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r-!E NEW YORK
-^l 3 Lie LIBRARY
;r N POU^JDAT10N6
1734- 1909
Exercises in
Commemoration of
the One Hundred
and Seventy-flftti
Anniversary
OF THE
Silver Spring
Presbyterian Church
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA.
Thursday, August 5, 1909
2.00 P. M.
i t;-:£ fit- ri
PUBLiX LIBRA
738054 i
AfT OR, LENOX AND I
TILDEN FOLr.OA IONS i
19i6 l[
PASTOR.
Rev. T. J. Ferguson.
ELDERS.
W. Jay Meily,
M. S. Mumma,
A. L. Brubaker.
TRUSTEES.
John C. Parker,
Wm. Bryson,
George jumper,
Vance C. McCormiek,
Levi Brieker,
Samuel Lindsey,
E. E. Lower,
W. Jay Meily,
M. S. Mumma.
PROGRAM
The Pastor, Rev. T. J. Ferguson, presiding
Invocation Rev. George H. Bucher
Reading of Scripture Rev. Thomas C. McCarrell
HYMN.
God of Bethel, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed,
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led.
Our vows, our prayers, we now present
Before Thy throne of grace ;
God of our Fathers be the God
Of their succeeding race.
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore.
A Word of Welcome by the Pastor.
History of Silver Spring Church. . . .E. Rankin Huston
Solo, "Just as I Am,"— Hawley..Mrs. Wilbur F. Harris
The Eaily Patriots of Silver Spring J. Zeamer
Solo, "But the Lord Is Mindful of His Own,"
(St. Paul), Mendelssohn. .Mrs. Roy G. Cox
Ai'dress Rev. J. Ritchie Smith, D. D.
Duet, "Hark! Hark! My Soul,"— Shelley
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Cox
(3)
Addres.- lion. Edwin S. Stuart,
Governor of Pennsylvania
HYMN.
All hail the power of Jesus name
Let angels prostrate fall ;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.
0, that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall ;
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
Prayer Rev. R. G. Ferguson, D. D.
Benediction Rev. Thomas C. McCarrell
(4)
EXERCISES IN COWtfi^ErvlORATION OF THE ONE
HU^SDRED AND SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVER-
SARY OF SILVER SPRING CHURCH.
Thursday, August 5, 1909, at two p. m., the mem-
bers of the Silver Spring Church and their friends as-
sembled in the Silver Spring Woods to celebrate the
one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the or-
ganization of the Church.
The anniversary services commenced promptly at
two o'clock in the Church auditorium, but the con-
gregation was so large as to crowd the auditorium
uncomfortably — in fact, even to the point of danger.
An adjournment was therefore taken to re-assemble
under the trees between the Church and the Memorial
Chapel.
The Pastor of the Church presided. He intro-
duced the Rev. George H. Bueher, Pennington, N. J.,
who offered the prayer of invocation. This prayer
was as follows:
"0 God of our fathers ! We rejoice that we are per-
mitted in Thy good providence this day to gather
around the hearthstone where our fathers worshipped
Thee, to offer unto Thee grateful and glad praise for
all Thy goodness toward us, toward our families and
toward Thy Church in the years that have gone by.
Thou changest not. We rejoice in this truth that we
are creatures of change. The centuries pass and the
generations follow one another. Our fathers wor-
shipped Thee here and they have gone to their re-
ward. We trust that in Thy good providence Thou
wilt spare and bless this Church, that in coming years
coming generations shall worship Thee here. We
thank Thee that Thou art the unchangeable God, the
Eternal One ; and grant unto us a sense of the pre-
ciousness of eternal things this day, and while we
love this life that is constantly filled with change,
may we be filled with that power and love that
changeth not and our hearts be drawn unto the beau-
tiful place where Thou, our Saviour, art seated at
(5)
the right hand of God. Direct us in the services of
this hour; give unto us, we pray Thee, the hearts that
shall respond to all the a})peals that may be made to
us, and may we go forth from this service of re-
membrance with a new loyalty and a new courage
for our Masters service; and direct and help us as
we meet and join together in the prayer that Thou
hast taught us. Our Father, who art in heaven, hal-
lowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our
daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil ; for Thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, forever, and ever. Amen."
The Chainnan then introduced the Rev. Thomas C.
McCarrell, pastor of the Mechanicsburg Presby-
terian Church, who read the eighty-fourth Psalm.
The Congregation then sang the hymn, "0 God of
Bethel, By Whose Hand."
God of Bethel, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed,
^Mio through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led.
Our vows, our prayers, we now present
Before Thy throne of grace;
God of our Fathers be the God
Of their succeeding race.
Such blessings from Thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore.
The Chairman then delivered an address of wel-
come, as follows:
"Friends of Silver Spring: — My people have given
me the pleasant privilege of introducing this service
with a word of greeting. In their name I bid you
weleom'i to Silver Spring to-day to these hallowed
and hislcric grounds to enjoy to-day's exei'cises, and
later to our hospitality.
*'We feel honored by your presence, and especially
(6)
in that j'our company includes our trusted and be-
loved Governor, and we bid you a very hearty wel-
come.
"Some of you can claim this place in a sense that
others of us cannot, and I recognize that this place
is yours as well as ours. Some of you go back to the
days when these foundations were laid to the honor
and glory of God, and yet there is a sense in which
all of u:^ can claim it, as the foundation of all that
we enjoy in Church and State to-day.
"There were three things we had in mind when we
decided to arrange for this day of pleasure, and the
first was the thought of the day of pleasure. It will
be a day full of precious memories to all of us. And,
in the second place, the Old Home Week with the
home-coming seems to be one of the things that is
recognized in our American life, and so we desired
to welcome some of you to the scenes of your child-
hood ; others, to the sacred place where your fathers
worshiped God, and still others who can ti-ace your
ancestry back to the earliest days of this Church,
when the father of our country was unknown, an in-
fant known only to admiring parents and a few
friends and neighbors, to the time when this beautiful
Cumberland Valley was simply a wilderness. Wlien
there were no roadways, and the way of travel was
marked by blazed trees.
"Third. We desired to commemorate the heroic
deeds of our ancestry. Macaulay says: 'A people
which takes no pride in the noble achievements of re-
mote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to
be remembered with pride by remote descendants.'
"The men and women who laid the foundation of
this Church were brave men and women. There were
perils on all sides, but they stood in their lot, and
served their generation and laid all succeeding gen-
erations under obligations to them.
"Celebrations of early events are appropriate and
wise, and especially those of a religious character —
not only because of the importance of religion in the
lives of men, but also that to this principle we owe
our American liberty and independence. Our fathers
preached and prayed and fought this land through
the days of settlement and of revolution. They loved
(7)
the Church of God, and its life and worship was
prominent in their lives, and made them what they
were — b^ave, courageous and patriotic.
"It is well for us to go back in thought to those
early days and recall their faith and courage, and
devotion to their country, that we may not be too
much puffed up by our modern progress and ad-
vantages of life, and lose a proper appreciation of
what was done before us, and for us, under condi-
tions and limitations that could only be overcome
by faith in God, courage, patriotism and a together-
ness.
"I have no sympathy with those who say that in
either Church or State the first days were better than
these. Neither with those who would belittle or ridi-
cule the noble men and women who laid foundations;
but rather would we recognize their virtues and
acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe to them.
"Let us have the spirit of the Roman mothers who
trained their children in the presence of the busts of
their ancestors, and taught them never to rest satis-
fied whi'.&t the virtues and victories of the past were
more numerous or more glorious than those of the
present. May such inspiration come to us to-day as
we recall the heroism of those who have given to us
a noble history! Again, I bid you welcome to these
historic grounds, to the shade of these stately oaks
that have sheltered your fathers, to the pleasures of
these exorcises, and to our hospitality! I assure you
of the pleasure of your presence."
The Chairman introduced the next speaker, as fol-
lows :
"We will proceed with the programme, and the first
in order to follow this word of greeting and welcome
is the history of Silver Spring Church, by Mr. E.
Rankin Huston, Mechanicsburg, Pa., whose family
name is connected with the entire history of this
Church. He has asked his pastor, Rev. Mr. McCar-
rell, who has an eloquent tongue, to read his paper
for him."
REV. T. C. McCARRELL: "It would be a splendid
tiling if a lot more preachers would get their laymen
to write their sermons for them."
(8)
1734—1909
HISTORY OF SILVER SPRING CHURCH.
By E. Rankin Huston.
Among the primitive Presbyterian churches, that at
Silver Spring claims priority. The first adventurers
who went up the Cumberland Valley were Indian
traders, who took with them articles of traffic. These
traders did not fail to give it a name and reputation,
and curiosity soon prompted others to follow. In
1728-30 some Irish and Scotch adventurers crossed
the Susquehanna river at Paxtang and commenced
settlement in this valley. They were persevering and
adventuious, and the wilds of the Cumberland Valley,
as far as the eye could reach, beheld nothing but a
vast wilderness, but their quick penetration observed
its natural beauties, its advantages and the fertility
of its soil. They did not stand upon the banks of the
Susquehanna debating the advantages to be derived
from making it their home, or the risk they were tak-
ing upon themselves in doing so, but plunged boldly
down into the valley and called it their own. They
found it peopled with dusky warriors and their fam-
ilies who received them with open arms, and the golden
hues of hope for the future lightened their cares, and
made their privations no longer a burden. The church
at Silvers' Spring was first known about 1734 as "the
people o\ er the Susquehanna." Afterwards, 1736, as
connected with the congregation at Carlisle, it was
known as the "Lower part of the settlement of Cono-
doguinet " Still later, 1739, we find it designated as
"Lower. Pennsborough." The name which it now
bears was received at an early date, and is accounted
for by the fact that the land around near where the
church edifice now stands was originally owned by
James Silvers, one of the first settlers in that sec-
tion, not taking into consideration the location of In-
dian traders such as Letort, Chartiers and others, to
(9)
the west of the Susquehanna. Among the earliest
pemianent settlers in the Cumberland Valley was
James Silvers, a native of the north of Ireland, who,
from a letter written by James Steel to the Proprie-
taries Secretary, James Logan, appears to have gone
"over the Sasquahannah" in 1724. Under date of
"11th, 12 mo., 1724-5." This was no doubt the James
Silver who located at the spring bearing his name and
whose lands was among the earliest surveys in the
Cumber] .-aid Valley. He seems to have been a person
of prominence in the valley; a man of indomitable en-
terprise and courage. His descendants have all dis-
appeared from this locality. He owned a tract of 532
acres, which extended north as far as the Conodo-
guinet eieek. For some reason, probably from a re-
gard to convenience, nearly all the old Presbyterian
churches in the Cumberland Valley were erected near
a sprinp', and from their location derived their name.
As the lands west of the Susquehanna were not pur-
chased by the Proprietary of Pennsylvania from the
Indians before October, 1736, the land office was not
open for the sale of them under existing laws, and the
settlements made on such lands before their purchase
were by special license to individuals from Samuel
Blumston, or other proprietary agents, and of limited
number. After the office was open, however, for the
unrestrir-ied sale of lands at the close of 1736, the
applications and grants multiplied, and the influx of
settlers from Lancaster county, Ireland and Scotland
was great for several succeeding years, nearly all of
whom w<3re Presbyterians. Thus by energy and in-
trepidity which cannot be looked for except among
men schooled by difficulties and accustomed to perils,
was possession taken by our pioneer ancestry of this
rich and beautiful valley, which their descendants now
inhabit.
Among some of the main reasons the salubrity of
its climate and the fertility of its soil stand promi-
nent. How changed the scene! How different an
aspect this universally-admired region now wears
from that which it presented one hundred and seventy-
five years ago when it stood in its wildness and
gloom !
The minutes of Donegal Presbytery show that their
(10)
first meo'ing was held October 11, 1732, and it was not
long after their organization until they sent ministers
across the Susouehanna. At a meeting October 16,
1734, they licensed Mr. Alexander Craighead and ap-
pointed him to preach "over the Susquehanna River"
two or three Sabbaths in November, This is the first
record of preaching west of the Susquehanna. There
was no (hurch and the exact spot where the first con-
gregation worshiped cannot be told as it is known only
by the recording angel. That was before a public road
was laid out through the valley. The Lancaster
county court records show that on November 4, 1735,
a commission consisting of six men was appointed,
among whom was James Silvers, to lay out a road
from Harris' ferry toward the Potomac River. On
February 3, 1736, they reported, but their views were
opposed by a considerable number, and another set of
viewers was appointed, who reported May 4, 1736,
that part of the road was very crooked and therefore
altered and marked it, and that road is very nearly
identical with the present turnpike. Rev. Alexander
Craighead was early introduced into the muiistry un-
der his father, and on April 4, 1735, was again ap-
pointed "to supply said people for the next two en-
suing Sabbaths."
June 10, 1735, Rev. William Bertram, of Paxton,
was ordered "to supply the people over the river two
Sabbatht." September 3, 1735, Rev. Alexander Craig-
head was ordered to supply "the people of the
Conodoguinet or beyond the Susquehanna, two Sab-
baths," and reported at the next meeting of the
Presbytery that he did not have time to prepare for
same. Afterward he received a call from a congrega-
tion in Lancaster county, and from there moved to
Virginia, then to North Carolina, where he died March,
1766, much respected and beloved. At as early a
period as 1742, while residing in Lancaster county,
he published such advanced sentiments on the sub-
ject of political freedom that he incurred the dis-
pleasure of the Governor of the Province, and also of
his fellow ministers; so they finally removed to North
Carolina, where his opinions and teachings were said
to have been more influential than those of any other
individual in the final production of the celebrated
(11)
Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. October
7, 1735, Rev. Thomas Craighead, father of Alex.
