USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > Allen > History of the Allen Township Presbyterian church and the community which has sustained it, in what was formerly known as the "Irish settlement," Northampton county, Pa > Part 2
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The ordination and installation was to take place April 2d. The instructions of Presbytery were carried out, as we learn from the following report :
"FORKS OF DELAWARE, April 2d, 1747.
" The Committee appointed by the Presbytery to attend to the ordination of Mr. Daniel Lawrence, viz : Mr. Treat, Mr. Davenport, Mr. McCrea, Mr. Campbell, (Mr. Beatty for good reasons not attending,) did, according to appointment, meet at the place, and having yesterday heard him preach a sermon on John iii, 18, and received his Exegesis (upon the question assigned,) both to good satisfac-
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Irish Settlement.
tion, and there appearing no objection in the way, they proceeded this day according to appointment, with fasting and prayer and imposition of hands, to ordain Mr. Lawrence to the Gospel ministry over this people. Concluded with prayer and blessing. Then and there it was agreed by the representatives of the two settlements that they have and desire to be united ; that so long as Mr. Lawrence shall con- tinue to be minister to them both that he shall preach two-thirds of his time at the western settlement, and the other one-third part at the northern without any alteration except by judgment of Presbytery."
Thus did Mr. Lawrence commence his pastoral labors at the Settlement, April 2d, 1747, devoting to them two-thirds of his time. On account of some difficulty with the people, as well as ill-health, he spent the winter of 1747, and spring of 1748, at Cape May.
At a meeting of the Synod of New York, convened at Maidenhead, May 18th, 1748, we find the following record. At the sitting of the Synod on the forenoon of May 19th, "motion was made to the Synod in behalf of Cape May, in order to have some provision made for the settle- ment of a minister there. The Synod proceeded to consider the motion respecting Cape May, and in order to the relief of that people, the Synod doth recommend to the Presbytery of New Brunswick to send down Mr. Lawrence immediately for a few Sabbaths."
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Irish Settlement.
Thus it would seem Mr. Lawrence, by his sojourn at Cape May during the winter opened the way for his return thither in the spring, as above indicated. How long he remained there at this time does not appear. It was probably, however, only for the few Sabbaths indicated. Return- ing to the Settlement he seems to have continued his labors until the spring of 1752.
In the meantime the Synod of New York organized a new Presbytery called Abington. This occurred in 1751. The new Presbytery was to be composed of those members of the Presbytery of New Brunswick who lived in Pennsylvania, and those who lived in New Jersey, "to the southward of Philadelphia, bordering upon Delaware."
Thus the Church in the Settlement with its pastor came under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of Abington.
The first meeting of the Presbytery, by direction of Synod, was on the third Wed- nesday of May, (20th,) 1752, in the city of Philadelphia. At this meeting, "Cape May supplicated that Mr. Lawrence might be sent. unto them on trial for settlement, in case he be liberated from his present charge." The matter of the dissolution of the pastoral relation between Mr. Lawrence and the Church in the Settlement, came up
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for consideration in Presbytery the next day. After hearing Mr. Lawrence and the commissioners from the congregation, the Presbytery finally dissolved the pastoral relation, assigning as a reason for doing so, the feeble health of Mr. Lawrence and the prospect of his recovery by remov- ing to some other field of labor. Thus the Church became vacant May 21st, 1752.
During Mr. Lawrence's ministry, we find the following names as being, at least financially, connected with the church : John Boyd, Wm. Young, George Gibson, Robert Gibson, James Hope, John Riddle, Widow Dobbin, James Kerr, Widow King, James Craig, Wm. Craig, Thomas Craig, James Ralston, Joseph Perry, James Perry, James Egleson and Andrew Mann.
These are the first names entered in the first account book extant of the congrega- tion. We find the following inscript on written upon the (inside) cover of this book :
" The account book of the congregation of the West Branch of Delaware in the Forks, Jan. 9th, 1749. The payments to commence May Ist, 1749, and continue according to terms."
The Church, during its early history, was designated by the name of "Forks of Delaware," as well as Allentown. After Mr. Lawrence left the congregation, in
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1752, till 1761, they were supplied princi- pally by Presbytery.
As appears from the records of the Presbyteries, these supplies were as follows: Immediately upon the dissolution of the pastoral relation, the commissioners from the congregation present at that meeting of the Presbytery, May 21st, 1752, asked for supplies. In answer to this request Mr. Lawrence was to supply two Sabbaths, Mr. Charles Beatty, two; Mr. James(?) Campbell, two; Mr. Thomas Lewis, one. Further, provisionally, Mr. Beatty, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Richard Treat and Mr. Lewis were to supply them, each one Sabbath in addition.
