History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 56

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 56

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The monthly meetings are the principal executive branch of the society for the exer- cise of the discipline over the members, and keep regular and voluminous minutes of their proceedings as also records of births, deaths and marriages. "Indulged" meetings for stated periods are held by sanction of monthly meetings, but all meetings subordi- nate to, are established permanently by authority of the quarterly meetings, and these in turn by the yearly meeting.

FIRST MONTHLY MEETING IN YORK COUNTY.

The first monthly meeting established in what is now York County, in 1747, was called Warrington, composed of the preparative meeting at Newberry, the meeting for wor- ship at Warrington, and "indulged" meeting at Menallen, and perhaps one at Huntingdon, (York Springs). These all then belonged to Chester (now Concord) quarterly meeting and Philadelphia yearly meeting. In 1758 the western quarterly meeting was established and held at London Grove in Chester County.

Warrington and Fairfax quarterly meeting was set apart 1776, the first meeting being held at Warrington, 3 mo., 18 da., 1776. This was again divided in 1787, and Warring- ton quarterly meeting held afterward at War- rington, this county, and Pipe Creek, Md., the first being held at the later place 5 mo., 28 da., 1787.

In 1789 it was agreed that the quarterly

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

meetings of Warrington and Fairfax should be joined to the Baltimore yearly meeting, they having theretofore, been branches of the Philadelphia yearly meeting.

Tracing back the line of settlement, we find that Warrington monthly meeting was formed in 1747 by division of Sadsbury meeting in Lancarts County, which itself was formed in 1737, from New Garden in Chester County, and this in turn in 1718 from Newark (now Kennet). Newark monthly meeting was estabished in 1686, by authority of Chester quarterly meeting, the members thereof being at that time mostly within the county of New Castle (now Delaware).

In 1827-28 the Society of Friends was divided into what are popularly known as "Orthodox" and "Hicksite" branches, the latter being so called from Elias Hicks, a noted preacher among them. Neither party accepts the distinctive title applied to it, but simply that of "Friends." In York County the Orthodox members were so few that they did not, so far as is known, hold meetings.

NEWBERRY MEETING.

The name of this meeting on the Friends' record books is spelled two ways, viz .: New- berry and Newbury. The former is now used. Sir William Keith in 1722, and then gov- ernor of Pennsylvania, had surveyed for his own use a tract of land in the northern part of what is now York County. He was there himself once, and dated a letter "at my settlement called Newberry, August 12,1722." From that source the name originated. The following sketches of the Friends' meeting- houses in York County are largely abstracts from the minutes of proceedings. They were obtained after searching through more than a dozen large record books.

At Sadsbury Monthly Meeting, 3 mo. 7tlr, 1739: "There being Divers families of friends of late settled on the west side of Susquehanna; some of them have produced Certificates to this meeting from Kenett meeting, where they formerly Dwelt, their being four mentioned In one Certificate bear- ing Date ye 10th of ye 2 mo., 1738, Viz .: Nathan Hussey, Ann his wife, John Garretson & Content. his wife; John Day and Ann, his wife; Christopher Hussey & Ann, his wife, & another Certificate from the same place bearing date ye 4th of ye 5 mo. 1738, Recommends Joseph Benett & Rebecka, his wife: all wch this meeting receives in membership with us.

"The Friends of that Settlement being desirious of a Toleration from this meeting to keep meetings of worship Every first day and fourth day of ye week for six months time wch request Is Granted."

9-5-1739: "The new meeting setled on the west side of Suskahana, haveing had some time past a tolleration from this meeting to hould meetings of worship Every first Day and fourth day of the week and ye time being Expired, att the request of sev-

eral of them, being in this meeting, friends allows them twelf monts longer to be held as afore."

6-5-1745: "Andrew Moore, Calvin Cooper, Jonas Chamberlin and Thomas Bulla are appointed to visit the meetings on the west side of Susquahana, to see how they fare in the Truth, and report to next meeting."

8-7-1745: "Friends Expressed their Satisfaction in respect of a visit made to friends on the west side of Susquahana."

9-4-1745: "Friends of Newbery Requests to have a meeting settled, sent to ye Quarterly meet- ing for aprobation."

At Concord Quarterly Meeting, 9-11-1745: "Lea- cock [Sadsbury ] Monthly Meeting Concurring with the friends on the west side of Susquehannah who Continues their request of having a meeting for worship and a preparative meeting settled amongst them, in regard thereto this meeting appoints onr friends, John Smith, John Baldwin, Jacob Way, John Way, Joseph Gibbons, William Levis and Robert Lewis, to give those friends a visitt and Con- sider how far they may be able to keep up a meet- ing with reputation; as also to view and judge of a place sutable to build a meeting-house on, and make report thereof at our next meeting."