Craighead, was appointed to supply "the people of
the Conodoguinet three Sabbaths and give two Sab-
baths to the upper end of said people." He received
and accepted a call from the people of Hopewell, but
his pastorate there, however, was of short duration.
On one occasion (near the close of April, 1739) he
became exhausted and hastened to pronounce the
benediction, exclaimed, "Farewell ! Farewell !" and
sank down and expired. His remains are reported to
repose under the present house of worship at New-
ville.
The next pastor was Rev. John Thompson, who, on
Decembe'' 10, 1735, was appointed to supply "the
people nf the Conodoguinet three Sabbahs and give
two Sabbaths to the upper part of said people." The
history of these two congregations at that time was
almost the same. They were divided into an upper
and lower settlement. April 14, 1736, Mr. Thompson
reported to Presbytery that he did not fulfill his ap-
pointment by reason of the severity of the winter and
scarcity of provision in those parts. April 14, 1736,
Rev. Samuel Gelston was ordered to supply four Sab-
baths at Conodoguinet, and his report shows that he
filled these appointments and was again ordered to
preach there the second Sabbath in September. This
was a period of great scarcity of money and provision.
Paxton congregation employed a pastor for sixty
pounds, one-half in money, balance in hay, flax, yarn
or cloth. This church united with Monagan in a call
for a minister, who declined their call, for three hun-
dred and twenty-five bushels of wheat. April 6, 1737,
Rev. Mr. Sankey was ordered to supply at Conodo-
guinet the first two Sabbaths in May. The name of
this people was then changed from Conodoguinet to
Pennsbo;ough, as the valley was divided at Newville,
west of which was Hopewell, while that portion east
to the river was called Peimsborough. November 17,
1737, Rev. Samuel Thompson was ordered to Penns-
borough lor four Sabbaths. He received a call from
this congregation June 29, 1738, and was ordained as
the first regular pastor. He has born in Ireland and
continued in this charge until March 26, 1745, when
(12)
on account of ill health he was released. November
14, 1749. he went to reside at Great Couewago, Adams
county, vhere he was installed as pastor. In 1779 he
resigned his charge on account of his infirmities, after
a ministry of forty-six years. He died April, 1787,
and was buried in the churchyard at Hunterstown. He
had at least one son, William, who was sent to Eng-
land for his education and there took the orders as a
minister of the Episcopal church. He was then sent
to this country, was the rector of St. John's church
in Carlisle and was eminently useful in ministering to
the people of Cumberland and York counties during
the Indian wars. June 14, 1748, a call was presented
to Rev. Mr. Tate, which he declined. On April 4, 1749,
a call to Presbytery for Rev. Samuel Cavon was ac-
cepted and he was installed August 5, 1749. He was
from Templera, County Tyrone, Ireland, and prior to
coming here had been pastor at Chambersburg and
Greenca^lle. His pastorate was of short duration, as
he died November 9, 1750, the inscription on his tomb-
stone in that burial-ground shows, in the 49th year
of his age. The records of Donegal Presbytery, cover-
ing the period from 1750 to August, 1759, have been
lost, and no record of this church can be found. In
1760 the church was vacant. In 1764, forty-two mem-
bers of this church and Carlisle (the writer's great-
grandfather being one of this number) united in a
call and gave their promissory note for one hundred
and fifty pounds annually to the Rev. John Steel, who
continued in charge until he died. He resigned the
Lower Pennsborough part of the charge several years
before his death. He came to Carlisle in 1758 from
West Conococheague, where he had been in the midst
of the perils of Indian depredations, which were then
so terrible that not unfrequently the inhabitants were
obliged to quit their habitations and crowd into the
more settled parts of the province. The people never
assembled for worship without being fully equipped
and watched by sentries against surprise. One of the
meeting houses in which Mr. Steel preached was forti-
fied as a fort, and after a while was burned to the
ground. A number of whole families under his charge
were barbarously murdered. Such was his courage
and skill that he was chosen to be the captain of the
(13)
company formed among the settlers, and several ex-
peditions are mentioned under his command. In Penn-
sylvania Archives, vol. II, page 601, will be found a
copy of his commission as captain of a company in
the pay d the Province during the French and Indian
war, dated March 25, 1756. The disorders incident
to the period of the Revolutionary war broke up his
more peaceful occupation. His well-known intrepidity
and pub'ic spirit were more than once called into
public service in repressing some popular commotion.
In February, 1768, he was commissioned by Governor
John Penn to visit certain families who settled in the
western part of the state contrary to law, and in-
duce them to remove peaceably. The mission was not
altogether successful, but was performed on his part
to the satisfaction of the civil authorities. During the
pending of measures for asserting the rights of the
colonies against the mother-country, he sympathized
ardently with the patriots. A large meeting was held
in Carlisle, July 12, 1774, in which the boldest senti-
ments wore avowed and active measures taken to de-
fend their rights. Of the companies formed, that which
was in the lead was under the command of the Rev.
Captain John Steel. He was, however, too far ad-
vanced in 3'ears for protracted service as a soldier,
and we have no evidence that he was much in the
field. The common title of "Reverend Captain," which
was given him by popular voice, was never a reproach,
for he was never known to act unworthily of either
part of the designation. Many, indeed, were the
changes he witnessed during a long and useful career;
but the common lot of humanity was his, and he now
"sleeps the sleep that knows no waking" in the old
cemetery in Carlisle, where once the lordly savage
roamed and made the dim old woods echo with his
whoop, many, many years ago. He died August, 1779,
leaving a reputation for stern integrity, zeal for what
he deemed truth and righteousness, and a high sense
of honor. It is a significant fact that nearly every
Presbytenan minister in the Cumberland Valley, and
indeed in this countrj', was an ardent patriot in the
war for independence. He could scarcely have been
different, descended as he was from a Scotch-Irish
ancestry, who in Scotland, Ireland and in this country
(14)
were ever foremost in their resistance to all forms of
oppression and in the maintenance of civil and re-
ligious liberty.
April 9, 1782, Pennsborough and Monaghan united
in a call to the Rev. Samuel Waugh, which was ac-
cepted, and he continued as pastor until his death
January 3, 1807. He was the first native American
pastor this congregation had; was bom in Adams
county, Pa. ; graduated at Princeton College, and was
licensed by Donegal Presbytery. April 14, 1783, he
was married to Eliza Hoge, daughter of David Hoge,
Esq., a highly respected and influential citizen, from
whom the place called Hogestown derived its name,
years be tore it became a village, because he and his
relatives resided there, as proprietors of a large tract
of land. It was about the beginning of Mr. Waugh's
labors there that the name of East Pennsborough was
dropped and the church was known as Silver's Spring.
The settlement was emphatically a settlement of sub-
stantial people, who required preaching in the Eng-
lish language, and according to the Presbyterian form
and faith. The churches which now exist were un-
heard of at that time. At Harrisburg there was no
settled minister until 1787; and, the Susquehanna be-
ing in the way and not at all times safe to cross in
ferry boats, from Middlesex — three miles from Car-
lisle — to Harrisburg the people attended Silvers
Spring, as they did also from an equal distance north
and south.
The Rev. John Hays was Mr. Waugh's successor
in the charge made vacant by his decease. He grad-
uated at Dickinson College in 1805, and was instructor
in that institution from 1805 to 1807, when he was
elected professor of languages, which position he held
until he became pastor of this church and Monaghan
in 1808. May 6, 1814, he resigned on account of ill
health, and went to Cumberland, Md. He was a poet
of considerable ability, and in 1807, when he was pro-
fessor in Dickinson College, published a volume en-
titled "Rural Poems Moral and Descriptive." The
same mysterious power, which often chastens out of
plentitude of love, called him on September 4, 1815,
by a voice gentle and meek from the sorrows of his
earthly estate to the joyous assembly of the just.
(15)
After Mr. Hays' resignation the Rev. Henry Wilson,
who was born near Gettysburg, graduated at Dickin-
son College and, licensed to preach the gospel by the
Carlisle Presbytery, became pastor. From 1806 to
September 22, 1814, he had been a professor at Dick-
inson College, when he came to minister to this peo-
ple. No'-ember 30, 1823, he preached his farewell
sermon, having received a call from the church at
Shippensburg. He died March 22, 1849, in Philadel-
phia, and was buried at Hartsville, Bucks County,
among the people whom he had last served.
Rev. James Williamson was Mr. Wilson's successor.
He Avas born at Newville, Pa., 1795; graduated at
Washington College in 1817; ordained by the Presby-
tery of Luzerne June, 1821; became pastor at Silver
Spring 1824, and continued in that relation until
April 21, 1833, when he received a call from Milton,
Pa. October 31, 1838, Rev. George Morris, a foreign
licentiate from Scotland and under the care of Phila-
delphia Presbytery, was called. He was imbued with
Scotch i'leas, and never became familiar with Ameri-
can habits, manners and customs. His pastorate
ended in 1860, when he was called to Mansfield, Ohio ;
from thpre he went to Baltimore, where he died in
1883. December 10, 1860, a call was made to Rev. W.
H. Dinsmore, which was accepted. He was born in
Green county, Pa. ; graduated at Princeton College
and The-^logieal Seminary. His pastorate terminated
here April, 1865. "WTiile pastor, he labored for some
time for ihe Christian Commission among the soldiers
in North Carolina. He died May 26, 1877, while pastor
at Deerfield, N. J. During the spring of 1861 a vaca-
tion of three months was granted to Rev. Mr. Dins-
more, and Rev. John S. Stewart, a graduate of Prince-
ton Seminary, was elected to supply ttiat period. Rev.
Mr. Dinsmore was succeeded by Rev. W. G. Hillman,
Avho began his pastorate April 17, 1866. Mr. Hillman
was boi'n in Darthmont, Devonshire, England; grad-
uated at Plymouth College, and after preaching a few
years in England came to America. He remained at
Silver Spring until October, 1867; went west, and died
in Jefferson, Iowa, November 2, 1882. Rev. W. B. Mc-
Kee was Mr. Hillman's successor. He was born in
Boalsburg, Pa., and graduated at the Western Theo-
(16)
logical Seminary in 1858. He had been ordained as an
evangelist and in October, 1868, was called to Silver
Spring, where he remained two years. December 28,
1871, Rev. R. P. Gibson was engaged as a supply, and
on September 27, 1872, received a call to become pas-
tor, which he accepted. He was born in Chemung
county. New York; graduated at Yale College and
Princeton Theological Seminary. His first charge was
Silver Spring, and he labored there until October, 1875.
The nGxt pastor of this historic charge was Rev.
Thomas J. Ferguson, son of Judge Ferguson, long an
elder in the United Presbyterian Church at Dry Run,
Franklin county, at which place the present pastor
first saw the light of day. Mr. Ferguson acquired his
higher education at the Chambersburg Academy and
at Westmmster College, New Wilmington, in this state.
After graduating from the college in 1875, he entered
the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, grad-
uating from that institution in 1878. He was ordained
a minister of the gospel by the Shenango Presbytery
in April of that year. Receiving a call from Silver
Spring church, he began his pastoral work October
1, 1878, and from that day to the present time has
ministered to the people of that congi'egation in a most
acceptable and successful manner. The then young
pastor entered upon his work with an earnestness and
enthusiasm that won the confidence of his parishioners
and which has not abated in all these years of stren-
uous labor. He studied his people as well as his books,
that he might render them efficient service. He is al-
ways found in the front rank in all reform move-
ments calculated to lift people into a higher and purer
moral and intellectual atmosphere. The warm friend
of education, he is keenly alive to the advancement of
the public schools, willing to serve as a director that
he may have better opportunities to secure teachers of
high standing in the profession. He can always be
found at educational meetings, striving to stimulate
teachers and patrons to do their best to improve the
colleges of the common people. He is deeply inter-
ested in the cause of agriculture, a leader of F'armers'
Institutes, and as a counselor at farmers' chibs he
has done much to make life on the farm more pleasant
and more remunerative. His readiness to help in
(17)
every work for the uplift of others has won for him
the esteem of the community. He does not, however,
permit his activities in these fields of usefulness to in-
terfere with his life work, the preaching of the gospel
and the onerous duties of a pastor. A beautiful and
commodious chapel was erected near the main church
edifice in 1885, mainlj' through his energetic efforts,
bj' the liberality of Henry McCormick, Esq., in memory
of his daughter, Mary. A full description of this
handsome building would demand more space than can
here be given. Rev. Thomas J. Ferguson has gone in
and out before this people for more than thirty years,
rejoicing with them when they rejoiced and sorrowing
with them when they sorrowed. He is their minister,
their cowiselor and friend, and has held their esteem,
confidence and affection for more than a score and a
half of 3 ears. What higher praise for work well
done could one have or desire?
A warrant was granted to this church for a tract of
land by the Proprietors of Pennsylvania on September
21, 1770. to James Galbraith and others in trust for
a Presbyterian congregation. It was surveyed Novem-
ber 3, 1770, and contained seven acres. The present
church was built in 1783, during the incumbency of
Rev. Mr Waugh. It was remodeled in 1866, the gal-
lery which extended on three sides was torn out, the
doors were moved from the west to the south side, a
vestibule built on that side and the walls frescoed.
The chu?ch edifice, which preceded the present one
and which both tradition and the records show was the
first meeting house west of the Susquehanna and north
of York county, was a small log building near where
the present house stands. No record of the building
of that house or of the organization of a church in it
can be found. The only vestige of this building is
some of the poplar logs which were used in building
a barn on the fanii now owned by George Hoover,
Esq., and in the erection of Mary McCormick chapel
several vears ago some of the same logs were sawed
into boards and used for the construction of a pulpit
in that building. The members of the congi-egation
which w.-rshiped within its walls have long ago dis-
appeared, and with them the memory of this venerable
edifice and the interesting incidents which were doubt-
CIS)
less associated with its history have well nigh
perished.
