richard Walker, Benjamin Snodgrass, William Scott, William Long, Nathan Mckinstry, Giles Craven, William Walker, John Kerr, and Joseph Hart, the first and present Trustees hereby incorporated, shall be and continue Trustees aforesaid, until they be removed in manner following, that is to say, one-third part herein first named and appointed, shall cease and discontinue, and their appointment determine on the second Monday in the month
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APPENDIX.
of May, which will be in the year of our Lord 1783, upon which day a new election shall be had and held of so many others in their stead and place, by a majority of the persons met and quali- fied agreeable to the purport, true intent, and meaning of this act, to vote and elect as aforesaid; and on the second Monday in the month of May in the year following, the second third part in number of the said Trustees herein named shall in like manner cease and discontinue, and their appointment determine, and a new election be had and held of so many in their place and stead in like manner; and on the second Monday in May in the year then next following, the last third part in number of the said Trustees shall in like manner cease and discontinue, and their appointment determine, and a new election be had and held in like manner as herein before is directed; and that in the same manner and by the like mode of rotation, one-third part in number of the said Trus- tees shall cease, discontinue, and their appointment determine, and a new election of said third part be had and held in manner aforesaid, and on the second Monday in the month of May in every year forever, so that no person or persons shall be or con- tinue a Trustee or Trustees of said Church for any longer time than three years together without being re-elected.
Sec. XVII. Provided always, that the persons belonging to the said church, who are in and by this act authorized and empowered to elect, shall and may be at liberty to re-elect any one or more of the said Trustees, whose times shall have expired on the day of the annual election, whenever and so often as they shall think fit.
Sec. XVIII. Provided also, that whenever any vacancy hap- pens by the death, refusal to serve, or removal of any one or more of the Trustees aforesaid, pursuant to the directions of this act, an election shall be had of some fit person or persons in his or their place and stead so dying, refusing, or removing, as soon as conveniently can be done; and that the person or persons so elected shall be, remain, and continue as a Trustee or Trustees aforesaid so long without a new election as the person or persons, in whose place and stead he or they shall have been so elected as aforesaid, would or might have remained and continued, and no
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longer; and that in all cases of a vacancy happening by the means in this act last mentioned, the remaining Trustees shall be empow- . ered to call a meeting of the electors for supplying the said vacancy, such meeting to be notified and published in like manner as herein before directed and appointed for notifying and appoint- ing the meeting of the Trustees.
Sec. XIX. Provided always, and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the clear yearly value or income of the messuages, houses, lands, tenements, rents, annuities, or other hereditaments and real estate of the said Corporation shall not exceed the sum of one thousand pounds [$2,666.66], lawful money of the State of Pennsylvania, to be taken and esteemed exclusive of the monies arising from the letting of the pews, and the con- tributions belonging to the said church, and also exclusive of the monies arising from the opening the ground or burials; which said money shall be received by the said Trustees, and disposed of by them in the manner herein before directed, pursuant to the votes of the members of the said Church duly qualified to vote and elect as aforesaid.
Signed by order of the House,
FREDERICK A. MUHLENBERG, Speaker.
Enacted into a Law at Philadelphia on ) Friday, the Twentieth Day of September, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-two.
PETER Z. LLOYD,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
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APPENDIX.
C. BY-LAWS OF THE CORPORATION OF NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
1784.
Be it envoted by the Corporation of the Presbyterian Church of Nesh- aminy.
Section I. That the following Rules shall be observed in enacting the By-Laws of this Corporation, viz. :
1. Every Bill intended to become a Law shall be read at two legal meetings of the Corporation, and approved by a majority of the members present.
2. Six days notice previous to the last reading shall be given publicly either from the pulpit immediately after divine service, or by advertisements affixed to two trees near the church. The notice to state the general purpose of the bill.
3. The Bill may be amended at each meeting, but if the princi- ple of it should be essentially altered at the second reading, it shall not be finally passed, till it is approved in another legal meeting, whereof previous notice shall be given as aforesaid.
