Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 71

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 71

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We first bear of efforts for the forma - tion of the county of Franklin during the closing years of the struggle for Indepen- dence in petitions therefor in 1780; but re- monstrances were poured in upon the As. sembly to postpone the subject until the Revolutionary war was over. No sooner was the prospect of peace heightened, than renewed efforts were made by the inhabitants of the western parts of the county of Cumberland for a division, representing "the inconveniences and hardships which they suffer by the large extent of the said county * * * *

the great distance at which the said peti- tioners dwell from the town of Carlisle, where the courts of justice and the public offices of the same county are held and kept." On the 25th of March, 1782, the petitions therefor were ordered by the General Assembly to be referred to Moses Maclean, Mr. Agnew and Mr. Maclay, with directions to bring in a bill. A bill was subsequently reported and passed second reading, but the inhabitants of "New Town" township petitioning to have Shippensburgincluded in the new county, while the inhabitants of Lurgan township remonstrated forcibly against a division- the whole subject was dropped until the following Assembly. The next Assem- bly were not favorable to the new county project, and the matter was referred by them to their successors. The new As-

sembly had scarcely organized when a petition was received from John Clark for the appointment of register for the probate of wills for the new county to be erected out of Cumberland. This was Col. John Clark, of the town of York, a brave officer of the Revolution. His application was prematurc. Numer- ous petitions for the division of the county of Cumberland poured in upon the legis- lative body, while not a few remon- strances against the same. The latter were chiefly from Shippensburg and Lurgan township, a portion of whose in- habitants preferred, since the former place was not considered eligible for the county seat, to remain with the old county. On the 16th of March, 1784, the committee to whom the petitions and remonstrances were referred reported the following :

"Resolved, That a new county begranted and laid out, to begin on the York county line on the South Mountain; thence by a square line to be run from the said beginning to the North or Blue Ridge, leaving Shippensburg to the east of said line; thence from the summit of the said North Mountain by the ridges dividing the waters of Shearman's Valley from the waters of the Path Valley, to the Gap, near the heads of the said Path Valley joining Bedford county; thence by the Bedford county line to the Mary- land line; thence by said line to the line of York county; thence by said county line to the place of beginning; to be called --- county; and that the said new county town shall be established by law, at the well-known place called Chambers Town, and not elsewhere; and that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill accordingly."

On the 18th of March the resolution was read the second time, and Messrs. Rush, Coleman and McPherson were ap- poin ed a committee to bring in a bill. As yet it will be seen no name was men- tioned in connection with the new county project. The committee appointed were: Jacob Rush, ot Philadelphia, subsequently president judge of the courts of that city ; Robert Coleman, of Lancaster, the great iron-master, and the head of that family 80 intimately connected with the iron- trade of Pennsylvania; and Col. Robert McPherson, of York county, a brave

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soldier of the Revolution, and the grand- father of Hon. Edward McPherson, of Gettysburg; a remarkable committee- gentlemen of culture, and eminent in pub lic affairs. To them must the credit be given of naming the county FRANKLIN for that patriot, sage and philosopher, whose reputation was even then world-wide. It was a deserving honor, and the first in successive ones which next to the im- mortal Washington has given name to more towns and counties than any other in the American Union.

On the 25th of March the bill was re- ported and read the first time. Four days after it was read the second time and ordered to be printed. Then fol- lowed a flood of petitions, for and against not only the division of the county, but the location of the county seat. For the latter, Green Castle and Shippensburg were anxious to be selected-although the latter was unwilling to be included within the limits of the new county unless it was thus honored. Green Castle con- tended that it was equally as central as Chambers Town, and much better situa- ted with reference to the back counties and to Maryland.

On the 25th of August, the Assembly took up the bill and debated it at length, which was continued on the 30th. On the 6th of September a clause was adopted to the effect "that the inhabitants of the new county of Franklin should have their full proportion or share of what moneys were raised for Cumberland county uses, after all just demands against said county of Cumberland, before passing this act, are paid."

On the 9th of September, 1784, the bill "was enacted, and signed by the speaker," and thus was erected the County of Franklin with Chambers Town as the seat of justice "and not else- where." W. H. E.

DONEGAL PRESBYTERY DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. BY REV. WM. A. WEST.