The cemetery adjoining has a histoi'y for antiquity
as well as the church. The first grave we find on en-
tering bears the following inscription : "In memory of
James Wood, who died February 24, 1750." He was
an Englishman by birth and over his grave is placed
a large sandstone with the above inscription, and a
coat-of-arms showing prominence in his ancestry. A
little farther to the left lie the remains of "John Ham-
ilton, who departed this life December 29, 1747, aged
47 years ' "Here lie the remains of William McMean,
who dep.'^.rted this life 1747, aged 35 years." Near by
that of "Margaret Mateer, wife of Samuel Mateer, who
was born in County Down, Ireland, died July 3, 1802,
aged 100 years." West of the above that of "Jonathan
Hoge, born July 23, 1725; died April 19, 1800." He
received a liberal education ; was brought up as a
farmer; was a justice of the peace from 1764 to the
Revolution; was a member of the constitutional con-
vention of July 15, 1776; member of the Assembly in
1776 ; and again from 1778 to 1783 ; a member of the
Supreme Executive Council from March 4, 1777, to
November 9, 1778; and from November 3, 1784, to
October 20, 1787; member of the Council of Safety
from October to December, 1777; one of the commis-
sioners to remove the public loan office in 1777; and
by Governor Mifflin appointed one of the Associate
Judges of Cumberland county, August 17, 1791.
The following Revolutionary soldiers are buried
there and doubtless there are others whom we failed
to locate—
Capt. John Carothers died January 11, 1782, aged
38 years and 7 months. He was in actual service July,
1776, and in 1777 and 1778 was first lieutenant in
Capt. Wi'liam McClure's 5th companj^, 2nd battalion
militia, and a captain of militia in 1780 and 1781.
Major Andrew Galbraith, Esq., died March 8, 1806,
aged 54 years. At an early period in his life he de-
voted himself with enthusiastic ardor to the service
of his country and the hardships which he endured,
in common with many others, during the Revolutionary
War, gave the first shock to a constitution naturally
strong and athletic. On his return to domestic life,
(19)
being possessed with an ample patrimony, he was
assiduous; of it and by unremitting attention and in-
dustry gieatly increased its value. According to fam-
ily tradition he was on Washington's staff. The family
of Galbruith is of the remotest antiquity, the name
being derived from the Celtic. The Galbraiths, in the
Gaelic language, are called "Britons," and were once
reckoned a great name in Scotland. His paternal
ancestor, James Galbraith, was born in 1666, in the
north of Ireland, from whence he emigrated about the
year 1718, settling in Chester county. A number of
his relatives were married in prominent and distin-
guished families. His niece, Rebecca Galbraith, on
June 26, 1765, married Ephraim Blaine. He was in
Col. Watts' battalion in 1776 and captured at Fort
Washington. He was one of the original trustees.
Ensign William Harkness died May 4, 1822, aged 82
years, 7 months and 3 days. He was a member of
Capt. John McTeer's company, and saw service dur-
ing 1777 and 1778. Prior to that time he owned a
tract of 600 acres, extending from Marble street, Me-
chanicsbiirg, south beyond Chestnut Hill, and re-
sided at what is now the farmhouse northeast corner
of Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Also owned a number of
slaves. There was no public road near the buildings
at that period. He was elected a trustee in 1790.
James Hume died June 25, 1811, aged 71 years. He
was a private in Capt. John McTeer's company. Was
of English nationality and entered the service July,
1777. Along with the distinction of having been a
Revolutionary soldier, James Hume was a prominent
citizen. He owned a large tract of land and engaged
in farming; also carrying on tanning and other enter-
prises and did much toward the development of the
country.
Capt. John Lamb died July 14, 1813, aged 64 years,
6 months and 17 days. His company was fourth in
the 3rd 1 attalion, 1777, and was in the service 1780.
Capt. Lamb had a patriotic sister who said to him :
"Go, and sooner come home a corpse than a coward."
He was elected a trustee in 1802.
Matthew Loudon was 2d lieutenant in Capt. Floid's
company; 3d battalion, in 1778, and died January 10,
1801, aged 72 years. He and his two wives, Elizabeth
(20)
McCormick and Ann Copenger, lie buried in the same
grave. Elected a trustee in 1797.
Samuel Martin died September 28, 1828, aged 84
years. lie was a member of Lieut. James Irvine's
company, 3rd battalion, Cumberland county militia,
1778, and in 1780 was a member of Capt. James
Lloyd's company.
Howard Moor died January 27, 1804, in his 59th
year. Was a member of Capt. James McCurdy's com-
pany, 3rd battalion militia, 1780.
Abraham McCue died December 3, 1795, aged 55
years. He was in Cajjt. Thomas Laird's company,
3rd battalion, militia, 1780.
Capt. John McTeer died April 10, 1790, aged 54
years. His company was first class in service, 1777
and 1778. He was from the neighborhood of Lis-
burn and continued to live there until his death. Had
a family of seven children, most of whom inter-
married with prominent and honored families of the
county and reared families who were long conspicu-
ous in the social and business life of that section.
Lieut. James Oliver, Esq., died February 11, 1786,
aged 54 years, 11 months and 15 days. Was 1st
lieutenan! in Capt. James Floid's company, 1776. He
lived along the creek north of Hogestown, was a
worthy citizen and an eminent jiiathematician. His
daughter, Isabella, was the first poet of the Cumber-
land Valley, and celebrated a number of places on
the Conodoguinet in verse.
John Orr died November, 1794, aged 68 years, and
was a member of Capt. William Sanderson's company,
3rd battalion, militia, 1778.
Lieut. Christopher Quigley, Esq., died September
25. 1813, aged 73 years. He was in Capt. John
Trindle's company, 1777, and Capt. McTeer's com-
pany, 1778. Elected a trustee 1788.
Capt. John Trindle died in 1784, aged 53 years,
and his company was 2nd in the 3rd battalion.
Capt. Alexander Trindle died August 5, 1785, aged
46 years. A member of the Light Dragoons, 4th com-
pany. The above brothers were from the neighbor-
hood of Trindle Spring, were prominent, and it is to
be regretted our genealogical data is so meager.
Capt. Samuel Wallace died October 3, 1798, aged
(21)
about 68 years. He came to America in 1756 from
Ireland and in 1768, purchased lot No. 13, in "Lowther
of Manor" located in what is now Lower Allen
township. Mr. ^Vallace was an ardent advocate
of independence and when the third battalion of
Cumberland county was formed he was chosen cap-
tain of company 5 and mustered into service under
Col. William Chambers, July 31, 1777. This company
was in service six weeks near Bedford. In May, 1778,
company 5 was called a second time under the same
regimental officers. In July, 1778, he, with all of his
neighbors, who were enrolled as "Associators," took
the oath of allegiance to the State as required by the
Government. The Silver Spring Presbyterian Congre-
gation was incorporated September 25, 1786, and
Samuel Wallace was one of the original trustees.
David Hoge died December 5, 1804, aged about 69
years. He received a good education ; took a very
active part in the Revolutionary contest, and was
sheriff of the county of Cumberland from 1768 to
1771. His son John entered the Revolutionary
army at the age of sixteen; became second lieutenant
in Col. "William Irvine's (sixth) battalion, and was cap-
tured in the Canada campaign at Three Rivers, June
8, 1776. He was not exchanged until 1779. In 1783
he was chosen a member of the Council of Censors,
under the Constitution of 1776, and was one of the
members of the Constitutional Convention of 1789-90.
He was chosen to the State Senate in 1791, and
again in 1794, and served in Congress in 1804 and
1805. The grandfather of David Hoge was a native
of Musselburg, Scotland; came to America shortly
after 1682. On the same ship came a family con-
sisting of a Mr. Hume, his wife and daughter. On
the passage the father and mother both died, and
William Hoge took charge of the daughter and
landed in New York, where he left the girl with a rela-
tive and settled himself at Perth Araboy, N. J. He
subsequeiitly married the daughter, Barbara Hume,
removed to Penns Three Lower Counties, now the
State of Delaware ; from thence to Lancaster
county, and finally to the Vallej' of Virginia, south of
Winchester, where he and his wife lived and died.
They had a large family, many of whose descendants
(22)
became distinguished in church and state. David's
father's nanae was John, who was born in 1699,
while his father lived at Perth Amboy. He went with
his father to the Three Lower Counties and there
married Gwenthleen Bowen Davis, who claimed to
belong to the royal family of Wales, and retained her
maiden name after marriage, as due to her royal
birth. The Hoge tract is south of what is now the
village of Hogestown and was purchased from the
Proprietors about 1729, and here John Hoge, his
sons, John, Jonathan and David, and all of his fam-
ily lived for many years. David Hoge was one of
the original trustees. He was a member of Capt.
James Sample's company, 1778, and Capt. James
Bell's company, 1780, 3rd battalion, militia. His life
was an active and busy one, and it is a sad fact that
his remains repose in Silver Spring cemetery in an
unmarked grave.
Several years ago a large oak tree stood a short
distance from the entrance — in later years, owing to
its immense size and outspreading branches and the
danger accruing incident to its fall, it was re-
moved. Now the spot is bare and cheerless and ex-
posed to the rays of the scorching sun. Previously
it was shaded and cool, and a lovely spot for the
visitor to linger and meditate upon the life and char-
acter of the departed, and also upon the interesting
scenes which were long ago enacted there. This tree
no doubt stood there when the old log church was
erected, and had sheltered that ancient congregation
from the oppressive heat of many a Summer day.
Perhaps here the pastor and his flock assembled and
exchanged the courteous salutations of friendly in-
tercourse upon each successive Sabbath day. Here,,
too, the venerable sires and matrons of the congre-
gation may have met before the hour of service, or
during intermission at noon (as in those days there
were two sermons preached and worshipers carried
their lunch), and talked over the exciting events of
the Revolution, and expressed their kind interest in
those of their brethren and neighbors who were fight-
ing for our indejiendence under the illustrious Wash-
ington. As we wander through this ancient grave-
yard a feeling of awe pervades our mind when we
(23)
look upon the resting places of many who lived al-
most two centuries ago. Here sleep many brave
spirits who ventured their all to secure the precious
freedom which we enjoy. Here are they who settled
around us on every side, the stroke of whose axe first
broke the stillness of the forest, who first cleared the
fruitful fields which during summer are covered with
luxuriant harvest and which are in possession of
these then unborn. Here rest the remains of the
ancestors of some of our community, who have long
since ceased the struggle incident to human life.
Here lie the remains of brave men of other nations
who came to our land, and among the wilds of a
savage and uninhabitable region built a house of
worship. The graves of many of these bear no in-
scription by means of which the name and station of
the occupant can be ascertained. Many are only
marked by rude lime stones, others of slate which
Lave almost crumbled to pieces after the long lapse
of years smce they were erected.
In this paper prominence will be noticed in the
Scotch-Irish element, but there was a necessity for so
doing which we feel sure all will acknowledge, inas-
much as the early population that flocked into this
beautiful territory was so largely composed of this
class of people. Never need their descendants feel
ashamed of so noble an ancestry. Never, either,
can they over-estimate the sacrifices which they made
in taking possession of this beautiful valley in which
their spirit still lingers. No privations seemed to
depress them, no exposure to intimidate them, no
toil to .discourage them. They were accustomed to
hardships from the beginning, not only in clearing
the fore^^t and preparing the land for cultivation, but
also in their contests and warfare with the Indians.
As a distinguished speaker once said, "The Cumber-
land Valley became the bloodiest battleground we
have had since the beginning of our civilization;" and
the history of this pioneer church, established one
hundred and seventy-five years ago, the heroic strug-
gle of its founders, the hardships and sufferings they
endured, the valor they displayed in meeting a ruth-
less, savage foe, and the final triumph they had in
upholding and advancing Christian civilization, is a
(24)
theme worthy of the pen of the most illustrious his-
torian and the voice of the most eloquent of men.
From 1753 to 1758 this rich valley, now made at-
tractive by beautiful homes, fertile farms, prosperous
villages and a teeming population of industrious, in-
telligent and happy people, was the scene of con-
stant alanns and cruel bloodshed. Without provoca-
tion and without much warning there were pre-
cipitated upon the early settlers all the horrors of an
Indian war. Under its blasting influence the lands
were scarcely tilled, the plow rested idly in the fur-
row and there was little return to the husband-
man. On every hand were suffering and distress;
men were shot down as they toiled in the field,
and women and children were carried into captivity
by the remorseless foe. Ministers of the gospel laid
aside their robes of ofifice and became leaders of their
people in scenes of blood made necessary in defend-
ing their homes and firesides. Many of the once
powerful warlike tribes that roamed through this val-
ley were known and feared from the seaboard to the
lakes, have been exterminated and their very names
blotted from existence, save where they appear upon
the pages of history. Others have been driven toward
the setting sun, where they reside in a semi-civilized
state, and are but sorry representatives of the once
proud and stately warriors, the crack of whose
sharp and unerring rifles made the woods ring, and
whose canoes danced upon the waves of the pic-
turesque Susquehanna, two hundred years ago. But
they are all gone, and the bones of their ancestors
are the only relics which they have left behind them.
The hano of the same inscrutable Providence that
suffered them to march as mighty conquerors from
the west to the east, crushing out the existence of a
weaker people in their triumphant march, blighted
them in the noonday of their glory, and, like the re-
ceding waves of the sea, drove them back in the
direction whence they came, where they scattered,
and the ties which bound them together as tribes dis-
solved e\ en as would ice beneath the rays of a tropical
sun.
