PUBLIC LIBRART
ALITOR Lr:^'0.:'- AKD
Old Paxtang Church.
HISTORY
OF THE
SESQUI-CENTENNIAL
OF
PAXTANG CHURCH
SEPTEMBER 18, 1890.
Mathias Wilson McAlarney.
HARRISBURG, PA. : ,' ,' ;, ' / '
HARRISBURQ PUBLISHING COMPANY. " •> ' • . '
1890.
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.Harrisburg Daily Telegraph
Job Print.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Pastors of Paxtang, 11
Committees of the Churches, 18
Programme, 20
The Celebration, 29
lavocatiob by Rev. Dr. Eberiezer Erskine, 37
Scripture Lesson — Rev. Eugene L. Mapes, 39
Address of WeIco:ne--Rev. Albert B. WilHamsou, 43
Historical Address— William H. Egle, M. D., 51
" Presbyterianism in this Region"— Rev. William A. West, . 95
Address of General George R. Snowdeu, 121
From the Churches — Rev. Robert Cochrane, Olivet, 131
Rev. John L. McKeehan, Steelton, 135
Rev. Geort;e S. Duncan, Westminister, . ■ . . 140
Rev. I. Potter Hayes, Covenant, 143
Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D., Pine Street, .... 150
Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Elder Street, 155
Key. John H. Groff, Middletown, 162
Rev. Francis M. Baker, Dauphin, 1G6
Rev. George B. Stewart, Market Square, 171
Address of Mr. Joshua Williams, 181
"Characteristics of Early Presbyterians"— Address of Rev. Dr.
Nathan Grier Parke, 189
"Importance of the Country Church"— Address of Governor
James A. Beaver, 201
Address of Colonel Francis Jordan, 214
Address of Rev. James Elder, D. D., 216
Letter of Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson, .* . . 221
An Interesting Reminiscence, 224
P,ev. John Elder's Ordination Sermon, 229
2 Table of Contents.
Deed to Paxtang Glebe, 237
Master Allen's School, 257
Marriages by Rev. John Elder, 1744-1791, 260
Marriages by Rev. John Roan, 1754-1775, 268
Marriages by Rev. Jaro ^s R. Sharon, 1807-1839, 277
Baptisms by Rev. James R. Sharon, . 281
Communions in Paxtang, 1807-1839, 286
Dismissions from Paxtang, 1807-1839, 290
Deaths in Paxtang Congregation, 1807-1839, 292
Tombstone inscriptions in the Graveyard, 294
Biographical Notes, 329
Present Organization and Membership, 344
PREFATORY.
PREFACE.
There were three important outposts of education,
patriotism, and religion established in what is now
Dauphin county and along the Indian frontier in the
early years of the Eighteenth Century, by the Scotch-
Irish Presbyterians — Derry, Paxtang, and Hanover.
Derry Church was thus described by Dr. William H.
Egle in his "History of Pennsylvania," in 1876:
''On the line of the Lebanon Valley railroad, at
Derry station, stands a weather-beaten log edifice,
erected as early as 1729, the congregation having been
organized previous to 1725. It is located on what was
then termed, in the old Penn patents, the 'Barrens of
Derry.' The building is constructed of oak logs, about
two feet thick, which are covered over with hemlock
boards on the outside. The inside is in tolerable pres-
ervation, the material used in the construction of the
pews and floors being yellow pine, cherry, and oak.
The iron-work is of the most primitive and antique
description, and the heavy hand-wrought nails by
which the hinges are secured to the pews and entrance
doors are extremely tenacious and difficult to loosen.
The window-glass was originally imported from Eng-
land, but few panes, however, remain. In the interior,
pegs are placed in the wall, and were used by the
6 Preface,
sturdy pioneers to hang their rifles upon, as attacks by
the Indians in the Provincial days were of frequent
occurrence, and the?e is still to be seen many a hostile
bullet imbedded in the solid oak walls. The pulpit is
quite low and narrow, crescent shaped, and is entered
by narrow steps from the east side. Above it, on the
south side, is a large window, which contains thirty-
eight panes of glass of different sizes. The sash is
made of pewter, and was brought from England. The
communion service, which is still preserved, consists of
four mugs and platters of pewter, manufactured in
London, and presented to the church by some dissent-
ing English friends one hundred and fifty years ago.
At the main entrance lies a large stone as a stoop, which
is greatly worn by the tread of the thousands who have
passed over it. About thirty paces northwest stands
the session-house and pastor's study during the days of
public worship. The burial-ground is a few yards
north of the study, and is enclosed with a stone wall,
capped and neatly built. There is only one entrance,
which is at the center of the west side. The Rev.
Robert Evans, church missionary, ministered to the
congregation during its early years, having founded
the church. He died in Virginia, in 1727. Rev. Wil-
liam Bertram was the first regular minister. His re-
mains lie in the grave-yard, near the southwest corner.
He died May 2, 1746. His successor. Rev. John Roan,
is buried near by, dying in October, 1775. Many min-
Preface. 7
isters of note have preached at Derry, among whom
were the Rev. David Brainard, Rev. Charles Beatty,
and that galaxy of earl}^ missionaries, Anderson, Evans,
McMillan, Duffield, Gray, the Tennents, Carmichael,
etc," Since the time Dr. Egle wrote, 1876, there has
been erected upon the site of the old building a beauti-
ful modern structure of stone.
Of Hanover, he said :
"Nearly eleven miles from Harrisburg, on the Man-
ada, a tributary of the Swatara, are the remains of an
ancient stone structure, which, with the walled grave-
yard, are the only monuments of old Hanover church,
once prominent in the early history of our State. A
few years since it was deemed expedient to dispose of
the church edifice, (the building being in a tumble-
down condition,) the brick school-house, and other
property belonging thereto, the congregation having
long since passed away, for the purpose of creating a
permanent fund to keep the grave-yard in repair. It
was a plain, substantial, stone structure, corresponding
somewhat to the building at Paxtang. The original
name of the old Hanover church was Monnoday, (Man-
ada.) The first record we have is of the date 1735, al-
though its organization must have been some years
earlier. In that year Donegal Presbytery sent Rev.
Thomas Craighead to preach at Monnoday, and this
appears to be the first time the congregation was known
to that body. The year following, the Rev. Richard
8 Preface.
Sanckey was sent there, who for thirty years ministered
to that flock. Subsequently to the celebrated Paxtang
affair at Conestoga and Lancaster, the Rev. Richard
Sanckey, with thirty or forty families of his congrega-
tion, emigrated to the Virginia Valley, and Caj^tain
Lazarus Stewart, with an equal number, removed to
AVyoming, taking sides with the Connecticut intruders.
These immigrations cost the church most of its mem-
bers, and the county some of its most industrious and
intelligent citizens. In 1783, the Rev. James Snod-
grass, whose remains lie in the grave-yard, came to be
the pastor. For fifty-eight years he served the congre-
gation, and was its last minister."
The story of Paxtang, of its early struggles, the tre-
mendous power it wielded for freedom and religion be-
fore and during the revolution until the establishment
of the government of the United States, and the bene-
ficent influence it has continued to exert to the present
day, the reader will be told in the following pages.
M. w. M.
Harrisburg, Pa., Oct., 1890.
PASTORS OF PAXTANG.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 11
PASTORS OF PAXTANG.
172G-1732. Rev. James Anderson.
1732-1736. Rev. William Bertram.
1738-1792. Rev. John Elder.
1793-1796. Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden.
1799-1801. Rev. Joshua Williams.
1807-1843. Rev. James R. Sharon.
1845-1847. Rev. John M. Boggs.
1850-1874. Rev. Andrew D. Mitchell.
1875-1878. Rev. William W. Downey.
1878-1887. Rev. William A. West. (Supply.)
1887- Rev. Albert B. Williamson, (the present
pastor.)
PRELIMINARY.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 15
THE SESQUI-CENTENNIAL.
Paxtang Church, three miles east of Harrisburg, the
Capital of Pennsylvania, on the ridge which forms the
northern boundary of Paxtang valley, has been a his-
torical landmark since the first years of the eighteenth
century. Paxtang Church was the border house of
worship for nearly half a century, and for seventy-five
years congregations in it were not secure from the visits
of the savages of the forest. It was organized by the
Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who brought with their
poverty, intelligence, and thrift, a stalwart patriotism
and a stalwart Christianity that has distinguished Pax-
tang's parishoners through the greater portion of two
centuries. And the worshipers in Paxtang to-day are
the descendants of those whose godly zeal laid its
foundations and established its bounds more than a
century and a half ago. They have not all migrated.
They stand where God in his providence planted them.
They fled from persecution to the border of civilization,
carrying their catechism and their Calvanism with
them, and here they have abided faithful to their con-
victions and just as stout Presbyterians as when the
Reverend John Elder preached his ordination sermon
in 1738.
16 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Tradition has it that the first house of worship was a
log building; the second, and present building is of
stone, whose foundation corner was laid in 1740 —
one hundred and fifty years ago. An event that not
only deserved, but imperatively demanded, some recog-
nition at the hands of those upon whose heads the
blessings of a godly ancestry have descended in such
large measure.
Early in the present year representative men of the
church agitated the subject of a celebration, and on the
first day of March a letter appeared in the Harrisburg
Telegraph, from the pen of Mr. W. Franklin Ruther-
ford, discussing the age of the present house of worship,
and urging the propriety of celebrating the sesqui-cen-
tennial of the laying of the cornerstone. This was fol-
lowed by other newspaper articles concerning the
proposition, with the result that on the 18th day of
June a meeting of the Paxtang congregation was held
at the house of Mr. John B. Rutherford to consider the
subject. Rev. Albert B. Williamson, the present pas-
tor, presided, and Mr. Herbert Elder, acted as sec-
retary, nearly all the members of the congregation
being present. After those present had decided to
properly recognize the event, the sentiment being en-
thusiastic and unanimous, a resolution was adopted
as follows :
Resolved, That the one hundred and fiftieth anni-
PaXTANG rRESBYTERIAN ChURCH. 17
versaiy of the laying of the cornerstone of the present
Paxtang church be celebrated, the time and character
of the celebration to be determined after conference
with the churches of Harrisburg and vicinity, all of
which are children of Paxtang, and who may wish to
join in the celebration."
After the adoption of this resolution, W. Franklin
Rutherford, James Boyd, and Herbert Elder were ap-
pointed a committee of conference to bring the propo-
sition to the attention of the other churches. On the
9th of July the committee called a meeting of Paxtang
congregation, at the house of Mr. Abner Rutherford.
It reported that upon consultation with representative
men in the Presbyterian churches of the county, they
found them all heartily in favor of the celebration ; that
the matter would be laid before the congregations, and
that committees would doubtless be appointed to aid in
a general way in making the celebration worthy the
occasion. During the progress of the meeting a letter
was received and read from Rev. George B. Stewart,
pastor of the Market Square Presbyterian Church, of
Harrisburg, in which he announced that his Church
had appointed as a committee, Mr. Gilbert M. McCauley,
Mr. Charles L. Bailev, and Mr. David Fleming.
On motion of Mr. Abner Rutherford, (since deceased,)
all the ladies of Paxtang congregation were made a re-
ception committee, to which were added, under the
2
18 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
resolution, two ladies from each of the other congrega-
tions.
There was also appointed at the same meeting a
Committee on Decoration, consisting of Miss Elizabeth
M. Rutherford, Mrs. Louisa Yeomans Boyd, Mrs. Ada
B. Barber, Mrs. Albert B. Williamson, Miss Mary B.
Rutherford, and Mrs. Fannie Rutherford Elder.
Within the next few days the following joint com-
mittee was constituted, representing all the Presbyterian
churches in the county.
Paxtang — W. Franklin Rutherford, Francis W. Ruth-
erford, J. Addison Rutherford, Herbert Elder, find
Rev. Albert B. Williamson.
Derry — William K. Alricks, Henry L. Orth, M. D.,
and B. Dawson Coleman.
Market Square — Gilbert M. McCauley, Charles L.
Bailey, David Fleming, and Rev. George B. Stewart.
Pine Street — James McCormick, A. Bovd Hamilton,
J. Montgomery Forster, and Rev. George S. Chambers.
Covenant — John J. Craig, John M. Stewart, Samuel
H. Garland, and Rev. I. Potter Haves.
Westminster — John E. Patterson, David R. Elder, J.
Nelson Clark, M. D., and Rev. George S. Duncan.
Elder Street — Cassius M. Brown, Thomas J. Miller,
and Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong.
Steelton — Rev. J. L. McKeehan and Professor L. E.
McGinnes.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 19
Middletown — Mrs. J. W. Rewalt, Mrs. Charles Hen-
derson, and Rev. John H. Groff.
Dauphin — Jefferson Clark, J. Lewis Heck, and Rev.
Francis M. Baker.
On the 18th of July these committees met in joint
session and resolved themselves into a general commit-
tee of arrangements by the election of Mr. W. Franklin
Rutherford, Chairman, and Rev. George S. Chambers,
D. D., Secretary.
The following resolutions were then adopted :
Resolved, That in the judgment of this meeting, the
one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the laying of
the cornerstone of the present Paxtang church edifice
should be celebrated on September 18th, 1890, by suit-
able exercises in the morning and afternoon.
Resolved, That an invitation be given to the Presby-
terian churches in the vicinity of Paxtang to participate
in this celebration.
The following committees were then appointed :
On Programme — Rev. Albert B. Williamson, Rev.
George B. Stewart, Rev. I. Potter Hayes, and Rev.
George S. Chambers, D. D.
071 Invitations — Messrs. W. Franklin Rutherford,
James McCormick, and George B. Stewart.
On Finance — Messrs. Francis W. Rutherford, David
Fleming, and J. Edmund Rutherford.
On motion, Mr. James Addison Rutherford was ap-
20 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
pointed chairman of a committee on local arrange-
ments, with power to choose his associates.
On the 23d of July the Joint Committee increased
the Committee on Finance by the addition of one
from each of the churches not then represented on the
committee, as follows : Lemuel E. McGinnes, John W.
Rewalt, John E. Patterson, John Curwen,M. D., William
K. Alricks, J. Lewis Heck, and Cassius M. Brown. This
committee subsequently organized by electing Francis
W. Rutherford, President; J. Edmund Rutherford,
Treasurer ; and David Fleming, Secretary.
On the 10th of September the Joint Committee chose
the Rev. George B. Stewart, of the Market Square
Church, to serve as moderator during the celebration.
The Committee on Programme reported the follow-
ing, which was adopted :
1740-1890.
Sesqui-Centennial Celebration
OF THE
Laying of the Corner-Stone
OF THE
Present House of Worship
Paxtang Church,
Near Harrisburg, Pa.
September 18, 1890.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 21
Order of Exercises.
10 0^ clock.
Invocation, Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, D. D.
Hymn If.If.1.
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,
Our portion evermore.
Reading of Scrijiture, . . Rev. William A. McCarrell
Address of Welcome, . . Rev. Albert B. Williamson
Pastor of Paxtang Church.
History of Paxtang Church, . William H. Egle, M. D.
Hymn 575.
1 love thy kingdom, Lord !
The house of thine abode.
The church our blest Redeemer saved
With his own precious blood.
I love thy church, God !
Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye.
And graven on thy hand.
22 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
If e'er to bless thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skill forsake,
This voice in silence die.
Presbyterianism in this Regioii, . Rev. William A. "West
Churches descended froTn Paxtang:
Harrisburg, Olivet, .... Rev. Robert Cochrane
Steelton, First, .... Rev. John L. McKeehan
Harrisburg, Westminster, . Rev. George S. Duncan
Harrisburg, Covenant, , . . Rev. I. Potter Hayes
Harrisburg, Pine Street, Rev. Geo. S. Chambers, D. D.
Doxology.
Intermission — 12.30 to 2.30 o'clock.
2.30 o'clock.
Hymn 591.
Rise, my soul ! pursue the path
By ancient worthies trod ;
Aspiring, view those holy men
Who lived and walked with God.
Though dead, they speak in reason's ear
And in example live;
Their faith and hope and mighty deeds
Still fresh instruction give.
Lord ! may I ever keep in view
The patterns thou hast given.
And ne'er forsake the blessed path
Which led them safe to heaven.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 23
Churches descended from Paxtang:
Harrisburg, Elder Street, Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong
Middletown, First, Rev. John H. GrofF
Dauphin, First, Rev. Francis M. Baker
Harrisburg, Market Square, Rev. George B. Stewart
Characteristics of Early Presbyterian Preachers,
Rev. Nathaniel G. Parke, D. D
Importance of the Country CJiurch,
Governor James A. Beaver
Other brief addresses will be made by prominent Pres-
byterians.
Hymn 32.
All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall ;
Bring forth the royal diadem.
And crown him — Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
Ye ransomed from the fall !
Hail him, who saves you by his grace,
And crown him — Lord of all.
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng,
We at his feet may fall ;
We'll join the everlasting song,
And crown him — Lord of all.
Benediction.
24 Pax TANG Presbyterian Church.
There will be a restaurant on the grounds which will
furnish refreshments at reasonable prices.
Carriages will be in waiting at the Paxtang station
to carry passengers to the grounds.
Trains will leave Harrisburg at the Reading station
at 7.55 and 9.35, a. m.; 12, m.; 1.25 and 3.45, p. m.
Returning leave Paxtang for Harrisburg at 1.42, 3.05,
5.50, and 8.15, p. m.
Rev. George B. Stewart,
Moderator.
W. Franklin Rutherford,
Chairman of Committee of General Arrangements.
Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D.,
Secretary.
Francis W. Rutherford,
Chairman of Finance Committee.
Rev. Albert B. Williamson,
Chairman of Programme.
James McCormick,
Chairman of Committee on Invitations.
J. Addison Rutherford,
Chairman of Local Arrangements.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 25
The committee on invitations sent the following to
distinguished and representative Presbyterians through-
out the country :
Paxtang Church, Harrisburg, Pa.,
September 11, 1890.
Your presence is requested at the Sesqui-Centennial
of the laying of the corner-stone of Paxtang Presbyte-
rian church, to be held on Tuesday, September 18, 1890.
Exercises will begin at 10, a. m., and will continue
throughout the day, with an intermission at noon.
Trains will leave Harrisburg, on the Reading rail-
road, at 7.55 and 9.35, a. m., 12, m., 1.25, 3.05, and 3.45,
p. M.
James McCormick,
W. F. Rutherford,
Gilbert M. McCauley,
Rev. George B. Stewart,
ComTnittee.
Quite a number of those invited responded by their
presence, from others letters of regret were received,
among these were letters from President Benjamin
Harrison, Secretary Blaine, Postmaster General Wan-
amaker, Ex-Secretary of Internal Affairs J. Simpson
Africa, whose grandfather and grandmother were mar-
ried in 1776, by Parson Elder, Rev. Dr. Talmage, Na-
than EUmaker, of Lancaster, Rev. William H. McMeen,
who is a grandson of Pastor Sharon, and others.
THE CELEBRATION.
THE CELEBRATION.
The morning of the celebration opened bright and
beautiful; the clouds that had darkened the sky for
many days were no longer to be seen, the heavens were
blue, and the sun shown w\arm over the prosperous and
peaceful valley spread out below the hill on which Pax-
tang church was established as the vanguard of civiliza-
tion and religion nearly two centuries before. It seemed
as if providence recognized the day and smiled upon the
efforts of those who were about to honor themselves
by doing honor to those who through much tribula-
tion had built this house of God. The day was perfect.
The people accepted its beauty as a benediction.
One writer in describing the scene was led to say :
"It the ghosts of the old Paxtang Boys could have re-
visited the old church where they once worshiped,
they would have opened their eyes in astonishment
at the singular proceedings taking place. Nay, more,
they would have wondered at the strange metamorphosis
of the interior of the church wherein they were want to
join, in worship, and would have failed to recognize it
as the place where they had listened to their old
Calvanistic fathers expound good, hard Presbyterian
doctrine, as solid as the stones that form the walls of
30 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
the ancient edifice. And had they lingered in the
grove near the church during the day, they could
have joined in the singing and the praises and the
rejoicings among the people therein gathered, because
a hundred and fifty years ago the cornerstone of this
venerated church was laid, and in these latter days
it was accounted meet to appropriately celebrate the
event."
There were about one thousand people in the grove
before the exercises began, and these found pleasure and
interest in examining the plain but substantial structure
wherein the ancestors of many had worshiped, and
wherein, when attacked by the red man of the forest,
they had also found protection, in going about through
the old graveyard, where so early as 1716 the frontiers-
men found a last resting place, and in reading the epi-
taphs upon the old tombstones, among which is one
erected to the memory of that patriotic and eccentric
first Senator from Pennsylvania, the Honorable William
Maclay.
The chief interest, however, centered about the
church building. It is an unpretending stone structure
thirty-six by sixty-six feet, without ornament of any
kind, and has stood without change in its outward ap-
pearance for more than one hundred and fifty years.
The stones used in the construction of the walls are
rough limestone, and so irregular in size and shape
that a modern mason would pronounce them utterly
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 31
unfit for building ])urposes, and yet no firmer or better
walls can be found anywhere, and with the exception
of some slight changes, they remain as they were built
one hundred and fifty vears ago. Their strength
seems to lie in the mortar used, which is now as hard
as the stone itself, and the storms of time have so little
effect upon them that the marks of the mason's trowel
are as distinct to-day as when he finished the work.
The interior of the church had been made beautiful
with flowers and evergreens. On the wall back of the
altiirin evergreen numerals were the suggestive figures,
1740 — 1890, telling simply a sublime story of devotion,
end'irance, and loyalty. The young people, who, with
curious faces and eager glances, looked around the little
house of worship with its seating capacity of not more
than three hundred, could imagine little of the soul-
stirring scenes which had been enacted within those
same walls wdien it was not at all improbable that they
who went there for the Sunday morning service might
not live to return again to their homes. The pulpit,
from wall to wall, was banked with tropical plants,
ropes of evergreen, and fragrant clusters of summer
flowers. The altar was one mass of white dahlias and
smilax ; the baptismal font and deep window ledges
were entirely covered with geraniums and primroses.
Near the church was erected a large platform and
seating accommodations. The platform, with seats for
the speakers and choir, was most tastefully arranged.
32 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
The organ was banked with huge clusters of glowing
dahlias and smilax, arranged by some skillful hand,
and the several pillars were twined with evergreen
and golden-rod artistically combined.
There were seating accommodations for seven hun-
dred, but as the services were to be conducted in the
open air, many seated themselves upon the ground or
in the beautiful grove surrounding the church on all
sides.
Among those who were upon the ground during the
day, were the following : Rev. George Swain, D. D.,
Monmouth Presbytery, New Jersey ; Pev. F. J. Newton,
Ferozeore, North India, missionary ; Elder George W.
Reed, Chambersburg; W. D. Means, Middle Springs
church; Captain W. PI. Mackey, Central church, Cham-
bersburg ; and John A. Rutherford, of Paxtang ; James
McCormick, of Harrisburg; Ralston Dickey and wife,
Oxford church ; R. C. McNeill, Steelton ; Alexander G.
Rutherford, Philadelphia; A. Boyd Hamilton, Esq.,
Harrisburg; A. J. Forster, Philadelphia; Hon. J. M.
Forster, Harrisburg; Dr. Hiram Rutherford, Oakland,
Illinois; Rev. James Elder, Elder's Ridge, Indiana
county. Pa.; John J. Nissley, Hummelstown; James
McClure and wife, Chester county ; Judge A. 0. Hiester,
Susquehanna, Pa.; James Boyd, Harrisburg; Rev.
Robert F. McClean, New Bloomfield; Rev. George W.
Snyder, Harrisburg ; Rev. Albert Bowman, Harrisburg ;
Rev. Charles Asay, Brickerville, Lancaster county. Pa.;
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 33
Pev. John H. Moyer, Huminelstown ; Mr. Robert Bucher
and Mr. James Ralston, elders in Mechanicsburg church ;
Rev. Thomas J. Ferguson, pastor of the old Silver Spring
church near Hogestown ; Mr. W. F. Willis, elder in the
church of New Bloomfield, Perry county ; Prof. Jacob F.
Seller, Major William C. Armor, E. W. S. Parthemore,
Mrs. Sarah Doll, a grand-daughter of Rev. John Elder,
Harrisburg; Judge David W. Patterson, Lancaster;
Auditor General Thomas McCamant, Colonel Frank
Mantor, Meadville ; Captain John B. Rutherford, Pax-
tang; Rev. Willliam M. McMeen, a Professor in the
Charlotte University, North Carolina, and Thomas
Ellmaker.
The Opening Services.
At ten o'clock, a. m., the services were opened by the
singing of the hymn :
Stand up, and bless the Lord,
Ye people of his choice ;
Stand up, and bless the Lord your God
With heart, and soul, and voice.
Though high above all praise.
Above all blessings high,
Who would not fear his holy name,
And laud and magnify ?
34 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Oh, for the living flame
From his own altar brought,
To touch our lips, our souls inspire,
And wing to heaven our thought.
God is our strength and song.
And his salvation ours ;
Then be his love in Christ proclaimed
With all our ransomed powers.
Stand up, and bless the Lord ;
The Lord your God adore ;
Stand up, and bless his glorious name,
Henceforth, forevermore!
I
INVOCATION.
!
INVOCATION.
Kov. Ebenezer Erskine, D. D., of Nevvville, offered
an invocation as follows:
Almighty and Eternal God, our Heavenly Father :
We would recognize Thee this day as our God and the
God of our fathers. We would bless thy name for all
thy i)ast goodness to us as a people. Thou hast been our
dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains
were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth
and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting.
Thou art God.
We thank Thee for thy immediate providence
which has been over us, and that thou hast brouirht us
together here this day on this historic ground to com-
memorate thy goodness to the church, and to our fath-
ers in this land.
We humbly invoke thy divine presence with us
this day, and thy blessing upon us. We beseech Thee
that thou wilt grant unto us the presence and the in-
fluence of the Holy Spirit. May thy blessed spirit il-
lume all our minds and sanctify our hearts, and fill us
with love to Thee our covenant God and Saviour. And
we beseech Thee that thou wilt preside over all the
deliberations of this day and of this service.
38 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Grant that all may be for the glory of thy name,
and for the instruction and edification, and comfort of
thy people here assembled.
And grant. Almighty God, to bless us as we are here
before Thee this day, and as we call to mind thy good-
ness in the generations that are past ; thy faithfulness
to thy promises and to thy covenants, that thou wilt
keep us as a people ; and help us to renew our covenant
with Thee, and our consecration unto Thee.
Lord, bless this thy church, and these thy people,
and thy servant, their pastor, and all that is connected
with them. And grant thy blessing on all the people
assembled here at this time ; and grant that Thy name
may be honored, and all may be profited.
And unto the Father, and the Son, and thy blessed
Spirit, we would ascribe all the praise forever. Amen.
The congregation then united in singing hymn No.
441.
" O 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.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 39
Such blessings, from thy gracious hand,
Our humble prayers implore;
And thou shalt be our chosen God,
Our portion evermore."
The Scripture Lesson.
Rev. Eugene L. Mapes, of the First Presbyterian
Church, Carlisle, then read parts of the 90th, 91st, and
93d Psalms, concluding with the verses " The Lord
reigneth, he is clothed with majesty ; the Lord is
clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded him-
self: The world also is established, that it cannot be
moved.
" 2. Thy throne is established of old : thou art from
everlasting.
"3. The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods
have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves-
" 4. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of
many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
"5. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becom-
eth thine house, Lord, forever."
May the Lord give us his blessing, brethren, with
this the reading of his Holy Word ; and to his name
be all the glory. Amen.
40 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
The Moderator, Rev. George B. Stewart, then said:
" If we are not descendants of Paxtang, we are trying
to make it out so here to-day ; and if we cannot all say
that we are natives of this place, we are trying, per-
haps, to claim that we are natives of the neighborhood.
And it is a great deal more popular than it was in
1740 to be a native of this place. As I gather in read-
ing the history, the pastor and members of this church
were not in the habit of giving the natives such a cor-
dial reception as their successors are likely to give us
to-day. The pastor then was in the habit of taking his
gun into the pulpit, and the members of the church
kept their rifles conveniently nigh in order to warmly
receive those who claimed the soil as their native
heath.
"But to-day the pastor of this church will give us a
. cordial reception, much more gratifying and interest-
ing to us, I am sure, if not more hearty than that
which the pastor one hundred and fifty years ago
would have given to others. It is, therefore, with
pleasure that I introduce to you — though he needs no
introduction— the Rev. Albert B. Williamson, who will,
in the name of this congregation, welcome this audi-
ence."
Rev. Albert B. AViiliamson, the pastor of Paxtang
church, then addressed the assemoly.
ADDRESS OF MR. WILLIAMSON.
ADDRESS OF IMr. WILLIAMSON.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies, Gentlemen, and Fellow-
Citizens : I am happy to have the privilege of meet-
ing, of greeting, and welcoming you back to old Paxtang
on this auspicious occasion.
It is well for us to be here to-day to rejoice in the
memories that cluster around the illustrious heroes that
have gone forth from this dear old church and com-
munity to bless the State and country at large.
It is to commemorate the deeds of a glorious ancestry
that we are met here to-day, not because they were our
ancestors, but because by this commemoration we may
possibly instill into the minds of young men, upon whom
the responsibilities of the Government and of defending
religious liberty are soon to rest, ideas which will nerve
them to come up to those responsibilities with more of
patriotic fervor and more of religious zeal than was
possessed by them before they came back here on this
commemorative day.
Dear friends, we are glad to welcome you back to the
dear old home, where your forefathers lived, wrought,
worshiped God, fought, bled, and died. You who have
gone forth from our midst, and have made new homes
for yourselves in all sections of this broad land of
44 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ours, are permitted to-day to behold the house that
your fathers built to the honor and glory of God one
hundred and fifty years ago. There she stands, as dear
to us as our own right hand, and her walls as solid and
firm as the day they were laid.
These venerable old oaks have grown gray in their
service of standing here like sentries to protect her from
the stormy blasts of winter through these long, long
years ; and if they could onl}'^ speak to-day they would
have an attentive audience, because they could tell of
solemn, stirring, pathetic and sorrowful things, as well
as joyful scenes. The}^ have seen the day when this
church could not contain its members who came to
partake of the Lord's Supper, and when a goodly por-
tion of them had to seek shelter from the noon-day sun
under their wide branching arms, while the elders
served them with the elements. The}^ have also seen
the Indians skulking behind neighboring trees, watch-
ing for a favorable opportunity to shoot down the
worshipers of God.
We welcome j^ou back to-day not to look at the
trophies of war taken by our fathers in their conflicts
with the Indians, such as tomahawks, scalping knives,
and bows and arrows ; but to look at the venerable old
church — for she has grown more beautiful in her old
age than she ever was in her youth, — and to behold
not a dense forest here, as there w^as when her walls
Paxtaxg Presbyterian Church. 45
were laid, but a land well cultivated, and flowing with
milk and honey.
If you look around to-day you will see not only what
has been done, but also what we are doing now. You
will see that this old historic spot is being laid out in
wide avenues, and large lots of one acre each, so that
there will be room for fine drives and beautiful man-
sions; that we are perpetuating the old name by call-
ing it Paxtang, and are keeping fresh in memory
the names of our illustrious dead by naming the
avenues after them. As you all can see, the first
avenue to the south is called Sharon, in honor of the
pastor who served here from 1807-1842; and next
Brisbin avenue, after the man who was captain in the
Revolutionary war. These are only two of many other
names.
But, dear friends, I would not have you ignorant con-
cerning one thing. Do not suppose that because there
was no Harrisburg, with her forty thousand, and
Steelton with her ten thousand, and many other large
towns around, as there are here now, that this place
was a howling wilderness when our fathers worshiped
here. I know you will be surprised when I tell you
that in the years 1752-3 the Presbyterian population
of Dauphin county was nearly what it is to-day, and
every one of them a Scotch -Irishman, too. But some
of them rested here only for a while. The cry of
"Westward, ho!" was raised, and they pressed onto-
46 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
wards the setting sun to found for themselves new
homes in the American forests beyond.
From this congregation, as a mother hive, her child-
ren have swarmed from time to time. Those swarms
lingered not around the old mother hive, but went off
and formed new colonies. At first the human stream
flowed southward through the Cumberland and Kit-
tatinny Valleys to the Carolinas of the South. Then
the stream turned toward the West, and there they be-
came founders of new and prosperous communities and
States in the growing westward empire, and their in-
fluence and that of their descendants is felt to-day
throughout all the West, even to the Golden Gates of
the Pacific.
Of those that went South North Carolina retained
the most, and there they dominated during our late
war. They were the men who were largely instru-
mental in delajdng hasty action. But when the issue
was joined ; when " wild war's loud alarm was sounded ; "
when the gods of war had loosed their fiercest dogs, they
united with their brethren in the great struggle; they
doubted the policy and the result, for the}'^ believed it
an unequal struggle; but when it came for men to
suffer, and bleed and die, they answered every roll call.
But I will not keep you longer from the rich feast
that will come from the minds of those on this plat-
form — from men more eloquent than I can possible be.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 47
Again, I give you all a hearty welcome back to old
Paxtang Church. [Hearty applause.]
Moderator Stewart. And we are glad to be here.
There can be no question in our minds but what in
the selection of a historian for this occasion, their
ought to be chosen one who by his gifts, his tastes,
and his acquirements, is qualified best for treating the
subject, which is the most important one of the day ;
and, therefore, the committee have selected one wlio
stands pre-eminent in all these regards relative to our
local history. It gives me pleasure to introduce to
this audience one so well known to you all as a fellow-
citizen and as a historian, Dr. William H. Egle, who
will to-day give us a resume of the history of "Paxton"
church. [Applause.]
ADDRESS OF WILLIAM H. EGLE, M. D.
GLIMPSES OF THE HISTORY OF OLD
PAXTANG CHURCH.
Before I proceed to deliver these glimpses of the
history of this ancient congregation, permit me to en-
ter my protest against the orthography of the name on
the printed invitation and programme. The corrup-
tion of the name Paxtang should not be continued. It
is a clerical mistake in more senses than one. If others
have committed the error, why shall we perpetuate it.
Give us the good old Indian name, Paxtang, and not
the English surname, Paxton — however much we may
admire some who bear that patronymic.
Friends of Paxtang: It is well "to remember the
days of old " — to call to mind the history of a people
such as we have been summoned to do this bright au-
tumnal noon, within the shadows of an edifice made
memorable by age, and by the sacred associations
which cluster around it. We do not come to celebrate
misty traditions which have floated down to us on the
stream of time, but the real achievements of pioneers in
American religious and civil history. For one hundred
and fifty years has prayer been made and praise been
offered in this old stone meeting-house, and as thought
goes out to the saintly men who ministered to the
52 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
generations here, it seems as if some portion of the
subtle essence of all the soul-longings for heavenly-
help and guidance which here has been breathed forth
by righteous men and pious women during these many
decades, has entered into the very fabric of this ancient
church and thus sanctified it. Happy are that people
who, having a noble history, treasure it; and with this
inspiration for mind and heart, we come to do rever-
ence here.
The first settlers in all this neighborhood, with but
one exception, came from the north of Ireland — the
province of Ulster. They have been termed the Scotch-
Irish — Scotch planters on Irish soil. "They call us
Scotch-Irish and other ill-mannered names," wrote
good old Parson Elder, but that epithet of reproach
has become the synonym of a people characteristic of
all that is noble and grand in our American history.
Recently published works, the authors of which are
not worthy being named in this connection, have de-
nounced the Scotch-Irish as a race, without reference
to authority or facts. The reproach and opprobium
thus cast upon the ancestors of the people who did so
much for the improvement and prosperity of the Prov-
ince of Pennsylvania, and for the defense of civil and
religious liberty, as well as for the free institutions and
the independence of the Republic, are at variance with
all that is generally received as matter of historical
truth. The accusations and reproaches, if unfounded.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 53
ought to be refuted, and the character of the men who
deserved well of society and their country should be
vindicated.
But so much has been said of the Scotch-Irish race,
that at this time we will only incidently refer to that
people. The " Planting of Ulster " with the Scotch settlers
is an important epoch, in not only the history of Ireland,
but in the establishment of Presbyterianism. Their
life in that country' was rendered as brief as it was
memorable by the rapacity and greed of landlords, by
the " test act," which deprived them from holding
any public office, and by the petty annoyances of
prelacy. Wonder we then, that, in the early part of the
eighteenth century, many of the counties of the north
of Ireland were emptied of their Scotch inhabitants.
Wearied out with exactions, ecclesiastical courts, and
the deprivation of their civil rights, they came to
America for a wider breathing space — that America
which was opening wide its doors, and especially the
Province of Pennsylvania, where there was less of the
spirit of intolerance than in any of the colonies. Here
they found a home — here all men were equal under the
law. Is it surprising, therefore, that the Scotch-Irish
should have prospered on this soil ? Our grand old
Common wealtli owes much of vvdiat she is to-day by
and through the settlement of that sturdy race — and
I am not ashamed to say it — albeit I claim another
ancestry and another faith ; and like my friend, the
54 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Governor of the Commonwealth, am only Scotch-
Irish through my children. But the historic facts
are apparent to all who read. In the struggle for popu-
lar rights, the Scotch-Irish are ever to be found on the
side of the people ; and as we go on, we find that here, as
elsewhere, in the period of great events, they rise up as
leaders — characterized by boldness, energy, integrity,
morality, and religious fervor, although at times with
a bigoted and belligerent spirit. Can I say more ?
Yes ! But we must proceed.
The first Presbyterian ministers who preached here,
were Gillespie, Evans, Boyd, and Anderson. The first
named was born at Glasgow in 1683, and educated at
the Universit}'- there. He was licensed by the Presby-
tery in 1712, came to America, and was ordained May
28, 1713, having received a call from the people of
AVhite Clay Creek. Red Clay, Lower Brandywine, and
White Clay seem to have formed his charge for several
years. He organized the congregation at the head of
Christiana, which he served until his death in 1760.
The Rev. Francis Alison, who knew him, called him
" that pious saint of God." As early as 1715, Mr. Gil-
lespie missionated as far as Paxtang. The country was
sparsely settled — possibly not more than five or six
families north of the Swatara — but these, with the ex-
ception of John Harris, an Indian trader, were Scotch -
Irish Presbyterians.
The Rev. David Evans, of Welsh birth, was ordained
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 55
November 3, 1714, and became pastor of the Welsh
tract, in New Castle county, Delaware. In 1719 he
went into the Great Valley, Chester county, and in
1720 regularly supplied the people of Tredyffrin, and
was sent by the Presbytery to the Octorara,* forks of
Brandywine, and Conestoga, extending his ministra-
tions "to Donegal and beyond," to what subsequently be-
came the bounds of Paxtang and Derry churches.
Upon the appointment of Rev. Adam Boydf to the
pastorate of Octorara — the far western bounds, "Done-
gal and beyond," were confided to him. This was in
172-4, when a small log meeting-house had been pre-
viously built not many feet south of the present stone
building. Then the devout Anderson, of Donegal, fol-
lowed and labored, as the tide of Presbyterianism
rolled westward — and from this time onward, until the
thunders of the Revolution reverberated along these
valleys, the tramp and tread of the Scotch-Irish army
continued.
Prior to 1722, the following, with their families,
were members of what was shortly after Paxtang con-
* Samuel Evans, of Lancaster, says : "This was commonly called Mid-
dle Octoraro, it is in Bart township, Lancaster county, it was organized
in 1726, and in October, 1727, the Rev. Adam Boyd was ordained
pastor, and he gave the congregation one sixth of his time."
fRev. Adam Boyd was born in 1692 at Ballymoney, Ireland, and
emigrated to New England in 1723 as a probationer. In July, 1724,
he was received under the care of New Castle Presbytery and sent to
Octorara. He died November 23, 1768.
56 Paxtang Presbyteeian Church.
gregation ; Thomas Gardner, Samuel Means, David
McClure, Thomas Kyle, James Roddy, Alexander
Hutchinson, William Maybane, Robert Brown, Samuel
Smith, Joseph Kelso, Sen., and Thomas Simpson. Flee-
ing from civil oppression, in their new homes it is not
suprising that these people hastened to manifest their
thankfulness to God, and their sincerity and regard
for their privileges under a government of free institu-
tions, by erecting a " meeting-house," dedicated to His
holy service. Around this log structure were the
graves of the early pioneers, but these remained un-
marked. Seventy years ago, it is stated on the best of
authority, there was a rudely chiseled head-stone, with
the date of departure, 1716 ; which simply proves that
this revered spot was chosen for the worship of God at
that early period. In gathering up the fragments of
the history of Paxtang Church, it is to be regretted that
the minutes of the Presbytery of Philadelphia from
1717 to 1733 are declared lost ; while the minutes of
New Castle Presbytery from its organization in 1716
to the constituting of Donegal are not to be found, al-
though we have the assurance that they were in exist-
ence in 1876. It is well to guard the early records of
the Church, but why refuse examination of them to
those making historic researches ? The truthful histo-
rian knows full well what to use and what to omit, and
if my Presbyterian friends will not allow those outside
the pale of their ministry to go over the early records
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 57
of the Presbyteries of Philadelphia, New Castle, and
Donegal, they should place them in the hands of some
faithful co-laborer who knows what to edit and what
to let alone. In the history of institutions, as well as
of individuals, there may be blots which ought to re-
main so forever.
By direction of New Castle Presbyter}^ the Rev.
James Anderson,* in 1726, gave one fifth of his time to
Paxtang, and in 1729, commenced to supply Derry
regularly, one fifth being there allowed — leaving Don-
egal but three fifths.
On the 11th of October, 1732, the Presbytery of Don-
egal was constituted out of a portion of the Presbytery
of New Castle. The meeting was held at Donegal
church. The ministers present were, Messrs. Anderson,
Thomson, Boyd, Orr, and Bertram. Mr. Thomson was
elected moderator, and Mr. Bertram clerk. The first
item of business brought before the new Presbytery of
Donegal was in relation to Paxtang and Derry. These
churches having united in a call to the Rev. William
Bertram, which had been placed in his hands at the
last meeting of the then " old " New Castle Presbytery.
George Renick and others of Paxtang and Derry ap-
peared and required an answer thereto. Mr. Bertram
accepted, and was installed November 15, 1732, at
* For a full sketch of the Rev. James Anderson, and a record of his
descendants, see " Pennsylvania Genealogies," [under "Anderson of
Donegal."
58 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Swatara, the original name of Derry Church. Thomas
Forster, George Renick, William Cunningham, and
Thomas Mayes were appointed for the Paxtang side,
and Rowland Chambers, Hugh Black, Robert Camp-
bell, John Wilson, William Wilson, James Quigley,
William McCord, and John Sloan for the Derry side,
to assist Mr. Bertram in congregational affairs until the
erection of a formal session.
At the meeting of Presbytery at Upper Octorara,
September 6, 1733, " Mr. Bertram presented a list of
men nominated by the congregations of Paxtang and
Derry to be set apart for ruling elders. Presbytery
ordered that they be again published, and intimation
given that if any objection be made against any of them,
said objection be given in due time."
The amount of subscription to Mr. Bertram's salary
does not appear, but the congregation, in addition
thereto, made over to him and his heirs their " right
and title to the plantation commonly called ' The In-
dian Town,' purchased from the Indians."
Hitherto, and until 1736, Paxtang and Derry were
considered simply as two branches of the same congre-
gation ; this arrangement was unwieldly, and gave rise
to various disputes and misunderstandings about finan-
cial matters. They had fallen into arrears with Mr.
Anderson, and were ordered no less than five times, at
as many different meetings of Presbytery, "to pay up;"
difficulty was experienced in getting all parts of the
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 59
congregation to contribute their just dues towards the
repairs of Mr. Bertram's house, and to defray the ex-
penses of a law-suit about certain sawed plank or
boards. These and other troubles of a like nature were
a source of annoyance to both congregations, as well as
to Mr. Bertram ; so much so that at Nottingham, October
9, 1735, Mr. Bertram and his elders united in asking
Presbytery to appoint a committee ''to go into and
reason with the people of said congregations and inquire
into their circumstances, as to their ability to be sepa-
rated into two distinct bodies and support themselves,
in order that Mr. Bertram, being eased of part of his
burden, may be able to go on with more comfort in the
discharge of his duty to whichever part of said people
he shall be determined to continue with."
A committee was appointed and reported to Presby-
tery November 20, 1735. Accompanying their report
they presented a supplication from the session asking
for a division, and that their bounds might be fixed.
At the same time, Lazarus Stewart prosecuted a suppli-
cation from Manada Creek (Hanover) for a new erection.
The subject of a separation between Paxtang and Derry
was postponed from one Presbytery to another, until
finally on the 2d of September, 1736, it was agreed to.
So popular was Mr. Bertram with his people that both
parties were anxious to secure his services, Paxtang
engaging to pay for his yearly support sixty pounds,
"one-half in money, the other half in hay, flax, linen
60 Paxtang Peesbytekian Church.
yarn, or linen cloth, at market price." Derry prom-
ised fifty-five pounds, to be paid in like manner. Mr.
Bertram was perplexed, and asked for time to consider.
Presbyter}'^ gave him to the next meeting of Synod,
which took place on the 16th of September. Owing
probabl}^ either to the location of his farm, or the ex-
tent of the church glebe, he chose Derry, and Paxtang
was declared vacant. From this date, until December
22, 1738, the congregation was supplied by Messrs.
Sankey, Alexander, Craven, and Elder.