12-10-1745: "The Friends appointed by the last Quarterly Meeting to visitt friends on the west side of Susquehannah report they gave those friends a visitt, and after some time spent and Considera- tion had on the affair, do judge as it appeared to them that the friends of Newbery and those of Warrington may keep up a meeting for worship, as also a preparitive mecting with reputation, and Lea- cock Monthly Meeting Continuing their approba- tion of the affair this meeting agrees that the friends of Warrington build a new meeting-house for worship on the land agreed on when friends were there. and to keep their meetings of wor- ship on every first and fourth days of the week, and that Warrington and Newbery have liberty to keep one preparitive meeting till further order."

At Sadsbury Monthly Meeting; 1-3-1745-6: "The Request that went to Last Quarterly Meeting was Granted, i. e. that Newbery Meeting has Liberty to hold meeting of Worship every first day and fourth days of the week, as Warrington has on Every first day and fifth days of the week, and those two meet- ings to make up one preparative meeting: To be held at each place inrn about."

2-7-1746:"Newberry preparative meeting recom- mends John Day and William Garretson for over- seers in that meeting, which is approved on in this meeting till further orders."

At Warrington Monthly Meeting, 2-9-1771: "This meeting received written answers from each of our preparative meetings except Newberry; and it ap- pears that the care of this meeting towards that meeting is necessary, which is left under considera- tion until next meeting,"

4-13-1771: "William Garretson, William Under- wood, William Matthews, William Willis, William Penrose, John Griest and Peter Cleaver are ap- pointed to attend Newberry Preparative meeting and give such assistance as they may be enabled to do."

5-11-1771: "Four of the committee appointed to attend Newberry Preparative meeting, reports they did, and that the cause is not yet removed; this meeting Leaves the case of that meeting under con- sideration until next meeting."

7-13-1771: "Newberry meeting continued under care of a committee."

12-14-1771: "The former committe is Continued to visit Newberry preparative meeting and William Matthews, William Penrose, William Nevit, William Willis and Harman Updegraff, is added to their assistance; and this meeting also appoints them to

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visit Monallin and Huntington Preparative Meetings and make report to next meeting."

5-9-1772: "Part of the Commitee appointed'to visit Newberry preparative meeting reports that they have performed that service, and also reports that they decline answering the quaries, as they ap- prehend it will cause a breach of unity amongst them, which is to be hinted in the report to the Quarterly meeting for their advice and assistance.

6-13-1772: "Agreeable to the request of last meet- ing part of a committee from the Quarterly Meeting attended this meeting. and after some time in delib- eration on the affair advised the meeting to appoint a committee to sit with Newberry and Huntington friends at their preparative meetings, proceeding the Quarterly Meeting, which is left under consid- eration till next meeting."

10-10-1772: "Three of the Committee appointed to visit Newberry preparative meeting, reports that they have performed that service and also report that they are of the mind that a visit of solid friends would be of benefit to that meeting, therefore this meeting appoints William Willis and Benjamin Un- derwood, Ann Steer and Miriam Hussey to sit with them at their next preparative meeting and make report to next meeting.

1-9-1773: The case of Newberry meet- ing left under solid consideration.

7-8-1775: "Some friends living a consid- erable distance from Newberry meeting, near Yellow Britches request to be indulged with holding a week-day meeting at the house of William Maulsby." This place was in what is now Fairview Township. At the last session of the monthly meeting, Isaac Ev- erett, Peter Cleaver, John Garretson Sr., Joseph Elgar, John Underwood, Record Hussey and William Underwood were ap- pointed to sit with them at the place pro- posed to hold said meeting and report. Of the female members of the committee were Mary Chandlee, Jane Taylor, Joanna Heald, Ann Penrose, Hannah Cadwalader and Mar- tha Everett.

A favorable report was granted to allow them to hold a meeting on the fifth day of each week, except the day of Newberry pre- parative meeting, which they were urged to attend. William Mathews, Ellis Lewis, Herman Updegraff, Timothy Kirk, William Garretson, William Penrose were asked to attend their meeting at William Maulsby's house whenever convenient. Of the female members Hannah Mathews, Sarah Kirk, Lydia Updegraff, Ann Penrose, Mary Chand- lee, Rebecca Machlon and Miriam Hussey were appointed to meet with them and join the male friends appointed to that service.

