USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Brandywine > History of the Presbyterian Church in the Forks of Brandywine, Chester County, Pa. (Brandywine Manor Presbyterian Church), from A.D. 1735 to A.D. 1885 : with biographical sketches of the deceased pastors of the church and of those who prepared for the Christian ministry under the direction of the Rev. Nathan Grier > Part 14
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John Kincaid, Jr.
John Shaw.
James Davidson.
Francis Alexander.
James Heathrington.
Walter Gilkie.
David Cowan.
The above subscription was made when the Congregation at Octo- raro agreed to take two-thirds of Mr. Boyd's time.
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APPENDIX.
F. EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THIE SYNOD OF NEW BRUNSWICK.
MAIDENHEAD,* May 18th, 1748.
A call was brought into the Synod to be presented to the Rev. Mr. Dean from Timber Ridge and Forks of James River, the Synod refer the consideration thereof to the Presbytery of New Castle to which Mr. Dean doth belong, and do recommend it to said Presbytery to meet in Mr. Dean's meeting-house on Wednesday next upon said affair, and that Mr. Dean and his people be speedily apprised of it.t
G.
September 18th 1760 MR. CARMICHAEL
DEAR SR, Circumstances of Brandywine Again Oblidge us to Renew our Adress. Sr. we have the pleasure to Inform You that your one Visit has been Remarkably Blessd for the Uniting this people. Each person upon All Occasions Expressing their warmest Sentiments & Close Attachmt & Looks upon You as the only Gentleman that has preached in this place soe Every way Adapted to its Sittuation & are Morally Assured that your taking the pastoral Charge of this people wile Under Divine providence have the Most Effectual Tendency to Remove all our Distractions & perhaps be one of the Most Able & flourishing Congregations Belonging to our Synad and if Settlemt as a Vacent people is Attended with some particular Advantages & that few others in the Same Sittuation Can pretend to Viz it Ly" Near the Seat of the Synad as wele as the Bosom of ye Prsb" where You wile have a near Access & Correspondence with your Bretherin upon Every Emergency and has Been Ever Reputed one of the Most Healthy places As it is high Land & fule of good springs it is a Com- pact Congregation & few of Different Denominations Intermixed
* Now Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
+ The Will of Mr. Dean is on record. It is a plain, well-written docu- inent, and remarkably free from the irrelevant verbiage so common at that time in legal documents.
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APPENDIX.
You wile have but one people & one Meeting house & from a Long Acquaintence We are Morally Assurd You will find a Loving Kind people that will Certainly be a pleasure to you and wile Exert the in- fluence to Render you Comfortable & if Distressing Circumstances wile be admitted a place of Argumt where is the Vacency but Bran- dywine wile Turn the Scale we have Been an Orderly Congregated people Near Thirty year & for Near Twenty a Body of us has Been a Destitute people Except three years that Mr. Dean Laboured Amongst us & Now has Been Twelve Years Vacent we have made Many Attempts for the Settlemt of a Minister which proved Abor- tive ,Which Influenced Some to Leave the place Discouraged & a general Indifference took place Even in the Midst of all those Dis- tresses or Case was Not soe peculiarly Dangerous an now by Reason of the Ceceder's Unwearicd Industry to propigate their Scheme & Make a party which in Some Measure they have Effected and some has said that if we Cannot obtain your Settlemt Necessity wile oblidge them to Joyne the Ceceders & if this is the Case Brandywine has Done and we May only sit Down & Lament over the Ruins of the Congregation & Secing the house of God turned to a Draught house & our Children left to Rove A Number of Meer Scepticks without any Regard to God or Religion A Dismel Reflection but Likely to be the Case if Mr Carmichael Shuts his ears to the Crye Throw Bran- dywine off as a Vessale of Distruction unless God Interposes in a way we know Not Now Dr Sr we wod Unitedly Renew our Application to you in the Language of Ruth to Naomi Intreat us not to Leave you nor from following after you in Earnest Entreaties to take the pastoral Charge of our Souls & our Children. May You be soe in- prest with the Justice of our Needy Case soe as to determine your Settlemt hear & May God preside over the whole that his Glory May be advanced & his young Sern"t Made to Rejoice in Seeing the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand May God be Ever at your right hand to Aid You in Every Attempt for his Glory & Beggs Leave to subscribe Yours Affectionately *
SAMLL. ALLEN
FRANCIS ALEXANDER
THOS. BROWN
FRANCIS GARDNER
JOHN CULBERTSON
WILLIAM DENNY
WMI. BROWN WILLIAM IRWIN
DAVID DENNY Ruleing Elders
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APPENDIX.