In 1729, the Synod passed "the adopting act," by
which assent to the Westminster Confession of Faith
was required by all members of the Synod, and of
all candidates for admission to the Presbyteries. This
confirmation of a principle had its opponents, and it
is in connection with this, that we find, in the year
1736, mention of this congregation in the confirmatory
act or declaration which seems at least for the time to
have produced general satisfaction. In the minutes for
that year it is recorded, that, " An overture of the com-
mittee, upon the supplication of the people of Paxtang
and Derry, was brought in, and is as followeth: That
the Synod do declare that inasmuch as we understand
that many persons of our persuasion, both more lately
and formally, have been off"ended with some expres-
sions or distinctions in the first or preliminary act of
our Synod for adopting the Westminster Confession
and Catechism, etc.; that in order to remove said of-
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 61
fense and all jealousies that have arisen or may arise
in any other people's minds on occasion of said dis-
tinctions and expressions, the Synod doth declare, that
the Synod have adopted and still do adhere to the
Westminster Confession, Catechisms, and Directory,
without the least variation or alteration, and without
any regard to said distinctions. And we do farther
declare this was our meaning and true intent in our
first adopting the said Confession, as may particularly
appear by our adopting act, which is as follows : ' All
the ministers of the Synod now present [which were
eighteen in number,] except one who declared himself
not prepared, after proposing all the scruples that any
of them had to make against any articles and expres-
sions in the Confession of Faith and larger and shorter
Catechisms of the assembly of divines at Westminster,
have unanimously agreed in the solution of those
scruples, and in declaring the said Confession and Cat-
echisms, to be the Confession of their Faith, except
only some clauses in the twentieth and twenty-third
chapters, concerning which clauses, the Synod do
unanimously declare, that they do not receive those
articles in any such sense as to suppose the civil magis-
trate hath controlling power over Synods with respect
to the exercise of their ministerial authority, or power
to persecute any for their religion, or in any sense con-
trary to the Protestant succession to the throne of Great
Britain.' xVnd we do hope and desire, that this, our
62 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
synodical declaration and explanation ma}'- satisfy all
our people as to our firm attachment to our good old
received doctrines contained in the said Confession,
without the least variation or alteration, and that they
will lay aside their jealousies, that have been entertained
through occasion of the above hinted expressions and
declarations as groundless. This overture approved
nemine cooitradiceiite."
On the 22d of December, 1738, the Rev. John Elder
was ordained and installed the pastor of Paxtang
congregation, (having served over a year as a supply,)
at a salary of sixty pounds, and so for a period of fifty-
five years went in and out before the people minister-
ing to their spiritual wants. For that duration of time,
(over half a century,) the history of this church and
of its pastor is a part of the history of the Province
of Pennsylvania, and in order to be brief, permit me
simply to summarize the leading events. Some of
these are of great moment, but not at this time and
place will more than a passing glance or review be
made.
Within the church in common there transpired much
also of interest. Although from the period referred to,
(1738,) the growth was truly phenomenal — not only of
Paxtang, but of Presbyterianism in general, yet the
harmony of the governing bodies began to be inter-
fered with, owing to the fact that " its ministers were
from different countries, where to some extent different
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 63
modes of thinking on the same subjects prevailed.
The points on which the difference of opinion chiefly
developed itself, were the examination of candidates
for the ministr}^ on experimental religion, the strict ad-
herence to Presby terial order, and the amount of learn-
ing to be required by those who sought ministerial of-
fice. These subjects were discussed with great, and fre-
quently with intemperate, zeal in the different Presby-
teries." Two distinct parties were now formed. Those
who were more zealous for orthodoxy — for the rigid
observance of Presbyterial rule, and for a thoroughly
educated ministry, were called the " Old Side," while
those who were more tolerant of departures from ec-
clesiastical order and less particular in respect to other
qualifications for the ministry, provided they gave
evidence of vital piety, were called the "New Side" or
"New Lights."
As might be expected, there was a growing necessity
for the education of the ministry, and the result was
the establishment of the College of New Jersey by the
Synod of New York — first at Elizabeth town, in 1746 ;
removed the following year to Newark ; and thence to
Princeton, in 1757. The "Old Side" patronized the
academies of New London and of Newark, in Delaware,
under the Rev. Francis Alison and Rev. Alexander
McDowell, and also the academy and college of Phila-
delphia. The rivalry between these literary institutions
64 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
served to render more intense the mutual hostility of
the two parties.
In 1739 the celebrated Whitefield paid his second
visit to America. In connection with his labors, a great
revival ensued, the friends of which in the Presbyterian
church were chiefly with the "New Side," while the
^'Old Side," or strict Presbyterian, perceiving some
really censurable irregularities in the active friends
and promoters of the revival, pronounced the whole a
delusion. This brought on the crisis. The controversy
waxed more and more violent until 1741, when the
church was rent into two parts, the "Old Side" consti-
tuting the Synod of New York.
Soon after Mr. Elder began his labors in Paxtang, it
was found that the old log structure was insufficient,
and steps were taken toward the erection of the present
building. It stands about twenty feet back from the
site of the original meeting-house, and was begun in
the 3^ear 1740. It was several years before completion,
and was occupied for a long time as a house of worship
with neither floor nor pews; seats made of logs hewn
on one side were used by all the people excepting the
family of the pastor, who occupied a settee. The origi-
nal meeting-house for many years was used as a retir-
ing and session house by Mr. Elder, and late in life so
deferential were the congregation to their revered min-
ister, that on his passage from this building to the
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 65
stone church, and upon retiring, all heads were un-
covered and bowed.
Although we stated on a former occasion that the
Rev. Mr. Bertram remained pastor of Derry congrega-
tion until his death, in 1746, we find, that owing to ill-
health, he relinquished the care of that people, and in
the latter part of 1745 the Rev. John Roan came to be
its minister. It was not, however, until the year 1754
that the dissensions between Old and New Sideism re-
sulted in the division of the congregations at Paxtang
and Derry : although both Roan and Elder had pre-
viously drawn the lines. The Rev. Mr. Elder and a
large majority of his people adopting the " Old Side"
views, remained in possession of the property. The
" New Side" people of Derry, being in a majority at
Derry, with their pastor, the Rev. John Roan, " held
the fort" at that place. The " New Side" portion of
Paxtang took sides with Roan, while the " Old Side"
members of Derry clung to Elder. This full}' explains
the following call to the Rev. Mr. Elder, of the date of
26th September, 1754, and signed by one hundred
and twenty-eight communicants of Derry and Paxtang :
" To the Reverend Mr. John Elder :
"Sir — We, the inhabitants in the Township & Con-
gregation of Paxtang & Derry, Being now Destitute of
a settled Gospel minister amongst us ; Being also Deeplj'-
Sensible of the great loss & Disadvantage we & ours
may sustain, In regard of our souls & spiritual Con-
66 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
cerns by our living in such a Condition in this Wilder-
ness ; & having had Sufficient Proof of, & being well
pleased & satisfied with the ministerial abilities &
qualifications of y'u, the Revd. Jno. Elder, Do unani-
mously Invite and Call y'u to take the Pastoral Care
& oversight of us. Promising all due subjection, sub-
mission & obedience to the Doctrine, Discipline &
Government & Ordinances Exercised & administered
By y'u as our Pastor in the Lord. And that y'u may
be the Better Enabled to attend upon y'r Pastoral &
ministerial work amongst us, without Anxious and
Distracting Cares about y'r worldly Concerns, We Do
hereby Cheerfully Promise & Engage to take Care of
y'r Support and maintenance for an Honourable &
Creditable manner Suitable to & befitting y'r Honour-
able Function & office as a Minister of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ amongst us ; Knowing that the Lord hath
ordained that they who Preach the Gospel should live
by the Gospel."*
In testimony of all w'h we have hereunto Subscribed
our Names This 26th of September, 1754.
Thos. fiforster. David Walker.
Wm. Armstrong. Robert Chambers.
John Harris. Moses Dickey.
Thos. McArthur. William Stoe.
James Wallace. Thomas Simpson.
*This Call is in the possession of the Dauphin County Historical
Society.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
67
James Collier.
Thomas Dougan.
Henry McKinney.
Andrew Stephen.
John Bell.
John Morrow.
Henry Renick.
John Johnson.
Oliver Wyllie.
Samuel Simpson.
Thomas Renick.
Patrick Montgomery.
Richard Cavit.
William Bell.
Thomas King.
Edward King.
Robert Montgomery.
John Wiggins, jr.
James Gilchrist.
James Mitcheltree.
John Neal.
William Hannah.
John Carson.
James Drummond.
Samuel Hunter.
Alex. Johnson.
George Gillespy.
Patrick Gillespy.
David Ration.
James Potts.
Joseph Wilson.
John McCormick.
John Cavit.
James Galbraith.
Robert Wallace.
John Harris.
James Foster.
James Freeland.
Robert Armstrong.
Hugh Wilson.
James Wilson.
Robert Chambers, jr.
Arthur Chambers.
William Reney.
Robert McCallen.
John Hutchison.
Charles McClure.
Hugh Black.
Robert Snodgrass.
Thomas Black.
Jean Black.
Wm. Laird.
Matthew Laird.
Elizabeth Park.
William Harris.
Robert Gilchrist.
68
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
John Gilchrist.
William McAlevy.
John Foster.
David McClanochan.
David Reany.
John Craig.
John Wyllie.
Thomas Mays.
Hugh Hays.
Andrew Moore.
David Foster.
John Hays.
Henry Walker.
John Walker.
John Walker.
James Walker.
Hugh Carothers.
James Carothers.
James Williamson.
Samuel Galbraith.
Hugh McKillip.
Matthew Cowden.
James Houston.
James Tom.
John Starling.
Andrew Hannah.
Peter Corbit.
Wm. Kerr.
Joseph Kerr.
John Gray.
William Wilson.
Michael Whitley.
Thomas Alexander.
Valentine Stern.
Andrew Houston.
Alex. Johnston.
Samuel Stephenson.
Thomas Rutherford.
Mathias Taylor.
Stephen Gamble.
Alex'r Mahon.
Chas. Clarke.
Mary Mcllvain.
James Harris.
Samuel Shaw.
Thomas Aikens.
Th. Strean.
Thomas McClalen.
William Brison.
John McClintock.
James Davis.
James Rodgers.
Hugh Rodgers.
Joe McNut.
Widow Rodgers.
Seth Rodgers.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 69
Joe Snoddy. David Jamison.
Robert Harris. Robert Walker.
Wm. Galbraith.
The " New Side" people of Paxtang secured two acres
of land about two miles east of this, and immediately
erected thereon .a rival church, at which, and that at
Derry, Mr. Roan continued his labors until his death,
in 1775. At the same time a new impetus was given
to immigration southward and westward. When this
stone building was erected in 1740, and for ten or
fifteen years following, the church was crowded with
devout worshipers. This locality was full of young
people, active, intelligent, and enterprising. The re-
ports, however, of unsettled lands, lying far distant,
painted the south and west as being more beautiful in
their solitariness than Paxtang had been, and the chil-
dren of the Scotch-Irish settlers, like their ancestors,
sought a new home in the lovely valleys beyond the
Susquehanna, and among the rich lands of A^irginia
and the Carolinas. As a matter of course, coupled with
the dissensions previously mentioned, the congrega-
tions of Paxtang and Derry were seriously crippled.
The minutes of Donegal Presbytery from September
28, 1745, to June, 1747, and from October 9, 1750, to
June 5, 1759, having been lost, while Mr. Elder's private
papers, being also lost or inaccessible, it is somewhat
difficult to trace the history of Paxtang during this
period, probably the most trying one in its existence.
70 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Then followed the French and Indian war, when
pastor and people were called upon to defend their
homes against the blood-thirsty savage. Then it was
that this house became not only a place of worship to
Almighty God, but a retreat from the inroads of the
marauding red man and a dwelling-place of mercy
and a refuge from storm. " Many a family mourned
for some of their number shot by the secret foe or car-
ried away captive. Their rifles were carried with them
to their work in the field and to the sanctuary. Mr.
Elder placed his trusty piece beside him in the pulpit.
Death often overtook his flock as they returned to their
scattered plantations. In 1756 the meeting-house was
surrounded whilst he was preaching, but their spies
having counted the rifles, the Indians retired from their
ambuscade without making an attack." On another oc-
casion, in the same year, they came for the purpose of
attacking the worshipers in church, but by mistake
they arrived on Monday instead of Sunday, and after
waiting several days, finding they were discovered, left
the settlement by way of Indiantown Gap, murdering
a number of persons on the Swatara and carrying off
several prisoners.
In the winter of 1763-64, transpired the " Paxtang
Boys " affair — the wiping out of a nest of murder-ma-
rauding Indians at Conestoga and Lancaster — and
which created such a " hub-bub " in Quakerdom, that
more pamphlets and broadsides were called forth, than
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 71
any one episode in Pennsylvania history. In this con-
troversy, the pastor and people of Paxtang became in-
volved. The story is a long but interesting one, and
there is a "rod in pickle" for some recent historians
who cannot distinguish between an arrant falsehood
and the plain truth.
On June 22, 1764, at a meeting of Presbytery held
at Derry, Mr. Elder and four other ministers declared
their intention to cease from active membership in the
judicatory. This decision was not acted upon by Synod
until May 19, 1768, when they were joined to the
Presbytery of Philadelphia, so that for about a pe-
riod of four years Paxtang was not represented in any
of the church courts. The trouble arose out of the old
party feeling of the " Old " and " New Sides," which,
notwithstanding the union, was still rampant in the
Presbyteries.
Shortly after came on the war of the Revolution, and
the men of Paxtang, who had taken an earl}^ Resolve
for Independence, went into the conflict with heart and
soul — and from Boston and Quebec, down to the close
of the struggle at Yorktown — they fought, bled, and
died for Liberty. In all the wars which have rent the
land, Paxtang was a nursery for heroes, and God grant
that the generations coming on may ever emulate the
patriotic spirit of their gallant ancestors.
Upon the formation of Carlisle Presbytery, in 1786,
Paxtang was joined thereto, and has remained in that
72 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
connection ever since. After the death of Mr. Roan,
October 2, 1775, Paxtang and Derry were again united
solely under the charge of Mr. Elder. The congrega-
tion at Harrisburg, formed April 12, 1787, was added
to Mr. Elder's charge, as was also the New Side branch
of Paxtang.*
* The following papers are very important in this connection :
On Thursday, April 12th, 1787, during the sessions of the Presbytery
at Carlisle, a representation and petition of a number of the inhabitants
of Harrisburg and others in the township of Paxtang was laid before
Presbytery and read. The said representation sets forth that these peo-
ple desire to be considered as a Presbyterian Congregation, and to have
supplies appointed them by the Presbytery ; and that in order to pro-
mote peace and harmony between them and the Paxtang congregation,
some proposals had been made to, and considered, though not accepted
by that congregation, a copy of which was also laid before the Presby-
tery. Mr. Elder also gave a representation of the state of the case as
concerning these people and Paxtang congregation. The Presbytery,
upon considering the case, agreed to propose the following articles to
the consideration and acceptance of those people, which may have a
tendency to preserve peace and union in that part of the Church :
1. That Harrisburg shall be considered as the seat of a Presbyterian
Church, and part of the charge of the Rev. John Elder, in which he is
to preach one third of his time.
2. That Mr. Elder's salary, promised by the congregation of Paxtang,
shall be continued and paid by the congregation in common, who shall
adhere to these two places of worship, viz : Paxtang and Harrisburg.
3. That the congregation thus united may apply for, and obtain sup-
plies as assistant to the labors of Mr. Elder, to be paid by the congre-
gation in common.
4. That when the congregation may judge it proper, they shall have
Paxtang Tresbyterian Church. 73
On the 17th of July, 1792, the Rev. John Elder laid
by the armor of this earthly life, and entered upon his
eternal rest. Born in the city of Edinburgh, January
26, 1706, he was educated at the University there,
a right to choose and call a minister as a colleague with Mr. Elder, to
officiate in rotation with him.
" Dr. Davidson and Mr. Waugh are appointed to attend at the church
in Lower Paxtang, on tLe last Tuesday in May next, to moderate and
assist in the above matter."
On the 19th of June, 1787, Dr. Davidson and Mr. Waugh reported to
Presbytery at Big Spring, that their appointment at Paxtang had been
fulfilled, and that the following articles had been agreed to by Mr.
Elder and his congregation, at Harrisburg :
1. That the congregation shall have two stated places of public wor-
ship, the one where the Rev. Mr. Elder now officiates, the other in
Harrisburg,
2. That the Rev. John Elder shall continue to have and receive dur-
ing his life or incumbency, all the salary or stipends that he now enjoys,
to be paid by his present subscribers, as he and they may agree, and
continue his labors in Derry as usual.
3. That for the present the congregation may apply to the Presbytery
for supplies, which, when obtained, the expenses shall be defrayed by
those who do not now belong to Mr. Elder's congregation, and such as
may think proper to join with them ; and should such supplies be ap-
pointed when Mr. Elder is to be in Paxtang, then he and the supply
shall preach in rotation, the one in the country, and the other in town.
But should Mr. Elder be in Derry, then the supplies shall officiate in
town.
4. That the congregation when able, or they think proper, may in-
vite and settle any regular Presbyterian minister they or a majority of
them may choose and can obtain, as a co-pastor with Mr. Elder, who
shall officiate as to preaching in the manner specified in the third pro-
posal.
74 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
studied divinity, and in the year 1732 was licensed
to preach the Gospel, although he did not come into
the Presbytery of Donegal until October 5, 1737, and
then as a licentiate from the Presbytery of New Castle.
However that may be, he came to America following
his father's family, in the year mentioned, and yet his
only pastorate was that of Paxtang. He was a man
whose whole life reads like a romance. I regard him
as the most prominent figure in our early provincial
history. He towered far above all men in the era in
which he lived, and his name and fame will long en-
dure. The heroes of New England are but pigmies
compared with this giant. Whether we view him as a
minister of the Gospel, as a brave soldier, or in civil
life — or yet as a thinker and a man of intellectual
powers — his personality was extraordinary. There was
something in his life which called forth an enthusiastic
and passionate devotion — in a few words, he was a
grand old man, an honor to the Church of Christ and
to the race of men ! If this era does not take care of
him, futurity will — for if any man was born a leader,
it was the Rev. John Elder, of Paxtang. His descend-
ants of four generations are with us to-day, to do
reverence to the church of their fathers.
Upon the death of Mr. Elder, Paxtang congregation,
after hearing various candidates, finally united with the
Derry and Harrisburg churches in a call to the Rev.
Nathaniel R. Snowden, of Philadelphia, each agreeing
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
75
to pay him fifty pounds per annum.* He was installed
pastor, October 2, 1793, but finding, in 1706, the labor
of attending to three congregations too great for his
bodily strength, he relinquished Paxtang and Derry, re-
taining Harrisburg, which he served satisfactorily for
*The following is a copy of the original subscription list — but it com-
prises only the names of those present at the congregational meeting
held on the 7th of March, 1793 :
We the under subscribers do each of us promise to pay annually the
sums annexed to our names, to the trustees of Paxtang congregation,
or the collectors appointed by them, as a salary due to the Rev. Mr.
Snowden, for the one-third part of his labors amongst us, and while he
continues a regular preaching pastor in said congregation and we mem-
bers of it. Given under our hands this seventh day of March, A. D.
1793.
£.
s.
d.
£.
s.
d.
James Caldwell, .
. 1
2
6
Jacob Awl, . . .
. 2
5
John Means, . . .
.
15
John Rutherford, .
. 1
15
John Willson, . .
. 1
5
William Smith, . .
. 1
15
William Calhoun,
.
15
James Cowden,
. 1
10
Richard Carson, .
. .
15
Josiah Espy, . . .
. 1
10
Joshua Elder, . .
. 2
Thomas McArthur,
. 1
2
John Elder, Jr., .
. . 1
2
6
Barbara Walker, .
.
7
6
John Gilchrist, . .
. 1
Mary Peacock, . .
.
1
G
Alexander McCay,
.
8
4
James Cochran, .
. 1
Thomas Forster, .
. 1
17
6
John Wilson, Jr.,
. 1
10
William McRoberts,
.
15
Andrew Stephen, .
.
17
G
Richard Fulton, .
. 1
5
James Johnston, .
.
IG
8
Thomas Brown, .
.
18
9
William Boyd, . .
.
8
4
William Wanless, .
.
10
Adam Barbe, . .
. .
10
Daniel Brunson, .
. .
17
6
Alexander Mahargue
>, .0
15
Alexander-.WilIson,
. 1
5
William Kerr, . .
. . 1
15
76 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
many years.* Mr. Snowden was a profound theologian,
a faithful minister of the Gospel, and greatly beloved by
his people. We are honored to-day by the presence of
* Letter Sent to Presbytery in 1795.
Paxtang, Odr. 5, 1795.
" To the Revd. Presbytery of Carlisle about to convene at Marsh Creek
in the County of York :
" Whkreas, Mr. Snowden has signified to Ws congregation in Derry
Township that he is no longer able to officiate in his Ministerial capacity
to them on acct. of Inability of body, & that he purposes to apply to
Presbytery for a Discharge from said congregation which we conceive,
if he might be indulged in his Request, wou'd leave the congregation
of Paxtang in a very distressing & Perilous Situation ; that the two con-
gregations have lived for many years past in perfect peace, friendship
and unanimity, and that we do not wish for a schism between us now ;
that if the union is once broke there will be no probability of us being
united again ; that if Mr. Snowden is rendered incapable of undergoing
the fatigue of the three congregations in less than three years in the
prime of life, by all probability he will not be able in a short time to
attend to two congregations, and of consequence we shall be lefc with-
out a pastor and the means of giving a call to another. We, therefore,
pray to be considered as united with Derry, and that if Mr. Snowden
should insist on being disunited from them, that Presbytery will appoint
a committee of their body to enquire into the matter before anything
decisive may take place ; and that the majority of this congregation'
how much soever they may be attached to Mr. Snowden, wou'd rather
he should leave us as he found u?, than submit to a dissolution of the
union subsisting between us.
" By order of a meeting of Paxtang congregation.
"John Rutherford,
-' "Joshua Elder."
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 77
his distinguished grand-son, Major-General George R.
Snowden, of Philadelphia.
One of Paxtang's children, resident in the west, pres-
SuppLiCATiON Sent to Presbytery, 1796.
" Paxtaxg, JarVy, 1796.
" To the Moderator of Carlisle Presbytery about to meet at Big Spring :
'• By order of the Committee of Presbytery which sat a', Paxtang the
3d of Nov'r last, the Congregation of Paxtang was notifyed the last
Sunday but one which we had meeting that the sense of the Congrega-
tion wou'd be taken on the next Sabbath whether we wou'd adhere to
Harrisburg & break the Union with Derry, or whether we wou'd con-
tinue the Union with Derry & break off with Harrisburg. Accordingly
after sermon last Sunday the heads of families were desired to attend,
and after the business was explained to them, we proceeded to take the
votes of the People, & it appeared that a Majority of the Congregation
was for continuing the Union with Derry and relinquishing Harris-
burg ; they likewise chose the bearer Capt'n John Rutherford as their
Commissioner to wait on Presbytery with this Remonstrance, praying
that Presbytery wou'd grant us Supplies & dissolve the Congregation of
Paxtang from their Obligations to Mr. Snowden & that he might discon-
tinue his labors to them unless ordered to supply them as any other
Gentleman.
Supplication Sent to the Presbytery of Carlisle, 1796.
"Paxtang, Sept. 3, 1796.
" The Reverend Presbytery of Carlisle :
" Gentlemen,— Whereas we are now destitute of the Gospel Ordi-
nances being regularly administered to us, and what few supplies were
alloted for us at the last Presbytery we fell short even of these on ac-
count of the age and inability of one of the members appointed to sup-
ply us ; We, the subscribers, in behalf of this Congregation who met for
that purpose do most earnestly beg and entreat that Presbytery would
78 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ent here to-day, says of Mr. Snowden : " Those of Pax-
tang congregation whose memories run back sixty
years, will remember as an occasional visitor, this very
be pleased to grant as many Supplies as they can with convenience ;
we likewise wish that if there be any young or unsettled members be-
longing to Presbytery these might be sent to us that we might have an
opportunity of the Gospel once more regularly established and admin-
istered in all the forms thereto belonging ; and your Supplicants as in
duty bound shall ever pray."
Appeal of the Paxtang Congregation to the Moderator.
" Paxtang, Oct. i, 1797.
" To the Moderator of the Reverend Presbytery of Carlisle :
" Sir, — We again acknowledge our dependence and renew our request
in praying Presbytery to give us such and as many supplies during the
winter season as they can with convenience. The bearer, Mr. James
Rutherford, is appointed our Commissioner to present this remonstrance
to Presbytery and to answer such interrogatories as may be required of
him.
" Signed in behalf of Paxtang congregation by
"Joshua Elder."
Letter to the Moderator op Carlisle Presbytery, 1798.
'•Paxtang, Sept. 25, 1798.
" To the Moderator of Carlisle Presbytery :
" Sir, — The bearer, Edward Crouch, is our commissioner, appointed
by the congregation of Paxtang to wait on the Reverend Presbytery of
Carlisle with a call for the Reverend Joshua Williams for the one-third
of his labors in union with Derry, whom we expect will apply for the
remaining two-thirds ; likewise to solicit the Presbytery to gram us
Supplies in the meantime. Signed in behalf and with the approbation
of the congregation by Joshua Elder."
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 79
worthy gentleman. In his sixties he looked hale and
vigorous, grey eyes, iron grey hair, a full face, and
weight one hundred and sixty pounds. The writer
remembers his voice as strong and sonorous, and that
he delivered his words with measured deliberation. He
never failed to state to his auditors two facts. First. That
Philadelphia was the place of his birth; and secondly,
that he had heard Independence bell ring on the
morning of July 4, 1776."
A call was then given to the Rev. Joshua Williams,
who accepted the same, and he was ordained and in-
stalled October 2, 1799, Derry to receive two thirds of
his time and pay one hundred and twenty pounds, and
Paxtang one third and pay sixty pounds. This pas-
torate only lasted one year and eight months, ending
on the 30th of June, 1801. Mr. Williams seemed to
have had trouble collecting his stipends, for we find him
complaining to Presbytery, in 1803, about his salary
arrears. The moderator was directed to write to these
churches and say, "that if these arrearages are not dis-
charged before the next meeting of Presbj^tery, that
body would be under the disagreeable necessity of with-
holding from them that attention and regard which
they pay to churches under their care." This did not
have much effect, for we find them still unpaid in Sep-
tember, 1805. A grand-son of his, Col. Joshua Williams,
of the city of Minneapolis, has come to do reverence
here to-day.
80
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
On May 29, 1807, Mr. James R. Sharon was installed,
looth congregations agreeing to pay the same salary as
that promised to Mr. Williams.
In 1808, the "meeting-house" and "retiring-house"
were put in thorough repair.* The latter, built about
*As a matter of interest to their descendants, now widely scattered,
we give the names of those contributing thereto :
£
s.
d.
■ £
s.
d.
Eobert Elder, . .
. 3
15
Sarah Wilson, . . -
1
2
6
James Cowden,
. . 3
15
John Forster, . . .
. 1
10
Edward Crouch, .
. 3
15
Charles Chamberlain,
15
Elizabeth Gray, .
. 1
2
6
John Ross, ....
9
4J
John Gray, ....
. 1
5
Michael Simpson, . .
1
10
John Wiggins, . . .
. 1
17
6
Jean Carson,
7
6
James Rutherford, .
. 2
5
Joseph Burd
2
5
Samuel Sherer, . .
. 1
17
6
Robert Gray, . . . .
1
10
John Gilchrist, . .
. 1
10
Thomas Walker, . .
17
6
Samuel Rutherford,
. 1
10
William Caldhoon, .
1
William Rutherford,
. 1
10
John Rutherford, . .
15
Robert McClure, .
. . 1
10
Michael Simpson,
6
John Richey, . .
. . 1
17
6
James Awl, ....
.0
7
6
Thomas Smith, . .
. . 2
5
Joseph Burd, . . .
2
5
Susanna Rutherford,
.
11
3
David Patton, . . .
1
2
6
Thomas Elder, . .
. 1
10
Robert Gray, . . ' -
1
10
John Carson, . .
. .
10
Thomas Walker, . .
.
17
6
Josiah Espy, . . •
. 1
10
John Walker, . . .
17
6
James Awl, . . .
. . 1
2
6
Jacob Richards, . .
1
10
John Allison, . .
. .
17
6
Jean Wilson, . . .
1
5
James Cochran, .
. .
15
Frederick Hatton, .
11
3
Ann Stephen, . .
. .
15
William Calhoon, . .
1
John McCammon,
.
15
John Finney, . . . .
10
Mary Fulton, . .
. . 1
17
6
Joseph Wilson, . . .
. 1
2
6
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
81
the period of Mr. Elder's decease, was a small log build-
ing near the church, used for meetings of session, and
as a study by the pastor during the interval between
the morning and afternoon service, and on week-da3^s
as a school-house. The " repairs " at this time consisted
partly in the running up two board partitions, thereby
creating a vestibule at each end, with the audience-
room in the center. The partitions were of yellow pine,
as was also the ceiling, which was placed in position at
this time. The pews were left standing in the western
vestibule, and were remaining within the memory of
some of the present congregation. There was little
uniformity in the Paxtang pews of that day, as each
had been built by the family occupying it, and by their
own architect. Two huge ten-plate stoves were placed
in the long aisle, the smoke from which ascended
through pipes to the loft, and made its escape as best it
could through a small hole in the comb of the roof.
Mr. Sharon was a man of eminent piety, and was
greatly beloved by this people. His pastorate covered
a period of almost thirty-six years, and ended only with
his life, April 18, 1843. During these years the gospel
Mary Rutherford, . .
.
7
6
William Whitely, .
.
12
6
William Larned, . .
. 1
David Stewart, . .
.
15
James Stewart, . . .
.
15
Thomas McCord, .
.
15
Joshua Elder, . . .
. 3
Elizabeth Wills, .
. 1
10
Thomas Buffiugton, .
.
15
Hugh Stephen, . .
.
15
Jehu Elder, . . . .
6
. 1
10
John Rutherford, .
. .
15
82 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
of peace reigned, and little is left for the historian but
to record the fact.*
My venerable friend, Dr. Hiram Rutherford, to whom
I am much indebted for information relating to the
''long ago," gives me these recollections of this devoted
minister : " The tall, lank figure of Mr. Sharon was one
of the fixtures and features of Paxtang, sixty years
ago. His soft, white, delicate skin, blue eyes, dark
hair, narrow chest — his soft, weak but clear voice, hack-
ing cough, etc., marked him as one short for this world.
Yet he was punctual in his duties, preached good, sen-
sible sermons, attended all christenings, marriages, and
funerals. With all odds against him, he lived his three
score and ten, and at last was gathered to his fathers,
ripe for the harvest, with eternal 'sunshine on his head.'
His residence was in Derry, and he usually came up to
Paxtang of a Saturday evening. In winter he wore a
dark colored overcoat, with a moveable cape. His
lower limbs were cased in velveteen (dark) overalls, or
as then called, cherre-valles. Mounted on his chestnut
sorrel horse, with riding whip in hand, and that hand
and arm at an angle of forty-five, he moved over the
road at a steady jog trot, mile after mile, a slender,
gaunt figure, so unique, that he was recognizable as far
*Mr. Sharon preserved a full record of his ministerial acts — marriages,
baptisms, admissions, and dismissions — which is printed in the Ap-
pendix to this volume.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 83
away as he could be seen. At recess he staid in the
log study house, generally alone, and in his passage
thence to the church, he always carried his spectacles
in his hand, greeting but few as he passed, with eyes
bent on the ground before him. Then the loud call of
Mr. Jordan would be heard, ' Mr. Sharon has gone in.'
I have heard my father speak of Mr. Elder's passage
under similar circumstances from the study house to
the church. Mr. Elder was an austere man. As he
emerged from the log building he carried in his hand a
book, with his fingers among the leaves, and his eyes
fixed ten feet ahead of him. With measured, deliberate
steps, he looked neither to the right or left, and greeted
no one on the way."
On October 1st, 1844, the Presbytery of Carlisle met
at Paxtang. A call was placed in the hands of Rev.
John M. Boggs, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Done-
gal. Mr. Boggs accepted, but asked that his ordination
be postponed until the spring meeting, in order that he
might attend the Theological Seminary at Princeton
during the winter. His request was granted, and he
was ordained April 9, 1845, and installed soon after as
pastor of Paxtang and Derry. His pastorate was un-
eventful, and was dissolved on October 6, 1847.
The field was now vacant for a period of more than
two years, during which time extensive alterations and
repairs were made. The whole inside of the building
was removed, the western door and the small window
84 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
back of the pulpit walled up, new shingles placed upon
the roof, and a floor laid throughout the entire building,
the halls and ceiling plastered, the pulpit taken down
from its perch on the north wall, and a new one placed
at a much lower elevation against the western wall
New pews of modern style and uniform character were
built, and the old pulpit, pews, and furniture, which
had been in use since Mr. Elder's time, were sold at
public auction.
On September 28th, 1849, a call from Paxtang and
Derry was placed in the hands of Rev. Andrew D.
Mitchell, Paxtang promising three hundred dollars and
Derry two hundred per annum. Mr. Mitchell accepted,
and was ordained and installed April 10, 1850. Mr.
Mitchell was a single man when he accepted these
charges, but married a few years afterwards. Hitherto
Paxtang had never needed a parsonage. Mr. Bertram
lived near Derry on his farm ; while Mr. Elder and Mr-
Sharon, who had occupied the field for a century, were
both practical agriculturalists and lived on their farms •
and Mr. Boggs was unmarried. It now, however, be-
came necessary to provide a house for Mr. Mitchell, and
the present parsonage was erected, and was occupied by
him during the remainder of his pastorate, which ended
February 12, 1874. Near the close of Mr. Mitchell's
pastorate the inside of the church was partly remodeled
and arranged pretty much as it now stands.
In November of the same 3^ear (1874) a call was made
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 85
out for the Rev. William W. Downey by Paxtang,
Derry having died out. Mr. Downey accepted, and
was installed April 29, 1875. In 1878 this pastorate
was dissolved, and the congregation for several years
was acceptably supplied by the Rev. William A. West
of Harrisburg.
On the 16th of June, 1887, having previously accept-
ed a call, the Rev. Albert B. Williamson, a graduate of
Princeton Theological Seminary, was ordained, and
continues in the pastorate.
Intimately connected with Paxtang Church was the
school which flourished from the earliest times down
to the establishment of free schools in Dauphin county.
It was never under the control of the church as an
ecclesiastical body, but the same men who composed
the congregation were the patrons of the school, and
the building itself was the property of the congregation.
It may therefore fairly be considered as an appendage of
the church, and the old masters stood next in rank and
dignity to the clergyman. Here flourished such men
as Francis Kerr, Joseph Allen, Benjamin White, James
Couples, Francis D. Cummings, and others celebrated
in their day and generation as educators, and from
whose instructions went forth many young men after-
wards distinguished in every walk of life.
Originally the congregation owned a tract of twenty
acres in the shape of a paralellogram, whose length was
about three times its width. Nearly forty years ago *a
86 Paxtang Presbyterian Church,
portion of this tract was sold, leaving a square of six
or eight acres, covered largely with forest-trees, among
which are several giant oaks that were doubtless trees
when Columbus landed on the shores of America.
Near the center of the tract stands the church, the par-
sonage occupies the southeast corner, and between the
two lies the graveyard. In early times no distinct
limits were set to the burying-ground, and the people
buried their dead anywhere, according to their fancy,
in the clearing to the south and southeast of the church.
Graves were seldom marked, and a few years obliterated
all trace of them. As families became permanent and
the number of these graves increased, more care was
taken, tombstones began to be erected and lots fenced
in. The want of uniformity, however, in these fences,
and of regularity in the selection of lots, rendered the
grounds very unsightl}^, as well as very difficult to
keep clear of weeds and briers. This state of affairs
existed until 1791-92, when the ground was inclosed
by a stone wall, the greater portion of which is still
standing. This wall does not by any means include
all the graves of Paxtang. It did, however, surround
all that were marked by tombstones or protected by
fences. In 1819 a new roof was placed upon the wall ;
the contractor was Matthew Humes. The ground en-
closed had very nearly all been buried over once, and
some of it twice before the wall was erected. In course
of time, therefore, it became impossible to dig a grave
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 87
without disturbing the remains of several of the un-
known and forgotten dead. The old south wall was
(then) taken down, and during the summer of 1852
the grounds were extended ninety feet, and the whole
covered with wood, and so it stood until the summer of
1882, when the wall was again repaired, and a new
roof of wood placed thereon.
This church building is the oldest house of Presby-
terian worship in the entire State of Pennsylvania. It
has seen the revolution of years carrying away the
generations of men, their habitations and their churches.
Although the benches and the desk speak of modern
origin, yet the doors hang upon the solid posts in unison
with the stone walls, and while as now the storms of a
century and a half have left their marks, give no signs
of speedy decay.
And now, my friends, after this summary of events
transpiring in old Paxtang for one hundred and
seventy years, let us go into yonder God's Acre, far older
than the church itself. With our greatest American
poet — Longfellow :
"I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls
The burial ground God's Acre I It is just ;
It consecrates each grave within its walls,
And breathes a benison o'er the sleeping dust."
In my boyhood days there was over the entrance, on
a semi-circular board these lines :
"Persons entering this consecrated ground are en-
88 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
treated not to walk or stand upon the graves or grave-
stones — such to the living are sacred."
Bearing this injunction in mind, we will simply look
over the wall, for there is not a foot of ground where
the dead lie not. To the left of the entrance and to-
wards the north side are several generations of Elder ;
to the east rest the remains of Parson Elder of blessed
memory, — in the northwest corner his sons Colonels
Joshua and Robert Elder, both men of mark in the
Revolutionarv era. East from this, not far from the
center, rest the remains of John Harris, the founder of
Harrisburg ; and near by those of his son-in-law, Wil-
liam Maclay, Senator from Pennsylvania in the First
Congress of the United States. Close by and around
the latter are those of his sons-in-law. Dr. John Hall
and William Wallace. A little to the south of Elder's
grave rest the Montgomerys, one of the oldest families
in Paxtang; and on a line with them and to the south
are tlie remains of Andrew Stewart and his wife Mary
Dinwiddle, sister of Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia.
They were the ancestors of the Reverend John Stew-
art, who, notwithstanding his early teachings by his
Covenanter father, accepted ordination at the hands of
the Established Church, returned to America under the
auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gos-
pel in Foreign Parts, missionated among the Mohawks
in the Valley of the Hudson, became a loyalist during
the Revolution, and from him have descended several
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 89
of the most prominent personages in Canadian history.
East of this line of graves is that of Thomas Ruther-
ford, the ancestor of all the clan, many of whose de-
scendants remain steadfast to the principles and wor-
ship of old Paxtang Church — and one of whom, [Abner
Rutherford, who died September 2, 1890, aged 76] the
sturdiest oak of all, has recently fallen in the battle-
storm of life; while farther east are the remains of
William Brown, to whom the United Presbyterians are
indebted for bringing to this country those staid old
Covenanters Dobbins and Lind. Between these are
the remains of Captain Crouch, Captain Cowden, and
a little to the south those of Robert Gray, Captain Bris-
ban. General Michael Simpson, and other heroes of the
Revolution who fought and bled in defense of liberty.
Eight generations lie in that myrtle-covered grave-
yard, and yet they represent only a fraction of those
who once worshiped in this place. The thousands
who sought homes in the wide expanse of our glorious
heritage, took deep inspiration here, and the influences
for godliness which from this church have gone forth,
will not be known until the Resurrection morn. This
congregation may wander away, and this building pass
into decay, but the teachings of the saintly men Avho
have here gone in and out, will live on, forever, and
forever!
90 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
While Dr. Egle was speaking, the wooden supports
of the. benches gave evidence of weakness, and an omi-
nous cracking sound caused the people to arise very
quickly. A witty western elder present notified the
moderator that "It is evident that modern planks are
not those of which Presbyterianism is made of." Later
on, when the seats again broke, Moderator Stewart
said : " We are bound to be descendants to-day."
Moderator Stewart. If you will leave those seats
about five minutes, the carpenter will have them re-
paired, and everything made firm. There are some
advantages in having planed boards ; but I think our
ancestors, who sat on slabs, sat on firmer seats. [Re-
newed laughter and applause.]
The audience sung a hymn, No. 575.
I love thy kingdom. Lord !
The house of thine abode,
The church our blessed Redeemer saved
With his own precious blood.
I love thy church, God !
Her walls before thee stand.
Dear as the apple of thine eye,
And graven on thy hand.
If e're to bless thy sons
My voice or hands deny,
These hands let useful skill forsake.
This voice in silence die.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 91
For her my tears shall fall ;
For her my prayers ascend ;
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.
Be3''ond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows.
Her hymns of love and praise.
Sure as thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield.
The brighter bliss of heaven.
Moderator Stewart. This is Paxtang's day, of
course. We all understand that there were Presby-
terians here, and they were noble people ; but they had
neighbors, and those neighbors were most excellent peo-
ple. It is well for us on this occasion to remember these
neighbors, with whom they lived in peace, and whom
they highly regarded. It was therefore deemed appro-
priate by the committee that something should be said
of the Presbyterianism of this region outside of Paxtang ;•
and they have asked Rev. William A. West, the stated
clerk of this Presbytery, than whom no more fitting
person could have been selected to speak on this topic.
Therefore, we will ask Rev. Mr. West to now address us
on the subject of "Presbyterianism in this Region."
ADDRESS OF REV. WILLIAM A. WEST.
PRESBYTERIANISM IN THIS REGION.
The character of a church, of a community, of a peo-
ple must necessarily be conditioned largely by the
original make-up of that church, community, people ;
the character of their early leaders and the influences
thrown around them during the plastic and formative
period of their history.
It were to be expected that among a people with
such antecedents as theirs, and having had a leader-
ship such as that enjoyed by the early Presbyterians of
this region, there would be found those excellencies and
virtues which afford at once beauty and strength of
character. Theirs was a Presbyterianism of a type
quite distinctive — not liable to be neutralized and lost,
but possessing power to perpetuate itself. They were
men and women of clear views, which they held in-
telligently. They had strong convictions which made
them ready to speak and to act, when occasion de-
manded, with decision and promptness. With them
every principle and every measure had to be weighed
in the balances of right and wron^, as held by them.
This was the standard by which was fixed the seal of
approval or disapproval. In the strength and manli-
ness of their characters they would have scorned to
recognize the easy-going doctrine of expediency, which
96 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
helps so many men over the rough places to-day in
business, in politics, in religion. This regard for the
principle of right constituted the groundwork of what is
so often laid to their charge as characteristic obstinacy.
They were obstinate. There is no denying this. But
theirs was no mere willful obstinacy — obstinacy for the
sake of obstinacy. It was the obstinacy of conviction ;
and as such, it is a trait to be held in honor rather
than reproach. The man who will contend for and is
willing to suffer for what he deems right is the man
who is worthy of admiration and confidence.
It was not without cause that these men with their
families left their old homes. They had been subjected
to wrongs and oppression which they hated and would
not endure. It was with high aspirations and noble
purposes they crossed the deep and endured hardships
and privations and perils. There were homes to be
made. There were priceless privileges, religious and
civil, to be secured and enjoyed. There were rights to
be sought and maintained. In the pursuit and pros-
pect of objects such as these, they could " hope all
things, bear all things, endure all things." A people
possessing such traits of character were well fitted to
be pioneers in the settlement of a new country and to
lay securely the foundations of civil and religious in-
stitutions that should prove blessings to them and their
descendants.
On this occasion we would glance hurriedly at several
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 97
prominent characteristics, which marked the early
Presbyterianism of this region, and which have left
their trace behind them — their regard for Education,
for the Services of the Sanctuary and for the Word of God
and the Standards of the Church, their Public and Patriotic
Spirit, and their Conservatism.
1. From the first it showed itself the earnest and
steadfast friend, the zealous promoter and liberal patron
of Education. Its ministers were educated men. To
this we know of no exception. The people were intelli-
gent, and were not content that their children should
be without the opportunities and advantages of educa-
tion. The newness of the country and their hardships
and privations must not prevent this. As a rule the
school-house was found hard by the sanctuary. Here
the rudimental branches of education and the Cate-
chism were faithfully taught. Text-books were few,
and far from perfect. But careful preparation and
thorough mastery of whatever was undertaken were
demanded. Thus was education in the true sense —
that of drawing out and unfolding the mental and
moral powers — secured. It was quite different from
superficial skimming over a wide surface, and cram-
ming to surfeit with the heterogeneous gatherings.
Nor were they satisfied that the advantages of the
parish school alone should be enjoyed. Higher insti-
tutions of learning — academies — were established at
7
98 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
various points more than one hundred years ago.* On
territory then, but no longer belonging to us, were
*In this connection the following may be interesting :
William Graham, son of William Graham, was born in Paxtang
township, then Lancaster county, Province of Pennsylvania, on the
19th of December, 1745. His father, of Scotch parentage, came from
the North of Ireland, as did his mother, whose maiden name was Sus-
annah Miller. His early years were spent on the farm, but by dint of
hard labor and perseverance, so characteristic of the Scotch-Irish youth
of that day, he prepared himself for admission to the college of New
Jersey, (now Princeton,) where he graduated in 1773. He taught in the
grammar school connected with that institution, while studying theology
under the tuition of the Rev. John Roan.
Among the papers of Rev. John Roan we have the following account :
" Wm. Graham enter'd lObr, 23, 1767.
1768. Jan. 23-31, absent.
Ap. 2-25, absent.
May 1, abs't some days.
June 13, returned 8br. 2d.
Dec'r. 24, some days absent.
Went away Feb. 4, 1769. In all here 9 months. I told his
father, June 10, 1769, that it should be charged at about £8 pr.
annum, viz • • • . 6:00:0
Rec'd. Dec'r 21, 1769, of ye above 4:10:0
Again, May, 1771 0:07:0
Jan. 18, 1773 1:10:0
Lent to Wm. Graham Nov. 15, 1773 0:10:0
Jan. 19, 1774 1:05:0
From the foregoing it would seem that as late as 1774, he was a stu-
dent of Mr. Roan's.