At the meeting of Presbytery at Phila- delphia, Sept. 19th, 1752, supplies were asked for.
Mr. Lawrence was appointed to preach four Sabbaths; Mr. Beatty, two; Mr. Camp- bell, two; and "if Mr. Morrison be at liberty he is desired to supply this winter between Tehicken and the Forks."
At Presbytery in Philadelphia, May 16, 1753, supplies were asked for. Mr. Law- rence was appointed to supply "two or three at the Forks."
June 20th, of this year, preaching was again applied for, and Mr. Henry (?) Martin was sent to preach four Sabbaths. At Philadelphia, Oct. 4th, 1753,
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" Application was also made from both settlements in the Forks of Delaware for supplies, and the North Branch particularly desire leave to apply to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, or any other Presbytery belonging to our Synod, for the same purpose.'
The next month, Nov. 21st, there was a meeting of Presbytery in Philadelphia, at which time Mr. Benjamin Chestnut was appointed to preach four Sabbaths, and Mr. Henry Martin four. At this meeting the Presbytery said :
"The Forks of Delaware have full lib- erty to make application to any Presby- tery belonging to our Synod for as much supply as they can afford."
At a meeting of the Presbytery, at New- ton, April 9th, 1754, Mr. Martin reported that he had preached two of the Sabbaths of his appointment at the "Forks," but had failed the other two for reasons which were sustained by the Presbytery.
At this meeting appointments were made for the Settlement, as follows :
Rev. Andrew Hunter, third and fourth Sabbaths of September; Mr. Chestnut, four Sabbaths ; Mr. Martin, two ; Mr.
Beatty, two. These appointments were subsequently reported complied with.
Philadelphia, November 5th, 1754. Mr. Hunter was appointed to supply three
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Sabbaths; and Mr. Martin, two; which were complied with.
Philadelphia, May 28th, 1755. Mr. Law- rence was sent to supply the first Sabbath of October; Mr. Martin, two Sabbaths ; and Mr. Chestnut, two.
At this meeting of Presbytery, " the con- gregation in the Forks of the Delaware" asked permission to present a call to a "candidate," under the care of the Presby- tery of New Brunswick, and if he did not accept, asked for what supplies the Presby- tery might be able to give them.
This request was acceded to, but whow the call was made out for does not appear. That it was not accepted is manifest from the fact that the congregation remained vacant for several years after.
Philadelphia, October 21st, 1755. Mr. Beatty, Mr. Chestnut and Mr. Martin were appointed to supply each one Sab- bath, and fulfilled their appointments.
Philadelphia, September 21st, 1756. Mr. Beatty appointed to supply three Sabbaths ; Mr. Chestnut, three; and Mr. Martin, two, before the next (May) meeting of the Pres- bytery.
Philadelphia, May 24th, 1757. Rev. Wm. Ramsey appointed to supply the last Sabbath in June and first two in July; Mr. Martin, two, before next meeting of Presbytery; Mr. Chestnut, the first two
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Sabbaths in August; and Mr. Beatty, the first Sabbath in September.
Philadelphia, October 4th, 1757. Mr. Martin appointed to preach four Sabbaths ; Mr. Beatty, one; and Mr. Chestnut, the second Sabbath of November.
Philadelphia, May
I 7th, 1758. Mr. Chestnut, to preach two Sabbaths ; and Mr. Martin to devote one-fourth of his time to the Church in the Settlement.
Philadelphia, November 30st, 1758. Mr. Chestnut appointed to preach two Sabbaths in the fall, and two in the spring ; and Mr. Martin, to preach four Sabbaths, two of them to be in the winter.
Philadelphia, May 15th, 1759. Rev. James Latta appointed to preach the fourth and fifth Sabbaths in September ; Mr. Chestnut, four Sabbaths, two of them being the last Sabbath in July and the first in August; Mr. Beatty, two Sabbaths; and Mr. Martin, " as much as he can."
Philadelphia, October 2d, 1759. Pres- bytery appointed that Mr. Martin preach four Sabbaths; Mr. Chestnut, four ; Rev. John Simonton, two; and Mr. Beatty, two. Philadelphia, May 14th, 1760. Rev. Joseph Montgomery to preach one Sab- bath ; and Mr. Latta, two.
Philadelphia, August 20th, 1760. Mr. Latta to supply two Sabbaths.
Philadelphia, November 20th, 1760. Mr.