At the meeting of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia in 1785, "An over- ture was brought in that, for the better management of the Christians under our care, this Synod be divided into three Synods, and that a general Synod, or

Assembly, be constituted out of the whole " Synod agreed to enter on the consideration of this overture on the first Friday after their next meeting *

Accordingly. the subject was taken up at the appointed time the next year, (1786 ) when it was decided by Synod that it was proper, "previous to the decision of the Synod, to divide some of the Presbyteries, which are now too extensive in their limits, and to new moddle some others, so as to render them more convenient than they are at present."

In accordance with this decision, the Presbytery of Donegal was divided into two Presbyteries, one of which to con- sist of Revs. John Slemons, James Hunt, Stephen Balch and Isaac Keith; with Rev. Dr. Patrick Allison, from the late Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, and the Rev. George Luckey, from the Pres- bytery of New Castle, to be known by the name of the Presbytery of Baltimore. * * * And the other to consist of * Revs. Samuel Thomson, John Hoge, Hugh Magill, Robert Cooper, James Martin. James Lang, John Craighead, John King, Hugh Vance, Thomas M' . Ferrin, John M'Knight, Dr. Robert Davidson, John Black, Samuel Dougal, John Linn, David Beard, Samuel Waugh, Joseph Henderson, Matthew Stephens and James Johnson; with the Revs. John Elder and Robert M'Mordie, from the late Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, to be known by the name of the Pres- bytery of Carlisle, and to hold their first meeting agreeably to the adjournment of the late Presbytery of Donegal t

Thus, it will be seen that the new Pres- bytery of Carlisle was substantially the old Presbytery of Donegal. Three of its members, Balch, pastor at Georgetown, D C., Hunt, at West Nottingham, and Keith, who appears never to have had a charge, were put into the new Presby. tery of Baltimore, and the Oll Side warriors, Elder and M'Mordie, had a place given them again among their brethren; and Rev. Colin M'Farquahar was annexcd to the Presbytery of New Castle.

And, as it was substantially the old Presbytery, it took up its work just as though no change had taken place, car- ricd out engagements made by it, heard

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and acted upon reports of committees ap- pointed hy it, and in every way showed its identity to all respects, except in name and having lost that portion of its terri- tory in the region of Baltimore and the District of Columbia.

During the nine years which followed, there were four churchcs organized within the bounds of the present Presby. tery, viz: M'Connellshurg, in 1791, Lower Path Valley (as distinct and separate from ¿the Upper Path Valley church) in 1792, Mouth of the Juniata (now Dun> cannon) in 1793, and Market Square, Harrisburg, in 1794. Very much of the work of Preshytery lay beyond its pres- ent hounds; to some extent, in Maryland and Virginia, hut mainly in what are now the Preshyteries of Huntingdon and Northumberland. Besides settling pas- tors over a number of churches, it, from time to time, sent supplies to not less than twenty-five churches and preaching points, in what are now their hounds. These supplies preached to the people on Sahhath, visited them in their homes and catechised their children. In this, the Presbytery showed an earnest and ag . gressive spirit. The lahor was well be. stowed. It was appreciated hy the fami- lies living along the Juniata and Susque- hanna, and settlers in the beautiful and fertile valleys that run out to these streams who were thus served and gathered into congregations. It hrought forth visihle fruit at the time. But, the fuller and richer fruitage :s to be seen in the charcter and strength of Presbyteri- anism in those nohle Preshyteries in after years and at the present time. It could not fail to be of interst to trace the work hegun (in some instances hy the Presby- tery of Donegal) and carried forward in that region until it passed from under our care. But, with this general allusion, we must be content, leaving the history in detail to those Presbyteries.

And, not content with doing the work which lay near at hand, the records show that as early as 1790, Presbytery ordered that "collections he taken up immediately in the congregations under their care, for the purpose of defraying the expense of missionaries into the frontier settlements." Thus did they show that for that day they possessed no small measure of the spirit

which Christ inculcated when he com- mands: "Go ye," &c. To them, this broad laud, into which the pioneer was pushing in every direction was, so to speak, the world. The work of Protest- ant foreign missions, except in the case of the Moravian Church, can scarcely be said, as yet, to have had an existence. The London Missionary Society was not formed till the last year of the period now under consideration (1795). All the mis- sion work of a foreign character they knew anything about, was that under- taken and so successfully performed by their devoted countrymen, Elliott and Brainard, among the aborigines of this country.