A discussion arose. about building a meet- ing house near the residence of Widow Maulsby's house, in what is now Fairview Township, the religious services having before been held in her house. In 1780 the meeting was changed to the house of Samuel John near the same place. This meet- ing was held at this place because the New-

berry meeting house was not central enough for all members. It continued at the house of Samuel John until 6-12-1784, when a committe consisting of Joseph Updegraff, William Willis, Elisha Kirk, Joseph Elgar, Peter Cleaver, William Kersey, James Thom- as, William Underwood, Daniel Ragan, Ben- jamin Walker, Hannah Willis, Ruth Kirk, Deborah Thomas and Hannah Matthews re- ported that in their judgement this "in- dulged" meeting "would best be discontinued and friends in that locality meet in the old Newberry meeting house. It would thus tend to the preservation of unity but recom- mend the building of a meeting house at a more central place for the body of Friends.

9-13-1794: Newberry meeting stated that there was but one surviving trustee, Samuel - Garretson. James Wickersham and Ezekiel Kirk were then appointed.

12-19-1810: Newberry preparative meet- ing desired to sell land where old meeeting house is built, and purchase other in a more central place, whereupon Jesse Wickersham and George Garretson were appoined trus- tees, who also were requested to secure the passage of an act of legislature to sell the land connected with the old meeting house.

4-23-1823: Joel Garretson and Jesse Wickersham were appointed trustees of New- berry burying ground.

In 1830 Job Hoopes and Benjamin Gar- retson became trustees of meeting house prop- erty.

5 -- 21-1840 : "Newberry friends informed the monthly meeting that they have enclosed a grave- yard at the New Meeting House, and propose clos- ing the former one, it being full."

In 1848 Thomas Garretson was appointed trustee. A proposition to discontinue this meeting in 1855 was withdrawn.

WARRINGTON MEETING.

This and Newberry meeting formed one preparative meeting in 1745-46.

A warrant dated July 5, 1745, was given by John Penn to Thomas Cox, intended to be in trust for the Society of Friends, but he (Cox) procured it in his own name, hence for his own use. He was disowned by the Society and the land by proclamation declared vacant, after which it was patented January 22, 1767, to" William Garretson, William Underwood, William Penrose and Peter Cleaver, and their successors, in trust for the Society of Friends. The deed calls for twenty- nine acres, 156 perches and allowance; was signed by John Penn, then lieutenant-gover- nor.

The land mentioned is located where the Warrington meeting house now stands.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

The following list contains the names of some of the original members, who contrib- uted toward paying for the land warrant and survey :

We, the subscribers, knowing the necessity of public worship, and being destitute of a piece of land to set a meeting house, do, each of us, unite to pay the respective sums under written, in order to get a warrant for twenty-five acres of land adjoin- ing Stephen Ail's (Eyle's) land, as witness our hands.

John Earl .. .58.

Alexander Underwood. .38.

Thomas Cox. .58.

Joseph Garretson .58.

William Garrettson .58.

Christopher Hussey .58.

James Frazer. .4s.

Hall Cox. . .38

Samuel Underwood. .38.

Thomas Cook. .3.8.

Richard Wickersham. .38.

William Underwood. .38.

Peter Cook.

1s. 6d.

Warrington: 6-10-1745.

Received of Thomas Cox two pounds, eight shil- lings and six pence in order to take out a warrant for twenty-five acres of land on a branch of Cone- wago, near Stephen Eyle's. THOMAS COOKSON. 6-20-1745.

At Warrington monthly meeting, 2-16 -- 1748: "friends of Warrington meeting requests to have a preparative meeting settled among them, and friends of Minallen requests to have their meeting settled: the requests is gon in the report to the Quarterly meeting."

At quarterly meeting, 3-9-1748:

The friends of Warrington perticular meeting, with the approbation of their monthly meeting request that they may have the liberty of keeping a preparitive meeting amongst them, which this meeting allow of till further order."

At Warrington monthly meeting. 4-13- 1782:

A committee is appointed to make addi- tions and repairs to Warrington meeting honse to accomodate the quarterly meeting.

11-13-1784:" The Committee appointed to repair this House and build the addition, requested that some Friends might be appointed to settle with them. Therefore James Hancock, Harman Updegraff, Jacob Worley. Joseph Updegraff and Samuel Miller are appointed to that service, to report to next meeting."

8-13-1785: Report .- "We of the Committee appointed to settle the accompts with the Trustees who were appointed to have the care of Building the addition and repairing Warriogton meeting- house, met, and after examining the accompts find that all the meetings have paid in their Quotas except Warrington, which is yet behind the sum of £8: 1: 8, which is due to Benjamin Underwood; and it appears that there yet remains the further sum of €9: 12: 8, due from the Monthly Meeting to him, the whole amounting to £17: 14: 4. Signed by James Hancock. Joseph Updegraff, John Marsh, Harman Updegraff, Samuel Miller."