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Latta, to supply two Sabbaths before the next meeting of Presbytery; and Mr. Chestnut, two Sabbaths in March.
Thus is completed the list of supplies for this long vacancy.
In addition to these supplies, furnished by the Presbyteries of Abington and Phila- delphia, under whose jurisdiction the Church was during this vacancy, we find, from evidence preserved in the bounds of the congregation, that Rev. Benjamin Hait, of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, preached in 1758; and Rev. Thomas Lewis, of the Presbytery of Suffolk, preached in 1759.
Notwithstanding this long vacancy in the pastorate, the congregation seems to have been in a prosperous condition, as the following record goes to show :
"August 2Ist. This day, as some people of this congregation hath for some time past wanted convenient seats, it is unani- mously agreed to allow one long seat on each side, viz : one before Wm. Hazlet, to John Hays and son, and one on the other side to John Clendinen. Also, it is pro- posed to set one short seat on the upper side of the pulpit. It is agreed that the above-mentioned seats are only to accom- modate people for the present, till other accommodations be made."
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CHAPTER II.
1761-1783.
N 1758, the Old Side and New Light parties in the Presbyterian Church united. This made some changes necessary in the arrangement of Presby- teries. Accordingly the Presbytery of Abington, which had belonged to the New Light party, was merged into that of Philadelphia. The Church in the Set- tlement, therefore, now came under the care of the Presbytery of Philadelphia.
At a meeting of this Presbytery, in Philadelphia, Aug. 13th, 1761, Rev. John Clark presented his credentials from the Presbytery of New Brunswick and was received a member of the Presbytery. The same day a call was presented to him from the "Forks of Delaware." He took the matter under consideration until the next meeting. In the meantime he was directed to supply " at the Forks of Dela- ware in the following manner, viz: two Sabbaths at Allenstown and oneat Hunters' Settlement, interchangeably, except two Sabbaths at Tehicken."
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Here, it will be observed, the church began to assume the name of Allentown, to more clearly distinguish it from the other church in the "Forks," Mt. Bethel, at Hunter's Settlement.
For some reason, which does not clearly appear, the congregation became divided upon the subject of calling Mr. Clark. At the next meeting of the Presbytery, Nov. 17th, 1761, both parties appeared, to press their views in the matter. The one party did not wish the Presbytery to permit Mr. Clark to accept the call which he had under consideration ; the other insisted upon their right to call him. The Presbytery in- quired of the commissioners from the con- gregation, who favored the calling of Mr. Clark, whether they thought they were able to support him as promised in their call, in case the opposing party declined to assist. If they thought they could they were granted liberty to prosecute their call, leaving the opposing party to act according to their own judgment. It seems the friends of Mr. Clark expressed their ability to fulfil their promises to him, as, at a later hour of the same day, " Mr. Clark signified to the Presbytery his acceptance of the call from the Forks of Delaware, in which they promise him, during his continuance with them as a regular Gospel 3
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minister, the sum of * pounds per annum and the use of a parsonage."
At this meeting of Presbytery, Mr. Latta was appointed to preach at the Settlement three Sabbaths in March; and Mr. Chest- nut, the last Sabbath of November. It would seem the dissatisfied ones in the congregation were not disposed to acqui- esce in the settlement of Mr. Clark, as we find that at the meeting of Presbytery in Philadelphia, April 6th, 1762, “A few people in the Forks of Delaware applied for preaching."
It seems there were criminations and recriminations. The installation of Mr. Clark had been defer- red up to this time, probably on account of the difficulties in the congregation. Now, however, a request was preferred for his installation. The request was acceded to by Presbytery, but the time for the installation was to be fixed at the next meeting. Accordingly, May 18th, 1762, at Philadelphia, the Presbytery fixed Wed- nesday, October 13th, following, as the day for Mr. Clark's installation. Rev. Richard Treat was to preside and preach the sermon. Rev. Henry Martin, Rev. James Latta, and Rev. Charles Beatty, were to assist in the other parts of the service.
This committee reported to Presbytery, Nov. 9th, 1762, that they had installed Mr. Clark according to appointment.
