USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the sesqui-centennial of Paxtang Church, September 18, 1890 > Part 12
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From this theu we may observe the wisdom and goodness of God in making our duty and our happiness both in time and to eternity so sweetly to comport the one with the other. So that they go hand in hand promoting that great and gracious design of our sovereign Lord and lawgiver. What remains then but that we should apply ourselves to the study of piety and pure religion, and to the sincere love of God's laws, as the unerring guide of our lives and the just measure of all our actions. When shall we taste ye ravishing sweetness of a religious life, and shall be obliged to own that all her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. Then shall we enjoy peace with G d, inward peace and tranquility of mind, peace with all around us, and plenty, and prosperity. Then shall our lives be easy and comfortable to us, and we shall be all perfectly happy as we possibly can be, till once we arrive at those blissful regions above, whence everything that offends and they that commit iniquity are removed and nothing is found but undisturbed peace ; perpetual love and harmony dwell and reign forevermore.
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
DEED TO PAXTANG GLEBE.
THIS INDENTURE made the Eighth day June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty-four, Between Henry Foster of the Township of Paxtang, in the county of Lancaster, in the province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, Eldest son of John Foster, late of the said county, Yeoman, Deceased, and Ann his Wife, of the one part, and the Congregation that now belongs to the Reverend John Elder of the Township in the said county and province, Jointly, of the other part ; WHEREAS, the said John Foster was in his life time, by virtue of a certain patent bearing date the fifteenth day of October, One Thousand Seven Hundred and forty four, seized in his Demesn as of Fee, of and in a certain Tract of Land containing three Hundred and twenty one acres and allowance, and Dyed so thereof Seized, Intestate, Where- upon, according to Law of this Province, the same descended and came to and amongst all his children in Equal proportions, the said Henry as Eldest Son taking a double share to the rest of the Children ; AND WHEREAS, the said Henry Foster, by his petition to the Orphens Court Held at Lancaster for the county Aforesaid, the fifth day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty two, setting forth that his said Father so dyed seized of the said Tract of Land as Aforesaid, and that it wo'd be inconvenient to divide the same, and that he was willing and desirous to hold the same and pay the younger Children their Respec- tive shares thereof, according to a valuation to be made by indifferent persons, pursuant to the Direction of Aet of Assembly in that case made and provided, and praying that proper persons might be appoint- ed to make valnation accordingly, obtained an order of the same Court, That James Galbraith, Esquire, Thomas Forster, Esquire, Thomas Simpson and James Reed should value the said Tract of Land and make a Return of such Valuation to the same Court ; Whereupon they, the said James Galbraith, Thomas Forster, Thomas Simpson and James Reed, returned to the said Court that they had by virtue of the above mentioned order valued and appraised the said Tract of Land at the sum of Three Hundred and Eight pounds ; And thereupon it was ordered by the court that the said Henry Foster do hold the said Tract of Land on giving security for the payment of the respective shares of the other Children of the said John Foster, Deceased, which amounted to forty seven pounds ten shillings each, as by the records
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
and proceedings of the same Court, Relation being thereunto had will more fully and at large appear ; AND WHEREAS, He the said Henry Foster, hath now satisfied and paid or given security for the payment of the Respective Shares of the Other Children, and therefore is now by virtue of the Act Assembly in that case made and provided, become seized and possessed of the said Tract of Land to hold to him, his Heirs and Assigns, for Ever ; Now, This Indenture Witnesseth, that the said Henry Foster and Ann his Wife, for and In consideration of the sum of Ten pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to them or one of them in hand well and truly paid by the said congregation, at or before the Execution hereof, the Receipt and payment whereof are hereby acknowledged, Have and each of them Hath Granted, Bargain- ed, Sold, Released and Confirmed, and by these Presents Do and each of them Doth Grant, Bargain, Sell, Release, Confirm unto the said Congregation, Jointly, their Heirs and Assigns, All that tract, piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Township of Paxtang aforesaid, in the county of Lancaster, Beginning