USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Warwick in Bucks County > History of Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick, Hartsville, Bucks County, Pa., 1726-1876 > Part 6
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In 1745, " Rev. Mr. Dorsius, pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church, in Bucks County," probably the church of North and Southampton, presented to the Synod let- ters from the Deputies of the Synods in North and South Holland, in Europe, requesting information in regard to the High and Low Dutch Churches, and the Presbyterian Churches in America, and to the possibility of uniting them all in one ecclesiastical body ; or if that were not expedient, they stated, that "they would form them- selves into a regular body and government among them- selves." A Committee was appointed by the Synod to answer these letters in Latin, one of whom was Mr. McHenry ; and it was reported the next year, that the
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reply was sent as directed. As Mr. McHenry was Moder- ator of the Synod that year, it is quite likely that the letter may have been from his pen, as he was a finished classical scholar, and prepared before his death a part of his own epitaph in the Latin language.
In 1750, by appointment of Synod, he spent eight weeks as a Missionary in Virginia, preaching in destitute places and congregations, that were without a pastor, and the Presbytery was required by Synod to supply his church half the time during his absence. It was a custom in those days for ministers, by the direction of the Synod, to go to the settlements on the distant frontier, and to sparsely inhabited neighborhoods, and preach for a few weeks or months, leaving their own charges to be sup- plied by pastors who remained at home. This was a very laudable practice, and by it many churches were planted, kept alive, and fostered, until they had attained a state of strength and prosperity.
Mr. McHenry continued Pastor of the "Old Side " congregation at Neshaminy, filling also regular appoint- ments at Deep Run, until his death, which took place January 23, 1757, when he was in the forty-seventh year of his age. He was buried in the grave-yard near the church, where for eighteen years he had been in the habit of declaring the counsel of God to his fellowmen, and where for nearly fourteen years he had been Pastor.
The following is the inscription on the monument over his remains :
This Marble, Sacred to the Memory of
THE REVEREND AND PIOUS MR. FRANCIS MCHENRY,
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Whose mortal part lies here interred, was bestowed by his grateful Congregation. He was modest and prudent; a learned Divine and an excellent Preach- er ; a vigilant Pastor, and a truly good man; who made it his study to live in peace and to win souls to Jesus Christ. He was born in Ireland, A. D., 1710, and finished his course, January 23d, anno. 1757. He lived beloved and died lamented. Reader, remember Death and imitate his virtues.
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"Age ea, quæ moriturus agas. Dormio nunc liber, qui vixi in carcere carnis. Carnis libertas non nisi morte venit. Est mea Spes, requies, et firma fiducia cordis, vivere cum Christo, qui mea sola salus. FRANCIS MCHENRY."
CHAPTER VIII.
REV. CHARLES BEATTY.
In 1742, when Rev. William Tennent, Sr., was unable longer to serve the Neshaminy Church as its Pastor, as has already been mentioned, the congregation extended a call to Rev. William Robinson, who had been under instruction in Log College, but he thought it not best to accept it. They then called Rev. Charles Beatty, also a pupil of that institution.
He was the son of John Beatty, "who was of the Scotch-Irish stock," a resident or native of the County
* Record of the Beatty Family, by C. C. Beatty, D. D.
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Antrim, Ireland, and an officer in the British Army." His mother was the second wife of his father, and her maiden name was Christiana Clinton of Longford County. Charles Clinton, a younger brother of her's, was the ancestor of the Clinton family of the State of New York. George Clinton, " General in the Revolutionary Army ; for 18 years Governor of New York, and for two terms Vice- President of the United States, was her nephew," and De Witt Clinton, the projector of the Erie Canal, was the son of another nephew. When Charles Beatty was quite young, exactly at what date is not known, his father died, and left his mother a widow with at least four children, three daughters and himself. He is supposed to have been born in 1715, and when he was about fourteen years of age, in 1729, his mother determined to accompany her brother, Charles Clinton, with her family to America. There were a number of his friends and relatives, who were all zealous Presbyterians, and who were led, partly by a desire for freedom to worship God, to emigrate to the new world. A ship was chartered, " commanded by Capt. Rymer, and they sailed from Dublin for Philadel- phia, May 20th. The Captain was bound, by a written contract, to faithfully convey and land them at the place of destination ; but he proved, either treacherous, as they believed, or very unfortunate. The voyage was pro- tracted and disastrous. They were twenty-one weeks and three days on the passage, and when the American coast was sighted off Cape Cod, they hired the Captain to land them there the latter part of October. During the long voyage, toward the close of which their allowance had been reduced to half a biscuit, and half a pint of water .