4. The Law having passed, shall be fairly transcribed into the Book containing the fair minutes of the Corporation, and sealed with the common seal, signed by the President and attested by the Secretary.
Sec. II. Every law before it comes into operation shall be pub- licly read from the pulpit or clerk's desk immediately after divine service, or on one of the meetings of business. But in cases, that do not admit of delay, it shall be a sufficient publication, if the law is read publicly at a meeting of the church called for the special purpose.
Sec. III. And so often as the Corporation judge it expedient, they shall cause their Secretary or another member to read any law or laws publicly to the people at any meeting on a common day of the week after divine service.
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APPENDIX.
D. BY-LAWS.
AN ACT CONCERNING THE BURYING GROUND. 1810.
Section I. Be it enacted by the Corporation of the Presbyterian Church of Neshaminy, That the following persons shall be entitled to free burial, paying only ye customary fee to the sexton for his labor, &c.
1. The poor of the congregation and vicinity.
2. Persons without family, who pay the annual sum of at least seventy cents toward the support of the Gospel, provided that the same or any part of it is not due and unpaid more than eighteen months.
3. The families of householders, the heads of which pay at least the annual sum of one dollar and forty cents, and are not in arrears as aforesaid.
Sec. II. And be it further enacted, that those persons, who con- tributed the amount of $1.33 to either of the two last repairs of the grave-yard wall shall be entitled to free burial as aforesaid for themselves and families, until the Corporation shall otherwise order.
Sec. III. And be it further enacted, that for every corpse interred in the burying-ground, except as above, there shall be paid to the sexton at or before the interment the sum of $1.50, besides the customary fee for his service, to be accounted for by him in the annual settlement of his salary. The sexton shall ex- hibit an account to the Corporation, at their meeting of business in May, of the extra sums as above, received by him the preceding year.
[In 1830 the foregoing Section III was repealed, and the follow- ing Section was substituted in its place.]
Sec. III. And be it further enacted, that for every corpse in- terred in the burying-ground, excepting as above, and excepting
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the unanimous consent of the Committee of repairs of the Cor- poration be first obtained, there shall be paid to the sexton for the time being the sum of $1.50 (of which he shall retain one-third, or 50 cents, for collecting), besides the customary fee for his ser- vices ; and for the remainder he shall account to the Corporation annually.
E. BY-LAWS.
ACT CONCERNING THE PEWS, PEW-RENTS, &c.
Section I. Be it enacted by the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church in Warwick Township in the County of Bucks, that a quorum of the Trustees being met at the meeting of business in May annually, they shall by plurality of votes choose three per- sons, of whom two at least shall be Trustees, whose duty it shall be to let the pews for the ensuing year ;- that any one of them may do the duty, except when there are different applicants for the same seat, or disputes arise, when the majority shall decide. From their decision an appeal may be had to the Corporation at the next meeting of business, but not afterwards. Should any- thing prevent settlers of the pews being chosen on the day afore- said, they may be chosen at any subsequent meeting of the Corporation, and the persons in office continue to do the duty in the interval.
Sec. II. And be it further enacted, that the settlers in letting the pews shall observe the following Rules, viz .:
When a seat or part of it becomes vacant by the death of the holder, the preference in letting the same shall be given to his widow, his son or sons who are of lawful age, his daughter or daughters who may remain single, and are above twenty-one years of age. If there is no widow or children of said age, the settlers may exercise their discretion. If more of these relatives claim than the vacant room will supply, and they cannot agree among
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themselves, the settlers shall decide. If none of these relatives claim, other claimants shall take preference as in the next section.
Sec. III. Be it further enacted, when a seat or any part of it becomes vacant by the resignation or removal of the holder, the preference shall be given to other holders in the same seat, who may wish to have the vacant room for their own benefit, and if more of these claim than ye room will satisfy, ye settlers shall decide.
