Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 69

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 69

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1. The low state of piety in the Church, amounting to little more than orthodox faith and dead formalism. Nor was this confined to this particular section of coun-

try. For, says Dr. Increase Mather, in 1721, "There is a grievous decay of piety in the land, and a leaving of first love; and the beauties of hollness are not to be seen as once they were."

2. The inadequate supply of ministers to meet the demands of the times. These demands were: (a) More men to push into the opening fields, and minister to the rapidly increasing number of flocks. (b) Spiritually minded, earnest, conse- crated men to rouse the people from their state of spiritual lethargy, and lift them to a higher place of experimental, practi- cal Godliness.

3. The demand for the maintenance at the same time of the old high standard of literary and theological attainment in the men who should be brought forward to meet these wants.

Dr. Archibald Alexander says: "The first Presbyterian ministers in this coun- try were nearly all men of liberal educa- tion. Some had received their education in the universities of Scotland; some in Ireland and others at one of the New England colleges. And, though there existed such a destitution of ministers in this new country, they never thought of introducing any man into the ministry who had not received a college or univer- sity education, except in very extraordi- nary cases, of which, I believe, we have but one instance in the early history of the Presbyterian Church." **

Under these circumstances the Log Col- legc had its origin, and the question of a candidate for the ministry being required to present a diploma from some univer- sity or college, or of a thorough examina- tion by the Synod being accepted in lieu of this, began to be earnestly discussed.

This was really the entering wedge of division. When there was no small agi- tation in the Church courts over this and other questions connected with the in. duction of young men to the gospel min- istry, the great revival of the last cen- tury dawned upon the Church. The im- portance of adopting and using proper means for promoting and fostering it was felt by all. Hence the Synod, in session September, 1833, took the following ac. tion, nem con: "To use some proper means to revive the declining power of Godli- ness, the Synod earnestly recommend it

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to all our ministers and members to take particular care about ministerial visiting of families, and press family and secret worship, according to the Westminster Directory, and that they also recommend it to every Presbytery, at proper seasons to inquire concerning the diligence of each of their members in such particu- lars "tt Presbyteries took like action.

But there were those who favored the adoption of other and extraordinary methods to meet the exigency.

Prominent among the admirers and friends of Whitefield and the advocates of the new methods, which were coming into vogue in connection with the revi- val, were the originators of the "Log College," its friends and patrons and graduates. This served to widen the breach and deepen the chasm.

When the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick withdrew, the "Log College" men who were not already in it, met with it as correspondents. They ranked among the reorganized leaders of the New Side and New Measure party.

In view of the extraordinary methods employed, and the extraordinary mani- festations which attended their use, Dr. Briggs, in his "American Presbyterian- ism," terms and treats the entire move- ment of that day as "Methodist." And so it really was. The brethren of the New Side division were as truly Ca vin- istic or Presbyterian Methodists as were the followers of the Wesley Episcopa! Methodists, and were no less entitled to the name.

During this controversy things were done on both sides which were unbroth. erly and discourteous. Bitter, harsh, un christian utterances escaped the lips of good men on both sides. Enough was said and done to fill the hearts of all with deep regret in after days, and of some, with profoundest sorrow.

The full history of the period belongs to the Church at large. But we have felt constrained to say thus much, be- cause of the manner in which the Pres- bytery of Donegal was affected.

Both before and after the accom- plishment of the division, the Pres . bytery was made to suffer as perhaps no other Presbytery suffered. When the division came two of its mem.

bers withdrew from the Synod and met as corresponding members with the Presbytery of New Brunswick, viz .: Alexander Creaghead and David Alex- ander. All the other members signed the Protestation, which was the immedi ate occasion of the withdrawal of the Presbytery of New Brunswick; viz .: John Thomson, Richard Sanckey, John Elder, John Craig, Samuel Caven, Sam uel Thomson and Andrew Boyd ##

With these latter brethren, Creaghead and Alexander declined to meet in Pres- bytery, "because candidates were licensed and ordained after superficial examina- tion and while giving no evidence of not being enemies of heart religion." ##

But the division was not confined to the ministers. Few indeed were the congre- gations in our bounds in which there was not divided sentiment ; and in most of them actual estrangement and separation took place.

