Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 74

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I > Part 74

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).

Early in 1832, in the midst of the re- vival season with which his own and very many of the other churches of the Presbytery were blessed, Mr. Duffield published his hook on Regeneration. Its contents surprised and grieved a number of the people of his charge, who signed and presented to him a remonstrance. Many of his ministerial brethren were startled "by what they looked upon as a departure from the Standards of the Church."*

That there existed points of divergence from old and accepted views there can be no doubt. This appears to have been admitted by Mr. Duffield himself in the "Dedication" of his hook, which reads : "To the members of his charge," "as an atonement for occasional attempts in the early periods of his ministry among them to explain the great fact of a sin- ner's regeneration by the aid of a phil osophy imhibed in his theological educa- tion and inter woven in many of his exhi- bitions of truth, but for many years past repudiated." This is certainly very frank.

His book was brought to the notice of Presbytery April 11th, 1832, and a com- mittee was appointed to "review it and report to Presbytery." At the meeting in June following the committee reported unfavorably to the book. At an ad- journed meeting held in November (28th) ten "charges of error" were preferred, and judicial proceedings were instituted against Mr. Duffield. The decision in the

case was reached April 17th, 1833, in which eight of the ten charges were sus- tained. As "definitive" of the view and attitude of Presbytery and as finally dis- posing of the case, the following was adopted:

"As to the counts on which Mr. Duffield has been found guilty, Presbytery judge, that Mr. Duffield's Book and Sermons on Regeneration do contain the specified errors; yet, as Mr. Duffield alleges, that Presbytery have misinterpeted some of his expressions, and says he does in fact hold to all the doctrines of our Standards, and that he wishes to live at amity with his brethren, and lahor without interrup- tion for the glory of God and the salvation of souls; therefore, Resolved, That Pres- bytery, at present, do not censure him any further than warn him to guard against such speculations as may impugn the doctrines of our Church, and that he study to 'maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.' "

This action appears to have been almost unanimous. At least, but two of the members (the Messrs. Williamson) gave notice of intention to protest. We would accept it also as an honest expression of their views, and not as the result of a temporizing spirit. Mr. Duffield was es- teemed not only for his ability, but for his piety and devotion to the Master's work as well, and Presbytery was willing to accept his disavowal of departure from the faith and let it have its modifying influ- ence on their decision. To this action, however, Synod took exception when, in November, 1834, Presbytery's Records were under review, saying, they could not "approve it, because it compromises essential truth, defeats the ends of disci- pline and, under the circumstances of the case, presents a result never contemplated hy our constitution after a judicial con vic- tion upon points involving material de- partures from the doctrines of our Stand- ards." This exception, taken hy the higher judicatory, did not reverse the ac- tion of the Presbytery, nor did it call for the reopening of the case and a new trial. But, according to the rules of the Church, was inscribed in the Record hook of the Presbytery as expressive of the disap- proving views of Synod. Thus ended a very painful trial. During its progress

526

Historical and Genealogical.

about seventy-five members of Mr. Duf- field's congregation were set off, at their own request, and organized into the Sec. ond Presbyterian church of Carlisle. This met with very bitter opposition from the pastor and those of his flock remain- ing with him, and it required years to remove the asperities on both sides which

resulted But time and the grace of God have effectually done the work, as the delightful mingling and co operation of the people of the two churches on this occasion, and indeed for years, abundantly testify. In the spring of 1835, Mr. Duf. field, having been called to become pastor of Arch Street church, Philadelphia, was dismissed to the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. But his name and memory still live and are cherished in the field of his first ministerial labors.

During the progress of the trial the existence of differences of views among the members on doctrinal points became obvious. There were those, however, who took exception to some of the methods which were adopted in the prosecution of the case, regarding them as somewhat arbitrary and therefore un- just to Mr. Duffield, while they did not in the least sympathize with his peculiar views. A few felt that he was misunder - stood and misrepresented, and sympa- thizcd with him on that account. The great majority of the Presbytery, how- ever, were of one mind and were decided and firm. They regarded Mr. Duffield as in error. It, would have been strange, in a trial such as this, had there been no alienation of feeling, no estrangement, no sharp, no harsh utterances. We claim not that there was exemption from these. The records show the reverse. But we do claim that the spirit manifested by Mr. Duffield, on the one hand, when he de- clared "that he wished to live at amity with his brethren and labor without in- terruption for the glory of God and the salvation of souls;" and by the Presby- tery, on the other, when it said, "there- fore, Resolved, That the Presbytery at present do not censure him any further than warn him to guard against such speculations as may impugn the doctrines of our Church, and that he study to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," was the spirit which

should ever characterize the followers of the gentle and forgiving Jesus, and is worthy of all commendation and praise.

