History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 121

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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not likely that when he came as successor, in 1750, he came to a city he had visited while on the mission between 1732 and 1741, when Rev. Henry Neale, S. J., was sent as assistant to Father Greaton, and perhaps remained so until his death, in 1748.

In 1747, Father Greaton purchased from John Michael Brown and Sarah, his wife, for ninety-two pounds, fifteen and one-half acres on Wingohocking Creek. Rev. P. A. Jordan, in " Woodstock Letters," says, " About the time of Father Greaton's profession he came into his patrimony, and contrary to the cus- tom prevailing in our society, he was granted permis- sion to use his money for missionary purposes. It was with this money he purchased the grounds on the Nicetown road, and in other places in the city and State."

This John Michael Brown is in several Catholic histories set down as a priest who attended, in 1729, a church near Nicetown, erected by a Miss McGawley for tenantry she brought from Ireland. About 1865 the remains of this " Priest" Brown were reinterred in the graveyard of St. Stephen's Church, Nicetown, and services performed appropriate for a deceased priest. But for all that he was not a priest but "a physician, late of the West Indies," as he declared in his will. He ministered to bodies, not to souls.

He never assumed to be a priest. He had vest- ments and chalices to be sure, but they were for the missionaries on their way from Conewago, Lancaster to Philadelphia, and return. By will he bequeathed to his sister Anastatia his "church vestments," and, we presume, likewise the sacred vessels, as he directed that his sister Eleanor should get " all my plates ex- cept what belongs to the church vestments." He gave directions as to the size of his grave-lot, of the wall to be built around it, and of what material it should be constructed, and ordered " the bones of my child, if they may be found, shall be interred with my body" in the grave " in the orchard on my plan- tation."

Dr. Brown died in 1750. His executors were Rev. Theodore Schneider, Robert Meade (great-grand- father of the late Gen. Meade), and Robert Luther, of Mount Serrat. By his will he left twenty pounds to Rev. Theodore Schneider, who had, in 1741, founded a mission at Goshenhoppen, Bucks Co. In 1747, Father Neale purchased one hundred and twenty-one acres there for twenty-five pounds, and in 1748 Father Greaton bought three hundred and seventy-three acres for fifty-one pounds. Father Schneider, a Bavarian Jesuit, in that year built the first chapel of the Blessed Sacrament on " the Gosh- enhoppen farm," where he was assisted by Rev. Wil- liam Wapeler, who also, in 1741, founded the mission at Conewago, Adams Co. Father Schneider was born in Bavaria in 1703, and entered the Society of Jesus in 1721. Father Wapeler was born in West- phalia in 1711, and entered the Society of Jesns in 1728.

1 History of the Episcopal Church in Burlington. By Rev. George Morgan llille, Trenton, 1876.

2 Ibid.

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RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

As to Miss "McGawley," there was no land-owner in the neighborhood of that name or of any name resembling it. A diligent search for a record of conveyance of land or record of will has failed to discover any.

In the annual letters of the English province re- garding the mission of the Jesuits in Maryland, as given in "The Records of the English Province of Society of Jesus," is the following under date of 1741 :

"In Pennsylvania. We had opened a mission here about this year (1741), called Missio S. Fran., Borgia, Pennsylvania, with four Fathers, having Father Joseph Grayton (sic) as Superior."

The "mission opened about" 1741 must refer to that of Conewago in Adams County, founded by Rev. William Wapeler. Under date of 1746-47 the same authority has "Pennsylvania. There were four Fathers, with Father Grayton, Superior." "Pennsyl- vania. With the same Father Superior, there were five Fathers here."

In 1750 "the two missions [ Maryland and Penn- sylvania] were mixed together."

Father Greaton, as we have stated, remained here from 1732 to 1750, then "the two missions [Mary- land and Pennsylvania] were mixed together," when he was recalled to Maryland, where he labored until his death at Bohemia, in that State, on Sept. 19, 1752. According to Oliver's "Collections," he died Ang. 19, 1753; the "Catalogue of Deceased Members of the Society of Jesus" gives the date as Ang. 9, 1753. We have accepted the date as given in De Courcy and Shea's " History of the Catholic Church."

Father Greaton's will was made in Philadelphia Sept. 2, 1749, his executors being Rev. R. Harding and Rev. Robert Digges, of Prince George County, Md. ; witnesses, Rev. T. Schneider, John Dixoo, and Patrick Carroll.