After the death of Mr. Beriram, Derry called the Rev. John Roan, of the New Side; and Mr. Elder's church at Paxton split, and the New Side portion erected a house of worship about a mile and a half from the present church, and had Mr. Roan for their pastor. On the other hand, the Old Side portion of the Derry congre- gation had their place of meeting on the west side of the Swatara, and Mr. Elder, of Paxton, preached to them. Upper Penns- borough was divided and a portion of it was formed into a separate congregation,. worshiping in the town of Carlisle, and seeking supplies from the New Side Pres- bytery of New Castle. The congrega- tions of Big Spring, Middle Spring and Rocky Spring, in opposition to the wishes of the Presbytery, called Rev. John Blair, of the New Side, who divided his. labors equally between these churches, retaining his connection with the New Side Presbytery of New Castle. At East Conecocheague the congregation divided for a time-a portion worshiping under a tent.

Two churches were organized during this period as New Side churches, which are upon our roll to day, viz., Lower West Conecocheague, now Robert Kerr Memorial, which was organized in 1741. Their first pastor was Rev. James Camp. bell, who held his connection with the

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New Side Synod of New York. SS The other church organized as the result of the division was Lower Marsh Creek. This took place perhaps about 1748, or 1749; as inferred from the fact that about that time Rev. Andrew Bay, of the Syuod of New York, New Side, became pastor of that and Round Hill church. *** These were the only churches organized during the separation. It was a time of contention and strife and division, not of aggression and upbuilding. The volume of Presbyterial records covering almost half this period was lost many years ago, by its having been loaned to some one, it is said, down in Virginia, who loaned it to somebody else, and so on, till lost sigh? of. Hence we cannot tell from that source what transpired during that time or what was the attitude of the Presbytery, as such, upon the subject of the reunion of the two Synods.

On the 29th of May, 1758, "the plan of union was agreed upon between the Synods of Philadelphia (Old Sidc) and New York (New Side), both bodies being in session at that time in Philadelphia." Of the plan of union, it has been said : "This noble declaration is for our Church what the Declaration of Independence is for our country. It is a promulgation of first principles-a setting forth of our faith, order and religion as an answer to those who question it. It is a foundation of our ecclesiastical compact, the bond of union."Itt This declaration was unan- imously adopted, and every member of the united Synod set his hand to this testi- mony in behalf of truth, order and evan- gelical religion. Under the plan of union the Presbytery of Doncgal was left un- changed for the present. There were no representatives of the Presbytery present at the meeting of the Synod of 1759. Webster intimates that they may have been absent with a hope of securing a continuance of their body as it was, for it was wholly Old Side, and consisted of Revs. Samuel Thomson, John Elder, Rich - ard Sanckey, John Steel, John Tate and Robert M'Mordie.+++ But if this was their bope, it met with disappointment. For the Synod added one Old Side (Samson Smith) and three Now Side men (R. Smith, John Roan and John Hoge) to their number. For some reason Rev. George

Duffield, who was preaching at the New Side portion of Upper Pennsborough church in Carlisle, was permitted to re- main in the New Side Presbytery of New Castle. After the two divisions united in building a church in Carlisle, in 1761, in which both worshiped, he joined the Presbytery of Donegal.

Thus the Presbytery of Donegal stood seven Old Side-Thompson, Elder, Sanckey, Steel, Tatc, M'Mordie and Sam- son Smith; to three New Side-R Smith, Roan and Hoge, and after 1761 Duffield.

This arrangement by no means gave satisfaction to the old members of the Presbytery. Differences of opinion be- came very marked, and party lines were drawn during the trial of Dr. Samson Smith in 1762, and subsequently in the licensing of Wm Edmeston Another subject of controversy was, permitting an elder of Mr. Stcel's branch of Penns- borough church, who had not been or. dained, to sit in Presbytery.