Mr. Graham, on the 26th of October, 1775, was licensed to preach
by the Presbytery of Hanover, Virginia, to which locality his family
had previously removed. When the Presbytery determined to establish
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church. 99
academies at Pequea,* Fagg's Manor, and New London,
(afterwards Delaware College;) and on territory now
belonging to us, at Harrisburg, Gettysburg, (Dobbin's
Academy,) Carlisle, and Shippensburg — also at Hagers-
town, Md., until recently belonging to us. But little
less than one hundred years ago academies were estab-
lished at Chambersburg, Newburg, (Hopewell Academ}'',)
Bedford, and Cumberland, Md. For the last twenty
years the latter two have not belonged to this Pres-
bytery,
A little over a hundred years ago was founded by
Presbyterians and located at Carlisle, Dickinson College
— an institution which in point of character and influ-
a school for the rearing of young men for the ministry, they applied to
the Rev. Stanhope Smith, then itinerating in Virginia, to recommend
a suitable person to take charge of their school, upon which he at once
suggested Mr. Graham. Prior to this a classical school had been taut;ht
at a place called Mt. Pleasant, and there Mr. G. commenced his labors
as a teacher, and there we find the germ whence sprung Washington
College, and the now celebrated Washington and Lee University of
Virginia. Mr. Graham died at Richmond, Va., June 8th, 1799. He
married Mary Kerr, of Carlisle, Pa., and by her had two sons and three
daughters. His eldest son entered the ministry, but died young ; the
other studied medicine, settled in Georgia, and died about 1840. —
Notes and Queries.
*The second oldest Presbyterian settlement in Lancaster county,
Pa., was along the headwaters of Pequea creek, in Salisbury township.
The congregation was organized in 1722, and was supplied by New
Castle Presbytery. On October 13, 1724, Rev. Adam Boyd was the
first ordained pastor. — Samuel Evans.
100 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ence was well nigh, if not quite, the equal of Nassau
Hall in the earlier days of these two schools of learning.
Moreover, the character of the people, the promi-
nence of their leaders, the weight and influence of the
church in this region, and the fitness of location, led
the General Assembly, more than three fourths of a
century ago, to turn their thoughts to one of the towns
of the beautiful Cumberland Valley as a suitable place
to locate its first Theological Seminary. Princeton,
however, was too influential a competitor. It was the
only competitor. But if Princeton carried off the palm
and can boast that oldest and honored school of the
Prophets, Chambersburg, her vanquished rival of that
day, has now an institution for the education of
the daughters of the church of which we may justl}^
be proud.*
2. The Presbyterianism of this region has always
been characterized by the great importance which it
attaches to the services of the sanctuary. By our ances-
tors the preaching of the word was held in the highest
regard. Hence, one of the first things they did when
settled in sufficient numbers in any locality, was to
"supplicate" Presbytery to send ministers to preach to
them, to administer the sacraments, and, not unfre-
quently, to catechise their children. As soon as possi-
ble the settlement of a pastor was secured, and, with
the permission of Presbytery as to location, a house of
*Wilson Female College.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 101
worship was speedily erected. This was generally a
log building, rudely furnished. But here the message
of God was delivered in earnest and impressive words,
and was eagerly received into good and honest hearts.
More commodious and substantial buildings took the
place of these log structures as occasion required and
the pecuniary circumstances of the people improved.
Many of these early Presbyterians had to go six or
eight miles to church. But the Sabbath found them
regularly in their places. They came to listen not to a
single discourse but to two, with an intermission of
thirty minutes intervening. This intermission wiis
quite an important feature. During it the people were
assembled in groups about the spring, (for if possible a
spring was selected as the place for locating a house of
worship,) the simple lunch was partaken of, and con-
versation was freely entered into — sometimes devout,
sometimes otherwise. But even when unwittingly the
weather and the crops and family affairs and the affairs
of other people's families became the absorbing topics of
conversation, there was something very delightful in
these comminglings and communings. The people
were brought very near to each other. They were made
to realize their oneness in relation to God, to his church,
and to each other as a community. Thus there sprang
up among them a strong bond of union, such as in
many places is unknown in church life to-day.
At that early day preaching was almost the only
102 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
service enjoyed in the sanctuary. The weekly prayer -
meeting and lecture had not yet come into existence,
and Sabbath-schools were unknown. To this we know
of but a single exception, that of a school established
by Ludwick Haeker, just one hundred and fifty years
ago, at Ephrata, Lancaster county. This school was
kept open until the building in which it was held was
taken for a hospital during the revolutionary war. The
modern Sabbath-school had not as yet sprung into
existence.) It was not until 1781 that Robert Raikes
gathered together the ragged urchins of Gloucester,
England, into a school upon the Lord's day, and
paid a shilling a day to the female teachers employed
to instruct them. There was no child's play connected
with that school, and the shilling was well earned.
The children were taught from 10, a. m., to 12, m. Then
there was an hour's recess, after which they read a les-
son and were taken to church. After church they re-
peated the catechism until 5, and were then dismissed
with the solemn charge to "go home at once and
quietly."
The introduction of the Sabbath-school into the
United States dates back about eighty or eighty-one
years. In the territory covered by the Presbytery of
Carlisle one hundred years ago, and in which there
was no Sabbath-school of any denomination, there are
now between thirty and thirty-five thousand children
collected in the Presbyterian Sabbath-schools alone. How
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 103
many there would be at the end of a year, if the schools
were conducted after the manner of Robert Raikes'
school, " deponent saith not."
But, although the Sabbath-school was then an insti-
tution unknown, the careful instruction and training
of the children of the households and churches were by
no means unknown. Faithful home instruction in the
Shorter Catechism was the rule. Each Sabbath evening
the high priest of the family assembled his household
and heard it recited. And annually did the pastor*
by his examinations, ascertain how well the home
work had been done. This system of instruction caused
the children and youth of the church to be well indoc-
trinated in the principles of our religion. Moreover,
it made strong men and women, possessed of intelli-
gence and imbued with sound principles, prepared to
act well their part in church and society. A large pro-
portion of the men thus reared in this region have
shown themselves strong men — strong men in the bus-
iness affairs of life, in the learned professions, upon the
bench, and in public and political affairs, alike of the
State and of the Nation. Were there none but the chil-
dren of Christian families to be looked after and cared for,
we should to-day, with all the light which observation
and experience have thrown upon the subject, say that
the old was better than is the new. But viewed in the
light of the otherwise uncared-for multitudes, we regard
the Sabbath -school as one of the greatest blessings, and
104 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
one of the most potent agencies for good known in con-
nection with the Christian church. We rejoice in the
work which is being accomplished by it.
3. Let us view our subject in a doctrinal point of view.
The Presbyterianism of this region has always honored
the word of God as of supreme authority in all matters
of religious faith and practice. It has, at the same
time, steadfastly held and firmly maintained the doc-
trines set forth in the standards of our church. This
holds true not only in regard to periods of harmon}'-
and quiet in the church, but likewise in regard to the
unhappy periods of discord and strife — and sometimes
of division, too — which lie along the pathway of our
history.
If we go back to the years called afresh to mind by
this wonderful concourse of the sons and daughters of
old Paxton* and Derry and Hanover, and the "English
*We write and we speak the name, Paxton. In all minutes and
records, whether written or printed, of Presbytery, of Synod, or of
General Assembly, from 1732 down to date we do not know of a single
instance in which the name is not spelled Paxton. f
fGovernor Evans, in his Diary of July, 1707, spells the word Peix-
tan ; and in a road order of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lancaster
county in 1739 the word is spelled Paxtang, and likewise in an affidavit
made before a justice in Lancaster in 1744. And in the petition to Rev.
John Elder, dated September 26, 1754, the petitioners describe them-
selves as "inhabitants in the Township and Congregation of Paxtang."
And in the deed of the church from Foster's heirs, the word is spelled
Paxtang. At the same time authority is divided, some contending, with
Mr. West, that the proper way to spell the word is Paxton. Those who
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 105
Presbyterian church of Harrisburg,"* and the descend-
ants of the sturdy Presbyterians of this general region,
we find the church, one hundred and fifty years ago,
tossed upon the angry billows of a troubled sea — dis-
cordant, contentious, rent. We refer to the Old and
New Side controversy. Then was the plow-shear of
division most ruthlessly driven through the Old Done-
gal Presbytery and through her churches. Few indeed
were the congregations in which it was not felt. Divis-
ion prevailed in Upper Pennsborough (Carlisle) church,
culminating in the settling of two pastors — the elder
George Duffield and John Steel — men alike distin-
guished as lovers and defenders of the truth and lovers
and defenders of their country. The same was true of
Upper West Conococheague church, resulting in the
organization of Lower West Conococheague church.
East Conococheague church was rent, nor were her
divisions healed until the beginning of the present cen-
tury. In Adams county the divided state of sentiment
led to the organization of Lower Marsh Creek and Round
Hill churches on a distinctly New Side basis, by the
Rev. Andrew Bay, a member of the Presbytery of New
Castle. For a time three of the pioneer churches of
Cumberland Vallev — ever valiant in defense of the
delivered addresses spelled it both ways. Under these circumstances
and believing the weight of authority to be in favor of Paxtang, we have
followed it, except where the writers have insisted upon Paxton. — Ed.
*The corporate name of Market Square church.
106 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
faith of the Fathers — got, as it were, clear outside the
Presbytery; and from 1742 to 1755 were served by the
distinguished John Blair, of the Presbytery of New
Castle. I refer to Big Spring, Middle Spring, and
Rocky Spring churches. And how was it on this his-
toric ground ? For thirty years, commencing in 1745,
Paxton church had her two places of worship — one on
this spot, of hallowed associations and sacred memories,
where we meet to-day ; the other two miles northeast of
this, long known as the "John Roan church." No trace
of any thing connected with it now remains except the
resting place of the departed. The one was served by
that noble man, John Elder, the other by that scarce
less noble man, John Roan — both then in the vigor of
early manhood. In like manner Old Derry church
was divided — one portion clinging to Mr. Elder, the
other to Mr. Roan. They, too, had their separate places
of worship. But throughout this great schism in the
church, which mainly grew out of differences of views
and practises in regard to measures and methods con-
nected with the services of the sanctuary and the wor-
ship of God, there was no division among ministers or
churches upon doctrinal points. Both parties adhered
to the standards of the church. Both parties were
equally ready to subscribe the same declaration of their
faith and to maintain and defend the doctrines of the
church.*
*Thus the "Adopting Act" of 1729 (Records of Pres. Ch., p. 94)
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 107
111 like manner the names of ministers of both parties
are found appended to " The Formula wherein to sub-
scribe and adopt the Westminister Confession of Faith
and Catechisms,"* which prefaced the first volume of the
was received and accepted by the men of both parties, as was also the
"Declaration" of 1736, in which adherence is declared to the West-
minister Confession of Faith and Catechisms and Directory for Wor-
ship, without the least variation or alteration, and without any regard
to the distinctions made in the "Adopting Act" between essential and
non-essential articles.
And it is an interesting fact in history, to which special attention may
properly be directed to-day, that this "Declaration," promulgated by
the Synod of Philadelphia, in 1736, was the result of a "Supplication of
the people of Paxton and Derry," calling attention to what they re-
garded a loop-hole in the Adopting Act of 1729, which admitted of a
distinction between essential and necessary articles of the Confession,
and those which are non-essential and unnecessary, (Records of Pres.
Church, pp. 126, 127.)
*A formula wherein to subscribe and adopt the Westminister Confes-
sion of Faith and Catechisms.
I having seriously read and perused the Westminister Confession and
Catechisms, doe declare, in the sight of God and all here present, that
I doe believe, and am persuaded, that so far as I can discern and under-
stand said Confession and Catechisms, they are in all things agreeable
to the Word of God, taken in the plain and obvious sense and mean-
of the Word, and accordingly, I doe acknowledge them as the confes-
sion of my faith, and doe promise, through divine assistance, forever to
adhere thereunto.
I also believe the Directory for the exercise of worship. Discipline,
and Government, commonly annexed to the Confession, to be agree-
able to the Word of God, and doe promise to conform thereunto in my
practice as far as in emergent circumstances I can attain unto."
108 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Records of the Presbytery of Donegal. A facsimile of
which will be found in the History of the Presbytery
of Carlisle.
If we come down one hundred years from the time of
the great schism of the last centur}^ in the Presbyterian
church, to the unhappy division, which in 1838 rent
the church into the Old and New School bodies, we
find the same thing holding good in regard to the loy-
alty of the Presbyterianism of this region to the stand-
ards of the church. Both parties were distinct and em-
phatic in their utterances concerning and firm in their
adherence to these standards. No one questioned the
attitude of the Old School party. And the Old School
men put on record the following words concerning the
New School brethren who went out from the Presby-
tery of Carlisle : "We are not disposed to call in ques-
tion their orthodoxy."* And the New School Presby-
tery of Harrisburg, at its second meeting, held May
19, 1840, declared that its " members received and
adopted the Westminister Confession of Faith and Cate-
chisms, Larger and Shorter, as containing the system
of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures." Moreover
it emphasized this declaration by adding, "that no one
can honestly subscribe these standards, or remain in
the church after subscribing them, who is conscious of
holding any opinions at variance with the system of
truth therein exhibited." Had some of the present
*Records Pres. Carlisle, July 31, 1838.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 109
members of the Presbj^tery of New York belonged to
this body, they might have understood this action as a
notice served on them to vacate.
And when, in the good providence of God the time
came for considering and voting upon the basis of re-
union between the two branches of the church, we find
the Presbyteries of Carlisle and Harrisburg occupying
substantially the same platform. In their desire for,
and action looking to re-union, they were in advance
of the general church. The Presbytery of Carlisle put
the following words on record, (October meeting, 1867 :)
" We say from the depths of our hearts we desire re-
union with the other branch; and we rejoice to know
that we are coming closer and closer together on those
great and glorious distinctive features of doctrine and
polity which are embodied in the Confession of Faith.
No other re-union than this is worthy the name of
union. It would be but a union in form, and not in
spirit. Alienations and divisions and jealousies would
be the fruit of it." And the Presbytery of Harrisburg,
at its October meeting put on record, the following as
its action : " We distinctly protest against any formal
basis for such an arrangement, other than an honest
subscription to the Confession of Faith, such as was
given by all officers of our church at the time of their
ordination ; and that we regard no subscription to our
standards as fair and honest, which implies the accept-
ance of its articles merely for substance of doctrine, or
110 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
in any sense contrary to their appropriate historical
significance, as opposed to Antinomianism and Fatal-
ism on the one hand, and to Armenianism and Pelagi-
anism on the other." Nothing stronger or more ex-
plicit than this could be desired.
And what I have said in regard to the loyalt}" of
the Presbyterianism of the past in this region to the
standards of the church, I ma}^, with equal propriety,
say of the Presbyterianism of the present. It is true
that on that important question, " Do you desire a re-
vision of the Confession of Faith ?" which occupies the
mind of the Presbyterian church to-day, there exists
diversity of sentiment amongst the members of our
Presbytery. There are those of us who would be well
content that our standards should remain as they are.
And there are others who would be glad to see changes
made in the mode of stating important doctrines of
our church, so as to obviate obscuritv and remove the
possibilit}^ of misunderstanding and misrepresentation.
But whilst there exists this diversity of opinion upon
the question of revising the Confession of Faith, hon-
estly held and manfully expressed, there is no diversity
of sentiment in regard to the Confession of Faith itself, as
containing the system of doctrine which we receive and hold
and teach.
4. Those who composed the Presbyterian church of
an early day were distinguished for their public and
patriotic and fearless spirit. The Presbyterianism of
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. Ill
this region, to a very large extent, furnished the men
who stood for the defense of the colonists against the
cruel attacks of the denizens of the forest. It may
have been because of the undaunted courage of the
early settlers, almost all of whom were Presbyterians,
that they were located where they were by the author-
ities. Positive evidence of this may not be at hand ;
but the facts in the case furnish very strong presump-
tive evidence. The peace and quiet enjoyed by the
non-combative Quaker and the phlegmatic German,
whose homes had been allotted them further east, was
at the expense of the hardy and brave Scotch-Irish
Presbyterian frontiersmen. They stood as sentinels
and guardsmen against the sudden and furious incur-
sions of the treacherous and wily savages, incited and
sustained, as they often were, by the unscrupulous
Frenchman, whose hatred for the English knew no
bounds. I apprehend that the noble characters and
heroic deeds of these men are but illy understood and
poorly appreciated by very many at the present day.
The grievous and shameful wrongs which the red man
has since been made to endure have rendered men
oblivious to the wrongs and cruelties then perpetrated
by him.
I honor the men who heroically defended their homes
and their wives and their little ones. I honor the
memory of the gallant Rev. Col. John Elder, for more
than half a century pastor of this church and old
112 Paxtang Presbyterian Church,
Derry. I honor the memory of his brave Paxton Boys.
Whilst I deprecate the cruel scene of the Conesto^a
massacre, I am not, and cannot be, unmindful of the
deceit and perfidy of its victims, and the cold-blooded
murder of women and children committed by the
^' Stranger Indians," whom they harbored.
I honor the memory of the intrepid Rev. Capt. John
Steel and the men of the Conococheague settlement
who were enrolled under him for the defense of the
community, and whose trusted rifles were found by
their side when, on the Sabbath day, they frequented
the sanctuary and listened to the messages of peace
and salvation from the lips of their leader.
On the other hand, I confess I have but little patience
with the man who, regardless of the facts of history or
prompted by a spirit of hostility to Presbyterianism,
speaks contemptuously or disparagingly of the men
who acted so prominent and so noble a part amid the
perilous scenes of that day. Fresh and fragrant may
their memories live with us and with those who come
after us.
When the time came, in the history of the colonies
for resisting the wrong and oppression of the mother
country, for proclaiming them free and independent
States, and for maintaining their rights and securing
their liberties, these same Presbyterians were found in
the forefront ; and throughout the conflict they played
no unimportant part. For a full century before being
Paxtang Presbytekian Church. 113
transplanted to the virgin soil of America, the Presby-
terianism which found its way to this region had been
trained in the hard school of experience to hate wrong
and oppression. The church polity under which its
people had been reared made them the natural foes of
usurpation and the friends and advocates of human
rights. Its system of government taught the right of
representation in the church ; and, by parity of reason-
ing, in civil government, as well.
There is an interesting fact in connection with the
history of our Presbytery and of our country which it
seems fitting here to state. One hundred and twenty-
one years ago this Fall the Presbytery of Donegal or-
dained and installed one of its licentiates, born and
reared within its bounds, as pastor of Rock River and
Poplar Tent churches, North Carolina. This man was
one of the first to raise his voice in the interests of the
wronged colonists ; and he was one of a committee of
those who framed the famous Mecklenburg Declara-
tion, which preceded the Declaration of Independence
by one year, and embodied its principles. I refer to
Dr. Hezekiah James Balch.* (The committee was
*Mr. Balch was licensed, ordained, and installed by the Presbytery of
Donegal, though we are told in Sprague's Annals, upon the authority
of Rev. Wm. H. Foote, D. D., that he was licensed by the Presbytery
of New Castle and ordained by the Presbytery of Hanover. The writ-
ten records of the Presbytery of Donegal show Drs. Foote and Sprague
to be in error.
8
114 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
composed of Dr. Ephraim Brevard, Rev. Hezekiah
James Balch, and William Kennon, a lawyer of Salis-
bury.)
5. The Presbyterianism of this region was distin-
guished for possessing in a large measure what might be
termed progressive stability — sound conservatism. There
were no more steadfast and, at the same time, ener-
getic and resolute people any where to be found. They
have left a lasting impress in the way of sound whole-
some conservatism. Their descendants maybe regard-
ed as occupying an important position, and holding an
important trust as regards alike our church and nation,
whether viewed in the light of the presenter the future.
They are sometimes charged with being slow to accept
what are termed advanced ideas and adopt new and
untried measures.
There have even been loud whisperings of such im-
pectation upon the floor of our highest church judic-
atory. But honoring, as I do, the memory of the de-
parted, and admiring the sterling virtues of their de-
scendants, I repel the imputation as uncharitable and
unjust. Recklessly cutting loose from the tried and
known, and boldly launching out into the untried and
unknown, do not necessarily mean progress. It may
bode no good, and there is a possibility of retrogression.
" Festine lenteJ'
As I look over this land of ours to-day, with all its
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 115
possibilities — as I ponder its strength and its weakness,
its promises and its perils — as I mark the tendencies of
the times in sociology, in politics, (or government,) and
in religion — as I scan the gathering and churning, and
concentrating of the contending elements, I am per-
suaded of a great need of true conservatism ; and I do
not hesitate to express the firm conviction that among
the most influential and powerful conservators of our
free institutions, civil and religious, and standing in the
foremost rank, are the men whose characters bear the
impress of the early Presbyterianism of this region. Our
forefathers who settled here did not all remain. Many of
them pushed westward just as rapidly as treaty stipula-
tions with the aborigines permitted. The children of old
mother Presbytery of Donegal, with their worldly all on
pack horses, followed the Indian trail or traders' path
across the mountains, and in the name of the Lord took
possession of Western Pennsylvania, and their descend-
ants hold it to-day. Thence onward they pushed, join-
ing the ever-flowing stream from the parent source, until
they are everywhere to be found throughout the great
central west and south-west. In like manner the tide
of emigration flowed southward. Why, the old Presby-
tery of Donegal collected into congregations her sons
and daughters, and settled pastors over them in Mary-
land and Virginia, and even extended her motherly
care to those who had found homes in North Carolina.
116 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Tennessee and Kentucky in like manner, received their
quota of this leavening element.*
In all these sections of country, occupied largely by
the descendants of those who are our ancestors as well
as theirs, the type of our early Presbyterianism has been
preserved. Its features, alike as to doctrine and polity,
remain unchanged.
Wherever Presbyterianism of the Scotch-Irish type is
found it stands for law and liberty. It combines in one
the ideas of true conservatism and genuine radicalism.
It stands as a mighty bulwark against a false radical-
ism which will not brook curb and restraint ; and at
the same time is the uncompromising enemy and the
steadfast opposer of everything that partakes of the
character of usurpation of power, or infringement
upon the rights of the people, whether in matters of
church or State.
May we not then truthfully say that from this great
center has gone out over a large portion of our land a
conservative influence, which, under God, may, at least,
prove a potent element in saving us alike from the
whirlpool and the rock ?
*About one hundred and ten years ago those in Tennessee were joined
by the godly and patriotic Dr. Hezekiah J. Balch. After leaving North
Carolina he spent four years as pastor of Tom's Creek (Emmittsburg)
church. This church belonged to our Presbytery until the re-union in
1870. From Tom's Creek Dr. Balch went to Tennessee, where he
engaged actively in pastoral and educational work. He was the founder
of Greenville College, Tenn,
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 117
Moderator Stewart. We have here persons who trace
their Scotch-Irish ancestry through their children ; and
there are some, perhaps, whose Scotch ancestry was
largely Dutch. But we have some genuine specimens
here to-da^^ It is exceedingly gratifying to me to know,
and I have no doubt it will be to you also, when I tell
3^ou that the granddaughter of Pev. John Elder, the
second installed pastor of this church, is present to-day.
For reasons, which she does not even care to explain,
she will not appear upon this platform, much as we
would like to have her — Mrs. Sarah Doll, whom many
of us know, and know to love and honor.*
It is also interesting for me to say that the grandson
of Nathaniel K. Snowden, the third pastor of this
church, who was ordained and installed pastor in
171)3, is present with us; and General Snowden has
very kindly consented to speak to us for a few mo-
ments. It therefore gives me great pleasure to intro-
duce Major-General George Randolph Snowden, of
Philadelphia. [Applause.]
*Mrs. Doll is the oldest member of the Market Square church, having
united with that church in 1827.
ADDRESS OF GEORGE R. SNOWDEN.
THE FAMILY OF NATHANIEL R. SNOWDEN.
Mr. Moderator, Ladies, and Gentlemen: I thank
you sincerely for the opportunity, alike a privilege and
a pleasure, of being with you on this delightful day to
celebrate this most interesting occasion. I am here for
the first time, a stranger among you, and I am almost
inclined to think, in view of my invitation and of the
fascinating incidents connected with this spot, narrated
by your distinguished historian. Dr. Egle, and others,
that no one not personally known to you, is of much
importance at this celebration unless he had a grand-
father! [Laughter and applause.] Having had a
grandfather, for sometime connected with Paxtang, I am
happy to say, in its early days, and through my con-
nection with him being invited to join you in com-
memoration of the past, I suppose that I can in no
other way interest you so much as by briefly referring
to him and his family.
Born in Philadelphia, on the 17th January, 1770,
Nathaniel Randolph Snowden was a very young man
when he came to this congregation in 1792, and minis-
tered to the spiritual wants of your hardy and pious
ancestors. He was one of the five sons of Isaac Snow-
den 2, all of whom graduated — Nathaniel R. in 1787 —
122 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
at the college of New Jersey, at Princeton, and four of
whom became ministers of the Presbyterian church,
one of them, Gilbert Tennant, who settled at Cranbury,
N. J., being most distinguished as a pulpit orator. They
were all fine scholars; and of Nathaniel it is said, that
he was as familiar with his Greek as with his English
Testament, using it constantly in his private reading.
As was usual in those early days, when capable teachers
were few, education always being a matter of peculiar
importance with Presbyterians, he taught the classics
and other polite learning at Carlisle, Lancaster, and,
later in his days, at Franklin. He was a man of fer-
vent piety and great faith. His diary for a period of
some years, now extant, shows boundless trust in his
Creator, and warm and constant appeals to the Throne
of Mercy. Spending his life in the service of his God,
he passed away at Freeport, Armstrong county, the
home of his son. Dr. Charles Gustine Snowden, in 1850.
He was married on the 24th Ma}'^ 1792, to Sarah,
daughter of Dr. Lemuel Gustine, who served as assist-
ant surgeon in the war of the Revolution, and at the
surrender of Forty Fort acted as aide to Colonel Den-
nison, and as such signed the treaty. Escaping with
his family from the massacre of Wyoming, Dr. Gustine
fled down the Susquehanna on a flat boat, landing at
Harris' Ferry. His daughter Sarah was, it is believed,
at the time of her death, in 1852, the last survivor of
that dreadful event. Of their five sons, the oldest, Dr.
Paxtang Peesbyteeian Chuech. 12^
Isaac Wayne, became elder of the church at Silver
Springs, and the youngest, James Ross, member of the
first session of Alexander church, Philadelphia.
Isaac Snowden 2, his father, was an original elder of
the Second Presbyterian church of Philadelphia, well
known as one of the substantial fruits of the great
Whitefield's labors. With that congregation, since the
formation of it in 1733, his family and descendants by
name have, without a break, kept up their connection,,
only one other, the well-known Hodges, having done
the same. With the famous Witherspoon and others,
he was a member of the committee which reported the
draft of the Constitution or Form of Government of
the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Treas-
urer of the city and county of Philadelphia, he fled on
the approach of Lord Howe, after the defeat of our
forces at Brandj^wine, and m}^ cousin. Col. A. Loudon
Snowden, now Minister to Greece, has the venerable
clock in which he hid the public funds to escape the
scrutiny of the enemy. Among other stations which
he filled, he was a commissioner to sign and issue Con-
tinental currency. His remains were buried at Old
Middletown church, Delaware county, where Nathaniel
R. for some time was settled, and on his tombstone, in
the old-fashioned way, are inscribed enough civic and
religious virtues most amply to endow, had they been
wisely distributed, his descendants to the present day.
Isaac Snowden was president of the board of trustees
124 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
of Princeton, with which his family was long honorably
and prominently connected. His wife was daughter of
the Rev. Samuel Finley, S. T. D. Glasg., graduate of
the celebrated Log College, and from 1761 to '66, the
time of his death, president of Princeton. Four of
President Finley's sons were gallant officers in the
Revolution, and two of them original members of the
Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania.
Isaac, the second, was the son of Isaac, the first. The
latter was an elder in the First Presbyterian church
of Philadelphia, and his father, John, born there in
1684, was the first elder ordained in Pennsylvania,
perhaps in the United States. The wife of Isaac, first,
was a daughter of Nathaniel Fitz Randolph, from
whom my grandfather took his name, who started the
subscription paper to erect the college at Princeton, and
gave the ground upon which was built Nassau Hall.
Thus I have briefly told you something of the family
of your former pastor, and I think you will admit that
it bears a very cerulean hue. In its devotion to Pres-
byterianism it is fit to rank with the congregations
which, one after another, have worshiped at Paxtang.
You may well be proud of the history of this old church,
and of the valiant men and pious w^omen who have
made it celebrated. Many went forth from this place,
as we have been so entertainingly told, to other States
and territories, there to build up and spread the Pres-
byterian faith, many to obey the call of their country,
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 125
and offer up their young and vigorous lives for the
freedom of themselves and their children. The old
grave-yard hard by is eloquent with the names and
deeds of your sturdy ancestors, who, true to their race
and the teachings of their religion, had rather die free-
men than live slaves to a power which they and tlieir
forefathers in Scotland and the north of Ireland, even in
England itself, had long had reason to dread and to
oppose. We have just heard with the greatest interest
how conspicuous in other parts were members of this
very congregation in first proclaiming to the world the
right of self rule, and the need to throw off the iron
hand of the oppressor. In fact, we have the authority
of Washington himself, than whom none knew better,
to assert that without the Presbyterians the Revolution
would have been a failure. It is not too much to say
that the principles of Presbyterianism are identical
with our liberties, and that the Constitution of our
country has drawn largely from the form and theory
of government of the Presbyterian Church. As the
part taken by Presbyterians was so essential in se-
curing independence, so it may be predicted that the
voice of the true Presbyterian will be heard, and the
arm of the staunch Presbyterian will be felt in all con-
tests hereafter for civil, political, and religious liberty.
May you have many liappy re-unions of this kind
in ages to come, and may your posterity have reason
to believe you worthy to have held the great trusts
126 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ivhich have been put in your hands, and that you have
not been degenerate successors of the noble men and
women who have gone before. [Loud applause.]
Moderator Stewart. We have some more of them —
I mean descendants of Paxtang ancestors ; but we will
give them to you this afternoon. We will not give all
the good things at once.
It has been the custom (so I am told) for fathers,
when the boys grew up and needed a farm for them-
■selves, to move out west. I am told that that was the
habit of many of our Scotch ancestors, because their
farms were too small to admit of their large famlies
settling down around them. While that might have
been the case in reference lo them, from an agricultural
point of view, from an ecclesiastical point of view it
is not their case. They had all their children settled
.around them ; and we are going to hear from some of
the representatives of these children to-day. It so hap-
pened that the territory was large enough which was
originally given to the Paxtang church, a territory some-
thing like twenty miles long by eight miles wide, reach-
ing from the Conewago hills, below Middletown, up
^bove Dauphin, and from the Susquehanna to the
Derry church ; it so happened that the territory was
large enough to accommodate a very large number of
-churches. It has been possessed by the Presbyterians
and other sister denominations, and we have to-day
twelve of the churches occupying the territory which
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 127
was formerly occupied by tlie Paxtang church; and we
are going to hear from the decendants of the Paxtang
church in the order of their organization, taking the
youngest first, and then proceeding by proper grada-
tion to the eldest. We will therefore hear from the
pastor elect of Olivet Presbyterian church, of Harris-
burg, one of the most recently organized of the Presby-
terian family, Rev. Mr. Cochrane. [Applause.]
FROM THE CHURCHES.
't
^
ADDRESS OF REV. ROBERT COCHRANE.
Mr. Moderator, Brethren, and Fellow- Workers
FOR THE Truth : This is an occasion not only notable,
but one of peculiar interest. It is a family gathering.
We to-day, as it were, gather around the board of the
old homestead; here to think and to talk about things
interesting, and things which we cherish in our hearts.
We look back for the things retrospective, and look
forward for the things prospective. We take a glance
at history made, and think of history yet to be made.
The mother church has come with a long line of bright
deeds; and the children come here to-day to cheer the
mother-heart with progress made, with battles fought,
and with victories won. We are here to-day then as a
family, and it has been accorded to the baby to make
the first report. [Laughter.] And I stand to-day with
appreciation of the honor of representing the baby.
[A laugh.]
The history of Presbyterian ism dates back many
years in the east end of Harrisburg. As early as 1874-5
an effort was made to organize a Presbyterian church.
A Sabbath-school was carried on with a membership of
one hundred and twenty -five ; a weekly prayer-meeting
was held, and there was regular preaching by a former
132 Paxtang Peesbyterian Church.
pastor of the Paxtang church, Rev. Mr. Downey. The
work prospered so that commissioners were elected to
make application to Presbytery for the organization
of a church ; but on account of the lack of a suitable
building the effort failed. For a number of years Pres-
byterianism was dormant on the hill ; but I think about
ten or eleven years afterward a cottage prayer-meeting
was started in the east end of Harrisburg by Rev. Dr.
Chambers, of Pine Street church. This continued for
a time, but after a few months was abandoned. Shortly
afterward a prayer-meeting was started under the au-
spices of what was called the East Harrisburg Cottage
Prayer-Meeting Association. The prayer-meeting pros-
pered, and soon a wider field was necessary for the work,
and a Sabbath-school was started. The Sabbath -school
grew from the first, and it was not long until there was
a demand for still larger work. Regular preaching w^as
again secured, and the work continued with unabated
interest until it was thought wise by many to apply to
Presbytery for a church organization. Such applica-
tion was made, and on October 15th, 1889, the Olivet
Presbyterian church of Harrisburg was organized by
the committee. Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D., Rev.
George B. Stewart, Hon. Francis Jordan, Mr. Gilbert M.
McCauley, and Dr. J. A. Miller. Thirty-one members
were received, twenty-six on certificate and five on
confession of their faith. The following were elected
elders: Governor James A. Beaver, Mr. Jacob K.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 133
Walker, Mr. William S. Shaffer, Mr. Charles S. Steele.
Some time afterward, at a congregational meeting pre-
sided over by Rev. Dr. George S. Chambers, the follow-
ing were elected deacons: Mr. A. LeFevre Groff, Mr.
William H. Shaffer, and Mr. Frank H. Erisman. At
the same meeting the following were elected trustees:
Mr. John Sharman, Mr. John S. Frazer, Mr. Isaac D.
Culmerry, Mr. William J. George, Mr. William Palmer,
Mr. Henry J. Sampselle, Mr. Charles S. Lingle.
The nucleus of the organization came from many
different churches, — Paxtang, Market Square, Pine
Street, Westminster, Covenant, and many others. My
attention was called to the fact that the thirty-one
members that constituted the church at its organiza-
tion came from seventeen different churches. It is too
soon to give you much of history, because it is yet
to be made. The progress of the church has not been
all that was anticipated, but growth has been made.
I need not go into detail. You are familiar with the
church's history from the beginning. You have looked
with a kindly interest upon our work. We pray that
in the years to come it may have a strong and healthy
growth, and that it may live on long after we have
passed away. May Olivet always have a place in your
hearts and your prayers, and be a sturdy and faithful
promoter of the cause of Christ and Presbyterianism in
this part of the kingdom. [Applause.]
134 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Moderator Stewart. I knew that I would have
plenty of opportunities to-day to correct any mistakes
I might have happened to make in the early part of the
programme. Instead of twelve churches, Paxtang and
her nine daughters occupy the field.
We will now listen to the Rev. John L. McKeehan,
who is the pastor elect of the First Presbyterian church
at Steelton.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 135
ADDRESS OF REV. JOHN L. McKEEHAN.
Mr. Moderator: It is not often that I am satisfied
to limit myself to five minutes ; but I am to-day, and I
can say, I think, in less time, all that is to be said about
the new station at Steelton. What I have to say is al-
ready i)rinted, and the credit is due to Bro. McGinnes ;
and I simply give you a few points, learned mainly
from his article.
On June 25, 1882, Rev. William A. West, pastor of
the Westminister church of Harrisburg, preached to a
small congregation in Reehling's Hall. It was then
and there discovered that the few Presbyterian families
of the town of Steelton were desirous of having ser-
vices regularly, if such an arrangement could be
brought about. Mr. West consulted with the pastors
of the Pine Street and Market Square churches. They
decided to have preaching regularly every Sabbath
afternoon. Rev. George S. Chambers preaching on
the 2d of July, and Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson on
the Sabbath following.
Whenever an opportunity was afforded, ministers
visiting the city and the pastors of the churches in some
of the towns in the vicinity were called upon to preach.
136 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
These, with the services of the city pastors, enabled the
congregation to be supplied every Sabbath.
On the evening of September 27th, 1882, a meeting
of the congregation was held at the residence of John
W. Davis, for the purpose of electing officers for the
Sabbath-school.
The result of the election was as follows : Superin-
tendent, L. E. McGinnes; Assistant Superintendent,
Charles P. Baker ; Secretary, James F. Newlin ; Libra-
rians, Frank T. McElroy, J. W. Davis; Treasurer,
William Neely ; Teacher of Infant Class, Mrs. L. E.
McGinnes.
The first session of the school was held on Sabbath
afternoon, October 1, with fifty pupils.
About the time of the organization of the Sabbath-
school, cottage prayer-meetings were instituted. These
meetings were held regularly each week until the oc-
cupancy of the new church.
In the early part of April, 1883, arrangements were
made whereby the Rev. W. G. McDannold, pastor of
the church at Middletown, devoted part of his time to
the work at Steelton. He began his labors on Sabbath
afternoon, April 15.
In April, 1884, he severed his connection with the
Middletown church and the Steelton congregation, to
assume the pastorate of a church in Kentucky.
Rev. John H. Groff, who was then supplying the
pulpit of the Seventh Street church, Harrisburg, was
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 137'
asked to divide his time between this church and
Steelton. He entered upon the work soon after the
departure of Rev. McDannold.
Up to October 13, 1884, the congregation w^orshiped
in Reehling's HaU. This hall is not situated near the-
center of the town, therefore it was important that a
more desirable location be obtained. Accordingly the-
hall of the G. A. R. was secured, and services were first-
held there on the above date.
The congregation and Sabbath -school gradually grew
in numbers, and with their growth the desire for and
necessity of a church building became stronger. The
liberal promises of assistance on the part of kind friends
in Harrisburg and elsewhere made the way clear for-
the erection of a building, free of debt.
On the evening of June 11, 1885, it was decided to
proceed at once to break ground for the new church.
Lots had been secured in the meantime from Henry
Kelker.
The contract for the erection of the building was-
awarded to J. Coder, who began the work on Tues-
day, June 23, 1885. Smith & Warner, of Harrisburg,
submitted the design which was adopted.
The corner-stone was laid w^th appropriate ceremo-
nies on the evening of July 16. Rev. George S. Chambers,
presided. Rev. J. A. Crawford, D. D., of Chambers-
burg, and Rev. George Wolfe, pastor of the M. E. church,.
Steelton, delivered short addresses.
138 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Immediatelv after the laving of the corner-stone, the
organization of the church was effected in Central Hall,
where the congregation worshiped a few months prior
to occupying the church. Rev. George B. Stewart, pre-
sided. Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson, of Allegheny-
City, preached the sermon. Twenty-four persons joined
by letter and three on confession of faith. The follow-
ing officers were elected : Elders, Charles P. Baker,
Lemuel E. McGinnes, Frank T. McElroy, and John
"W. Davis; Deacons, W. A. Miller, and Samuel G.
Spangler ; Trustees, W. A. Miller, Charles P. Baker, Dr.
J. D. Becker, Lemuel E. McGinnes, John A. Murphy.
The new church edifice was solemnly dedicated to
the worship of God on the evening of October 5, 1885.
The following ministers took part in the services :
Rev. George B. Stewart, Rev. George S. Chambers, Rev.
T. J. Ferguson, Rev. W. A. West, Rev. W. A. McCarrell,
Rev. J. J. Pomeroy. Rev. George S. Chambers presided,
and Rev. George B. Stewart, preached the sermon.
Since this time the congregation and Sunday-school
have steadily grown in size and regularity of attendance.
On the 5th of July Rev. John H. Groft' was released
from his pastoral work, to devote his entire time to the
work at Middletown, where he has since been laboring.
This, in brief, is the history of the first Presbyterian
church at Steelton, so far as the facts have been ob-
tained by me. [Applause.]
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 139
Moderator Stewart. That history ought to be com-
pleted by saying that the Rev. Mr. McKeehan has been
called, and accepted the call, and will probably be
installed within a few weeks.
The Harrisburg Westminster church will be repre-
sented by the Rev. George S. Duncan, who will now
address us.
140 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ADDRESS OF REV. GEORGE S. DUNCAN.
Mr. Moderator and Fellow Workers for the
Master: This great gathering brings to our minds
vividly the words of our Saviour about the mustard
plant — from a tiny little seed a great tree comes forth.
As we look back to-day over a century and a half, how
wonderfully have our Saviour's words been fulfilled ;
for, during these long years, good men and women
planted the seed in the souls of men in this beauti-
ful valley, until the increase, after one hundred and
fifty years, has attained such magnificent proportions.
And true, indeed, the church has been bearing seed
which has been scattered far and wide in counties and
in States the nation o'er. What a grand illustration
this gives to us all, how the small things can become,
and do, the the mighty and the great things ; how seed
planted in the name of the Master, may afterwards
flourish and bring forth much fruit long after we have
been gathered to our fathers. What a grand inspira-
tion it gives us to go forth and do what we can, no
matter how small the amount of work to be •accom-
plished, or whether we survive until the gleaning time.
We are only to plant the seed, and it will become in
due time a great tree.
I am to speak a brief word for a seed planted by
Paxtang, viz : the Westminister seed in Harrisburg. In
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 141
the year 1866 a little Sabbath-school was started in the
northwestern part of that city, manned and governed
chiefly by the Young Men's Association. The little
Sabbath-school gathered impetus and strength year by
year, until 1872, when it was thought desirable to put
it under the care of Pine Street and Market Square.
Those two churches felt also that some preaching
should be provided for the people living in that sec-
tion. So my beloved predecessor at Westminister, who
is present to-day, the Rev. William A. West, was se-
cured, and he labored there from 1872 until April of
the present year. The little Sabbath-school organiza-
tion was followed by a church organization in 1873 ;
and steadily from that period, under his heroic and
noble, and self-sacrificing work, the seed has grown
there until to-day there are about one hundred and
thirty-two members, a Sabbath-school of about four
hundred, two Christian Endeavor associations, a wo-
man's organization, and other associations doing work
for the Master. So Westminister may be called a
granddaughter of Paxtang, this relation being held
through the Market Square and Pine Street churches,
and I am sure that I represent the granddaughter,
Westminister, to-day, when I bid good cheer to the
grandmother Paxtang. May she see many happy,
joyous birthdays, and, as in the past, so in the fu-
ture, may she often have reason to take pride in her
children, her grandchildren, and her great grand-
142 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
children, and so on through countless generations.
[Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. The Harrisburg Covenant
church is represented in the person of its pastor, Rev.
I. Potter Hayes, who will now address us.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 143
ADDRESS OF REV. I. POTTER HAYES.
Mr. Moderator, Ladies, and Gentlemen: It af-
fords me pleasure to come before you this afternoon.
What I shall have to say will be purely historical, and
I have gathered most of it from the records of the
church which I represent.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle, held in
the Big Spring church, Newville, Pa., April 11, 1866, a
committee was appointed to visit Harrisburg, and if the
wa}^ be clear, organize a Second Presbyterian Church
in this cit}^ That committee consisted of Rev. James
Harper, D. D., Rev. J. C. Bliss, Rev. S. S. Mitchel, Rev.
A. D. Mitchel, and Ruling Elders, H. M. Graydon and
James Elder. All the members of this committee, ex-
cept Rev. J. C. Bliss and James Elder, met for tliis
purpose on Saturday, September 8, 1866, at 4, p. m., just
twenty-four years ago on the 8th instant. The com-
mittee organized for the discharge of their duties by
appointing Rev. James Harper, D. D., as chairman,
and Rev. A. D. Mitchel as secretary.
After prayer for Divine direction and blessing, cer-
tificates of dismission and recommendations were pre-
sented to the committee by several persons, with a view
to their being formed into a new organization. Dr.
John Curwen, Mrs. Martha P. Curwen, Annie Stuart,
Mary Stuart, Mary McCollum, and Eliza M. Todd,
;144 Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
presented letters from the Presbyterian Church of Har-
risburg, Dr. Graydon B. Hotchkin and Mrs. Sara I.
Hotchkin presented letters from the Presbyterian
^€hurch, of Middletown, Delaware county, Pa., and Miss
Margaret Carriday from the Presbyterian Church of
Letterkenny, Ireland. These certificates being found
in order, it was resolved by the committee that the
nine persons named be and are hereby constituted into
a church, to be known by the name of the Seventh
/Street Presbyterian Church of the City of Harrisburg,
to be connected with and under the government of the
Presbytery of Carlisle, Synod of Baltimore, and General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United
t States of America.
The little church being thus organized at this same
meeting, unanimously elected Dr. John Curwen to the
office of ruling elder, and on the following day, Sun-
day, September 9, he was ordained and installed in con-
formity with the Presbyterian form of government.
Through the preservation and guidance of an all-
wise Providence, Dr. Curwen, the first ruling elder of
the church, is not only still with us, but has been dur-
ing all these twenty -four years an active officer and gen-
■ erous supporter of the church.
.A church edifice was erected for the new congrega-
tion when the church was organized.
A Sunday-school was also opened soon after the
• church was organized.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 145
After its organization in 1SG6, the church was served
successfully until 18G8 by Rev. Stephen W. Pomeroy,
Rev. A. C. Smith, of Galena, 111., and Rev. W. A. Mac-
atee, now of Madison, Wisconsin.
In the spring of 1868, Rev. Charles A. Wyeth, re-
moved from Huntingdon to Harrisburg, Pa., and be-
gan his ministry in this church as stated supply. This
continued for about two years. When a meeting of
the congregation worshiping in Seventh Street church
was called to meet March 5, 1870, for the purpose of
taking into consideration the propriety of calling a
Pastor, and if the way be clear, to enter into such an
election. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev.