at a Black Oak, thence South Eleven Degrees West Ninty Three perches to a Black Oak, thence North Eighty Degrees West Thirty Six perches to a post, thence South Eleven Degrees East Ninty Three perches to a Black Oak, thence South Eighty Degrees East Thirty Six perches to the place of beginning, Containing Twenty Acres, without allowance for Roads, for the use of the Said Congregation of Paxtang, on which the Stone Meeting House is Built, It being part and parcel of the Above mentioned Tract of Land Containing Three Hundred and Twenty-one Acres and Allowance, Together with all and Singular the Buildings, Gardens, Orchards, Meadows, Pastures, Feedings, Woods, Underwoods, Ways, Waters, Watercourses, Hedges, Ditches, Trees, Fences, Profits, Privileges, Advantages, Hereditaments, Improvements, Rights, Mem- bers, and Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remainders thereof, and all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Use, Trust, Property, Possession, Claim, and Demand, whatsoever, both at Law and in Equity, of them the said Henry Foster and Ann his wife, of in and to the same, To have and to hold the said Tract or parcel of Land, Hereditaments and Premises, hereby Granted and Released, with the Appurtenances, unto the said Congregation, their Heirs and Assigns, To the only use and behoof of the said Congregation, their Heirs and Assigns, forever, at and under the proportionable part of the yearly Quit Rent now due, and hereafter to become dne for the same,
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to the chief Lord or Lords of the Fee thereof; and the said Henry Foster doth hereby grant for himself and his Heirs, that he and they, the said Tract of Land, Hereditaments and premises hereby granted, with the Appurtenances, Unto the said Congregation, their Heirs and Assigns, against him the said Henry Foster and the said Ann his wife, Heirs, and against all and every other person and Persons, Whomsoever lawfully claiming, or to claim the same, or any part thereof, by, from, or under him, her, or them, shall and will warrant, and forever defend, by these presents.
In Witness, whereof, the said parties to these presents their hands and seals have hereunto interchangeably set, the day and year above written.
HENRY FOSTER, [L. S. ] ANN FOSTER, [L. S.J
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us by the within named Henry Foster.
HENRY FOSTER.
THOS. FFORSTER, THOS. SIMPSON.
Sealed and delivered by the within named Ann Foster in the pres- ence of us.
ANN FOSTER.
THOS. FFORSTER, THOS. SIMPSON.
Received the day and year first within written of and from the within named congregation the sum of ten pounds, being the full considera- tion money within mentioned to be paid to me.
HENRY FOSTER.
Witness :
THOS. FFORSTER,
THOS. SIMPSON.
The 8th day of June, 1754, before me the subscribers, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace of the county of Lancaster came the within named Henry Foster and Ann, his wife, and acknowledged the within written indenture to be their act and deed and desired that the same shall be recorded as such, the said Ann voluntarily consenting thereto, she being of full age and secretly and apart examined the with- in, consent being first made known to her. Witness my hand and seal the same day and year above written.
THOS. FFORSTER, [L. S. ]
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Entered in the office for Recording of Deeds in and for the county of Lancaster in Book C, page 237, on the Eleventh day of June Anno Dom., 1770. Witness my hand and seal of my office aforesaid. EDWARD SHIPPEN, Recorder.
[OFFICE SEAL.]
DAUPHIN COUNTY, SS :
Recorded in the office for Recording Deeds, &c., in and for Dauphin county, in Deed Book B, Vol. 8, page 22, &c.
Witness my hand and seal, A. D., 1890. July 28, 1890.
PHILIP C. SWAB, Recorder.
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE REPAIRS IN 1884.
A few days since, learning that repairs of this last remaining landmark of the Scotch-Irish settlement were contemplated, we paid a visit to the old church. We clambered up into the loft, and ex- amined the rafters and also beams, which were just as sound as the day they were placed there. The timbers were made of oak, and originally an arched ceiling was contemplated. This was never done, and when the little window back of the pulpit and the north were closed up, perchance seventy or eighty years ago, the ceiling was made square, supported by cross-timbers held to the rafters by iron rods. The shingles on the south side of the roof are much decayed, while those on the opposite side are in good condition. It has been decided to put on a slate roof with the eaves projecting beyond the the wall, so as to protect that old and substantial masonry. Be- sides the roof, they propose to "underprie " certain portions of the wall, so that a firmer foundation may be made."-Dr. W. H. Egle, in Notes and Queries, 1884.
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
REV. WILLIAM GRAHAM.
