Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 618

USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 4

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Anny Renick,

TOOT FAMILY (N. & Q., vii) .- Wc are informed that Magdalena Toot, who mar- ried John Smith, was thrice married- second to Roan McClure, and thirdly Abraham Jontz.

MISTAKES .- Blunders will happen, but in recent numbers of Notes and Queries more crrors have appeared than usual. Our readers noticing these will do well to call our attention thereto. Do what we may, they will creep in.

DAUPHIN COUNTY IN THE REVOLU- TION. I.

The following extracts relate entirely to the appeals of individuals who did not wish to serve their tour in the militia when called upon. It is a part of the his- tory of this county in the war for Inde- pendence-and forcibly reminds us of the drafts during the Rebellion, showing how truly "history repeats itself."

GARBER'S MILL, PAXTANG, December 11, 1777.

In pursuance of an act of General As- sembly of the State of Pennsylvania, an appcal was held as directed by said law · at this place, for all Persons who look upon themselves aggrieved in conse- quence of said act-by Adam Orth, sub- Lieutenant, Timothy Green, Esq., Joshua Elder, Esq., and sub-Lieut., and Jacob Cook, Esq.

Personally appear'd John Toy & com- plains he has the Fits & is referred to the Evidence of Jacob Awl. Jacob Awl ap- pears & says, he has seen the said Toy often in the Fits, & had he not been drawn out of his Tan fat, he would have been drown'd in one of them.

Personally appear'd Peter Patterson & complains that he's unfit to do his own business, but has to hire a man at 7 / 6 p. day to fatten his Cattle & has two sons already in the service at Camp in the seventh class. He's Exempted this Tour.

Personally appear'd William Boyce, and was discharged for inability of Body, being not able to do duty; is therefore discharg'd this Tour.

Wm. Bell appears and makes appear by deposition of his father that he is above the age of fifty-three years. Is therefore discharg'd.

Personally appear'd John Dyce, & upon oath says his son-in-law, Abraham Moony, is sick and has been so since he came from Camp last year. Is discharged this Tour.

Personally appear'd Wm. Forster, & fully convinced this Court that he is In- capable of Military duty. Is therefore discharg'd this Season.

Personally appear'd Jas. Forster, & from the same disorder of his brother Wm. is discharg'd this Tour.

Personally appear'd Wm. Patterson, & complains of Inability of Body & says he is over age, tho' he cannot prove it. Thought capable of performing Gar- rison duty.

Personally appear'd John Hogen, of from his Poverty & the poverty & Family is though unfit for duty this sea - son. Is exempt d this Tour.

Personally appear d Wm. Lindsay & fully satisfy'd this Court that he is above fifty-three years. Is diseharg'd.

Personally appear'd Jno. M'Fadden, & upon oath fully satisfics this Court that he's over the age of fifty-three years. Is therefore discharg'd.

Personally appear'd Aquila Richards & upon Oath declar'd that he was born in the year 1723, which satisfies the Court he's above fifty-three years. Is then ex- empt'd.

Personally appear'd John Gray, Jr., & complains of Inability of Body on

Historical and Genealogical.

acct. of Phthisick. Tho't capable of per- forming Garrison duty.

Personally appear'd John Mordah, & on oath says he was born the 4th of Augt., 1723. Is therefore discharg'd.

Geo. Adam Gardner appears & com- plains that he is incapable of military duty from a dislocation of his shoulder & the circumstance of his Family. Is ex- empi'd this Tour.

Personally appear'd Isaac Jones & made appear he serv'd his Tour all but two weeks & was siek when call'd on to serve the remainder of his Time. Is therefore exempt'd this Tour.

Personally appear'd Hugh Stephen &complains of Inability of Body. Is thought capable of deing Garrison duty.

Personally appear'd Thos. Minshcl & complains of inability of Body. Is ex- empt'd on his paying fifteen pounds, or performing a Tour of Garrison Duty.

Jacob King tho't fit for duty.

Robt. Johnston, fit for garrison duty. Jno. Moore & Thos. Miller ditto.

Jno. Garber complains his Serv't was taken, for which he rec'd no restitution. Is refer'd until he has the determination of Assembly.

PAXTANG AND DERRY CHURCHES.