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each for twenty-four hours ; many of the passengers died of famine and exposure ; among them a son and daughter of Mr. Clinton, and the eldest daughter of his sister Mrs. Beatty. It was generally believed by the passengers, that the Captain had been bribed to subject them to privation and hardships to discourage emigration, though some thought he only desired to possess himself of their property. So great was the indignation of the passengers, that they proposed to rise and take possession of the vessel, but were warned by Mr. Clinton, who seems to have been a leader, that it would be piracy in the eye of the law, and so were dissuaded from it." They remained a year and a half in the vicinity of Cape Cod, in Massa- chusetts, and in 1731 removed to Ulster County, after- wards Orange County, in the State of New York. Charles Clinton, born in this country, a son of Charles who emi- grated hither, and a cousin of Rev. Charles Beatty, studied medicine, and in 1765 practised for a while in the neighborhood of Neshaminy, residing in the family of the latter. He afterwards went as a surgeon on a vessel of war to the West Indies, and died a bachelor.
Mrs. Christiana Beatty, Rev. C. Beatty's mother, lived with her children in Ulster County for some time, which was then a wild region covered with forests, and the in- habitants of which were liable to be attacked by roving bands of hostile Indians. She was subsequently married to Mr. James Scott, and removed to New York City, where she died in 1776 in the 91st year of her age. "She was possessed of a mind both naturally and by cultivation of a superior order, and of great moral purity. It is said, · that when they were on Cape Cod, the people came quite
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a distance to listen to her playing upon the harp, in which she was a proficient, and she retained her harp to the close of her long life. She was exceedingly dignified in her deportment, and a pattern of propriety in her man- ners, conversation and dress."
We have no certain information as to how long Charles Beatty stayed with his mother in Ulster County, but it is quite likely that he did so until he attained his majority, and that he was engaged during seven or eight years of his boyhood and youth in the labors necessary to open and settle a new and uncultivated country. . Perhaps he may have gone with her to New York City, and thence set out to seek his fortune in the world. He was probably instructed in the elements of an English and Classical education in Ireland, and further taught in America, until he became somewhat familiar with the Latin language as well as grounded in more common studies. Though he was of very respectable origin and his relatives were in good standing in society, his own resources were limited, and he decided to begin to do something for himself by carrying around goods for sale. Dr. Miller says in his Life of Dr. Rodgers, who was well acquainted with Mr. Beatty, and who may have heard the fact from his own lips, that he " employed several of the first years of his residence on this side of the Atlantic in the business of a pedler. In the pursuit of this vocation he halted one day at the "Log College " on the Nesha- miny, then under the care of the Rev. William Tennent, the elder. The pedler, to Mr. Tennent's surprise, ad- dressed him in correct Latin, and appeared to be familiar with that language. After much conversation, in which
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Mr. Beatty manifested fervent piety, and considerable re- ligious knowledge, as well as a good education in other respects, Mr. Tennent addressed him thus : 'You must quit your present employment. Go and sell the contents of your pack, and return immediately and study with me. It will be a sin for you to continue a pedler, when you may be so much more useful in another profession.' He accepted Mr. Tennent's offer ; returned to Neshaminy ; completed there his academical and theological studies ; and in due time became an eminent minister."
Soon after finishing his studies under Mr. Tennent, which included a Theological as well as Classical course, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and accepted an invitation to be Pastor at Neshaminy. Dr. Alexander, in the History of Log Col- lege, says, "the Church was left vacant by. the death of the venerable founder of Log College." This is an error, as Mr. Tennent did not die until 1745, two years after- wards. Mr. Beatty, as appears from an ancient receipt book of the church, " was ordained to this congregation of Warwick, in ye forks of Neshaminy, December 1, 1743,* and was to have for a yearly support in his ministry amongst us the sum of sixty pounds." This in Pennsyl- vania currency, which was in use at that time in the Province, $2.66 to the pound, was $160; a very small stipend ; but it must be recollected, that money was then at least three times as valuable as it is in our country at the present day. This continued to be the salary for twenty years, when it was increased to one hundred
" Not October, as Dr. Alexander says.