WILLIAM GRAHAM, son of William Graham, was born in Paxtang township, then, Lancaster county, Province of Pennsylvania, on the 19th of December, 1745. His father, of Scotch parentage, came from the North of Ireland, as did his mother, whose maiden name was Susannah Miller. His early years were spent on the farm, but by dint of hard labor and perseverance, so characteristic of the Scotch-Irish youth of that day, he prepared himself for admission to the college of New Jer- sey, (now Princeton,) where he graduated in 1773. He taught in the grammar school connected with that institution, while studying the- ology under the tuition of the Rev. John Roan.
Among the papers of Rev. John Roan we have the following ac- count :
" Wm. Graham enter'd 10br. 23, 1767.
1768. Jan. 23-31, absent.
Ap. 2-25, absent.
May 1, abs't some days.
June 13, returned 8br. 2d. Dec'r 24, some days absent.
Went away Feb. 4, 1769. In all here 9 months. I told his father June 10, 1769, that it should be charged at about £8 per annum, viz : .
Rec'd Dec'r 21, 1769, of ye above
.4:10:0
Jan. 18, 1773,
. 6:00:0 Again, May, 1771,
0:07:0
Lent to Wm. Graham, Nov. 15, 1773, . 0:10:0
.1:10:0
Jan. 19, 1774, 1:05:0
From the foregoing it would seem that as late as 1774, he was a stu- dent of Mr. Roan's.
Mr. Graham, on the 26th of October, 1775, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Hanover, Virginia, to which locality his family had previously removed. When the Presbytery determined to estab- lish a school for the rearing of young men for the ministry, they ap- plied to the Rev. Stanhope Smith, then itinerating in Virginia, to re- commend a suitable person to take charge of their school, upon which he at once suggested Mr. Graham. Prior to this a classical school had been taught at a place called Mt. Pleasant, and there Mr. G. commenced
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his labors as a teacher, and there we find the germ whence sprung Washington College, and the now celebrated Washington and Lee Uni- versity of Virginia. Mr. Graham died at Richmond, Va., June 8th, 1799. He married Mary Kerr, of Carlisle, Pa., and by her had two sons and three daughters. His eldest son entered the ministry, but died young ; the other studied medicine, settled in Georgia, and died about 1840.
,
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE AGE OF THE CHURCH BUILDING.
The age of the present stone church building at Paxtang, has often been alluded to by Historians of the Presbyterian Church in America. The date usually given for the erection of the walls is 1752. If there are any reasons for this date they have never been clearly stated. The first recorded statement in reference to the building, so far as we are aware, is to be found in the deed for the glebe given to the congregation on the 8th day of June, 1754, by Henry Forster and wife, in which the present " stone meeting house" is mentioned. It is, therefore, necessary to go back of this date to find the beginning ; but why go back only two years rather than ten, fifteen, or twenty ?
It is well known to every one acquainted with the history of Paxtang, that before the stone building was erected the site was occupied by a substantial log structure, which was removed because it was too small to accommodate the growing congregation. The Rev. John Elder be- gan preaching in the log church in 1738, and soon found himself cramped for room and the congregation in a prosperous condition. In 1741 the controversy between the Old and New Lights reached Pax- tang, and soon waxed so bitter that by the 16th of August, 1745, the New Light people, comprising almost half the congregation, had not only seceded, but had completed a church building of their own, and installed Rev. John Roan as their pastor. Soon after this event, and long before Mr. Elder's congregation had time to recuperate, the Indians, incited by the French, became troublesome, and for the next ten years the people of Paxtang were fully occupied in the defense of their homes. It was during this period that Mr. Elder and his flock worshiped with their rifles in their hands. All work upon the building seems to have been suspended, the walls had been erected and roofed in, and it is more than probable that it remained in this con- dition, with neither floor nor pews, until after the revolution. In view of these facts, it is not reasonable to suppose that the congregation would, in 1752 tear down their old building and incur the unnecessary expense of a new erection, and it is, therefore, logical to conclude that the stone house was erected prior to 1741, when the numerical and financial condition of the congregation was favorable to such a project. Aside from this reasoning, we have the positive statement of the late Thomas Elder, Esq., of Harrisburg, son of Rev. John Elder, under
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whose auspices the church was built. On the 20th of June, 1852, Mr. Elder paid what was doubtless his last visit to Paxtang church. The occasion was the funeral of Mrs. Sarah Rutherford, widow of William Rutherford, who had been his life-long friend. After the services were over, Mr. Elder spent a short time looking about the old grave-yard, in which, as he said, most of the friends of his youth and early man- hood lay sleeping, reminiscences of the past crowded upon him, and as he moved slowly along he spoke of the old church as it was in his father's time, and of the leading men connected therewith ; and in reply to a question by Capt. Rutherford, he said that whilst he was not sure that there was any record of the erection of the present building, he had often heard his father say that the walls were built in 1740. This, in the absence of well authenticated documentary evidence, ought to be conclusive.