6-8-1793: "Warrington preparitive meeting informs that they apprehend it may be needful to appoint an additional number of suitable friends as trustees for the Land belonging to their meeting, as three of the former are Deceased: this meeting therefore, after considering that Case appoints

Benj. Walker, Thomas McMillan, Joshua Vale & John Cleaver to that trust."

9-7-1805: "As there has often appeared a diffi- culty with Warrington preparative meeting in rais- ing money necessary for the purposes of Society, under consideration of which this meeting appoints Samuel Garretson, Samuel Miller, Thomas Me- Millan, Robert Vale, John Cleaver, Wm. Edmund- son. Elisha Cook, James Bane & Isaac Kirk to apportion the members of that meeting as justly and nearly agreeable their circumstances as may be, and make report to next meeting of their care therein."

2-20-1822: "Warrington preparative meeting submits the following proposition to this meeting (to wit): propose that the families of friends in the western end of that particular meeting be indulged with a meeting for worship, which being considered this meeting appoints Jesse Wickersham, Thomas Leech, Zephaniah Underwood, Aaron Fraser, Sam- nel Garretson, John I. Garretson, Thomas McMillan, Samuel Cook, Willing Griest and Amos Griffith to unite with a like committee of women friends (Hannah Leech, Phebe Wickersham, Ann Garretson, Sarah Cook and Ruth MeMillan) in considering the subject and report their prospects thereon to next or a future meeting."

5-23-1822: "The committee on the subject of an indulged meeting requests assistance; this meeting, therefore, adds Nathan Thomas, Thomas Garretson, Daniel Cookson, John S. Garretson, Jacob McMillan, Joseph Taylor, John Cleaver and Joseph Garretson, Sarah Cookson, Anne Griest, Susanna Cleaver, Deborah Griffith, Martha Vale, Sarah Walker and Anne Wickersham to that committee."

6 -- 19-1822: The Committee on the in- dulged meeting report they "cannot nnite in believing the time is yet come for a division of Warrington meeting."

3-18-1830: John Cookson and Cyrus Griest are appointed trustees for Warrington meeting house and land in the room of Ben- jamin Walker and John Cleaver, deceased.

4-22-1835: "Warrington preparative meeting proposes Jacob McMillan and Asabel Walker, trus- tees for Warrington meeting house and land in the rooms of Thomas McMillan and Joshua Vale, deceased, which is concurred with and they appointed to the trust."

3 -- 21-1839: Daniel Garretson, Solomon Griest and Josiah Griest are appointed trustees for Warrington meeting house prop- erty in the room of Cyrus Griest, Jacob Mc- Millan and John Cookson.

5-18 -- 1843: John Cook, Sr., and Will- iam Armitage are appointed to have care of Warrington grave-yard and funerals, those formerly appointed having removed.

5-18-1854: William Cadwalader, Asabel Walker and George W. Cook are appointed, on request of Warrington meeting, to have care of the grave yard and oversight of funerals.

4-23-1856: William Cadwalader is ap- pointed trustee for Warrington meeting house property in room of Daniel Garretson.

Warrington Monthly Meeting. - Tbis meet- ing, composed of Newberry and Warrington preparative meetings, was established by

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FRIENDS OR QUAKERS.

authority of the quarterly meeting. In 1747 Sadsbury meeting appointed a committee to visit Friends west of Susquehanna. A favor- able report was made by this committee, 9-9-1747, and liberty granted to organize the meeting "for discipline and the affairs of truth."

The first monthly meeting was held 10-9 -1747, William Underwood was chosen clerk. The Warrington meeting-house was nearly a central point of the settlement of Friends in the northern part of this county at that time, hence it was decided to hold the monthly meeting there, although it was some-

report whether this request be granted. It caused great discussion. Ezekiel Kirk, James Hancock, Miriam Hussey, Deborah Thomas, Ruth Bane, Jane Hussey, Abigail Whinnery, Sarah Williams, Anna Wicker- sham and Sarah Thomas, were added to the committee. In 1794 they report that they " could not unite in sentiment with said re- quest." In 1795, once every three months, the Warrington monthly meeting was ordered to be held at Newberry meeting-house. In 1805, it was ordered by the quarterly meet- ing, that the monthly meeting be held alter- nately at Newberry and Warrington.