*Dr. Wing-Discourse on Hist. of Donegal and Carlisle Presby teries.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.

CXXXI.

THE NEW LIFE OF PRESIDENT LIN- COLN .- Savein the way of its illustrations, we do not see that the life of President Lincoln as published in the Century mag- azine for November and December gives us anything new in regard to the early history of that remarkable man. The life by Arnold is undoubtedly the best which has yet appeared and gives us a better estimate of Lincoln than what we are receiving through the Century.

JACOB EARLY (N. & Q. cxxv) .- His son John m. Margaret In the year 1807 they resided in Rockingham county, Va. His daughter "Lutery" or Lydia m. Christopher Smith; in 1807 she was a widow residing in Rockingham county, Va. His daughter Agnes m. May 16, 1775, John Mathias, son of Mathias Wentnagle [Winagle. ] The latter b. May 14, 1716; and on Feb. 28, 1786 (his wife was Maria Catharine Ritter) "the Lord of life and death called him out of this troublesome world to a joyous eternity." His daughter Eva m. John Frederick, a brother of John Mathias Winagle, b. May 30, 1759 In 1807 both were living in New York State. Infor- mation of his descendants are wanting. His son Jacob b. Oct. 23. 1759; d. March 29, 1806, at what is now the town of Highspire; buried in the Reformed grave yard, corner of High and Pine streets, Middletown, where, over his grave, is a neat marble tomb stone. He resided in the old house, yet standing to the right, on the turnpike, as you enter Highspire from Middletown, and kept the Cross Keys Inn there, and after his death his widow, whose maiden name was proba- bly Catharine Musser, succeeded him, although on October 10, 1807, the widow and brother and sisters above named con-

527

Historical and Genealogical.

veyed the estate to Conrad Alleman. The estate consisted of 142 acres and 19 perches, bounded as follows : "Begin- ning at a tree hy the river Susque- hanna; thence along line of land of John Witmer's heirs, N. 16 deg., E. 63 p. and 6-10 of a p. to a stone on the great road, along line of G. R. Smith, 61d. and } E. 12p. to a post ; thence along the the sa ne S. 494 deg. E. 39 2 10 p. to a post hy Nicholas Bressler's land, S. 36 deg. W. 54 1-11 p. to the Susque- hannah river; up said river N. 62 d W. 3 p. to place of beginning. This same piece of land Conrad Alleman and Mary his wife conveyed hy their deed dated December 23, 1813, to Henry and Caro- lina Berents, of Marietta, Pa., and Michael and Catharine Dochterman of Mt. Joy township, which they laid out into town lots in 1814, and uamed it High Spire. Almost immediately afterwards they laid out 56 acres adjoining and called it "Highpire Continued." In this connection we give a reservation in the Early deed, as it is a part answer to No. 4, of "Topics for Historians" in last Notes and Queries, subject also to a lease given by Early in his lite to George Parthemore and others of "a right to fish for shad on the shore of the premises (which now is above Burd's run), and for said Parthemore to use as much drift wood during the said lease as may be necessary for fires for said fishery," &c., &c.

E. W. S. P.

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA IMMIGRA- TION SOUTHWARD.

In perusing recent Southern local his- tory, a Pennsylvanian is struck with the records of the early settlers, whether Scotch-Irish or German, especially the former. Those conversant with the his- tory of our own State know that from the years 1740 to 1770 was the Scotch-Irish exodus, the main cause due to the dis- crimination by the Proprietaries of Penn- sylvania against the settlers from the North of Ireland. The result was the movement south ward, tirst to the Cumberland Valley,

thence to the beautiful valleys_ of Virginia and the Carolinas. The history of the Scotch Irish who have furnished more representative men and women than any

other class of settlers in America, has yet to be written, but we trust that some one equal to the task will soon undertake it. The German immigration south ward was very limited until after the close of the struggle

