USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 24
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" GREATSWAMP."
size, one might suppose the place to be of little importance by its neglected appearance inside. But the size, and the substantial enclosure are abundant proof that a community was greatly interested in perpetuating what to-day is not visible. This wall is the crystallized thought of a commu- nity, its visible testimony to buried interests within. This walled cemetery is about 100 feet square, and if the ground is fully occupied, as it seems to be, about 400 people lie buried here.
The Old Deed.1-Having learned something of the old cemetery, and its importance to the community, it will be of much interest to know something about the deed that estab- lished upon a little spot of ground, of which the cemetery is a part, such an important educational and religious center. It was almost three years from the time I began work upon the history of Greatswamp, until I found trace of this im- portant old document. I am greatly indebted to Rev. Jacob Rothrock,2 a lineal descendant of one of the Brethren fam- ilies of Rothrocks, of Greatswamp, and whose ancestors are buried in the old cemetery, for the privilege of copying from the Old Deed. In copying from this historic paper, I have followed literally the spelling and capitalization, so as not to destroy its unique identity.
To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come John Kram, of lower Sacon township in the County Northampton, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yeomen Peter Kram of the Same Place, yeomen Henry Kram of the Same Place yeomen Sons of Jacob Kram late of lower sacon township, Deceased Susana Kram Catarina Rigel Daughters of the Said Jacob Kram Deceased Send greeting Whereas Jacob Kram aforesaid Shortly before his Death Did order Peter Rhoads to Devide his land to and Among his Sons and to make Respective Draughts thereof and also Did order and Direct the Said Sur- veyor to Survey off a Certain piece at the Northwest Corner of his mill land Beginning in the graveyard being the North- west Corner of this land thence extenting by land of Isaac Rothdrock South four degrees and a half East eight perches
1 The Original in possession Rev. Jacob Rothrock.
2 Pastor of the Reformed Church, Lansdale.
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and four tenths of a perch to a post thence by his other land North Seventy-Seven degrees East ten perches and four tenths of a perch to a post North thirteen Degrees West to a post in in a line Between the Said Kram and Isaac Rothdrock four perches and four tenths of a perch thence by land of Said Isaac Rothdrock North Seventy nine Degrees and three quarters of a Degree ten perches to the Place of beginning Containing Sixty four perches of land which land So Described and Containing Sixty four perches the said Said Jacob Kram being intented by lawful Conveyance to give grant and Confirm unto the menoist and Baptice Societice for to Build a house thereon for Keeping School and Buplic worship therein and also for a graveyard for the Said Societice and other Neighbours which will chose to Burying their Deat (which Diet a Christian Death,) therein and to hold a Burial Sermon in the Said School house.
But whereas the Said Jacob Kram before he could Complete his intention being taken with hard Sickness and made his last will and Testament by which he ordained and Devised all his other land Except the above Discribed Sixty four Perches and also Did ordain and Devise of all his Personall Estate But Did not Mention and Direct anything of the aforesaid Sixty four perches of land it is suposed that he hath forgot by the hart paine of his Sickness and Did Die in Respect to the Said Sixty four Perches of land intested. But whereas all the chil- dren then alive of the Said Jacob Kram being Contented with the mind of their father and did Wish that the Said Land might be Confirmed unto the Said Societice.
But being allso Delayed until their two Brothers also Did Die intested.
Now Know Ye all whom May Concern that we John Kram Peter Kram Henry Kram Catarina Rigel and Susanna Kram in Consideration of the love which we bearing to the Said Soci- etice as also for the Desire which we bearing that the intention and mind of our father the Said Jacob Kram might be fulfilled hath Respectively for our Self and our Respective heirs Re- leased Granted and Confirmed and by these present Do Re- lease Grant and Confirm unto Samuel Kauffman of lower Sacon township County and Commonwealth aforesaid in trust and be- half of the Said menoist Societice and unto Samuel Rothdrok of the Same place in trust and behalf of the Said Baptic Societice all our Right title intress Claim and Demand of in and to the above Discribed Sixty four perches of land Here- ditaments and Appurtenances to have and to hold the Said
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"GREATSWAMP."