A. D. Mitchell, who acted as moderator. Dr. John Cur-
wen serving as clerk. At this meeting the congrega-
tion unanimously agreed to call Rev. Charles A. Wyeth
to be their first regular Pastor, (at an annual salary of
$300, payable in January, April, July, and October.)
Dr. John Curwen was also appointed as commis-
sioner to carr}^ up the action of the congregation to the
next meeting of Presbytery. Rev. Wyeth, who had
been licensed by the Presbytery of Carlisle in October,
1840, served the Master as a licenciate all these years.
That the call might be properly put in his hands by the
Presbytery, and be accepted by him, it was necessary
that he be ordained. He was therefore ordained by
the Presbytery of Carlisle June 15, 1870, and duly in-
stalled as pastor of this church on the twenty-sixth of
146 Paxtang Presbyterian Cpiurch.
the same month. This relation continued until June
12, 1883, when it was dissolved by Presbytery. Imme-
diately after this Rev. J. H. Groff, then a member of the
Market Square Presbyterian church, now pastor of
the Presbyterian church of Middletown, took charge
of the Seventh Street church as a stated supply, serv-
ing it very acceptably until the spring of 1886. After
Mr. Groff left. Rev. Matthew Rutherford, a student
from Allegheny Seminary, came and ministered to the
congregation during the summer of 1886. From that
time until the present pastor took charge of the work,
the church was served by various supplies.
In September, 1881, in view of the fact that the pas-
tor and Dr. John Curwen constituted the session of the
church, and that Dr. Curwen was about to remove to
Warren, Pa., having been elected superintendent of
State Lunatic Hospital at that place, it was judged
expedient that a meeting of the congregation be called
for the purpose of electing two additional elders. Such
a meeting was called, and met September 25, 1881, and
elected to that office Messrs. John S. Olsen and John M.
Stewart. On the following Sabbath, Mr. Stewart was
solemnly ordained and installed, Mr. Olsen declining
to accept the office. The session continued in this way
with Dr. Curwen at Warren, and Mr. Stewart in Har-
risburg, till the autumn of 1887, when a congregational
meeting was called, and met October 19, 1887, at which
Mr. W. M. Wolfe, was unanimously elected to the office .
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 147
of ruling elder. Mr. Wolfe was solemnly ordained and
installed on Saturday evening, November 5, 1887.
The little church which was organized with nine
members, has during these twenty four years, received
into church fellowship, eighty-seven on profession of
faith in Christ and eighty-nine by certificate of dis-
mission and recommendation, making a total of one
hundred and seventy-six, fifty-two of these have been
received since my association with the church. Since
the organization of the church nineteen persons have
died while being communicant members, seventy-seven
have been dismissed, expelled, and withdrawn, thus
leaving the present membership eighty.
In giving a historical sketch of this church it is im-
possible for me to speak as minutely concerning what
was done before my connection with it as I can con-
cerning what has been done since. And possibly the
history of the near past will also be of more interest
to you. When I first saw the church the ceiling and
and walls were stained and cracked, with here and there
pieces of plastering broken out. The painting was
soiled and defaced and the blinds tattered and torn.
No carpet was on the floor except a well-worn strip
in the aisles and around the pulpit. The gas fixtures
were two small to properly illuminate the little room,
and the organ was not only too small, but nearly worn
out. All these defects were remedied very largely
through the efforts of Mr. John Loban before the close
148 Paxtang Pesbyrterian Church.
of 1888. The unsightly walls were reatly papered and
painted, the floor covered with a beautiful carpet, the
old blinds and gas fixtures replaced by new ones, and
instead of the old organ the new one which we now
have was purchased.
Sometime about the close of 1888, Dr. John Curwen,
who owned the church on Seventh street, and the
ground upon which it stood, transferred his right and
title to the Presbytery of Carlisle. Not long after this
transfer was made the Presbytery appointed a committee
consisting of Dr. John Curwen, Messrs. James McCor-
mick, and Gilbert M. McCauley to select a new site for
the church, and if the way be clear, dispose of the old
property and purchase a new one. In accordance with
the action of the Presbytery, Dr. Curwen, acting for the
committee, purchased our present lot, which for size,
beauty, and location is second to none in Harrisburg.
This lot, costing $7,500, very largely through the gene-
rosity of Dr. Curwen, is practically paid for.
Our chapel has been removed to this new site and
refitted for the second time during three years.
On September 8th, 1889, the church was re-dedicated,
it being also the twenty-third anniversary of the church.
Rev. W. C. Cattell, D. D., a former pastor of Pine Street
church, and Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D., a former |
pastor of Market Square church, were both present on
this occasion and took a very important part in the!
services.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 149
On August 11th, 1889, a congregational meeting was
held, in which it was decided to change the name of
the church from " The Seventh Street Presbyterian
Church of Harrisburg, Pa.," to "The Covenant Presby-
terian Church of Harrisburg, Pa." At this meeting
the congregation also unanimously elected Messrs. John
James Craig and Samuel H. Garland to the office of
ruling elder. Both of these men were ordained and
installed on the evening of September 8th, 1889, Drs.
Robinson and Cattell assisting the pastor in this service.
During this summer a neat fence has been placed
around the lot, which adds very greatly to its ap-
pearance.
I may add further that the outlook of the Covenant
Presbyterian church is certainly bright. The western
end of Harrisburg is growing rapidly, and we look
forward to the time when she shall be staunch in
her Presbyterian belief, and vigorous in her Presbyte-
rian strength ; and she sends to you, her blood relation,
if I may so call it, and to all her relations the heartiest
greetings. [Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. Now we will hear from the
Pine Street Presbyterian church, of Harrisburg, in the
person of Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D., the pastor.
150 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ADDRESS OF REV. GEORGE S. CHAMBERS, D. D.
Mr. Moderator, Ladies, and Gentlemen: I have
been asked to say a few words as a representative of
one of the "descendants" of Paxton church. The
church which I have the honor to represent maj'' be
considered as a "grandchild," and speaking on its be-
half, I may be pardoned if I place the emphasis on the
first part of that designation. For it is a grand child,
indeed ; a fact which it is too modest to assert for itself,
but which it is not out of place for me to declare, inas-
much as my relations to it cover only one third of its
history. I enjoy a two-fold privilege on this occasion :
that of paying the tribute of admiration and reverence
to the sturdy men and women of a century and a half
ago, who built this old Paxton church, and worshiped
within these walls; and that of representing one of
their ecclesiastical " descendants," possessing a resolute-
ness and fervor which indicate a noble ancestry, and
which is popularly and affectionately known as the
Pine Street Presbyterian church of Harrisburg.
A brief statement of the facts in the history of our
church is all that the time allotted to me will permit.
It was organized in May, 1858, by the Presbytery of
Carlisle. On the day of organization, fifty persons pre-
sented letters of dismission. At the end of the year,
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 151
on the 1st of April, 1859, the memhership of the church
was eighty -three.
In the thirty-two years of its liistory, the church has
had five pastors, viz: Rev. AVilliam C. Cattell, D. D.,
Rev. S. S, Mitchell, D. D., Rev. A. K. Strong, D. D.,
Rev. John R. Paxton, D. D., and the present pastor, who
was installed in November, 1879. All the ex-pastors
of the church are living, and three of them are still
engaged in pastoral work in other parts of the Presby-
terian church. The first pastor is now the efficient
Secretary of the Board of Ministerial Relief, in which
capacity he is doing most valuable work for the church,
her disabled ministers, and her Lord.
The elders who were elected on the day of organiza-
tion are still in service: Messrs. Francis Wyeth, H. M.
Graydon, and James McCormick. The present elder-
ship numbers six ; Mr. Jacob F. Seller, who was elected
in July, 1863, and Messrs. Francis Jordan, and Daniel
W. Cox. who were elected in the fall of 1887, having
been added to the original three. The original mem-
bership of the church on April 1st, 1859, was eighty-
three. The membership on the 1st of April, 1890, was
six hundred and thirty-seven.
The Sunday-school membership, April 1st, 1859, was
one hundred and forty. On the 1st of April, 1890, it
was one thousand seven hundred and twenty-five.
The contributions of the church to all causes during
the first year of its history amounted to $12,990.75, of
152 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
which $12,773.44 were for congregational purposes.
The contributions that year to benevolent work outside
the church were $267.31. The contributions of the
church to all causes during the year ending April 1st,
1890, were $31,096.70. Of this amount $23,697.27
went to benevolent work outside the church.
During the thirty-two years of its history the contri-
butions of the church to all causes have amounted to
$499,421.61, or an average per year of $15,606.93. Of
this amount, $293,062.40 have been given to benevo-
lent work outside the church.
The additions to the church during these years have
been seven hundred and fifty-six on confession of faith,
and five hundred and sixty-eight by certificate, or a
total of one thousand three hundred and twenty-four '
an average per year of forty-one.
The difference between this number and our present
membership is six hundred and eighty-seven, which
represents the losses occasioned by death, removals to
other parts of the country, and other causes. These
losses have averaged twenty-one per year ; so that the
net gain of membership has been about twenty per
year.
During these thirty-two years four hundred infants
and two hundred and fourteen adults have been bap-
tized.
These figures represent only the external facts in
the church's history. The spirit of consecration that
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 153
preceded and pervaded them, the spiritual growth
of a whole generation of Christians, the delightful in-
timacies of these years in Christian work and worship,
the hallowed memories of those who died in faith, the
prayers that have been made and answered for the
church's welfare — all these are facts which are of un-
speakable value; but the record of them is on high.
"Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men."
[Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. I am very sure that some who
have left these seats wdll be sorry for more than one
reason for having left before this part of the programme
had been reached. Paxtang has always been noted for
its hospitality, and it gives me pleasure to say that
Paxtang will furnish dinner to us to-day, and a seat
can be had at the table by securing a ticket here at the
platform, free of charge, just as we get everything else
here — free of charge. [Applause.] I hope every one,
therefore, will avail himself, after the doxology has
been sung, of the opportunity to secure tickets; and
then proceed to the tent where we will receive our re-
freshments — not but that we have been refreshed all
through the morning.
The doxology — '' Praise God from whom all blessings
flow," etc. — was then sung, and at one o'clock, p. m., a
recess was taken.
154 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
On re-assembling, at 2.45 o'clock, p. m.. Rev. George
B. Stewart presiding, the audience sung hymn 591, as
follows :
Rise, my soul! pursue the path
By ancient worthies trod;
Aspiring, view those holy men
Who lived and walked with God.
Though dead, they speak in reason's ear.
And in example live ;
Their faith and hope and mighty deeds
Still fresh instruction give.
Lord ! may I ever keep in view
The patterns thou hast given.
And ne'er forsake the blessed path
Which led them safe to heaven.
Moderator Stewart. There were so many descend-
ants of Paxtang church that we could not get through
this morning. So we will continue this afternoon with
this same topic; and the first speaker will be Rev.
Reuben H. Armstrong, who is the pastor of the Elder
Street church in Harrisburg.
Paxtang Presbytp:rian Church. 155-
ADDRESS OF REV. REUBEN H. ARMSTRONG.
The Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D., has well said, in
a small book entitled " The Crisis of Missions, or the
Voice Out of the Cloud," that the very watchword of"
the Christian life is obedience, and our great Captain
has left us his marching orders, " Go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature." To
all climes and to all peoples is the glad tidings of great-
joy to be preached. All need it, it is adapted to all,
none are what they might be without its quickening
uplifting, beautifying power. It is to the soul, to the-
nations of the earth that have arisen to great eminence-
and have the elements of perpetuity as fundamental
principles, what the warmth of the sun and the gentle
showers are to the fruitful fields and forests. The soul
is developed, adorned by the gospel, nations become-
the great centers of Christian education, and others not
so highly favored, catch their spirit of activity and en-
thusiasm and imitate them. This missionary spirit
then, this obedience to our captain, cannot be empha-
sized too much, not only to-day, as the one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary since the corner-stone of Pax-
tang Presbyterian church was laid, but at all times as
the great principle of aggressive Christian work, as the
proof of Christian doctrine, duty, and high privilege,
and that we hear the voice of God calling us to lift up
156 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
the fallen, to cheer the sorrowing, to help those who are
dispitefully used and persecuted, to practice as well as
preach the precepts of the Word of God, always, every-
where, as the whole duty of man. Paxtang church has
had, and we are sure still retains a missionary spirit.
All of the many churches whose brief histories we have
and shall listen to make this statement the more force-
ful, and tell us what she is doing through her chil-
dren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And al-
though, she has passed through one hundred and fifty
summers and winters; although there have been seasons
in her history when she was quite sick, breathed feebly,
looked pale, and many have said, " She is ready to die,
the days of her usefulness are past, the home mission
doctor need not come to see her any more; " yet she lives
not alone in her offspring, but in her present active
helpful ministrations, and the indications are as we dis-
cover a city reaching out her arms to her, even the city
in which she has several children or grandchildren,
yea, we are happy to be able to declare that the indica-
tions are that her best days have not yet been witnessed,
but are in the future, the morn of which has already
dawned. Many of us may not see the day and enjoy
what it brings forth, but we rejoice to-day, we come
with grateful heart, we come from the fields of battle,
not upon our shields, but with them in our hand, the
Presbyterian shields having defended us in many bat-
tles, not less, because they are and were of this blue
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 157
stocking stri[)e, but more because they were biblical
shields. And if we can be thankful to God for all that
our rich biblical scholarship has given and is still giv-
ing us, if we can trust the Hol}^ Spirit, believing that
he will guide us and all who shall have to do with the
future of the church dearer to us than the children of
our bosom, because it is of God, for his glory and our
good, the half has not been told of what Paxtang
may be and do, through the gospel for the children, as
yet unknown to man. But it is my du.y to indicate
by a few sentences what she has already been to what
was first known as the Second Presbyterian Church,
and afterward the Elder Street Presbyterian church of
Harrisburg.
In obedience to the great command of Christ to
teach all nations, what was once known as the First
Presbyterian church of Harrisburg, and now known as
Market Square, having within her communion those
who believed in the fatherhood of God and the brother-
hood of man, a direct offspring of her to whom we
bring praises to-day, in the year 1855 organized a Sab-
bath-school to teach those who had been deprived of
religious training as well as mental culture, the truths
of the Bible. This was then the only school for the
colored people. For years it did the work of teaching,
finding ready learners and earnest seekers after the
truth. To say that great good was done, is far from
expressing the fact in the case, as many of you know,
158 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
-and as scores would testify of the different denomina-
tions in the city of Harrisburg, where they now are
local preachers and teachers in the Sabbath-schools or
foremost in the work of Christ, as their hands find it to
'•do. For through this Sabbath -school they were per-
mitted to touch the hem of Christ's garment, as it was
worn by his representatives, to sit at the feet of Jesus,
learning of his being and perfections, his sufferings and
•:self-denials, his agony and bloody sweat, and his most
"disgraceful, but beautifully triumphant, death. They
point back to the Sabbath-school with great satisfaction,
..and declare that they owe to this work everlasting
praise, as it furnished the foundation upon which their
..spiritual building, hath been erected, and shall continue
to be made more beautiful and symmetrical, every year
making some improvement, until, finally, no touch of
the painter's brush, no change of the great architect's
iskill can add to its beauty or usefulness.
Of the earlv workers and those later on in the work,
we may be pardoned for mentioning the names of
.Messrs. Mordecai McKinney, Jackson Fleming, Alfred
.Armstrong, Mrs. Agnes Kemp, Miss Agnes Crane,
Mrs. Dr. W. W. Rutherford, Mrs. Jackson Fleming,
.Mrs. Alfred Armstrong, and Mrs. Harriet L. West-
brook. They have wrought a good work in obedience
rto the command of Christ, to teach all nations, which
'was made possible by the existence and inspiration
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 159
given unto some of them in this building, and in other
buildings, her honored offspring.
In 1858, October 25th, the Presbytery of Harrisburg,
sitting at Spring Mills, appointed a committee to or-
ganize the Second Presbyterian church of Harrisburg,
should the way be clear, on the 27th of October, of the
same year. The committee, consisting of Revs. Wil-
liam R. Dewitt, Conway P. Wing, Thomas H. Robinson,
and elders, Messrs John Weir and Mordecai McKinney,
met, and after a sermon by the Rev. Conway P. Wing,
from Matt., 16 : 18, organized the church. It is in-
teresting to note that the apostolic number, twelve,
were received upon profession of their faith and one by
letter, Mrs. Nancy Christie, doubtless, the oldest Pres-
byterian living in Harrisburg or in the Presbytery of
Carlisle, having passed her ninety-eighth anniversary
upon the 1 1th of last May, brought up in the Presby-
terian church of Mercersburg, where we hope to see a
Presbyterian church conducted by the colored people,
in order to their greater development who have been
born and fostered in the present church. The first ses-
sion of the Second church was held in the study of Rev.
Charles W. Gardiner, October 30, 1858. It was com-
posed of the Moderator Mr. Gardiner and Elder Hiram
Baker, now preaching in Chatanooga, Tenn., and Jere-
miali Kelly, who has entered into the rest that remain-
eth to the people of God. During the thirty-two years
that the church hath been holding out the ligiit of the
160 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
gospel to a most needy people, and a people that the
Presbyterian church must reach both North and South,
if she believes her doctrines are biblical, which she
does, and is ready to defend ; a church, therefore, that
is adapted to all people, the rich and the poor, the
learned and the illiterate, five pastors and six stated
supplies have occupied the pulpit, and nine elders have
been elected and ordained. Of these elders, three have
died, two have taken their letters, one has entered the
ministry, and four are now in active service in the
church of their choice in Harrisburg.
One hundred and eighty-three have been received
into the church or nearly six per year. At present
there are fifty-three members. Thousands have been
taught by the Sabbath-school and at the pulpit, at
Elder Street, that are not members of our communion,
but of a greater communion ; converse with God and
Christ and the Holy Spirit.
We come to our grandmother to-day, not with what
some of her grandchildren can boast of, or rather be
grateful for, as all of you know, wealth and superior
educational advantages, and every opportunity that
can be presented to Americans, by all the resources of
America, and with all these opportunities from the be-
ginning, but with the few sheaves we have gathered,
reminding you of the seeds we have sown, thanking
the Giver of every good and perfect gift that he gave
you being, that he put it into the mind of one of your
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 161
offspring, that we are all of a common origin, having
like needs, and that all must appear at the judgment
seat of Christ. May the spirit of many Elijahs fall
upon many Elishas in the Presbytery of Carlisle, and
ere another half century is added to the history of
Paxtang and other churches of the Presbytery, there
may be several representatives of the negro race as pas-
tors of churches joining in the praises to God from
whom all blessings flow; having furnished a channel
of Christian giving and loving, and demonstrating the
fact that this Presbytery is not narrow in its notion as
to whom are freedmen, and where they should have
churches established, as we are inclined to think the
work north of Mason and Dixon line shows, but rather,
that they are broad and are obeying more fully the com-
mand of our Great Captain Jesus Christ, as it rings in
their ears: Go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature. [Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. The first church of Middle-
town is represented to-day by its pastor, the Uev. John
H. Groff, to whom we will now attend.
11
162 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ADDRESS OF REV. JOHN H. GROFF.
Mr. Moderator, Ladies, and Gentlemen: I am
glad for the privilege of speaking a word in behalf
of the church at Middletown, the third church that
sprang directly from the mother church Paxtang.
This church dates back to the year 1850. Prior to that
time the Presbyterians of Middletown and of the neigh-
borhood worshiped with Paxtang and Derry churches,
these two churches being within a radius of seven or
eight miles from Middletown. The time came, how-
ever, when the people of Middletown felt that these
churches were too far remote, and that if Presbyterian-
ism was to grow and fulfill her mission, they must
have a church in the town itself. Hence, at a meeting
of the Presbytery of Carlisle, held in the Paxtang
church on the 10th of April, 1850, a committee was
appointed to visit Middletown, and consider with a
similar committee the propriety of organizing a church
there. At a meeting of Presbytery in Gettysburg,
June 4th, that committee reported favorably and en-
couragingly, and on the 9th of October of the same
year, at the call of the Moderator, the Presbytery
met in Middletown, at which a petition was presented,
signed by nine persons, and there and then the Pres-
byterian church at Middletown was organized. Thus
it has a history of forty years.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 163
In those forty years she has had nine installed pas-
tors and four stated supplies. The first pastor, Rev.
John Cross, was called June 10, 1851, installed June
23, and died suddenly August 22, the same year, at
Dickinson, Cumberland county, while raising money to
build the church.
In 1852, the Rev. O. 0. McLean became pastor, and
continued to April, 1854. In October, 1855, Rev. John
W. White was called, and remained until the Spring
of 1858. His successor was Rev. T. K. Davis, from
March, 1858, until May 4,1863; when Rev. William
Ferriday became pastor; (during his absence from ill
health, Rev. H. T. Lee. of Philadelphia, preached.)
Mr. Ferriday's continued sickness compelled him to
resign, and on January 25, 1865, Rev. H. L. Rex was
called, he was installed June 6, 1865, and remained
until 1874. In January, 1875, Rev. Daniel McAfee
became pastor, and resigned in 1876. For some time
Rev. A. D. Mitchell supplied the pulpit; but being ap-
pointed post-chaplain in the U. S. Army, Rev. Robert
P. Gibson acted as pastor until April 14, 1878, when
Rev. D. C. Meeker was called; he declined, and on
May 20, Rev. Malachi C. Bailey became pastor. He
resigned in 1880, and his successor was Rev. William
G. McDannold, who took charge November 1, 1881,
and resigned Apiil 10, 1884. He was succeeded by
the present pastor.
In connection with this church there have been eight
164 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
elders, two of whom have served the church during
almost her entire history. I refer to Dr. Benjamin J.
Wiestling and Daniel Kendig.
This church, while she has not grown as rapidly
as it was hoped she would, has not been without re-
sults. It has been said by some in my hearing that
the reason the Middletown church did not succeed
better was because many of the young men and women,
in connection with the Presbyterian church and Pres-
byterian families, moved elsewhere, and their places
were occupied by a German element. Be this as it
may, the church has, during all this period of forty
years, had noble men and women. She has sent them
out, here and there ; and while their names may not
perhaps appear on the page of history as brilliant as
some others that have gone out from other churches,
yet they have made an impression elsewhere in the
church as good and loyal Presbyterians. A number,
too, of the faithful ones have been taken from us by the
hand of death ; yet there has always been a few earn-
est, faithful, active ones ; and there are a few faithful
ones to-day, (whom it is not necessary that I should
name,) who have stood by the truth, working to build
up the church.
But the end is not yet. About fifteen months ago
the old church building was taken down, (being in great
need of repairs ;) and on that site has been built in these
months a beautiful new church. Our people are work-
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 165
ing hard ; they are praying, and are giving of their
means. I am glad to believe to-day, as we gather
in this shady grove, that mother Paxtang may yet
look back upon the third daughter, and feel proud of
her. I am glad to greet you here and pay a passing
tribute of respect to the mother church from which we
sprung. I am glad that we can look into your faces,
and give you this report. And we trust that in the
century to follow, nay, in this the first quarter of it,
that Middletown church may come up out of the
wilderness "fair as the noon, bright as the sun," and
as strong as some of these churches that were repre-
sented here to-day. [Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. The next organization to be
heard from is the Dauphin Presbyterian church ; and
Rev. Francis M. Baker, the pastor of that church, will
now address you.
166 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ADDRESS OF REV. FRANCIS M. BAKER.
Mr. Moderator, Ladies, and Gentlemen: The
place which the committee, appointed to arrange the
programme, has given to the church of Dauphin is
next to the last on the list, showing that in their judg-
ment they regarded it as second in age to that of Mar-
ket Square, Harrisburg.
The church now known as the First Presbyterian
church of Dauphin has a double history — an earlier
and a later one ; though she has never led a double
life. Of the former history there are but few of the
records extant, and none of its first organization and
none of its meetings of session. Hence we are largely
confined in referring to its past history, to the infre-
quent mention made in Presbyterial records from
time to time.
In " the Centennial Memorial of the Presbytery of
Carlisle " just issued. Vol. I, p. 255, under the head of
" Dauphin Church," the following statement is made:
" Turning to the records of nearly a century ago
we find, under date of June 24, 1766, the following :
''Mr. Rowan, in behalf of Paxton, above the nar-
rows, requested some supplies to be sent to that
people."
" Till near the close of the century supplies were
asked and granted, at first under the above name,
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 167
afterwards that of Middle Paxtang. The Rev. Na-
thaniel R. Snowden, pastor of Harrisburg church, ap-
pears to have preached to the people with regularity and
system from the time he was released from the Derry
and Paxton part of his charge, in 1796, to the time
of his resignation at Harrisburg in 1805. There is a
strong probability that he gave them one fourth his
time; for, when the Rev. James Buchanan, his suc-
cessor, was called, it was to labor three fourths his
time in Harrisburg, and one fourth his time at Middle
Paxton. Accordingly, in December, 1808, he was 'in-
stalled at Harrisburg as pastor of the congregations
of Harrisburg and Middle Paxton,' by a committee
of Presbytery composed of the Revs. Messrs. Snodgrass,
Brady, and Sharon."
" In 1811 Mr. Buchanan was released from the Middle
Paxton part of his charge in order that he might give
all his time and labor to the church in Harrisburg.
The Rev. William R. DeWitt, from the time of his
settlement as pastor of Harrisburg church in 1819,
took a very deep interest in this struggling church
and frequently ministered to it. In 1832 he requested
Presbytery to ' note on its minutes that the church of
Middle Paxton had been re-organized.' Of the re-
organization no record is preserved. After the Old
and New school division, the Presbytery of Carlisle
occasionally sent supplies to the congregation, but they
168 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
depended mainly for them on the Presbytery of
Harrisburg."
About the year 1781 a log church was erected upon
a hill about half a mile northeast of what is now the
borough of Dauphin, called " The Hill Church." This
is the earliest record of a house of worship in this
neighborhood.
On October 11, 1796, Mr. Robert McCord executed
an article of agreement to deed the piece of land on
which the " log church " was built, and ground around
it sufficient for purposes of burial, to a board of trustees.
The trustees named in that agreement were Samuel
Cochran, John Richmond, Joseph Green, James Bell,
and William Murray.
In 1813, November 6, the executors of the estate of
Robert McCord deeded the said land and church prop-
erty to the trustees of the English Presbyterian church,
viz: James Green, William Cochran, and William
Foster.
The names of the persons here mentioned indicate
what was actually the fact, that the neighborhood was
settled largely by families of Scotch and Scotch-Irish
descent. The church was in all probability erected by
means of their contributions.
Where did the supplies, requested of Presbytery in
1766, preach, or was there an older church building?
At what time before 1781, and under whose ministry
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 169
the church on the hill was organized, cannot now be
ascertained.
The number of communicants of the "hill church"
seems to have been large, and the sacraments regularly
and frequently administered.
In the course of time many of the Presbyterians
sold their farms to Germans, who belonged some to the
Lutheran and others to the German Reformed church.
In consequence of this, Presbyterian influence lost the
ascendancy, and the church which was formerly wholly
Presbyterian was at a later day under the care of a
Lutheran, at another of a German Reformed, and at
another of a Presbyterian pastor. It was in this way
that it lost, for a time, its distinctively denominational
character, and was sometimes called a Union church.
Under the labors of Rev. George R. Moore, who came
to this field in 1848, and ministered to the hill church
congregation, a new organization was effected, on the
6th of April, 1850, under the name of the First Pres-
byterian church of Dauphin, with a membership of
twenty-three. Mr. John Brooks was elected a ruling
elder, who remained sole elder until the ordination of
Mr. Jeff"erson Clark, October 21, 1860.
Rev. George R. Moore's ministry continued from
1848 to 1855. The pulpit was supplied from March
1857 to August 1860 by the Rev. John Davis. Rev. A.
D. Moore was pastor from 1860 to 1868. Rev. D. C.
Meeker from 1869 to 1880. Rev. R. F. McLean from
170 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1880 to 1884, and the present pastor from November,
1884 to the present time.
Elder John Brooks died November 1, 1866. On
April 5, 1868, Dr. William Graydon and William A.
Brooks were ordained as elders, of whom the former
removed to Philadelphia, in 1883, and the latter died
January 30, 1872. On the 13th of May, 1883, Dr. A.
T. PofFenberger and Mr. C. W. Shope were elected to
the eldership, who together with Mr. Jefferson Clark,
now constitute the office bearers of the church.
The old "hill church" was used occasionally after
the new one in the town was built. In 1854 it was
burned by accident.
The present membership of the church is ninety-six.
All the Boards of the church receive annual contribu-
tions, and two of them — the Home and the Foreign —
very liberal ones.
We claim therefore for the church of Dauphin the
relation of a daughter. We bring to the mother our
congratulations and to God our thanksgivings for the
wonderful things which He hath wrought.
Moderator Rev. Stewart. Unusual honor is heaped
upon me to-day. I have had the exceeding great
honor of presiding on this occasion. I have now what
is to me perhaps a greater honor, of speaking for the
Market Square Presbyterian church of Harrisburg, the
oldest, probably, of the direct decendants of the Pax-
,ang church.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 171
ADDRESS OF REV. GEORGE B. STEWART.
There was a time when we were one, ecclesiastically..
That is, Paxtang and Harris's Ferry ; and Paxtang was;
the one. And if the rage for laying out the farms in this-
beautiful valley into town lots continues, it will not be-
long until we are one again. But this time it will
be municipally, and the one will be Harrisburg. In
fraternal regard, in common purpose and interests,.
in holy zeal for the progress of the kingdom and the
glory of our King, we are one to-day, as this celebra-
tion gives evidence, and at no time for more than a
century have we been other than one.
The second pastor of the Paxtang church was, in
fact, though not formally, the first pastor of the Har-
risburg church, and the third pastor of Paxtang was
the first pastor installed over the Harrisburg church.
For it was during the incumbency of the able and
honored John Elder that the members of the Paxtang
church residing at Harrisburg desired, about the year
1786, that they be erected into a congregation of their
own. There were many of them, and being artisans
without conveyances of their own, they deemed it an
unnecessary hardship to be compelled to walk three
miles into the country to attend divine service. And
they rightly judged that the religious needs of the
rapidly growing borough required public worship with-
172 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
in its limits. Their wishes respecting a separate church
were not accomplished until after the death of Mr.
Elder in 1792, but they were permitted to have public
worship in the village whenever Mr. Elder could se-
cure the assistance of other Presbyterian ministers, con-
tinuing, how^ever, to be a part of the Paxtang congre-
gation. That is the w^ay it comes about that the oldest
Presbj^terian church in Harrisburg is eight years older
than she gets credit for being.
Immediately after the death of Mr. Elder steps began
to be taken to secure separate organizations for the
Harrisburg people, and this was accomplished in the
election and ordination of three elders, Adam Boyd,
Moses Gilmor, and Samuel Weir. The date of their
ordination is not known. It probably took place almost
immediately after, if not at the time of their election.
It is permissible, therefore, to date the organization of
the church from the day of their election. Hence we
say we were born on February 16, 1794, the oldest
daughter of Paxtang church.
The two venerable churches, Derry and Paxtang,
and this, the youngest church in the Presbyterian fold,
united in calling to the pastoral office the Rev. Nathaniel
R. Snowden, a candidate for the ministry under the
care of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The call being
accepted, Mr. Snowden was ordained to the ministry
and installed over the three churches on October 2,
1793, several months prior to the formal organization
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 173
of the Harrisbur^ church. It thus transpired that the
third pastor of Paxtang was the first pastor of Harris-
burg.
Mr. Snowden after awhile terminated his connection
with the Derry church, and later on with the Paxtang
church, and gave his whole time to the Harrisburg
church, it assuming his entire support.
On June 25, 1805, Mr. Snowden resigned this portion
also of his original charge, and the church remained
for several years without a pastor. During these years
the pulpit was supplied by such eminent men as Rev.
Robert Cathcart, D. D., Rev. John Linn, Rev. Joshua
Williams, D. D., Rev. David McConaughy, D. D., Rev.
James Snodgrass, Rev. William Kerr, and Rev. Wil-
liam Moody, D. D.
The Rev. James Buchanan served the people as stat-
ed supply from May 17, 1807, until February 13, 1809,
when he was installed the second pastor. On account
of ill health he resigned his charge on September 20,
1815. During the earl}'- part of his pastorate he min-
istered to the Middle Paxtang church near the site of
the present town of Dauphin.
After being three years without a pastor, the congre-
gation called, on October 5, 1818, the Rev. William R.
DeWitt, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New York.
Soon after this he entered upon the duties of his office,
and was duly installed as the third pastor of the church
on November 12, 1819. In this office he remained
174 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
^ntil his death on December 23, 1867, a period of nearly
iifty years.
It was on July 5, 1854, that the Rev. Thomas H.
JRobinson, who had just recently been graduated from
the Western Theological Seminary, was called as co-
pastor to Rev. Dr. DeWitt. Mr. Robinson began his
labors on October 1, 1854, and on the 31st of the fol-
lowing January was ordained to the ministry and in-
stalled as Rev. Dr. DeWitt's colleague. For several
years prior to Rev. Dr. DeWitt's death, Rev. Dr. Robin-
son was the sole acting pastor, and also after that
•event until he resigned the charge to accept a profess-
orship in the seminary from which he had graduated
thirty years before.
The present pastor was called from the pastorate of
the Calvary Presbyterian church. Auburn, N. Y., on
October 6, 1884, and was installed the fifth pastor on
the 2d of January, 1885.
It is worthy of note that the first four pastors of the
church came to it in their youth and were ordained to
the ministry at the time they were installed over it.
This First Presbyterian church of Harrisburg was
incoporated as the English Presbyterian church, to dis-
tinguish it from the Reformed church, which at that
time was commonly known as the German Presbyterian
church. But in recent years we only see the corporate
name in official documents, as the common name is
.Market Square church.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 175
Our first house of worship was erected in 1806 on the
corner of Second street and Cherry alley, being built,
as were many other buildings in those days, from the
proceeds of a lottery, sanctioned by law and the best
public sentiment.
In 1841 this building was torn down to make place
for a more commodious structure, which was destroyed
by fire on March 30, 1858. The present edifice, on the
southwest corner of the Market Square, was dedicated
on March 18, 1860, and in 1882 received a large addi-
tion in the rear to accommodate the rapidly growing
Sunday-school.
There was a time when we were the only Presbyterian
church in Harrisburg, but now we share that privilege
and honor with five others of the same faith. At one
time there were but a few Presbyterians in the place,
but the little one has become a thousand, and there
are over sixteen hundred communicants connected
with these six churches. The last church to be organ-
ized is the nearest of all to this venerable Paxtang
church.
During the history of the Market Square church there
have been several notable revivals, such as those of
1843 and 1875-6, while at all times the church has
preserved a high standard of activity, and enjoyed a
large degree of usefulness in the community.
The early records are exasperatingly defective. In
fact there are no records prior to the year 1818, and for
176 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
many years after that they are meager. Though no
roll of the church exists prior to 1818 yet we have the
names of over two thousand persons who have been
communicants; about one half of whom have been
added to the church during the last two decades. We
now number six hundred and sixty members. We
sustain a flourishing mission in a beautiful stone
chapel. Our Sunday-school and other agencies are
complete and prosperous.
Paxtang's oldest daughter salutes her. To this con-
secrated spot she gathers with the other children to
honor the venerable and vigorous mother of us all.
Here where she has worshiped for one hundred and
fifty years, we bring the fruit of the field, which a
hundred years ago she gave us to cultivate for the
Master. May mother and daughters be granted many
3^ears of active and honored service, and bring forth
much fruit as evidence of faith and faithfulness. [Ap-
plause.]
Moderator Stewart. I told 3^ou that we had some
other descendants. We showed vou some of them
this morning, and you listened to them with profit-
This afternoon we want to introduce you to another
direct and very near descendant of a former pastor of
this church. The Rev. Dr. Joshua Williams, was, I
believe, the fourth installed pastor of the church. I
speak from memory, not from documentary evidence.
If Dr. Egle were now here, I presume he would correct
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 177
me if I am mistaken. Mr. Joshua Williams, bearinej
the same name, a grandson of the Rev. Dr. Josliua
Williams, and now an elder of a Presbvterian church
in the west — the first church of jNlinneapplis — is with
us. If we had St. Paul here, it might make some dif-
erence. For wo understand that between Minneapolis
and St. Paul there is a great gulf fixed, and the mere
mentioning of one in the presence of the other might
be serious. [Sensation and numerous smiles.]
1-2
ADDRESS OF MR. JOSHUA WILLIAMS.
ADDRESS OF Mil. .KJSHUA WILLIAMS.
Mr. Moderator, Fathers, and Brkthrkn : The
text whicli suggests itself as a proper one for the
remarks I may have to indulge in on this occasion,
is this, " Tf a man bloweth not his own horn — verily
it shall not be blowed ! " But introduced as a Minne-
apolis man in connection with St. Laid, 1 may say tirst
of all that the oidy regret I liave to-day is that there
are no St. L'aul men here! We have a high regard
for St. l*aul. \\\^ would not be worthy to be counted
among the " descendants " to-day if we had not. But
wdiile St. Paul is distinguished enough, in descendants,
or numerically, — he got badly left I [Laughter.]
Mr. Moderator, 1 begin to believe " there is some-
thins in a name." As vou have announced, I am a
grandson of the Rev. Joshua Williams, D. D., whose
name is on your roll of honor to-da^^ He had a
grandfather whosL- name was .Joshua. That .Joshua
had a son whose name was Louis. This Louis was
the father of the .Joshua we honor to-day ! [General
laughter.] That .Joshua had a son Louis, who was
my father, [increased laughter,] and a Judge of the
Supreme Court of Minnesota said of this I^ouis : ''He
was the finest specimen of a Presbyterian elder I have
ever seen." His son is here, and his name is Joshua.
182 Paxtang Pesbyrterian Church.
[Laughter and applause.] I have a son at home
whose name is Louis ! I have another one whose
name is Charles Rittenhouse, but he is of no account
in this connection ! [Meuriment and suppressed
laughter.] But there is ground, you see, to hope ;
that like they did in the beginning of the Gospel by
Matthew, the Joshua's and Louis's are going on to
beget one another to the end of the chapter! [General
laughter.]
Did I say that my Charles Rittenhouse was of no ac-
count here? (Remember my text!) I beg his pardon.
My wife, Martha Rittenhouse, had a "grandfather,"
too. And although his name has not been mentioned
yet from this platform, it has been in private, and it
is perfectly legitimate to mention on this occasion.
His sleeping dust awaits the resurrection morn in
yonder cemetery a little farther down the valley — at
old Derry. And in that sacred edifice rehabilitated and
beautified, I understand, as Paxtang has been by the
generous and tender ministries of those whom I have
the honor to address, is to be found a memorial
window, dedicated to my grandfather, and another
one to my wife's grandfather. Dr. William Simonton.
His daughter Jane, well known to you, Aunt Elizabeth
Espy, and to you. Miss Clark, and sister of Judge
Simonton, married the Rev. John Hughes Rittenhouse.
These were the parents of my Charles Rittenhouse's
mother, the woman whom I delight to call my wife.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 183
Do you wonder that I acknowledged intense interest in
the events of tliis day? "Are you Israelites? 80 am I."
Now, my friends, you have heard from nine churches,
all descendants from yonder old Paxtang mother, and
perhaps it was supposed when this programme was
made out, that these organizations were all the descend-
ants there were of these grand old people, but it is not
so. The descendants of the Rev. Joshua Williams,
D. D., founded a church in Minneapolis, one year be-
fore the church represented here to-day by Dr. Cham-
bers was organized, viz: in 1857. There were not
eighty-three members at this organization — I believe
that was the number at the first organization of Pino
Street church — there were eight members. Two of
these eight were your children, viz: Louis and Joseph
Williams, sons of Rev. Joshua Williams. You Vv^ill re-
mem'ber how Paul, in the Bible, undertakes to show
how that Levi paid tithes in Abraham when Melchise-
dek met him? "Much more," by the same token I
prove to you, that while the Pine Street church was so
neatly characterized by Dr. Chambers as your grand
daughter, the Westminster church of Minneapolis is
legitimately, with emphasis on the adjectives, your
(/rga^^ra/nd-daughter. The eight members at her or-
ganization were the two sons of Joshua Williams I
have mentioned, with their wives, two daughters of
Louis, making six, and two others, Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew Oliver, by the way, Pennsylvanians, too.
184 Paxtang PiiESBYTERiAN Church.
Westminster has grown to over one thousand mem-
bers ; " the small one has become a strong nation." The
Genera] Assembly has been comfortably entertained by
her. Out of her have come several church organiza-
tions, while existing churches have received valuable
additions, notably the First Church, to which I now
belong, the oldest organization in Minnesota, has been
greatly strengthened in this way; that Judge (Vander-
burgh,) I referred to awhile ago, whom my respected
friend Dr. Erskine here met at the last General Assem-
bl}^, is of tlie First Church, with other good men and
true. So vou see vour influence is extendirig far and
wide. I have thought it worthy of the occasion to re-
hearse these facts, which show how much better God's
people " builded than the}" knew," and to suggest how
sublime is everything connected with the interests of
the kingdom of God and of Christ. We have all heard
of that humble woman who gave "two mites" once upon
a time. I do not believe it is possible for any of us to
have anything to do in promoting the cause of Jesus
Christ without beino: honored. It is the sure wav to
achieve a glorious immortality.
But I must not detain you with an impromptu
and desultor}^ speech. My sympathies are with this
audience. I regard it an honor to be here — did not
know how much of a providence there was in my
coming to Pennsylvania "at such a time as this."
Have been up the Cumberland Valley with my cousin-
Paxtang Preseyterian Church. 185
in-law, Dr. Erskine, and I guess he or Uncle Josiah
Espy and the Rutherfords are to blame for putting me
into a [position so iryiiig to the well-known modesty
of we westerners ! Now, seriously, I wish you all God-
speed, and let us all be true to our glorious Presbyte-
rian heritage, for situated as we are in Minnesota, amid
a large foreign population, I believe no churcli is so
well adapted, both in doctrine and polity, to make
of tliese heterogeneous foreigners patriotic and true
American citizens. Our beloved country needs the
Presbyterian church. I thank you. [Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. One thing is very certain, that
if names are scarce, there is plenty of blood, and both
blood and names are good. It is with very great pleas-
ure that I introduce now to you tlie Rev. Dr. Natlian
Grier Parke, who will speak to us upon the "Charac-
teristics of Early Presbyterian Preachers " — none of
recent date.
ADDRESS OF REV. NATHAN GRIER PARKE.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY PRESBY-
TERIAN PREACHERS.
I would very much i)refer to speak to you this
afternoon looking into your faces, but I am afraid.
Daniel Doughterty tells us that on one occasion,
when making his maiden speech in the city of Phil-
adelphia, he lost himself, or lost his subject, and
fainted and was carried off — the best thing he could
do. Now I do not want to faint, and T therefore, have,
as a security for not making an entire failure, some
manuscript in my liand.
In the arrangement of subjects to be presented on
this occasion, it has fallen to my lot to speak of "the
characteristics of the early ])reaclier," of whom it is
assumed I must know something, having "comedown
from a former generation." But as a matter of fact,
Mr. Elder, the second pastor of the Paxtang clnirch,
and his ministerial associates were in advance of me
about a hundred years. I know something of them
and of their times as do all who know anything of the
historv of Pennsvlvania. Thev made their mark on
the times in which they lived, and some of them had
no little to do Avitli making the times. Still I am not
sure but the "committee on the programme" made a
mistake in asking me to speak of these worthies wlio
190 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
are not here to-day to speak for themselves. My dis-
position is to glorify the present rather than the past.
Solomon, whom we still give credit for some wisdom,
tells us that they make a mistake who say "the former
times were better than these," and on this subject I am
heartily in accord with Solomon. We believe the age
in which we live is socially, politically, educationally,
and religiously the best age in the history of the world.
And we believe further, that in our estimate of the
times that are past, and the men that figured in them,
we must make allowance for the " enchantment that
distance lends." We do not suppose that the Scotch-
Irish preachers who were the Presbyterian pastors in
this part of Pennsylvania a hundred and fift}^ years
ago were superior to the Presbyterian pastors of 1890.
Neither do we suppose that the elders associated with
the ancient worthies were superior to the Presbyterian
elders of 1890, including the President of the United
States and the Governor of the Keystone State. These
optimistic views of the age in which we live will not
prevent us, we trust, from doing justice to the early
preachers.
1. It is conceded by all who knew them that they
did love to have their own way, which they honestly
believed was the right way. If they were not auto-
cratic they leaned that way. And, belonging, as they
did, to the church " militant," they did not hesitate to
contend earnestly for the faith that was according to
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 191
the Westminster Confession. As they did not all
think alike on some subjects, they not unfrequently
had "lively times" in their ecclesiastic meetings. One
of them is represented as praying in Presbytery that
" the Lord would keep them right, for he knew they
were very determined " and difficult to change when
once they set their heads.
With them orthodoxy was their doxie and hetrodoxy
was your doxie. If alive to-day, they would be op-
posed to revision. As the result possibly of the law of
heredity, their successors in office in this part of Penn-
sylvania are like them in this regard. They are not
clammering for revision. The degenerate sons of noble
sires in New York and the northern part of Pennsyl-
vania are the men who vote for revision.
2. They did not believe in the doctrine of falling from
grace, but some of them, we are sorry to sa}^, practiced
it. And under the circumstances in which they were
placed, we are not surprised at this. God does not
promise to keep those who go in the way of temptation.
But in every house where they entered, the bottle, not a
''little brown jug," but elegant decanters, were set out,
and they were invited and expected to drink. At
weddings and funerals and at all social gatherings,
preachers and elders, and deacons were expected to
take a sup of good brandy. And it was good, no
doubt, as compared with what is now sold for "good
brandy." A minister on the Eastern Shore of Marv-
192 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
land, a hundred years ago, was tried and condemned
by his Presbytery, not for making brandy, but for
making brandy that was so poor it would freeze.