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pounds annually, and remained at that point till Mr. Beatty's death.
The same year in which Mr. Beatty was ordained, probably while he was preaching at Neshaminy, but be- fore the ordination by the Presbytery of New Brunswick took place, the "New Light " portion of the original congregation, over whom he was settled, bought a piece of ground, "containing two acres and two square perches," of Thomas Howell, who deeded it, July 1st, and 2nd, 1743, to James Craven, John Gray, Alexander Jemy- son, Robert Walker, John McCulloch, George Hiear, Henry Jemyson, Jr., and John Scott, Trustees for the congregation. It was to be held by them and their suc- cessors as a site for a meeting-house, and any other build- ings necessary for the worship of God, and as a place of interment, for those only, who "owned the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures; the doctrine, worship, and discipline of the Church of Scotland, as set forth in the Westmin- ster Confession of Faith, Catechism, and Directory for worship and discipline, and also believing and owning this late work that hath appeared in this land, New England and Scotland, in calling sinners to repentance, to be the work of God." In the deed of trust, by which this land is conveyed, it is very carefully provided, that no persons, who were not in sympathy with Mr. Beatty and his congregation in their religious views, should ever hold office in the church meeting there.
Immediately after obtaining possession of this lot, the people erected a house of worship on the spot where the present church stands, and a portion of the walls then built are still standing in the modern edifice, having been
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in their place for more than one hundred and thirty years.
The ground on the north-east side of the church was used for a time as a place of burial, and persons are now living who remember to have seen graves there, but no interments have been made there for probably a century. One of the children of Rev. Mr. Beatty was laid in that part of the church-yard.
Some years after Mr. Beatty was settled at Neshaminy, in common with some others, he was painfully moved by the ignorance and want of mental culture of many of the inhabitants of the region around his home ; and in order to do something to remove this great evil, it was proposed to establish a public Library at Hatborough, four miles south of his residence. He earnestly favored the plan, and measures were taken such that in 1756 it was opened in a private house in that village ; a building was subse- quently purchased for it, where it remained for many years ; and in 1850, through a legacy of five thousand dollars of Nathan Holt, of Horsham, a new Library building was erected at an expense of over $4000, and an endowment of two thousand dollars secured. Now, it is one of the most valuable and extensive libraries outside of Philadelphia, in the south-eastern part of Pennsylvania. This institution, which has been the means of largely promoting the knowledge and intellectual improvement of the people of the vicinity, owes its origin in a measure to the foresight and public spirit of Mr. Beatty.
In 1751 the Synod of New York, with which Mr. Beatty and his congregation were associated through the Presbytery of New Brunswick, constituted a new Pres-
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bytery, called the Presbytery of Abington. It was com- posed of the ministers and churches in Pennsylvania, and those in New Jersey, south of Philadelphia, near Dela- ware. Its first meeting was held in Philadelphia in May, 1752; and it continued to meet regularly, and Neshaminy Church and its Pastor (New Light) were connected with it till the re-union of the Synods in 1758.
In 1752 the Presbyterian Church in New York City being in a disturbed state, contentious having arisen among its members in regard to the proper book of Psalmody, the office of Trustees, what should be required of persons offer- ing their children for baptism, and other things, a commit- tee was appointed by the Synod, consisting of Rev. Samuel Davies, Rev. Samuel Finley, and Mr. Beatty, to go to New York and "direct and assist the congregation there in such affairs as may contribute to their peace and edifica- tion." They went in October of that year, had a confer- ence with the church, and their counsels and exhortations were of service. But the differences of opinion and feel- ing not being removed, and afterwards appearing with greater violence, a larger committee was sent to New York in 1753, one of whom was Mr. Beatty, and by their labors, continued through two days, harmony was in a measure restored to the distracted church.