Sixty four perches of land Hereditaments and Appurtenances unto them the Said Samuel Kauffman and Samuel Rothdrock and their Successors in trust of the Said Societice to the only and proper use and behoof of the Said Societice for the use allthough as it is above Declared and Described Being the inten- tion of the Said Jacob Kram Deceased for ever and the Said John Kram Peter Kram Henry Kram Catarina Rigel and Su- sanna Kram Do testify that their Brothers Jacob and Abraham when they being alive they was of the Same mind with them and would have Done the Same as they themself have Done by these Present In Witness Whereof the Said Peter Kram John Kram Henry Kram Catarina Rigel and Susanna Kram have to these Present Set their Hand and Seal this first Day of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight Hundret and two.
JOHANES KRAM (Seal) PETER KRAM (Seal) HENRY KRAM (Seal) her CATARINA X RIGEL (Seal) mark her SUSANNA X KRAM (Seal) mark
It will be seen by the foregoing deed that the survey was made during the life time of Jacob Kram, and by his direc- tion, and likely the ground was occupied as designed many years before the deed was made. It will be noticed, further, that the graveyard was in existence already when the survey was ordered,-" Beginning in the graveyard, etc." How many years intervened I do not know, but we do know that Jacob Kram and two of his sons died before the deed was finally made.
It is impossible to trace the history of the house, that was used for a long time, for school and church services. It is said it was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt. It seems in time there was no minister living there, and the Brethren from Indian Creek filled the appointments. The house was old and dilapidated, and the membership having nearly died out, the place was abandoned. With the introduction of the
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public school system, the place was handed over to the school directors, with the provision that the meeting house benches should be stored in the loft of the new school house, and on funeral occasions, the school desks should be re- moved and the benches brought down for the seating of the funeral assembly. Rev. Rothrock informs me, that as a boy, he assisted twice in making this preparation for funerals. No funeral probably was held here for many years. After the building of churches, funeral services were held elsewhere, and other graveyards located, and the place is little used now. It is a long chapter that extends backward into the forgotten past. The history of these generations is finished, and for the most part it is a sealed volume. A brick school house still stands on this historic spot, a living monument that reflects the light that shines out of past.
INDIAN CREEK MEETING HOUSE.
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN CREEK CHURCH.
Geographically, the early Indian Creek field was of vast extent, without boundaries of any kind, or congregational lines.
The Brethren have lived and labored here for one hun- dred and ninety-four years, and the field was once exceed- ingly rich in religious and family history, but much of it has passed into oblivion many years ago. While the Great- swamp Brethren Church was the first organized congrega- tion, the first preaching services by the Brethren were held in the present bounds of the Indian Creek, and when the Greatswamp ceased to exist as an organization, the entire region became Indian Creek territory, and the Indian Creek ministers supplied the preaching that revived the work, which later became the Springfield congregation. It is impossible to say now when the first regular preaching services were held in Indian Creek, or, indeed, when the church was organized. We do know, however, that some of those who constituted the first emigration of 1719, settled in the Skippack region, and were visited by the Ger- mantown ministers even before the Germantown Church was organized.
"Now we must consider the movements of the Baptists at Germantown. Peter Becker, in pursuance of the Superin- tendent's counsel, with two other Brethren, undertook in the autumn of 1722, a journey to all their Brethren scattered throughout the land, which was their first church visitation in America. They traveled through the regions of Shippack (Skippack), Falckner's Swamp, Oley, etc."1
'Again, in 1724, after Germantown was organized, when 1 See Chronicon, page 22.
20
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the famous Missionary Journey was undertaken, this same region was visited :
" Now, after God had so manifestly blessed their labors, they sought to work forward to meet the awakening, and resolved to undertake a general visitation to all their Brethren in the whole country. They fixed upon the twenty-third day of Oc- tober, of the year 1724, as the time for starting on their visita- tion from Germantown. They first went to Schippack (Skip- pack), etc."1
It is evident, therefore, from these and other records, that the Indian Creek territory early received attention from Germantown, and continued to do so for many years. We know, furthermore, that one of the Germantown minis- ters2 settled on the Indian Creek very early, and at the time of the first Lovefeast in Germantown, he is counted one of the members of the Germantown Church. It is not strange, therefore, that Indian Creek seems to have been regarded for many, many years, as a part, or branch, of Germantown.