The descendants of the sturdy men and women who worshiped there in 1740 are scattered everywhere, many of them prominent in church and State, and in the business enterprises of the land. A little band still holds the fort. All these should unite and see to it that the year of grace, 1890, shall witness such a celebration of the one hun- dred and fiftieth anniversary of the laying of her corner-stone, as shall do honor to this mother of churches and oldest monument of Presby- terianism now standing in Central Pennsylvania .- W. F. R., in Notes and Queries, in 1890.
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE NEW-SIDE CHURCH.
About two miles east of old Paxtang Church and one and a half miles north of Rutherford Station in Lower Paxtang township, is an old Scotch-Irish burying-ground containing about one fourth of an acre of land and surrounded at present by a substantial post and rail fence. Formerly a log meeting-house stood close by, on the opposite side of the road. This building was also known as Paxtang meeting-house, and the people who worshiped here were the New Side Presbyterians, with Rev. John Roan as their pastor.
In 1787 the house was torn down and the materials sold for the sum of ten pounds eighteen shillings and three pence ; this included eleven and a quarter yards of diaper, four yards table cloth, one yard napkin, and one table and chair. This sum-together with twelve pounds two shillings and three pence raised by assessment upon the congregation - was expended in the building of a new paling fence around the grave- yard. The fence, in the course of time, decayed, and was rebuilt by Conrad Peck, at the expense of Samuel Sherer, 'Squire McClure, and Robert Stewart. This fence also went the way of all fences, and Rob- ert Stewart, shortly before his death, caused the present post and rail fence to be erected.
The meeting-house occupied the same field with old Paxtang church, and was used during the greater part of Rev. John Elder's pastorate. The little cemetery adjoining contains comparatively few graves, and is evidently of much later origin than that of old Paxtang, the oldest marked grave in it being that of James Welsh, Jan. 28, 1754, and there are no traditions which carry us beyond that date. This does not prove anything, but would seem to indicate that the establishment of the church was about 1750.
After 1787 most of the members of this church connected themselves with old Paxtang, and in 1793 we find some of their names on a sub- scription list for Rev. Mr. Snowden's salary.
Who purchased the table and chair does not appear, but they brought nine shillings and eight pence ; and were sold for the congregation by John Wilson and Robert Montgomery .- W. F. R., in Notes and Queries, 1883.
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.
No records of the schools of the valley have been preserved earlier than those relating to the free schools of the present day. All that we know concerning them is gathered from a few entries in old memoran- dum books, receipts for tuition, " the memory of men still living," and tradition. The first settlers were principally Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and the present site of Paxtang Church was early fixed upon as a suita- ble place for a church and school-house. In 1732, the church was or- ganized under the pastorate of Rev. Willian Bertram, but a building had been erected, and religious services conducted at stated times by Rev. Mr. Anderson and others, long before. And there is every reason to believe that the school was coeval with the church. Three different buildings were used at different times as school-houses -the first and oldest was a log cabin which stood a short distance north of the church on Thomas McArthur's land-the second a log house on Thomas Ruth- erford's land, west of the church - the third was known as the "study house"-a building belonging to the congregation, erected for the con- venience of the minister, into which he could retire for meditation be- tween sermons. These buildings have all long since disappeared and with them the old type of school-masters. The pedagogue is now spoken of as "the teacher." In those days he was called "The Master," terms which sufficiently indicated the difference between the past and present position of that important personage.