In my father's cellar, when I was a boy, there were
several barrels of brand}^ and he took his brandy
as regularly as he took his coffee, and he was a
preacher. The wonder to me is not that occasionally
a })reacher fell from grace, but that there were any
sober men among them.
3. These early preachers did not preach "twenty
minute sermons." Sermons two hours long were not
uncommon among them. The people went early to
church, taking their children and their dinners with
them, and they reached home in time to milk the cows,
and eat a bowl of bread and milk before it was dark,
-except on sacramental occasions.
4. These earh^ preachers were frugal men ; from prin-
ciple or from necessity, possibly from both. Yet they
probably lived as well as most of their people — preach-
ers generally do. They rode on horse-back, and that
■exercise gave them appetites for plain food. Their
.salaries did not tempt them to luxurious living. In
my own father's family I know a good deal of time
was lost in the morning picking the bones out of
smoked herring, but it was in a measure made up at
supper — there were no bones in the mush and milk.
Living in this frugal manner, these early preachers
-escaped bronchitis, lived to a good old age, taught their
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 193
children economy, and were able to send their boys to
college. And thus they furnished the country with its
lawyers and judges and politicians and statesmen.
5. Apparently these men never tired in their work.
We do not read that they ever asked for vacations in
which to rest. Their congregations usually supplied
them with a few acres of land on which they recreated
in plowing and sowing and reaping and cutting briars
and picking stones. The}^ were not afraid of working
with their hands. This kind of recreation was very
much less expensive than summering in the mountains
or by the seaside, and possibly as helpful.
6. These preachers had very much less help in their
work than the preachers of to-day. Sunday-schools,
societies of Christian Endeavor, W. G. T. U.'s, and Y.
M. C. A.'s they knew nothing of. They visited their
congregations personally. They trained the parents
and the children in the catechism. They preached the
truth intelligently, simply, earnestly, and fearlessly.
And many of them, in addition to their pastoral work,
superintended the secular education of the young men
of their congregations. There may have been Aarons
and Hurs who held up their hands by their prayers
but they did not do it by active church work.
7. These early preachers were thoroughly educated
men. And as educators made their power felt on the
side of civil and religious liberty. Most of them had
their diplomas from representative universities in Great
194 Paxtaxg Presbyterian Church.
Britain, and their families became training schools for
young men who were preparing for college. They
established academies that grew into flourishing col-
leges. The Old Log college of Bucks county, as is well
known, was the seed from which the university of
Princeton grew. The Puritan, and the Dutch, and the
Scotch-Irish preachers of a hundred and fifty years ago,
were the founders of many of our great universities.
They grew out of a demand for an educated ministry.
They so preached as to inspire our people with a love of
education , and with a love of liberty. All that Macauley
and Choate have said of these men who came to these
shores " to find a church without a bishop, and a State
without a king" was truthfully said. Washington ac-
knowledged their help in the Revolutionary war. The
patriotism of the pastor of this church is a matter of
history, and he was only one of many. There were no
doubt tories among the preachers when the colonies
were struggling for liberty against the mother country.
There is a black sheep in every flock, but the}'' were not
found among the Presbyterian preachers who resolved
to hang together or hang separately.
8. There was not much that was emotional in their
religion. Their preaching was not sensational and
their theology was not effete. In their view, reli-
gion was largely a matter of training, and they re-
garded their work as largely in this line. They aimed
to promote family religion, and in this they were sue-
I
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 195
cessful. They secured family worship in the home,
reverence for parents, the observance of the Sabbath
and knowledge of our formulas of Christian faith.
While they preached the truth intelligently and per-
suasively, they did not hesitate to declare the whole
counsel of God, although it invoved the duty of telling
men of the wrath and curse of God pronounced against
sin. In the pulpit they only feared God. Under
their preaching and teaching, God's people were built
up in their most holy faith, and sinners were converted
to God. They did not preach much science, but they
did preach the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, and
under their preaching men and women grew up, who,
under God, were able to lay the foundations of the
civil and religious institutions that are the glory of our
land. If we may judge trees by their fruit, the religion
of these early preachers, was a good kind. There is no
discounting religion that develops such Christians.
9. We believe these preachers, while called to endure
" hardness as good soldiers," had a good time. They
were happy in their work, full}' as much so as the
preachers of this age, possibly more so. They were
not installed on wheels, with notice to be ready at any
time to move. They took their vows at their installa-
tion as our young people take their wives — until separ-
ated by death. They did not have luxurious homes
and fat salaries and elegant churches, but they had
that which glorified the home — the presence of God —
196 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
intelligent Christian homes. They were sustained in
their work. Their people respected them and loved
them, and made them welcome to their homes, and
looked up to them as Job's friends in the days of his
prosperity looked up to him. When sent as delegates
to the General Assembly, they were not provided for
at the hotels. They were hospitably entertained in
private homes, where nothing was esteemed too good
for them. And the testimony that comes from these
homes is that, in entertaining these preachers, they
not unfrequently entertained angels unawares.
I have not felt called on in presenting this subject
to speak of the wives of the early preachers, for whom
I have a profound respect. Allow me, in conclusion,
briefly to refer to them. They showed faith and
courage and good judgment when they consented to
take the position of preacher's wives, without much
coaxing or persuasion, and when they engaged to love,
honor, and obey their husbands, they lived up to
their engagements. They were for the most part keep-
ers at home, and in the absence of their husbands
they looked after the children, and the chickens, and
the cow, and other things. They seldom penned
poems, but tliey often "penned pigs." They rarely
made music on pianos, but they often made music
on spinning wheels. Their hands were not remarka-
ble for softness, and whiteness, and smallness, but they
had brain, and muscle, and loving hearts, and good
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 197
common sense, and these they bequeathed by the law
of heredity to tlieir children.
They did not often appear on the [)ublic platform as
speakers or as presidents of benevolent societies, but
they were careful that their husbands should "appear
well in the gates." It is related of one of the early
preachers, who was a little absent-minded, that on one
occasion he left home to attend Presbytery, with the
charge from his wife, to put on a clean shirt every
day until he returned; and so he did, but he did not
remember to take any off — the result was, his coat was
a little tight when he came home. Men who serve the
public as preachers and Congressmen have not much
time for their children, and if their children amount
to anything, it is because they have faithful mothers.
We honor our fathers to-day, and very many of us
certainly some of us, have special reason to honor our
mothers, whose loving Christian care has been to us a
perpetual benediction. May God's richest blessings
rest on the mothers of the land, whose quiet influence,
next to that of the church, has made it what it is.
We can construct scales that will weigh a single hair
— you cannot construct scales tliat weigh a flood of
light. [Loud applause.]
Moderator Stewart. You have had the pleasure
of looking into the faces of some of those who have
descended from the early Paxtang preachers. I now
give you the pleasure of looking at a sermon which
198 Paxtang Presbyterian Church
was preached by the Rev. John Elder in Paxtang,
December 31, 1738. It was his ordination sermon.
I am not disposed to question the accuracy of the
statement of Dr. Parke, that those old preachers
preached two hours. They were able to do it. But
this sermon was no doubt preached within half an
hour. These pages you see (holding them up) are
small, and there are only twelve of them, — and I read
by the watch one of them in three minutes ; and the
handwriting was not familiar to me either ; so it must
have been preached in less than half an hour. I do
not understand why. Perhaps the Presbytery was
present, and thought they would not care to have a
long sermon. The pastors were present and did not
care for too much preaching.*
We are present to-day to hear — and it will be a
pleasure — about the country church, as well as the
early ministers, who were to a very large extent
missionary pastors. It is therefore with great pleas-
ure that I give place to the Governor of this Com-
monwealth, — and, what is more to the point to-day,
an elder in the Presbyterian church ; and, what is
perhaps more to the audience to-day, a trustee of the
Paxtang congregation. Governor, elder, and trustee,
James A. Beaver, will now address us upon the
" Importance of the Country Church." [The Governor
was greeted with hearty applause.]
*This sermon is printed in the Appendix.
ADDRESS OF GOV. JAMES A. BEAVER.
IMPORTANCE OF THE COUNTRY CHURCH.
Ladies and Gentlemen : I sui)posed that it was
to be my pleasure in coming here to-day, and in
saying a word about the country church, to visit the
familiar surroundings of this liistoric spot. I have
been here before. It is a great pleasure in driving
in this direction to look at this beautiful and quiet
old landmark. I have occasionally come here to
worship, and so have been familiar with its approaches
and surroundings; but when I came to-day and found
tliat we drove by a road altogether different from the
one which is usually traveled, and saw as we ap-
proached the church flags flying and guide-boards
announcing Sharon, Paxtang, and Rutherford avenues,
eighty feet wide, I said to myself, is it possible that
tlie profane hand of progress has been laid upon the
country church ! When I ascertained later that it was
jiroposed to clip a little here and there from the edges
of these beautiful grounds in order to make these
avenues regular and the plot symmetrical, it seemed
to me it was only another evidence of what the
country church has done in contributing to the suc-
cess of the community and in stimulating its progress
and thrift.
But it is not the country church of to-day of which
we are to speak, and it is not of the importance of
202 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
the country church of to-day of which you expect
me to say anything. If you were to ask me, is the
country church important? I would answer it very
briefly. Is a mother an important factor in a well
regulated family ? The statement of such a proposi-
tion answers it. Without her there is no family;
there can be no family life ; no social life ; no home.
And so if you were to put the question, is the country
church, or has it been, an important factor in this
Commonwealth and in the country ? You answer
the question by asking it. A fuller answer has been
given by the filial messages to w^hich we have listened,
from the loyal daughters of this ancient church who
bring their greetings of affection and gratitude to
this Sesqui-Centennial home-coming.
But the committee of arrangements has not asked
a question. The}'' affirm a fact and ask me to tell,
briefly and pointedly as I may, in what way the
country church has shown its importance. Any one
who has been in the habit of coming here, or who
has made but a casual visit ; any one who has fre-
quented the historic churches of this valley and of
the neighboring valley across the river, and the
ancient churches of many other fertile valleys through-
out the Commonwealth, will realize and recognize the
importance of the country church historically. This
building and its surroundings; yonder churchyard with
its] quiet inmates ; Donegal, Upper Pennsborough,
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 203
Lower Pennsborough, and other well-known churches
of eastern Pennsylvania, are, to a large extent, the
source and the center of the history of Pennsylvania,
and without them, and the influences which radiate
from them, our history would be largely a blank.
It was through the country church that the history
of the region has been written. This is quite as true
of the Lutheran and other denominations as of the
Presbyterian ; for in some of the German churches the
records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths were much
more faithfully kept, and have been more carefully
preserved, than among the churches of the Scotch-
Irish and their descendants. The people who first
inhabited Pennsylvania, coming as they did from Scot-
land, from Ireland, from Switzerland, from France,
and from Germany, wdth a view of securing the
freedom of worship which they failed to enjoy at
home, naturally and almost necessarily founded and
organized a church as soon as they had secured a
new home. They were largely an agricultural people.
They settled upon their little farms, were busied with
the efibrt to secure a livelihood, led isolated lives, and
endeavored to rear their families in the fear of God.
They little heeded the history they were making and
were not concerned about recording it. Whatever has
come to us of their living and of their doing has come
largely through the history of these churches wdiich
they founded. There is no phase of the country
204 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
church, outside the distinctively spiritual work which
belonged to it, which is of more importance to us as a
people than the history which has been preserved
through its influence and which makes for our Com-
monwealth the goodly past upon which we look with
so much of pride and gratitude to-day.
I recognize the fact that this has been an all-day
service and that the shadows are lengthening, and
that I cannot, therefore, dwell upon this or any other
particular phase of this subject at any considerable
length. I shall therefore touch only upon two or three
points in which, it seems to me, the country church
has shown its importance, and from them we may
judge as to its importance in the present and for the
future.
It has been of vast importance ecclesiastically. If
this thought had not been impressed upon our minds
heretofore, it certainly would have been so impressed
by the services of this day. When this little church,
the corner-stone of whose present building was laid one
hundred and fifty years ago, and which was founded
years before that, called the roll of her children to-day,
and they responded to the number of eight or ten,
strong, vigorous, and healthy organizations — some of
them the leading churches of our State and country,
acknowledging her as their mother, we see the import-
ance of the country church viewed from this stand-
point; but perhaps its importance is not felt so largely
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 205
in the number of her descendants as in the influence
which she has exerted upon the educational history of
the country, and upon the supplies which the pulpit
has drawn from the country church.
Dr. Parke in his admirable address referred to the Log
College in Bucks county, the one hundred and twen-
tieth anniversary of whose founding was lately cele-
brated. What was that college? It was the outgrowth
of Tennant's country church, and of the necessity for
educating the young men of his immediate vicinity
who were anxious to enter the ministry, and whose pa-
rents were unable to send them to New England or to
the old country, to secure the training necessary for
this purpose. That other Log College, its legitimate
successor from which Dr. Parke himself graduated,
what was it? It was the outgrowth of John MacMil-
lan's country church. If we were to take a census of
the clergymen who are assembled here to-day, we
would probably find that a full score of them are
graduates of the one or the other of the legitimate suc-
cessors of these two log colleges.
I see in this audience a colleare friend of mine, a vear
older than I from the college stand-point, who received
his preliminary education in the academy whose prin-
cipal. Dr. Alexander Donaldson, has lately died, and
who sent year after year, sometimes six and sometimes
more young men, from his academy to Jefferson College,
many of whom entered the ministry. That academy,
206 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
which began in the loft of the spring-house attached to
the manse, which became so well known in Pennsyl-
vania, and which, by the way, bore the honored name of
the long-time pastor of the Paxtang church — Elder's
Ridge Academy — what was it? It was the outgrowth
of the country church, and it was largely the product
of the energy of a country pastor who, whilst he was
educating the boys of his congregation and of the
neighboring congregations, was ministering steadily
..and regularly to his countr}^ church. These are only
instances which might be multiplied ten or twenty fold,
of the influence exerted by our country churches in
founding our educational institutions which are under
-ecclesiastical control.
But the country church did more than that. It not
only sent out its colonies and founded our educational
institutions, but it raised up the young men who were
to be educated in the latter, young men of vigorous
•bodies and of self-reliant spirit, who not only in the
Presbyterian church, but in many other churches in
our Commonwealth, were to be the pioneers in estab-
lishing upon broad and sure foundations throughout
the length and breadth of our own and in heathen
lands, churches for the upbuilding of the cause of
Christ, and for carrying the blessings of Christianity to
:all the peoples of the earth. But this, as you see, opens
a wide field before us into which we cannot enter. We
..merely state the fact, full of suggestion and of interest.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 207
There is another stand-point from which, it seems to
me, the country church was important, and that is the
social one. I speak first of society in its organized ca-
pacity. We have in this church-yard just at my right,
as notable an example of what I mean as can be found
anywhere in the records of the history of our State.
John Elder is buried there. Who was John Elder ?
He was for more than fifty years pastor of the Paxtang
church ; but he was more than that, he was the cap-
tain of the Paxtang Boys. And what does that mean?
It means that he was at the head of the social influ-
ences which molded his community. It means that
he was largely instrumental in molding the thought and
the effort of the community. It means that whilst he
was ready to load the people of his congregation in the
way of life by his ministrations upon the Sabbath and
throughout the week, he was ready also to lead them
in the discharge of the duties which they owed to
their country. I think it is true, as has been already
intimated here to-day, that the church of the olden
time was more than the church of to-day, and the
preacher was expected to cover a wider field than the
preacher of to-day. It is possible that the church of
to-day and that the minister of to-day confine them-
selves to the more legitimate work of the cliurch, and
that the spiritual power of the church is thereby in-
creased. The conditions which surround us have
clianged to such an extent that this is possible. The
208 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
country church was the center of the intellectual ac-
tivity of its neighborhood, and the preacher was ex-
pected to furnish their intellectual pabulum to his con-
gregation and to instruct them, to a greater or less
degree, in what we call the political duties of citizen-
ship. The farmer who a hundred years ago followed
his plow from morning till night, sowed his seed
broadcast and reaped the harvest with the sickle, was
not given to the perusal of a daily paper, even if the
daily paper had had an existence, and he came to the
church on the Sabbath day, not only to hear the gospel,
but in an incidental way to hear what had been going
on in the world and what relation he bore to the events
which were happening around him and what his duty
was in reference to them. Almost necessarily, whether
the pastor of the church desired to occupy such a po-
sition or not, he became the recognized social head of
the community. He led in all social reforms. In many
instances, as we know, he led his congregation to battle.
He addressed himself to the mind and the conscience
and the heart of his people, not onl}^ as he preached
the gospel to them, but as he taught them their duties
as citizens, as well the duty which they owed to their
country as those which they owed to each other and
to God.
Then in the narrower sphere which we usually call
the social, the country church was important. I have
been led to recall and enjoy that side of its life
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 209
to-day. Brought up in the country church for several
years, I know the dear associations which cluster
around its social life. A few days ago I heard a
lady say that she had been at a funeral in the
neighboring churchyard and that she was surprised
to find the people, after the immediate friends had
retired from the grave, dividing into little knots
and discussing the social affairs of the day. This
does not seem singular to us who are familiar with
the social life of the country church. We take that
as a matter of course — we regard it as one of its
chief enjoyments.
The country church of the olden time was the
social center of the community. There was first, the
service in the morning ; there were long hymns, and
the long prayer, followed by a long sermon and then
came the intermission. The congregation went down
to the spring ; families gathered in groups ; perhaps
a cloth was laid upon the grass and lunch brought
out. Sometimes the lunch was enjoyed by the family
alone ; possibly some young man thought he could
find a better lunch within some other family circle.
Here home news was discussed ; the social chat of
the neighborhood was had, and the country people
were no worse for that. During the busy season of
the year it was, perhaps, as much of an inducement
to attendance after a week of hard toil upon the
farm as the regular church service of the da3^
210 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
How vividly these scenes are recalled as we come
together to-day in the beautiful surrounding of this
old church. I have enjoyed this phase of the country
church to-day, and instead of coming upon the plat-
form to sit with these reverend gentlemen during the
afternoon, I have been slipping around the edges of
the crowd and enjoying its social features. I will
not say that that was the best part of the service;
it was not, of course, but perhaps it was enjoyed
as much as any other. Much of this phase of the
social life of the community was due to the pastor
of the country church, and because his influence was
felt in it the social life was pure, its tone was elevating,
and it was none the less enjoyed because its spirit was
influenced by the precepts taught in the church.
These are just a few of what I think were the imme-
diate factors of the life which centered in the country
church. She has made to a large extent, and has
preserved the history of this Commonwealth. She
has peopled our city churches ; she has sent life and
spirit into them. She has furnished in large degree
the ministry for the State, for the country, and for the
missions of the church throughout the world. She
has molded much of the social life of the community,
and if these things are so, we will agree, I think, that
her importance has been very great and that it is
difficult to magnify it beyond its deserts.
I have spoken, as you have observed, almost exclu-
Paxtang Presbyterian Cpiurch. 211
sively of the collateral and not of tlie direct work of
the country church. Its main function, as that of the
church of to-day, is to preach the gospel and to point
out clearly the way of salvation. I do not under-
value, nor can I estimate, the importance of this
part of the church's work. What it has done in this
direction will be revealed only in eternity.
It is getting towards the time when, as Dr. Parke
intimated, they were accustomed to adjourn for
milking. The fact is this would have occurred to me
some time ago but for the fact that I recognized in
the audience a great many persons who are not in the
habit of doing their own milking. Late as it is, so
far as I know, we have not heard a word of the Shorter
Catechism. Just think of the one hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of the laying of the corner-stone
of a country church and no Shorter Catechism. I
can ask the questions without a book, and if I do so
I hope the audience will join in the answers. But
if we are to have any catechetical exercises, perhaps
it would be well for me to begin with the reverend
gentlemen who are on the platform. [Turning.]
Are you ready? \_A voice. Yes.] The only man
who has intimated he is ready for the catechism
was an Elder.
Joking aside, let me say that the sound teaching of
the country church is largely due to the faithfulness
with which the young people were trained in this same
212 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Shorter Catechism, which gives tone and nerve to Pres-
byterianism everywhere, and whenever the love of it
goes out to a large extent the distinctive life of the
Presbyterian church goes out with it. We hear much
said now-a-days about revision. I am glad to say,
however, that so far as I know this does not extend to
the Shorter Catechism. I am not greatly concerned
about the confession. If they leave us the Shorter
Catecliism intact, I will be content. But when I look
back and see Dr. Erskine, who is on the committee of
revision, I am not much afraid of the result.
Ladies and gentlemen, this has been a great day for
this community. It has been a great day for these
various churches which have come together to cele-
brate this important event in this social way. We do
well when we emphasize such occasions as this, and
when we give honor and credit to the men and the
women who have done so much for the church, for the
community, and for posterity, by founding and sus-
taining the countr\^ church. It has been a great
pleasure to me to join in these services and to render
my mite and tribute to the memory of the men who
builded better than they knew because they were
guided by the Unseen hand.
Moderator Stewart. One of the characteristics of
this region is the fact that every body is related, and
you cannot speak about your neighbors without tread-
ing on somebody's toes. I never have been able to
Paxtang Presbyteriax Church. 213
keep track of all the connections; but I know there
are connections of some character. Colonel Francis
Jordan, an elder of the Pine Street Presbyterian
church, is in some way or other related to the Pax-
tang church ; I don't know just how it comes about,
but perhaps he will tell us. At any rate, there are
some of us on the platform who would like to hear
from him. He will please come forward and address
us on this occasion. [Applause.]
214 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
ADDRESS OF COLONEL FRANCIS JORDAN.
Mr. Moderator, Ladies, and Gentlemen: It was
my misfortune not to be born of any descendants of
the Paxtang church, so far as I have ever been able to
find out. Of course, starting out in life under such
disadvantages, a mistake of that kind would soon de-
velope itself; and when the occasion arrived when I
had to look squarely at that condition, the next ques-
tion was, what are you going to do about it ? Now,
that was a very grave question ; and the only way I
could get out of it was to see if I could not marry
somebody who did belong to, or was a descendant of
some one belonging to the Paxtang church. [Laughter.]
I was very successful in this enterprise ; and in that
way I became identified with the ancestors of Paxtang
church, and with their forefathers, I may say, whose
remains lie interred in this cemetery for generations
past.
Then I had the fortune, or misfortune, to belong to
the legal profession ; and one of its principles is, or of
the law which is represented by it, that a man and
wife are one person. So that by the union, you observe'
I was identified literally, and am a member actually,
with the people of Paxtang. [Laughter and applause.]
I have no doubt that this was the reason I was called
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 215
upon here to-day. Anyhow I appreciate it in that
light, and am very grateful for it.
But when I am told, however, that a man has to
limit himself to a five minutes' speech, there comes up
another question. What is he going to talk about in
five minutes? I may not say what I ought. Speak-
ing here without any knowledge of what has been
said by former speakers, of course I am a little in the
dark; and all I can do is to give to you, as the repre-
sentatives of Paxtang, men, women, and children, now
and in all time to come, my benediction ; and wish you
all sorts of prosperity, happiness, success, and blessings,
both in this life, and that which is to come; or, in
other words, both on this side, and on the other side of
Jordan. [Continuous laughter and applause.]
Governor Beaver. The Moderator, at my request,
has just gone after Rev. Dr. James Elder, of Clarion,
whom I wish to have come to the stand; and, for fear
Mr. Stewart should not succeed, I insist upon his com-
ing to the platform. He was one year my senior, and
I want to call Aim up once.
Moderator Stewart, (having returned to the stand.)
I made a mistake in Colonel Jordan. I see I ought to
have had the other member of the family. But in this
I have not made a mistake — Dr. Elder, one of the direct
descendants, who will now address us. I am sorry to
call on him in such haste; but an Elder — we have them
all around us — was never at a loss for something to say.
216 Paxtang Pesbyrteeian Church.
ADDRESS OF REV. JAMES ELDER, D. D.
Mr. Moderator: It is not possible for a man to
come here in this presence without he has some ances-
tors; and in that line 1 will trot out my grandfather ;
[laughter ;] and I think in that way I will secure your
attention just for a moment. It is a grand thing, after
being such a distance from our people, and being in
such a common place as I have, to dwell in a commu-
nity like this. My father's father removed from this
place, and went out in the wilderness ; and my grand-
father, or great-grandfather, organized a church there.
That church grew, and six or eight churches sprung
from that one, and an academy, and otherwise the
good work spread over the community. Thus one sin-
gle descendant who passed out from this church ac-
complished a vast amount of good in one locality.
Thus all over this whole country, here and there, are
descendants of people of Paxtang church, who have
planted seeds of good that have grown into trees of
usefulness, and the influences have been felt far and
near over this land.
Now, then, the work that has been done here in
the past has been well done. The history of it is
secure ; but that will not answer our purpose fully.
It will answer for the honor of the fathers. It is to
their glory that the work was well done. But j'^ou
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church. 217
and I, and all of us, have an influence to exert. We
have a work to do, and, if we are actuated by proper
motives, we are striving to make history ; and the
history that we make, if we desire, and are also actuated
by proper motives, shall be for good ; and shall tell
on others to come as the history of our fathers is
telling to-day in this land. So we are not to be
satisfied, — the people of Paxtang are not to be satis-
fied. Those who have gone out and have been in-
strumental in accomplishing some good elsewhere^
are not to be satisfied with the glorious history that
is already made ; but we ourselves are to make histor}',.
and to make it glorious, and we will, if we are actuated
by the right motives, and are found doing the work
for the church, for the country, and for our God.
I am very glad to meet with so many, though I
know scarcely one of you, coming as I do from
Clarion; and, if it had not been for this grand
Governor of ours, I suppose I would not have been
compelled to appear before you and make an address.
But Governor Beaver, when he was a boy at college,
would always have a way of having his own way,
just like some of the fathers here at Paxtang, that
would have their own w^ay. And now he comes here,
and would have his own way, or did have it, I sup-
pose. We have to remember his position, and what
he is, and what he was at the start. He was little
Jim Beaver then ! That is the way we knew him. He-
218 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
had his own way then, and he has had it since; and
I suppose will have it on and on. [Laughter.] So
much for the Governor. We are glad to welcome him
with the people of Paxtang, and as an interested guest;
and although not connected with the old church, or
its descendants, he is certainly connected with some
of the other old churches that are scattered through
the valleys of our States; and he has been doing
work ; and, while welcoming him, we most gladly
see the great work he has done amongst the churches,
and the various associations of the churches, — in the
General Assembly, for example. And so we enjoy
ourselves to-day, to separate after a most delightful
gathering together. And so I bid you all good-by.
[Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. Rev. Dr. Robinson, for so long
an honored member of this immediate neighborhood,
and so greatly beloved by myself and all who knew
him, was invited by the committee to make the ad-
dress on this occasion. Dr. Robinson writes me as
follows :
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 219
LETTER OF REV. THOMAS H. ROBINSON, D. D.
Western Theological Seminary,
Ridge Avenue, Allegheny, Sept. 14-, 1890.
Dear Bro. Stewart : Last week my doctor thought
I might be able to go over to the great gathering in
Paxtang next Thursday, if I did not try to make an
address; to-day he says I should not go at all. I have
been on my back most of the time since I came home
from Harrisburg, and especially during the last week.
I shall not be able to take up my seminary duties at
the opening this week. I wish I felt well enough to
send a formal letter to the committee and to the Pax-
tang people, but necessity knows but one law. Please
say to the committee that it was with great regret
that I declined to promise to deliver an address when
it was so earnestly offered, and it is a still greater re-
gret that I cannot be numbered among the friends of
Paxtang as they say " this man and that man was
there." Greetings to all the gathered assembly.
Paxtang does not live alone in that narrow and beauti-
ful valley. Much of her best life is scattered through
the States and Territories of the Union, and, thank
God, a great deal of it is employed in the service of
holy immortality. With the warmest of Christian
love to yourself and the rest of the committee,
I am, yours most sincerely, T. H. Robinson.
220 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
[Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. The programme says that
there are to be " other brief addresses delivered bv
prominent Presbyterians." There are so many of them
here that I do not know whom to select; for I am
very sure that were I to omit any, I would make some
invidious discriminations, for all of you are equally
prominent. But there is one prominent Presbyterian,
and he is a modest man, so modest that he refuses to
let his orange colors be seen on this ground; but to
whom we are all very greatly indebted for much that
has transpired here to-day. I have tried to have him
place his orange badge just where it belongs; but he
has refused. JS'ow I am going to get even with my
brother, W. Franklin Rutherford, the chairman of the
Committee of General Arrangements, and who has had
this whole matter in charge. It is the last speech, and
I promise it will be the best one.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 221
ADDRESS OF W. F. RUTHERFORD.
Mr. Moderator: I do not feel under very many
obligations to you for the manner in which you have
introduced me, but still, as chairman of the local com-
mittee representing Paxtang church, I cannot permit
these exercises to close without making some acknowl-
edgement to the churches associated with us on this
occasion, for the noble manner in which they have
responded to the sentiment which has brought us to-
gether to-day. One hundred and fifty years ago Pax-
tang church stood as the outmost post of Presbyterian-
ism and of civilization on the continent — a conspicu-
ous place, and her environment was such as to consti-
tute her people heroes. To-day the garrison in the old
fortress is weak — not so much from the decrepitude of
age, as from the heavy drafts made upon us for other
fields.
Under these circumstances the spirit moved us to
celebrate the sesqui-centennial of the laying of our
cornerstone, which is virtually the corner-stone of Pres-
byterianism in this region. No sooner had we an-
nounced our intention, than our descendants, one and
all, came forward and said, " We will help you." For
this act of filial piety, I return the thanks of the mother
church, and declare that old Paxtang is proud of her
descendants.
222 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
We also feel ourselves deeply indebted to the gentle-
men, who, from pure zeal in the good old cause of
Scotch-Irish Presbyterianism in America, and loyalty
to the Paxtang fathers, have so well entertained and
instructed us to-day. Nor is our debt to them in the
slightest degree lessened by the fact that in coming^
here to-day they have unconsciously immortalized
themselves. [Laughter and applause.]
To the strangers who have honored us to-day by
their presence, and have thereby added so much to the
interest of the occasion, I would extend the hearty
thanks of the people of Paxtang, and express the hope
that fifty years hence, when our people shall celebrate
our bi-centennial, in this very grove, in the midst of a
populous city, our relations to each other may be as-
happy as the}^ are to-day. [Applause.]
Moderator Stewart. All good things must have an
end; but Paxtang church will not have an end I trust
for many centuries yet. There is one part of it I sup-
pose will have an end. I have been looking here to-
day at that part of the stone-work which fills up the
old door-way ; and it is very evident that the old stone-
masons knew how to lay stone better than their suc-
cessors. This mortar around it is old work ; and you
cannot dig around it with your pen-knife, and the mor-
tar there does not crack off, as the mortar of later days.
The old wall has stood well, because of the work put
upon it. The newer work would have fallen, if there
■
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 223
had not been something to hold it up. Possibly it may
be the same with the work on which we enter. Our
work has been much more than y.'e thought, because
others have built around it ; and by their more sub-
stantial work have held up the results of our under-
takings.
To-day we have had a delightful time ; to-day we
have met to commemorate the noble work of those who
have preceded us — and great indeed will be the praise
of those who come after us, if they can point to the re-
sult of our labors, and say that we also built well ; and
glory in their ancestors, because we had transmitted to^
those who followed us in the rich and the priceless her-
itage which we have received. [Applause.]
The audience then sung hymn No. 32 :
" All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall ;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all," &c.
Rev. Dr. Parke then dismissed the audience with a
benediction :
" May grace, mercy and peace from God the Father^
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with each
one of 3'ou evermore. Amen."
224 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
AN INTERESTING REMINISENCE.
Before referring to his church, the Rev. Dr. Chambers
read by request, the following interesting paper, relating
reminisences of the ancestors of a number of those in
the audience :
It is no departure from good taste, upon an occasion
like this, to recall some visits to this church made more
than one hundred and twenty years ago, by a lady who
was a member of the church in 1786. The reminis-
ence is delightful ; the narrative is from the very vivid
recollection of a bright and observant woman and it is
hoped will add to the interest of the event we com-
memorate.
About the close of the Indian war of 1763, Colonel
Hugh Alexander was driven from the home he had
made in Shearman's valley ; fleeing with his young
family to Nottingham, in Chester county. Upon his
return he lodged over Sabbath near the Swatara ridge
•on its western slope, attending public service at Pax-
ton church with his daughter. She was then too
youthful to make substantial observations, but used to
tell her grandchildren that she remembered the preacher
as a large man, with a rosy face, full voice, and forci-
ble delivery. He had a rifle in the pulpit with him,
and almost all the men were armed — those who rode
with holster and pistol — those afoot with rifles. The
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 225
congregation was large — many could not obtain seats
within the stone church.
Just before the Revolution her father made another
visit east, a delegate to a gathering of those who were
opposed to provincial government and foreign oppres-
sion. She accompanied him. Upon their return they
were detained near Harris ferry over Sabbath. In the
morning they rode to Paxton church, arriving while the
congregation was assembling. She w^as then a 3'oung
lady, and observed how ver}^ little grown timber there
was between the Susquehanna and the church. It had
been destroyed some twenty years before, in the Indian
w'ar of 1755. This second visit was in the fall of 1772.
Apparently all the men of the congregation were pres-
ent ; the church grove was filled with fine horses ;
vehicles of any sort were rare. The women were neatly,
generally prettily clad, the men substantially, mostly
in dark broad-cloth, with buff" waistcoat and short
clothes. As this manufacture was English, it was free
of import, therefore, cheap and used by all classes ex-
cept those who were forced to wear homespun, Avhich
all had to do a few years afterwards. The crowd took
their places in the decorous way of their Presbyterian
fathers. Soon the service was opened by a large, broad
shouldered, very tall, well-clad clergyman, who w^ore a
Geneva band, his hair showing marks of advancing
age. His manner was grave and imjiressive, adding
to this remark, as much so as that of any man I have
226 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
tieard since. When she spoke of this she was seven-
ty-five years of age. His style of delivery plain, very
clear, and commanded the reverent attention of all.
The music was led by a precentor. At the close of
the service. Col. A. and his daughter were introduced
to Rev. Mr. Elder. She was much struck by the re-
fined address, dignity, and ease of the clergyman.
Two years after, as Mrs. .John Hamilton, she was at
Paxton a third time, just when the whole country was
aflame about the conduct of the English government.
It was after harvest, and the sturdy farmers loudly as-
serted that they would no longer peaceably endure the
wrongs of the mother country ; they were as full of fight
as of patriotism ; none more positive than the preacher,
who was the same Mr. Elder. He had become more and
more decided that the only way to end the dispute be-
tween the mother country and the colonies was armed
resistance, and so said in the sermon he preached from
Psalm 2, verse 3. He was only half a year in advance
of the Congress which created an army, placing at its
head the great Washington. That Mr. Elder's congre-
gation and his family partook of his principles, it is
onl}^ necessary to add that a regiment was raised in its
bounds, and that four of his grown sons were officers in
the war that so soon followed my grandmother's visits
to Paxton church, where she sat in the same church
building we do to-day.
APPENDIX.
ORDINATION SERMON
Of Rev. John Elder, preached at Paxtavg, Dec. SI, 1738.
Tr.xy.— Psn I m 119, v. ISS : "(Treat peace have they which Inve tliy law: and
nothing shall offend them."
God hath been mercifully pleased to implant in us a natural desire of
happiness, %\hich is so inseparable to human nature that 'tis impossible
for us to forbear desiring what is good for ms, or at least what appears
good, for though through our own ignorance and inconsideration we
many times mistake evil for good, and misery for happiness, yet such
is ye frame of our nature that we cannot desire evil as evil, or mi ery
as misery, but whenever we embrace a real evil, 'tis either under the
notion of a less evil, or of a real and substantial good.
And since we have depraved our natures and debased our reason to
such a degree as that we cannot now iu many respects perfectly know
what is our perfect good, or distinguish our happiness from our misery,
He hath been farther pleased, in His holy word, to show us wherein our
true happiness and felicity as to this life doth consist, namely in inward
peace and tranquility of mind, resultin<: from a due sense of the divine
favour, and the sincere love and goodwill of mankind. This the loyal
Psalmist, as instructed by ye (-pirit of God, in the words of my text, was
fully assurred of, and, therefore, he boldly declares those truly blessed
and happy that are in such a condition, that from their reflection on
their sincere love to the laws of God and a life spent in conformity to
religion and true piety, enjoy such a sweet calmness and composure of
mind as nothing can disturb. "Great peace have they," &c.
All or most writers are agreed that David was the penman of this
psalm, and indeed it breathes so much of that sincerely pious and de-
vout frame of heart that ever shone so conspicuous in him that it puts
it beyond all doubt. That he was taught by the spirit of God, was the
compiler of it, his main scope and design in it is manifestly to com
mand the serious and diligent study, as well as the constant practice ot
God's word, as incomparably the best counsellor and comforter in the
world, and as the oidy way to true blessedness, and this he confirms by
his own example, proposed to mankind for their imitation, declaring
the frequent experience he had of its admirable sweetness and un-
speakable benefit in every condition and especially in the time of his
distress.
230 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Its observable in this psalm that the word of God is diversely termed
by the name of law, statutes, precepts, or commandments, &c., by
which variety he designed to express the nature, ye great perfection
and manifold uses of God's word, and there are very few of all these
verses contained in this psalm in which one or other of these titles are
not mentioned.
There is little or no connection observed in it, or dependence of one
verse upon another. I shall not, therefore, spend time in considering
the context, but shall come immediately to the woi-ds, "Great peace
have they," &c. Where, by law, as I observed before, we are to un-
derstand the word of God contained in the Scriptures, and therefore
the Psalmist declares that all who sincerely love God"s word and dem-
onstrate their love to it by conducting themselves agreeably to its stat-
utes, all such as spend their time in the consciencious observance of
our religious duties, shall enjoy either outward prosperity and happi-
ness, (which God in his law hath expressly promised to good men,) or
at least inward peace, satisfaction and tranquility of mind, arising from
the apprehension of God's love to them and watchful care over them
in all the concerns of this life and that which is to come ; this shall be
their sure lot and portion if they perform what is required on their
part, and though they may meet with some disturbance and dissatisfac-
tion yet their end shall be peace, as it is expressed Psalm 37 :37, "And
nothing shall oflfend them," though they may meet with losses and
crosses and may be sometimes liable to the rude insults of 'he wicked
and ungodly, yet none of th^se shall offend or scandalize them to such
a degree as to throw them into mischief or utter ruin. Now from the
words thus briefly explained we may observe this doctrinal proposition,
viz : That
True peace and felicity results only from a religious life or a life
spent in conformity to ye laws of God.
I. To consider the advantages of a religious life.
II. To remove some objections that may be made against the propo-
sition. And then conclude with some inferences from what may be
said.
I. Then I am to consider ye advantages of a religious life that con-
stitute that peace or happiness mentioned iu the text. Now these ad-
vantages are many, but what we may account the first and the chief in-
gredient iu all the rest, is piece with God reconciled to us by the satis
faction in which Christ our glorious redeemer, and this peace or recon-
ciliation upon the account of Christ's atonement, he hath promised to
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 231
all such as sincerely love and endeavor to live agreeably to his laws.
Ami this is indeed an unspeakable privilege and advantage, to live in
perfect peace and harmony with such a kind and patient friend, to whom
we carefully open ail our want-i, express our griefs, and impart our cares,
with assurance of relief and support, can betake ourselves to him in our
greatest extremities with boldness and confidence, as children to a
fathnr, who is perfectly able, as well as ready, to supply our wants, and
vindicate our cause which was still the main support of the godly in all
ages of ye world, and bore up their sinking spirits under the heaviest
pressures and diflticulties.
It was this that comforted David in his declining years, when he had
arrived at the highest pitch of experience, and was fully convinced of
the instability of sublunary things, and of the little comfort and satis-
faction they can afford us, as it is expressed, II Sam., 23 : 5, "Although
my house be not so with God ; yet he hath made me an everlasting
covenant, ordered in all things sure, for this is all my salvation and
all my desire," &c., he was fully satisiied that he had made religion
his principle study, that he had still respect to ye divine law, he was
fully persuaded he devoted himself to the service of God, that he had
entered into covenant with him who was faithful to fidfil all his prom-
ises, and would never make void his covenant ; all of which afforded
him the most peaceful and satisfying reflections, and therefore declares
concerning himself. Psalm 46 : 1, 2, 3, "God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in time of trouble ; therefore I will not fear though
the earth be removed, and though ye mountains be carried into ye
midst of ye sea ; though ye waters thereof roar and be troubled, though ye
mountains shake with ye swelling thereof." And likewise the 27 Psalm
ye 1 and 3 verses, " The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom
shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life ; of whom shall I be
afraid. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not
fear ; though war should rise against me, m this will I be confident."
What glorious pitch of happiness and felicity was good David now
advanced to, when ye sense of the Divine favour, peace and reconcil-
iation was so strong in him, that nothing could baffle his hopes, or
shake ye firm repose of his mind ; when he could exult in ye midst of
sorrows, and triumph over a'l his enemies, how numerous and power-
fid soever, when he could bear the heaviest strokes of an adverse
Providence, and face the greatest danger, with courage and resolution,
with no other support, or stay, but purely his sense of the Divine favor
and a life spent in conformity to His laws? Could we but once then, in
232 Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
imitation of this singular pattern of true piety and devotion, make
religioa our chief and principle stud}', and the laws of God our only
delight, then might we assure ourselves of the divine favour, than which
there can be no greater blessing, for it is the height of our perfection
and the sum of our desires, and is productive of all the peace and pros-
perity, the comfort and satisfaction we can enjoy, both in time and to
eternity. This is the first and main advantage of a religious life and
all the rest are consequent mpon it, such as inward and outward peace,
plenty, and pro'^perity, and,
1st. Inward peace and tranquility of mind, that sweet repose and
calmness of spirit that are the sure concomitants of a religious and
virtuous life, for as the mind of a wicked and ungodly person, is
disturbed and distracted, his conscience galled, his affections divided
into opposite factious, and his whole soul in a most diseased and rest-
less posture, so on the other hand a truly pious and religious person
■who sincerely loves the word of God, and lives agreeably to its precepts,
his mind is free from those disorders and distractions, his conscience
calm and easy in all occurrences, his passions pure, regular and har-
monious, and his soul enjoys a perfect ease and rest.
For by a eoasciousness of our sincere piety and devotion, we shall
be discharged of all those resth ss cares and anxieties, that distress
and prick us like a crown of thorns ; by our hearty submission, to his
will contained in his lav»'s we shall ease our conscience of all that hor-
ror, rage, and anguish, that proceed from the things of our sin and
guilt ; by our loving admiring and adoring him our affections will be
eased of all that inconsistence and inordinacy that render them so
tumultuous and disquieting ; and these things being once accomplished,
the sick and restless soul will universally find itself in perfect health
and ease ; for now all her jarring faculties, being tuned to the sweet
and harmonious laws of religion, there will be a perfect concord in her
nature, and she shall have no disquieting principle within her ; nothing
but calm and gentle thoughts, soft and sweet reflections, tame and
manageable affections, nothing but what abundantly contributes to her
repose and satisfaction. Now she is no more tossed and agitated in a
stormy sea of restless thoughts and guilty reflections, no more scorched
with impatience, or drowned with grief, or shook with fear, or bloated
with pride and ambition, but all her affections are resigned to the
blessed empire of a spiritual mind, and clothed in the gay but decent
livery of i-eligion.
And tho' there may be sometimes a strong conflict between the law
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 233
in our members and the law in our minds, yet it shall end still in a orlo-
rious victor}' and happj' peace ; and those divided streams, our wills and
con sciences, our passion and our reason, shall be united in one channel,
and flow towards one and the same ocean, and being thus joined and
knit together by the ties and ligaments of virtue and true piet_v, our souls
shall be perfectly well and easj', and enjoy a sweet calmness and se-
renity within themselves. This is one advantage of a reliiious life, and
cannot be obtained by anything else, for were it attainal)le by riches,
by favor or worldly interest, what a happy state would the rich, ye great
and honorable be in ; how would they glut themselves in worldly ease
and luxury, and enjoy a delightful paradise even on earth itself; how
should their inward peace and tranquility concur with their outward
plenty and prosperity, in making them unspeakabl}' happy. But do we
not generally find it quite otherwise ? How often may we see those who
are advanced to the highest pitch of outward happiness and felicity,
most deprived of inward peace and satisfaction ? With what significar ce
and lively expressions do they sometimes discover their dread and horror
when their conscience begins to gnaw, to twit and accuse them for their
transgression of the equitable laws of God ; how often may we see them
racked and tortured by their jarring passions, and rent and torn by the
envenomed things of their own guilty consciences, while the poor and
indigent that have scarcely bread to support their natural lives, and
clothes to defend them from the injuries of the weather, enjoy inward
comfort and contentment, sowing in hope and reaping with gladness,
and pursuing their several callings with all desirable cheerfulness and
gayety? This is of a religious and righteous deportment, of a sincere
love to God's word, and a life spent in obedience to His laws.
But again, secondly, such as live agreeably to God's word, and do
sincerely love His laws, shall enjoy nut only inward peace and satis-
faction, but this God hath himself promised to all his true saints and
servants as it is expressed in 29 Psalm, the 11th ver. : "The Lord will
bless his people with peace."' Though they may hear of rumors of war
on every hand, yet this shall not vex or disturb them, for God shall
make their vt-ry enemies to be at peace with them, as the wise man
hath told us. Prov., 16: 7. "When a man's ways please the Lord,
he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him ;" he disappointeth
them of all their malicious designs, and either removeth their enmity
by changing it into a real and sincere regard or causeth them to smother
it so that it shall never hurt the truly virtuous.