Although I have continued diligent research for several years, I have been unable to find satisfactory data of the his- tory of the earlier periods of Brethren activity in the Indian Creek. I must be content, therefore, with tracing some iso- lated facts, and a brief history of the lives of some of the most prominent Elders, and their families. It is altogether likely that some ministers, even prominent in their day, have entirely escaped notice. Little remains of the earliest period after a lapse of one hundred and ninety years. What a wealth of history has perished where death has garnered six generations! The little that remains was far too valu- able to be consigned to entire oblivion. Even what seemed to be so barren a field has yielded gratifying results, and I am sincerely thankful for even meager gleanings from many sources. I can only hope that what is here set forth will inspire some one to continue a faithful research for rich rewards that are yet possible, though now covered beneath the dust of a century, and more.
1 See Chronicon, p. 24.
2 See discussion of the Price family, later in this chapter.
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INDIAN CREEK CHURCH.
THE PRICE FAMILY.3
The history of this noted family for the past two hundred years, if it could be written, would fill a large volume. A brief sketch here is due this family, which has been promi- nent in the activities of the Church of the Brethren through- out her history in America. Jacob Price, or (John Jacob Preis), was the ancestor of the Price family in America. He was a noted preacher among the Brethren in Europe, almost as soon as the Church was organized. He came to America with the first emigration, in 1719. He settled for a short time in Germantown, where he became acquainted with Dirk Johnson, who about this time had obtained a warrant for 500 acres of land, on or near the Indian Creek. This warrant was granted August 15, 1719, and on Feb- ruary 19, 1720, 500 acres were surveyed for him. On the following 20th of June, 1720, Jacob Price purchased 200 acres from Dirk Johnson and wife, Margaret. This lo- cated Jacob Price on the Indian Creek, where his descend- ants have resided ever since, and the Price homestead has continued in the family until the present time. Jacob Price made considerable improvements on his farm, but he never became a naturalized citizen. He had an only son, whose name was John, who was born in Germany, and was in his seventeenth year when he came to America.
The following published account is quoted in "Sketches: of Lower Salford Township":
"Aaron, the brother of Moses, was hardly more distin- guished as the lineal head of the Hebrew priesthood, than was Jacob Price as the progenitor and head of a line of Elders and ministers among the German 'Baptists, or 'Dunkers' (Brethren), of Pennsylvania, continuing down to the present day. This Jacob Price, who was born in Witgenstein, Prussia, about the beginning of the eighteenth century (earlier), emi- grated in 1719, and settled at Indian Creek, Lower Salford
3 We are largely indebted to Abraham H. Cassel for the facts in re- gard to the earlier history of the Price family. He furnished much valuable information to Jas. Y. Heckler for his "Historical Sketches of Lower Salford Township," a copy of which was kindly loaned me by N. F. Heckler, and I hereby acknowledge my indebtedness to all .- The Author.
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Township, Montgomery County, where he took up land. He was small in stature-rather imperfectly developed physically- and not commanding in appearance, but a powerful preacher.
"This man had one son, Johannas, also a minister at an early age. He became noted for his aptness in writing poetry. In 1753, Christopher Sower, of Germantown, published a col- lection of his hymns, but in spite of his talents he became so weakly that his father feared that he would not live to have issue, and, so anxious was the parent to leave a name and posterity behind him that he encouraged his son to marry while still very young. He did so and was blessed with two sons."
It seems to be a well established fact that the wife of this John was a beautiful Indian maiden who was selected for her physical perfection. One traditional account states that when the Indians removed from the neighborhood this beautiful girl, sick with fever, was left behind. Jacob Price, the father, was out hunting, and discovered the sick girl. He took her to his home, where she was tenderly nursed to health, and became the wife of John the weakly son. Another account says, her people lived in a log house, on the farm, on the other side of Indian Creek. She bore her husband two sons, the second born after the death of his father. When John Price died, it is said, the young widow in her sadness, longed for her own people and joined them, while the grandfather, Jacob, raised the two infant sons, Daniel and John. Certain it is that this woman has infused new life into the Price family, that has continued for a century and a half, and all her descendants may be proud of such blood and vigor.