But what of the pioneers and founders of this his-
toric chnrch? They, too, are all gone. Each forever
(25)
in his narrow bed is laid. While we reflect upon the
fact that it was through the privations and hardships
they endured that we enjoy the rich blessings of this
beautiful and teeming valley, let us hope they are
enjoying a peace they knew not on earth, in that val-
ley "where the wicked cease from troubling and the
weary are at rest."
Mrs. Wilbur F. Harris, of Harrisburg, Pa., sang the
solo, "Just as I Am,"— Hawley. The accompanist for
this and all the special musical numbers was Miss
M. Elizabeth Orth, of Harrisburg, Pa.
The Chairman introduced the next speaker:
"It is said that the authorities were glad to have
the Scotch and Irish come in and settle this valley.
They were a wall of defense against the Indians. They
had the reputation — they had it then, they have had
it ever since — of rather enjoying a "scrap," and con-
sequently they have been ever since on the firing line
in every battle for truth and righteousness, and it is
fitting that we should have a word to-day about the
early patriots of Silver Spring. We are glad to hear
from Mr. Jerry Zeamer, of Carlisle."
(26)
THE EARLY PATRIOTS OF THE SILVER
SPRING.
By J. Zeamer.
Since early in the settlement of the Kittochtinny
Valley, Silvei* Spring has been both a religious center
and a center of patriotism. Within the adjacent
country lived James Silver, John Hoge, William
Walker, Tobias Hendi'ieks, Joseph Irvine, Samuel
Huston, George Croghan, William Trent, Edward
Ward, James Galbreath, James McTeer, William
Trindle, Moses Starr and Robert Callender, whose
lives contributed to the upbuilding of our government
of civil and religious liberty. After them came
Ephraim Blaine, Alexander Blaine, George Gibson,
John, Jonathan and David Hoge, John, Robert and
Andrew Galbreath, William Hendricks, Alexander
and Joh.i Trindle, James Sample, Oliver Pollock, and
others whose names and services might be held up to
your admiration did time permit. Almost without ex-
ception they were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the
nationality so noted in history for piety and courage
and love of justice and liberty. When two or three
were gathered together they founded a church, and,
that attended to, they formed military associations for
the protection of their homes and sanctuary and the
maintenance of law.
William Trent was the earliest to enter the military
service of the Province, for it is recorded that in
June, 1746, Governor George Thomas appointed him
captain of one of the companies that were raised in
Pennsyhania for a campaign against Canada. At
that time he yet lived in Chester county, and the
company under his command was from that part of
the Province. The several companies went as far as
Albany, New York, where they were held until the fol-
lowing summer, when the expedition against Canada
was abandoned. Trent then returned to his home and
(27)
soon afterwards he and George Croghan came and set-
tled in the vicinity of the Silver Spring. They were
brothers-in-law and here jointly purchased from
William Walker a large tract of land which had for
its northern boundary the Conodoguinet creek. Upon
this tract of land George Croghan established for him-
self a home, which he called Pennsborough. William
Trent's 'jojoum at the Silver Spring was more brief
than Croghan's, for after the town of Carlisle was
laid out he moved to it and there engaged at keep-
ing a store.
As early as 1747 and 1748 there was organized an
Associated Regiment in Lancaster county, "over the
river Susquehanna," and in which were two com-
panies from the vicinity of the Silver Spring, one
commanded by Capt. James Silver, and the other by
Capt. James McTeer. Of the former Tobias Hen-
dricks w^as the lieutenant, and Joseph Irvine the en-
sign ; and of the latter William Trindle was lieutenant
and Moses Starr the ensign. The public records
show that all these officers w^ere citizens of East
Pennsboro, and had the ecclesiastical records been
kept with the same fidelity the civil records were it
could also be shown that they were members of the
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church. It does not any-
where appear who constituted the z-ank and file of this
associated regiment.
East Pennsboro township then extended from the
Stony Ridge to the Susquehanna river and from the
North to the South mountain and the Silver Spring
congregation included in its membership persons
from all parts of this large district and also some
from beyond its bounds. In the aforesaid rej^iment
was a company commanded by Captain Matthew
Dill, who was an adherent of "Lower Pennsborough"
— by which name the Silver Spring congregation was
then known — but who lived where now is the town of
Dillsburg, in York county.
Up to July, 1754, the regions to the north and the
west of the Kittochtinny mountain range was Indian
territory. This was well known to the whites, but not-
withstanding their knowledge of the fact and not-
withstanding the warnings of the authorities, w-hite
settlers pressed over the border and without right
(28)
or title squatted 'upon the choicest spots in those In-
dian lands. They were on the Juniata, in the Sher-
man's Valley, in the Path Valley, and in the far-
away Biji and Little Coves. The Indians repeatedly
complained of these encroachments, but the trespass-
ing continued till it looked as if it might become the
cause of an Indian war. After the formation of
Cumberland county it was decided to take steps to
remove the trespassers. For this purpose a confer-
ence was held in May, 1750, at the house of George
Croghan, at which were present James Galbreath,
William "Wilson, Hermanns Alricks, Benjamin Cham-
bers, Matthew Dill and John Finley, who were jus-
tices of the peace; and Richard Peters, secretary to
the Proprietaries, and Conrad Weiser, interpreter and
Indian agent; also five Indians, three from Shamokin,
and two from the Ohio, One of the Ohio Indians was
Andrew Montour, a half breed who was much in the
employ of the Province. At this conference it was
agreed that the offending settlers should be removed
promptly and permanently, and that the Indians
present should accompany the magistrates to the dif-
ferent settlements and see that it was done in good
faith. It was done promptly and in good faith, and
the Indians were pacified. Taking into consideration
the character of the persons present and the char-
acter of the business transacted, this meeting at
George Croghan's was undoubtedly the most im-
portant conference which up to this time had been
held between the whites and the Indians west of the
Susquehanna river and it is a part of the history of
the Silver Spring.
George Croghan, at whose house this memorable
conference was held, was an extraordinary man. He
was born in Ireland and educated at the University
of Dublin. He came to America while yet a youth,
and as early as 1744 was already a licensed Indian
trader. In 1765 a petition was presented to the
Pennsylvania Assembly in behalf of the members of
the Church of England in Cumberland county, asking
for assistance to complete a church in Carlisle, which
they had in part erected but from the smallness of
their number and distressed state of the country
consequent upon the Indian wars, were unable to
(29)
finish; and among the names to this petition were
those of George Croghan and Robert Callender.
Croghan's business required him to move much
from place to place, and he consequently nearly al-
ways had several places that he could truthfully call
his home. At the Silver Spring he at one time owned
over 800 acres of land, but the French and Indians
captured such large quantities of his goods, and the
Indians to whom he had sold on trust went off with-
out pajang him, which losses so involved him financial-
ly that he was compelled to surrender his Penns-
borough property to liquidate his debts. One of the
points on the frontier at which he lived and traded
was Aughwick, which was situated on the celebrated
Kittanning Path, in what is now Huntingdon county.
This path crossed the mountain at what is now Ster-
rett's Gap, and was so much used in going to and
coming from Croghan's, at Aughwick, that that
familiar notch in the mountain came to be known as
Croghan's Gap, which name it bore for years before
it became Sterrett's Gap.
George Croghan enjoyed the implicit confidence of
the Provnicial authorities. In August, 1749, Gov.
James Hamilton sent him from Silver Spring to the
Ohio to infoi-m the Indians there that hostilities be-
tween Gieat Britain and France had ceased, and to
inquire of them why they permitted Celeron de Bien-
ville to march through their country. That was more
than four years before Gov. Dinwiddie, of Virginia,
sent George Washington into that region to ask of
the Frenchmen there to explain their presence and
conduct. In April, 1751, Gov. Hamilton sent him a
second time to the Ohio, this time with a present of
goods for the Indians. On this occasion one of the
Indian cliiefs warmly expressed to him the wish that
the Governor of Pennsylvania would build a fort on
the Ohio to protect the Indians and the Indian traders
from the insults of the French. This wish, no doubt,
was the origin of the idea of the fort which after-
wards was built at the forks of the Ohio.
On the frontier Croghan met and became ac-
quainted with George Washington. In the spring of
1754 he had a large store of flour at his post at
Aughwick, preparatory to trading with the army as
(oO)
well as with the Indians. Washington, with a com-
pany of Virginia soldiers, was on the march towards
the forkb of the Ohio, and contracted with Croghan
for a supply of flour, but Croghan, for some cause not
mentioned in history, failed to deliver the flour at
the place designated. At one time the troops were for
six days without flour, and Washington wrote urgent-
ly to Croghan to forward all he could furnish, but
notwithstanding the admonition no flour came. In the
following year, when Braddock was preparing to go
upon his ill-fated expedition to Fort Duquesne, the
Pennsylvania Assembly appointed commissioners to
explore the country and lay out the required roads.
At the head of this body of commissioners was George
Croghan, who, with all his knowledge of the country,
failed to please the vain and haughty British officers.
Later, at the instance of Gov. Morris, he enlisted a
company of fifty Indians to meet Gen. Braddock and
on his march render him assistance as scouts. He
also secured the services of Capt. Jack, "the Wild
Hunter of the Juniata," and his band, all resolute men,
well acquainted with the country and inured to
hardships. Of Capt. Jack's men Croghan wrote :
"They require no shelter for the night, they ask no
pay. If the whole ai*my were composed of such men
there would be no cause of apprehension. I shall be
with them in time for duty." And these men, secured
by George Croghan, of the Silver Spring, were the
only troops from the Province of Pennsylvania that
were with the Braddock expedition at any stage of
its progi'ess.
When in the fall of 1770 Washington made a trip
to the West in behalf of the Virginia soldiers who had
land clamis pending, he was entertained at Fort Pitt
at a dinner at which he met George Croghan. Crog-
han was then Col. Croghan, deputy-agent to Sir Wil-
liam Johnson, and had a pretentious plantation on the
banks of the Allegheny river about four miles from
the fort, where Washington on the following day
visited him. When Washington and his party took
their departure Croghan engaged for their service two
Indians and an interpreter. They proceeded down the
:iver in a large canoe, Croghan and some officers of
the garrison accompanying them as far as Logstown,
(31)
where they breakfasted together, after which they
separated, Col. Croghan and his companions cheer-
ing the \ oyagers from the shore as the canoe tioated
upon the current down the beautiful Ohio.
Croghan had figured in many capacities and ex-
perienced many vicissitudes on the frontier. He had
suffered at the hands of the white man and the
savage. Once, while convoying presents from Sir Wil-
liam Johnson to the Del a wares and Shawanese, his
caravan was captured by a band of backwoodsmen
di'essed in the garb and habits of Indians. At another
time a band of Kickapoo Indians shot and killed sev-
eral of his men and wounded him, believing his partv
to be a party of Cherokees with whom the Kiekapoos
were at bitter enmity. Pontiac, the celebrated chief
of the Ottowas, suspected Croghan of coming into
his country to win from him with presents the
sachems who had joined with him in his famous con-
spiracy against the whites. As a warning that great
chieftain significantly declared that he had a large
kettle boiling in which he intended to seethe Croghan
for his pernicious interference. Subsequently, when
Pontiac's spirits were broken by reverses, the two
met and smoked the pipe of peace together, and Crog-
han claimed the credit of having persuaded Pontiac
to bury the hatchet.
George Croghan and William Trent were much as-
sociated in business and cannot well be disasso-
ciated in history. The story of the one in a large
measure includes the story of the other. "NMien Capt.
Trent — largely through his association with Croghan
— had established for himself a reputation of having
great influence with the Indians, he was engaged by
Gov. Dinwiddie, of Virginia, to attend a council of
the Ohio Indian tribes as agent for Virginia. He was
also to see the French commander and expostulate
with him for encroaching upon territory that be-
longed to the Iving of England. He proceeded to
Logstown and from there to the Indian country, which
had twice been visited by Croghan, but wherever he
went he found the aspect of affairs so threatening
that he lost heart and returned home without seeing
the offending French commander, which was the most
important i)ait of the errand upon which he had been
(32)
sent. Gov. Dinwiddie then selected George Washing-
ton, and on October 30, 1753, sent him upon the mis-
sion in which Trent had failed.
In January, 1754, Gov. Dinwiddie commissioned
Trent to raise a company of one hundred men and
march with all speed to the forks of the Ohio and
finish as soon as possible the fort which had there
been couimenced. Capt. Trent was selected for this
service— it was said — chiefly because he was brother-
in-law to George Croghan, who had grown to be a
person of great consequence on the frontier and was
supposed to have such influence with the western
tribes as to be able to persuade them to take up the
hatchet for the English. Trent promptly raised his
company and in it, as ensign, was Edward Ward, a
young man who also had lived at the Silver Spring.
At the same time that Trent was authorized to raise
a company for service at the Ohio, Washington was
empowered to raise a like force at Alexandria, Va.,
for the tame service. He was ordered to forward
munitions, and supplies for the projected fort, and,
when the two companies were joined, was to have
command of both. When on the frontier he was to
take council of George Croghan and Andrew Mon-
tour, the interpreter, in all matters relating to the In-
dians, they being considered perfect oracles in that
department.
On the 17th of February, 1754, in the angle formed
by the meeting of the Monogahela and Allegheny
rivers, under the auspices of the Ohio company, was
begun the erection of a fort. Two months afterwards
the French in overwhelming force, came down the
Allegheny river and captured the fort before it was
completed. Capt. Trent's company was in charge, but
he and his lieutenant being absent at the time, it fell
to Ensign Ward (of Silver Spring) to make the sur-
render. Trent at the time was at Wills Creek, to
which point he had been ordered to provide pack
horses, and await the arrival of Washington. He
failed to have the pack horses in readiness, and while
the troops were waiting for wagons to come up from
Winchester and supply the deficiency. Ensign Ward
and his men arrived in camp, the French, on the sur-
(33)
render of the fort, having permitted them to depart
and take with them their working implements.
