USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Oxford > Two discourses relating to the early history of Trinity Church, Oxford, Philadelphia : with a compend of its history between September, 1854, and October, 1882, with an appendix > Part 6
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Thus I have given you the true and genuine state of the Ox- ford Church, and the difficulties I had in it, which you will see. are of such a nature that they are only fit to be mentioned in private, and are not for public view, lest they should widen those differences which I have been striving to close, and which I thank God I think I can now say are in a manner wholly closed.
I am, Revª and worthy Sir, &c. WM. SMITH.
MR. ROSS TO THE SECRETARY.
PHILADELPHIA, July 6, 1771.
Reverend Sir :- At the earnest and repeated request of several of the Congregation of Oxford, I give you this trouble in their behalf, humbly to request the Honble Society will be pleased to send them a worthy, pious Minister, to officiate and reside among
1
99
them. Mr. Montgomery, who lately went from hence for orders, on his return declined their service and accepted a living in Ma- ryland; whereby the dutys to the families, visiting the sick, &c., are totally omitted, to their great uneasiness. Dr. Smith occa- sionally officiates among them, on the Lord's Day, but that by no means gives satisfaction, as some like and approve him well and attend the service of the Church when he comes among them, while others dislike him as much, and will not join their brethren in Worship under his ministry, and so totally abstain attending Divine Service, whereby that little flock is at present divided and much scattered. The people are extremely desirous to be on a footing with other Missions, to have their Minister reside on the spot, ready when called on to do the Parochial dutys: visit the sick, baptize the children, bury the dead, &c .; and by his good example, purity of manners, sound doctrine and good advice, gradually conduct them to happiness. It is really at this time one of, if not the best and most agreeable Missions in this Prov- ince. Pray send them an affable, kind and courteous English Clergyman. Such a one will add weight and do real and essen- tial service to the Church; as most who are sent from hence for ordination are generally young Presbyterians, who cannot be supposed will make much effort for the Advancement of, or likely to make many converts to our Churches.
Hard indeed is our case that we cannot have a Bishop sent to America. Should that happy time arrive, our Church would then be countenanced and supported, whereas at present she droops her head and languishes. We desire no power over our dissenting Brethren, but we want at least to be on a level with them. Were we so favored I doubt not several men of Fortune, who want no aids from the people, woud enter into the Church merely for the sake of doing good. The Dissenters generally, except Presbyterians, heartily wish it.
Revª Sir, &c., JOHN ROSS.
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The document alluded to on page 28 is entitled, "Beging Book for Glebe." From the names contained in it, many of which ap- pear to be autographs, it has been thought worthy of publication. It is as follows:
"TO ALL PUBLIC-SPERITED, CHARITABLE,
AND WELL-DISPOSED PEOPLE:
The Members of the Established Church of Oxford, in the County of Philadelphia, takeing into Consideration the Late Un- happy Accident that has befallen their Church-haveing their Ancient Glebe house, belonging to their Parish, Consumed totally by fire-and being Very Willing to Contribute all in their Power toward rebuilding the same, but Very unable to Carry on this work of themselves, are oblidged to Apply in this Mannor for help to their Christian brethren, And hop that they will Generously assist them on this Occasion in Subscribing towards the Above Said purposes.
We whose names are underwritten do promise to pay to Isaac Ashton, Esqr., and Dr. Samuel Swift, or either of them, the re- spective sums Annex'd to our names, for the Above Mentioned purpose, Jan'y ye 7, 1760.
Rec'd of his honour the Governor, Mr.
James Hamilton, Esq., . ·
51.
Wm. Plumsted,
5
Wm. Allen, .
3
·
Wm. Coleman,
·
1 0 0
Benjamin Chew,
Jacob Duche,
Joseph Stamperr,
Jno. Maise,
1
Jos. Mirando,
0 10 0
Ro: S-e, ·
0
12
Jno. Keaney,
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 C 4 Os. 0d. 6
1 0 0
1
2 0
101
Benj'n Armitage,
ol.
78. 6d.
Stn'n Ward, .
2
5
0
Benj. Loxly, .
0 15 0
Jno. Wilcocks,
1
10 0
0
5
0
W. D. Rone, Jno. Phillips,
1 10
0
Reese Meredith,
1
0
0
Thos. Mulling,
0
10 0
Will Rice,
0
5
0
Wi'm P-ts, .
0
7
6
Am. Land, .
0
15
0
Bartholoew & Hall,
0
13
6
Pr. Turner, Junr.,
1
0
0
Jno. McMichal,
1
0
0
Wright Massey,
1
0
0
David Franks,
1
0
0
Sam'l McCall,
1
2
6
Chl's : Willings,
1
2
6
Jacob Henry,
1
2
6
Wm. Henry, .
0
15
0
Sam'l Smith, .
1
0
0
Saml. Howe, .