[The sketch which is herewith given, and one of Hanover which will follow, were prepared by John Graham, Esq., of Hardin county, Kentucky, a native of Dauphin county. In company with his brothers Hugh and William he visited the old home in 1857, and the sketches were written during 1858 and 1859, embraced in letters to George W. Rogers, of Day- ton, O. These have been kindly for- warded to us through Thomas S. McNair, Esq., of Hazleton, Penna., and despite a few crrors into which he had been led by works published at the time to which he had reference, they are of interest to all. Written almost thirty years ago, great changes have been wrought. Only one of the three churches is stand- ing-Paxtang. Derry is soon to have a memorial church built on the site of the ancient log church-but Hanover's glory has passed away-the graveyard with its host of pioneer dead alone remaining. As a matter of course, our venerable writer, who has long since passed away

from earth. was misled by the writings of others-yet these errors can be forgiven. The principal of these are corrected in the notes appended .- w. H. E. ]

The United Presbyterian Congregations of Derry and Paxtang .-

The section of country comprising the townships of Derry and Paxtang, was mostly settled by emigrants from the north of Ireland and Scotland, who were usually called the Scotch-Irish. Farms were begun by them in this region prior to 1713. They had been reared Presby- terians, and one of their first cares was to have the gospel preached in their midst. Taught to worship God in their youth, the sacred lesson of duty to the Father of Mercies was not forgotten by them, amidst the hardships and perils of a life in the wilderness. Rupp says it is evi- dent from authentic sources that the Pres- byterians organized the Paxtang and Derry churches in 1720.

Derry church, originally called Spring Creek, is located about fourteen miles east of Harrisburg, on the Reading turn- pike. and a short distance from the Leba- non Valley railroad. The church stands on the top of the hill about midway be- tween the turnpike and the large spring which is the head of Spring Creek and is about one hundred yards north of the spring. The church was built in 1720, and is partly surrounded by a grove of large oaks, occupying perhaps eight or ten acres. This grove is part of 160 acres of woodland that in 1717 (a) William Penn the proprietary of Pennsylvania granted to the English Presbyterians to have and to hold forever as the property of a church and school house, to be erect- ed somewhere upon its territory.

Those who would anticipate an archi- tectural curiosity in the church edifice, will not be much disappointed when they see a little, low, one-story, barn-like building of logs, boarded up and down on the out- side It was once painted yellow but time and the weather have nearly re- moved the paint, and leaves it dark and rusty. This building is about 38 feet square, with a very steep roof. The in- side of the building is lined and ceiled with plank, with an aisle running through the house from the north door to the south door and two other aisles leading to two

Historical and Genealogical.

other doors in the west end of the house. The pulpit is built against the wall at the east end, and to the left of the main north entrance. The pulpit is a small box of walnut plank, thrce feet wide, circular in front, and so high that a man's head and necktie can only be seen when he isstand. ing in it. The ascent is by a flight of long, narrow steps, and closed in by a narrow door. Beneath and in front is an- other enclosed box, something larger than the pulpit, in which the clerk or chorister stood and led the song of praise from Sabbath to Sabbath for a lifetime of years. In fancy we yet hear tliose songs ascending from the worshippers and børne by the breeze upwards to the throne of that Almiglity Being in whose praise they were offered. The pews, somc thirty or thirty-five in number, remind us of the old times. They are built very narrow, with quite high, straiglit backs, and closed by doors and without being painted. We think they are illy calcu- lated to accommodate the fashion of the prescks age.

West of the church some ten or more yards stands the old study house, 15 by 20 fect, with a large fire place in one end -it looks bare, dirty and comfortless, In it, however, are two quaint looking wal- nut chairs, said to be 140 years old, and in a small cupboard are to be seen the sac- ramental service (b.), consisting of a large wine pitcher, two large, heavy goblets, having a handle on each side, two plates, and an oddly carved salver, all made of solid pewter, but polished until they look like silver. Here, also, are the table cloths and napkins. These are still used on communion occasions, for there is wor- ship held here regularly every six weeks.

A few steps north and west of the church is the graveyard, surrounded by a good stone fence covered with plank and lately painted. The yard is kept in good order and repair, and reflects credit on those who have charge of it. Inside of theinclosure it is an immense bed of flowering thyme; the walks and graves are completely covered with this fragrant herb. A graveyard is always a solemn and interesting spot. How many sad memories continually linger about God's acre. Among the many graves in which we took interest in our brief visit to this

consecrated spot we would briefly men- tion a few. Couspicuous for size is the granite slab inscribed:

"Here lieth the remains of the Rev. William Bertram, first pastor of this con- gregation, who departed this life May 1d, 1746, aged 72 years. He dwelt beloved by all, in rational piety, modest hope, and cheerful resignation.