Thus now ihe religions person enjoys a perpetual peace from ever}'-
234 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
thing about him, for his enemies as well as his friends, and from the
noxious and hurtful as well as from ye innocent creatures, for God
maketh peace in all his borders ; He is his guardian and protector, his
•defense, his shield and buckler ; He maketh him to be in league with
the stones of the field, and ye beasts of ye field to be at peace with him,
nothing from within or without can perplex or trouble him, but he may
lie down in peace and rise without fear, and nothing to break his rest,
or shake ye firm repose of his mind, and may solace himself in every
condition with the same devout confidence and trust in God, that en-
abled good David to say: Psal , 4 : 8: "I will lay me down in peace
and sleep, for thou Lord only makest me to dwell in safety."
And as he is thus blessed with inward and outward peace, so he has
also the prospect of plenty and prosperity. For, as the Apostle Paul
said, "Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of this
life, as well as that to come," 1 Tim., 4:8; which is indeed most rea-
sonable and equitable. Since it is God that is the supreme Lord and
proprietor of the universe, is it not fit that we should destribute the
good things of this life to such of His subjects as are most deserving,
and live most conformable to His laws, at least such a portion of them
as He knows necessary for their support and convenient to their happi-
ness, and therefore saith the Psalmist in that 84th Psalm, 11 verse,
" The Lord sha'l give grace and glory, and no good thing will he with-
hold from them that walk uprightly."
These now are the advantages of a religious life that constitute that
true peace and felicity mentioned in the text, namely, peace with God^
inward peace and tranquility of mind, peace with all around us, and
plenty and prosperity ; 'Tis true indeed the religious and sincerely
pious are not always blessed by God with the greatest affluence of
temporal good things ; but the discussing this point belongs more prop-
erly to my
II Head of discourse, wherein I proposed to remove what objections
might be made against the doctrinal proposition I laid down.
And contrary to this, may be advanced that complaint that hath been
usual in all time and ages of the world, namely, that it fares best with
the world and worst with the best of men. This hath indeed been a
common complaint, and through the commonness of it 'tis now grown
into a maxim. But to remove this we must consider that we are apt
to pity the miserable and to envy the prosperous ; and that those pas-
sions do naturally bribe our judgment to think worse of the one and
better of the other than either deserve ; for those whom we pity we are
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 235
inclined to love, and those whom we love we are inclined to think well
of; so ou the contrary, those whom we envy we are inclined to hate,
we are inclined to think ill off; and then because God doth not reward
or punish men according to the sentence that our blind pity or envy
passes on them, we are ready to quarrel with His providence, and to
pronounce them vicious or virtuous according to the biased or preju-
diced notions we form of them. And besides there are many base
hypocrites in the world, tliat make a mighty show and ostentation ol
piety, do secretly indulge iheuiselves in many ruinou-i and wasteful
vices which frequently reduce them to poverty and misery ; and these
we commonly rank among the good, it fares ill with, as on the contrary
there are many good men that in the course of a reserved, modest,
and unaffected piety, which makes very little show in ye world,
are blessed and prosperd, and these we all commonly rank among
the bad that fare well.
Since therefore we are such incomp -tent judges of good or bad
men, we should be very careful how we object aga nst the providence
of God, such maxims as are only founded on our fallacious observa-
tious, and should not by our mistaken notions rashly pnmounce those
bad who may be good, or good who may be nevertheless bad, from the
circumstances of life we see them enjoy. And could we but once strip
ourselves of pity and envy and penetrate into the insldes of men, I
doubt not but we should soon be satisfy' d that good and religious men
have much ye advantage of profane and wicked men as to ye happiness
and prosperity of this world.
For a good man in any condition on this side pinching want, is ordi-
narily, even in this life, far more happy than ye most easy and prosperous
sinner whose outward glory and greatness, is usually nothing but ye
gaudy cover of a fragile inside, of a mind that is tortured with pride and
envy, with boundless hopes, insatiable desires and foul reflections that
dash and embitter all his enjoyments ; while ye good religious man,
under his mean and simple outside, carries a great and happy soul, a
contented mind, a cheerful heart and a calm conscience which miglitily
sweeten all his enjoyments, and make his homely morsel outrelish the
most studied luxuries. Thus now we may see how vastly ye happiness
of the righteous is preferable to that of the wicked, either in his out-
ward life or in his inward peace and tranquility of mind.
But some may further object here, how is it possible for such a one
to enjoy inward peace and satisfaction, since his conscience is so
scrupulous and tender that it will immediately twist and gall him upon
the smallest transgression of Divine laws.
236 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
It's true indeed that the best men in this corrupt and imperfect state
are frequently sinning, their best services are attended with many im-
perfections and their fiirest graces have their several blots and blem •
ishes, and their conscience will immediately accuse them of their
smallest, miscarriages and remind them of their duty. But this is so far
from being their misery, that it is their greatest happiness ; for by this
means they are kept from continuing in a course of sin, and whenever
they have strayed from the path of virtue, they return vigorously to
their duty rejoicing with joy unspeakable that they are so happily
escaped from the paths ,of sin and death and destruction ; while the
wicked continue in their immoral practices lulling their consciences to
a profound sleep and making their hands stronger and stronger, till
they awaken in despair and horror, and become unspeakably miserable
with the dismal Drospect of their approaching unavoidable damnation.
So that all circumstances considered, as ye wise man saith, Eccles.
8:12, 13: "It shall farewell with the virtuous and religious but ill
with the wicked forever." And therefore my doctrinal proposition
will hold good notwithstanding all objections that may be made against
it, namely : that true peace and feliciiy result only from a religious life.
From this then we may observe the wisdom and goodness of God in
making our duty and our happiness both in time and to eternity so
sweetly to comport the one with the other. So that they go hand in
hand promoting that great and gracious design of our sovereign Lord
and lawgiver. What remains then but that we should apply ourselves
to the study of piety and pure religion, and to the sincere love of God's
laws, as the unerring guide of our lives and the just measure of all our
actions. When shall we taste ye ravishing sweetness of a religious life,
and shall be obliged to own that all her ways are ways of pleavsantness
and all her paths are peace. Then shall we enjoy y.eace with G d,
inward peace and tranquility of mind, peace with all around us, and
plenty, and prosperity. Then shall our lives be easy and comfortable
to us, and we shall be all perfectly happy as we possibly can be, till
once we arrive at those blissful regions above, whence everything that
offends and they that commit iniquity are removed and nothing is found
but undisturbed peace ; perpetual luve and harmony dwell and reign
forevermore.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 237
DEED TO PAXTANG GLEBE.
THIS INDENTURE made the Eighth day June in the year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and tifty-four, Between Henry
Foster of the Township of Paxtang, in the county of Lancaster, in the
province of Pennsylvania, YeoniMii, Eldest son of John Foster, late of
the said county. Yeoman, Deceased, and Ann his Wife, of the one part,
and the Congregation that now belongs to the Reverend John Elder of
the Township in the said county and province, Jointly, of the other
part ; Whereas, the said John Foster was in his life time, by virtue of
a certain patent bearing date the fifteenth day of October, One Thousand
Seven Hundred and forty four, seized in his Demesn as of Fee, of and
in a certain Tract of Laud containing three Hundred and twenty one
acres and allowance, and Dyed so thereof Seized, Intestate, Where-
upon, according to Law of this Province, the same descended and came
to and amongst all his children in Equal proportions, the said Henry
as Eldest Son taking a double share to the rest of the Children ; Ani>
Whereas, the said Henry Foster, by his petition to the Orpheus Court
Held at Lancaster for the county Aforesaid, the fifth day of December
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty two, setting forth that his said
Father so dyed seized of the said Tract of Land as Aforesaid, and that
it wo'd be inconvenient to divide the same, and that he was willing and
desirous to hold the same and pay the younger Children their Respec-
tive shares thereof, according to a valuation to be made by indifferent
persons, pursuant to the Direction of Act of Assembly in that case
made and provided, and praying that proper persons might be appoint-
ed to make valuation accordingly, obtained an order of the same Court,
That James Galbraith, Esquire, Thomas Forster, Esquire, Thomas
Simpson and James Reed should value the said Tract of Land and
make a Return of such Valuation to the same Court ; Whereupon they,
the said James Galbraith, Thomas Forster, Thomas Simpson and
James Reed, returned to the said Court that they had by virtue of the
above mentioned O'der valued and appraised the said Tract of Land
at the sum of Three Hundred and Eight pounds ; And thereupon it
was ordered by the court that the said Henry Foster do hold the said
Tract of Land on giving security for the payment of the respective
shares of the other Children of the said John Foster, Deceased, which
amounted to forty seven pounds ten shillings each, as by the records
238 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
and proceedings of the same Court, Relation being thereunto had will
more fully and at large appear ; And Whereas, He the said Henry
Foster, hath now satisfied and paid or given security for the payment
of the Respective Shares of the Other Children, and therefore is now
by virtue of the Act Assembly in that case made and provided, become
seized and possessed of the said Tract of Land to hold to him, his
Heirs and Assigns, for Ever ; Now, This Indenture Witnesseth, that
the said Henry Foster and Ann his Wife, for and In consideration of
the sum of Ten pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to them or one
of them in hand well and truly paid by the saii congregation, at or
before the Execution hereof, the Receipt and payment whereof are
hereby acknowledged. Have and each of them Hath Granted, Bargain-
ed, Sold, Released and Confirmed, and by these Presents Do and each
of them Doth Grant, Bargain, Sell, Release, Confirm unto the said
Congregation, Jointly, their Heirs and Assigns, AH that tract, piece or
parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Township of Paxtang
aforesaid, in the county of Lancaster, Beginning at a Black Oak,
thence South Eleven Degrees West Ninty Three perches to a Black
Oak, thence North Eighty Degrees West Thirty Six perches to a post,
thence South Eleven Degrees East Ninty Three perches to a Black
Oak, thence South Eighty Degrees East Thirty Six perches to the
place of beginning. Containing Twenty Acres, without allowance for
Roads, for the use of the Said Congregation of Paxtang, on which the
Stone Meeting House is Built, It being part and parcel of the Above
mentioned Tract of Land Containing Three Hundred and Twenty-one
Acres and Allowance, Together with all and Singular the Buildings,
Gardens, Orchards, Meadows, Pastures, Feedings, Woods, Underwoods,
Ways, Waters, Watercourses, Hedges, Ditches, Trees, F<'nces, Profits,
Privileges, Advantages, Hereditaments, Improvements, Rights, Mem-
bers, and Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging, or in any
wise appertaining, and the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and
Remainders thereof, and all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Use,
Trust, Propety, Possession, Claim, and Demand, whatsoever, both at
Law and in Equity, of them the said Henry Foster and Ann his wife,
of in and to the same. To have and to hold the said Tract or parcel of
Land, Hereditaments and Premises, hereby Granted and Released,
with the Appurtenances, unto the said Congregation, their Heirs and
Assigns, To the only use and behoof of the said Congregation, their
Heirs and Assigns, forever, at and under the proportionable part of the
yearly Quit Rent now due, and hereafter to become due for the same,
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 239
to the chief Lord or Lords of the Fee thereof; and the said Henry
Foster doth hereby grant for himself and his Heirs, that he and they,
the said Tract of Land, Hereditaments and premises hereby granted,
with the Appurt'-nances, Unto the said Congregation, their Heirs and
Assigns, against him the said Henry Foster and the said Ann his wife.
Heirs, and ai;ainst all and every other person and Persons, Whomsoever
lawfnlly claiming, or to claim the same, or any part thereof, by, from,
or under him, her, or them, shall and will warrant, and forever defend,
by these presents.
In Witness, whereof, the said parties to these presents their hands
and seals have hereunto interchangeably set, the day and year above
written.
Henry Foster, [i.. s.]j
Ann Foster, [l. s.J
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us by the within named
Henry Foster.
Henry Foster.
Thos. Fforster,
Thos. Simpson.
Sealed and delivered by the within named Ann Foster in the pres-
ence of us.
Ann Foster,
Thos, Fforster,
Thos. Sim-pson.
Received the day and year first within written of and from the within
named congregation the sum of ten pounds, being the full considera-
tion money within mentioned to be paid to me.
Henry Foster.
Witness :
Thos. Fforster,
Thos. Simpson.
The 8th day of June, 1754, before me the subscribers, one of his
Majesty's Justices of the Peace of the county of Lancaster came the
within named Henry Foster and Ann, his wife, and acknowledged the
within written indenture to be their act and deed and desired that the
same shall be recorded as such, the said Ann voluntarily consenting
thereto, she being of full age and secretly and apart examined ihe with-
in, consent being first made known to her. Witness my hand and
seal the same day and year above written.
Thos. Fforster, [l. s.]
240 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Entered in the ofBce for Recording of Deeds in and for the county oi
Lancaster in Book C, page 237, on the Eleventh day of June Anno
Dom., 1770. Witness my hand and seal of my office aforesaid.
Edwakd Shippen,
[office seal.] Recorder.
Dauphin County, ss ;
Recorded in the office for Recording Deeds, &c., in and for Dauphin
county, in Deed Book B, Vol. 8, page 22, &c.
Witness my hand and seal, A. D., 1890.
July 28, 1890. Philip C. Swab,
Recorder.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 241
THE REPAIRS IN 1884.
A few days since, learning that repairs of this last remaining
landmark of the Scotch-Irish settlement wei-e contemplated, we paid
a visit to the old church. We clambered up into the loft, and ex-
amined the rafters and also beams, which were just as sound as the
day they were placed there. The timbers were made of oak, and
originally an arched ceiling was contemplated. This was never done,
and when the little window back of the pulpit and the north were
closed up, perchance seventy or eighty years ago, the ceiling was
made square, supported by cross-timbers held to the rafters by iron
rods. The shingles on the south side of the roof are much decayed,
while those on the opposite side are in good condition. It has been
decided to put on a slate roof with the eaves projecting beyond the
the wall, so as to protect that old and substantial masonry. Be-
sides the roof, they propose to "underprie" certain portions of the
wall, so that a firmer foundation may be made." — Dr. W. H. Egle,
in Notes and Queries, 1884-
242 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
REV. WILLIAM GRAHAM.
William Graham, son of William Graham, was born in Paxtang
township, then^Lancaster county. Province of Pennsylvania, on the 19th
of December, 174-5. His father, of Scotch parentage, came from the
North of Ireland, as did his mother, whose maiden name was Susannah
Miller. His early years were spent on the farm, but by dint of hard
labor and perseverance, so characteristic of the Scotch-Irish youth ot
that day, he prepared himself for admission to the college of New Jer-
sey, (now Princeton,) where he graduated iu 1773. He taught in the
grammar school connected with that institution, while studying the-
ology under the tuition of the Rev. John Roan.
Among the papers of Rev. John Roan we have the following ac-
count :
" Wm. Graham enter'd lObr. 23, 1767.
1768. Jan. 23-31, absent.
Ap. 2-25, absent.
May 1, abs't some days.
June 13, returned 8br. 2d.
Dec'r 24, some days absent.
Went away Feb. 4, 1769. In all here 9 months. I told his father
June 10, 1769, that it should be charged at about £8 per annum,
viz : 6 : 00 :
Rec'd Dec'r21, 1769, ofyeabove . . 4 : 10 :
Again, May, 1771, 0:07:0
Jan. 18, 1773, 1 : 10 :
Lent to Wm. Graham, Nov. 15, 1773, : 10 :
Jan. 19, 1774, 1:05:0
From the foregoing it would seem that as late as 1774, he was a stu-
dent of Mr. Roan's.
Mr. Graham, on the 26th of October, 1775, was licensed to preach
by the Presbytery of Hanover, Virginia, to which locality his family
had previously removed. When the Presbytery determined to estab-
lish a school for the rearing of young men for the ministry, they ap-
plied to the Rev. Stanhope Smith, then itinerating in Virginia, to re-
commend a suitable person to take charge of their school, upon which
he at once suggested Mr. Graham. Prior to this a classical school had
been taught at a place called Mt. Pleasant, and there Mr. G. commenced
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 243
his labors as a teacher, and there we find the germ whence sprung
Washington College, and the now celebrated Washington and Lee Uni-
versity of Virginia. Mr. Graham died at Richmond, Va., June 8th,
1799. He married Mary Kerr, of Carlisle, Pa., and by her had two
sons and three daughters. His eldest son entered the ministry, but
died young ; the other studied medicine, settled in Georgia, and died
about 1840.
244 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
THE AGE OF THE CHURCH BUILDING.
The age of the present stone church building at Paxtang, has
often been alluded to by Historians of the Presbyterian Church in
America. The date usually given for the erection of the walls is 1752.
If there are any reasons for this date they have never been clearly
stated. The first recorded statement in reference to the building, so
far as we are aware, is to be found in the deed for the glebe given tD
the congregation on the 8th day of June, 1754, by Henry Forster and
wife, in which the present ^' stone meeting house" is mentioned. It
is, therefore, necessary to go back of this date to find the beginning ;
but why go back only two years rather than ten, fifteen, or twenty?
It is well known to every one acquainted with the history of Paxtang,
that before the stone building was erected the site was occupied by a
substantial log structure, which was removed because it was too small
to accommodate the growing congregation. The Rev. John Elder be-
gan preaching in the log church in 1738, and soon found himself
cramped for room and the congregation in a prosperous condition.
In 1741 the controversy between the Old and New Lights reached Pax-
tang, and soon waxed so bitter that by the 16th of August, 1745, the
New Light people, comprising almost half the congregation, had not
only seceded, but had completed a church building of their own, and
installed Rev. John Roan as their pastor. Soon after this event, and
long before Mr. Elder's congregation had time to recuperate, the
Indians, incited by the French, became troublesome, and for the next
ten years the people of Paxtang were fully occupied in the defense of
their homes. It was during this period that Mr. Elder and his flock
worshiped with their rifles in their hands. All work upon the
building seems to have been suspended, the walls had been erected and
roofed in, and it is more than probable that it remained in this con-
dition, with neither floor nor pews, until after the revolution. In view
of these facts, it is not reasonable to suppose that the congregation
would, in 1752 tear down their old building and incur the unnecessary
expense of a new erection, and it is, therefore, logical to conclude that
the stone house was erected prior to 1741, when the numerical and
financial condition of the congregation was favorable to such a project.
Aside from this reasoning, we have the positive statement of the late
Thomas Elder, Esq., of Harrisburg, son of Rev. John Elder, under
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 245
whose auspices the church was built. On the 20th of June, 1852, Mr.
Elder paid what was doubtless his last visit to Paxtang church. The
occasion was the funeral of Mrs. Sarah Rutherford, widow of William
Rutherford, who had been his life-long friend. After the services were
over, Mr. Elder spent a short time looking; about the old grave-yard,
in which, as he said, most of the friends of his youth and early man-
hood lay sleeping, reminiscences of the past crowded upon him, and as
he moved slowly along he spoke of the old church as it was in his
father's time, and of the leading men connected therewith ; and in reply
to a question by Capt. Rutherford, he said that whilst he was not sure
that there was any record of the erection of the present building, he had
often heard his father say that the walls were built in 1740. This,
in the absence of well authenticated documentary evidence, ought to
be conclusive.
The descendants of the sturdy men and women who worshiped
there in 1740 are scattered everywhere, many of them prominent in
church and State, and in the business enterprises of the land. A little
band still holds the fort. All these should unite and see to it that the
year of grace, 1890, shall witness such a celebration of the one hun-
dred and fiftieth anniversary of the laying of her corner-stone, as shall
do honor to this mother of churches and oldest monument of Presby-
terianism now standing in Central Pennsylvania- — W. F. R., in Notes
and Queries, in 1890.
246 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
THE NEW-SIDE CHURCH.
About two miles east of old Paxtang Church and one and a half
miles north of Rutherford Station in Lower Paxtang township, is an
old Scotch-Irish burying-ground containing about one fourth of an acre
of land and surrounded at present by a substantial post and rail fence.
Formerly a log meeting-house stood close by, on the opposite side ot
the road. This building was also known as Paxtang meeting-house,
and the people who worshiped here were the New Side Presbyterians,
with Rev. John Roan as their pastor.
In 1787 the house was torn down and the materials sold for the sum
of ten pounds eighteen shillings and three pence ; this included eleven
and a quarter yards of diaper, four yards table cloth, one yard napkin,
and one table and chair. This sum — together with twelve pounds two
shillings and three pence raised by assessment upon the congregation —
was expended iu the building of a new paling fence around the grave-
yard. The fence, in the course of time, decayed, and was rebuilt by
Conrad Peck, at the expense of Samuel Sherer, 'Squire McClure, and
Robert Stewart. This fence also went the way of all fences, and Rob-
ert Stewart, shortly before his death, caused the present post and rail
fence to be erected.
The meeting-house occupied the same field with old Paxtang church,
and was used during the greater part of Rev. John Elder's pastorate-
The little cemetery adjcining contains comparatively few graves, and is
evidently of much later origin than that of old Paxtang, the oldest
marked grave in it being that of James Welsh, Jan. 28, 1754, and there
are no traditions which carry us beyond that date. This does not prove
anything, but would seem to indicate that the establishment of the
church was about 1750.
After 1787 most of the members of this church connected themselves
with old Paxtang, and in 1793 we find some of their names on a sub-
scription list for Rev. Mr. Snowden's salary.
Who purchased the table and chair does not appear, but they brought
nine shillings and eight pence ; and were sold for the congregation by
John Wilson and Robert Montgomery. — W. F. R., in Notes and
Queries, 1883.
PxVXTANG Presbyterian Church. 247
THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-MASTERS.
No records of the schools of the valley have been preserved earlier
than those relating to the free schools of the present day. All that we
know concerning them is gathered from a few entiies in old memoran-
dum books, receipts for tuition, "the memory of men still living," and
tradition. The first settlers were principally Scotch-Irish Presbyterians,
and the present site of Paxtang Church was early fixed upon as a suita-
ble place for a church and school-house. In 1732, the church was or-
ganized under the pastorate of Rev. William Bertram, but a building
had been erected, and religious services conducted at stated times by
Rev. Mr. Anderson and others, long before. And there is every reason
to believe that the school was coeval with the church. Three different
buildings were used at different times as school-houses — the first and
oldest was a log cabin which stood a short distance north of the church
on Thomas McArthur's land — the second a log house on Thomas Ruth-
erford's land, west of the church — the third was known as the "study
house" — a building belonging to the congregation, erected for the con-
venience of the minister, into which he could retire for meditation be-
tween sermons. These buildings have all long since disappeared and
with them the old type of school-masters. The pedagogue is now
spoken of as '■Hheteacher.''' In those days he was called "2Vi.e Master,^^
terms which sufSciently indicated the difference between the past and
present position of that important personage.
The names of the masters who taught here before the Revolution are
all forgotten save that of Francis Kerr, who immortalized himself by
organizing a ciaudestine lodge of Masons, whose temple was the old
Log Cabin. During the quarter century immediately following the
Revolution, the celebrated "Master Allen," surveyor and school-mas-
ter, fills the most prominent place. His reputation as an educator was
great and his services in demand. In connection with the common
branches, he taught Latin and surveying, and was looked upon by his
cotemporaries as one who had almost reached the summit of the hill of
knowledge. In the course of his long career he conducted schools in
Paxtang, Derry, and Hanover ; and almost all the surveyors, squires,
and scriveners in these townships who were in active service forty or
fifty years ago, had in their youths sat at the feet of Master Allen. It
is not known precisely how long he kept school at the Meeting House ; it
248 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
is however certain that he was teaching there on the 29th of April, 1783 ;
also, that he opened school on the 9th of May, 1785, at 7 shillings and
11 pence per scholar per quarter — and that he was teaching there on
the 12th of January, 1789. After this date we have been unable to find
any record, but have frequently heard it stated that the first school at-
tended by Capt. John P. Rutherford was Master Allen's, at the Meeting
House. Capt. Rutherford was born in 1802. This would indicate that
Allen closed his career as master of the school about 1808 or 1810. He
afterwards taught at Gilchrist's, near Linglestown.
It is a curious fact, that the Christian name of one so famous and
who filled so large a space in this community for so many years — should
be forgotten. His character as ' 'Master' ' seems to ha.ve overshadowed his
very name. And he is known to fame only as Master Allen. Among
the many traditions concerning him, is one which represents him as a
firm believer in the efficacy of the rod as a promoter of good morals and
a quickener of the intellectual faculties. All were soundly drubbed
daily and thosj unfortunate youngsters whose indulgent parents spared
the rod, received at his hands a double portion, in order that they
might have as fair a start in life aa their more favored friends who were
properly whipped at home. His stern and forbidding aspect, as he
stalked about the school-room, rod in hand, struck terror into the
hearts of all meditators of rebellion, and left such a lasting impression
upon the mind, that old men of three score and ten have been known
to shudder as they recalled it.
In the cemetery near Harrihburg, among those brought there from
the old burrying-ground in the city, is a grave marked by a marble slab
resting upon four pillars of sandstone. The inscription is as follows :
In
Memory of
Joseph Allen
who departed this life
Feb. 13th 1819
Aged about 80 years.
There are many reasons for believing this to be the last resting place
of the old autocrat of the school-room.
Joseph Allen, by his will, dated July 4, 1812, bequeathed his books
and MSS. to his nephew, David Allen, of the New Purchase. These
documents may still be in existence somewhere, and doubtless contain
much that would be interesting to us to-day, and it is to be regretted
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 249
that he left, them in one living so far from the scenes of his life-work and
where his name and fame were unknown.
From Master Allen's school went out many young men who after-
wards became prominent in their respective walks of life. Among
those may be mentioned Thomas Elder, member of the Dauphin county
bar, and eleventh Attorney General of Pennsjlvania.
John Forster.— A di tinguished citizen of Harrisburg, and Brigadier
General in the war of 1812.
Jonathan Kearsley. — An officer in the Second Regiment United
States Artillery — served throughout; the war of 1812, and lost a leg in
the defense of Fort Erie — was afterwards Collector of Internal Revenue
for the Tenth district of Pennsylvania. And in 1820 was appointed by
Mr. Monroe, a receiver for the La .d Office at Detroit, a position which
he held until 1847 ; was elected mayor of Detroit in 182'J, and was four
times elected regent of the State University of Micbiijan, and received
from that mstitution the honorary degree of Master of Arts.
Joseph Wallace— merchant— Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth
in 1838, and an eminently useful citizen of Harrisburg.
John Rutherford, surveyor and farmer, represented Dauphin county
in the 28th Legislature of Pennsylvania.
William McClure, a leading member of the Dauphin county bar.
William Rutherford, farmer, colonel of Pennsylvania militia, and
represented Dauphin county in the Thirtieth, Thirty-first, Fortieth, and
Forty-first Legislatures of Pennsylvania.
Joseph Gray, surveyor and farmer, filled with credit, the office ot
surveyor of Dauphin county.
James S. Espy, Esq., for many years a leading merchant of Harris-
burg.
These are a few from Paxtang. Had we the roll of Allen's scholars
from first to last, many distinguished names from Hanover and Derry
would undoubtedly be found upon it.
Cotemporary with Allen at the Meeting House was Mr. Thompson,
who began a quarter on the 29th of May, 1786, at five shillings per
quarter, and Mr. Armstrong, who opened school on the 31st of Octo-
ber, 1786, at five shillings. Of this school we find recorded in Rev.
John Elder's memorandum book, (which through the kindness of Dr.
W. H. Egle, we have been permitted to examine,) the following :
''Dec. 11, 1786. This day he discontinued ye school on acc't of ye
severity of ye weather."
Allen, as has been noted, closed his career as teacher at the Meeting
250 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
House, about 1810. He was followed by several men whose names we
have been unable to ascertain.
In 1814 and 1815, Francis Donley, an Irishman, conducted the
school.
In 1816, Mr. McClintock.
In 1817, Benjamin White, of Vermont, noted for the severity of his
rule. He, in common with all bachelor school-masters of that day,
boarded around.
In 1818 and in 1819, John Jones lived in the house and taught the
school.
In 1820, Thomas Hutchison, of Union county. Pa. Mr. Hutchison
is still living in Stephenson county, Illinois, a hale old man of more
than four score. The rule for boardmg which governed the master in
his peregrinations around the neighborhood, may be gathered from
some instructions given to Mr. Hutchison, when he opened school, by
an Irish lady, who was one of his patrons ; she had but one scholar,
and he was a bound boy.
" Now Tammy, where ye hae but the one scholar, ye stay but the one
night."
In 1821, James Cupples, an Irish weaver, and a man of some attain-
ments, particularly in mathematics, kept school in the winter, and
worked at his trade in the summer. His loom, for want of room
in the house, was kept in the west end of the church, which at that
time was separated from the audience room by a board partition. As
a school-master, Mr. Cupples cannot take rank as a great man. yet he
was in some respects far in advance of his age. He ruled with little or
no assistance from the rod, a system of government which his patrons
who had been brought up under the stern and vigorous rule of Allen,
could not fully apppeciate. He stands out as a solitary example among
his compeers as one whom no little boy ever attempted to thrash as soon
as he should be able, and from him dates the decline of the reign ot
terror in the school-room. For these things he deserves to be gratefully
remembered. After teaching several terms at the Meeting House, he
removed to Churchville, and in 1826, to Cumberland county, where he
probably spent the remainder of his days.
In 1824, Mr. McCashan was master of the school.
In 1825, Mr. Samuel S. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford was a native of
the valley, and for many years one of its leading citizens. He died on
his farm near the church in 1872. From 1825 to 1839, when the school
finally closed, we have a long list of teachers, none of whom seems to
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 251
have tangbt more than a single quarter. Among them are the names
of Mr. Lockhart, Francis D. Cummings, (a man of varied attainments,)
Cornelius Kuhn, Rev. John Macbeth, Mr. Martin, David Calhoun
Thomas Mifflin Kennedy, Robert Cooper, John Ebersole, and William
Gold.
In the fall of 1839, the free school system went into operation in Swa-
tara, and the light from the old school at the Meeting House, which had
cast its rays upon the valley for more than a hundred years was extin-
guished. From the earliest times down to 1812, this was the only lamp
by which the feet of the children of the valley were guided along the
pathway to learning.
In 1812, the over-crowded condition of the school compelled the
erection of another building. The site chosen was the north-east cor-
ner of Jacob Walter's farm, in the woods, near a spring of water. The
logs were contributed and hauled to the spot by the farmers around,
and John McClure, of Hanover, afterwards of Ohio, was the architect.
The house was about sixteen feet by eighteen feet, with a ceiling so low
that a tolerably active young man could stand on the floor and kick the
ioists. This building is still standing, and has been used for more than
thirty years as pig-pen, a use to which it is much better adapted than
it ever was for a school-house.
David Calhoun, of Paxtang, alame man, and a distant relative of the
great South Carolina nullifier, was the first master. He afterwards
taught in Paxtang township and at the Meeting House, and finally went
to the west, where he died. He was followed by Thomas Wallace, who
wielded a rod of such prodigious length, that he was able to reach any
scholar in the room without leaving his chair.
Joseph Gray, of Paxtang vallej', came next in 1815. Mr. Gray after-
wards became distinguished as a surveyor ; died on his his farm in the
valley in 1861, and was buried in Paxtang grave-yard. From Mr. Gray's
time down to the close of the school, many different men were employed
as masters, among whom may be named Til} er Neal, a New England man
and an excellent teacher ; John Karr, an Irishman ; Benjamin White, of
Vermont ; Mr. Burrett, a Yankee ; Curtis McNeal, a Scotchman ^
William Walker, of Hanover ; Murray Manville, P. K. Burke, Mr.
Runyan, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Norwood, an Irishman, and a great lover
of strong water, who once declared that when his bottle was empty he
felt like the mau described in the first lines of the " Beggar's Petition."
"Pity the sori'ows of a poor old man," &c., but when it was full, "No
king upon his throne was happier." Following Norwood, was a man
252 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
of pompous carriage and courtly manners, known as " Old Quality."
What his name really was, no one now seems to know. And lastly,
Mr. Anderson. Most of these men, and others not remembered, taught
but a single quarter, and disappeared.
The new board of school directors divided Swatara township into
seven districts, and erected a school-house in each. Two of these, Nos.
1 and 5, were located in the valley, and supplied the places of the two old
houses. The new buildings were light frame structures, and stood for
twenty-five years, when they were replaced by the present substantial
brick houses.
We shall not go into the history of the free schools of Swatara, but
cannot close the subject without mentioning two distinguished teachers
of Nos. 1 and 5, Edwin L. Moore and George Gunn. These two men
were relatives, and came to the valley in 1840, young men from Massa-
chusetts, and were examined as to their qualifications by Rev. James
R. Sharon, and received from him first-class certificates. Mr. Moore
taught several terms at No. 1, then opened a school in Harrisburg, and
was for many years principal of the Mount Joy academy. In 1861, he
entered the army as paymaster, and served until sometime after the
close of the war, when he settled in Nebraska, where he died about
1870. Mr. Gunn took charge of No. 5, or Hockerton, as it was called,
because of its location on lands of George Hocker, in November, 1841,
and taught the school with two or three intervals, until 1856, when he
married, and engaged in larming on Mentor Plains, Ohio, where he died
in September, 1862. Mr. Gunn was a gentleman of many social virtues,
and when he left the valley for his new home in the west, he bore with
him the good wishes of all classes, and left no enemy behind him. One
old gentleman with whom he boarded for a time, charged him nothing,
"for," said he, "I consider his company worth his board." As a
teacher he was second to no man of his day. His capacity for work in
the school-room was enormous. His ability to impart knowledge, and
his skill in the government of schools unsurpassed. The majority ot
his pupils are still living and in the prime of life, and all look back with
pleasure and satisfaction to the time spent under his instruction. — W.
F. Rutherford in Notes and Queries, 1882.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 253
THE CALL OF REV. JOSHUA WILLIAMS.
The following papers throw some light on the troubles through which
the congregation passed a few years subsequent to the death of the
Rev. John Elder, who for fifty six years had ministered to it ;
Letter Sent to Presbytery in 1795.
Paxtang, Octr. 5th, 1795.
To the Bevd. Presbytery of Carlisle about to convene at Marsh Creek
in the County of York :
Whereas, Mr. Snowden has signified to his congregation in Derry
Township that he is no longer able to officiate in his Ministerial capacity
to them on acct. of Inability of body, and that he purposes to apply to
Presbytery for a Discharge from said congregation which we conceive,
if he might be indulged in his Request, would leave the congregation
of Paxtang in a very distressing & Perilous Situation ; that the two
congregations have lived for many years past in perfect peace, friend-
ship, and unanimity, and that we do not wish for a schism between us
now ; that of the union is once broke there will be no probability of us
being united again ; that of Mr. Snowden is rendered incapable of un-
dergoing the fatigue of the three congregations in less than three years
in the prime of life, by all probability he will not be able in a short
time to attend to two congregations, and of consequence we shall be
left without a pastor and the means of giving a call to another. We,
therefore, pray to be considered as united with Derry, and that if Mr.
Snowden should insist on being disunited from them, that Presbytery
will appoint a committee of their body to enquire into the matter be-
fore anything decisive may take place ; and that the majority of this
congregation, how much soever they may be attached to Mr. Snowden,
would rather he should leave us as he found us, than submit to a disso-
lution of the union subsisting between us.
By order of a meeting of Paxtang congregation.
John Rutherford,
Joshua Elder,
254 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Supplication Sent to Presbytery, 1796.
Paxtang, Jan'y, 1796.
To the Moderator of Carlisle Presbytery about to meet at Big Spring :
By order of the Committee of Presbytery which sat at Paxtaog the
8d of Nov'r last, the Congregation of Paxtang was notifyed the last
Sunday but one which we had meeting that the sense of the Congrega.
tion wou'd be taken on the next Sabbath whether we wou'd adhere to
Harrisburg & break the Union with Derry, or whether we wou'd con-
tinoue the Union with Derry & break off with Harrisburg. Accord-
ingly after sermon last Sunday the heads of families were desired to
attend, and after the business was explained to them, we proceeded to
take the votes of the People, & it appeared that a Majority of the Con-
gregation was for continnuing the Union with Derry and relinquishing
Harrisburg, they likewise chose the bearer Capt'n John Rutherford as
their Commissioner to wait on Presbytery with this Remonstrance,
praying that Presbytery wou'd grant us Supplies & dissolve the Congre-
gation of Paxtang from their Obligations to Mr. Snowden & that he
might discontinue his labors to them unless ordered to supply them as
any other Gentleman.
Supplication Sent to the Presbytery of Carlisle, 1796.
Paxtang, Sept. 3d, 1796.
The Rev'd Presbytery of Carlisle :
Gentlemen : Whereas we are now destitute of the Gospel Ordinances
being regularly administered to us, and what few supplies were allotted
for us at the last Presbytery we fell short even of these on account of
the age and Inability of one of the members appointed to supply us ;
We, the Subscribers, in behalf of this Congregation who met for that
purpose Do most earnestly beg and entreat that Presbytery would be
pleased to grant as many Supplies as they can with convenience ; we
likewise wish that if there be any young or unsettled Members belong-
ing to Presbytery these might be sent to us that we might have an Op-
portunity of the Gospel once more regularly established and adminis-
tered in all the forms thereto belonging ; and your Supplicants as in
duty bound shall ever pray.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 255
Appeal of the Paxtang Congregation to the Moderator.
Paxtang, Oct i, 1797.
To the Moderator of the Rev'd Presbytery of Carlisle :
Sir: We again acknowledge our dependence and renew our request
in praying Presbytery to give us such and as many supplies during the
winter season as they can with convenience. The bearer, Mr. James
Rutherford, is appointed our Commissioner to present this remonstrance
to Presbytery and to answer such interrogatories as may be required of
him.
Signed in behalf of Paxtang congregatiou by
Joshua Elder.
Letter to the Moderator of Carlisle Presbytery, 1798.
Paxtang, Sept. 25th, 1798.
To the Moderator of Carlisle Presbytery :
Sir: The bearer, Edward Crouch, is our commissioner, appointed
by the congregation of Paxtang to wait on the Revd Presbytery of Car-
lisle with a call for the Revd Joshua Williams for the one third of his
labors in union with Derry, whom we expect will apply for the remain-
ing two thirds ; likewise to solicit the Presbytery to grant us Supplies
in the meantime. Signed in behalf k with the approbation of the
congregation by
Joshua Elder.
Rev. Joshua Williams.
Joshua Williams, the third pastor of Paxtang, and to whom refer-
ence is made in the address of Mr. Joshua Williams, of Minneapolis,
■was the son of Louis Williams, and was born in Great Valley, Chester
county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1768. When he was about two years
of age his father removed to York county. He received an early pre-
paratory education, sent to Dickinson College, Carlisle— then under
the presidency of the celebrated Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet — where he
was graduated in 1795, in the same class with Roger B. Taney, for
more than a quarter of a century Chief Justice of the United States,
and who ever retained a kindly rememberance of him. His theological
studies were pursued chiefly under the direction of Rev. Dr. Robert
Cooper. In 1798 was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Carlisle,
256 Paxtang Pesbyrterian Church.
and In the following year was called to the pastorate of Paxtang and
Derry churches, and was ordained minister thereof on the 2d of Octo*
ber, 1799. In 1801, at his own request, he was relieved from the
charge, "owing to some matter of uneasiness which had arisen in one
of his congregations." In 1802 he was installed pastor of the Big
Spring church, which he served until 1829, when, on account of physical
infirmities, he resigned. He died August 21, 1838. His wife, who
was a daughter of Patrick Campbell and Eleanor Hayes, of Derry,
died at Big Spring, and is interred with her husband there. Mr. Wil-
liam's talents and attainments commanded the highest respect from all
who knew him. His intellectual powers were naturally strong and
vigorous, and his judgment sound and discriminating. He was familiar
with the science of mental philosophy, and had a remarkable taste for
metaphysical discussions. He was learned and able in his profession,
and highly instructive in his discourses, and Jefferson College honored
him with the title of Doctor of Divinity. — Notes and Queries, 1872.
I'axtang Presbyterian Church. 257
MASTER ALLEN'S SCHOOL.
The following documents have recently come into our possession.
One is the agreement with Mr. Allen and the other the list of scholars
for the year 1781-2. No doubt our correspondent " W. F. R," as
others of our readers, will be delighted at the perusal :
" We, and each of us whose names are hereunto subscribed, Being
willing to Employ Joseph Allen, to teach our children to Read, Write,
and Arithmetic (as far as to the End of Reduction in Dilworth's As-
sistant) in English according to the best of his capacity. For the term
of one year, from the time he shall begin. At the Expiration of each
Quarter thereof, We do hereby promise to pay or cause to be paid unto
said Joseph Allen the sum of Five shillings hard money (or Wheat to
the Value thereof,) and also to find him in Meat, Drink, Washing and
Lodging at one certain house convenient to the Schoolhouse ; To-
gether with a Schoolhouse, Firewood and Stove, and for the further
Encouragement of s'd Master, we do hereby engage to find Lodging at
our house for such Youths as may apply to be Taught above Reading
and writing in English, which if we do not perform we declare s'd
Master clear at the End of each Quarter he may Think convenient.
In Testimony of the True performance of the above Articles and
agreements noted, the s'd Joseph Allen, We do herewith subscribe our
Names and Number of our Scholars, the 16tli day of November, 178L
John Elder, 3 sch's.
John Rutt.erford, 2^ sch's.
Thos. Murray, l\ "
Joshua Elder, 1 "
John Clark, 1 "
Gustavus Graham, 1 "
Jacob Awl, 1 "
Hugh Cunningham, 2 "
Hugh Stewart, 1 "
Peter Pancake, 1 "
Alex. McCauley, \ '•
Robert Elder, ] "
Thos. McArthur, 1 "
258 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
"A list of the Scholars^ Names and Time they tvere at School with
Joseph Allen, and also their pareyits' Names, ivho Dr. for them — ■
31st Aug., 178S :
Rev. Mr. John Elder for David Elder, 6 Mos.
Samuel do., 9 " ^
Michael do., .... 9 "
Rebecca do., 6t "
James do., 3 "
Josh :ia Elder, Esq., for Polly Hayes, 9 "
Peter Pancake, for Frederick Pancake, 9
William Watt, 3
Alexander McCauley, for George do., 6} "
Barbara do., 3 "
Hugh Cunningham, for James do., 9 "
Hugh do., 9 "
James Crouch, for Edward do-, 3 "
Colonel James Burd, for James, jun'r, do., 9 "
Joseph Burd, 9 "
Wm. Kerr, for William, do., jun'r, 3 "
William Kelso, John do., 4} ''
Rebecca do., 5 "
Thomas do., 4} "
Jane do., 3 "
Joseph do., 5J
Richard Carson, for Richard do , juti'r 8
Sally do., 7
Robert Elder, for James do., 3
David, do., 3 "
John Dimsey, for Thomas do., 8 ''
Arthur Brisband, for Robert do., 8 ''
James do., 4 "
Jane do., 4 "
Col. Thos. Murray, for James do 9
Polly do., • • 2
Ann do., 3 "
Mr. Jacob Awl, for Jacob, junr, do., 4} "
Samuel do., 42^ "
Jane do., 4^ "
Capt. John Rutherford, for Samuel do., 9 "
John do., 9 "
((
it
Paxtaxg Presbyterian Church. 259
Polly do, • • • 8 Mos.
Wm. do., 4 "
Peggy Gray, .... 4 "
Mrs. Mary Stewart, for Michael Simpson, 3J "
Joseph do., 3 J "
Rebecca do., 3] ''
Widow Wilson, for Jane do., 3] "
Esther do., 3] "
Joseph Hutchison, for John do 3.] "
Tilley Larkey, 3-1 "
Thos. Kyle, for himpelf, 3 "
Jeremiah Sturgeon, do., 3 "
Joseph Green, do., 3 "
James Wiggins, do 3 "'
Hugh Stewart, for Robert, do., 7^ "
Hugh, jr., do., n "
Sa-nuel do., 4 "
John Gray, sen., for Ann Hays, 8 "
Sam'l Rutherford, for Nelly Gray, 9 "
Col. Maxwell Chambers, for Arthur (In 9 "
John Clark, for Stephen do., 5 "
Polly do., 6 "
James Rutherford, for Patt. McCann, 7 "
Gustavus Grahams, for Wm. do., 8 "
John Clendinon, for Peggy do., 3 ''
James Russel, for himself, I2 "
Peggy Renick, for Alex. Smith, 2 "
David Murtrie, for himself. 3 "
Thos. McArthur, 9 '•
Anny Renick, 3 "
— W. H. Egle, M. D., in Notes and Queries.
260 Paxtang Presbyteiuan Church.
MAPvPvIAGES BY PtEV. JOHN ELDEPv, 1744-1791.
1757
1772
1788,
1787
1783
1773
1741
1786
1790
1773,
1774
1774
1784
1781
1766
1777
1783
1785
1779
1772
1746
1773
1769
1774
1771
1785
1783
1786
1773
1772
1777
1785
1748,
1786
1769
1771
Feb. 11. Allen, Samuel, and Rebecca Smith.
March — . Anderson, James, and Margaret Chambers.
April 22. Anderson, James, and Esther-Thome.
Nov. 20. Augeer, Mary, and John Culbertson.
Feb. 25. Auld, Sarah, and Joseph Green.
Nov. 1. Ayers, Margaret, and William Forster.
Aug. 13. Baker, Mary, and Rev. John Elder.
Dec. 19. Beatty, Mary Brereton, and Patrick Murray.
Feb. 5. Beatty, Nancy, and Samuel Hill.
Oct. 14. Bell, John, and Martha Gilchrist.
June 24. Bell, Samuel, and Ann Berryhill.
June 24. Berryhill, Ann, and Samuel Bell.
March 2. Boal, Robert, and Mary Wilson.
March 1. Boyce, , and James Robinson.
Boyd, Joseph, and Elizabeth W^allace.
Boyd, Margaret, and Joseph Wilson, of Derry,
Boyd, Margaret, and Joseph Wilson.
Boyd, Mary, and Robert Templeton.
Boyd, Jennett, and William Moore.
Brisban, Margaret, and James Rutherford.
Brown, James, and Eleanor Mordah.
Brown, Sarah, and John Graham.
Brown, W^illiam, and Sarah Semple.