for independence, when they, too, followed their Pennsyl- vania neighbors, the Scotch-Irish; and to these two classes of early settlers in our State, the Southern States owe much of its thrift, its enterprise and patriotism. We are led to these reflections by read- ing "The Annals of Augusta county, Virginia," by Joseph A. Waddell, which we have received through the courtesy of R. A. Brock, Esq., of the Vir- ginia Historical Society. is It a work of great value, and to the student of Pennsylvania history of more than or- dinary interest. None such should fail to secure a copy. In connection with Col. Peyton's admirable history of Au- gusta county published two years ago, a great deal of information can be gathered relating to Pennsylvania families, and if other and adjoining counties in the Vir- ginia Valley could have the same work done for them which Col. Peyton and Mr. Waddell have accomplished for that of Augusta, what a great boon it would be to lovers of history, biography and genealogy. Mr. Waddell, while giving his entertaining story in the form of annals does not forget in his copious notes to re- late to us much concerning individuals and families. From these we give the following, heing more particularly of local interest.

John and Andrew Pickens were early settlers in Paxtang. Here a son of the former, General Andrew Pickens, of South Carolina, distinguished in the Revolution, was horn, 19th of September, 1739. Ahout two years afterwards they removed to Augusta county, Va., and in 1752 to the Waxhaw settlement in South Carolina.

Robert McClanahan first settled in Pax- tang, hut went with the Scotch-Irish emigration to Virginia. He was a hrother of the celebrated Blair McClanahan, who at the close of the Revolu- tion, became a famous politician of Phila - delphia. Robert McClanahan married Sarah Breckenridge, daughter of an early settler in the Cumberland Valley. Their

528

Historical and Genealogical.

three sons, Alexander, Robert and John were prominent in the Indian wars, while the first named was a lieutenant colonel in the Revolution. They after- wards drifted to Kentucky. A daughter of Robert McClana han married Alexander St. Clair, a representative man of Au- gusta county.

Few persons are aware of the fact that the distinguished family of Breckenridge were early settlers in the Cumberland Valley, from whence they too followed the tide of emigration into Virginia, and subsequently into the "dark ard bloody ground." Kentucky's early settlers were almost wholly from Pennsylvania by way of Virginia; and also many of Ten- nessee's first families.

This volume is certainly replete with much that is valuable to us as Pennsyl- vanians. Most of the individuals who through the remarkable events of almost a century and a half rose high above the surface were either actual early settlers in this State or descendants thereof; not omitting the author's ancestor the Rev. James Waddell, to whom Wirt in his ex- cellent but almost forgotten work, "The Spy" pays such a grand tribute- the remarkable eloquence of the "Blind Preacher." At no distant day we hope to take up this subject of early Pennsyl- vania immigration to the southward, which this most excellent work has prompted us to do.

SOME GENEALOGICAL NOTES.

LEDLIE.

John Ledlie, of Middletown, d. in July, 1769, leaving issue :

i. Sampson; m., and had Aaron, Roger and Mary. LAMB

John Lamb, of Paxtang, d April, 1770, leaving a wife Jean, and issue :

i. Martha.

ii. Margaret.

iii. Eleanor.

MCNUTT.

Joseph McNutt, of Hanover, d. March, 1767, leaving issue :

i. Bernard.

ii. Joseph.

iii. William.

iv. Martha; m. Dean.

v. Jean. vi. Mary. The executors were Hugh Ray and John Rogers. .

LAWLOR. Mary Lawlor, widow, of Lancaster, d. August, 1778, leaving one child : i. Ann; m. George Ross, and their. children were George, James and Mary.

MARSHALL.

James Marshall, of Drumore township,. Lancaster county, d. December, 1772 ;. leaving a wife Jean, and children:

i. Patrick.

ii. John

iii. James.

iv. William.

v. Robert.

vi. Samuel.

vii. Thomas.

viii. Mary. ix. Martha. x. Margaret.

MCKINNEY.

John McKinney, of Paxtang, d. in November, 1749, leaving a wife Jean, daughter of Roger Cunningham, and children:

i. John. ii. Hugh.

iii. Mary.

The executors were "my mother Mar- tha Mckinney, my brother in-law Thomas Harris, and my brother Henry McKin- ney."

MURRAY. John Murray d. in October, 1745, leav- ing a wife and children as follows:

i. Bettie. ii. Isabel. iii. Richard.

MCALISTER.

Neal McAlister, of Derry, d. in No- vember, 1757, leaving a wife, and chil- dren:

i. John.

ii. Neal; m. and had a son Neal.

MCKNIGHT.

James McKnight, of Paxtang, d. No-

529

Historical and Genealogical.

vembe-, 1753, leaving a wite, Martha, and children:

i. Francis.

ii. Samuel iii. John

The executors were Martha and Wil- liam Mcknight.