Also of the pastor who succeeded him. The memorial slab covering his remains reads :

"Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of an able, faithful, courageous and successful minister of Jesus Christ, the Reverend Jolin Roan, Pastor of Derry, Paxton and Mount Joy congrega- tions, from the year 1745 'till Oct. 3d, 1775, when he exchanged a militant for a triumphant life in the 59th ycar of his age.' "

The oldest leadstone visible is of James Galbraith, who died Aug.23 d. 1744, aged 78 years. What is singular is that the age of the dead of the last century lying in this graveyard should average 70 ycars.

A few years ago there was a small frame church erected about four miles from Derry and two miles north of Swatara creek, in Hanover township, but within the bounds of Derry congregation. It is presumed it was built to accommodate the few members (parts of four families) that remained of Hanover congregation, that congregation and church having been vacant since 1846, and also the few belonging to Derry but residing in Hano- ver, of whom now in 1859, part of one family, William McCord, Esq,, alone re- mains. In this little church, however, they have preaching every six weeks by the Rev. A. D. Mitchell.

Paxtang Church (or as it was origin- ally called Fishing Creek Congregation) is one of the oldest in the State. It doubtless had a house for worship before that now in use, but of this no informa- tion can be certainly derived from the recollections of the living or the record of the dead. The Paxtang church still standing about three miles from Harris- burg, was erected about the year 1742, and from documents in the possession of George W. Harris, Esq., it appears that his great grandfather, John Harris, fur-

Historical and Genealogical.

nished all, or most of the stones used in its construction.

This note is made to correct the suppo- sition of many that Paxtang church was erected previous to the settlement of John Harris on the Susquehanna river, a short time previous to 1719. (c)

The location of Paxtang church is about three miles east of Harrisburg and one- half mile north of the Reading turnpike and of the Lebanon Valley railroad. It stands on a gentle hill on rising ground, and on the edge of a handsome grove of old oaks, comprising some six or eight aeres of land which is cnelosed by a fence, and is a part of the original glebc. The building is of stone about 35 by 65 feet. The walls of stone, plain and. sub- stantial, stand as good and straight as when first put up, and the external ap- pearanee indicating it to be the produe- tion of a past age, makes it but the more attractive. Tile interior of the house has been repaired and remodeled within a few years and has been made more in keeping with the style and fashion of the present generation.

South and east of the church, and a few yards from it, is the grave yard, sur- rounded by a substantialstone wall. This enclosure, like that of Derry, is an im- mense bed of flowering thyme. How pleasing it is to every person of good taste to find the home of the dead, in- stead of an assemblage of rank grass and briars, crumbling stones and sunken graves to be by pious and affectionate hands so carefu ly tended and so neatly kept. The pastor resides in a handsome and pleasant parsonage that has been built near to the church by his people.

On October 11th, 1732, appeared George Renick and others from Derry and Pax- tang congregations, requiring an answer to the call given by them to Rev. William Bartrem, of New Castle Presbytery. He accepted their call and was installed No- vember 17th, 1732, pastor of Derry and Paxtang congregations. Mr. Bartrem was a native of Ireland, and on his set- tlement the congregation of Spring Creek assumed the name of Derry and that of Fishing Creek assumed the name of Pax- tang. Although Mr. Bartrem is called the first pastor of Derry and Paxtang, yet in 1729 the Presbytery of New Castle allows

Derry the one-fifth of the Rev. Mr. An- derson's time; and on November 17tli, 1732, the Presbytery of Donegal orders the payment of arrearages due Mr. An- derson by the congregations of Derry and Paxtang.

On the 7th of October, 1735. Mr. Bartrem represented to Presbytery that it is too much labor for him to serve both congregations and that the two churches be separated. On November 18th, 1735, a supplication was presented from the session of the congregation of Derry - desiring that if they should be separated from Paxtang as a distriet congregation their bound may be so fixed that they may be able to take steps for being supplied. In 1736 in the prospect of Mr. Bartrem's release from the one part of his charge, the people of Paxtang say that they can afford yearly for the support of their minister €60, one half in money, the other half in hemp, flour, linen yarn or linen eloth, at market price. The people of Derry say they can pay $55 in like manner. About this time Mr. Bartrem was inquired of by the Presbytery, which of the two congregations he would ad- liere to. He wished to remain with Derry. The congregation of Paxtang was therefore declared vacant, and the people of Derry were ordered to speedily improve their glebe in order to make it habitable for Mr. Bartrem.