Father Greaton was succeeded, in 1750, by Rev. Robert Harding, S.J. He had come from England in 1732, and labored in Maryland and missions until sent to Philadelphia, in 1750, as successor to Father Greaton.

From the building of St. Joseph's the faithful who died were generally buried in the space adjoining the chapel where they had worshiped, though there is foundation for the belief that the southeast section of what is now Washington Square was used for the interment of Catholics. It was a space distinct from the Potter's Field, which that square originally was, and was not solely for poor Catholics.

A correspondent of the Sunday Dispatch says,-

"I am inclined to believe that moet Catholics of that day were In- terred in some burial-ground in general use,-that of the Friends or in the Episcopal Cemetery,-and that the grave was blessed in each case, according to the usual form of burial service, at the time of the fuueral."

Before 1748 there are no records of burials. From Dec. 24, 1748, to Dec. 24, 1749, there were eight male

and ten female Catholics who were buried. From the same dates in the following years the interments uumbered as set down :

1749-50

15 burials : 7 males, 8 females.

1753-54.

1754-55

1856-57.

1758-59.

Number by sex not specified.

Here is a total of one hundred and sixty-six burials in seven years. Add to that the number from 1732 up to 1749, and it will be seen that as nearly all these were buried in St. Joseph's, space was becoming scarce toward 1760.

In November, 1755, three vessels arrived at Phila- delphia, having four hundred and fifty-four Catholics. These were the banished Acadians driven from their homes and brought to this city as its allotment of the number of these people forced from their homes by British oppression. Though not over one-third of the number were able-bodied men, yet they "were looked upon with great suspicion, and even with fear," says Thompson Westcott. A letter of that time speaks of them as not being "better than so many scorpions in the bowels of the country."

The war between France and England, and the general alarm prevailing that all the Catholics would unite with the French, was the foundation of the fear growing out of the presence of these poor people simply because they were Catholics. They "were of the same superstitious persuasion as our inward enemies," it was said. But many of the banished were sickly, and all were poor. Subscriptions for their re- lief were taken up. They were quartered on the ground on the north side of Pine Street, above Fifth.

Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, in writing from Philadelphia to Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, on Ang. 19, 1755, speaks of the defenseless condition of the colony, and says that the French "might march in and be strengthened by the Germans and Irish Catholics, who are numerons here." He wrote to Governor Hardy, of New York, on July 5, 1756, de- claring that "the Roman Catholics in this and the neighboring province of Maryland are allowed the free exercise of their religion." Governor Hardy, in replying, says, " I have heard that you have an in- genious Jesuit in Philadelphia."

At the time of and just after the French and In- dian war, the position of the Catholics in Pennsyl- vania was that of a class suspected of sympathizing and aiding, if occasion allowed, the French, who, being Catholics, were judged to have the good will of all Catholics irrespective of nationality. In those days the Catholics were Irish and German.

Lord Loudon, commander of the British army in America, had a return made to him on April 29, 1757, of the number of Roman Catholics in Pennsylvania in 1757, which is as follows :

1755-56.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Men, Women.

Under the care of Robert Harding :

Io aod ahout Philadelphia, being all Irish (or English)

In Chester County

Under the care of Theodore Schneider:

In and abont Philadelphia, being all Germans. 107

121

Philadelphia County, but up country.

Berks County.

Northampton County ...

Northampton County, Irish

Bucks County.

Chester County.

96 6

Chester County, Irish.

Under the care of Father Farmer :

In Lancaster County, Germans. 108

In Lancaster County, Irish

In Berks County, Germans.

In Berks County, Trish ..

In Chester County, Irish.

In Chester County, Germans

In Cumberland County, Irish

Under the care of Matthias Maupers:

In York County, Germans In York County, Irish.

692

673

Total sum

1365

April 29, 1757.

With the total number of thirteen hundred and sixty-five, and these widely separated, and about one- half women, the authorities were yet fearful. A militia act was passed in that year ordering that, in taking the names of all persons liable to military duty, the name of " what religious society each person belongs" should be taken, "especially such as are Papists or reputed Papists ;" and all such, when found, were not allowed to belong to the militia, and all " arms, military accoutrements, gunpowder, and am- munition, of what kind soever, which any Papist or reputed Papist shall have in his house or houses or elsewhere, shall be taken" from them, and "shall be delivered to the colonel of the regiment within whose district the said arms are found, by him to be safely kept for public use."