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Thus the church came under the care of a regular pastor again, Oct. 13th, 1762. In order that the ecclesiastical connections of the church may be properly traced, it should be remembered that during this year, 1762, the Presbytery of Philadelphia was divided. The two Presbyteries were designated respectively First and Second Presbyteries of Philadelphia. The Church in the Settlement was under the care of the First Presbytery. It should be remem- bered also, that Mr. Clark was installcd pastor of the two congregations, Allentown and Mount Bethel. It seems the troubles in the Settlement Church well nigh, if not wholly, subsided after the installation of Mr. Clark. Apparently things moved along smoothly in the pastoral charge until 1766. October 26th, 1766, however, diffi- culties in the Mount Bethel Church were brought to the attention of Presbytery. Mr. Clark desired to be released from his pastoral charge. This was not acceded to by Presbytery, but all parties were coun- seled to exercise Christian forbearance, and settle their difficulties in an amicable manner. Thus things were quieted down till the next spring. April 7th, 1767, how- ever, the Mount Bethel people asked Presbytery to appoint a committee to inquire into their affairs, and call Mr. Clark to account upon some charges which they
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desired to prefer against him. Mr. Clark made a satisfactory explanation to Presby- tery in regard to the matters, and Rev. Charles Beatty and Rev. Wm. Ramsey were sent to Mount Bethel as a healing committee. Notwithstanding this, May 2Ist, 1767, commissioners from Mount Bethel reported to Presbytery that there was no hope of peace and reconciliation among them; whereupon Rev. Richard Treat, Rev. Enoch Green and Rev. Benja- min Chestnut, from the First Philadelphia Presbytery, were added to the committee already appointed, and Rev. John Hanna, Rev. Wm. Kirkpatrick, and Rev. John Rosbrugh, of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, were invited to meet with them at Mount Bethel on the third Tues- day of June, and endeavor to settle the difficulties. Nov. 3d, 1767, this committee reported that some of them had fulfilled the duties of their appointment, but as there was not a quorum present, they had taken no decisive action. They had, how- ever, endeavored to allay the existing animosities.
The next day, however, November 4th, owing to the gloomy aspect of affairs and bodily weakness of the pastor, Presbytery released Mr. Clark from his pastoral charge. Thus the Church in the Settle-
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ment became vacant again, November 4th, 1767.
It was during Mr. Clark's ministry that we have the first recorded Indian murder in the Settlement. The victim was the wife of James Horner, one of the early settlers. Her remains lie in the old church yard. Having traced the pastorate of this period to its close, we return to the secu- lar affairs of the congregation. In 1761, the congregation purchased a piece of land from Samuel Wilson, containing about eighty-two acres, for a parsonage farm. The transfer was made in the name of Thomas Armstrong and James Ralston, as contributors to the purchase price. They were to hold it in trust for the congrega- tion. These eighty-two acres were a part of a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, purchased by Samuel Wilson from Zecha- riah and David Jones, " of White Clay Creek Hundred, (?) in the county of New Castle, upon Delaware." David and Zecha- riah Jones, here spoken of, were the heirs and executors of the will of their father, Morgan Jones, of "Hundred of Pecander, in county of New Castle, upon Delaware." The assignment made by them to Samuel Wilson was on January Ist, 1761. The assignment made by Samuel Wilson, of the eighty-two acres, was on March 2d, 1761.
The purchase price was two hundred
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and two pounds. The situation of this parsonage farm was perhaps a half mile or a mile north of the present village of How- ertown. As the property was simply held by Thomas Armstrong, and James Ral- ston, in trust for the congregation, it was deemed necessary to make some public declaration as to whom the property in reality belonged; and what the original intent was in its purchase; and also to bind those who might come after them in the trust, so that the property thus belong- ing to the congregation might not be squandered, and the trust abused. Ac- cordingly, in 1767, Thomas Armstrong and James Ralston made a declaration, the purport of which was as follows :
The property, although deeded over to them in person, did not belong to them exclusively, but they were only contribu- tors to the purchase price, together with others. Their names were only used in the transfer, at the special request of the other contributors. The names of the other contributors were James Craig, Arthur Lattimore, Charles Wilson, John Walker, James Kerr, William Heaslet, James Horner, John Riddle, David Cham- bers, John Ralston, Mary King, Robert Lattimore, William McNair, John McNair, and Alexander Dobbin, of Allen Township, and Thomas Herron, of Moore Township.