In 1738, the Rev. John Elder (also from Ireland) of the Presbytery of New Castle, accepted a call which was pre- sented to him from the congregation of Paxtang. They promised a "stipend" of €60 in money. His ordination took place on the 22d of December the same year, and was followed by an order of Presby- tery that "he and the session take care, that none of those who are deficient as to what they have to pay to Mr. Bartrein by note or otherwise be admitted to church privileges 'till they satisfy Mr. Bartrem." At a meeting of Presbytery held at Derry church in 1741, Mr. Bartrem asks for a dismission from the congregation of Derry on account of bodily weakness and ina- bility to perform his duties as a pastor. The congregation answered by their rep- resentatives, Rowland Chambers and James Carothers, that they had engaged Mr. Bartrem's labors when he was more

Historical and Genealogical.

able, and they were willing to sympa- thize with him in his weakness. This so engaged Mr. Bartrem to them that he de- sisted from his suit at that time. Whether Mr. Bartrem remained pastor of the con- gregation of Derry until his death in 1746, or not, we find no record ((7).

About all we have been able to find of their next pastor, the Rev. John Roan, is what appears on his tombstone in Derry graveyard and in the presbyte- rial records of Donegal in 1768. Refer- ence there is made to an account pro duced, that the congregations of Derry. Paxtang and Mount Joy were in arrears to the Rev. John Roan their pastor. Just here dates and records conflict, authors and wise men differ. Mr. Roan's tomb- stone tells us that he was pastor of Derry, Paxtang and Mount Joy congregations from 1745 to 1715. The records of Don- egal presbytery say that the Rev. John Elder was installed pastor of the congre- gation in Paxtang November 1738. Nevin informs us that in 1791 the Rev John Elder resigned the pastoral charge of the congregations of Paxtang and Derry with which he had been connected for sixty years, on aceount of the infirma- ties of age, and died the July following, at the advanced age of 86 years, beloved in life and in death lamented. Another writer has it. that Paxtang and Derry churches were organized on the 15th day of November, 1732, and the first pastor of these two churches was Mr. Bartrem, who was succeeded in 1737 by the Rev. John Elder, who officiated until his death in 1792. We have seen no reeord to show what time Mr. Elder took charge of Derry congregation, noi at what time he resigned that charge, only what is given above. It is very evident that Mr. Bar- trem had charge of Derry in 1741 and af- ter, and what does Mr. Roan's tombstone say ? Yet that Mr. Elder was pastor then there can be no doubt.

Mr. Elder was also Colonel of what was in those days called the "Paxtang Boys" or "Rangers," whose business it was to range the country and settlement and protect the people from the sealping knives and tomahawks of the ruthless savages. For a long time he preached with his rifle (sometimes with two rifles) in the pulpit beside him. As a preaching

pastor and fighting Colonel, probably he had no superior. The Indians with all their cunning, were never able to catch the old pastor off his guard or surprise him at his post.

In 1793 a call was accepted by the Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden from the eongre- gations of Derry, Paxtang and Harrisburg. In October, 1795. Mr. Snowden applied for a dissolution of his pastoral relations with Derry. The congregation of Pax- tang, by a large majority, declared in favor of holding their connexion with Derry. This being approved by Presby tery, therefore Paxtang and Derry churches were declared vacant. On the 29th of October, 1799, the Rev. Joshua Williams was installed pastor of the united congregations of Derry and Pax- tang, and for two-thirds of his labor, Derry was to pay him £120, and Paxtang for the one-third was to pay him £60 an- nually. This pastoral relation was dis- solved the 30th of June, 1801, at the re- quest of Dr. Williams. In 1803 a call from the two congregations was given to the Rev. James Adair, but before the meeting of presbytery Mr. Adair was re- moved by death. The next pastor of these two congregations was the Rev. James R. Sharon. (e) At what time he took charge of these congregations we can give no account. We know it was some time previous to 1814. He resigned his charge and removed to some point on the West Branch of the Susquehanna river where he died the 18th of April, 1843. IIe was, as all know who eame within the range of his influence, a sound divine, an exem- plary man and a Christian, and diligent in the great work to which his life was con- secrated.

In 1843 the congregation of Paxtang obtained leave to proeure the services of the Rev. John M. Boggs for six months. In 1844 a call from the eongregations of Paxtang and Derry was received and ac- eepted by Mr. Boggs and at his ordina- tion and installation the Rev. Dr. John Moody presided. (f) At what time Mr. Boggs left his charge we have no aceount. The present pastor of these two eongre- gations, the Rev. A. D. Mitehell, has had charge of them many years. He labors two-thirds of his time in Paxtang, and

Historical and Genealogical.

one-third between the old Derry church and the new one built in Hanover.

