History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 99

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 > Part 99

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).

After two years' stay in the building at Third and Lombard Streets, the means of the members were sufficient to justify them in making an effort to obtain a lot for the erection of a building for church pur- poses. On the 30th of March, 1802, Israel Israel, sheriff, for the consideration of eight hundred dollars, conveyed to Edward Hanna, Robert Jackson, and Robert Gordon, trustees, a lot of ground npon which a one-story carpenter-shop was erected, on the east side of Fifth Street and the north side of Gaskill

1274

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Street, forty-one feet nine inches on Fifth Street, and one hundred and twenty feet on Gaskill Street, sub- ject to a ground-rent of $41.75 per annum. Subse- quently the adjoining lot on the north, with a three- story brick house thereon erected, was purchased, making the whole width on Fifth Street sixty-one feet nine inches.

Upon this lot a church-building was commeneed shortly afterward. The corner-stone was laid on the 4th of July, 1802, by Rev. George C. Potts and the elders and trustees of the congregation. The work upon it proceeded very slowly, and it was not com- pleted for several years, although the congregation occupied it while it was in an unfinished condition. When completed the house showed a plain exterior, which was rough-cast, and, after the lapse of years, whitewashed. A central doorway on Fifth Street, with wooden frame and pillars, and square windows, presented themselves to the eye. The interior was sufficiently finished to allow the congregation to use it by the end of 1803, and the church was opened for worship on the 14th of December of that year. the services being under the direction of Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, of Neshaminy Church, and Rev. George C. Potts, the pastor.

In 1800 the church applied to the Legislature for the grant of a city lot, for the purpose of a burying- ground. On the 15th of March of that year the Legislature passed a law, vesting in the Fourth Pres- byterian Church a city lot, bounded on the east by Twelfth Street, on the north by Lombard Street, on the west by Thirteenth Street, extending south sev- enty-eight feet, of a width on Lombard Street of three hundred and ninety-six feet. This grant was made for a "church and burying-ground ;" but the situation at that time was so remote from the centre of population, and particularly from the residences of members of the church-most of whom lived in the neighborhood of Spruce, Pine, Lombard, and South Streets, between the Delaware River and Fourth Street-that the idea of erecting a church there was not then entertained. The ground was appropriated for the purposes of a church burying- ground, and went into use as soon as the grant was made.

The Scots' Presbyterian Church was under the pas- torship of the Rev. William Marshall at the outbreak of the Revolution, and he continued in that charge during the contest. He preached until the British army entered Philadelphia, when, in consequence of his political sentiments, which were never concealed, he prudently left the city. During the time when the church was vacant it was taken possession of by the British, and was used as a hospital. The pews were destroyed, and other damage was done. After the evacnation of the city the damages were assessed at £5500 188. Continental currency. Of course the actual injury at specie value was far below this esti- mate, as may be judged by the fact that in the bill of

damages thirty pounds of nails and iron were set down as worth £142, while forty-nine hinges were valued at £472.

Mr. Marshall lived near Third and Spruce Streets. His house was broken into during his absence, and his furniture taken away. He advertised his loss after his return in 1778, and added that his property was taken " as rebel property out of his house by an understrapper." From 1778 to 1783 this congrega- tion was ministered to by Mr. Marshall, but not with- out difficulty, distrust, and discontent.

In the latter year a cause of dissension, which had been creating unpleasant feelings in the congregation for some time, produced a rupture. The circum- stances were these: In 1776 the Associate Presbyte- rian Church in the United States was formed into two Presbyteries. The Presbytery of Philadelphia consisted of Messrs. James Proudfit, Matthew Hen- derson, William Marshall, John Roger, John Smith, James Clarkson, William Logan, John Murray, James Martin, and Andrew Patton. The Presbytery of New York was composed of John Mason, Thomas Clark, and Robert Annan. These Presbyteries were co- ordinate, and were not subject to any common eourt in this country, being subordinate to the Synod of Edinburgh. Under this organization the Scots' Pres- I byterian Church of Philadelphia belonged to the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania. At this time the Reformed Presbyterians, or Covenanters, had in the United States three ministers,-John Cuthbert- son, William Lynd, and Alexander Dobbin. In 1777 an effort was commenced with a view to unite the Associate Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church, or Covenanters. These ne- gotiations continued for six years, but in 1782 it was agreed that the union should be made, and the body thus constituted was entitled the Associate Re- formed Church. The influence of Mr. Marshall was against this measure, and the Scots' Presbyterian Church was divided. Five of the elders of the Scots' Presbyterian Church and part of the congregation were anxious to unite with the new organization. Mr. Marshall and about one-half of the members were not favorable to the measure. The controversy at length broke out with violence. On a Sunday in June, 1786, the five elders took possession of the church and forbade Mr. Marshall to occupy the pulpit. At this time a dwelling-house on the west side of the church-which is still standing-was being built for the residence of Mr. Marshall. It was not finished, but was in a condition to be used. Therefore, without resorting to violent means to re- instate themselves, Mr. Marshall and his adherents withdrew to the house, where they held service for the day. It is probable that services were held there for some weeks.