While lying at Wills Creek, Capt. Trent's men were
the cause of much complaint. They had enlisted as
volunteers and considered themselves as exempt from
the rigors of martial law, and their refractory conduct
threatened to demoralize Washington's entire com-
mand. He tolerated them as best he could till he
was ready to march, and then ordered them to re-
main in camp and await the coming of Colonel Fry,
the chief oflScer of the expedition. They, however, did
not remain, but in the true spirit of volunteers from
the back woods soon dispersed to their homes. Trent
then returned to his home at Carlisle and for nearly
two years served as a member of the Provincial
Council. In 1757 he was again in the employ of Vir-
ginia, but in the summer of that year acted as secre-
tary to George Croghan at a council with the In-
dians a*^ Easton. In 1758 he accompanied General
Forbes' oxoedition to Fort Duquesne, and in the fol-
lowing year entered the service of Sir William John-
son, British Agent for Indian Affairs in America. He
speculated much in land and for some years, in
various parts of the Proxance, was assessed with
large tracts, sometimes aggregating more than eight
thousand acres. Being extensively engaged in the In-
dian trade he was financially ruined through the
depredation of the Indians. To reimburse him for his
losses the Indians, at the treaty of Fort Sanwix, ceded
to him a large tract of land lying on the Kanawha
river, in what is now West Virginia.
Owing to the character of his business, he (Captain
Trent), like Croghan, found it necessary to frequently
change the place of his abode. He lived longer at
Carlisle than anywhere else, having been there con-
tinuously from shortly after the town was laid out
till 1709. In 1770 and 1771 he is missing from Car-
lisle, and it is probable that in those years he was on
his lands on the Kanawha, as it is known that he was
located there for a short time. In 1772 and 1773 he
lived in Middleton township, on a tract of land lying
in what it, now called Holly Gap, which he owned from
a very early date. That gap as early as 1757 was
known as Trent's Gap, and the broken mountain
(34)
range which separated Cumberland from York county,
was known as Trent's Hills. Broken in fortune, health
and spirit he figured but little in the war of the
Revolution, and that little only in the western depart-
ment. "While on a trip to the east in 1778 he took ill
at his old home and died, and, it is said, "was buried
in an old graveyard not far from the Silver Spring
churchyard, if not in that identical burial ground."
Edward Ward, the ensign who surrendered the
fort at the forks of the Ohio, is likewise entitled to
special mention in a history of the Silver Spring.
When Trent's company disbanded at Wills Creek, Ward
also returned to his home, but only for a brief period.
In the sjiring of 1756 he was again in the service of
the Province, this time as captain under Lieut. -Colonel
John Armstrong. Robert Callender, of Silver Spring,
Rev. John Steel, Hugh Mercer, John Potter, Hance
Hamilton and Joseph Armstrong Avere also captains in
the same battalion, while William Thompson, James
Potter, Edward Armstrong and others whose names
have since been familiar in Pennsylvania's history,
were lieutenants. Capt. Ward was with Armstrong
in his memorable expedition against Kittanning, and
accounts agree that his company suffered severely in
the attack upon that Indian stronghold. After the
defeat of Braddock the Provincial authorities ordered
the construction of a chain of forts, extending in a
semi-circle from near the Maryland line in what is
now Fulton county around to the Delaware river. One
of these frontier posts was located on the Juniata
river, one mile west of where Lewistown now stands,
and was named Fort Granville. In July, 1756, Fort
Granville was garrisoned by Capt. Edward Ward's
company. The settlers in the Tusearora Valley want-
ing a guard while harvesting their grain, Capt. Ward,
with abort half his men, marched to their protection,
and after they were gone the French and Indians cap-
tured the fort, killing Lieut. Armstrong and taking
prisoners the entire garrison. It will be proper to
here state that the Lieut. Armstrong that was killed
at Fort Granville was Edward Armstrong, a brother
of Col. John Armstrong; and also, that with Capt.
Ward, as ensign of the company, was John Loudon,
whose brother, Matthew Loudon, lies buried at the
Silver Spring.
Edwaid Ward continued in the military service of
the Province while soldiers were needed, which then
was all the time. Through the years 1757 and 1758
his company was stationed to the westward of the
Susquehanna, at the forts which were scattered along
the edge of the frontier, rendering the terrified and
distressed inhabitants what protection they could. In
the fall of 1758 he joined Forbes' expedition against
Fort Duquesne, and when possession was taken of its
abandoned ruins he was privileged to stand in triumph
on the very spot where in April, 1754, he had been
humiliated in defeat.
Like Capt. Trent, Edw^ard Ward dealt extensively
in lands and in 1769 was assessed with nearly 6,000
acres within the present bounds of Bedford county;
also a large tract in the Juniata Vallej*. He lived
longer at Carlisle than at any other place, but in 1767
he settled in Allen township, and on the Cedar Run,
where now is the village of Eberly's Mills, built the
first mills that were erected in the eastern end of
Cumberland county. There he continued until 1771
when his name disappears from the records, and of
his subsequent history nothing is known. He was a
married man, his wife being a Silver, in all probability
a daughter of James Silver, the pioneer of the Silver
Spring. He stands in history as Major Edward
Ward, and as a man with a clean record.
Another early patriot of the Silver Spring was
Robert Callender, who was a native of Maryland but
came into Pennsylvania to engage in the Indian trade.
At the commencement of hostilities in 1755 he en-
listed as a soldier and upon the organization of his
company was commissioned captain-lieutenant, and
in the following September was with Col. Armstrong
at the storming of Kittanning. A month later he was
made a captain in the same battalion in which Ed-
ward Ward had been commissioned a captain in May
of that year. He continued in the military ser\"ice till
after the fall of Fort Duquesne, and worked oiat for
himself a most distinguished and honorable career.
He was not only a soldier but also a business man,
and did much to promote the settlement and develop-
(36)
ment of the country. He located on the Silver
Spring about the year 1763, and in 1764 or '65 built
the first grist mill on the Silver Spring, A year
or so afterwards he also built a saw mill. Be-
ing rich and enterprising he in 1769 boug'ii the
mills located at the mouth of the Letort Spring,
after which the grist mill on the Silver Spring is
designated on the records as "Callander's lower mill."
Robert Callender also was a great land owner. In
1770 his assessments in Cumberland and Bedford
counties, and in the Juniata Valley, aggregated 3,300
acres. He also at the same time owned a tract of two
thousand acres lying on the east side of th-j Misssis-
sippi river below Natchez, in what is now the Staio of
Mississippi, but at the time he acquired the land
was yet in the Province of West Florida.
Wliile Robert Callender lived at the Silver Spring
he was a slave holder. In 1766 he owned five negroes,
in 1767 two, in 1768 four, and in 1769 one. Slavery
then was permitted under the laws of Pennsylvania
and many leading citizens in the vicinity owned
negro slaves. At the time Robert Callender numbered
among his goods and chattels five negroes, James Gal-
breath owned four, Tobias Hendricks two, Francis
McGuire one, John Orr one, and John Sample one.
Later David Hoge, John Carrothers, "of the creek,"
Matthew Loudon, Robert Whitehill, Robert and Wil-
liam Patterson, John Buchanan, John Waugh, John
Galbreath, John Quigley, Henry Quigley, William Mc-
Teer, William Harkness, Moses Starr and Robert
Galbreath owned negro slaves. These were all good
citizens and patriots, and, with the exception of
Robert Callender, were also all Presbyterians. Slave
owning then was not considered the great wrong that
it was afterAvards. It does not appear that the Sil-
vers, the Walkers, the McCormicks and the Clendenins
at any time owned negro slaves.
Robert Callender lived onlv a few years after he
removed from the Silver Spring. He died at Middle-
sex in June, 1776, at the age of fifty years. His first
wife died at the Silver Spring, aged thirty-four, and
both are buried in the Old Graveyard at Carlisle. For
his second wife he married Frances Gibson. He had
seven children, three by his first marriage and foui-
(37)
by his second. His daughter, Ann, married Gen. Wil-
iiam livine, of the Revolution; Elizabeth married Rev.
John Andrews, D. D., Provost of the University of
Pennsylvania; Isabella married William Neill, a lead-
ing merchant of the city of Baltimore; Robert — the
only son — became a lawyer and settled at Pittsburg.
He married Harriet Butler, a daughter of Gen. Wil-
liam Butler, one of the five famous Butler brothers,
who in the Revolution were known as "the fighting
Butlers." Catharine married William Noland, of Vir-
ginia; Martha married Thomas Duncan, a brilliant
Carlisle lawyer who became a judge of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania ; and Mary, the youngest, mar-
ried George Thompson, son of the Gen. William
Thompson, who was colonel of the first regiment that
Pennsylvania sent to the war of the Revolution.
James Hendricks is another man who deserves
honorable mention in this connection. He was a son
of Tobias Hendricks, and was a captain in the First
Pennsylvania battalion in Col. Henry Bouquet's ex-
pedition in 1764, and Richard Butler, afterwards so
celebrated as an officer of the Revolution, was his
Ensign. To James Hendricks belongs the distinction
of engaging in the Provincial wars and also in the
Revolution, yet historv has hardly been just to him,
for very little concerning him can be found recorded
in its pages.
There were in the Silver Spring section families
Avho, though not distinctively and prominently asso-
ciated with the military affairs of the country, per-
formed civic duties with a fidelity that entitles them
to be classed with the patriots of the land. On what
was then the "Big Road," a short distance west of
where now is the village of Hogestown, in the colonial
days, lived William Walker. He long kept a tavern at
that point, as did also his son John after him. Wil-
liam Walker was a son-in-law of the first John Hoge,
being mari-ied to John Hoge's daughter Elizabeth.
Among the children of William Walker and Elizabeth
Hoge was a son Jonathan, who, although he did not
tarry long at the place of his birth after he had fitted
himself for the sober realities of life, is yet entitled
to honorable mention in this connection, because of
the high distinction he himself achieved, and because
(38)
of a great and honored son he gave to the world.
Jonathan Walker graduated from Dickinson College in
1787, in the first class that that institution graduated.
He studied law, was admitted to the bar at Carlisle
and began the practice of his profession at Northum-
berland, Pa. In 1806 he was appointed president
judge of the judicial district composed of Center,
Mifflin, Huntingdon and Bedford counties. He then
removed from Northumberland to Bellefonte and later
to Bedford. Wliile living at Bedford he was appointed
Judge of the United States Court for the western
district of Pennsylvania. He then removed to Pitts-
burg, where he died in 1824. Jonathan Walker mar-
ried Lucy Duncan, a sister of Judge Thomas Duncan,
and on the 23d of July, 1801, there was born to them,
at Northumberland, a son whom they named Robert
John Walker, who for forty years of his life was one
of the most able and conspicuous public men of the
nation. He graduated from the University of Penn-
sylvania with the first honors of a large class ; began
the practice of law at Pittsburg, but in a few years
went South and settled at Natchez, Mississippi, where
he rose to high distinction professionally and political-
ly. He was elected and re-elected United States Sena-
tor; was appointed Secretary of the United States
Treasury by Pi'esident Polk; Minister to China by
President Pierce, and Governor of the Territory of
Kansas by President Buchanan. From the very first
he strenuously opposed nullification and secession,
and had much to do with shaping the policy of the
government during the war between the States. In
1863 he was appointed financial agent of the United
States in Europe, and succeeded in negotiating abroad
$250,000,000 in government bonds. He died in Wash-
ington city on November 11, 1869. A lineal descendant
of old Silver Spring. The Silver Spring of to-day
honors his memory with filial pride and rejoices in his
greatness.
When, in 1769, Robert Callender moved to the
mouth of the Letort Spring, he rented his Silver
Spring mills to Ephraim Blaine, who operated them
for five or six years. Ephraim Blaine's wife was Re-
becca Galbreath, a niece of James Galbreath, and in
locating on the Silver Spring he did not locate among
(39)
strangers, but near his wife's relatives. By 1774 he
had completed a mill on the Conodoguinet, on the
site now occupied by the Carlisle water works, and
removed from the Silver Spring to Middleton town-
ship. Ephraim Blaine also had the distinction of
serving both in the Provincial wars and in the Revo-
lution. When only eighteen years of age he was
appointed commissary sergeant, and served under
Col. James Burd, while that officer was charged with
building a road through the wilderness to the Monon-
gahela river. Afterwards he shared in the dangers
and triumphs of Col. Bouquet's first expedition to the
Ohio.
Wlien the Revolution broke upon the country
Ephraim Blaine assisted in raising a battalion of as-
sociators, in which he was made a lieutenant. In
December, 1775, the Committee of Correspondence re-
ported that in addition to the twelve companies Cum-
berland county had already sent it had in readiness
for the front another battalion. The battalion was ac-
cepted and Ephraim Blaine was elected its lieutenant
colonel. About the same time he was also appointed
county lieutenant. The latter he declined and the
former he did not hold very long. His remarkable
executive ability coming to the knowledge of Congress
that body, on April 1, 1776, appointed him Commissary
of Provisions. He then resigned as lieutenant colonel
and entered the Commissary Department, and from
that time till American independence was achieved
devoted all his energies to supplying the patriot army
with food, largely from out of the Cumberland Val-
ley. While Washington's ai-my lay at Valley Forge
his "barefoot and otherwise naked" soldiers were fed
through the strenuous exei'tions of Col. Ephraim
Blaine, who from 1769 to 1774, inclusive, operated the
mills on the Silver Spring.
Ejihraim Blaine had a brother named Alexander,
who in 1770 and 1771 also lived at the Silver Spring.
He was designated in the tax list as a "freeman," and
being a single man we are justified in assuming that
he had his home in the family of his brother, Ephraim.