During all these years of her carly his- tory in this country-years of contending with hardships and privations in opening up a new country for settlement; years of internal discord, years of peril and con. flict with the Indians and years of battling with the mother country for a name and a place amongst the nations of the earth-we say that during all these years the Preshy - terian Church was the friend of educa- tion. As a rule, the school house was to he found hard hy the church; and oft- times parson and teacher were combined in the same person. The interest felt on this subject in our bounds was evinced in later days hy the founding of Dickin- son College, at Carlisle, and academies of a high grade at prominent points; such as Hagerstown, Chamhershurg and Ship- pensburg. So deeply did Presbytery feel interested in these schools that it ap- pointed committees to visit them and ex- amine the students.

Huntingdon Presbytery Set Off.

This brings us to the division of the Presbytery, by the General Assembly striking off Huntingdon Presbytery, and to the period which follows down to the division of the Church into the Old and New School hodies.

Owing to the great extent of territory covered, the rapidly increasing population and growing demands for labor, a division of the Presbytery was felt to he import- ant. Hence eight years after its erection, the Presbytery of Carlisle, with the con- currence of the Synod of Philadelphia, presented an overture to that effect to the General Assembly. It was answered in

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the affirmative, and the Presbytery of Huntingdon was stricken off. The part of the record of the pr ceedings of the General Assembly, May 20th, 1794, which relates to our Presbytery, is as follows:

"Resolved, That the said Presbytery (Carlisle) be divided into two Presby- teries by a line along the Juniata river from its mouth to the top of Tuscarora mountains; thence along the Tuscarora mountain to the head of Path Valley; thence westwardly to the eastern bound- ary of the Presbytery of Redstonc, so as to leave the congregation of Bedford to the south; that the ministers settled south of said linc, viz: Mr. Snodgrass, Mr. Waugh, Mr. Linn, Dr. Nesbit, Dr. David- son, Mr. Wilson, Dr. Cooper, Mr Craig- head, Ds King, Mr. Lang, Mr. M'Pher- rin, Mr. Paxton, Mr. Black, Mr. Hender- son, Mr. M'Murdie and Mr. Jones, to- gether with all those who have been, or shall be ordained or admitted, within the limits now prescribed for the Presbytery of Carlisle. since the last annual report from that Presbytery, till the time when the said Presbytery shall be dissolved, shall be known by the name of the Pres- bytery of Carlisle, to hold its first meet- ing at, Carlisle on the second Tuesday of April" (1795). By this action the Pres. bytery lost eight of its ministers and the lareer part of its territory.

Thus it will be seen that after the divi- sion, the territory of the Presbyterv em- braced the counties of Dauphin, York, Adams, Cumberland, Perry, Franklin, Fulton and Bedford in the State of Penn- sylvania, and Washington and Allegheny counties in Maryland, and even extended into Virginia.

The Presbytery, as thus constituted, consisted of the following ministers and churches:

MINISTERS. CHURCHES.

Chas. Nesbit, D. D. Pres. of Dickinson College.

Robt. Cooper, D. D.P. Middle Spring.

James Lang, P. E Connecochegue.

John Craighead, P. Rocky Spring.

John King, P. Upper W. Conneco- cheague. Robt. Davidson, P. Carlisle.

Thos. M'Pherrin, P. Lower E. Conneco-

cheague (Hagers- town.)

Lower W. Conneco- cheague. (Robert

Kennedy, Memor.) E. Pennsborough. Monaghan.

John Linn, P. Centre. Upper.

(Limestone Ridge.)

Jos. Henderson, P.

Great Conewago.

Samuel Wilson, P .. Big Spring.

James Snodgrass, P. Hanover.

Wm. Paxton, P.

Lower Marsh Creek.

Tom's Creek.

Robt. Cathcart, P. York. Hopewell.

Nathan'l Snowden, P Harrisburg. Derry . Paxton.

John Boyd, P. Tuscarora, Va.

Falling Waters, Va.

David Denney, P.

Upper Path Valley. Lower Path Valley.

Robt. M'Murdie, W.C John Black, W. C. David Jones, W. C.

Upper Marsh Creek, V Piney Creek, V. Bedford, V. Great Cove (M'Con- nellsburg), V.

Williamsport, Md., V. Mouth of Juniata. (Duncannon), V.

Sherman's Creek, V. Conewago, V.

Hancock, Md., V.