These controversies resulted in a ma- jority of the members asking Synod in 1765, cither that Presbytery be divided, or that the members added of late years be ordered to return whence they came. An appeal was also brought in by the minority against the vote of Presbytery authorizing this petition to Synod. II II II

[TO BE CONTINUED ]

*Records Pres. Ch., p. 100.

+ Records of Presb.

#Hodge Hist. Pres. Ch., 1, p. 171.

[| Hodge Hist., 1, p. 195.

§ Hodge, vol 1, p. 197.

** Log College.

It Records of Pres. Ch.

ttRecords Pres. Ch., p. 15S.

||| Webster, p. 160.

§§Rev. A. S. Thorne, "Historical Account," etc., p. 26. *** Webster, p. 573.

ttt Hodge, in Webster, p. 271. tttIbid, p 274.

Iltil Records of Pr s. Ch., p 347.

NOTES AND QUERIES. Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.

CXXVI.

THE SWATARA CAVE was explored in 1773 by Rev. Peter Miller, of Ephrata.

THE ANTIQUARIAN EXHIBITION OF 1885 .-- Since the publication of the Dau- phin County Centennial volume, which

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by the way ought to be in the possession of every citizen, we have received nu- merous letters from prominent individu . als at a distance, expressing great sur- prise. A gentleman in the western part of Pennsylvania writes "The antiquarian collection astonishes me." Another says, "Such an exhibition must have taken months to gather." He would be the more surprised if he had seen it, and knew that only three days were oc- cupied in arranging it. A lover of books and the collector of many rare ones, asks the question, "where did you gather so many precious American imprints ?" While the custodian of odd, and curious things in an eastern city writes, "The list of your exhibits daze me. I had no idea, Pennsylvanians pre- served such things so carefully." Had he been here, he would have been more than "dazed" by the exhibition itself. Its vastness prevented the keeping of a re- cord which would do it justice. Never. theless our Centennial volume preserves much that is desirable.

'THE HISTORY OF THE INDIAN WALK" is the title of a small volume of 269 pages, by William J. Buck. In a recent number of Notes and Queries we gave the "Reminiscences of Solomon Jen- nings," one of the three walkers, which was of exceeding interest. Mr. Buek's book, however, gives all the facts relat- ing to the walking purchase. From his access to the Penn papers the author has been enabled to throw a flood of light on this infamous transaction, which was one of the principal causes which alien- ated the Delawares from the British in- terest and prompted the inhuman out- rages on the frontiersmen by these savages during the Indian war from 1755 to 1764. Mr. Buck has taken up a subject that has been little understood. and in the volame, besides grouping together the biographies of the individuals who par- ticipated in the "walk," outlines, in no mild terms, the double dealing of the proprietaries. He shows also very con- clusively, a fact we always knew and commented upon by us, that lands were sold which had not been purchased by the Indians, particularly the dealings of James Logan and William Allen, and the

rascality in the purchase of the "Durham tract" in 1734. The volume is of more than unusual interest, and every Penn- sylvania who takes pleasure in the his- tory of his State, should secure a copy. Only two hundred copies have been printed, most of these subscribed for, but the remaining copies are for sale at two dollars each, by Edwin S. Stuart, Leary's old book store, Philadelphia.

"THE HIVE" was the name of a news- paper published in Lancaster from 1803 to 1805. The following honey was se- cured therefrom by Squire Evans:

April 19, 1804, Isaac Smith, of Little Brandy wine, married Margaret Fleming, sister-in-law of Amos Slaymaker, Esq.

May 17, 1804, Michael Hubley died, aged 83 years. He was a native of Ger- many and arrived with his father at Philadelphia in the year 1732. In May, 1740, he came to Lancaster. The family took au active part in the Revolution.