Alexander Blaine married Mary Hoge, oldest daughter
of David Hoge, and of (heir descendants much might
be said if the scope of this paper permitted it. As
(■10)
early as 1768 Alexander Blaine was a licensed Indian
trader, and during the Revolution was Assistant Com-
missary of Issues under his brother, Ephraim.
The closing of the port of Boston by the British
Parliament aroused to action the patriots of this part
of the country, who held a meeting in the Presby-
terian church at Carlisle on July 12, 1774, at which a
committee was appointed to correspond with similar
committees in other parts of the country. This
committee consisted of thirteen members and three of
the thirteen were Robert Callender, Ephraim Blaine
and Jonathan Hoge. Jonathan Hoge was not a soldier,
but along civil lines rendered service to his country
that entitles him to be classed with the early patriots
of Silver Spring. He was a member of the Constitu-
tional Convention of July, 1776 ; a member of the As-
sembly in 1776, and again from 1778 to 1783. He was
a member of the Supreme Executive Council from
March 4, 1777, to November 9, 1778, and again from
November 3, 1784, to October 20, 1787, In 1777, after
the Americans had been defeated at the Brandywine
and the British were moving upon Philadelphia in
triumph, he and John Loudon were appointed commis-
sioners to remove the public loan office from Philadel-
phia, so the records of that important department
would not fall into the hands of the enemy. In 1777
he, for several months, was a member of the Council
of Safety; also, in October, 1786, a member of the
committee to superintend the drawing of the Dona-
tion Land Lottery; also, in 1785-86, a member of the
Board of Property, and in August, 1791, was ap-
pointed a justice of the peace, in which capacity he
acted as an associate judge of Cumberland county.
He died on the 19th of April, 1800, and is the only
Hoge buried in the Silver Spring cemetery whose grave
now is marked.
Jonathan Hoge had a son, John, who enlisted in
Col. William Irvine's battalion and was made a second
lieutenant. In the second expedition against Canada
he was captured at Three Rivers, June 8, 1776, and
remained a prisoner for three years.
About the year 1778 there settled in the vicinity of
the Silver Spring a young Irishman named David Red-
dick, whose subsequent career entitles him to a refer-
(41)
enee in the history of Silver Spring. He was an intelli-
gent and ambitions yonlh and engaged at school teach-
ing and surveying. He married Ann Hoge, oldest daugh-
ter of Jonathan Hoge, and when his wife's uncle, David
Hoge, acquired large land interests in what is now
Washington county, Pennsylvania, he went with him to
that part of the country and surveyed his land for
him. He then located there and rose to be one of the
most distinguished and honored citizens of Western
Pennsylvania. He became a member of the Supreme
Executive Council of the Province, and was vice presi-
dent of that body at a time when Benjamin Franklin
was its president. He also held other important and
responsible positions, and did much to settle the
troubles of the "Whiskey Insurrection, he and William
Findley being delegated to wait on President Wash-
ington at Carlisle and assure him that the insurgents
had submitted to the laws.
Rachel Hoge, also a daughter of Jonathan Hoge,
married Robert Bell, who served as a soldier in the
war of the Revolution. Robert Bell lies in an un-
marked grave at Pine Hill. [Editorial note: — ^Loeated
in Silver Spring Township near Samples Bridge.]
Sarah Hoge, another daughter of Jonathan Hoge,
married John Carothers, a man of exceptional ability,
and long a central figure in the vicinity of the Silver
Spring. In March, 1777, the Supreme Executive Coun-
cil created the office of county lieutenant, a most
arduous and responsible position. The county lieuten-
ant, with the aid of his sub-lieutenants, was required
to district the county, to enroll the militia and or-
ganize them into companies, hold elections for officers,
collect fines, purchase arms, munitions and sup-
plies, and represent generally the State government in
military matters. The office was first offered to John
Armstrong, of Carlisle, who declined it. It was then
offered to Ephraim Blaine, who also declined it. It
was next offered to James Galbreath, who because of
his age hesitated to undertake the task but without
formal introduction into office performed its duties
for a few months. John Carothers was then ap-
pointed to it and for over two years discharged its
trying duties very acceptably, ^^^lile he was lieu-
tenant, James Gregory and John Trindle, who also
(42)
were of the Silver Spring congregation, were two of
his sub-lieutenants.
The Hoges were a large, intelligent and eminently
patriotic family. During the Revolution they were so
active in the various lines of public duty that it is
difficult for the historian to allot to each individual
of them all the honor that is his due. David Hoge,
the brother of Jonathan, had a son, John, who is
apt to be confounded with Jonathan's son, John.
David's son, John, when sixteen years old, entered the
patriot army, and before the end of his term of
service rose to the rank of lieutenant. At the close
of the war he settled in Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania, from which section, in 1789, he was a delegate
to the State Constitutional Convention. Subsequently
he was a member of the State Senate, and also a
member of Congress.
Wlien, in 1774, Ephraim Blaine relinquished the
mills on the Silver Springs, they passed into the
possession of George Gibson. George Gibson was of
a family which then already was distinguished for
its enterprise and patriotism. He was at the Silver
Spring only two years, but because of his honorable
lineage, and because of his distinguished connections
and distinguished personal career Silver Spring
treasures his memory and gladly reserves for him a
place ill its history. On the breaking out of the
hostilities with the mother country, George Gibson en-
tered the service of the Province of Virginia at Fort
Pitt, where was stationed his bi'other, John, who
had preceded him into the service. The colonies being
in great need of powder for the army, George Gibson
was given command of a force of men and sent
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans,
which was then a Spanish possession, to there ob-
tain a supply. The agents of the British government
at New Orleans suspected Gibson and his men, and
kept them under surveillance, and to deceive them
Gibson was arrested and thrown into a Spanish
prison. Through the assistance of Oliver Pollock a
large quantity of powder was secured, part of which
was loaded into a schooner that lay in the harbor,
and the rest upon flat boats to be rowed up the
xiver by the hai^dy men from the backwoods of Vir-
(43)
ginia and Pennsylvania. Simultaneously with the de-
parture of his men up the river Gibson mysteriously
escaped from prison, got upon the powder-ladened
schooner while the British spies slept, and sailed
away. Both the flat boats and the schooner safely
reached their destinations, the fonner at Fort Pitt
and the latter at Philadelphia. After his return from
this mission George Gibson became colonel of a Vir-
ginia regiment, the men of which were so noted for
good discipline, and orderly conduct that they were
called "Gibson's lambs."
George Gibson was a brother-in-law to Robert
Callender, Callender's second wife being a sister of
George Gibson. In all probability it was this re-
lationship that brought Gibson to the Silver Spring,
for the mills which he here operated were then still
the property of Robert Callender. While young Gib-
son lived at the Silver Spring he was yet a single
man, but was paying attention to Ann West, a
daughter of Judge Francis West, of the SheiTnan's
Valley, in what is now Perry county. A family
tradition relates that in visiting his sweetheart
George Gibson would go from the Silver Spring
to the Sherman's Valley on horseback, which then
was the most elegant method of travel young
swains could avail themselves of. His way lay across
the Sherman's creek, and there being no bridges he
had to ford the stream whether deep or shallow.
Upon one occasion he found the creek much swollen
by heavy rains, and in attempting to ford it his horse
plunged and threw him into the raging flood, where he
would have drowned had he not luckily caught hold
of his horse's tail and held on till the horse towed
him out upon the bank on the other side. He married
Miss West and from their union came Judge John
Bannister Gibson, chief justice of the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania, and one of the most brilliant
jurists that ever graced the American bench; also
Gen. George Gibson, who for more than fifty years
was at the head of the commissary department of the
United States army. At the close of the Revolution
George Gibson settled in the Sherman's Valley, on
the West estate, which he acquired through his mar-
riage into the family. There he engaged at milling
(44)
and farming. In October, 1785, he was appointed
county lieutenant, which office he held in 1791, when
the Indians of the Northwest Territoi-y became
troublesome. Responding to the call of duty he
raised a regiment in Cumberland county, went to
assist in the efforts to subdue them, and in the dis-
astrous battle on the Miami, known in history as St.
Clair's defeat, he fell mortally wounded.
The James Galbreath, who was present at the con-
ference held at the house of George Croghan in May,
1750, was for more than thirty years a central figure
among the patriots of the Silver Spring. He was
twice sheriff of Lancaster county before Cumberland
county was taken from Lancaster, and after the
creation of Cumberland was one of the new county's
first justices of the peace. He died in 1786 and his
remains, and the remains of his wife, are buried at
the Derry Church, in what is now Dauphin county.
When he came into the Silver Spring section he
settled on the Conodoguinet on a tract of land of
which the fann now owned by S. A. Basehore was a
part. His advanced age prevented him from par-
ticipating actively in the war of the Revolution, but
the cause had his hearty sympathy and the active
support of his six patriotic sons and two sons-in-
law. His son, Bertram, who remained at Donegal,
became lieutenant of Lancaster county, and his son,
Andrew, who was probably the youngest, enlisted
early and continued in the service to the very end of
the conflict. In 1776 he was appointed a major in
the organization known as the Flying Camp; was
captured and confined in the famous Jersey prison
ship, but exchanged, and for a time was on Gen.
Washington's staff. After the Avar he came into
possession of his father's estate on the Conodoguinet,
where he lived to the end of his days. He died in
March, 1806, and his remains rest in the burying
ground of the Silver Spring church. After his
death his widow removed to Carlisle where she lived
out the rest of her days. She died in the city of
Baltimore, but her remains were brought home and
buried beside those of her husband.
Major Andrew Galbreath left surviving him six
daughters, all of whom married into distinguished
(45)
families, viz: Jane married Matthew Miller; Eliza-
beth married Dr. Kelso, of llarrisburg; Mary married
Michael Ege, of Middleton township, a famous iron
manufacturer; Sarah married John Bannister Gib-
son, the brilliant lawj-er who bedame chief justice of
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; Barbara mar-
ried Charles P. Gordon, of North Carolina, and Ann
married Charles Hall, of Baltimore.
James Galbreath had a son, Robert, who mar-
ried Mary Hendricks, a daughter of Tobias Hendricks,
the pioneer. Robert's children, like those of his
brother, Andrew, were all girls, and consequently
neither perpetuated the Galbreath name beyond his
own generation. Robert Galbreath lived at Lisburn,
where for many years he owned a mill and carried
on an extensive and prosperous business.
Probably the greatest distinction that can be
claimed for patriotic services for any one from the
vicinity of the Silver Spring belongs to Capt. Wil-
liam Hendricks. On the 13th of July, 1775 — less
than a month after the battle of Bunker Hill was
fought — Capt. Hendricks left Cumberland county for
the war in command of a company of 90 men. At
Reading it and eight other companies were organized
into the First Rifle Regiment of Pennsylvania, with
William Thompson, a veteran of the Provincial wars,
as colonel. This regiment joined Washington's aimy
at Boston early in August, but Capt. Hendricks'
company was not permitted to long remain at Bos-
ton. It was one of the companies that were selected
by lot for the expedition against Quebec, through the
woods of Maine, under Col. Benedict Arnold. After
indescribable privations and hardships, the command
of which it was a part arrived at Quebec on the 8th
of December, and in the assault on that great strong-
hold, in the early morning hours of January 1, 1776,
Capt. Hendricks was killed, and he was the first
officer from west of the Hudson river to fall in the
cause of American liberty.
William Hendricks was not only brave and pa-
triotic but exceptionally magnanimous. In years he
was the youngest of all the captains on that
memorable march through the wilderness, but held
the oldest commission, which, according to military
(46)
rule, entitled him to the command of the detachment,
but for the sake of peace he acquiesced in the selec-
tion of another, who had seen previous military
service. And when John McClelland, the gallant
lieutenant of his company, was dying and being car-
ried through the wilderness on the shoulders of his
men, this young captain from the vicinity of the Sil-
ver Spring, bore a share of the burden and helped
to care for him with the tenderness of a brother.
Judge Henry describes Capt. Hendricks as "a
young man, tall in stature, of mild and beautiful
countenance and a soul that was animated by a gen-
uine spark of heroism." His remains were interred
on the Plains of Abraham in the same enclosure with
those of Gen. Montgomery, but to this day there is
nowhere any memorial erected to Capt. William Hen-
dricks, the first officer from west of the Hudson to
fall in the Revolution.
Among the very prominent early Cumberland county
families were the Pollocks. They were numerous, as
well as prominent, and the name is a familiar one
upon the early records. One Oliver Pollock while
yet a young man, left this county to seek a field for
his ambitions in the West Indies. For some time he
engaged in the mercantile business in Havana, but
later went to New Orleans, where he remained longer,
also engaged at merchandizing. He prospered and
became very wealthy and influential. Although living
under a foreign flag Oliver Pollock never lost his love
for the land of his birth, and when the American
colonies rebelled against British intolerance he joined
them in the struggle and gave them the full benefit
of his influence and fortune. He was the authorized
agent for the colonies at New Orleans and it was
he who so successfully helped George Gibson to a sup-
ply of powder in that city. In his aid of the colonies
Oliver Pollock ruined his business and impoverished
himself. With the hope of recuperating pecuniarily
he left New Orleans at the close of the Revolution and
came to Philadelphia. From Philadelphia he, in 1791,
came to the Silver Spring, where he purchased the
large Silver estate and all it included. He then en-
tered zealously into business, and also into politics,
but the luck of his earlier years had changed and he
(47)
failed in nearly everything he undertook. His debts
hampered and harrassed him in season and out of
season and in the j^ear 1800 he for awhile was con-
fined in the debtor's prison in Philadelphia. He three
times was a candidate for Congress, but every time
Avas defeated, twice by another Silver Spring Presby-
terian, Robert ^Miitehill.
Oliver Pollock first married Margaret O'Brien, a
representative of two distinguished Irish families.