0
7
6
James Carmalt,
0
15
0
Cash,
0
7
6
Martin Ashton,
0
7
6
Sam'l Morris,
2
0
0
George Robenson, .
0
7
6
Cash, .
0
7
6
Francis Rawle,
0
15
0
Thos. Leech, .
1
0
0
Arch'e Hurt,
0
7
0
Fisher & Buckley,
0
10
0
Jos. Shewell, .
.
0 10
0
102
Henry Lisle, .
ol.
78. 6d.
Cash, .
0
7
6
Mt. Dug : s, .
0 15 0
Thos. Gorden,
1
0 0
Juda Folk,
0 15 0
M'll Bradford,
1
0
0
Gough & Carment,
1
0
0
Rob't Usher, .
0 10 0
Sam'l Corry, .
0 10 0
Cash,
0
17
6
Jno. Hughes,
1
2
6
Cash,
0
7
6
Jno. Gibson, .
0
15 0
Cash,
0
15 0
Jos. Smith,
1
0
0
Sam'l Neave,
1
2
6
Jno. Wood, .
0 15
0
Thos. York, .
0 10 0
Charles Woodham,
1
2
6
John Stamper,
1
0
0
Chas. Coxe, .
2 10
0
Wm. Bingham,
3
0
0 0
Wm. West, .
0
10
Mary Grant,
1
0
0
T. W. T.,
1
0
0
Will'm Masters,
1
0
0
Thos. Gardner,
0
10
0
George Boyan,
0
10
0
Jno. Swift,
1
0
0
. Jos. Swift,
1
0
0
Jno. Nisbit, .
0
15
0
D. Hall,
1
0
0
Henry Harrison,
1 10
0
103
Jno. Ord,
21.
Os.
0d.
Thos., Stamper,
.
0
15
0
Rich. Morris,
1
0
0
W. Dunlap, .
0
10 0
Glover Hunt,
0
5 0
Jno. Knott, .
0
10 0
Rih'd Thomas,
0
15 0
Blanch White,
1
0
0
Phil. Syng, .
1
10 0
Rich'd Buding,
0
15 0
D'n Moore, .
0
17
6
Amos S. Wittell, .
0
15
0
Charles Meredith, .
0
15 0
Jno. Reily,
1
0
0
Jno. More, ·
0
10
0
Will'm Murdock, .
1
0
0
Philip Syng, Junr.,
0
12
0
Jno. Kidd,
1
0
0
George Cloypote, .
0
7 6
Will'm Benning, .
1
0
0
Evan Morgan, fifty shillings, .
2
10
0
Doc. So-s, .
0 10
0
Doc. John Kersley,
3
0
0
Philip Benezet,
1 0
0
William Sword,
1 0
0
Cath. Whorton,
1
2
6
Charles Stednan,
0
10
0
John Rhea, .
1
0
0
A. Reed & C. Pettit,
1
10
0
Joseph Whorton, .
3
0
0
And'w Doz, . ·
1
10
0
Benj. Mifflin,
0
15
0
0 20 0
Robt. Taggert,
104
Abr'm Taylor,
21.
58. Od.
John Mifflin, .
1
0
0
Jane Mitchel,
0
7
6
James White,
0
7
6
Philip Hulbort, Junr.,
0
7
6
Thos. Overend,
0
7
6
Sam'l Purviance, Sen.,
1
0
0
Enoch Story, .
1 2
6
Benj. Davis, .
0
10
0
Jno. Bishop, .
0
15 0
John Bell,
2
0
0
Will'm Ball, .
0
15 0
Sam'l Flower,
0 15 0
Robert Ritchie,
0 12
0
Samuel McCall, Junr.,
1
0
0)
Arch'd McCall,
1
0
0
James Wallace,
0 10 0
Allen McClean,
0
7
6
Thos. Bond, .
1
0
0
Cash,
0
7
6
Cash,
0
7
6
Jonathan Zeans,
0
15
0
John Sayre, Junr.,
0 15
0
Frances Waid,
0 11
3
Dan. Flaherty,
0 15 0
Cash. Will'm Morris,
1
10
0
Sam. Wharton,
1
2
6
Jno. Franks, .
0
7
6
Gurney Wall,
0
7
6
James James,
0
7
6
Stephen Anthony, .
0
7
6
Cash, .
0
5
0
Phineas Bond,
1
0
0
105
Claypole, in Glaysing,
1l.
10s. Od.
James Coltes in Port,
1
7
0
Simon Thomas,
0
10 0
Joshua Thomas,
1
0
0
John Collom,
0
5
0
Timothy Thomas, .
0
10
0
The total amount of the above subscriptions is 1431. 10s. 9d .; and on a change of purpose in the congregation as to rebuilding the Glebe house, was no doubt appropriated to the purchasing of the new Glebe.