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Samuel Wilson, from whom the property was purchased, was himself a contributor. The trustees could not sell the property, without the consent of a majority of the contributors, or their heirs. This consent had to be given in writing, and signed by the contributors or their heirs. In case any one of the original contributors died before such consent might be required, his or their heirs had the right to vote instead. The heirs, however, could only cast one vote, and this was by the oldest living son. If no son happened to be alive to cast the vote, then the oldest living daughter had the right to vote. If there was no daugh- ter, then the principal heir mentioned in the will of the deceased contributor. And if such heir was not alive, then the oldest son or daughter of such heir was to vote, as in the case of the son or daughter of the contributor himself. This consent being thus obtained, the trustees had a right to sell the property and make a deed for the same. They also had the power to sue for any portion of the sale price, if it was necessary. The price of the property was to be divided among the contributors, or their heirs, in proportion to the amounts respectively contributed. A list of the contributors, with the amounts contributed, was given to determine the pro rata of dis- tribution, if it should ever be needed. If
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the price of the property was received in payments, the trustees were to divide each payment in the proper proportions. They were not to bear more than their proper proportion of the expenses attending the sale of the property or the collection of the money for which it was sold. They were not bound to proceed to the collection of such money without the direction of the contributors or their heirs, and not then until money was furnished them to defray the expense of such collection ; nor were they responsible for the loss by bankruptcy, or any other cause over which they had no control, of any part of the price.
Such was the jealous care with which the interests of the Church and people were watched over.
About this time the congregation in the Settlement became weakened, probably on account of the formation of the Associate Presbyterian Church. The seceded min- isters came to Pennsylvania in 1754. They had a congregation at Deep Run. They built a church at Howertown, but never had a minister. The Rev .. Wm. Marshall, of Philadelphia, Clerk of the Associate Presbytery, however, visited them from time to time. Many of the Associate ministers and churches joined with the Reformed Presbyterians in form- ing the Associate Reformed Presbyterian
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body. The faithful remnant in the "Forks" would not acquiesce, and removed to West- ern Pennsylvania. The old log church is gone and the graves near it are overgrown with trees.
The vacancy in the Settlement Church, after Mr. Clark left, was not of long dura- tion. From time to time supplies were granted by Presbytery. The next spring after Mr. Clark left, the Presbytery, May 28th, 1768, sent Rev. Alexander Mitchell to supply two Sabbaths, and again, Nov .. 23d, to supply one Sabbath.
March 29th, 1769, the Settlement people asked permission of Presbytery to present a call to Rev. John Rosbrugh, of the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick. They were advised to secure, in connection with Mt. Bethel, as much of Mr. Rosbrugh's time as they could. As Mr. Rosbrugh was con- nected with the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, the people thought it would be to- their advantage to be transferred from the care of the First Philadelphia Presbytery to that of the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick .. They, therefore, petitioned the Synod, convened at Philadelphia, May 23d, I 769, to transfer them to the care of the latter Presbytery. The committee from the congregation and both Presbyteries: concerned were heard, after which the Synod deemed it not expedient at that 3*
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time to accede to the request. They, however, directed the First Presbytery of Philadelphia to inquire more particularly into the circumstances of the congregation, and if they found it expedient, they were empowered to transfer them according to their desire.
The Presbytery did inquire into the matter. In the meantime, Nov. 9th, 1769, the people asked for supplies. In answer, Mr. Mitchell was sent to preach one Sab- · bath in the fall, and Mr. Boyd one Sabbath in the spring.
At the same time Presbytery expressed the hope that a part of the time of Mr. Rosbrugh might be secured. They also suggested the propriety of Mr. Rosbrugh's connecting himself with the First Philadel- phia Presbytery.
In pursuance of the action of 1769, we find the following minute made by Synod, May 21st, 1770, while in session in New York :
"The First Presbytery of Philadelphia reported that, in compliance with an order of Synod last year, they had, in conjunction with the Presbytery of New Brunswick, inquired particularly into the state and connections of the congregation of Allen- town, in the Forks of Delaware, and it is the unanimous opinion of both Presbyteries that it is at present most subservient to
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the interests of religion in those parts, for the Presbytery of New Brunswick to take under their care, not only the congregation of Allentown, but also the congregation of Mt. Bethel, both of which are in the Forks. of Delaware, and both which have been under the care of the First Philadelphia. Presbytery. The Synod therefore orders the Presbytery of New Brunswick to take both the said congregations under their care for the future."
Thus was the church returned to the care of the New Brunswick Presbytery, from which it was separated by the erection, of the Presbytery of Abington in 1751.
Whilst these matters were going on in the Synod, and First Philadelphia Presby- tery, corresponding movements had existed. in the Presbytery of New Brunswick which were calculated to lead Mr. Rosbrugh to: the pastorate of the Church in the Settle- ment. April 19th, 1768, that Presbytery had directed him to preach one Sabbath at. the Settlement before the spring meeting of the Presbytery. April 18th, 1769, he: was released from his former pastoral. charge, and the same day received a call: to the Church in the Settlement, in con- nection with the church at Greenwich .. He was granted permission to accept this call upon condition that the Allentown Church should be transferred to the care
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