WARRINGTON MEETING HOUSE.

times held at Huntingdon (York Springs), and frequently at Newberry. The Warring- ton monthly meeting 4 -- 12-1783, agreed to pay £100 toward building an addition to Warrington meeting house, and £10 for re- pairing old meeting house, which was ordered to be brought to the next monthly meeting.

In 1793, Newberry meeting requests that the monthly meeting be held in their meeting house. Jesse Wickersham, Edward Jones, James Thomas, Benjamin Underwood, Peter Cleaver, Samuel Garretson, Jonathan Marsh, \Joseph Garretson, Thomas Leech, James Bean, John Cleaver, Cornelius Garret- son, Thomas McMillan, William Nevit, Ben. jamin Walker, Ann Marsh, Ann McMillan and Margaret Underwood, were appointed to

YORK MEETING.

In the early history of the settlement of York County, nearly all the emigrants who located north of the Conewago Creek, were members of the Society of Friends. Some came from England, but the vast number of them from New Castle and Chester Counties. As early as 1738, what are termed "indulged meetings" were organized in the townships of Newberry and Warrington. Inasmuch as the province of Pennsylvania was largely at this time under Quaker rule, when the county was organized, three of the five persons ap- pointed as commissioners to make the divis- ion were members of the Society of Friends. John Wright, of Wright's Ferry, was one of them; Thomas Cox, of Warrington, was

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

another, and Nathan Hussey, of Newberry, was the third. When the county seat was located at York, and the courts organized, they manifested their importance in the man- agement of the county affairs. As the courts were held by justices appointed for that pur- pose, the name of John Day, who resided then (1749 at his mill property, twelve and a half miles north of York, was first on the list. In consequence of this, he became the first presiding court justice. He was a mem- ber of the Newberry meeting. John Black- buru, one of his successors, was a member of the Warrington meeting. Business brought them to York, and a number of them soon purchased property in the town and vicinity. Prominent among the first was Nathan Hus- sey, who had settled in Newberry in 1735, coming from Newcastle County, Del. He, William Willis, and a few others, located in the vicinity of York about 1750. In 1754 they obtained permission of the Warrington monthly meeting to hold an "indulged meet- ing" in York.

The original meeting-house, which is yet standing, is located on West Philadelphia Street, opposite the high school building. Meetings are still kept up, though the society is very small at present. The eastern part of the lot ou which the meeting house stands was purchased in the year 1765, from Nathan Hussey, and his wife, Edith, for the use of the Society of Friends. During the follow- ing year the eastern part of the present. building was erected. The records give the following-named persons as contributors:

Nathan Hussey, £15; William Willis, £15; Joseph Updegraff, €15; Joseph Garretson, £12; William Matthews, £12; Herman Updegraff, £12; Jesse Falk- ner, James Love, John Collins, Joseph Collin.

All the best bricks in those days were im- ported from England. The ones which form this building came from there, and were laid by William Willis, whose business was that of a brick-layer and farmer. He owned the land on which the Prospect Hill Cemetery, at York, now is. The familiar Willis' Spring, in that locality, received its name from him. His son, Samuel Willis, a kind-hearted man, whose face and generous disposition are yet remembered by some of the oldest citizens of York, succeeded him in the ownership.

In 1773 the western portion of the lot on · which the meeting-house is built, was donated to the Society of Friends forever. Ten years later the western division of the pres- ent meeting house was added. By this time the membership had greatly increased. War- rington monthly meeting included the pre- parative meetings of York, Newberry, War- rington, Huntingdon and Menallen.

Among the leading preachers who con- ducted services in this meeting house, during the days of the past, were Peter Farnell, Margaret Elgar, William Matthews, deputy State surveyor, Elisha Kirk, Ann Jessop, Jesse Kersey and Thomas Wetherald.

Characteristic of all Friends' ineeting- houses, records of births, marriages, deaths of this one, were carefully kept, as well as minutes of regular meetings. They are still in existence, except those taken away with the flood of the Codorus, in 1817.

Job Scott, one of the most celebrated preachers of the Quaker faith, made a tour of America, visiting the different meetings of his society. In 1790 he came to York County. The following is from a journal published by him the same year:

Coming north from Virginia, I had very good meetings in the meeting houses at Menallen, Hunt- ington (Adams County), Newberry, Warrington and York; at each of these places to my great satis- faction. At York I had three meetings, aud remained some days. I formed a good opinion of the town. On the 6th day of the first month, 1790, I went to a place called Wright's Ferry, on the Susquehanna River, where I had good meetings at the house of the widow Wright.

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 56

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104