HI. JNO. CARMICHAEL'S WILL.
In the name of God, Amen. I Jno. Carmichael, of this Township of East Caln, in this County of Chester, of this State of Pennsyl- vania, Clergyman, being Weak in Body, & very sickly, but in the proper exercise of my reason, and realizing my mortality, that it is appointed for all Men once to die: Do make this my last Will & Testament, in manner as followeth, (viz') After committing my Soul to God who gave it, in hope of the pardon of all my Sins, and a gracious acceptance of it, through the merits, mediation, and imputted Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, my dear and Blessed Saviour : And my Body to the Grave, to be interred as my surviving friends shall see proper, in a decent manner, without any needless parade or vain show whatever, as I die in the Hope of a Blessed Resurrection to eternal Life for this my mortal Body in God's good time and way, according to the Articles of the Christian Religion, as professed by the Calvinists in these latter ages in the general, but by the Presbyterian Divines in perticular, whose system of Principles as expressed in our Confession of Faith & Catechisms, shorter & larger, made at Westminster, in England, by the Assembly of Divines appointed for that purpose, and have been and now is, adopted by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, in America, I give my Testimony to, on this my Death Bed, as expressive of the mind & will of God, contained in the Holy Scriptures, with the exceptions the aforesaid Synod have ordinarily made, but more espe- cially & particularly, do I desire to give my Death Bed Testimony, to the necessity of an experimental knowledge of those Doctrines, con- tained in the aforesaid Systems, called the Doctrines of Grace, to be applied to and impressed on the soul by the Holy Ghost, in a saving manner, to Prepare the soul for that eternal felicity which consists in the enjoyment of God in Heaven. But as to the few things of this Life or Worldly Substance with which God has blessed me, I Will to have them disposed of, for the good of my surviving Family, my Widow and Children, in the following manner :- I Will that that piece of Land which was Run out & measured by Thomas Haslet the survayer last Spring, which contains near One Hundred
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Acres of Land & lies on the East side of this Plantation, joining the Land & Lines of William Wilson, Adam Guthery, William Headings & Widow Rachel White, be sold to the highest bidder and a good authentick tittle made to the purchaser by my Executors hereafter mentioned : and the Money that arises from the Sale of said Land, to be divided into three equal parts; one third part to my Oldest Son John Flavel Carmichael, as soon as the money can be got, the other third part to Washington Gates Carmichael, my second son, to help him in Education, and to be in the hands of his mother or Guardian for that purpose, as I desire this son may receive a good Education, fit for the Gospel Ministry, if he has a turn for it, And the other third part to be given to my oldest daughter, Phebe, when she comes to the Age of Twenty two years, to be hers forever. As to the rest of this Plantation, which contains the most valuable part of the improvements, such as the House, Garden, meadows, Barn & Orchard &cª my will is, that the premisses be apprized, together with all & singular the goods & Chattels of every kind; and then a just estimate taken of the whole, and one whole third part thereof to belong to my dear and loving Wife, then a Widow, to be hers forever, which I will & appoint to her, in lieu of the whole of all her dower, be the same more or less. My Will further is, that the other two thirds of the whole apprized Estate, be divided equally among my Six Children, John Flavel, Phebe, Catherine Mustard, Washington Gates, Elizabeth Sarah, & Francina, Share & Share alike, be the same more or less, each child to receive his Share when come to the Age of Twenty one years ; the mother is to receive the benefit of the profits of the Minor Children's Shares, while they continue to live with her & no longer, whether her own or her Step Children. Also my Will is, that if any of my Children to whom I have thus divided my Estate, depart this Life before he or she comes to legal Age, to heir his or her portion, his or her Share be equally devided among the surviving Children, Share & Share alike. Also my Will is, that if my Widow and the Executors shall conelnde & judge, that it will be better for the Widow & Children to sell these premises or plantation, and to move to some place such as Princeton, where the Education of the Children can be more easily assertained, or whereever they shall judge proper, in such ease, let the place be sold to the best Advantage; and may the kind good providence of the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob direct
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them. I do hereby appoint, & ordain & constitute, my very trusty dear & worthy friends to be Executors of this my last Will & Testament, (viz') the Hon : William Clingan Esq", the Honb) John Beaton Esq", together with my Son John Flavel Carmichael, hereby declaring this to be my last Will & Testament, and hereby cancelling and disanulling all preceding ones as null and void. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal, this 17th day of August, One Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty-five.
JOHN CARMICHAEL [Seal]
GEORGE IRWIN, BARNABAS CURLY his V Mark Witnesses.