McCORD.

William McCord d. March, 1761, leav- ing his estate to:

Son-in-law Thomas McCord.

Son in law Jobn Means.

Son in-law Patrick Montgomery. Son-in-law George Alexander.

MONTGOMERY.

I. Robert Montgomery, of Paxtang, d. February 22, 1776, leaving a wife Sarah, who d. October 15, 1784, and had children:

i. Mory. m. Duncan.

ii. John.

iii. Hugh.

iv. David.

v. Elizabeth; m. John Gallacher.

II. James Montgomery, of Leacock township, Lancaster county, d. February, 1772, leaving a wife Frances and chil- dren:

i. William; m and had John.

ii. Jumes.

iii. Jean; m. William Ramsey.

iv. Sarah; m. James Sterrett.

NELSON. James Nelson, d. April, 1765, leaving a wife Ann and children:

i. Joseph. ii. John

iii. Robert.

iv. Samuel.

v. Isabel [Betty ] m. - Patton and had Mary and John. vi. James.

CARLISLE PRESBYTERY.

BY REV. WM. A. WEST.

The trial of Mr. Duffield was followed by the agitation in Presbytery and in the Church at large of those questions which, four years later, resulted in the division of the Church into the Old and New School bodies. It has been noted by Dr. Samuel Miller as "An interesting fact

that the years of most earnest contro. versy, pending the division, were years of special religious prosperity in the Presby- terian Church, From 1829 to 1838, inclu - sive, the statistical reports exhibited an unusual number of additions on profes- sion, though the reports of 1836-1838 were less favorable than those preceding."*

This accords with what has entered into the experience of God's people and Church again and again in all ages: seasons of special preparation for special duty or special trial. In these seasons are enjoyed gracious manifestations of God's presence iu communing with and strengthening His own for what lies before them. Moses found it thus at the "Burn- ing Bush;" Elijah, when ministered to by the angel preparatory to that forty days' journey which had otherwise been "too great;" the Master, when, prior to His being led forth to His great tempta- tions there came to him, with the visible manifestation of the Spirit's descent, the voice from Heaven, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" or, later in His event'ul life, when upon the "Mount of Transfiguration," "His de cease which He should accomplish at Je- rusalem" was spoken of, and He was prepared for it by those communings, amid which there came again that audi. ble testimony of the Father: "This is my beloved Son, hear him."

The great revival of religion in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, 1625- 1632, during which the remarkable works of grace at Irvine, and Stewarton, and the Kirk of Shotts occurred, furnishes a case in point. Great trials lay before the Scottish Church; and God there prepared His people to meet them. Wrong, op- pression, persecution, even unto the death, awaited them at the hand of the Prelacy, sanctioned, backed, nay, urged forward by the unprincipled and un- scrupulous Charles I. These gave rise to the covenant of 1638; the signing of which, at the Gray Friar's church on the 28th day of February, marked an epoch in the history of the Church.

After no more space was left for signa- tures, even by initials, standing in sol- emn silence and moved, as it were, by one spirit, with low, heart-wrung groans, and faces bathed in tears, they lifted up

530

Historical and Genealogical.

their right hands to heaven, avowing by this sublime appeal that they had now "joined themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten."t

Who does not recognize in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which had preceded God's special preparation for this heroic stand and this noble testimony for Him- and not only so, but preparation also for the unflinching firmness with which they stood by their covenant in the conflict which followed, scaling it, in many an instance, with their own blood.

Another very striking instance of special pr paration for special emergency is to be found in the great revival of 1730 and onward, which preceded the Old and New Side controversy, resulting in the rending of the Church in 1741. Thus were human passions checked and con- trolled, asperities softened, sorrow felt at separation, and longings begotten to come together again erc separation had much more than been accomplished.

Thus may we view the gracious season of refreshing and strengthening enjoyed throughout the bounds of this Presbytery and elsewhere, prior to this great schism. They seem to have prepared God's minis- ters and people for it as nothing else could have done; and to have rendered the results on both sides less disastrous than they should otherwise have been.

Dr. Sprague says: "For some time prior to 1830, it had been apparent that there were really two parties in the Pres. byterian Church; which, though not often brought into actual collision, had occasioned, sometimes, in mceting, a test question to indicate their existence."#

In the Presbytery of Carlisle the exist- ence of these parties had not to any ex- tent been apparent until during and after the trial of Mr. Duffield. No test ques- tions, such as Dr. Sprague alludes to, seem to have arisen. And, until then, there had been no direct agitation, save in one instance, of those questions which tended toward and finally resulted in separation; and in that one instance the Presbytery was of one mind.