To have, to conceal, or deny the possession of any such "arms, accontrements, gunpowder, or ammuni- tion" was an offense punishable by imprisonment for "three months." But all "Papists or reputed Pa- pists," though thus debarred from joining the militia or having arms, were yet taxed twenty shillings, to be " paid the captain of each militia company" by all between seventeen and forty-five years, and parents were beld for all young men between seventeen and twenty-one.

In November, 1756, a number of Catholics were arrested in Philadelphia for "being disaffected and treasonable," and Dr. Hugh Mathews had company at his house that was deemed seditious, as " many letters and papers had been read and handed about in the said company which there was great reason to suspect contained some traitorous and treasonable matter."

Still, Father Harding and his flock were unde- terred. In 1757, while all this injustice growing out of fear was being perpetrated, he " peacefully razed to the ground" the original chapel of St. Joseph's, and erected one sixty by forty feet.

In August, 1758, the Rev. Ferdinand Farmer (Ger- man name Steinmeyer) came to Philadelphia to aid Father Harding, with particular reference to minis- tering to the Germans. His register of baptisms and marriages began on Ang. 29, 1758. He was born in Swabia, Germany, Oct. 13, 1720. He entered the So- ciety of Jesus at Landesperge, Sept. 26, 1743, and arrived in America June 20, 1752. He is thus de- scribed by Mrs. Corcoran to Rev. P. A. Jordan, S.J. : "He was tall and upright, of a ruddy, pleasing coun- tenance; graceful in manner and fluent in conversa- tion ; full of bon homie and anecdotes. . . . In his deportment he was gentle, like his Model, but show- ing by the bright flash of his light gray eyes that he could feel for his master's honor and defend his cause." Father Jordan adds, "He was a philoso- pher and astronomer, intimate with the literati of his day, and in 1779 one of the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, soon to be Philadelphia's pride." He is described in a pamphlet issued in 1820-22 as being "of a slender form," and having "a counte- nance mild, gentle, and beaming with an expression almost seraphic. . .. My childish imagination," said the writer, "ever personified in him one of the Apos- tles."

In addition to the duty of attending to the Germans in this city, he journeyed as a missionary throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York among the scattered people of these regions. By the Catho- lics of New York his name should be held in vener- ation as having been in reality the apostle of the faith in that city. The excessive labors of a long- continued service as a missionary at length affected the health of this devoted Jesnit. According to his usual custom of visiting New York once a month, he set out for that city April 10, 1785, while unwell. He discharged his task, and returned to Philadelphia on May 7th. He continued to do duty until about two weeks before his death, on Aug. 17, 1786.

St. Joseph's " chapel" was enlarged in 1757. After the enlargement of the church and the consequent decrease of the burial-space, the necessity for a burial-ground was acknowledged. "It was," says Rev. P. A. Jordan, S.J., " rather the increasing de- mand for resting-places for those who 'sleep in the Lord' than the increased number of those 'fighting the combat' that induced the purchase of the ground" now St. Mary's.

In 1758 a subscription-list for the purchase of most of the ground at present occupied by St. Mary's Church and graveyard was opened, and three hundred and twenty-eight pounds fifteen shillings and six- pence subscribed.

The money being thus secured, the purchase was made on May 10, 1759.

Joseph Shippen and his wife conveyed for two hundred and fifty-five pounds (subject to a small quit-rent) to James Reynolds (mastmaker) and Bryan O'Hara (perukemaker) the lot of ground, sixty-three

1371

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

by three hundred and ninety-six feet, now occupied by St. Mary's.

On Jan. 22, 1760, Reynolds and O'Hara conveyed this property to Daniel Swan (coachman), Thomas Mallaby (rigger), John Cottringer (tailor), Edward Harrington (carpenter,-he owned the ground on the northward), William Hussey (tailor), and James White (merchant).

The deed of purchase was acknowledged on Jan. 26, 1760. A declaration of trust was signed by Swan and his associates named above, in which they de- clared that the property was " conveyed to us by the

When St. Mary's was built it was denominated Mission No. 1 in a report, in 1765, of Rev. George Hunter, Superior of the Jesuits, to Rev. James Dennett, the English Provincial, and its income set down as ninety pounds, of which forty-five pounds were from house-rents, twenty pounds salary from London, and twenty-five pounds gratuities. This twenty pound salary was derived from the fund said to have been bequeathed by Sir John James for the missions in Pennsylvania, and as Rev. Henry Neale, who came as assistant to Father Greaton in 1741, speaks of twenty pounds as not being sufficient for his support, it is probable that this so-called Sir John James fund was then existing, though the earliest known record of its existence is a record of Bishop Challoner, made Sept. 29, 1748.