The first Presbyterian church orga- nized in Pennsylvania was at Philadel- phia in 1703. In 1716 the first synod was constituted comprising four Presby- teries viz., of Philadelphia, of New Castle, of Snow Hill and Lay Island. In Sept. 1732, the Presbytery of Donegal was organized. In 1786, Carlisle Pres- bytery. J. G.

NOTES. (a.) Although a church had been erected as early as 1721 or 1722, the war- rant for the glebe land was not given until Rev. Mr. Bartrem's pastorate.

(b.) The sacramental service and some of the furniture have been removed. As the Memorial church is expected to be ereeted during the coming summer, all these should be gathered up. It is stated that eertain relics have permanently dis- appeared. As Mr. Hatton has been their custodian for twenty-five years, he shoukl be compelled to produec all, or state where they are.

(c.) The present stone edifiee was erected about 1740, not earlier. The statement that the first John Harris fur- nished the stone for the building of the church, may or may not be truc. The authority is merely traditional, and we all know how unreliable tradition is.

(d.) In Mr. Bartrem's latter days he was in feeble health, and resigned his pastorate of Derry in 1745, when Rev. John Roan was ordained the minister. Owing to the division in the Presbyterian churches at this period, and the loss of the minutes of the sessions of Paxtang and Derry, all our writers have been much befogged, for during the period when the Rev. Roan was the ordained minister of Derry until his death, he is spoken of as the "Pastor of Derry, Paxtang and Mount Joy"- at

the same time the Rev. John Elder was Pastor of Derry and Paxtang congregations. The faet is that the Rev. John Roan was the pastor of the "New Side" congregation of Derry and the division holding the same views from Paxtang; while the Rev. Mr. Elder was pastor of the "Old Side" congregation of Paxtang, and the division holding simi-

lar views from Derry. Hence both Roan and Elder were ministers of Pax- tang and Derry during the same period. This explains what Mr. Graham did not rightly understand.

(e.) The Rev. James R. Sharon was installed pastor of Paxtang and Derry, May 29, 1807. He remained the stated minister until his death in 1843.

(f.) Rev. John M. Boggs was ordained April 9, 1845, and installed shortly after. This was dissolved on the 6th of October 1847.

MASTER ALLEN'S SCHOOL. - Your roll of Master Allen's scholars at Paxtang for the year ending Aug. 31st, 1182, and the agreement which precedes it, are very in - teresting documents, especially to the de . scendants of those whose names are found therein ; and it is to be hoped you may succeed in digging up more of the same sort. A perusal of them suggests the fol- lowing : Mr. Allen, as we know, died Feb. 13th, 1819, at the age of eighty years ; so that when this agreement was entered into he was about forty-two, and it is probable that this was his first ex- perience at Paxtang. We find on the roll the name of William Rutherford, who, when the term ended, was but six years old, and who then and there began his career as a scholar. Twenty-eight years later John P. Rutherford, the son of William, began his education at the same place and under the same master, so that for a period of about thirty years the birch of Allen was indus- triously plied in Paxtang. Representa- tives of three generations were urged by him along the rugged path of knowledge. What a hugh stack of rod timber must have been consumed; for the stern old master was unsparing in its use. No wonder that the trees in the neighbor- hood of the old school-house are all either very old or very young-

Several of the scholars on this roll were evidently from a distance and boarded in the valley for the purpose of attending the school. Among these we notice Peggy Gray and Nelly Gray who were doubtless the daughters of Capt. William Gray, of Buffalo Valley. Who was Patt M'Cann ? W. F. R.

Historical and Genealogical.

DAUPHIN COUNTY IN THE REVO-

LUTION. II.

At an appeal held at Mr. Smith's in Paxtang, the 15th of April, 1778, before Joshua Elder, S. Lt. & esgr, Jas. Col- lier, Captn. & Jno Gilchrist, Captil.

Personally appear'd Thos. Forster, & says he's abt. to move his Family to Northumberland County immediately, Is excused this Battn. in case he pro- duces a certificate that he is enter'd to do duty in the first class in Northumber- land County. Produc'd the Certificate & is discharg'd.

Personally appear'd Isaac Jones, & from inability of Body as certified by his Neighbours, is excus'd this Tour.

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Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 4

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: s.n. Number of Pages: 618

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: s.n.
Number of Pages: 618