In 1754 Mr. Beatty was directed by the Synod to go to Virginia and North Carolina and spend three months in supplying destitute neighborhoods and infant congrega- tions with the preaching of the Gospel. Three others were appointed also to do a similar work in the South at different times during the same year, and their pulpits were to be supplied during their absence by some of their
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brethren who remained at home. Mr. Beatty performed the service assigned him, and labored zealously among the people scattered through those regions, which were then thinly inhabited, and far more difficult of access than at the present day.
He was an ardent patriot, and ready to expose himself to danger and severe toil in defence of his country. In 1756 England was engaged in war with France, and the Colonies in this country were involved in hostilities with the French and their allies, the Indians of Canada and the western wilderness. Troops were raised in Pennsyl- vania to defend the frontiers against the attacks of the savages. A corps of 560 men was enlisted and placed under the command of the Philosopher, Benjamin Frank- lin, and Mr. Beatty was appointed Chaplain. They marched against the enemy early in January of that year, but how long he was absent from home during the winter we are not informed. Colonel Franklin after some months returned to Philadelphia, and the troops were as- signed to the command of Colonel Clapham.
While Mr. Beatty was engaged in this work of hardship and peril, an amusing incident occurred, which is thus - related by Franklin himself.
" We had for our Chaplain a zealous Presbyterian Min- ister, Mr. Beatty, who complained to me that the men did not generally attend his prayers and exhortations, When they enlisted, they were promised, besides pay and pro- visions, a gill of rum a day, which was punctually served out to them, half in the morning and half in the evening, and I observed they were punctual in attending to receive it; upon which I said to Mr. Beatty, 'It is perhaps below
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the dignity of your profession to act as the steward of the rum; but if you were to distribute it out, only just after prayers, you would have them all about you.' He liked the thought, undertook the task, and with the help of a few hands to measure out the liquor, executed it to satis- faction ; and never were prayers more generally and more punctually attended. So that I think this method pre- ferable to the punishment inflicted by some military laws, for non-attendance on divine service."
Mr. Beatty returned from this expedition under Frank- lin before the spring, 1756, and was employed in the faith- ful discharge of the duties of the pastoral office, when it is said, that as recruits were much needed for the army, an officer came into the neighborhood of Neshaminy to induce men to enlist for the defence of the province of Pennsylvania. After he had been there a few days, Mr. Beatty met him and inquired what success he had found in the object of his visit. He replied, that he had secured but few names; almost all seemed indisposed to leave home. It was Saturday, and Mr Beatty asked whether he would be at church the next day, and he said he expected to be. On the following day, at the close of the services, the Pastor addressed his people in words to this effect: " The savages have attacked the frontier settlements, and are murdering our fellow citizens. The Governor has made a call for volunteers to march with a view to attack and drive them back, but I regret to learn that it is not very promptly met. It is certainly somebody's duty to go, and I have determined, if the Synod allows me, to offer my services as Chaplain, and thus do my part. Of course it will be very pleasant for me to have the company
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of any of the congregation or my neighbors, who may feel it their duty to go." This announcement produced a marked effect upon the audience, and through them upon the inhabitants of the vicinity, and during the next week about a hundred men joined the company that was raised at Neshaminy for the campaign against the Indians.
In accordance with his expressed intention, on the 15th of April Mr. Beatty applied to the Commission of the Synod for supplies for his pulpit, as he had been requested by the Government of Pennsylvania to be Chaplain with the forces in the northern and western parts of the province. They approved of his accepting the post tend- ered him, and made suitable provision for his pulpit. " His commission by Lieutenant Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, is dated, April 16, 1756." He kept a jour- nal of incidents that occurred in this expedition, from which, as given by Dr. C. C. Beatty in his account of the Beatty family, we extract the following.
" Having received his Honor, the Governor's Commis- sion, to be Chaplain to the regiment of foot in the Pro- vincial Service, under the command of Col. Wm. Clapham, and having the advice and concurrence of the Commission of the Synod, who appointed supplys for my congregation in my absence, set out from home in order to join the regiment at Harris' Ferry, Monday, May 3d, 1756. I was accompanied as far as Schuylkill by my elders and some other friends, and having stopped at a friend's house not far from the road to refresh myself, reached as far as the sign of the Ship on the Lancaster road, at which I lodged. Felt my need of the divine presence to be with me in my dangerous, or at least difficult, undertaking."