It is believed that the Sir John James fund was Father Greaton's patrimony invested under this assumed name to protect it from being confis- cated, owing to the persecu- tions which the Jesuits and all Catholics were subjected to in England.

By injudicious investments the fund so decreased that the ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL-HOUSE, CHURCH, AND RESIDENCE IN 1776. [From a drawing made by Rev. P. A. Jordan, S.J.] bequest to Pennsylvania mis- sion ceased, as a forty pound bequest to the poor of London direction and appointment of the members of a con- ' had to be satisfied. In December, 1768, Father Har- ding presented to John Dickinson, author of the "Farmer's Letters," an address on behalf of the Ro- man Catholics of Pennsylvania, thanking Mr. Dick- inson for his patriotic efforts in behalf of American liberty.

gregation professing the Roman Catholic religion, and belonging to the Roman Catholic Chapel on the south side of Walnut Street," and that said property " was purchased with the proper moneys raised by a voluntary subscription or contribution of the said congregation to the intent only that we or such or so many of us as shall be and continue in unity and re- ligious fellowship with the said congregation should stand and be seized of the said lot of ground and premises to the uses, intents, and purposes . . . for the benefit, use, service, and behoof of the said chapel and congregation, and for a place to bury their dead forever."

This declaration of trust was not recorded until Jan. 28, 1788, or twenty-eight years after it was exe- cuted. The cost of recording was eleven shillings sixpence.

Interments were at once made in the new burial- ground, and on the northwest corner of the ground may now be seen the tombstone of one who died April 20, 1760.

The St. Mary's burying-ground having been ob- tained and used, the active members of the faithful set about procuring funds for the erection of a church. The subscription-list shows that .£1315 1}s. were sub- scribed, and that the managers contributed £22 10s.

About 1770, Joseph Crukshank, on Market Street, between Second and Third, reprinted from the sev- enth London edition the first Catholic prayer-book printed in this country, entitled "The Garden of the Soul; or, a Manual of Spiritual Exercises and In- structions for Christians who being in the world aspire to Devotion."

On Sept. 1, 1772, Rev. Robert Harding died, aged seventy years. The Pennsylvania Gazette of Septem- ber 2d said of him that he was "a gentleman who in the integrity of his life and exemplary conversation is greatly lamented." Rev. Jacob Duché said of him, "He is a well-bred gentleman, and is much esteemed, I am told, by all denominations of Chris- tians in this city for his prudence, his moderation, his known attachment to British liberty, and his un- affected pions labors among the people to whom he officiates."

He was one of the founders of the Sons of St. George.

Father Harding was succeeded in the title to the

1372

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

church property by Rev. John Lewis, as the will of Father Harding directed. He was vicar-general of the Vicar Apostolic of London and Superior of the Jesuits, and thus entitled to the revennes of the so- ciety's property. Father Farmer remained alone from the time of Father Harding's death until Rev. Robert Molyneux came, about June, 1773. He and Father Farmer were pastors during the Revolution. "Their voices were," says Rev. P. A. Jordan, S.J., " on the side of the colonies and aided in strengthen- ing the Irish brigade and the dragoons under the Catholic Gen. Moylan."

Washington and John Adams, on Oct. 9, 1774, " went to the Romish Church in the afternoon," as is stated in an entry in Washington's diary and Adams' letter to his wife, Abigail.

Washington made no comments in his diary, but Adams speaks of "the afternoon's entertainment" being to him " awful and affecting ; the poor wretches fingering their beads, chanting Latin, not a word of which they understood; their Pater Nosters and Ave Marias ; their holy water; their crossing themselves perpetually ; their bowing and kneeling and genuflect- ing before the altar. . . . Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear, and imagination, every- thing which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell ?" 1

There was at this time but one Catholic congrega- tion, though there were two "chapels,"-the " Old" and "New,"-St. Joseph's and St. Mary's. The former was used for week-day services, the latter for Sunday. It is believed the present St. Mary's Church was the one visited by Washington and Adams in 1774, and also by Washington on Sunday, May 27, 1787.