I, John Carmichael within named, continuing Weak & Sick in Body, but through the divine goodness, of sound disposing mind & Memory, do think proper to make this Codicil, or Addition to my last Will and Testament, in the manner following, viz Whereas, I have certain sums of money in the Fund of the Corporation for the relief of Presbyterian Ministers their Widows & Children, which by the Rules of the said Corporation, will be productive of a certain Annuity or yearly allowance to my Family after my decease, Now it is my Will and I order, that all the Monies that may be drawn yearly from the said fund, be paid to my beloved Wife, to be applied towards her support, and the support Education and maintenance of my minor Children, to wit, Catherine Mustard, Washington Gates, Eliza- beth Sarah & Francina, during their minority, to be apply'd to her & their use aforesd while She continues my Widow, and the said Children remain under her care and management; but in case they the said Children should be taken from under her care by their Guar- dian or otherwise, In that Case I will & order that the said yearly Annuity be divided between my said Wife and Children in the fol- lowing manner, vize One third thereof to my beloved Wife, and the remaining two thirds to be equally divided among my Four Children above named. I Likewise give and devise unto my Son John Flavel Carmichael, all that my One undivided moiety or equal half part of Fourteen Acres of Valuable, Woodland, situate in the Town of Newark, in the County of Essex, in New Jersey, which came to me as a part of the Dowry of his deceased Mother; to hold to him the
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APPENDIX.
said John Flavel Carmichael & to his Heirs & Assigns forever, I Likewise Give & bequeath unto my said son Flavel, my wearing Apparel and Canc. And I do hereby declare this Codicil to be part & parcel of my last Will and Testament, hereby ratifying & confirm- ing the same and every part thereof. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal, this eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One Thousand, Seven Hundred & Eighty. five. Before signing, & sealing, I nominate & appoint Mr. William Hunter of West Nantmeal, to be one of the Executors of my last Will & Testament.
JOHN CARMICHAEL [Seal]
Signed, Sealed, published & declared by the Testator as a Codieil to his last Will & Testament in the presence of Us
ROBERT FILSON, GEORGE IRWIN.
1. DR. GRIER'S RESIGNATION.
Dr. Grier's request for a dissolution of the pastoral relation was brought before Presbytery for its action April 14, 1869. It was in writing, and as follows :
TO THE MODERATOR AND PRESBYTERY OF NEW CASTLE.
DEAR BRETHREN,-In the year of our Lord 1813, in the twenty- first year of my age, I was licensed by this Presbytery to preach the Gospel, and on the 24th day of November, A.D. 1814, I was ordained to the full work of the Ministry, and installed Pastor of the Congre- gation of the Forks of the Brandywine.
Now, in the seventy-sixth year of my age, and having labored amongst you for fifty-four years and seven months, and paralyzed both in my speech and limbs, and no longer able to fulfil the duties of the Pastorate, I ask this Presbytery, not one of whom was a member of it when I was ordained and installed, to dissolve the pas- toral relation existing now between me and the Congregation of the Forks of Brandywine.
March 30, 1869.
J. N. C. GRIER.
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APPENDIX.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Newcastle, held May 6, 1869, the subjoined resolutions were presented by the Rev. John M. Dickey, D.D., and adopted :
Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of Dr. J. N. C. Grier of his charge of the Brandywine Manor Church, the Presbytery of New Castle desire to express their grateful acknowledgment of God's goodness and mercy in permitting this pastoral relation to continue so long ; reaching over more than fifty-four years, marked by many precious seasons of special religious interest, and by a continual in- gathering of souls, the Presbytery would note the fact ; and now as growing infirmity renders it necessary that Dr. Grier be released from his charge, they offer him their heartfelt sympathy, and pray that the joys of a faithful minister may, through the merits of our Lord and Saviour, be his now and in the church above.
Resolved, That the above be entered on the minutes, and that a copy be handed to the Elder of Brandywine Manor Church, to be presented to Dr. Grier.
J. CONSTITUTION OF THE HONEYBROOK TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
The undersigned, inhabitants of Honeybrook and its vicinity, impressed with a sense of the incalculable injury resulting to society, 'in all its present and eternal interests, from the existence and preva- lence of Intemperance, in the use of intoxicating liquors, feel them- selves called upon as good citizens to make all the efforts within their ability, by fair and honorable means, to lessen and if possible to ex- tirpate the vice. And for this purpose do associate together, under a pledge of mutual co-operation, according to the provisions of the following articles, viz. :
I. To abstain from all use of intoxicating liquors, excepting when we conscientiously believe they are necessary as a medicine.