She was an intelligent, cultured, Christian woman —
pious, benevolent and kind. She died in January,
1799, and is buried at the Silver Spring, and her
grave is not marked. A son, James, who was killed at
the Silver Spring by being thrown from a horse, is
buried by the side of his mother, also in an unmarked
grave. Oliver Pollock for his second wife married
a Baltimore woman, whom he also outlived. After
the death of his second wife he removed to Pinkney-
ville, Mississippi, where, in December, 1823, he died in
the home of his son-in-law. Dr. Samuel Robinson, at a
great age.
The story of the patriots of the Silver Spring is
radiant with shining examples, and could be amplified
indefinitely. Those who have been touched upon in
this paper are only a few of the many whose deeds
of valor and sacrifice deserve to be recorded. During
the Revolution nearly every man who was capable of
bearing arms, or in some way doing something for
the cause, was at the front at some time or another.
There were no Tories at the Silver Spring; all were
patriots. They were in the Continental Line, in the
Flying Camp, and especially numerous in the militia.
There were Irvines, and Armstrongs, and Carothers,
and Clendenins, and Hustons, and Humes, and Jun-
kens, and Lambs, and Loudons, and Mateers, and
Moors, and McCormicks, and Walkers, and Works,
and Olivers, and Orrs, and Quigleys, and Scotts, and
Starrs. Among the militia Silver Spring has to its
credit a Capt. John Clendenin, a Capt. John Carothers,
a Capt. John McCormick, a Capt. James Sample, a
Capt. Alexander Trindle, a Capt. John Trindle, a
Capt. John McTeer, a Capt. John Lamb, a Capt.
Samuel Wallace, a Lieut. William Harkness, and
(48)
others we know not of. Compiling history is not a
matter of a week, or of a few weeks, but of years.
At the Donegal Presbyterian church stands a large
granite monument, erected by the Daughters of the
American Revolution, to the memory of the patriot-
ism of Donegal. Upon its sides are inscribed the
names of soldiers, from Donegal, who served in the
Indian and the Revolutionary wars, and it is a gal-
lant array of names and the monument is a tribute
to their memory worthily bestowed. Some day the
Daughters of the American Revolution will erect a
similar monument to the memory of the patriots of
the Silver Spring, and when they do they will erect
one of great size and with ample sides, for the names
that deserve to be inscribed upon it are many.
Mrs. Roy G. Cox, of Harrisburg, Pa., sang the fol-
lowing solo : "But the Lord Is Mindful of His Own"
(St. Paul), Mendelssohn.
The Chairman, introducing the next speaker, spoke
as follows :
"The able and beloved pastor of Market Square
Presbyterian church, and Moderator of the Presby-
tery of Carlisle, Rev. J. Ritchie Smith, D. D., will noW
address us."
(49)
ADDRESS OF REV. J. RITCHIE SMITH, D. D.
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen : The occa-
sion is one that calls for hearty congratulation. Men
grow old with the flight of years, but institutions and
churches may grow younger and stronger as time
rolls by, ever recruiting their energies with fresh lives
that are devoted to their service. We are in peculiar-
ly fitting circumstances here to-day, because I sup-
pose we are reproducing, in part, at least, the scene
amid which the earliest worship on this spot was
conducted. In that day, I presume there was no Gov-
ernor present to grace the occasion; I presume there
were no reporters to take down what they could and
fill up the rest; and I am very sure that we entertain
to-day no apprehension about that scarcity of pro-
vision of which one of the first ministers called to
this spot stood in fear and refused to come. But
certainly under these beautiful trees and amid this
magnificent scenery we are worshiping God to-day
under somewhat similar circumstances to those under
which the fathers of the valley worshiped here so
long ago. Our imagination kindles when we think of
the origin of this church. It was in the day when
the American continent was divided between the
Frenchman, the Spaniard and the Englishman, when
the French held that great country of Canada and
the great river, the father of waters; when the
Spaniard held the southwest of this vast continent;
and when the Englishman was shut up within a narrow
fringe of territory along the shore of the Atlantic.
It was the day when George the Second sat upon the
throne of England, "Snuffy old drone from the Ger-
man hive," as Oliver Wendell Holmes elegantly calls
him; when George Washington was a babe in arms;
before Wolfe climbed the heights of Abraham and un-
der the walls of Quebec leveled to the dust the vast
fabric of the French empire on this western continent.
(50)
We are looking back to a time when the Indian roved
far and wide.
I was in the city of Pittsburg not very long since
and I visited some of the spots which modern in-
dustry and art have made famous the wide world
around, but I confess the most interesting thing I
saw there was an old relic, a block house, built by
the French, bearing upon it the date of 1763. That
block house was the outpost of civilization on the
western frontier of the continent, and that was nearly
thirty years after this church had had its birth.
If we should go over to England we should discover
that the bright lights in the literary firmament of that
generation and the generation succeeding were Pope,
Fielding, Gray, Goldsmith, Swift and other men asso-
ciated with them and scarcely less renowned, and the
dictator of the world of letters, old Samuel Johnson.
And we are thus reminded that we are carried back
in the history of this church to the Augustan age of
English literature.
Now these things kindle the imagination, I say,
when we remember through what an eventful period
of time this church has lived. Back to the beginning
of this republic, back to the generation beyond it, ex-
tending to the frontier pioneer days when men fought
the savage in the wilderness, through this vast period
of history this church has held on the tenor — not, I
suppose, always the even tenor — but the unbroken
tenor of its way, and stands to-day still in un-
diminished strength and vigor. This church has wit-
nessed the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires. It
has seen some of the greatest wars in history. It has
known revolutions of peace more significant than any
conquest on the fields of battle, and among them all
this church through vicissitudes of war and peace has
held on its way. And I take it we have here the figure
of the kingdom of God, and the church of God, which
stands essentially unchanged amid all the changes of
human affairs that are going on around it, the same
church, here and everywhere essentially the same, in
all the centuries, worshiping the same God, follow-
ing the same Saviour and pointing men to the same
heavenly home.
But I think we are to remember that this church
(51)
has not only witnessed this marvelous history, but
this church has had a part in shaping this marvelous
history, this development which six generations, one
after the other, have helped to form. We in America
with our pride of wealth and boast of industrial de-
velopment and our magnifying of those things which
make for wealth and comfort, we are to remember
and never to lose an occasion of reminding ourselves
that the foundation, and the inspiring and shaping
influences of our country from the beginning of its
history, have not been industrial or financial or legis-
lative, but have been intellectual, moral and religious,
and we are standing here to-day on this historic spot
commemorating the anniversary of this church to bear
witness that among all the forces that have gone to
the shaping of this nation, this church and the other
churches like it the country over, have been the most
potent.
And we remember here to-day not only the little
work, comparatively speaking, that has been done in
this single spot, but we remember, also, that from this
church as a center of influence and power men and
women have been going forth all over this land, and I
presume far beyond the bounds of the republic, and
have been bearing with them generation after genera-
tion the truth here taught, the lessons here learned,
the character here formed, the inspiring influences
here begotten in them, and have made the name and
the power of this church felt whithersoever they have
gone. To remember that for nearly two centuries in
this place the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has
been preached, the rites of the church have been ad-
ministered, the sacraments have been observed, the
dead here laid away to rest, men and women united in
holy matrimony according to the teachings of God's
word, their offspring consecrated in holy baptism, and
that there has been entering into the hearts and lives
of the men and women of generation after generation
the influence of the gospel of Christ — that is some-
thing, I say,- to kindle the imagination and make us
give thanks to God for the magnificent work of the
church that he has planted here among the sons of
men. We remember how far the influence of this
church has reached. We remember how many lives
(52)
have been touched by it, what a large part it has
played in the intellectual and spiritual unfolding of
the land in which we live as its sons and daughters
have gone out far and wide the world over. And we
remember that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is
the only agency whose sole business it is to advance
the kingdom of God among the sons of men. There
are other agencies that are doing it. Civil govern-
ment is doing it so far as it is conformed to the
teachings of God's word. Business enterprises are
doing it in their measure. Many influences are at
work, but there is only one agency whose sole busi-
ness and purpose it is to advance the kingdom of God,
which is righteousness and peace and joy, the reign
of God in the soul of man, only one agency, and that
is the church of the Lord Jesus with its allied and
affiliated organizations. And this church to-day we
honor because for nearly two hundred years it has
been true to that mission. We remember the godly
men of its ministry. We remember the fathers and
mothers who have been faithful here. We remember
the children who have grown up beneath the shadow
of these trees and under the influences of this church,
and we thank God for all that He has done here for
His people and through His people to strengthen this
community and to strengthen this commonwealth and
to strengthen this republic in which we live. And may
God grant that this church may long abide in strength.
May He grant grace to this beloved minister whom
everybody honors and everybody loves, who has
walked among these people as a man of God for more
than thirty years, the lifetime of a whole generation;
and may He grant that the church may increase in
love and power, ever enriched with the gifts and
graces of the Holy Spirit and ever bearing fruit unto
the glory of God in the salvation of men.
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Cox then sang the duet,
"Hark ! Hark ! My Soul," Shelley.
The following introduction was then made by the
Chairman :
(53)
"Pennsylvanians can congratulate themselves that
they have at the head of this Commonwealth a wise
and a good and a great man, a man who recognizes
government of the people and by the people, and whose
rule has been in wisdom and in righteousness and for
the good of the people — the people's Governor. He
has honored us by his presence and it is a great
pleasure to introduce to you Honorable Edwin S.
Stuart."
(54)
ADDRESS BY HONORABLE EDWIN S. STUART,
GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : I did not
catch exactly whether my friend, the Reverend Doctor
Smith, said that the founders of this church did not
have a Governor with them, or that they ought to have
been thankful that they did not. However, I am very
happy to be with you to-day, and, while I did not
come for the purpose of making an extended address,
I did come to have the pleasure of mingling among a
people who have done so much for Pennsylvania.
I am reminded of a story concerning an old Scotch
woman, Jennie McPherson, who had experienced hard
times and was in poor health — naturally, hard times
and ill health had somewhat soured her disposition, but
no matter what the weather was, she was always in
the "kirk" on Sabbath morning. One dreary, drizzling.
Sabbath morning, she was in the church at her usual
place, with not very many other people present. The
minister came up the aisle, and seeing Jennie in her
accustomed place near the center, he approached her
and said : "Jennie, it is a very disagreeable, wet morn-
ing." "Oh, well," she said, "never mind; it will be
dry enough when you get in the pulpit." (Laughter.)
As a Pennsylvanian, and, I may say, as a descendant
of the Scotch-Irish race, I am here to-day to show
by my presence the great interest that all Pennsyl-
vanians ought to take in them. The Scotch-Irish
which composed so much of this part of the country
in the beginning, and did so much for Pennsylvania,
started the emigration which came to Philadelphia
and gradually extended northeastwardly and then
along through Lancaster and down the Cumberland
Valley all the way into Virginia, Tennessee and North
and South Carolina. Every place they went they
were pioneers. They carried with them the rifle, axe,
and Bible. They believed in doing right because it
was right to do so.
(55)
The old Log College, organized in Bucks county
thirteen years before this church was founded, con-
cerning which, no doubt, you are all familiar, was the
cradle of American Presbyterianism. It was only
some twenty by eighteen feet in size. Stille, in his
Life of Dickinson, in 1740, says that one-fourth of
the entire population of Pennsylvania at that time
were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and they were found
mainly in what was then Cumberland and York
counties, now including Franklin and Adams counties,
and from 1736 until 1740, no less than eight strong
churches were organized in this immediate valley.
My friends, the State of Pennsylvania has grown
from that time, from a population of a few thousand
on the banks of the Delaware, until to-day, with a
population of about seven millions, making her one
of the leading Commonwealths in the Union; and that
which brought those sturdy emigrants to our shores, — ■
civil and religious liberty, the right to worship God
according to the dictates of one's own conscience,
guaranteed by the founder, "William Penn, stands true
at the present time, for in this State and in this
country we have room for any and all who choose
to come to us, and are willing to act as your ancestry
and take upon themselves the responsibility of Ameri-
can citizenship, but we say to them, as was practiced
by the people who founded this church and this valley,
if they come here they must do as we do, bow their
knee to the majesty and supremacy of the law. There
is no room here for those who want to violate the
law. The flag which stands for liberty, which guar-
antees liberty to every citizen and every person,
means liberty and not license — means that you must
behave yourself and be a good, sturdy American citi-
zen, and with that understanding we welcome you.
The law is strong enough and can never be success-
fully defied by any man, and at the same time it is
strong enough to protect the most humble within our
borders.
One of the great characteristics of the Scotch-
Irish people was that every place they emigrated and
every place they went they founded a church, and
alongside of it erected a school house. The cause of
education we must all endeavor to develop, because
(56)
every school house erected is an additional prop
toward the perpetuity and support of the Republic.
The State of Pennsylvania appropriated to the com-
mon school education, for two years, the enormous
sum of fifteen millions of dollars, — the largest amount
appropriated by any State in the Union, and I con-
tend there is no money spent by the State for which
there are better returns.
And that, my friends, the cause of education, is the
one thing you want to develop in this republic, be-
cause every schoolhouse built, every public school, is
an additional prop towards the perpetuity and sup-
port of this republic. The State of Pennsylvania ap-
propriates to the common school system in Pennsyl-
vania for two years the enormous sum of fifteen mil-
lions of dollars, the largest amount appropriated by
any State in the Union, and I contend that there is no
money spent by the State for which there are better
returns than for the money appropriated to the
common school education, and if we build a church
and alongside of the church plant a schoolhouse and
teach the children in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord this republic is safe, and the only way that
it will be safe.