Falling Spring, V.

Middle Paxton

(Dauphin.)

*Records Pres. Ch., p. 513 Records Pre -. Ch., ; p 521. 523. #Report made to General Assembly, 1793.

-- PRESBITERY OF CARLISLE.

BY REV. WM. A WEST .- CONTINUED.

At the first meeting-held at Carlisle, April 14, 1795-Presbytery resolved to take up the unfinished business of the old Presbytery as far as it related to their own bounds. Thus, their work was car- ried forward without interruption. By the diminution of territory, they were able to bestow more care and labor on their churches and destitute fields. This

Samuel Waugh, P.

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they did by carefully guarding the doors to them by means of an efficient com- mittee on credentials, by appointing sup- plies to all vacant churches and by doing evangelistic work in their own neighbor- hoods, and by making appointments of their own number to labor in the border territory between them and the Presby- tery of Huntingdon. The latter was not jealous of this, but, on the contrary, handed over to it the care of the churches in Tuscarora Valley.

We have no way of ascertaining the result of these labors, in the way of growth in membership, prior to 1807. From that year on, reports were made to the General Assembly, not of the several churches, but of the aggregate member- ship of the churches in the Presbytery. Giving it by decades, we have in 1807, 1,852 communicants; in 1817, 2,143; in 1827, 3 807; and in 1837 (by counting non reporting churches, from report of 1836), 4,620.

Thus, the increase was over 150 per cent. in thirty years. In like manner, tbe increase in the number of churches was very great during the period under consideration. In 1803, Middle Ridge was organized; in 1811 (or prior), Cum- berland, Md., then known as Ft. Cum- berland; in 1818, Petersburg, Waynes- boro and Millerstown; in 1823, Landis- burg and Buffalo; in 1824, St. Thomas; in 1825, Shippensburg was received from the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia (Associate), and Williamsport, Md., was regularly organized; in 1832, Roxbury and Newburg, and Dauphin, by the reorganization of Middle Paxton, whose house of worship was located on the hill back of the town of Dauphin; in 1833, Carlisle Second, Bloomfield, Schellsburg and Fayetteville; in 1835, Green Hill. The date of the organization of Wells' Valley church is not known; and the following churches, which lived a short time and then passed away: 1818, Liver- pool and New Buffalo; 1823, London, Roxbury and Newburg. At Newburg there is a neat and commodious house of worship, and a good congregation, which forms a part of the Middle Spring organ> ization. And, at Orrstown, four miles from Roxbury, there is a church and con- gregation, holding connection with Mid-

dle Spring also. Therefore, the territory has not been lost, though the distinct or - ganizations of the churches have ceased to exist. There has simply been a return to the parent church, from which and with whose consent they went out.

During this period, there was a grow- ing interest in such departments of work as occupied the mind of the Church. At its first meeting (1795), Presbytery issued instructions to the churches to lift collecs tions to defray the expenses of missions, and recommended two of its members- Revs. Henderson and M'Clean-as su'ta- ble persons to be appointed by the Gen- eral Assembly to Home Missionary work. Thus, from the very start, it put itself in the attitude of co-operation with the Gen- eral Assembly, alike as to furnishing men and means. As a matter which we are well assured will be of deep interest, as the centennial of the General Assembly approaches, we bere insert the action taken at its first meeting after organiza- tion, in 1789. on the subject of Home Missions: "The committee appointed to devise measures to carry the mission to the frontiers into execution, made the following report, which was adopted, viz:

Resolved, That each of the Synods be, and they are hereby, requested to recom - mend to the General Assembly, at their next meeting, two members, well quali- fied to be employed in missions on our frontiers, for the purpose of organizing churches, administering ordinances, or- daining elders, collecting information concerning the religious state of those parts, and proposing the best means of establishing a gospel ministry among the people. And, in order to provide means for defraying the necessary expenses of the mission, it is strictly enjoined on the several Presbyteries to have collections made during the present year in the several congregations under our care, and forwarded to Isaac Snowden, Esq, the treasurer of the General Assemby, with all convenient speed "*

In like manner, the Presbytery mani- fested very considerable interest in the education of young mec for the ministry. It sought out and en- couraged suitable young men, and afforded assistance when needed, and ontributed, though moderately, to thec

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General Assembly's educational fund. In the bounds of the Presbytery there were facilities of no low order for procur- ing a thorough classical education. There were the academies, of which mention has elsewhere been made; and there was in Carlisle, belonging to us, a literary in- stitution which was the rival of Nassau Hall, at Princeton. From it went forth some of the most cminent men of their day, both in Church and State. It was ours then, and might, and should, have continued to be ours. "In union there is strength." But there was division then, and with it weakness, if nothing more. Perhaps at no other period in the history of the Church could the transfer have been made. Proverbially are Pres- byterians "God's silly people."