II. To refrain from offering them to our friends and visitors, in our families, as marks of hospitality.
III. Entirely to cease giving them to workmen and laborers, in harvest or any other season, excepting as above specified.
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APPENDIX.
IV. To refrain under the strictest caution from selling, or giving them in greater or smaller quantities to persons known to be in the habit of making a bad use of them, except when known to be needed as medicine.
V. That we will neither sell nor cause to be sold any of our grain for the purpose of distillation.
VI. That we will hold the vice of intemperance in utter abhor- rence, and use every proper means to bring it into the disrepute and destruction due to its hatefulness, and yet regarding its victims and its advocates with deep compassion, and to use all our efforts to reclaim them.
Any person making application, and being at the time sober, may become a member of this association; and any person known to the society to have violated any of these articles shall be conversed with on the subject, and for a repetition of the offence shall be dismissed.
JOIIN N. C. GRIER,
JOIIN CLEMENSON,
SAMUEL JONES,
JOHN BUCHANAN,
JOIIN W. PINKERTON,
WILLIAM EWING,
JOIIN BALLENTINE,
JAMES K. MENDENHALL,
C. ROBINSON,
JAMES QUIN,
THOMAS G. HAPPERSETT,
JOHN WRIGHT,
DAVID SKEEN,
NATHAN GRIFFITHI,
JAMES M'CLUNE,
BENJ. TALBOT,
JOSEPH BROWN,
JOSEPH CRILEY,
JOHN STEWART,
JOSEPHI WHITAKER,
WM. TEMPLETON,
GEO. COWAN,
JAMES RALSTON,
DAVID BUCHANAN, JR.
JAMES RALSTON, JR.
WM. ROBESON .*
K.
COPY OF DEED FOR THE LAND FIRST OBTAINED FOR CHURCH PURPOSES.
This Indenture, made the eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one, between Matthew
* The only survivors are Mr. Ballentine and he who records the fact.
17
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APPENDIX.
Robertson, of West Nantmel and John Smith the younger of East Caln in the County of Chester and province of Pennsylvania, Yeo- men of the one part and The Reverend John Carmichael, Clerk, John Culbertson, James Moore, William Denny, Samuel Mckinley, and Francis Gardner, all of the said County of Chester, Yeomen of the other part. Whereas the Honorable The proprietaries of the said province by their Letter Patent the fifth day of this Instant, May, did grant and confirm unto The said Matthew Robertson and John Smith in Fee, A certain piece of Land situated in their Manor of Springton in the said County of Chester, and Township of Westnantmell, Be- ginning at a post in the Line of the Manor afore"? Corner of the tract of land part of the said manor surveyed unto James McCoskry thence by said MeCoskry's land and along the great road leading through the said Manor from Philada. to Harris's Ferry on the River Susquehannah called Paxtang Road North fifty five degrees, East fifty perches to a post and South fifty one degrees, East forty six perches to a post in the Manor Line-thence along the Manor Line, west seventy seven perches to the Place of Beginning, containing six acres and eighty six perches with the appurtenances (except as therein excepted) To hold to the said Matthew Robertson and John Smith their Heirs and Assigns forever, to and for the Use of Intent and Purpose of erecting and continuing thereon a Church or House of Religious Worship for the use of the said Congregation of Presbyte- rians and their Descendents and Successors for ever, in such Manner as the Minister, Elders, and majority of such Congregation for the Time being shall from Time to Time order, direct and appoint, under the yearly Quit Rent of one Shilling Sterling Money of Great Britain to the said proprietaries their Heirs and Successors for ever as in and by the said recited patent record at Philadelphia in Patent Book A.A. vol. 2, pa. 285, more fully appears. Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Matthew Robertson and John Smith at the special in- stance and Request of the said Presbyterian Congregation and by and with the Privity, Consent, Approbation and Direction of them or the major part of them who now statedly worship in the Church or Meet- ing House erected on the said described and granted piece of Land under the pastoral Charge of the Reverend the said John Carmichael, testified by his and the rest of the said parties hereto of the Second Part being the Trustees chosen and appointed by the said Congrega-
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tion for that purpose signing and sealing the presents hereby acknowl- edge and declare that the names of the said Matthew Robertson and John Smith were made use of in the said recited Patent or Grant and the same was so as aforesaid made or intended to be made to them, the said Matthew Robertson and John Smith and their Heirs in trust only to and for the use, Benefit and Behoof of the People who are and shall be members of the said Presbyterian Congregation accord- ing to the tenor and true meaning of these presents for ever. And the said Matthew Robertson and John Smith by and with the like, consent, privity, and direction of the said Congregation or the Major- ity of them as aforesaid and in consideration of the sum of five shil- lings apiece to them in hand paid by the said parties hereto of the second part (the receipt thereof, is hereby acknowledged) have granted, bargained, sold, enfeoffed released and confirmed and by these pres- ents, do grant, bargain, sell, enfeoff release and confirm unto the said John Carmichael, John Culbertson, James Moore, William Denny, Samuel Mckinley, Francis Gardner and their Heirs and Assigns, All that the said herein before described piece