In sympathy with Rev. Mr. Marshall were Rev. James Clarkson, Robert Hunter, James Thompson, and Alexander Moore, ruling elders. They sent a

1275

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

protest against the action of the Scots' Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and against the union made by the Associate Presbyterian Church with the Re- formed Presbyterian Church, or Covenanters, but the Synod refused to sustain the appeal. No other course was left for Messrs. Marshall and Clarkson and their adherents but obedience or secession. They chose the latter course.

The Scots' Presbyterian Church was for a time without a pastor, but negotiations were opened with- out delay with the Rev. Robert Annan, of the Scots' Presbyterian Church, Boston. This clergyman came to the United States from Scotland, about 1758, with Rev. John Mason, who was sent from the Associate (anti-Burgher) Presbytery of Scotland. Mr. Annan was a probationer. He was a fellow-student with Dr. John Mason, in Scotland. He settled after his arrival at Neeleytown, Orange Co., N. Y. During the Revolution he was a promoter of the Whig cause. About the close of hostilities he took charge of Scots' Presbyterian Church in Boston, then newly formed. His service there was unsuccessful, in consequence of difficulties with the congregation in regard to disci- pline. After Mr. Marshall's secession from the Phil- adelphia Scots' Church Mr. Annan became pastor of the latter, and remained there until 1802, when he became pastor of an Associate Reformed Church in Baltimore. He died Dec. 6, 1819, aged seventy-seven years. Rev. James Gray, D.D., succeeded Mr. Annan, and held the pulpit from 1804 to 1815.

In 1816 this congregation called Rev. Robert Mc- Cartee. He held the pastorship for five years, leaving the church in 1821, and being succeeded by Rev. James Arbuckle, who was installed in 1822. It was during Mr. Arbuckle's pastorate that the Scots' Asso- ciate Reformed Church suddenly ceased to be con- nected with that organization, and was transferred bodily, with other churches of the denomination, to the Presbyterians.

By this act the Scots' Church became the Eighth Presbyterian Church, and was attached to the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia. Rev. James Arbuckle re- mained pastor until 1824, when he was succeeded by Rev. William L. McCalla. Mr. McCalla was born in Jessamine County, Ky., Nov. 25, 1788. He was licensed by the Presbytery of West Lexington. In 1815 he was appointed an army chaplain by Gen. Jackson. In 1819 he was settled as pastor of a Pres- byterian Church at Augusta, Ky., from which he came to the Scots' Church.

We have already stated the fact that there was a Scots' Presbyterian Church in Shippen Street, be- tween Third and Fourth, about 1753. It belonged to a Burgher congregation. The Scots' Presbyterian Church of Spruce Street was anti-Burgher. During the intervening time the Burgher congregation in Shippen Street was worshiping in the frame church, under the charge of Rev. David Telfair, who had been in that charge for many years. He remained

there until his death, April 11, 1789, in his sixty-ninth year. After that event the congregation fell away. It was natural that they should incline toward the Scots' Presbyterian (anti-Burgher) Church, in Spruce Street. The causes of the differences which had divided the Associate Presbyterian Church in Scot- land were of no importance in Pennsylvania, and much less so after the Revolution had made the American churches independent. A union was there- fore formed between the two churches. This occurred in 1782, while Mr. Telfair was yet living.1

The Rev. William Marshall, with his associates, who had seceded from the Scots' Presbyterian Church, obtained from the trustees of the University of Penn- sylvania the use of the room in the academy which, by the original agreement in Whitefield's time, was always to be ready for use by any religious sect on its subscription to a prescribed creed, when not engaged by some other congregation. Here Mr. Marshall and his congregation worshiped until 1791. A lawsuit, in the mean while, was instituted to recover posses- sion of the Scots' Presbyterian Church bnilding in Spruce Street. The trial took place in July, 1790. The two judges who were upon the bench disagreed in their instructions to the jury. Judge Mckean was favorable to the elders; Judge Rush inclined toward Mr. Marshall's party. The verdict was in favor of the elders, and Mr. Marshall determined not to continue the contest.