Most prominent among these questions were the following:

I. The existing "admixture of Congre. gationalism and Presbyterianism" in

certain churches, but more especially in the Presbyterian Judicatories. This was the result of the "Plan of Union" entered into in 1801. The Old School clement insisted that this should cease, whilst the - New School element contended for its toleration and extension.

II. Doctrinal differences. In some parts of the Church these were on points regarded as fundamental; such as the Federal relation of Adam to his posterity and original sin, Imputation, Native de- pravity, Regeneration-the independent activity or the passivity of its subjects, &c. In many places there was, as the re- sult of the "Plan of Union," an element "in the Church which was not of the Church " To this fact may largely be attributed the existence of these differ. ences. In other sections of the Church "the differences," Dr. Charles Hodge has well said, "between the Old and New School were more in the matter of inter- pretation of Scripture and in the modes of presenting truth than in fact."

III The agencies for doing the benefi . cent work of the Church. The New School element wished to operate through the "American Home Mission Society," in doing Home Mission work; the "American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," in doing Foreign Mission work; the "American Education Society," in the education of young men for the ministry; and favored the "Ameri . can Tract Society" and the "American Sunday School Union" as the sources of religious and Sunday school literature. On the other hand, the Old School ele- ment desired denominational agencies under the direct control of the Presby- terian Church; and wished to do the work of Home Missions through the "Board of Missions" (now the Board of Home Missions) established in 1816; the work of preparing young men for the ministry, through the "Board of Education." established in 1819; the work of Foreign Missions through an agency of the Church's own. To meet this last want, the Synod of Pittsburg had, in 1831, organized the "Western Foreign Missionary Society." The Old School element wished to take this under the care of the whole Church and make it the channel for its gifts to the foreign

531

Historical and Genealogical.

cause. But this was successfully opposed till after the division in 1837, when the Old School General Assembly accepted the trust and established the "Board of Foreign Missions" in the city of New York. The Old School element desired also that the religious literature for their families and Sabbath schools should be issued by a Board of Publication, respon- sible to the Church for its work.

IV. Slavery, as then existing in parts of the country-the measure of guilt at- taching to it and the manner of disposing of it.

With all these questions, Presbytery was brought face to face in one form or another.

*Historical Review-Reunion vol., p. 8. +Hetherington's Ch. of Scotland, pp. 155, 156.

#Sprague's Anrals, III., p. 15, Int.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.

CXXXII.

MCKINNEY (N & Q cxxxi) -Our friend Squire Evans calls our attention to the fact, that in this family the words "my mother Martha Mckinney" should read "my brother Matthew McKinney;" that the blunder is due to the clerk who copied it, but that upon examination of the original will, it is as he bas given it. In making this correction we may state that so frequent are these clerical biun- ders that we are compelled to refer to the originals. In the examination of the rec- ords of a neighboring county, where recent transcripts have been made of the first registers of wills, many blunders have crept in. The books were not properly compared. This makes double work for the genealogist.

CRAWFORD FAMILY .- The Hon. Ed- win Salter, of New Jersey, sends us the following notes of the Crawford family, of Monmouth county, that State. Infor- mation as to the Pennsylvania branch is requested :

John Crawford, gentleman, of Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1678 bought 200 acres of land at Nut Swamp, Middletown, Mon-

mouth county, and other lands. He had a son George Crawford, who describes himself in a deed as "son and heir" of John Crawford. He married Esther Scott, daughter of John Scott and died 1745 They had issue:

i. George; died without issue.

ii. Richard; m. Catharine Shepherd, and had issue whose line is preserved; he d. 1798 and his wife d. 1807.

iii. William; m. Catharine Bowne and had issue, and linc preserved.

iv. Joshua; went to Pennsylvania.

v. Job; went to Pennsylvania.

vi. Ludia.

vii. Elizabeth.

The sons Joshua and Job Crawford, who went to Pennsylvania, had descend- ants who subsequently removed to Vir. ginia and thence to Georgia. The late Senator William H. Crawford, of Georgia, (Presidential candidate in 1824, ) was a. son of Joel Crawford who went from Pennsylvania to Virginia; it is supposed he was a son of Joshua Crawford.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. I, Part 74

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

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