Rev. T. J. Ferguson remarked: "I think, as a
matter of fact, the first congregation that gathered
here was glad there was no representative of the
State present, for the pastor had fallen into disfavor
with the officials and the authorities threatened to
send the constable and drag him out of his pulpit and
lead him by the horse's tail to Newtown, — ^wherever
that was. But I am glad to say that we are on bet-
ter terms with the governing power and the simple
reason is that the ministry and the church have
nothing to criticize in the administration of Governor
Stuart."
HYMN.
All hail the power of Jesus name
Let angels prostrate fall ;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
(57)
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all raajesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.
0, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall ;
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
The Chairman then said : "My brother, Rev. R. G.
Ferguson, will lead us in prayer."
"0 Lord, we recognize Thee as the Lord of all. We
have been tracing the history of Thy people as Thou
hast led them during almost two centuries in this
place and in this region. We can recognize the hand
of God in this history. We would believe after all
that Thou only art great. There are indeed great
men as compared one with another, but we, every one
of us, bow our heads down before Thee. Thou art the
Almighty, the Infinite, the Holy, the Just. Thou art
the God and the Father of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ. Thou hast sent Thy Son into this
world to be our Redeemer. Thou hast laid our
iniquities upon Him and provided for us sinners a
complete salvation. Thou hast put into our hearts
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thou hast sent
faithful men in Thy name to tell the good tidings of
Thy love and compassion. For all this we bless Thee
and praise Thy great and holy name. We bless Thee
for our godly ancestry, for the ancestry that
worshiped God, that loved our Saviour Jesus Christ,
that lived by faith in His name. They were devoted to
His cause, that wherever they went they built an altar
to the honor of God, they built a church in which to
praise and worship His holy name.
"We bless Thee for the ancestry that were pa-
triotic, that were law abiding, that laid the founda-
tion of our republic in liberty and in righteousness.
We bless Thee for this inspiring day that recalls to
us all these things concerning our ancestry. Lord
grant that we here to-day may get a new inspiration
from what we have heard of the past; may we learn
to dedicate ourselves more fully and more loyally to
(58)
the God of our fathers and to the kingdota of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May we stand for
truth and liberty and righteousness in all the com-
munities in which Thou dost place us, and, God,
we beseech Thee that Thy blessing may abide in this
place. We thank Thee for the succession of godly
men who have here proclaimed the gospel, for the suc-
cession of godly generations that have here gathered
together to worship; and we pray that this generation
may abide, that long may it be true that here the
gospel is preached and Jesus' glory is advanced, long
may it be true that Thy people shall gather here to
worship Thy name.
"May an especial blessing abide upon the present
pastor of the people and upon all the people con-
nected with this church at this time; and grant that
here Thy kingdom may be established and that the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be given
abundantly and that this, Thy people, may grow in
faith, holiness and service to our Lord and Redeemer,
and grant that they may be established in all their
ways. And all these things and infinitely more, that
Thou art ready to give and that Thou knowest they
may need, grant unto them in the years that are to
come. We ask it all in the name of jesus Christ, our
divine Redeemer. Amen."
By REV. T. J. FERGUSON: "As has been in-
timated, one of the early supplies at Silver Spring
appointed to preach here did not fill the appointment,
and the reason he gave to the Presbytery was that
there was a scarcity of provender at that time, and,
in view of the facts, the reason was sustained. I
know there is no scarcity of provender to-day and
this company of friends who have honored us with
their presence are invited to enjoy our hospitality. I
have been requested to ask those who have chairs and
seats to remain seated after the benediction and they
will be served, and those who are standing will look
about the church and chapel until their turn comes to
occupy those seats and enjoy the refreshments.
"I will call your attention to some of the things that
you may find in the chapel. The old communion
service, bearing the date of 1748, made in London by
(59)
John Townsend, and the communion tokens, with
some letters upon them, "S. W." on them, standing for
Samuel Waugh, who was one of the pastors. And
there is also a book, the story of Count Zinsendorff.
It was a reward given by Rev. George Morris to a boy
of eight years for coming to the parsonage and re-
citing the Epistle of James, and the holder of that
book, Mr. Joseph Bosler, of Carlisle, prizes it among
his precious possessions."
BENEDICTION.
REV. THOMAS C. M-cCARRELL. "And now may
the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the
love of God our Father, and the communion of the
Holy Ghost, our Comforter, abide with each one of
you evermore. Amen."
(60)
APPENDIX
HISTORICAL NOTES
PETITION FROM INHABITANTS OF EAST
PENNSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, AUGUST
24, 1756.
The Humble Supplication of the remaining part of
the Inhabitants of East Penborrow township, in Cober-
land County, Leting your Worship Know Some part of
our Melaneoly State we are in at present by the
Savage Indians, which has not only Kild our Christian
Neighbours, but are coming nearer to us in their Late
Slaughter, and Almost every Day Members of our
frontiers are Laving their places and traviling further
Down amongst the Inhabitants, and we are made
Quite incapable of holding our frontiers Good any
Longer, unless Your Worship can prevail with our
Hon. Governour and Assembly, be please to Send us
Sjjeedy Relife. May it pleas all to whom this shall
Come to Consider what an Evil Case we will be Ex-
posed to in Leaving our places, and Grain and Cattle,
for we are not able to boy Provisions for our familys,
much Less for our Cattle. And to live here we Can-
not, we are so Weake handed, and what is unmoved
is not provided with Guns and Amunition, and we
have agreed with a gard of fourteen men in number,
and if it were in our power to pay for a Geard we
should be Satisfyed but we are not able to pay them.
Beging for God's sake you may take pity upon our
familys, and their necessities may be considered by
all Gentlemen that has the Charge of Us.
Dated August Ye 24th, 1756.
by the humble Requist of what Remaines of the
Inhabitants of our township, to the Rev. Richard
(61)
Fetters, Secratory, in Pheledelphia. beging God to
Command A blessing upon your Endeavours.
William Chasnut, Tobias Hendrix,
John Sample, John McConnick,
Francis McGuire, Rodger Walton,
James McMullen, Robert McWliiney,
Samuel McCormick, James Silleyn.*
*Frobab]y John Silvers.
A PROMISSORY NOTE TO REV. JOHN STEEL.
A promissory note was given to Rev. Mr. Steel in
1768, and signed by forty-two persons in this con-
gregation. The names of many of them are familiar
to us, and the descendants of some of them are with
us to-day. It is as follows :
'Whereas at the union of the Congregations of Car-
lisle and Lower Pennsborough in April 1764 it was
agreed that each congregation should pay £75 pounds
to Mr. John Steel, our minister, as stipends, yearly
and every year from time of said union, and said
agreement was signed by six men of each congrega-
tion in the name and behalf of said Congregation,
Now in order to give ease and relief to said six
men who signed in behalf of the Congregation of
Lower Fennsborough, and at the same time to secure
to our said minister his yearly stipends, said Congre-
gation have this day concluded that forty two men
shall give their promissary note to said John Steel
for his yearly stipends, and that said forty-two men
shall be a fix'd committee of said Congregation, and
have power to regulate seats and order all the other
affairs of said congregation. Therefore, in conse-
quence of said agreement, and to answer the above
said ends, we the subscribers, with the consent and
by the appointment of said congregation, do offer
ourselves and accordingly become jointly bound to Mr.
John Steel, our present minister, to pay him, yearly
and every year, the sum of seventy-five pounds, good
and lawful money of Pennsylvania, at or upon the first
day of April, in every year following the date hereof,
(62)
including the stipends of seventy-five pounds due to
our said minister for the year past April, 1768 and
what arrears may be due to our said minister for the
years 1765 and 1766, all which we bind ourselves to
pay or cause to be paid unto said John Steel, accord-
ing to the true intent and meaning of the agreement
made at the union of said congregations, as witness
our hands this twentieth and seventh day of June,
1768.
Moses Star,
James Crawford,
Joseph McClure,
Abernethy,
Andrew Armstrong,
John Caruthers,
John McTeer,
James McCurdy,
William McCormiek,
John Carothers,
James Nailer,
James Oliver,
Samuel Fisher,
John Dickey, Sen.,
Thomas Donaldson,
William McTeer,
Thomas McConnick,
David Hoge,
William Orr,
John Nailer,
John Trindle,
William Gray,
Christopher Quigley,
Edward Morton,
Samuel Geddis,
Andrew Ervin,
James Caruthers,
Jonathan Hoge,
Samuel Huston,
John Semple,
John McConniek,
William Trindle,
Alexander Trindle,
Hugh Laird,
Thomas Stewart,
James McTeer,
Patrick Holmes,
David Bell,
Nathaniel Nelson,
William Geddis,
Mathew Loudon."
ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO REV. JOHN
STEEL, PASTOR OF SILVER SPRING
CHURCH 1764-1776.
With these instructions, you will receive a Com-
mission appointing you Captain of a Company in tht
pay of the Province, which is to be made up by
Draughts of thirteen men out of Each of the Com-
panys composed of James Burd, Hanse Hamilton,
James Patterson and Hugh Mercer, Esqr., to whom I
(63)
now send orders to make the Draughts accordingly,
and also a Commission appointing James Holloday
your Lieutent. You will, therefore, as soon as may
be after your arrival in Cumberland county, send an
officer with my Orders to the several Captains to
whom they are directed, to receive from them the
Draughts agreeable to my orders.
When you have formed your Company you are to
take iDost at McDowell's Mill, upon the road to the
Ohio, which you are to make your Head Quarters,
and to detach Patroling partys from time to time
to scour the woods, in such manner as you shall
judge most consistent with the safety of the in-
habitants. In ease any of the men you receive should
be unfit for service you are to pay & discharge them,
and inlist others in their stead, taking care to observe
the form of Inlistment prescribed to Capt. Potter, from
whom you will receive Copys of the papers necessary
to guide you in this particular.
You are to inform me from time to time of what
you do, and of everything material that happens ujDon
that part of the frontier, and of the number and Mo-
tions of any Body of French or Indians that you
shall receive intelligence of.
You are to apply to Mr. Adam Hoops, for the
Provincial allowance of Provision for the men under
your eomamnd.
Given under my Hand, this twenty-fifth day of
March, 1756. Indorsed: Orders of Instructions to
John Steel, Esqr., 25 March 1756.
REV. JOHN STEEL TO GOV. MORRIS, 1756.
May it please Your Honour:
Upon my Return to Cumberland County, I applied
immediately to Capt. Burd & Capt. Patterson, for the
draughts of their companies, according to your
Honour's instructions; But the time for which most
of their men had been Enlisted Being Expired, they
cou'd not fulfill your Honour's Orders.
Most of the Forts has not Receiv'd their full com-
pliment of Guns, but were in a great measure Sup-
(G4)
plied by the Arms the Youna: Men had brought with
them. Capt. Patterson had Receiv'd but thirty-three
fire-arms. Capt. Mercer has not so many, but is
Supplied by Mr. Croghan's Arms, & Capt. Hamilton
has lost a considerable number of his at the Late Skir-
mish beyond Sideling Hill. As I can neither have
the Men, Arms, nor Blankets, I am obliged to applv
to your Honour for them; the Necessity of our Cir-
cumstances has obliged me to muster, before two Mag-
istrates, the one half of my Company whom I En-
listed, and oblig'd to Borrow Guns. I pray that with
all possible Expedition, fifty-four fire-arms & as many
Blankets & a Quantity of flints may be sent to me, for
since McCord's Fort has been taken, & ye men de-
feated, yt pursued, Our Country is in the utmost eon-
fusion. Great Numbers have left the country & many
are preparing to follow. May it please your Honour,
to allow me an Ensign, for I find yt a Serjeant's pay
will not prevail with men to Enlist in whom much con-
fidence is to be Respos'd. I Beg Leave to Recommend
Archibald ErAvin to your Honour for this purpose. As
Mr. Hoops can give your Honour a particular Account
of the Late incursions of the Enemy, I need not ti'uble
your Honour with any Account of mine. I am your
honour's.
Most Obliged Humble Serv't,
John Steel.
Peters Township, in Cumberland, April 11th, 1756.
Directed: To the Hon. Robt. H. Morris, Esq.,
Governor of Pennsylvania, &c., favr of Adam Hoops,
Esq.
Indorsed : Letter from the Reverend Capt Steel to
the Gov, April 21, 1756.
(65)
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH SINCE ITS
FOUNDATION.
Rev. Sam'l Thomson, 1739 1745
Rev. Sam'l Caven 1749 1750
Rev. John Steel, .1764 1776
Rev. Sam'l Waiigh, 1782 1807
Rev. John Hayes, 1808 1814
Rev. Henry R. Wilson, 1814 1823
Rev. James Williamson, 1824. . . .1838
Rev. George Morris, 1838 1860
Rev. Wm. H. Dinsmore, 1861 1865
Rev. W. G. Hillman, 1866 1867
Rev. W. B. McKee, 1868 1870
Rev. R. P. Gibson, 1872 1875
Rev. T. J. Ferguson, 1878
RULING ELDERS OF THE CHURCH SINCE ITS
FOUNDATION.
1814. James Gregory, 1814. Walter Gregory.
Wm. Mateer, 1835. John Elliott.
Benjamin Anderson. Isaac W. Snowden.
William Bryson. John Mateer, Sen.
Thomas Fisher. Isaac Adams.
Andrew Carothers. 1840. Francis Eccles.
William Orr. Robert G. Young.
James Griffen. 1860. Charles Hyers.
John Clenendin. James Eckels.
James Graham. John Clendenin.
John Culbertson. Robert Bueher.
Samuel Adams. 1883. Wm. Irvine.
James Dunlap. W. H. Loose.
James Mateer. 1886. W. Jay Meily.
1901. Milton S. Mumma.
1902. Albert L. Brubaker.
(66)
DIAGRAMS SHOWING PEWHOLDERS IN
1829-1866, 1866-1884
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