or parcel of land con- taining six acres and eighty six perches of land be the same more or less, together with all the buildings, improvements rights members, and appurtenanees thereto belonging and the reversions and remain- ders thereof, and the said sealed Patent to have and to hold the said described six acres and eighty six perches picee or portion of ground Hereditaments and premises hereby granted or mentioned or intended so to be with the appurtenances unto the said John Carmichael, John Culbertson, James Moore, William Denny, Francis Gardner, and Samuel Mckinley their Heirs and Assigns forever In Trust and of intent and purpose that the said described and granted piece of land shall be and continue a place for the site of a House of Public Wor- ship and for a burial place, and that the whole of the said premises shall be, continue, and remain for the use and service of the said con- gregation of people called Presbyterians forever, who do or shall hold and continue to hold the system of Doctrine contained in the West- minster Confession of Faith and Directory agreeable to the present Interpretation of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia to which they are now united, but under and subject nevertheless to the follow- ing conditions and limitations viz. : Provided always that no person shall be deemed to belong to the said Congregation until he has
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statedly attended upon the Public Worship of God in the said Con- gregation for the space of twelve months and shall have regularly con- tributed to the support of the ministry and other charges of the same according to the usage of Presbyterians, nor shall be deemed any longer a member thereof than he continues to hold and conform to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Directory aforesaid, and shall continue to attend statedly in an orderly manner upon the public Worship.of God in the said Congregation and be in Communion with the said Synod as before expressed. And provided also that neither the said parties hereto of the Second Part nor either of them nor any other person or persons succeeding them in this Trust who shall here- after fall from or change his or their religious Principles aforesaid or separate from the said Synod or depart from the said Congregation, or who shall refuse or neglect to contribute toward the support of the same, shall be capable to execute this Trust or stand secured to the Uses aforesaid nor have any right or interest in the said described or granted piece of land and premises or in the House or other buildings and improvements thereon erected or to be erected as aforesaid while he or they shall so continue but that in such cases as also when any of them or other person or persons who shall succeed in the Trust aforesaid shall happen to depart this Life that then it shall and may be lawful for the said congregation the time being and from time to time and as often as the occasion shall require to make choice of others to manage the said Trust instead of such that as shall fall away, sc- cede, separate or be deceased. Provided further, in order to prevent law suits in case it shall be disputed in time coming whether any par- ticular persons or members of the said Congregation or any debate shall arise in relation to Pews in the said House of Worship that all such debates and all others of a civil nature respecting the said Tract of Land and House of Worship shall be finally determined by a ma- jority of votes of the adult male members of the said congregation being such afore convened after Publie Notice in which Public Con- ventions, the minister of the said Congregation for the time being if present, shall always preside as Moderator or by Arbitrators holding the Principles aforesaid chosen by them for the purpose aforesaid. And the said Matthew Robertson and John Smith or either of them do further acknowledge and declare by these presents that they neither claim nor have by virtue of the said Patent or Grant to them any
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APPENDIX.
right, Title or Interest in the said described and granted piece or por- tion of Ground and premises or any part thereof, their own particular order and benefit but only to and for the Trust, Uses, Purposes and Services herein before mentioned and to no other use and service whatsoever and therefore in further accomplishment and performance of the Trust and Confidence aforesaid, they the said Matthew Rob- ertson and John Smith do for themselves and every of them and for each of their heirs severally and respectively warrant, promise, grant, and agree to and with the said parties hereto of the Second Part their heirs, executors, Assigns and every of them by these presents that they the said Matthew Robertson, and John Smith their Heir and Assigns shall and will at all or any time or times hereafter upon the request of the said congregation or a majority of the male members thereof convened as aforesaid make, do execute and acknowledge all such further and other act and Acts conveyance and assurance what- soever in the Law as shall be advised by Council learned in the Law to be needful for the better conveying and vesting the said premises in the Succeeding Trust and further assuming of the said described Tract or piece of Land with the appurtenances to and for the Uses, Interests, and Purposes aforesaid. In witness thereof the parties aforesaid to these presents have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and scals the day and year first above Written.
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