The names of the masters who taught here before the Revolution are all forgotten save that of Francis Kerr, who immortalized himself by organizing a clandestine lodge of Masons, whose temple was the old Log Cabin. During the quarter century immediately following the Revolution, the celebrated "Master Allen," surveyor and school-mas- ter, fills the most prominent place. His reputation as an educator was great and his services in demand. In connection with the common branches, he tanght Latin and surveying, and was looked upon by his cotemporaries as one who had altnost reached the summit of the hill of knowledge. In the course of his long career he conducted schools in Paxtang, Derry, and Hanover ; and almost all the surveyors, squires, and scriveners in these townships who were in active service forty or fifty years ago, had in their youths sat at the feet of Master Allen. It is not known precisely how long he kept school at the Meeting House ; it
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
is however certain that he was teaching there on the 29th of April, 1783 ; also, that he opened school on the 9th of May, 1785, at 7 shillings and 11 pence per scholar per quarter - and that he was teaching there on the 12th of January, 1789. After this date we have been unable to find any record, but have frequently heard it stated that the first school at- tended by Capt. John P. Rutherford was Master Allen's, at the Meeting House. Capt. Rutherford was born in 1802. This would indicate that Allen closed his career as master of the school about 1808 or 1810. He afterwards taught at Gilchrist's, near Linglestown.
It is a curious fact, that the Christian name of one so famous and who filled so large a space in this community for so many years-should be forgotten. His character as "Master" seems to have overshadowed his very name. And he is known to fame only as Master Allen. Among the many traditions concerning him, is one which represents him as a firm believer in the efficacy of the rod as a promoter of good morals and a quickener of the intellectual faculties. All were soundly drubbed daily and those unfortunate youngsters whose indulgent parents spared the rod, received at his hands a double portion, in order that they might have as fair a start in life as their more favored friends who were properly whipped at home. His stern and forbidding aspect, as he stalked about the school-room, rod in hand, struck terror into the hearts of all meditators of rebellion, and left such a lasting impression upon the mind, that old men of three score and ten have been known to shudder as they recalled it.
In the cemetery near Harrisburg, among those brought there from the old burrying-ground in the city, is a grave marked by a marble slab resting upon four pillars of sandstone. The inscription is as follows :
In Memory of Joseph Allen who departed this life Feb. 13th 1819 Aged about 80 years.
There are many reasons for believing this to be the last resting place of the old autocrat of the school-room.
Joseph Allen, by his will, dated July 4, 1812, bequeathed his books and MSS. to his nephew, David Allen, of the New Purchase. These documents may still be in existence somewhere, and doubtless contain much that would be interesting to us to-day, and it is to be regretted
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PAXTANG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
that he left them to one living so far from the scenes of his life-work and where his name and fame were unknown.
From Master Allen's school went out many young men who after- wards became prominent in their respective walks of life. Among those may be mentioned Thomas Elder, member of the Dauphin county bar, and eleventh Attorney General of Pennsylvania.
John Forster. - A di tinguished citizen of Harrisburg, and Brigadier General in the war of 1812.
Jonathan Kearsley .- An officer in the Second Regiment United States Artillery-served throughout the war of 1812, and lost a leg in the defense of Fort Erie-was afterwards Collector of Internal Revenue for the Tenth district of Pennsylvania. And in 1820 was appointed by Mr. Monroe, a receiver for the Land Office at Detroit, a position which he held until 1847 ; was elected mayor of Detroit in 1829, and was four times elected regent of the State University of Michigan, and received from that institution the honorary degree of Master of Arts.
Joseph Wallace-merchant-Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth in 1838, and an eminently useful citizen of Harrisburg.
John Rutherford, surveyor and farmer, represented Dauphin county in the 28th Legislature of Pennsylvania.
William McClure, a leading member of the Dauphin county bar.
William Rutherford, farmer, colonel of Pennsylvania militia, and represented Dauphin county in the Thirtieth, Thirty-first, Fortieth, and Forty-first Legislatures of Pennsylvania.
Joseph Gray, surveyor and farmer, filled with credit, the office ot surveyor of Dauphin county.
James S. Espy, Esq., for many years a leading merchant of Harris- burg.
These are a few from Paxtang. Had we the roll of Allen's scholars from first to last, many distinguished names from Hanover and Derry would undoubtedly be found upon it.
Cotemporary with Allen at the Meeting House was Mr. Thompson, who began a quarter on the 29th of May, 1786, at five shillings per quarter, and Mr. Armstrong, who opened school on the 31st of Octo- ber, 1786, at five shillings. Of this school we find recorded in Rev. John Elder's memorandum book, (which through the kindness of Dr. W. H. Egle, we have been permitted to examine,) the following :
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