The congregation which withdrew with Mr. Mar- shall organized under the name of the Associate Presbyterian Church. After the failure in the suit with the Scots' Presbyterian Church, they resolved to erect a meeting-house for their own use. Donations were received from citizens. Many who did not belong to the congregation contributed, among whom were some members of the jury who gave the verdict against Mr. Marshall's party.

In August, 1790, David Clark and William Young purchased a lot on the north side of Walnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth, having a front of thirty- six feet ten and a half inches on Walnut Street, and

1 By this transfer the lot on Shippen Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, becsme the property of the Scote' Presbyterian Church. The property is still held by that corporation. The lot used as a burying- ground is surrounded by housee oo all sides except upon the Shippen Street front. In the neighborhood this ground, now much neglected and in wretched condition, is known as " Margaret Duncan's burying- ground." The origin of this name is perhaps attributable to the fact that Mrs. Margaret Duncan, widow of Isaac Duncan, who died in 1802, nged seventy-nine years, is buried in the ground by the side of her husband, Isaac Duncan, who died March 20, 1770, aged fifty-two years. The tomb of Rev. David Telfair, for a long time minister of the Associate Reformed (Burgher) congregation, is in the same ground. He was & son in-law of Mrs. Duncan. Mrs. Duncan might have presented this ground to the church in 1753, but whether this is en has not been ascertained. At her death she devised a lot of ground on Thirteenth Street, above Market, for the erection of a church; and ou that lot was erected a building enbsequently known as " Margaret Duncan's Church." The same congregation now worship in Race Street, east of Sixteenth, under the pastorship of Rev. J. B. Dales, D.D., and is known as the "Second United Presbyterian Church."

1276

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

being one hundred and twenty-four feet in depth, bounded eastward by an alley. (The site is now oc- cupied by the building of the Schuylkill Navigation Company.) Ilere they erected a brick church of one story in height, although the ceiling was lofty. The church stood back from the street a distance of fifty or sixty feet. It had an arched doorway, with an arched window on each side, and two windows upon the alley on the east side of the building. In front was a graveyard where tombs were placed. This church was opened for divine service July 31, 1791, by Mr. Marshall, who preached his sermon from the following text: " And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

ASSOCIATE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. From au old drawing in the Philadelphia Library.]

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than

of the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this , Presbytery (Covenanters), it was said, was set on foot place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts." Flaggai, chap. ii., verses 7, 8, 9. )

The title of the property was assured by a perpetual deed of trust, which declared " that the said church and lot of ground are held in trust for the Associate congregation in the city of Philadelphia who adhere to the religions principles expressed in a declaration and testimony of the doctrine and order of the church of Christ, agreed to at Pequea, Aug. 25, 1784, by the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, that said con- gregation may assemble in said church for worship forever, and use the said burying-ground for interring the dend.'

Among the members of the congregation who went with Mr. Marshall were William Young, bookseller, of Rockland, in Brandywine; Robert Aitken, who printed the first English Bible in this country ; John

Purdon, merchant, father of John, author of "Pur- don's Digest ;" Frazier Kinley; John McCulloch, printer ; John McAllister, whip, cane, and spectacle- maker; and James McConchy, storekeeper. Mr. Mar- shall's salary was small, and not sufficient for his support. While in Philadelphia he married Mrs. Marshall, widow of a Capt. Marshall. She had been keeping a boarding-house, and after her marriage with Rev. Mr. Marshall she continued in the same occu- pation, by means of which herself and husband were made comfortable. Among her boarders were mem- bers of the Convention to frame the Federal Constitu- tion of the United States of 1787. In 1792 the Count de Noailles, brother-in-law of Lafayette, boarded in that house, and remained there for several years. He was an officer in Rochambeau's army during the Revolution. After leaving Philadelphia and return- ing to his native country he entered the French army, and was killed in the West Indies. Louis Philippe, Duke de Orleans, afterward king of France, and his brothers, Dukes de Montpensier and Beaujolais, came to this country during the French Revolution. They arrived in Philadelphia in February, 1797, and, after remaining with Mr. Conyngham, of Conyngham, Nesbett & Co., they took up their residence with Mr. Marshall, where they stayed for some time, until they rented the house northwest corner of Prune and Fourth Streets, still standing. Their names are in the Directory of 1798. " De Orleans, Messrs., mer- chants, near No. 100 South Fourth Street."