The following additional papers, furnished by Mr Swift, are of interest :
"We the Subscribers Promiss to pay the sevral Sums to our Names annexed, for the use of our Minister, Mr. Hugh Neal,* Either into his hands, or into the hands of Sam'l Swift, or John Hall, on Easter Day next Ensuing the date hereof, which will be in the Year of our Lord 1762.
Sam'l Swift, .
Jacob Hall, .
James Delworth, .
0 Rich'd Finney,
Mathias Keen,
0
0
3 0 0 3 0 0 Jonathan Bavinton, 1 10 0 0 1 0 15 0 1 08. Od. Jno. Hall,
* In those days, there seems to have been no fixed way of spelling even names. Mr. Neill's name was no exception. The varieties in the orthog- raphy of some of them, e. g. Magoregin (McGargee), are endless and amusing.
106
Jacob Leech,
1l.
10s.
0d.
Benj. Cottman,
0
7
6
Thos. Martin,
0
15 0
Jno. Swift,
0
7
6
Amos Grandin,
2
0
0
Thos. Leech, .
0
15 0
Rob't Fairbottle,
0
5
0
Jacob Hall, .
0
15 0
John Huston,
0
7
6
William Magoregin,
0
10
0
John Keen, .
0
10
0
John Jackson,
0
10 0
Benja'n Cottman, Sr.,
0
7
6
Jno. Nice,
0
15
0
Joseph Ashton,
0
15
0
Jacob Smith, .
0
10 0
Michael Land,
0
5
0
Matthew Engraham (next year), 0
15
0
Thos. Ashton,
0
5
0
Jno. Boutcher,
1 0
0
Georg Nice, .
0
10
0
Nathan Delworth, .
0
7
6
Sam'l Boutcher,
0
10
0
Daniel King (next year),
0
15
0
Jacob Miller,
0
7
6
Jeremia Northrop,
0
10
0
Susannah Ashton, .
0
15
0
Griffith Williams, .
0
7
6
Marg't Bishop,
0
15
0
31l.
78. 6d.
107
We the Subscribers Promiss to Pay the Sevral Sums to our names annexed, for the Use of our Minister, Mr. Hugh Neal, Either into his hands, or into the Hands of the two Wardens Belonging to Oxford Church, on Easter day next, ye fourth Day of April, 1763.
Saml. Swift,
31.
Os. Od.
Jno. Hall,
3
0
0
Ja'b Hall,
3
0 0
Jno. Boutcher,
1
0 0
James Delworth, .
1 0 0
Math'w Ingram (to be paid in 1764), 0 15 0
Fred'k Seaman,
0 7 6
Jacob Keen, .
1
0
0
Ja. Barnet, .
0 10 0
Thos. Leech, .
0 15 0
Rich'd Vaghen,
0
10 0
Benj. Cottman, Sen.,
0
7
6
Jno. Swift,
0
5
0
Jno. Nice,
0 15 0
Rich'd Finey,
0
10 0
Jacob Taylor.
0
10 0
Susannah Ashton, .
0
15 0
0
Will'm Magargeen,
0
10 0
Joseph Ashton,
0
15 0
Sam'l. Boutcher,
0
10
0
Marg'ret Bishop,
0
15 0
Jacob Leech, .
1
10
0
231.
Os. Od.
0
Mathias Keen,
1
108
EPITAPHS FROM THE CHURCHYARD.
"Here lieth the body of Edward Eaton, who departed this life December ye 25, in the year of our Lord God 1709, Aged 65 years. " My dear Redeemer is above, Him am i gone to see, And all my friends in Christ below Shall soon come after me.
"In Christ i lived and dy'd, Through him I live again, My body here is lay'd, My soul with Christ shall reign."
"In Memory of Toby and Hester Leech, who came from Chel- tenham, in Gloucestershire, England, in the year 1682, and were here interred.
Toby,
Hester, Died - 1726 aged 74 66
13 Nov'br, 11 Aug'st,
years."
"Here lies interred Jacob Leech, son of Toby and Hester Leech, who died 28th of January, 1750-1, Aged 57 years.
"He was of eight born last save one, And one survives him now alone, Thus life and death succeed for aye, Until the final judgement day."
"In Memory of Philip Tillyer, who departed this life October ye 25th, 1754, Aged 50 years.
" Beneath this stone Death's pris'ner lies; The stone shall move, the Pris'ner rise, When Jesus, with almighty Word, Calls his dead saints to meet their Lord."
109
H.
" ÆNEAS Filiorum natu maximus Æ & S ROSS CHAR. Vto Iduum Augusti animam efflavit. An. O. XIImo. M. . IX. Multis Ille Notis Flebilis occidit Nulli Flebilior quam charo Parenti cui in Memoriam hujus digni Adolescentis H. M. condere L. I. X. T. L. J. H. duæ Filia MARIA & SARAH natu maxima Oan. 4. natu minima at. VIII D."
"In Memory of Cæsar Penrose,* Sexton of this Church more than half a century. Good and faithful servant, well done. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
* Colored. Died in 1831.
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