In connection with the subject of edu- cation it may be of interest to note that when, in 1811 and 1812, the question of locating the Theological Seminary of the Church was discussed and decided, the claims of one of our fair towns + werc considered as well nigh rivaling those of Princeton. The geo- graphical position, the character of the people, the excellence of educational in- stitutions and the strength and influence of the Presbytery, were all taken into account. There were not felt then, as now, the overshadowing influences and power of churches and Presbyteries in the great cities. In the whole Church, Carlisle Presbytery then ranked second as to number of ministers on her roll and third as to number of communicants. And the weight and influence of her ministers did not arise alone from their number, but rather from their eminence for learning and ministerial worth.

By the year which closes the period of which we now speak (1837), therc re- mained but two of those whose names were enrolled at its commencement, 42 years before, viz: Robert Cathcart and David Denny. Others had either been raised up upon the field, or called from abroad to fill their places, many of whom also had passed away by removal to other fields or death.

*Min. Gen. Assembly, 1789, p. 10.

tChambersburg-Dr. Archibald Alexan- der, Log College, p. 16, Princeton Edition, 1845.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.

CXXIX.

CAPT. JOHN STEELE, (N. & Q. cxxvii. ) In Squire Evans' exellent sketch of Capt. John Steele are certain errors which I de- sire to correct. The first edition of Dil- worth's spelling book was printed as early as 1778, which was prior to Mr. Steele's marriage to Miss Bailey. Again, in the history of the Third Presbyterian church of Philadelphia printed in 1837, and also in the one published in 1859, Mr. Steele's name appears as a trustee and not as a "ruling elder."

PAXTANG.

.TRANS ALLEGHENY PIONEERS."- Such is the title of a volume of historical sketches of the first white settlements west of the Alleghenies, within the terri . tory of Virginia, which the author, John P. Hale, Esq , of Charleston, West Vir- ginia, has favorcd us with. The pioneer history of that locality only repeats itself in the pioneer history of Western Penn- sylvania. These sketches of the hard- ships and privations, the dangers and suf- ferings of the frontiersmen of a century and more ago, remind us of the duty we owe to those brave actors in struggling for the mastery and for homes which their descendants now occupy in peace and plenty. In traveling

along the well cultivated farms of to-day few realize through what scenes of blood- shed, of misery and of want, these have been guaranteed to us. The sad story of the Ingles and Drapers which Mr. Hale so graphically describes, is an interesting one, and the author is deserving the thanks of the present generation in preserving so much of the life-history of those grand old pioneers in the valley of the Kanawha All through the volume are incidents of more than local historical interest, and many of the names men- tioned have a Pennsylvania prior origin and settlement. It is a valuable contri- bution to the records of American pioneer life, and will be the more appreciated as we go farther away from that exciting period.

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SOME OLD CORRESPONDENCE.

The Indian Commissioners to Robert Hanna.

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 27, 1776.

Sir: The Congress have directed the Commissioners for Indian affairs in this Department to invite some of the Indian chiefs to Phila'da, Mr. Lockrey was kind enough to mention to us that some of the Light Horse men wou'd accompany us part of the way down the Road. As the carrying down some Indians will be productive of the happest effects to this country, by Preventing any Indian War, we have no Doubt but that Part of y'r Company would willingly go some Dis- tance with us in case we could bring the Savages to consent to the Journey. The very appearance of an Escort may be of good service to the Public Interest. We apprehend that about a Dozen men with an Officer would answer every purpose. We do not know whether we shall be able to carry our Point with the Savages; but will do our utmost Endeavors for this End. If we succeed we shall acquaint you in due time of it, of the day when we expect to leave this place. In the mean time, it might be well to consult the Inclinations of your men, whether they would approve of the business; that in case of their willingness they might Hold themselves in readiness. We beg you will communicate this Letter to Mr. Lockrey; and are sir,

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Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 71

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

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