In a book entitled "A Display of the Religious Principles of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsyl- vania," compiled by Rev. William Marshall, and published in June, 1794, there was given out "A Narrative Concerning the Maintenance of the Refor- mation Testimony," which was adopted by the Asso- eiate Presbytery of Pennsylvania Oct. 25, 1784. In that statement it is said that the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania was, by agreement, divided into two i in 1776, and constituted the Presbyteries of Pennsyl- vania and of New York. The union with the Reformed between the Associate Presbyteries of Philadelphia and New York, "and a party who called themselves the Reformed Presbytery, and who were of the same principles with those who take that designation in Scotland."

Mr. Marshall continued in charge of the Associate Reformed Church until his death, which occurred Nov. 17, 1802. His remains were buried in front of the church on Walnut Street. For three years this church was without a pastor. The Rev. Joseph Shaw, LL.D., succeeded Mr. Marshall in 1805, and remained in service until 1810. After his withdrawal from the church Mr. Shaw continued in religious service. He removed to Albany, N. Y., where he died, Aug. 21, 1824. In 1812, Rev. H. C. Brownlee, D.D., was elected pastor, and remained for two years. The Rev. John Banks, D. D., succeeded Mr. Brownlee.

1277

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

In December, 1801, the Associate Presbyterian Church applied to the Legislature for the grant of a city lot for the purposes of a burying-ground, but the request was not granted.

In the latter part of 1797, Samuel B. Wylie and Thomas McAdam, both Irishmen, who left their native country in consequence of their connection with United Irishmen, removed to Philadelphia from New Castle, Del., where they had previously landed. At this time there was no distinctive Reformed Pres- byterian Church holding the principles of the Cov- enanters in Philadelphia. The union of the Scots' Presbyterian Church with the Covenanters in the same Presbytery, in 1782, by which the united churches took the name of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, though it carried to the union some of the congregations of the Covenanters, did not entirely an- nihilate that sect in this country. In this emergency the steadfast Covenanters turned to Scotland, and several missionaries were sent to the United States. Rev. James Reid came over before 1790, and preached from North Carolina to New York. William Mac- Garragh arrived in South Carolina in 1791, Rev. William King in 1792, Rev. James MeKinney in 1793, and Rev. William Gibson in 1797. Messrs. Black and Wylie were educated for the ministry, and were soon licensed. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of the United States was again set up in Philadelphia, the first Presbytery being established in 1798. In 1799, Messrs. Donnelly, Black, Wylie, and McLeod were licensed to preach, and were all ordained in the course of two years. Mr. Wylie and his companion, Mr. McAdam, sought the means of worship in such manner as suited their principles, after their arrival. At the house of Thomas Thomp- son, laborer, at the southwest corner of Penn and South Streets, in an apartment in the second story, twelve feet square, a prayer-meeting was held for some time. With this small gathering Messrs. Wy- lie and McAdam became connected. The preaching of Wylie attracted new visitors, until a church was formed upon Jan. 28, 1798, by a commission con- sisting of Rev. William Gibson and Messrs. Andrew Gifford and David Clark, rnling elders of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church of New York. William Henry was a ruling elder of the Philadelphia con- gregation, also Stephen Yonng and Thomas Young. Shortly after a lot of ground was bought on St. Mary Street, between Sixth and Seventh, upon which a small frame house was built and furnished before 1800. Rev. Samuel B. Wylie took charge, at which time he ! was ordained and installed as pastor of this humble congregation. His labors in its behalf were assidu- ous, and were rewarded with abundant success. Rev. Mr. Wylie remained in the pastorate for many years. The church building was sitnate on the north side of St. Mary Street, between Sixth and Seventh Streets. The situation was chosen originally at a time when the members of the church were poor and humble.