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Thursday, May 20th, he says : "Preached at Yellow Breeches, over Susquehanna, in a meeting house belonging to the Presbytery of Donagal, at the people's invitation. Returned in the evening to camp; one of my pistols went off as I was laying it down, but, God be praised, did no hurt."
" Friday, 21st. This being appointed by the Governor to be kept as a Day of Fasting and Prayer, his Honor the Governor being present, it was generally observed. Preached twice to a great audience, many attending from both sides of the river ; in the forenoon from Luke 13 : 3."
The manuscript journal continues with occasional en- tries, and statements of his efforts to counteract the ten- dency in camp to vice, immorality, and irreligion, and accounts of alarms from threatened attacks of Indians far ther up the Susquehanna river, until the last part of Au- gust, when it abruptly terminates, and it is most probable that Mr. Beatty returned to Neshaminy.
In 1758 application was made to him by Colonel Arm- strong to serve as Chaplain to the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Provincials for the ensuing campaign, and when he asked the advice of Synod, which met in May, he was encouraged to enter upon the service, and arrange- ments were made for the supply of his pulpit until October. "His commission, still existing, bears date May 9th," and is signed by " William Denny, Lieut. Governor." We do not certainly know at what time in the summer he set out on the expedition, but as he went to the extreme western part of Pennsylvania, he was no doubt with the army of General Forbes, who left Phila- delphia early in July, at the head of 9000 men, and
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marched against Fort Du Quesne, now Pittsburg. “ An advance party under Major Grant was attacked near the Fort and defeated with a loss of 300 men, but when the main body of the army approached, the French, deserted by their Indian allies, abandoned the place and escaped in boats down the Ohio."* Our forces took possession of the Fort November 25th, and its name was changed to Fort Pitt, in honor of William Pitt.
One of those courageous and patriotic men, who went out to the western portion of the State against the French in company with Mr. Beatty, or about the same time, was Ensign James Darrah, or Dorough, as the name is spelled in the ancient paper from which this information is de- rived, and which is in possession of Elder R. H. Darrah. James Dorough served as Ensign in the Pennsylvania Regiment in 1758 or 1759. The paper referred to is dated York Town, 24th June, 1767, and is signed by David Jameson, Secretary of the Committee of Pennsylvania Officers. It is a printed circular notice, that it was pro- posed to petition the Governor for " liberty to take up upon the common terms of paying Purchase-money and Quit Rent, a large quantity of land for a settlement on the Branches of the Susquehanna, as soon as the next purchase shall be made from the Indians ; and also for the privilege of Pre-emption, or the choice of our lands in preference to others, who may apply on the same terms." Whether the petition was made and the land obtained, we are not informed.
At Fort Pitt Mr. Beatty preached a thanksgiving sermon before the whole army, after the triumphant
* Wilson's Hist. of U. S.
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occupation of the enemy's fortification ; no doubt the first thanksgiving discourse, and perhaps the first Protestant sermon ever preached in the valley of the Mississippi.
In 1759 he asked the advice of the United Synod of New York and Philadelphia in regard to his acceptance of an invitation to serve as Chaplain in the army, and they judged it his duty to decline it, as the state of his congregation did not admit his absence.
Mr. Beatty was deeply interested in the spiritual welfare of the Indian aborigines of our country, and was intimately associated with John Brainard, and his views and symyathies were quite similar to his. In 1759 the United Synod. advised Mr. Brainard to leave Newark, where he had been for a considerable period in charge of the Presbyterian Church, and resume his labors among the Indians, and at the same time they appointed Mr. McKnight to visit those savage tribes twice, and Mr. Beatty and Mr. Latta each once during the summer.
The same year a charter had been obtained from the civil authorities of the Province for a fund for the relief of poor and aged ministers, and the widows and children of deceased ministers, and a committee was appointed to prepare a plan for the regulation and management of the fund, of which Mr. Beatty was one. The other members of the committee were Robert Cross, Gilbert Tennent, Dr. Alison, Samuel Finley, John Blair, and the Moderator of Synod, Richard Treat, of Abington. They were em- powered by the Synod to take proper measures to have persons sent out to solicit subscriptions. At their request the corporation of the fund appointed Dr. Rodgers of New York to go to Great Britain to obtain pecuniary aid, but
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