On Sunday, September 9, 1804, Henry McCausland was killed at the house of William Tweed in Salisbury, by a son of Philip McGuire in a drunken frolic.

James Cochran, aged 37, was thrown from his horse and killed while driving team near Greensburg, Pa , Sept. 7, 1804.

Died Sept. 12, 1804, in Mount Joy Township. Brigadier General Mills, who was an officer in the Revolution.

Col James Mercer died Novr. 18, 1804. Married, by the Rev. Latta, Charles S. Sewell, of the Eastern Shore, Md., to Miss Catharine Keagy of Lancaster, Jan . uary 9, 1804.

Died January, 1805, Chester C. Smith, Printer.

Elizabeth Slaymaker, wile of Henry Slaymaker, died January 29, 1805, aged 33 years.

James Ross, Jr., son of General James Ross, was drowned at New York, Feb. 1805.

Feb. 20, 1805, Jacob Slough married Polly Greaff, daughter of Jacob Greaff, Esq.

March 9, 1805, John Long married Polly Hager.

On March 15, 1805, Rev. Arthur mar- ried Edward Mott, Jr., to Miss Faithful Slay maker, daughter of Amos Slaymaker, Esq.

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Samuel Evans died April 21, 1805, agcd 45.

FISHING ON THE LEHIGH.

[ For the following notes in relation to the catching of fish over a century ago, we are indebted to Mr. John W. Jordan, of the State Historical Society. ]

Before the beginning of white settle- ments in the valley of the Lechauweeki (Lehigh), that river had a great reputa- tion among the Delaware Indians for the variety and abundance of its fish, particu- larly the shad, which were caught in large numbers and dried. The means adopted to secure this excellent article of food, and subsequently followed by the Moravians and their Indian converts, was in this wise : A dam of stones was built across the river the walls converging into a pool. About one mile to the rear of this, a cable of grape-vines was twisted, on which, at intervals, brush was secured. This barrier stretched from shore to shore, being held in position by the Indians in canoes, and was towed down towards the dam. The frightened fish driven before it, were forced into the pool, where they were captured by men stationed on the walls of the dam for that purposc. This was called bush net fishing, and was su- perceded by the gill net and seine, until the improvements made in the bed of the river, by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, prevented the shad from re- sorting to its waters to spawn.

In March, of 1761, the Assembly passed an act for "the preservation of fish in the rivers Delaware, Susquehanna and the Lehigh, commonly called the West Branch of Delaware," and prohibited any person "building, repairing or main . taining, or aid, assist or abbett the build ing of any wear, rack, basket, fishing . dam, pond or other device for the taking of fish in said rivers, by which fish may be obstructed from going up the said rivers * * * or shall destroy or spoil any spawn, fry or brood of fish, &c ," under penalty of £20 for every offense or six months' imprisonment. Between March 1st and December 1st it was un- lawful for any person to offer for sale "any rock-fish which shall not measure twelve inches at least from the eye to the fork of tail.'

Now we do know that the Moravians before the "running season," always opened their dams for all fish to go up stream, but they also closed them as the time approached for them to come down stre im, and as they were always a law- abiding people we can assert that no rock fish were offered for sale contrary to the prescribed size as provided by the act.

While Governor John Penn, with his wife, brother and suite were visiting Bethlehem in April of 1768 they watched the single men fish. According to ap- pointment, Capt. Nicholas Garrison and Mr. John Arboe escorted them from the Sun Inn to the Congregation House, where they were joined by Bishop Seidel and wifc. Proceeding to the wash house by the Lehigh, they found ferryman Fuehrer waiting with his batteaux, into which the Governor, the Bishop and Mr. Arboe got, and were rowed to the rear of the fish net, and afterwards into the pool, where the process of fishing was viewed. The ladies and suite looked on from the high ground overlooking the dam. Six hundred and forty shad were caught on the occasion. A few days later Lord Charles Montague, Governor of South Carolina, with his wife, visited the town and also the fishery.