Sec. IV. Be it further enacted, that any person residing at more than ten miles distance from the church, shall have a right to hold a pew or part of a pew therein, paying for the same agreeably to this act.
Provided always, that if a resident member apply for the room thus held, and is willing to pay the arrears due thereon not exceed- ing eighteen months, the settlers shall have a right to let it to such applicant or not at their discretion, and as circumstances may direct.
Sec. V. Be it further enacted, that no pew-holder shall have a right to let for pay any part of a pew, on pain of forfeiting the right therein, without the consent of the Corporation ; other per- son or persons commonly using the same for twelve months shall be conclusive evidence of such letting, unless satisfactory proof is made to the contrary.
Sec. VI. Be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of the collectors to attend the meetings of business, spring and fall, and of the seat holders to pay their pew-rents to them at these times. In case of the absence of a collector, they may pay to ye President of the Corporation.
Sec. VII. Be it further enacted, that if a seat holder's pew-rent or any part of it shall at any time be in arrear, and due more than twelve months, the seat settlers shall have a right to let his room to another.
Sec. VIII. Be it further enacted, that when vacancies arise in ye following pews, viz .: Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 :- 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, the persons afterward renting a seat or seats in any of them shall be liable to pay the arrears due on the part so taken, not exceeding eighteen months.
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Sec. IX. Be it further enacted, that no forfeiture shall be in- curred under the seventh section of the act till after the meeting of business next autumn. [1784.]
F.
COPY OF A DEED OF TRUST FOR THE LOT, ON WHICH THE PRESENT CHURCH STANDS, DATED FEBRUARY, 1744-5.
This Indenture made the day of February in the eighteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, by the grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c., Anno Domini 1744-5, Between James Craven of Warminster in the County of Bucks and Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, John Gray of Warrington in the said County, yeoman, Alexander Jemyson of Warwick in the said County, yeoman, Robert Walker of the said Township and County, yeoman, John McCulloch of the said Township and County, yeoman, George Hiear of the said Township and County, yeoman, Henry Jemyson, Jun., of the said Township and County, yeoman, and John Scott of the said Township and County, weaver, of the one part,
And Richard Walker, Daniel Craige, William Craigton, and Thomas Craige, all of Warrington, in the said County of Bucks, yeomen, Robert Jemyson, Samuel Faries, and James Poak, all of Warwick and County of Bucks aforesaid, yeomen, Archibald Kelsey of New Britain in the said County, and James Carrell of Northampton in the said County, yeomen,
(All members of the Protestant Congregation at Warwick afore- said, and the adjacent townships of the denomination of Presby- terians owning the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures, the doctrine, worship, and discipline of the Church of Scotland, as set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Directory for worship and discipline, and also believing and owning this late
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work, that hath appeared in this land, New England, and Scotland in calling sinners to repentance to be the work of God, usually assembling for public worship at their meeting house in Warwick aforesaid, under the care of the Rev. Charles Beatty) of the other part,
Whereas, Thomas Howell and Catharine his wife by certain in- dentures of lease and release duly executed, dated the first and second days of July, Anno Domini One thousand seven hundred and forty-three for the consideration therein mentioned, did grant, release, and confirm unto the said James Craven, John Gray, Alexander Jemyson, Robert Walker, John McCulloch, George Hiear, Henry Jemyson, Junr., and John Scott,
A certain piece or parcel of land situate in Warwick in the County of Bucks aforesaid, Beginning at a Post for a corner in the line of William Miller, Junr's land, being also a corner of William Miller Sen's land, extending thence by the same North East twenty three perches to a stone for a corner, thence South East fourteen perches to a post for a corner, thence South West twenty three perches to another post in the said William Miller Junior's land, bounded in both the last courses by the said Thomas Howell's land, thence by the said William Miller's land North West fourteen perches to the first mentioned post, the place of beginning,
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