Jacob, being well advanced in years and bodily infirm, his son, John, now being dead, conveyed his plantation, con- taining 200 acres, to his oldest grandson, Daniel, with all the power vested in himself, being an alien and no citizen, February 7, 1741, on condition that he would pay to his brother, John, £600 in lawful money of Pennsylvania, or give him his equal half of the 200 acres. To secure the pay- ment thereof, Daniel gave his bond for the said amount, and in case Jacob, their grandfather, should die before John was of lawful age the money was to be given to Jacob Reiff in
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INDIAN CREEK CHURCH.
trust for the said John Price. The £600 were paid to his brother, John, April 3, 1753, when the latter signed a release, acknowledging the receipt of the said sum and re- nouncing all claim to the land. Daniel Price made applica- tion to have the plantation legally conveyed to him by patent which "was obtained from the Honorable John Penn, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, December 10, 1742." This established Daniel Price on the ancestral homestead, and his male descendants became prominent elders and minis- ters in Indian Creek, Coventry, Green Tree, Germantown, Upper Dublin, Hatfield, Springfield, and other churches in Eastern Pennsylvania. Some of these will be noticed in proper order, in succeeding pages.
John Price, the younger son before mentioned, in early life removed to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he and his family won high esteem and material prosperity. Some of the descendants are scattered throughout the middle west,-Elder D. E. Price, of Illinois, an ex-moderator of Annual Meeting, being one of them. But this branch of the family forms no part of the present history.
Daniel was born December II, 1723, and he was, there- fore, within one day of 19 years, when he received the patent for his grandfather Jacob's farm. Thus was laid the foundation for the material resources that have served the Price family for so many generations. He seems to have been a man of great energy and industry. "He cleared away the forests and brought the land into service, the meadows into grass, and the fields under cultivation." He added to his possessions, until in 1776, he was assessed for 345 acres. He had thirteen children, but only five sons and two daughters raised families. In 1783 he sold to his son John, 130 acres of the farm; and in 1787, 165 acres to his son William. He died in 1804; aged 80 years, and 2 months. This William increased his holdings until he owned 322 acres. He died at the age of 45 years, in 1805. It will thus be seen that some of these early Prices had' large and valuable possession in farms, and later became mill-owners and merchants here and elsewhere.
The following is a brief tabulation of ministers in the Price family at Indian Creek, and elsewhere:
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ELDERS AND MINISTERS OF THE PRICE FAMILY.
First Generation .- Jacob Price, the great ancestor, was a prominent minister and elder, in Europe and America.
Second Generation .- John Price, son of Jacob, was a minister and poet very young. He died at about 22 years of age.
Third Generation .- There seems to be no record that either Daniel or John, of this generation, was a minister.
Fourth Generation .- John, son of Daniel, son of John, son of Jacob, was for many years the elder of Indian Creek. He died September 7, 1829; aged 77 years, 9 months, and 2 days.
George, of the same generation, and a brother to the above John, moved to Coventry, and was for many years a prominent minister there, and Elder of the Coventry Church from 1810 to 1823.
Fifth Generation .- John, son of the above John, of the fourth generation, was for many years a minister at Ger- mantown and Upper Dublin.
William W., brother of the above John, was a poet, and German hymn writer, a sweet singer, and a celebrated preacher. He was Elder of Indian Creek many years.
John, son of the preceding George of the fourth genera- tion, was the noted "boy preacher," and succeeded his father as Elder of Coventry, from 1823 to 1850.
Sixth Generation .- Isaac, son of the above John, of Cov- entry, was an active and able minister and elder at Green Tree.
George, brother to Isaac above, was a fellow minister with him at Green Tree.
John, Jr., a third brother, was a minister at Coventry, and succeeded his father, John, as Elder of Coventry, from 1850 to 1879.
Henry A., son of Daniel, son of John, son of Daniel, son of John, son of Jacob, was Elder of Indian Creek. He died in 1906.
Caleb, son of Daniel, son of Daniel, son of Daniel, son of John, son of Jacob, was a minister at Hatfield and Upper Dublin.
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INDIAN CREEK CHURCH.
Seventh Generation .- Jonas, son of Jacob, son of Wil- liam W., was for many years one of the leading ministers at Hatfield.
Jacob M., son of Abraham, son of Jacob, is the present Elder at Indian Creek.