The following statement of some of the catches of the fishermen, gathered from official records, are of interest:

1744, May 25.

150 shad.

June 12 250

1749, May 6.

1002

1754, May 8 ..

300

1756, April 27. 600

1757, May 10.

2200

1763, May 9-13.

3100

1764, May 10-19. 4290

1768, April 29 640

July 2. 50 rockfish.

1773, June 19 40

1776, June 29. 80

1777, June 28.

1778, April 27-May 12. .. 8077 shad.

1780, May 19. 2150 66

1784, May 6. 1200

1785, May 18

900

SOME GENEALOGICAL NOTES.

GRUBB.

Thomas Grubb, of Little Britain,

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Lancaster county, d. August 1779, leaving a wife Isabel and children as follows:

i Ann, m. Joseph McCreary.

ii. Charity, m. Alexander Laughlin.

iii. Prudence.

iv. Joseph.

v. Jean. m. John Evans.

vi. John.

vii. Thomas. viii. James. ix. William. x. Benjamin.

GIBBONS

James Gibbons, of Londonderry town- ship, d. March, 1781, leaving his estate to -

Eliza Beatty wife of Hugh Beatty, of Northumberland county.

My cousin Hugh Beatty.

[ Who was this family of Beatty. In. formation is requested regarding them.]

GILCHRIST.

James Gilchrist, of Little Britain town- ship, Lancaster county, d. May, 1782, leaving a wife Sarah and children:

i. Margaret, m. Charles Harrow, and had James G. and Alexander.

ii. Sarah, m. James Robertson. iii. Robert.

GINTER.

Christian Ginter, of Lebanon, d. in March, 1785. He commences his will "In namen Pater Filius et Spiritus Sanc- tus, Amen." He left a wife, Dorothy, and child as follows:

i. Dorothy. m. George Welsh, deceased. His executor was his "good friend, Ru- dolph Kelcker, of the Town of Lebanon, Taylor."

HAYES.

David Hayes, of Rapho, d. in May, 1780 leaving a wife Jean, and children as follows:

i. [a dau]; m. Alexander Scott. ii. John

iii. Robert. iv. Patrick.

v. David; m. Jean - and had Eliza- beth.

He left a legacy to his nephew, David Kerr. The executors were Robert and Patrick Hayes and Alexander Scott.

HUSTON.

Andrew Huston, of Paxtang, d. in May 1782, leaving a wife, whose maiden name was Park. The legatees were:

Brother James, and his sons Andrew, James, William and John. Sister Margaret, wife of Thomas Mayes. Neice Jean Hilton. Neice Mary Smith.

Brother John and his son John.

Neice Margaret Stewart.

Nephew Robert Thome. The children of John Rutherford, Thomas, Samuel, John, William, Jean. Martha and Mary. Sister in law Margaret Rutherford.

The executors were John Rutherford, William Thome and Samuel Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON.

James Hutchinson. of Donegal town- ship, Lancaster county, d. prior to 1795, leaving issue:

i. Samuel,

ii James.

iii. Thomas.

iv John

v. Elizabeth.

vi. Robert.

vii. Jane.

HENDRICKS.

Tobias Hendricks, senior, of East Pennsboro' township, then Lancaster, subsequently Cumberland county, d. in November, 1739, leaving a wife Catha- riue, and children :

i. Henry.

ii. Rebecca.

iii. Tobias.

iv. David.

v. Peter.

vi Abraham. vii. Isaac.

HOGE.

John Hoge, of East Pennsboro' town. ship, Lancaster, now Cumberland county, a. October, 1754, leaving a wife Gwecnth- leen, and children:

i John.

ii. Jonathan.

iii. David.

iv. Benjamin. v. Mary.

vi. Elizabeth, m. and had Rachel.

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Historical and Genealogical.

vii. Sarah. viii. Rebecca.

ix Abigail.