In March, 1776, Congress appointed a commission to visit Canada to secure the aid or neutrality of the Cana- dians. Rev. John Carroll, of Maryland, accompanied Franklin and Chase. Father Carroll came to Phila- delphia en route to New York, and was given a letter of introduction from Father Farmer to Rev. Peter R. Floquet, S.J., of Montreal. The mission proved a failure, and Father Carroll returned in June to Philadelphia, and remained at St. Joseph's for several days.

The first occasion upon which Congress attended a Catholic Church was at the funeral of Monsieur Du Coudray. This French engineer officer, while on his way to join Washington's army, 15th of September, 1777, was drowned while crossing the Schuylkill River at the Middle Ferry. While crossing in a scow the horse upon which he was seated took fright and plunged overboard, carrying his rider with him. Du Condray had just assumed the duty of inspector- general of the American army. In honor of his ser-

vices, and perhaps with the expectation of assistance from France, Congress resolved that this officer should be buried with honors of war, and that the members of that body should attend his funeral.

Gerard, the French minister, invited "the Presi- dent of Congress, the President of the State, the Council officers, civil and military, and a number of the principal gentlemen and ladies of the city" to celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of In- dependence, 1779, "at the new Catholic chapel." This was at St. Mary's. The invitation sent to Dr. Rush can be found in the Ridgway Library, and the discourse of the chaplain to Gerard delivered upon this occasion was published in The United States Maga- zine for 1779.

On Sept. 21, 1779, Lnzerne, the French minister, as successor of Gerard arrived in Philadelphia and was instructed in the English language by Father Moly- neux.

In 1781 subscriptions "towards paying for the old school-house and lot purchased for £400" were taken up and £180 38. subscribed; £54 178. 6d. was also subscribed " towards building the new school-house." It was finished in May, 1782, at a cost of £440 15}8., and was situated back of Walnut Street, in the rear of what is now No. 326 Walnut Street. The ground was bought from Samuel Meredith.

On May 8, 1780, the funeral of Don Juan de Mi- railés, the acting Spanish ambassador, took place at the Catholic Church. The church was, we believe, St. Mary's, as its size alone made it necessary to use it on account of the large attendance.

The members of Congress and the members of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, and other public men attended a Te Deum celebration in thanksgiving for the birth of the Dauphin of France, son of Louis.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, 1781, a mass of thanksgiving for the victory at Yorktown was celebrated at St. Mary's Church. Abbé Bandol, chaplain to the 1 French minister, delivered the discourse. Many of the principal public men then in Philadelphia at- tended on the invitation of the French minister.

This is the Te Deum celebration said to have taken place in St. Joseph's Church at which Washington and Lafayette, Rochambean and De Grasse are said to have attended. Investigation proves they could not have been present, and as St. Mary's was the church, the church used on Sundays or great occa- sions, we believe this celebration took place there.

In 1782, St. Mary's Church was greatly improved. Additional pews were placed in it and galleries were erected. The total subscription for this was £1204 17s. ld.

On Ang. 17, 1786, Rev. Ferdinand Farmer died. The funeral services were performed at St. Mary's, where Rev. Robert Molynenx delivered the discourse. The burial took place at old St. Joseph's. He was sixty-six years of age, entered the Society of Jesus

! Familiar Letters of John Adams to his wife, Abigail, during the Revolution, By Charles Francis Adams. New York, 1876.

1373

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

26th of September, 1743. "He was," said Father Molyneux, "esteemed by all ranks and particularly reverenced and loved by his flock, who had nearer opportunities of knowing his singular worth and merit."

That he was "esteemed by all ranks" may be proven by the fact that Hon. John Swanwick, mem- ber of Congress, in "Poems on Several Occasions," Philadelphia, 1797, has a poem addressed "To Rev. Robert Molyneux on the death of Rev. Ferdinand Farmer."

" His funeral was attended," says the Pennsylvania Gazette of Aug. 23, 1786, " by all the Protestant clergy, the members of the Philosophical Society, the pro- fessors and trustees of the University, and a vast number of the inhabitants of all denominations in this city."

In the fall of 1784, Rev. John Carroll, Superior of the missions, came to Philadelphia, and administered the sacrament of confirmation as he had been em- powered to do by the Congregation of the Propa- ganda on June 9, 1784, "to confer the sacraments of confirmation, bless oils, etc." In 1787 he was appointed the first bishop of Baltimore.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 121

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992