Biographies, and creditable notice have been given else- where in this volume to the several Price ministers in their respective congregations of this District. For lack of ma- terial and information, as well as lack of space, I can not give extended biographies of the ministers in the home con- gregation of the Price family. I wish to add, however, a few biographical facts, and a few facts of general interest. The Price family has furnished a large number of teachers as well as preachers, during its succeeding generations. Throughout the history of the Indian Creek Church there have almost always been one or more Price ministers, and much of the time a Price has been Elder in charge.
Bro. Abraham H. Cassel, many years ago, wrote as follows :
"As most of the Prices are living in Montgomery County, and being acquainted with them in all their generations, I would say for them in general that they have ever been identi- fied with the most intelligent people of the country, and ap- pear to have been a priestly race of teachers and preachers as far back as we have any knowledge of them."
Of William W. Price he wrote as follows :
" William W. Price was the youngest son of Elder John Price, of the fourth generation. He was born August 29, 1789, on a part of the old homestead at Indian Creek, and early in life while working yet with his father on the farm manifested an eager desire for knowledge, so that he embraced every opportunity to cultivate his mind, occupying all his spare moments in reading and other studies in which he made great progress until his sixteenth year when he was apprenticed to the tailor trade, which he followed till he arrived to manhood ; then he was requested to teach a school; he accepted the offer and was for several years a successful teacher. In 1813, being then in his twenty-fifth year, he married Mary Reiff and com- menced farming, besides working at his trade whenever he
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could. They had ten children, nine of which grew to man- hood and most of them have families. In 1814 he was elected to the ministry, and about the year 1830, he was advanced to the office of Elder or Bishop, which he filled with untiring zeal and unflinching faithfulness until the day of his death, which occurred August 7, 1849, at the age of nearly sixty years. Of him it may well be said, 'He preached the word ; was instant, in season and out of season,' sowing the divine seed on every side. Besides the cares of a large family and the faithful discharge of duties to the church at home, he traveled a great deal as an Evangelist, visiting the surrounding churches and assisting them at their councils, communion seasons, etc. Occasionally he also took far trips as missionary to other states, and visited many of the churches in Maryland, Virginia, and through the interior of Ohio, long before our modern facilities for travel had been established, going in his own conveyance and also at his own expense, thus practically enforcing the precept: 'Freely ye have received, freely give.' . . . He had a powerful voice and a very retentive memory. Besides his fame as a preacher he was also a great vocalist, having a thorough under- standing of the science of music and sang with a wonderful command and compass of voice. He was also a poet of considerable ability, and wrote quite a number of German hymns, besides making many translations of popular and favorite English verses, a small collection of which were col- lected by me and were published by J. E. Pfautz, at Ephrata, Pa., in 1858. He also wrote several sacred poems of con- siderable length, ... which were never published; besides mis- cellaneous matters in prose and verse."
THE HARLEY FAMILY.
Next to the Price family, in importance, is the Harley family. The latter having fewer prominent men, but its history is as old, and it has exerted likewise a very wide influence in Indian Creek and other Congregations of the District.
Rudolph Harley, Sr., came to America in the first emigra- tion of 1719. We have little positive information, but a few points are important. He is the ancestor of the Harley family in America, and he was a minister at Indian Creek. Upon his arrival in America, he settled in Germantown, and
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INDIAN CREEK CHURCH.
about the year 1733, removed to Amwell, New Jersey. This was about the time when the celebrated Elder John Naas established the work in New Jersey. He seems to have removed to the Indian Creek in 1740, and in the year 1744 purchased from George Stump a farm of 182 acres, which he owned until 1784.
This brief information is mainly from his great-great- grandson, Abraham H. Cassel. A little more information will appear under the head of "Organized Effort."
Information is not at hand to trace this family either by generations or by individuals, but a few facts are inter- esting. Some reference is made to Harleys in the history of other Congregations of the District. The Price and Har- ley families intermarried, and for several generations the work at Indian Creek was largely carried on by these two families. Rudolph Harley, Jr., married Mary, daughter of Elder Peter Becker; and his son, Samuel, married Cath- erine, 2d daughter of Elder Christopher Sower. This is how Elder Peter Becker, Elder Rudolph Harley, Sr., and Christopher Sower, Ist, were great-great-grandfathers to Abraham H. Cassel. He, therefore, represents, in himself, four prominent families of Brethren.
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