Brunson, Barefoot, and Agnes White.
24. Buck, Elijah, and .
Buck, William, and Margaret Elliott.
Caldwell, Matthew, and Mary Pinkerton,
Calhoun, David, and Eleanor King.
Calhoun, Mary, and Alexander McCullom.
April 1. Campbell, Ann, and Hugh Hamilton.
Dec. 23. Carothers, Eleanor, and James Kyle.
April 28. Carson, Elizabeth, and Alexander Wilson.
June 16. Carson, James, and Mary Espy.
June 13. Cathcart, Sarah, and Joseph Hutchinson.
April 27. Cavet, James, and .
Dec. 5. Chambers, Maxwell, and Elizabeth .
April
8.
March
11.
March
15.
Sept.
14
Jan.
2.
Nov.
6.
Oct.
19
Oct.
1.
Sept.
24
Jan.
3.
Feb.
27.
April
11
Paxtang Pkesb,ytkkian Church.
201
1780,
Jan.
ir,.
17(59,
Dec.
14.
1790,
Oct.
14.
1783,
Aug.
7.
1775,
April
13.
1788,
June
7.
1769,
Sept.
12.
1776,
March
14.
1780,
— .
1784,
Oct.
21.
1777,
March
20.
1777,
Jan.
23.
1778,
Jan.
22.
1781,
Nov.
13.
1777,
March
20.
1787,
Nov.
20.
1774,
April
14.
1775,
March
7.
1774,
April
14.
1780,
July
13.
1778,
Jan.
13.
1772,
Dec.
1.
1777,
Dec.
4.
1774,
March
15.
1788,
June
7.
1779,
Dec.
14.
1774,
Jan.
9.
1779,
Oct.
5.
1779,
Sept.
23.
1766,
Dec.
— .
1741,
Aug.
13.
1751,
Nov.
5.
1788,
Jan.
18.
1773,
Sept.
16.
1783,
May
27.
1784,
May
18.
1769,
Feb.
7.
1787,
June
19.
1785,
Jan.
3.
1748,
June
16.
Chesney, John, and .
Christy William, and .
Clark, Charles, and Elizabeth Robinson.
Clark, John, and Mary Smith.
Clark, William, and .
Cochran. Ann, and Sankey Dixon.
Cochran, Martha, and James Robinson.
Collier. Susan, and Samuel Rutherford.
Cook, William, and Sarah Simpson.
Cowden, Elizabeth, and Robert Keys.
Cowden, James, and Mary Crouch.
Cowden, Mary, and David Wray.
Crain, George, and Martha Richey.
Crouch, Elizabeth, and Matthew Gilchrist.
Crouch, Mary, and James Cowden.
Culbertson, John, and Mary Augeer.
Curry, Agnes', and William Cuiry.
Curry, Daniel, and .
Curry, William, and Agnes Curry.
Dickey, James, and .
Dickey, John, and .
Dickey, William, and .
Dixon, George, and
Dixon, Isabella, and James McCormick.
Dixon, Sankey, and Anna Cochran.
Donaldi^on, James, and .
Dugal, Mr., and Sarah Wilson.
Duncan, Andrew, and .
Elder, Ann, and Andrew Stephen,
Elder, Eleanor, and John Hays.
Elder, Rev. John, and Mary Baker.
Elder, Rev. John, and Mary Simpson.
Elder, John, jr., and Sarah Kennedy.
Elder, Joshua, and Mary McAllister.
Elder, Joshua, and Sarah McAllister.
Elder, Mary, and James Wilson.
Elder, Robert, and Mary J. Thompson.
Elder, Sarah, and James Wallace.
Elliott, Margaret, and William Buck.
Espy, Mary, and James Carson.
262 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
16. Findlay, John, and Elizabeth Harris.
6. Fleming, John, and Nancy Neill.
1. Forster, William, and Margaret Ayres.
14. Foster, Robert, and Esther Renick.
4. Foster, Thomas, and Jane Young.
7. Fulk, Mary, and Christopher Irwin.
7. FuUion, Jean, and James Smith Polk.
— . Fulton, Jean, and Moses Wallace.
5. Fulton, Benjamin, and .
16. Fulton, Grizel, and Alexander Wilson.
30. Fulton, Isabella, and Hugh Wilson.
25. Fulton, Joseph, and Elizabeth .
14. Fulton, Richard, and Isabella McChesney.
12. Galbraith, Benjamin, and .
27. Gilchrist, Eleanor, and Richard McGuire.
22. Gilchrist, John, and .
14. Gilchrist, Martha, and John Bell.
13. Gilchrist, Matthew, and Elizabeth Crouch.
9. Gillmor, Moses, and Isabella Wallace.
21. Glen, Elizabeth, and William Trousdale.
13. Gowdie, Jane, and John Ryan.
15. Gowdie, John, and Abigail Ryan.
28. Goorly, John, and — .
— . Graham, John, and Sarah Brown.
March 13. Graham, Martha, and David Ramsey.
11. Gray, Joseph, and Mary Robinson.
25. Green, Joseph, and Sarah Auld.
1. Hamilton, Hugh, and Ann Campbell.
27. Hamilton, Thomas, and Mary Kyle.
16. Harris, Elizabeth, and John Findlay.
3. Harris, Esther, and Wil iam Plunket.
1. Harris, Esther, (Say, ) and William McChesney.
2. Harris, James, and Mary Laird.
27. Harris, James, and .
3. Harris, John, jr., and Elizabeth McClure.
15. Harris, Mary, and William Maclay.
4. Harris, William Augusta, and Margaret Simpson.
— . Hays, John, and Eleanor Elder.
9. Hays, , and Archibald McAllister.
20. Henderson, James, and Margaret Wiggins.
1744,
Sept.
1781,
March
1773
Nov.
1784,
Dec.
1777
Nov.
1784
June
1785
March
1770
1771,
Nov.
1774
June
1772
April
1780
Jan.
1744
June
1771,
Dec.
1781,
Feb.
1771
Aug.
1773
Oct.
1781
Nov.
1784
Nov.
1781
June
1774
Aug.
1774
June
1776
Nov.
1773
1787
March
1779
Nov.
1783
Feb.
1772
April
1788
Sept.
1744
Sept.
1749
June
1752
June
1768
June
1779
May
1749
May
1774
, Sept.
1752
Oct.
1766
Dec.
1778
, April
1787
, Nov.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 2G3
1771, Jan. 24, Hetherington, Alexander, and ■ .
1790, Feb. 5. Hill, Samuel, and Nancy Beatty.
1776, Dec. 10. Hodge, Isaac, and Margaret Wilson.
1781, April 12. Houston, Mary, and John Maxwell.
1786, June 13. Hutchinson, Joseph, and Sarah Cathcart.
1775, April 18. Hutchinson, Margaret, and Robert Moody.
1780, June 29. Hutchinson, Samuel, and Jane Rutherford.
1784. June 7. Irwin, Christopher, and Mary Fulk.
1783, May 12. Jackson, Edward, and Margaret Lewis.
1776, July 3. Jenkins, Walter, and ■
1774, March 31. Johnson, Alexander, •
1771, Aug. 15. Johnson, James, and .
1781, April 3. Johnson, Jane, and John Patterson.
1774, . Kearsley, Samuel, and Sarah .
1796, Feb. 4. Kelso, John, and Sally Morton.
1757, May 23. Kelso, William, and Simpson.
177o, Jan. 17. Kennedy, David, and .
1788, Jan. 18. Kennedy, Sarah, and John Elder, jr.
1784, Oct. 21. Keys, Robert, and Elizabeth Cowden.
1786, April 11. King, Eleanor, and David Calhoun.
1778, Dec. 10. King, Mary, and James McKinzie.
1782, Dec. 31. King, Richard, and Mary Wylie.
1777, Dec. 23. Kyle, James, and Eleanor Carothers.
1788, Sept. 27. Kyle, Mary, and Thomas Hamilton.
1778, Sept. 10. Laird, James, and .
1788, Feb. 12. Laird, James, and Mary McFarland.
1791, April 4. Laird, John, and Rachel .
1768, June 2. Laird, Mary, and James Harris.
1774, Sept. 29. Lerkin, John, and .
1782, May 6. Lewis, John, and .
1783, May 12. Lewis, Margaret, and Edward Jackson.
1780, July 20. Lytle, John, and .
1773, Nov. 10. Maclay, Samuel, and Elizabeth Plunket.
1774, Sept. 15 Maclay, William, and Mary Harris.
1778, April 9. McAllister, Archibald, and Hays.
1773, Sept. 16. McAllister, Mary, and Joshua Elder.
1783, May 27. McAllister, Sarah, and Joshua Elder.
1776, Jan. 25. McArthur, Barbara, and James Walker.
1744, June 14 McChesney, Isabella, and Richard Fulton.
1752, June 1. McChesney, William, and Esther (Say) Harris,
264 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1783, Jan. 23. McCleaster, James, and Sarah Roan.
1775, Jan. 31. McClure, Andrew, and
1749, May 3. McClure, Elizabeth, and John Harris, jr.
1782, Aug. 8. McClure, Francis, and .
1779, Aug. 3. McClure, Joseph, and .
1777, March 23. McClure, Richard, and .
1781, Dec. 11. McCord, Samuel, and Martha McCormick.
1774, March 15. McCormick, James, and Isabella Dixon.
1781, Dec. 11. McCormick, Martha, and Samuel McCord.
1784, March 29. McCormick, William, and Grizel Porter.
1773, . McCullom, Alexander, and Mary Calhoun.
1784, June 3. McDonald, John, and Lydia Sturgeon.
1787, May 1. McElhenny, William, and Elizabeth McNeal.
1772, May 7. McFadden, James, and .
1788, March 11. McFarland, Elizabeth, and Joseph Sawyer.
1788, Feb. 12. McFarland, Mary, and James Laird.
1781, Feb. 27. McGuire, Richard, and Eleanor Gilchrist.
1778, June 4. McHadden, William, and .
1782, April 8. McHargue, Margaret, and Hugh Ramsey.
1778, Dec. 10. McKinzie, James, and Mary King.
1771, May 9. McNair, Thomas, and Ann Maria Wallace.
1776, May 7. McNamara, James, and .
1787, May 1. McNeal, Elizab-th, and 'A'illiara McElhenny.
1779, April 12. McQuown, (McEwen,) John, and
1779, Sept. 23. McTeer, Samuel, and Quigley.
1781, April 12. Maxwell, John, and Mary Houston.
1770, . Maxwell, Margaret, and James Monteith.
1779, April 15. Means, Adam, and .
1784, April 15. Meloy, Ann, and George Williams.
1776, April 25. Miller, Thomas, aud .
1787, April 3. Mitchel, David, and Susanna Wilson.
1770, . Monteith, James, and Margaret Ma.xwell.
1771, May 30. Montgomery, James, and .
1775, April 18. Moody, Robert, and Margaret HutchiusoQ.
1746, Nov. 6. Mordah, Eleanor, and James Brown.
1779, Sept. 14. Moore, William, and Boyd.
1776, May 7. Murray, Margaret, and John Simpson.
1786, Dec. 19. Murray, Patrick, and Mary Brereton Beatty.
1781, March 6. Neill, Nancy, and John Fleming.
1762, . Park, Margaret, and John Rutherford.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 265
1781, April 3. Patterson, Jobu, and Jane Johnston,
1776, Oct. 15. Patton Samuel, and .
1777, April 22. Pinkerton, David, and .
1783, Feb. 27. Pinkerton, Mary, and Matthew Caldwell.
1773, Nov. 10. Plunket, Elizabeth, and Samuel Maclay.
1749, June, 3. Plunket, William, and Esther Harris.
1785, March 7. Polk, James Smith, and Jean Fullion.
1784, March 29. Porter, Grizel, and William McCormick.
1779, Sept. 23. Quigley, , and Samuel McTeer.
1774, April 21. Ramsey, David, and ■
1787, March 13. Ramsey, David, and Martha Graham.
1782, April 8. Ramsey, Hugh, and Margaret McHargue.
1782, March 31. Reid, James, and .
1769, Feb. 16. Reid, John, and .
1771, July 15. Reid, Thomas, and Mary West.
1784, Dec. 14. Renick, Esther, and Robert Foster.
1775, Dee. 19. Renick, Martha, and William Swan.
1771, June 27. Rhea, Robert, and .
1783, Jan. 23. Roan, Sarah, and James McCleaster.
1775, Nov. 16. Robinson, Andrew, and
1790, Oct. 14. Robinson, Elizabeth, and Charles Clark.
1769, Sept. 12. Robinson, James, and Martha Cochran.
1781, March 1. Robinson, James, and Boyce.
1779, . Robinson, Mary, and John Gray.
1772, Feb. 6. Rogers, William, and .
1782, May 14. Russel, Samuel, and .
1772, Jan. 2. Rutherford, James, and Margaret Brisban.
1780, June 29. Ruthertbrd, Jane, and Samuel Hutchinson.
1762, . Rutherford John, and Margaret Park.
1776, March 14. Rutherford, Samuel, and Susan Collier.
1774, June 15. Ryan, Abigail, and John Gowdie.
1774, Aug. 13. Ryan, Joan and Jane Gowdie.
1778, March 11. Sawyer, Joseph, and Elizabeth McFarland.
1781, Dec. 18. Sawyer, Mary, and William Sawyer.
1781, Dec. 18. Sawyer, William and Mary Sawyer.
1766, Oct. 19. Semple, Sarah, and William Brown,
1772, May 11. Shaw, James, and .
1781, March 8. Shearl, John, and Margaret Thome.
1757, May 23. Simpson, , and William Kelso,
1776, May 7. Simpson, John, and Margaret Murray.
266
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1752,
1751
1780
1774
1780
1771
1784
1789,
1783
1757
1769
1782,
1776
1782,
1788:
1779
1745
1779
1784
1782
1775
1780,
1784
1776
1785
1788
1781
1769
1772
1777
1776
1778
1774
1781
1782
1782
1776
1789
1771
1784
Oct.
Nov.
4.
5.
Feb.
10.
Jan.
31.
Nov.
9.
March
3.
Aug.
7.
Feb.
11.
May
15.
Jan.
31.
Jan.
12.
May
9.
Jan.
13.
Sept.
23.
April
3.
Dec.
23.
June
3.
April
1.
Dec.
19.
Simpson, Margaret, and Wm. Augustus Harris.
Simpson, Mary, and Rev. John Elder.
Simpson, Mary, and Robert Taggart.
Simpson, Matthias, and .
Simpson, Sarah, and William Cook.
Simpson, Thomas, and
Sinclair, Duncan, and Hannah Templeton.
Sloan, Samuel, and Prudence Walker.
Smith, Mary, and John Clark.
Smith, Rebecca, and Samuel Allen.
Smith, William, and .
Smiley, Thomas, and Ann Tucker.
Snodgrass, John, and .
Spence, James, and .
Spence, Jean, and Thomas White.
Stephen, Andrews, and Ann Elder.
Sterret, Martha, and James Wilson.
Sterrett, William, jr., and
Nov.
June
March
April
March
Feb.
May
June
April
April
Aug.
June
Jan.
Aug.
Jan.
March
May
Nov.
9.
25.
15.
22.
8.
(.
18.
19.
9.
30.
25.
21.
31.
19.
25.
3.
9.
9.
Sturgeon, Lydia, and John McDonald.
Swan, Hugh, and .
Swan, William, and Martha Renick.
Taggart, Robert, and Mary Simpson.
Templeton, Hannah, and Duncan Sinclair.
Templeton, John, and .
Templeton, Robert, and Mary Boyd.
Thome, Esther, and James Anderson.
Thome, Margaret, and John Shearl.
Thompson, Mary J., and Robert Elder.
Thompson, James, and .
Thompson, John, and .
Thompson, Samuel, and
Todd, James, and Mary Wilson.
Trousdale, John, and
Trousdale, William, and Elizabeth Glen.
Tucker, Ann and Thomas Smiley.
Vandyke, Lambert, and .
Walker, James, and Barbara M<-Arihur.
Walker, Prudence, and Samuel Sloan.
Wallace, Ann Maria, and Thomas McNair.
Wallace, Isabella, and Moses Gilmor.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 267
1776, . Wallace, Mary, and Hugh Graham.
1766, . Wallace, Elizabeth, and Joseph Boyd.
1787, June 19. Wallace, James, and Sarah Elder.
1770, . Wallace Moses, and Jean Fulton.
1775, Sept. 19. Wallace, William, and .
1779, Nov. 15. Watson, David, and .
1778, June 22. Weir, Samuel, and .
1771, July 15. West, Mary, and Thomas Reid.
1774. Oct. 7 White, Agnes, and Barefoot Brunson.
1788, Jan. 13. White, Thomas, and Jean Spence.
1786, Dec. 19. Whitley, Sarah, and John AVylie.
1787, Nov. 20. Wiggins, Margaret, and James Henderson.
1784, April 15. Williams, George, and Ann Meloy.
1774, June 16. Wilson, Alexander, and Grizel Fulton.
1785, April 28. Wilson, Alexander, and Elizabeth Carson.
1772, April 30. Wilson, Hugh, and Isabella Fulton
1745, April 3. Wilson, James, and Martha Sterrett.
1776, Feb. 18. Wilson, James, and ■
1784, May 18. Wilsow, James, and Mary Elder.
1777, April 8, Wilson, Joseph, and Margaret Boyd.
1783, March 11. Wilson, Joseph, and Margaret Boyd.
1776, Dec. 10. Wilson, Margaret, and Isaac Hodge.
1781, May 10.. Wilson, Margaret, and William Young.
1778, April 30. Wilson, Mary, and James Todd.
1784, March 2. Wilson, Mary, and Robert Boal.
1774, Jan. 9. Wilson, Sarah, and Mr. Dugal.
1787, April 3. Wilson, Susanna, and David Mitchel.
1773^ . Wilson, William, and Elizabeth Robinson.
1777, Jan. 23. Wray, David, and Mary Cowden.
1776, April 14. Wylie, James, and .
1786, Dec. 19. Wiley, John, and Sarah Whitley.
1782, Dec. 31. Wylie, Mary, and Richard King.
1777, July 31. Wylie, Thomas, and .
1772, June 16. Young, Andrew, and
1777, Nov. 4. Young, Jane, and Thomas Fuster.
1781, May "-lO. Young, William, and Martha Wilson.
268 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
MARRIAGES BY REV. JOHN ROAN, 1754-1775.
1772,
May
1772,
Oct.
1762,
Dec.
1757,
Oct.
1764,
Sept.
1768,
July
1761,
Mar.
1760,
Sept,
1755,
Jan.
1760,
Oct.
1762,
Dec.
1763,
Feb.
1773,
Dec.
1768,
Nov.
1365,
Dec.
1755,
May
1771,
Aug.
1774,
Aug.
1769,
Nov.
1755,
Aug.
1761.
April
1755,
Aug.
1761,
April
1760,
April
1755,
Oct.
1773,
May
1764,
March
1761,
Dec.
1769,
May
1771,
Aug.
1768,
Feb.
1774,
April
1760,
Sept.
1761,
Nov.
1769,
May
1759,
July
5. Aiken, Benj.'n, and Mary Sherer.
— . Aiken, - — ■ , and Margaret Clark.
9. Alexander, Wm., and Eliz. King.
27. Allen, Jean, and John Sawyers.
4. Allen, Samuel, and R,ebecca Smith.
4. Allison, David, and Agnes Dick.
3. Andrews, James, and Jean Strain.
25. Armstrong, Agnes, and James Graham.
16. Armstrong, Kate, and Alex. Morrow.
30. Atkins, Robert, and Anne Cooper.
7. Baird, George, and Margaret Kerr.
1. Baird, John, and Margaret Mana.
21. Bankhead, Hugh, and Jeau Trousdale.
24. Barr, Jam*»s, and Martha Cunningham.
31. Barnett, Eliz and Wm. Moorhead.
27. Barnett, James, aad Margaret Roan.
13. Barnett, John, and Mary Boyd.
8. Barnett, Samuel, and Margaret Grahan.
8. Bell, Dorcas, and James Richardson.
4. Bell, John, and Sarah Bell.
23. Bell, John, and Mary Bell.
4. Bell, Sarah, and John Bell.
23. Bell, Mary, and John Bell.
23. Blackburn, Eliz., and Samuel Vernor.
18. Blackburn, Hannah, and James Russell.
6. Boggs, Gable, and John Craig.
27. Bowman, John, and Mary Sterrat,
31. Boyd, Benj., and Janet Elliot.
31. Boyd, Kathrine, and James Brown.
13. Boyd, Mary, and John Barnett.
4. Boyle, Mary, and Thomas McCallen.
24. Boyle, Robert, and Rodgers.
4. Brice, Margaret, and Peter Smith.
3. Brice, Sarah, and John Murdoch.
31. Rrown, James, and Katharine Bo5'd.
— . BrowDj Martha, and James Walker.
Paxtang Pkesjjyterian CiiuKCH. 2G9
1761, March 2G. Brown, Mary, and Michael Vanlear.
1765, Oct. 24. BiK'lianan, James, and Sarah Gray.
1761, April 9. Euriiey, James, and Jean McClure.
1755, April 15. Byers, John, and Agnes Ross.
1760, April 24. Byers, Mary, and Hervey Deyarnund.
1771, Oct. 1. Caldwell, Andrew, and Martha Cochran.
1755, April 24. Campbell, Annie, and James Tate.
1762, Aug;. 25. Campbell, Joseph, and Jean McCall.
1755, Feb. 6. Campbell, Patrick, and Eleanor Hays.
1759, Mar. 22. Carson, Mary, and John Lusk.
1755, Oct. 31. Carson, Robert, and Margaret Woods.
1760, May 1. Carson, Wm., and Margaret McCord.
1760. Dec. 25. Carson, Richard, and Christine Graham.
1766, Nov. 10. Chambers, Sarah, and Wm. Iiwin.
1773, Aug. 30. Clark, Andrew, and Mary Clark
1772, Oct. — . Clark, Margaret, and Aiken.
1773, Aug. 30. Clark, Mary and Andrew Clark.
1767, Dec. 21. Clark, Wm., and Sarah Woods.
1770, Nov. 29. Cochran, James, and Mary Montgomery.
1759, April 24. Cochran, James, and Robert Whitly.
1768, May 31. Cochran, Janet, and James Cunningham.
1756, Aug. 17. Cochran, Margaret, and Thomas Wilej\
1771, Oct. 1. Cochran, Martha, and Andrew Caldwell.
1774, March 1. Cochran, Mary, and Robert Whitehill.
1770, Dec. 11. Cochran, Samuel, and Mary Sherer.
1760, Oct. 30. Cooper, Anne, and Robert Atkins.
1766, April 10. Cooper, Eliz., and John Steel.
1764, Mar. 8. Cooper, Isabel, and Wm. McClenaghan.
1769, Feb. 21. Cooper, Margaret, and Alex. Mitchel.
1775, April 19. Cotler, Aaron, and Hannah Duncan.
1773, May 6. Craig, John, and Sable Boggs.
1766, Feb. 27. Crai-r, Mary, and Arch. Sloan.
1768, May 31. Cunningham, James, and Janet Cochran.
1755, April 18. Cunningham, Sarah, and John Porterfield.
1768, Nov. 24. Cunningham, Martha, and James Barr.
1754, Oct. 3. Cusick, William, and Isabel Mebane.
1773, Nov. 29. Dawson, James, and Katharine Murray.
1760, April 24. Deyarmond, Henry, and Mary Byers.
1768, July 4. Dick, Agnes, and David Allison.
1765, Feb. 28. Donaldson, William, and Anne Lusk.
270
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1773
April
19.
1773
, April
19.
1775
April
19.
1758
Jan.
26.
1774
Aug.
— .
1761
Dec.
31.
1760
, July
— .
1762
Dec.
14.
1769
Aug.
— .
1760
Dec.
23.
1759
May
10.
1763
June
28.
1756
March
2.
1774
Oct.
25.
1763
Jan.
20.
1765
Feb.
12.
1774
Dec.
1.
1756
Aug.
24.
1768
Dec.
1.
1768
Oct.
9.
1773
Aug.
3.
1760
Dec.
25.
1760
Sept.
25.
1761
March
5.
1774
Aug.
8.
1765
Oct.
24.
1766
March
4.
1774
Sept.
27.
1763
Feb.
17.
1761
May
14.
1773
Aug.
3.
1755
Feb.
6.
1765
Oct.
31.
1770
April
26.
1758
Dec.
19.
1762
March
25.
1768
Nov.
10.
1767
Oct.
6.
1774,
Aug.
23.
1757,
May
11.
Douglass, James, and Eliz. Duffield.
Duffield, Eliz., and James Douglass.
Duncan, Hannah, and Aaron Cotler.
Duncan, James, and Mary Kelly.
DuDcan, John, and Mary Montgomery.
Elliot, Janet, and Benjamin Boyd.
Espy, , and John Patton
Espy, James, and Martha McKnight.
Espy, Josiah, and Anne Kirkpatrick.
Espy, Mary, and James McClure.
Fallen, Connor, and Janet Hunter.
Ferguson, David, and Jean Woods.
Fitzpatrick, James, and Margaret Wilson.
Fleming, Eleanor, and James Patton.
Fleming, Mary, and George Murray.
Forster, James, and Janet Johnston.
Fulton, Alex., and Sarah McDonald.
Gaston, Robert, and Margaret Logan.
Gay, James, and Margaret Mitchel.
Gaylor, James, and Mary McClosky,
Glen, Anne, and David Hays.
Graham, Christine, and Richard Cassou..
Graham, James, and Agnes Armstrong.
Graham, Mary, and Edward Sharp.
Graham, Margaret, and Samuel Barnett..
Gray, Sarah, and James Buchanan.
Gregg, James, and Agnes Smith
Guilford, Janet, and John Wilson.
Hanna, Samuel, and Agnes Sterrat.
Harvey, Mary, and Thomas McCIure.
Hays, David, and Anne Glen.
Hays, Eleanor, and Patrick Campbell.
Hays, Jean, and William Scott.
Hays, Jean, and Thomas Robinson.
Hays, Mary, and William Sharp.
Hays, Robert, and Margaret Wray.
Hays, Sarah, and Jonathan McClure.
Hays, V\ illiam, and Jean Taylor.
Herron, Martha, and John Wilson.
Hogin, Patrick, and Katharine McManus..
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 271
1764, Dec. 27. Hunter, Eliz., and James Hunter.
1764, Dec. '27. Hunter, James, and Eliz. Hunter.
1759, May 10. Hunter, Janet, and Connor Fallen.
1762, June 15. Hutchinson, James, and Margaret Hutchinson.
1768, Feb. 25. Hutchinson, Jean, and James Welsh.
1762, June 15. Hutchinson, Margaret, and James Hutchinson.
1762, May 6. Innis, Rachel, and David Sterrat.
1771, Sept. 17. Irwin, John, and Anne Welsh.
1766, Nov. 10. Irwin, William, and Sarah Chambers.
1772, Dec. 17. Jamison, James, and Mary Logan.
1755, Dec. 23. Johnston, Isabel, and John Ross.
1772, April 13. Johnston, James, and Jane McGrady.
1765, Feb. 12. Johnston, Janet, and James For ter.
1767, March 10. Johnston, Janet, and Hugh Montgomery.
1765, Sept. 29. Johnston, John, and Isabel Todd.
1769, May 1. Johnston, John, and Ruth Templeton.
1769, Sept. 14. Johnston, Sarah, and John Robinson.
1774, April — . Kearsley, Samuel, and Sarah Kirkpatrick.
1759, Sept. 23. Kelly, George, and Robinson.
1758, Jan. 26. Kelly, Mary, and James Duncan.
1769, Dec. 5. Kennedy, Thomas, and Janet Wilson.
1773, Oct. 19. Kerr, Andrew, and Katharine Wilson.
1762, Dec. 7. Kerr, Margaret, and George Baird.
1762, Dec. 9. King, Elizabeth, and Wm. Alexander.
1769, Aug. — . Kirkpatriik, Anne, and Josiah Espy.
1762, Dec. 7. Kirkpatrick, Jean, and John Shields.
1774, April — . Kirkpatrick, Sarah, and Samuel Kearsley.
1765, June 20. Lecky, Margaret, and David McClure.
1759, Mar. 22. Lusk, John, and Mary Carson.
1755, April 17. Levy, Samuel, and Mary Sharp.
1756, Aug. 24. Logan, Margaret, and Robert Gaston,
1764, Aug. 23. Loughry, Daniel, and Lettice McConaughy.
1765, Feb. 28. Lusk, Anne, and Wm. Donaldson.
1772, Dec. 17. Logan, Mary, and James Jamison.
1768, Nov. 10. McCune, Jonathan, and Sarah Hays.
1757, Sept. 7. McClure, Margaret, and John Steele.
1759, Feb. 6. McClure, Mary, and Joseph Sherer.
1769, April 18. McClure, Susan, and Hamilton Shaw.
1761, May 14. McClure, Thomas, and Mary Harvey.
1765, April 9. McConaughy, Jean, and John Morrison.
1764
Aug.
1760
May
1761
, April
1760
Oct.
1762
Dec.
1761
Dec.
1769
July
1758
Feb.
1773
Mar.
1774
Dec.
1762
Aug.
1766
May
1762
March
1768
Feb.
1762
Dec.
1756
July
1756
June
1764
March
1760
Oct.
1754
Oct.
1768
Oct.
1765
June
1760
Dec.
1761
April
1766
Sept.
1769
July
1771
Nov.
1772
April
1760
June
1757
Feb.
1762
Dec.
1766
Nov.
1757,
May
1757
May
1760
Oct.
1763
Feb.
1755
Jan.
1763
July
1754
Oct.
1765
May
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
23. McConaughy, Lettice, and Daniel Loughrey.
1. McCord, Margaret, and William Carson.
16. McCord, Margaret, and Wm. Wright.
7. McCormick, Dennis, and Janet Townslie.
23. McCrachen, Margaret, and James McClean.
17. McCrachen, Mary, and Robert Rusk.
6. MeCreight, James, and Janet Strain.
— . McCullom, Alex, and Agnes Walker.
16 McDonald, Jean, and John Wishart.
1. McDonald, Sarah, and Alex. McDonald.
25. McCall, Jean, and Joseph Campbell.
26. McCallen, John, and Jean Stewart.
March 30. McCallen, Margaret, and Thomas Sawyer.
4. McCallen, Thomas, and Mary Boyle.
23. McClean, James, and Margaret McCrachen.
22. McClenaghan, Elcy, and Charles Nedy.
23. McClenaghan, Martha, and Joseph Ross.
8. McClenaghan, Wm., and Isabel Cooper.
9. McClintock, Wm., and Jean Sharp.
15. McClosky, James, and Agnes White.
9. McClosky, Mary, and James Gaylor.
20. McClure, David, and Margaret Lecky.
23. McClure. James, and Mary Espy.
9. McClure, Jean, and James Burney.
22. McClure, Jean, and Joshua Russell.
4. McClure, Jean, and Wm. Waugh.
19. McClure, John, and Sarah Wilson.
13. McGradie, Jean, and James Johnson.
9. McHargue, Alex., and Jean Tolland.
— . McKennet, Alex., and Mary Wiley.
14. McKnight, Martha, and James Espy.
18. McKnight, Mary Ann, and Joseph Wilson.
11. McManus, Katharine, and Patrick Hogin.
9. McMullen, James, and Eleanor Wright.
14. McNutt, Margaret, and John Wilkie.
1. Mann, Margaret, and John Baird.
2. Marrs, Katharine, and David Wray.
14, Maxwell, Alice, and Samuel Ramsey.
8. Mebane, Isabel, and William Cusick.
11. Millar, Mary, and Joseph Young.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 273
1769, Feb. 21. Mitchel, Alex., and Margaret Cooper.
1768, Dec. 1. Mitchel, Margaret, and James Gay.
1767, Nov. 10. Montgomery, Hugh, and Janet Johnson.
1770, Sept. II. Montgomery, James, and Anne Woods.
1756, June 3. Montgomery, John, and Susan Tilson.
1762, March 4. Montgomery, John, and Jean Waugh.
1769, Aug. — . Montgomery, Lettice, and Samuel Robinson.
1770, Nov. 29. Montgomery, Mary and James Cochran.
1774, Aug. — . Montgomery, Mary, and John Duncan.
1761, June 1. Moor, Wm-, and Margaret Wright.
1765, Dec. 31. Moorhead, Wm., and Eliz. Barnett.
1765, April 9. Morrison, John, and Jean McConaughy.
1755, Jan. 16. Morrow, [Murray,] Alex., and Kate Armstrong.
1761, Nov. 3. Murdock, John, and Sarah Brice.
1763, Jan. 20. Murray George, and Mary Fleming.
1773, Nov. 29. Murray, Katharine, and James Dawsen.
1772, Dec. 8. Murray, Mary, and John Polly.
1756, July 12. Neely, Charles, and Elcy McClenaghan.
1765, Jan. 29. Park, Esther, and Robert Wibon.
1774, Oct. 25. Patton, James, and Eleanor Fleming.
1760, . Patton, John, and Espy.
1763, Dec. 3. Patterson, Samuel, and Martha Ramsey.
1772, Dec 8. Polly, John, and Mary Murray.
1755, April 18. Porterfield, John, and Sarah Cunningham.
1763, Dec. 3. Ramsey, Martha, and Samuel Patterson.
1763, July 14. Ramsey, Samuel, and Alice Maxwell.
1769, Nov. 8. Richardson, James, and Dorcas Bell.
1755, May 27. Roan, Margaret, and James Barnett.
1759, Sept. 23. Robinson, , and George Kelly.
1768, March 25. Robinson, Jean, and Robert Sturgeon.
1773, Jan. 28. Robinson, John, and Jean Thompson.
1769, Sept. 14. Robinson, John, and Sarah Johnston.
1761, Nov. 5. Robinson, Samuel, and Jean Snodgrass.
1769, Aug. — . Robinson, Samuel, and Lettice Montgomery.
1770, April 26. Robinson, Thomas and Jean Hays.
1774, April 24. Rogers, , and Robert Boyle.
1767, Oct. 22. Rogers, Margaret, and Samuel Sturgeon.
1755, April 15. Ross, Agnes, and John Byers.
1755, Dec. 23. Ross, John, and Isabel Johnston.
1756, June 23. Ross, Joseph, and Martha McClaneghan.
274
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1761,
, Dec.
17.
1755,
Oct.
18.
1766,
Sept.
22.
1757,
Oct.
27.
1762,
March
30.
1767,
Oct.
1.
1765,
Oct.
31.
1761,
March
5.
1760,
Oct.
9.
1755,
April
17.
1758,
Dec.
19.
1769,
April
18.
1761,
May
— .
1762,
Dec
6.
1759,
Feb.
6.
1770,
Dec.
11.
1772,
May
5.
1759,
Jan.
4.
1766,
Feb.
27.
1759,
Jan.
4.
1774,
April
5.
1772,
Jan.
7.
1768,
Mar.
4.
1764,
Sept.
4.
1760,
Sept.
4.
1761,
Nov.
5.
1757,
Sept.
7.
1766,
April
10.
1763,
Feb.
17.
1762,
May
6.
1761,
May
— .
1764,
March
27.
1756,
Aug.
3.
1766,
May
26.
1768,
Nov.
15.
1768,
Nov.
15.
1769,
July
6.
1761,
March
3.
1768,
March 25.
1767,
Oct.
22.
Rusk, Robert, and Mary McCrachen.
Rus.sell, James, and Hannah Blackburn.
Russell, Joshua, and Jean McClure.
Sawyers, John, and Jean Allen.
Sawyers, Thomas, and Margaret McCallen.
Sawyers, William, and Jean Wilson.
Scott, William, and Jean Hays.
Sharp, Edward, and Mary Graham.
Sharp, Jean, and William McClintock.
Sharp, Mary, and Samuel Levy.
Sharp, William, and Mary Hays.
Shaw, Hamilton, and Susan McChire.
Shaw, Moses, and Margaret Sterrat.
Shields, John, and Jean Kirkpatrick.
Sherer, Joseph, and Mary McClure.
Sherer, Mary, and Samuel Cochran.
Sherer, Mary, and Benj.'n Aiken.
Sloan, Archibald, and Margaret Sloan.
Sloan, Arch., and Mary Craig.
Sloan, Margaret, and Archibald Sloan.
Sloan, Wm., and May Luffran.
Smiley, James, and Eliz. Luffran.
Smith, Agnes, and James Gregg.
Smith, Rebecca, and Samnel Allen.
Smith, Peter, and Margaret Brice.
Snodgrass, Jean, and Samuel Robinson.
Steele, John, and Margaret McClure.
Steel, John, and Eliz Cooper
Sterret, Agnes, and Samuel Hanna.
Sterrat, David, and Rachel Tunis.
Sterrat, Margaret, and Moses Shaw.
Sterrat, Mary, and John Bowman.
Stevenson, Jean, and John Wilson.
Stewart, Jean, and John McCallen.
Stewart, .John, and Margaret Stewart.
Stewart, Margaret, and John Stewart.
Strain, Janet, and James McCreight,
Strain, Jean, and James Andrews.
Sturgeon, Robert, and Jean Robinson.
Sturgeon, Samuel, and Margaret Rodgers.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 275
Jan. 7. SufFran, Eliz., and James Smiley.
April 5. Suffran, Mary, and Wm. Sloan.
April 24. Tate, James, and Anne Campbell.
Oct. 6. Taylor, Jean, and Wm. Hays.
May 1. Templeton, Ruth, and John Johnston.
June 3. Tilson, Su^an, and John Montgomery.
April 23. Thompson, Jean, and Thomas Tompson.
Jan. 28. Thompson, Jean, and John Robinson.
April 23. Thompson, Thomas, and Jean Thompson.
Sept. 29. Todd, Isabel, and John Johnson.
June 9. Tolland, Jean, and Alex. McHargue.
Oct. 7. Townslie, Janet, and Dennis McCormick.
April 22. Trindle, William, and White.
Dec. 21. Trousdale, Jean, and Hugh Bankhead.
March 26. Vanlear, Michael and Mary Brown.
April 23. Vernor, Samuel and Elizabeth Blackburn.
Feb. — . Walker, Agnes, and Alex. McCuUom.
July — . Walker, James and Martha Brown.
March 4. Waugh, Janet, and John Montgomery.
July 4. Waugh, Wm. and Jean McClure.
Sept. 17. Welsh, Anne, and John Dorwin.
March 21. Welsh, David, and Margaret Welsh.
Feb. 25. Welsh, James, and Jean Hutchinson.
March 21. Welsh, Margaret, and David WeLsh.
Aug. 2-5. Wharton, James, and Anne Wright.
May 22. White, , and Wm. Trindle.
Oct. 15. White, Agnes, and James McClosky.
Nov. 1. Whitehill, Robert, and Mary Chchran.
April 24. Whitly, Robert, and Janet Cochran.
Feb. — . Wiley, Mary, and Alex. McKennet.
Aug. 1. Wiley, Thomas, and Margaret Cochran.
Oct. 14. Wilkie, John, and Margaret McNutt.
March 16. Wishart, John, and Jean McDonald. ^
Oct. 27. Wilson, Hugh, and Mary Wilson.
Dec. 5. Wilson, Janet, and Thomas Kennedy.
Oct. 1. Wilson, Jane, and Wm. Sawyers.
Sept. 27. Wilson, John, and Janet Guilford.
Aug. 23. Wilson, John, and Martha Herron.
Aug, 3. Wdson, John, and Jean Stevenson.
Nov. 18. Wilson, Joseph, and Mary Ann McKnight.
276 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1773, Oct. 19. Wilson, Katharine, and Andrew Kerr.
1756, March 2. Wilson Margaret, and James Fitzpatrick.
1774, Oct. 27. Wilson, Mary, and Hugh Wilson.
1765, June 29. Wilson, Robert, and Esther Park.
1771, Nov. 19. Wilson, Sarah, and John McClure.
1770, Sept. 11. Woods, Anne, and James Montgomery.
1763, June 28. Woods, Jean, and David Ferguson.
1755, Oct. 31. Woods, Margaret, and Robert Carson.
1767, Dec. 21, Woods, Sarah, and William Clark.
1755, Jan. 2. Wray, David, and Catharine Marrs.
1762 March 25. Wray, Margaret, and Robert Hays.
1767, Aug. 25. Wright, Anne, and James Wharton.
1857, May 9. Wright, Eleanor, and James McMullen.
1751, June 1- Wright, Margaret, and William Moore.
1761, April 16. Wright, William, and Magaret McCord.
1768, May 11. Young, Joseph, and Mary Miller.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 277
MARRIAGES BY REV. JAMES R. SHARON.
1807-1839.
Dec. 14. Allen, Rebecca, and David Espy.
May — . Baily, Harriet, and Joseph Burd.
Sept. 16. Bates, Eliz., and Geo. W. Simmers.
Dec. 29. Boone, Wm., and Margaret McHargue.
June 4. Boyd, Wm., and Martha Cowdeu.
May 27. Brown, Matthew, and Rebecca McClure.
May 29. Brooks, Catharine, and Jacob Light.
May — . Burd, Joseph, and Harriet Bailey.
— . Campbell, , and Wm. Paxson.
June 14. Campbell, , and George Kunkel.
Oct. 81. Carson, Dinah, aud John Rodgers.
Nov. 16. Cochran, John, and Hannah Cowden.
Jan. 2. Collier, John, and Margaret Rutherford.
Mar. 24. Cowden, Eliz., and Wm. Gillmor.
Nov. 16. Cowden, Hannah, and John Cochran.
June 4. Cowden, Martha, and Wm. Burd.
May 30. Cowden, Mary, and Joseph Jordan.
Oct. 29. Crouch, Mary, and Benjamin Jordan.
May 28. Cummins, Sarah E., and Joseph Wallace.
Feb. 22. Dickey, Dorcas, and Wm. Lamed.
Nov. 22. Dickey, Esther, and Daniel Elliot.
June 13. Drisbaugh, Elias, and Rebecca Grove.
March 6. Duncan, John, aud Mary McKiuser.
April 25. Elder, Ann, and Alex. Piper.
Dec. 8. Elder, David, and Julia Sherer.
March 2. Elder, John, and Jane Ritchey.
Oct. 10. Elder, John, and Mary Thompson.
March 12. Elder, Joshua, and Eleanor Sherer.
March 17. Elder, Joshua, and Eliza Murray.
Jan. 1. Elder, Joshua, and Mary Gillmor.
March 2. Elder, Robert, and Eliz. Sherer.
June 8. Elder, Robert, aud Sarah Sherer.
Nov. 22. Elliot, Daniel, and Esther Dickey.
Feb. 28. Espy, Ann, and Abner Rutherford.
Dec. 14. Espy, David, aud Rebecca Allen.
278 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1807, June 2. Espj', William, and Susannah Gray.
1827, Aug. 2. Ewing, Eleanor, and John Nevia.
1833, Feb. 21. Fallen, George, and Eliza Hatton.
1827, March 6. Fisher, Eliz., and John McFarland.
1839, Jan. 1. Gillmor, Mary, and Joshua Elder.
1812, March 24. Gillmor, Wm., and Eliz. Cowden.
1820, May 10. Gordon, Mary, and John Hart.
1821, June 13. Graham, John, and Martha Sherer.
1837, June 19. Gray, Eliz., and Robert Wilson.
1838, Sept. 11. Gray, Esther, and James McGaughy.
1830, June 1. Gray, Jane, and Joseph Gray.
1830, June 1. Gray, Joseph, and Jane Gray.
1807, June 2. Gray, Susannah, and Wm. Espy.
1821, June 13. Grove, Rebecca, and Elias Drisbaugh.
1838, April 19. Hamacher, John, and Mary Ann Sherer.
1821, Nov. 8. Hanna, Alex., and Ann Wilson.
1817, May 20. Harrison, Williamson, and Jane McKinney.
1820, May 10. Hart, John, and Mary Gordon.
1833, Feb. 21. Hatton, Eliz., and Geo. Fallen.
1816, Oct. 15. Henderson, , and Shaw.
1811, Oct. 29. Jordan, Benj'n, and Mary Crouch.
1821. May 30. Jordan, Joseph, and Mary Cowden.
1836, March 10. Kendig, Daniel, and Sarah Rutherford.
1832, Jan. 5. Kendig, Martin, and Sarah Seebaugh.
1825, June 14. Kunkel, George, and — Campbell.
1811, Feb. 22. Larned, Wui., and Dorcas Dickey.
1809, March 30. Latta, John, and Letitia Stephen.
1838, May 29. Light, Jacob, and Cath. Brooks.
1833, June 20. Lmgle, John, and Ruth McHargue.
1828, June 29. Lyon, John, and Jane Maclay.
1829, March 3. McCammon, Catharine Ann, and Dr. Stough.
1885, Oct. 1. McCammon, Rachel, and David McKibben.
1808, June 29. Maclay, Jane, and John Lyon.
1834, May 27. McClure, Rebecca, and Matthew Brown.
1827, March 6. McFarland, John, and Eliz. Fisher.
1838, Sept. 11. McGaughy, James, and Esther Gray.
1818, Dec. 29 McHargue, Margaret, and Wm. Boone.
1833, June 20. McHargue, Ruth, and John Lingle.
1835, Oct. 1. McKibben, David, and Rachel McCammon.
1817, May 20. McKinney, Jane, and Williamson Harrison.
Paxtang Presbytehian Church. 279
March 6. McKinser, Mary, and John Duncan.
June 26. McNItt, Wm., and Maria Musgrave.
April 4. Moorhead, Wm., and Jane Wilson.
March 17. Murray, Eliza, and Joshua Elder.
June 26. Musgrave, Maria, and Wm. McNitt.
Aug. 2. Nevin, John, and Eleanor Ewing.
. Paxson, William, and Campbell.
April 25. Piper, Alex., and Ann Elder.
March 4. Reid, Thomas, and Agnes Ross.
March 2. Ritchey, Jane, and John Elder.