The portion of the city in which their church was sitnated was most unpleasant, on account of the de- graded character of the inhabitants. In 1817 or 1818 the members of the church purchased a lot at the southeast corner of Eleventh and Marble Streets, between Market and Chestnut Streets, where a fine brick edifice (since given to other uses) was erected. It was opened for service on the 21st of June of that year, the services being conducted by Rev. Mr. Wylie, the pastor, and Rev. Mr. McLeod, of New York. To the old church in St. Mary Street was attached a burying-gronnd, in which many members of the church had been interred. This circumstance indneed the congregation to retain the ground. An attempt was made to set up a Sunday-school for black children there, which was partly successful. The building on Eleventh Street was larger than the purposes of the congregation required, and Mr. Wylie used a portion of it for a school.

Dr. Thomas D. Mitchell, in 1859, records his re- membrance of the first congregation as follows :

"The Covenanters have long been known in the city as a religione body marked by very distinctive peculiarities. These continue to the present day, and are likely to he permanent. The first preacher of this congregation I ever knew was Mr. Wylie (more recently known as Dr. Wylie), who ministered to a emall flock in a school-house between Lom- bard and Cedar Streets, east of Fourth, for several years. Ilis hearers were poor, and consisted almost wholly of persons lately arrived in the country. These persons bad imbihed the notion at home that Christians should not take part in civil government, and oo going into other coon- triee should never take an oath of allegiance. Hence they were no- willing to become citizens of the United States, and of course did not vote at our elections. Indeed, it was made a discipliuable offense, as certainly as Sabbath breaking, to take legal steps to acquire the right of citizenship. In respect to doctrinal views io general, I am not aware that these people differed from the Irish and Scotch Presbyterians esseo- tially, if at all, nor was their mode of worship different.

" The first congregation in the school-house referred to did not exceed twenty, but gradually, as the new-comers arrived from the old country the members increased till it became necessary to find a place specially suited to their wante, Being a very plain and rather obscure people, they songht a retired spot for the location of their first house of worship. This was a emall avenne called Mary Street, ruoging from Sixth to Seventh, between Cedar and Lombard. The building erected by them was very small and exceedingly plain, yet withal commodious enough. There the Covenantere continned for several years, until they found the place too small, and the neighborhood becoming each day more repul- Bive by the bad quality of the occupants. It is probable, too, that the society contained some persons who had become literally well off in point of worldly goude, and could not brook the idea of worshiping longer in an undesirable place. The property was therefore abandoned, and fell into the hands of a colored Presbyterian Church."

In the year 1800 the First Presbyterian Church, built upon the site of the "old Buttonwood," on the south side of Market Street, between Second and Third, and at the southeast corner of White Horse Alley, after- ward called Bank Street, was under the charge of Dr. John Ewing, who at this period was well stricken in years, he having attained nearly the allotted period of threescore and ten. He died on the 8th of Septem- ber, 1802, in his seventy-first year. Rev. John Blair Linn had become assistant to Dr. Ewing on the 13th of June, 1799, so that the decease of the pastor did not embarrass the service of the church. Mr. Linn was a native of Shippensburg, Pa., where he was

1278

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

born on the 13th of March, 1777. Ile studied at Columbia College, New York, where he graduated in 1795. He was destined for the profession of the law, and was a student in the office of the celebrated Alex- ander Ilamilton, during which time, having poetic aspirations, he wrote a play called " Bourville Castle; or, The Gallie Orphan," acted in New York City in 1797, which was not successful. Subsequently he turned his attention to theology, and, after a due course of study, was ordained in 1798. During his occupaney of the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church he published his poem on the " Death of Wash- ington," which was written in the style of Ossian, and was published in 1800. In the same year he published, anonymously, two volumes of " Miscel- lanies," in prose and verse. The " Powers of Genius" was published in 1801, and was republished in Eng- land. "Valerian," a narrative poem, intended to describe the early persecutions of the Christians, and to illustrate the influence of Christianity, was written while Dr. Linn was at the First Church, but was not published until after his death. His funeral sermon on Dr. Ewing was also published after his death. While engaged in the ministry, he undertook a controversy with the celebrated Dr. Priestley, and wrote two tracts, which were published in 1802. In the year last named Dr. Linn was seized with a fever, which undermined his constitution and led to mental depression. In 1804, after having returned from a journey through the Eastern States for the benefit of bis health, he died of a hemorrhage, on the 30th of August. Dr. Linn was the last Presby- terian minister who wore a pulpit-gown in the First Church.

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.

History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 99

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