HOWARD. Gordon Howard, of Donegal township, Lancaster county, d. in March, 1754, leav- ing a wife Rachel, and children:

j. Thomas.

ii. Joseph.

iii. John

iv. William.

v. Robert.

vi. [a dau ] m. James Allison.

vii. [a dau. ] m. Samuel Allison.

viii. Martha.

HALL.

I. Hugh Hall, of Derry, d. February, 1758, leaving a wife Sarah, and children:

i. Thomas.

ii. John.

iii. George

iv. James.

v. Hugh

The executors werc the wife and Joseph Candour.

II. Thomas Hall d. March, 1759, leav- ing a wife Isabella, and children:

i. Mary.

ii. Sarah.

iii. Hugh

iv. Elizabeth.

v. John.

III. Sarah Hall, of Londonderry, d. April, 1783, leaving her estate to: Granddaughter Sarah Hall.

Son-in-law Jacob Cook, and his daugh- ter Sarah.

Daughter Rose Cook.

Son William.

Son Samuel.

THE PRESBYTERY OF DONEGAL. BY REV. WM. A. WEST.

[CONCLUDED FROM LAST SATURDAY. ]

The foregoing petition was denied, and the following action was taken: "The Synod having maturcly considered the situation of affairs in the Presbytery of Donegal, agrec to erect the members of the Presbytery that live on the western side of the river Susquehanna, together with the Rev. Andrew Bay, into a new Presbytery by the name of the PRESBY- TERY OF CARLISLE; and appoint that their

first meeting be held at Philadelphia the 23d day of May, 1765, and the remaining members are hereby annexed to the Pres- bytery of New Castle."* To the body thus formed was given the name of the Presbytery of Lancaster +

By this action of Synod the Pres. bytery of Donegal ceased to exist; but. only for a time. After entering in its records the proceedings of its last meet. ing (held at Philadelphia during the sessions of Synod, May 18, 1765), the clerk, Rev. George Duffield, who, very likely, was not a heart broken mourner, ap- pended the following "obituary:" "Here endeth the Book of the Records of Done- gal Presbytery-the venerable, aged matron having expired in an apoplectic fit be ore the next appointed time of the meeting of her sons " (Records of 1765, p. 153.)

It proved, however, not to have been an apoplectic fit resulting in death, but a clear case of catalepsy, from which the "venerable matron" awoke to full con- sciousness and vigorous life a year later.

This new arrangement did not give satisfaction to many of those interested. The very day after its adoption by Synod, "Rev. Messrs. Tate, Elder, Steel, Sam- son Smith, M'Mordie and Beard brought in a paper signifying that it was difficult to acquiesce in the regulations of yester- day, respecting the alteration made in the Presbytery of Donegal, because they apprehend that no relief

of their grievances is thereby afforded;" * * * that their "rights were infringed," and that a Presbytery, "respectable, and of long standing, was thereby abolished."#

Nor did the arrangement give entire satisfaction to those who composed the new Presbytery of Carlisle. This was shown especially by a number of mem- bers absenting themselves from the meet- ings. Revs. John Stcel and Samuel Thomson never attended. They did not wish to be associated with the New Side element of the Presbytery. Their hearts were with the Old Side men, east of the river, who had been put into the Presby- tery of Lancaster. Thus there was very marked dissatisfaction in both these new Presbyteries.

The following year (1766) the Rev. Messrs. Tate and Beard made a motion

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for a review of the previous year's min utes respecting the new modeling of the late New Castle and Donegal Presbyteries.

Under the consideration of this general motion it. was first moved to reverse the action of last year, "with this limitation- that the Carlisle Presbytery should be continued in their present state." Lost. It was then moved that Donegal Preshy- tery, as it existed before last Synod (those members excepted who were set off to Carlisle Presbytery), be erected into a Presbytery under the name of Donegal. Lost. Another expedient proposed was to unite the brethren east of the Susque - banna to the Second Presbytery of Phila- delphia, which also was defeated by a large majority.

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Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 69

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

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