Oct. 31. Rodgti-rs, John, and Dinah Carson.
March 4. Ross, Agnes, and Thomas Reid.
Feb. 28. Rutherford, Abner, and Ann Espy.
Oct. — . Rutherford, Eliza, and John P. Rutherford.
Oct. — . Rutherford, John P., and Eliza Rutherford.
Jan. 2. Rutherford, Margaret, and John Collier.
April 15. Rutherford, Martha, and Hugh Wilson.
March 17. Rutherford, Mary, and Samuel S. Rutherford.
March 17. Rutherford, Samuel S., and Mary Rutherford.
March 10. Rutherford, Sarah, and Daniel Keudig.
Oct. 15. Shaw, , and Henderson.
Jan. 5. Seebaugh, Sarah, and Marth Kendig.
March 12. Sherer, Eleanor, and Joshua Eder.
March 2. Sherer, Eliz., and Robert Elder.
Dec. — . Sherer, Joseph, and Mary Snodgrass.
Dec. 8. Sherer, Julia, and David Elder.
June 13. Sherer, Martha, and John Graham.
April in. Sherer, Mary Ann, and John Hamaker.
June 8. Sherer, Sarah, and Robert EUler.
Sept. 16. Simmons, George W., and Eliz. Bates.
March 24. Simmons, Robert, and Sarah Ward.
March 10. Simonton, Jane, and Michael Whitley.
Dec. — . Snodgrass, Mary, and Joseph Sherer.
Feb. 29. Snoddy, Matthew, and Jane Wilson.
March 30. Stephen, Letitia, and John Latta
March 3. Stough, Dr. , and Catharine Ann McCammon.
Oct. 10. Thompson, Mary, and John Elder.
May 28. Wallace, Joseph, and Sarah E. Cummins.
March 24. Ward, Sarah, and Robert Simmons.
March 10. Whitley, Michael, and Jane Simonton.
280 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1821, Nov. 8 Wilson, Ann, and Alex. Hanna.
1834, April 15. Wilson, Hugh, and Martha Rutherford.
1816, Feb. 29. Wilson, Jane, and Matthew Snoddy.
1808, April 4. Wilson, Jane, and Wm. Moorhead.
1837, June 19. Wilson, Robert, and Eliz. Gray.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 281
BAPTISMS OF INFANTS IN PAXTANG CHUPvCH.
1807,
June
28.
Samuel Gray.
Sept.
— .
James Anderson.
David T. Caldwell.
1808,
April
6.
Catharine Ann McCammon
Polly Bowman.
April
24.
James Rutherford.
Thomas Bell Allison.
July
24.
Elizabeth Gray Espy.
Aug.
21.
Jane Chamberlaine.
Sept.
15.
John Wiggins Smith.
Tliomas Michael Whitley.
Oct.
21.
Wallace Calhoun.
Dec.
4.
Margaret Rutherford.
John Wyeth Earned.
1809,
April
9.
Ann McClure.
George Ross.
Catharine Carson.
1810,
June
24.
Josiah Espy.
Joseph Ross.
Aug.
5.
Mary Rutherford.
Aug.
11.
Mary Gray.
1811,
April
7.
Margaret Mary Hayes.
May
5.
John Carson.
Aug.
25.
Samuel Rutherford.
Joseph D. Jones.
Oct.
31.
Priscilla Jane McClure.
1812,
Aug.
15.
Ross.
Lydia C Allison.
Sarah Rutherford.
Ann Espy.
1813,
April
19.
George Carson.
May
9.
Robert Walker Taylor.
July
11.
Isabella Campbell.
1814,
, June
13.
Eleanor Gray.
Abner Rutherford.
Andrew Wilson.
282 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1815, Jan. — . George Wm. Simmons.
Aug. 20. James Cowden.
Sophia Carson.
Oct. 30. William Stewart Culbertson.
1816, June 20. Hiram Rutherford.
Robert Culbertson.
Isamiah Hayes.
July 11. Cyrus Findley.
1817, April 14. Josepij Cambell.
May 21. Margaret Clifton Jones.
Sept. 19. Esther Gray.
John Simmons.
Mary Rutherford.
Dec. 8. John Wallace Cowden.
Josiah Espy.
1818, May 10. Ira Harris Jones.
Mary Ann Sher^r.
June 28. William Carson.
Jacob Carson.
Mary Ann Hayes.
July 19. Amelia Brady.
Dec. 7. Harrison.
Dec. 29. Sarah Wilson Foster.
1819, June 20. Maria Harris Jones.
April — . Edward Crouch Jordan.
Oct. 16. Cyrus Green Rutherford.
Dec. 31. William Espy.
Levi Boon.
Margaret Cowden.
James Cowden Gilmore.
Mary Ann Harrison.
1820, Jan. 9. Jane Whitely Simmons.
Feb. 2. James Sharon Mahargue.
' Sept. 3. Martha McClure Foster.
Dec. 8. Harriet Harrison.
1821, May 6. John Richey Elder.
Sept. 6. Harriet Carson.
1822, Jan. 3. Sarah Montgomery Peffer.
Ira Jones.
Eliza Jones.
Paxtang Presbyteriax Church. 28
May 11. Elizabeth Sherer.
Nancy Aiusworth Mahargue.
May
14.
Thomas Jefferson Jordan.
Thomas Grier Hood.
June
— .
Ann Maria Espy.
Aug.
14.
John Gorden Hart.
Sept.
20.
William Kerr Cowden.
Alexander Boon.
1822,
Oct.
19.
Sarah Stanley Thomson.
1823,
Feb.
1.
Samuel Elder.
Feb.
22.
Robert Gilchrist Simmons.
1824,
April
11.
Harriet Newel Cupples.
1825,
Feb.
2.
William Allen.
March
27.
Hart.
1826,
May
1.
Mary Ann Barret.
May
22.
Thomas Wilson BufEngton.
Elizabeth Playmaker Buffington.
Isabella Fulton Buffington.
May
19.
David Espy Mere.
June
9.
James Cowden Jordan.
July
30.
Sarah Elder Cowden.
Oct.
28.
William Gilmore.
Dec.
22.
Samuel Sherer Elder.
James Elder.
1827,
Jan.
10.
David Espy.
Nov.
10.
Keziah Hart.
1828,
March
1.
Samuel Silas Brisbin Rutherford
William Swan Rutherford.
Aug.
22.
Edward Crouch Cowden.
1830,
July
18.
Josiah Reed Elder.
1831,
March 20.
Mary Kerr Wilson.
Henry Stewart Wilson.
Daniel Kendlg.
March
27.
John Alexander Espy.
Walter Kendig.
Rebecca Ann McFarland.
Mary Elizabeth McFarland.
June
6.
Miriam Hart.
June
12.
John Alexander Rutherford.
"284 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
1832,
March 25.
John Newton Gray.
March 29.
Rachel Crouch Jordon.
June
2.
William Wilson.
Oct.
13.
Martha Elder.
1833,
Aug.
11.
Susannah Margaret Espy.
1834,
Louisa Gray.
Feb.
22.
Elizabeth Martha Rutherford.
May
17.
Eleanor Jane Wilson.
Aug.
5.
James Kendig.
1835,
May
12.
Benjamin LaFayette Jordan.
1836,
March
5.
Sarah Margaret Rutherford.
Mary Lucinda Rutherford.
1836,
July
16.
Sarah Elder.
Aug.
5.
Rebecca Kendig.
Dec.
19.
George Fisher.
Lucinda Margaret McFarland.
Dec.
28.
Margaret Mary Wilson.
1837,
Jan.
29.
Ellen Jane Gray.
1838,
Nov.
27.
Eliza Jane Rutherford.
Mary Lucretia Rutherford.
1839,
March 27.
Ann Elizabeth Kendig.
Benjamin Franklin Kendig.
Louisa Jane Kendig.
Clara Kendig.
May
11.
Edmund Robert Davis.
June
22.
Mary Jane Rutherford.
John N. Wilson.
Aug.
■7.
Jane Davis.
John Davis.
Mary Jane Whitley.
Ann Elizabeth Whitley.
John Stearns Latta.
Sept.
14.
John Edmund Rutherford.
Sept.
16.
Adaline Margaret Rutherford.
1840,
Feb.
25.
Mary Elizabeth Hamaker.
July
1.
Elizabeth Kendig.
Sarah Rutherford Kendig.
1841,
March 20.
William Franklin Rutherford.
Oct.
30.
Eleanor Gilchrist Rutherford.
Martha Matilda Whitley.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 28S
Nov. 16. Eleanor Amelia Clark,
1842, May 28. Elizabeth Martha Elder.
Samuel Parke Rutherford.
John Marshall Rutherford.
Jane Eliza Rutherford.
Hugh Latta.
BAPTISMS OF ADULTS.
1838, June 9. Isabella McNeice.
1840, May 16. John Hamaker.
"286 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
COMMUNIONS IN PAXTANG.
Admitted on Examinations.
1807, Oct. 18. James Cochran.
Robt. McClure.
Mrs. Robt. McClure.
Nancy Awl.
Thomas Walker.
William Calhoun, sen., Added 6, Total 36.
1808, Oct. 23. Rachel Crouch.
Arabella Bowman.
Frederick Hatton.
1809, Oct — . Mrs. Calhoun.
Peggy Sherer.
Sidney Gilchrist.
Mary Mitchell.
Robt. Gray.
Mrs. Robt. Gray.
Margaret Collier.
Susannah Collier.
1810, Aug. 2. Margaret Cowden.
Esther Dickey.
1811, Sept. 1. William Espy.
Susannah Espy, (wife of William Espy.
Sally Dickey.
1812, Aug, 23. Patrick Hayes.
Mrs. Patrick Hayes.
Elizabeth Gilmore.
John Allison.
1813, Oct. — . Betsy Hannah.
Eliza Hannah.
John McClure.
1814, No Communion on account of my poor health,
isia. Oct. 29. Joseph Sherer.
Mary Sherer, wife of Joseph Sherer.
Mary Hannah.
Jane Wilson.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 287
Sarah Wilson.
1816, Oct. 18. Mary Cowden.
Elizabeth Sherer.
Martha Sherer.
1818, Sept. 28, Robert Gilchrist.
John Foster.
Mrs. John Foster.
Jane Whitley.
Robert Simmons.
1818, Sept. 28. Mrs. Sarah Simmons, wife of Robert.
Margaret Gray.
Margaret Rutherfard.
Ann Garden.
1819, May 16. David Espy.
Mrs. David Espy.
Mary Whitley.
-- - ■ - If iia\jLi,
Wm. Ainsworth.
Mrs. Wm. Ainsworth.
William Calhoun.
Mary Fulton.
1820,
June
4.
John Cochran.
Williamson Harrison.
Mrs. Williamson Harrison.
Oct.
1.
Martha Cowden.
John Elder.
Jane Elder, v/ife of John Elder.
Jane Rutherford.
Martha Gray.
1821,
Spring Communion — record lost.
Oct. 7.
None by Examination.
1822,
May
11.
Jane Mahargue.
1823,
No Additions.
1824,
May
25,
Alex. Mahargue.
Mrs. Alex. Mahargue.
Oct.
— .
No Additions.
1825.
June
— .
No Additions.
Oct.
16.
Elizabeth Gray.
1826,
May
19.
Agnes Burges.
Margaret Calhoun.
Oct.
27.
1827,
May
25.
Oct.
— .
1828,
May
26.
Oct.
19.
1829,
June,
7.
1829,
Oct.
19.
1830,
Oct,
10.
1881.
May
— .
Oct.
— ,
1832,
May
8.
288 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Jane Peffer.
Eleanor Sherer.
Catharine Ann McCammon.
Mary Rutherford.
Pricella Barrett.
Harriet Bailey.
25. Margaret McClure.
Rebecca McClure.
No Additions.
No Additions.
Martha Rutherford.
No Additions.
John McFarland.
Elizabeth McFarland, wife of John.
Robert Wilson.
No additions.
No additions.
Martin Kendig, from Middletown.
Rachel McCammon, from Middletown.
Ann Blattenberger, from Middletown.
Catharine McGlerm, from Middletown.
Oct. 14. Jane Simonton.
Ann McClure.
1888, Oct. 10. Elizabeth Espy.
Mary Gray.
1884, May 18. No additions.
Oct. — . Jane McClure-
1835, June — . No additions.
Sept. 27. No additions.
1836, No Spring Communion, because absent at General
Assembly.
Oct. 9. No additions.
1887, June 4. Mary Ann Sherer.
Oct. 15. Ann Espy.
Mary Gilmore.
1888, June 9. Isabella McNeice.
Oct. 13. No additions.
1839, May 12. No additions.
Sept. 15. Davis.
1840, May 17. John Hamaker.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 289
Ann Elder.
Sept.
27.
No additions.
1841,
May
16.
No additions.
Oct.
;]i.
No additions.
1842,
May
29.
No additions.
Admitted on Certjfica
1812,
Aug.
23.
James Taylor.
Jane Taylor.
Joseph Cambell.
Mrs. Joseph Cambell.
1815,
Oct.
29.
Mrs. Fiuley.
1819,
May
10.
Mrs. Sedgwick, Middle Spring.
1822,
May
11.
John E. Thomson.
1826,
May
19.
John Buffington.
Joshua Elder.
1832,
May
3.
Mary Millerort, Harrisburg.
Mary Wilson, Harrisburg.
1837,
Oct.
1").
Mrs. Eliza Latta.
1840, May 17. Mrs. R. R. Elder, Harrisburg.
290
Paxtang Presbyteriax Church.
DISMISSIONS IN PAXTANG.
1807,
— .
Martha Cowden. (alias Boyd.)
Jane Wilson.
1812,
April
4.
John Ross.
Elizabeth Ross.
1814,
March
5.
James Taylor.
Jane Taylor, his wife.
Aug.
O
o.
John McClure.
Aug.
6.
William Whitley.
Mrs. Wm. Whitley.
1816,
April
29.
Mrs. Suoddy, (alias Jane Wilson.)
1817,
Sept.
29.
James Hannah.
Mrs. James Hannah.
Elizabeth Margaret Hannah.
1820,
May
1.
Dinah Carson.
Dec
30.
Mrs. Mary Jordan, (alias Cowden.)
Nov.
— .
Alexander Hannah.
Mrs. Ann Hannah, (wife of Alex. 'r.)
1821,
April
Joseph Wilson.
Mrs. Ann Wilson, wife of Joseph.
Sarah Wilson, daughter of Joseph.
Mary Wilson, daughter of Joseph.
1824,
March 27.
William Boon.
Margaret Boon.
1825,
Dec.
20.
Julia Sherer.
1827,
June
— .
Samuel Kearsley.
27.
Samuel Hood.
Rebecca Hood.
1828,
May
5.
Catharine Nevin.
1880,
Oct.
— .
Margaret Collier.
Dec.
9.
John Buffington.
1833,
Oct.
18.
Margaret Calhoun.
1834;
April
16.
Mrs. Hugh Wilson, (alias Martha Rutherford. )
Sept.
20.
Mrs. Rebecca Brown, (alias Rebecca McClure.)
1836,
March
10.
Mrs. Catharine Stough, (Cath. McCaramon.)
Mary Millerort.
Rachel McCammon.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 291
June 25. James Simonton.
Mrs. Aun Simonton, wife of James.
1840, Oct. 5. Ann Kerr, daughter of Robert McClure.
1841, May 16. Mrs. Mary Sherer.
John Hamaker.
Mrs. Mary Ann Hamaker, (alias Sherer.)
1842, April 16. Miss Isabella McNeice.
292 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
DEATHS IN PAXTANG CONGREGATION.
1809,
Mai'ch
June
1810,
Jan.
Feb.
Oct.
1811,
8. James Rutherford.
— . Mrs. Awl.
— . Isabella Larned.
— . Margaret Rutherford, communicant.
— . James Cowden, communicant.
— . SusaLina Rutherford, communicant.
1813, July 25. Josiah Espy, communicant.
Aug. 18. Mary Elder, communicant.
1814, Aug. 12. Ann Stephens, communicant.
1815, Nov. 25. Mary Fulton, communcant.
1816, March — . John Allison, communicant.
April 18, Widow, Elizabeth Gray, communicant.
Sept. 23. Elizabeth Sherer, communicant.
1818, Aug. 19. Margaret Cowden, communicant.
Sept. 29. Robert Elder, an elder.
Sept. 29. Mrs. McClure, communicant.
1819, May 30. John Gray, communicant.
1821, . Margaret Allison, communicant.
William Calhoun, commu.iiraut.
1822, July 15. James Cochran, communicant.
July 16. Jane Gray, communicant.
Peggy Sherer, communicaut.
1823, Jan. 4. Mary Foster, communicant.
March 11. Sarah Wilson, communicant.
April 9. Jane Harrison, communicant.
1824, March 4. Joseph Sherer, communicant.
April 17. Williamson Harrison, communicant.
Aug. 10. John C. Thomson, communicant.
Margaret Rutherford, communicant.
1826, Jan. 20, Widow Crouch, communicant.
Feb. — . Isabella Buffington, communicant.
Feb. 25. Sarah Kearsley, communicant.
1825, May 24. James Cowden, communicant.
May 28. Elizabeth Wiggins, communicant.
1887, Jan. 2. Edward Crouch, an elder.
March 3. William Calhoun, coiimunicant.
Paxtang Presbytkkian CiiuncH. 293
Oct. 19. Robert Elder.
1829, May 28. David Ritchey, communicant.
1831, . John Ritchey, an elder.
1833, Sept. 7. Hannah Calhoun.
Nov, 26. Samuel Rutherford, an elder.
1834, Feb. 20. Ann Gordon, communicant.
Frederick Hattoa, communicant.
1835, Oct, 15. John Gilchrist, sen., communicant.
Oct, 15. Elizabeth Wilson, communicant.
1836. . Sarah Elder, (wife of Robert,) communicant.
1837, April 2. P^leanor Elder, (wife of Joshua,) communicant.
1839, July — . .lohn McCammon, an elder.
183c„ July 21. Robert McClure, an elder.
1840, April — . David Espy, communicant.
July 7. Mary Hatton, communicant.
1841, Nov. — . I'^lizabeth 'A'ilson, (wife of Henry,) communicant.
1841, . S.irah Kendig, communicant,
1841, . Ann Espy, communicant.
294
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
THE GRAVE- YARD.
Originally Paxtang congregation owned a tract of twenty acres in
the shape of a parallelogram, whose length was about three times its
width. About 1850 a portion of the tract was sold leaving a square of
six or eight acres, covered largely with forest trees, among which are
several giant oaks. Near the center of this tract stands the church, the
parsonage occupies the south-east corner, and between the two lies the
grave-yard. In early times no distinct limits were set to the burying
ground, and the people buried their dead anywhere, according to their
fancy, in the clearing to the south and south-east of the church.
Graves were seldom marked, and a few have obliterated all trace of
them. As families became permanent and the number of these graves
increased, more care was taken, tombstones began to be erected and
lots fenced in. The want of uniformity, however, in these fences and
of regularity in the selection of lots rendered the ground very unsightly.
This state of affairs existed until 1790-1792, when the ground was
enclosed by a stone wall, the greater portion of which is still standing.
This wall does not by any means include all the graves of Paxtang.
It did, however, surround all that were marked by tombstones or
protected by fences. An effort has been made in the pages immediately
following to give a correct copy of these tombstones, and brief notes of
many of those who lie beneath the sacred soil of venerable Paxtang.
Sacred to the Memory of
In
memory of
MARGARET A-
LEXANDER and
her two babes.
She was
the regretted con-
sort of Andrew
Alexander.
She died August
22ud 1790 aged 33
years.
JACOB AWL 1
Who departed this life Sept. 26th,
1793, Aged 66 years, 1 month
and 20 days.
This stone is placed over his re-
mains by his relict and children
as a testimony of their Regard
for his many virtues.
Is he perhaps your Guardian angel still,
O, widow, children, live as would obey
his will,
So shall you join him on that happy shore
Where grief or death will visit you no
more.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
295
Sacred
to the
memory of
JOHN ALLISON,
who departed this life
March 17th, 1816.
Aged 46 years.
ELIZA BARNETT,
Departed this life
Sept. 7, 1862,
Aged 66 years, 10 months
and 28 days.
In
memory
WILLIAM BROWN, '^
Esq'r.,
Who depar-
ted this
Life Oct'r, 10th,
1787, aged
67 years.
In
memory of
THOMAS BROWN ^
Who died Feb. 17, 1851,
In the 79th year of his
Age.
In
memory of
MARGARET
Consort of Thomas Brown
who died Feb. 14, 1854
In the 77th year of her
age.
In
memory of
WILLIAM
Son of Thomas and
Margaret BROWN
who died July the
4th 1822 aged 21
years and 10 nmnths,
Also SAMUEL BROWN
who died April the 29th
1835 aged 27 years
also MARGARET and
THOMAS BROWN who
died in their infancy.
In
memory of
MATILDA BROWN,
Who died Sept. 10, 1821,
In the 53rd year
of her age.
HARRIET B.
widow of
Joseph BURD
Born May 22, 1791,
Died October 9. 1860.
In
memory of
CAPT. JOHN BRISBAN '
a Soldier of the
Revolution
who departed this life
March 13, 1822,
aged 91 years.
In Memory of
JAMES BIGGER^
Died Jan 4, 1850
296
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Aged
43 years 9 months & 18
Days
Yes thou art gone, thy loss we mourn,
And long affliction's tear must flow
Around tliy silent sacred urn
'Tis all fond memory can bestow.
Also
Two infant children of
James & Margaret Bigger.
In memory of
MARGARET
wife of
JAMES BIGGER
born July 13, 1806
died Oct. 29, 1878
Aged 72 years, 3 'months
and 16 days.
Safe in the arms of Jesus
Safe in his gentle breast,
There by his love o'ershaded
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
In
Memory of
ANN ISABELLA
Daughter of
James & Margaret
BIGGER,
Died May 9, 1846
Aged 3 Years 9 Mos
& 7 Days
MARY E
Daughter of
Wm. J & Julia A
BIGGER,
Died Sept 16, 1854
Aged 5 months
& 11 days
In Memory of
SARAH BIGGER
Wife of John Bigger
who departed this life
July the 9th A D 1842
In the 32nd year ot her age
Also
thi'ee of their children
In
Memory of
JAMES COWDEN, ESQ.,^
who departed this life
October 10th, 1810,
in the 74 year
of his age.
In
Memory of
MARY
wife of James Cowden, Sr.,
who departed this life
Oct. 14, 1848,
in the 91st year of her age.
MARGARET COWDEN
departed this life
Aug't 19th, A. D. 1818.
aged 36 years.
MATTHEW B. COWDEN '
Departed this life
Jan. 15, 1862,
Aged 75 years, 6 months
and 21 days.
MARY W.
wife of
Matthew B. COWDEN,
departed this life
. May 16. 1844
Aged 56 years.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
297
Also
MARGARET,
tbe daughter of
Matthew B. & Mary Cowden
July 7th, A. D. 1822
aged 3 year*.
MARGARET CROUCH
departed this life
Feb'ry 2d a d 1826
aged 71 years.
In
memory of
JAMES cr;ouch»
who departed this life
May 24th 1794
aged 66 years.
Here Lies
In
the body of
memory of
SARAH
HANNAH CROUCH
CAVET.
wife of James Crouch
who died in the
who departed this life
22d Year of her
May 24th 1787
Age upon the 15th
age<i 60 years
day of June, 1770.
Sacred
In
In
memory of
memory 'if
SUSANNA COLLIER
EDWARD CROUCH'"
who departed
who departed this life
this Life
on the 2d day of January 1827
the Uth Sept.
in the 63d year of his age.
1781
•' Bless' d thought, not lost but gone
Aged 74
before.'"
years.
In
memory of
In
memory of
MARGARET CROUCH
JAMES COLLIER"
wife of
wli'i departed
EDWARD CROUCH
this Life
who departed this life
the 31st of March
February 7th 1 797
1788
aged 22 jears
Aged 85 years.
RAPHVI R4TT WV nUOTTr-W
Born April 16, 1783,
Died March 2, 1857,
wife of the
Hon. Edward Crouch, Dec'd.
298
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
JAMES COCHRAN"
died July 16 1822
aged about 80 years
&
MARY COCHRAN
August 6 1803
Aged about 58 years.
JOHN COCHRAN 12
Died November 16 1845
Aged about 72 years.
In
memory of
HANNAH
wife of
JOHN COCHRAN
Died May 31, 1850
iu the 72d year
of her age
In
memory of
DAVID CALHOUN
born December 1
1741
died April 1770
DINAH
Died April 1, 1878
In the 90th year of
her age
*' Well done good and faith-
ful servant ' '
In
Memory
HENRY B. DORRANCE, M. D.
who departed this life
Oct 1st 1828
MARY
DICKEY
Departed
this Life
April the
6th 1764
In memory of
ROBERT DUNCAN
who departed
this life Feb'y
ye 26th 1766
Aged 82 years
In
Memory of
JOHN DUNCAN 13
SEN'R who departed
this life June the
30th 1788
Aged 81 years.
In
Memory of
JOHN DUNCAN
JUNIOR who departed
this life
Aug't the 24th
1773
Aged 17 years
In
Memory of
ANN DUNCAN who
departed this life
April the 11th 1792
Aged 82 years
&
ROBERT RITCHEY
Departed this life
in March 1780
Aged 8 months.
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
299
ELEANOR
DAVIDSON
Born Jan 16, 1733
Died December IT'JO
JOHN D. DURKEES"
Died Aug 14, 1885,
Aged 41 years, 9 mos
& 18 days.
The Body
of
the late REV'D JOHN ELDER '^
lies interred under this slab
he departed this life
July 17 1792
Aged 86.
Sixty years he filled the sacred Char-
acter of
a Minister of the Gospel
fifty six of which he officiated
in Paxton
The practice of piety seconded the
precepts
Which he taught and a most ex-
emplary life was the best comment
OH the Christian Religion.
The Remains
of his Daughter GRIZZEL
who died 18th Sept 1769
Aged 20 years
rest with him in the same grave
Also
The Body
of
his first wife MARY
who departed this life
June 12, 1749
Aged 33 years,
Also
The Body
of
his second wife MARY
who departed this life
October 3d 1786
Aged 54 years.
JOHN ELDER i«
Born Aug. 13, 1757
Died Apr. 27, 1811.
Also
his son
JOSIAH ELDER
who departed this life
Oct 30 1844
in the 42nd year of his age
''Blessed are the dead who die i»
the Lord."
This stone
designates the Grave
of
ROBERT ELDER"
who died Sept. 29th 1818
in his 77th year
During an active and well spent life
he sustained the
character
of an
Honest Man
In
memory of
MARY J. ELDER
Late consort of Robert Elder
Born October 19th 1750
Died August 18, 1813.
SW)
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
The Body
of
JOSHUA ELDER
son of
Robert Elder
of Indiana
Lies under this slab
He died Nov. 11th 1825
aged 28
The equanimity of his mind
the sincerity of his heart, and
the correctness of his conduct
gained for him much
respect and genei-al esteem.
The Body
of
the late JOSHUA ELDER ESQ'*
lies interred under this slab
He departed this life
December 5th 1820
Aged 76.
In the course of a long and useful
Life he fiU'd many important public
Stations, the duties of which he
Discharged with uprightness and
fidelity
And
His private conduct was marked
by a Temperance and Regularity
only equalled by his inflexible
Integrity.
Also
The Body
of
his first wife MARY
who departed this life
November 21st 1782
Aged 29 years.
Also
The Body
of
his second wife SARAH
who departed this life
December 6th 1807
Aged 45 years.
In
memory of
ROBERT ELDER,
Who died Oct. 19, 1827,
Aged 36 years.
Also
his wife
ELIZ.\BETH,
Daughter of
Samuel & Elizabeth Sherer
Died Feb. 26, 1860
Aged 65 years.
"There remaineth therefore a
rest to the people of God."
Heb. 4 : 9.
Sacred to the Memory
of
SAMUEL S. ELDER '">
Major 2nd Artillery U. S. Army
departed this life
Apr. 6, 1885,
at Fort Monroe, Va.,
aged 58 years.
"I am the ressurection and the
life."
BESSIE G. ELDER,
wife of Samuel S. Elder.
Died Nov. 19th, 1890.
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
301
In memory of
DAVID ELDER
who died
May 22d 1809
aged
40 years.
In
memory of
JANE
his wife who died January
13th 1842
In the 70th year of her
age.
Them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him.
1st Thess. 4th— c : 16v.
In memory of
ROBERT T. ELDER
Born
September 1st 1800
Died
August 13th 1854.
In memory of
ANN S. ELDER
Died Jan. 7, 1878
In the 81st year
of her age.
MARGARET ELDER
Died Sept. 14, 1851
in 80th year of her
age.
In peace may our Mother rest.
Sacred
to the memory of
SAMUEL ELDER '0
who departed this life
Sept. 2Gth, 1815.
in the 44th year of his age.
Sacred
to the memor}' of
WILLIAM ESPY ^'
who was born
June 2, 1786
and died
July 28, 1850
aged
74 years, 1 month
& 26 days.
Sacred
To the memory of
SUSANNA.
wife of Wm. ESPY,
who was born
June 18, 1782
Died July 10, 1854,
aged
72 years & 22
days.
In
Memory of
ROBERT R. ELDER, ^^
Died April 5th, 1858,
Aged 60 years.
In
Memory of
SARAH ELDER,
who died
November 25th, 1836,
In the 40th year of her
Age.
ELIZABETH G. ELDER,.
Second wife of
Robert R. Elder
Born March 17, 1806,
Died Feb. 16, 1862.
302
Paxtang PresbytePvIax Church.
ROBERT ELDER
son of
Robert R. & Sarah
Elder
Born May 2, 1 830,
Died March 8, 1861.
JOSHUA ELDER 2=^
Born
January 18 1802
Died
August 25, 1883.
In
memory of
ELEANOR ELDER
who died
April 2nd 1837
in the 35th year of her
age.
In
memory of
MARY C. ELDER
who departed this life
February 26, 1844
in the 27th year of her
age
NANCY BROWN
wife of
Joshua Elder
Born May 17, 1816
Died Oct. 4, 1885.
MARY ADA
Daughter of
Joshua & Nancy
ELDER
Died April 7, 1858.
Aged 10 months & 14
Days
JOHN PARKE
son of
John & Mary J
ELDER
Born Jan 1, 1872
Went home to heaven
July 22, 1872
ELIZA RUTHERFORD
Daughter of
John & Mary J.
ELDER
Born February 5, 1874
Went home to Heaven
September 30, 1874
JAMES G. ESPY
died September 22 1852
aged
3 years & 10
Days
WILLIAM ESPY
Died Sept. 10, 1852
aged
7 years 5 mo & 21 d.
To the memory of
SAMUEL McKEEHAN
son of
Josiah and Mary Espy
Born April 14, 1847
Died Dec. 19, 1849.
In
memory
of "
JOSIAH ESPY JUN
who died
April 13th 1811
aged 87 years.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
303
la
Memory of
JOSIAH ESPY
who died July 2Gth 1813
Aged 71 years.
Also
his wife
ANN"
who died
May 81st 1842
in the 92nd year of her
age
In memory of
,DOCTOR JOHN E. ESPY"
who died April 26 1831
Aged 50 years
lu memory of
DAVID ESPY •■'«
who died
Apnl 21st 1840
Aged 48 years.
In memory of
HUGH WILSON FULTON
who departed this
Life August the 12th
A. D. 1793, aged 16 yra
& 16 days. [Remainder un-
intelligible.]
In
Memory of
MARY
Consort of
Richard FULTON dec'd
who departed this life
Nov'r 23, IBIT),
in the 45th year of her
age-
In memory of
RICHARD FULTON, SEN'R"
who departed
this life in Nov'r
1774 age 68 years.
In
Memory of
ISABEL FULTON who
departed this life
the 1st of April 1779
aged 65 years.
In memory of
JOSEPH FULTON
who departed this life
January 25, 1787, age 28 years.
In
Memory of
JOHN W.
Son of Richard FULTON, dec'd,
who departed this life
Feb'y 12th, 1825,
in the 28th year of his
age.
In
Memory of
MARY A.
wife of Richard FULTON
Died August 18, 1849,
Aged 36 years.
In
Memory of
RICHARD FULTON
Born Aug. 4, 1797,
Died Feb. 23, 1851,
Aged 53 years 6 months
and 19 days.
304
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Here Lj'eth the Bo
dy of GEORGE FLE
MING was bor
n in the year
of our Lord
1728 and died
June the 21, 1766.
Here lieth the Body of
THOMAS FORSTER, ESQ.,"'
Late of Paxton
In the County of Lancaster
Who departed this life the 25th of
July 1772
Aged 76 years.
JOHN GILCHRIST
died December 18
1843
in the 52 year of his
age
ELEANOR GILCHRIST
Died June 28ud, 1860
In the 71st year of her
age
In
memory of
THOMAS GILCHRIST
Born Jan. 21, 1799
Died Jan. 29, 1873
aged 74 years and 8
daj's.
In
memory of
ELIZABETH
GILCHRIST
who dejiarted this life
December 16th 1805
aged 40 years.
JANE
wife of
ROBERT GILCHRIST
Born June 1. 1789
Died Sept. 10, 1865
Aged 76 years 3 mos
and 9 days
ROBERT GILCHRIST
Born Feb. 18, 1788
Died March 27, 1857.
JOHN GILCHRIST^'
Died
October 14th 1835
In the 74th year of his
age
In
memory of
SIDNEY GILCHRIST
who died March 16
1843
aged 57 years and
24 days
In
memory of
ELIZA GILCHRIST
Born June 30, 1794
Died Feby 6, 1848
aged
53 years 7 mouths & 6
Days.
Sacred
To the memory of
JAMES GILCHRIST
Died April 15, 1854
aged
63 years, 1 month & 23
days.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
305
MARY GILCHRIST
Died
May 1874
aged 72 years.
In
memory of
MOSES GILLMOR =»
who died
On the 10th of June 1825
In the 76th year of his age
In
memory of
ISABELLA GILLMOR
who died
On the 16th of September 1826
in the 73d year of her age
In
memory of
MARGARET GILLMOR
who died
Feby 10th 1839.
Also of
THOMAS
son of
Moses & Isabella
GILLMOR
who died Sept 25th 1793
in the 17th year of his
age
In memory of
MARY daughter of
Moses & Isabella
GILLMOR,
who departed this life
July 30th 1793 in
the 8th year of his age
In
memory of
ROBERT GILLMOR 31
who died
Nov. 13, 1867
In the 77th year
of his age
In
memory of
WALLACE MOSES
GILLMOR
who departed this life
On the 28th of December
1840
in the 24th year of his age
In
memory of
ISABELLA M. GILLMOR
who departed this life
March 10, 1853
In the 33rd year of her
age.
lu
memory of
ELIZABETH
wife of
William GILLMOR
who died Oct 17 1857
Aged 73 years 6 mos & 20
Days.
In
memory of
JAMES COWDEN
GILLMOR
who departed this life
April 4th 1837
in the 18th year
of his age
306
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
In
In memory of
memory of
his consort
WILLIAM GILLMORJR
ELIZABETH GRAY
who departed this life
who departed this life
Jan 29 1855
April 18th, A. D. 1816,
Aged 29 years & 27
Aged 72 years.
days
In
Memory of
In
JOHN GRAY
memory of
Who departed this life
WILLIAM GILLMOR
May 30th, A. D. 1819,
who died the 28th day of Aug 1856
in the 66th year of his age ;
Aged 68 years.
Also
his mother
In
Memory of
HANNAH GRAY
w^ho departed this life
in November A. D. 1781.
JOHN GRAY,' SEN'R,"*
Aged 70 years.
Died February 1785
Aged about 78 years.
In
Also his son
Memory of
GEORGE
MARY
Died February 25th 1796,
second wife of
Aged about 67 years.
John GRAY dec,
who died July I7th 1822
And
Aged 62 years.
In memory of
In
his mother
Memory of
SUSANNA GRAY, 33
JOSEPH GRAY
who departed this life
Died
In October A. D. 1750
September 13, 1861,
Aged 50 years.
Aged 69 years.
In
In
memory of
Memory of
JANE H. GRAY
JOSEPH GRAY
Died
who departed this life
Dec. 6, 1870
October 13, A. D. 1794,
aged
in the 60th year of his age.
74 years.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
307
In
Memory of
ROBERT GRAY"
Died
April 27, 1848,
In the 91st year of his
Age.
In
Memory of
MARY
wife of
Robert GRAY
Died Auk- 16, 1863
Aged 91 years 11 moa
and 3 days.
In
memory of
ELEANOR
Daughter of
Robert & Mary GRAY
Died
June 28, 1832
In the 19th year of her
Age.
In
Memory of
THOMAS M. GRAY
Born March 17, 1798
Died Jan. 28, 1857
Aged 58 years 10 mos
& 11 ds.
MARGARET P. GRAY
Born July 22, 1792
Died Feb. 11, 1873
Aged 80 years, 6 mos
and 19 days.
In
memory of
ELIZA. G. [Gray]
wife of Robert Wilson
who departed this life
Nov. 10, 1841
Aged 37 years & 6 days.
SAMUEL GRAY
Died Oct. 21, 1881
In the
76th year of his age.
Designed
as a solemn tribute
of gratitude, love, and respect
to the memory of
MARTFIA M. GRAHAM
the affectionate cousort of
John Graham
who departed this life
January 30th A. D. 1824
aged 54 years, 2 months
& 27 days
Her flesh sliall slumlier in the ground
Till the last tnimpet's joyful sound,
Then burst the chains with sweet sur-
prise,
And in her Saviour's image rise.
In
Memory of SU-
SANNA GRAHAM
died Novb'r 25th 1772
JOHN
GOLAUGHER^'*
Departed this
Life June
the 7th 1779
aged 49 years
308
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Sacred
to the memory of
JAMES HARRIS,
who departed this life may 17, 1806,
in the 24th year of his age.
On him were fortune's blessing shed,
And hope sweet prospects gave,
Too soon the pleasing vision sped
And vanished in the grave.
In early youth he fell a prey
In manhood's opening bloom,
And left the cheerful light of day.
For death's untimely gloom.
Almighty G-od vrhose gracious love
Bestows each blessing given.
Receive his soul, with thee to prove
The sacred joys of Heaven.
la
memory of
JOHN HARRIS, Jr., ^e
Who died on the 30th Day of July,
1791,
la the 65th year of his age
aud gave name
To the Towa of Harrisburgh.
The Remains of
ELIZABETH »' his first
and MARY his secoad wife
Lie interred with him
Under this Stone.
In
memory of
JOHN HILTON
who departed
this life Feby.
the 21st, 1784,
aged 50 years.
In memory of
Mary G.
Consort of James
Hayes
who departed this life
June 17, 1881,
aged
70y 11m 7d.
JAMES C. JORDAN
Born October 28, 1825
Died September 18, 1859
HANNAH
Second Wife of
Benjamin JORDAN
Born October 23, 1798
Died October 21, 1859
In
memory of
ELIZABETH HILTON
Spouse to John
Hilton who
departed this life
Jany. the 8th, 1795
aged 61 years.
[Marble obelisk]
North Side.
MARY CROUCH
wife of
Benjamin Jordan
Born Oct. 28d 1791
Died Oct. 27th 1846
South Side.
BENJAMIN JORDAN ■
Born July 19th 1779
Died May 24th 1861
West Side.
Our Father and Mother
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
309
SARAH HASLETT
wife of
E. C. JORDAN
Born May 26, 1820
Died Jan. 2, 1854
In
memory of
RACHEL JORDAN
who departed this life
March 19th 1846
in the 15th
Year of her age
Also
In
memory of
2 Infant Sisters
and one Brother
In
memory of
BENJAMIN LAFAYETTE
JORDAN
Died Feb. 19, 1850
in the 16th year of his
age.
In
Memory of
JEAN KELSO who
Departed this Life
Feb. 20, 1777
Aged 42 years.
in
memory
of Major
JAMES INGRAM •«
who departed this life
August 12th 1811
aged 41 years.
Sacred
To the memory of
JOHNKEAN^
who departed this life
Dec. 9, 1818
Aged 56 years
2 mos and 6 dys.
"Precious in the sight of
the Lord is the death of
His Saints." Ps. CXVI. 15.
JOHN HAMILTON KEAN
Born Jan. 21, 1795
Died July 14, 1795
MARY KEAN
Born Feb. 21, 1797
Died April 21, 1803
In
Memory of
JEAN KEAN
Relict of John Kean
who departed this Life
March 20, 1847
Aged
72 years 9 mouths & 20
Days
Precious in the sight of the
Lord is the death of his
saints. Ps. 116 : 15.
In
Memory of
MARGARET HAMILTON
KEAN
Born Feb. 17, 1806,
Died Oct. 11, 1855.
aged 49 years 7 mouths
«& 24 days.
"The Lord is my Shepherd."
310
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
In
Memory of
JOHNKEANSr"
Born July 5, 1728
Died May 28, 1801,
aged 73 years
An Irishman by birth an American
at heart - he boldly fought for the
Liberty of our Country.
MARY DUNLAP
His wife, born iu Ireland 1723,
Died July 9, 1819
Aged 98 years.
Saints Indeed.
In
memory of
SARAH KEARSLEY
who died on the 25th of Feb'y,
1826, aged 72 years wanting
30 days, 52 of which time she
was the faithful wife of
Samuel Kearsley
an affectionate mother & pious
Christian she lived holily &
and died the death of the righteous.
Reader, imitate her Example,
Her smiling clay lies here in death,
Till God who first did give it breath
Shall call it far above the sky
To join her happy soul on high.
Hallelujah !
In
memory of
DOCTOR JOSEPH KELSO
who died
August 10th 1817
in the 44th year of his age.
In
memory of
ELIZABETH KELSO
late consort
of
Doctor Joseph Kelso deceased
who died
on the 8th of April 1818
in the
34th year of her age.
In
memory of
WILLIAM KELSO « who
departed this Life
Nov. 26, 1788,
Aged 51 years.
tribute of respect
to the memory of
Dr. Joseph & Elizabeth Kelso's
three infant children.
Sacred
to the
memory
of
WILLIAM KELSO
who departed this Life
May 22d a. d. 1807
aged 49 years.
Our WILLIE
son of Conrad & Sarah
KIRSCHNER
Died Nov. 80, 1862
aged 2 jears 1 month
and 17 days
Not lost but gone before.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
311
Our IDA
Daughter of Conrad & Sarah
KIRSCHNER
Died June 13, 1876
aged 1 year 6 mos
and 11 days.
Not lost but gone before.
Our Father
JACOB KUHN«
Died
March 19, 1866,
lu the 78 year
of his age.
Our Mother
SUSANNA
wife of
Jacob Kuhn
Died
March '27, 1866
In the 77th year
of her age.
GEORGE KUHN "
Died March 5, 1886
aged 63 yrs and 29 days.
In
memory of
MARGARET KIRKPATRICK
Relict of
Wm. Kirkpatrick
who departed this life
on the 3d of Nov'r 1802
in the 77th year
of her age.
and departed this life
March 10, 1843
Aged 28 years 10 months
and 29 days.
JANE M. LYON
Daughter of
Hon. Wm. Maclay
Died 30th April 1809.
Hallelujah.
in memory of REBEKAH
daughter of
Maj. Jonathan KEARSLEY
who died March 6th, 1825, aged 7
years 2 months & 25 days
Children Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth as
Rebekah truly did.
In memory of
LUCY LORRETT
who departed this life
on the ] 9th day of
February 1847
aged 100 years.
GEORGE LORRETT**
Died
August 27, 1862
aged
88 years, 1 1 mos & 12 days
In
Memory of
EPHRAIM LATTA
who was born April 11, 1814
MARY McARTHUR
departed this life
October 24th A. D. 1742,
Reverence for the memory of
the deceased
Prompted the erection of this
Stone A. D. 1845
By her descendant
James Peacock.
312
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
MARGARET
McARTHUR
Departed this life
July the
14th 1753
In memory of
JANE MATEER
wife of
William Mateer
who departed this life
Auf^us-t 9th, 1833
In the 48th year of her age.
In memory of
WILLIAM
MONTGOMERY
who departed
this life Sept. 2
1766
aged 20 years
In memory of
ROBERT MONT-
GOMERY « who
departed this
life Feb. 22, 1776
aged 71 years
«
Sacred
to the memory of
WILLIAM MACLAY, ESQ
late of Harrisburgh
who departed this life April 16, 1804
aged 68 years.
In the death of this valuable
member of | Society his Country
has lost an enlighened | citizen and
his family their only support. | He
held some of the most honorable
offices I in Pennsylvania and the
United States | and discharged their
duties with firmness | and integri-
ty. I To an enlarged and superior
mind he added | the strictest mor-
ality and served his God | by im-
proving himself in virtue and
knowledge. | He has now gone to
receive a glorious reward | for a
life spent in honour and unsullied
by crime. | His afflicted wife and
children raise this stone over his
grave and have no consolation but
I in the remembrance of his vir-
tues. I
O'er thy lov'd tomb shall angels bend,
And true affection tribute pay
To mourn the Father, Husband, Friend,
Untimely torn by Death away.
The' power and honour could not save
Thy mortal part from Death's abode,
The ethereal spirit bursts the grave
And seeks the bosom of its God.
Sacred
to
the memory of
ELIZA MACLAY
A lingering distemper
borne with resignation
put a period to her life
on the 19th of April, 1794,
in the 28d year of her age,
the duties
Annexed to her station
were discharged without
a blot.
Her weeping Parents
have placed over her this stone
The Monument
Of her virtues and of
their affection.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
3ia
Sacred
to the memory of
DINAH McCHESNEY,
who departed this
life Nov. 11, A. D. 1796
Aged 4 years
MARY HARRIS
wife of
Hon. Wm. Maclay.
WM. MACLAY JR
JOHN MACLAY
In
memory of
SARAH MONT-
GOMERY who
departed this
life Oct 15, 1784
aged 69 years.
SUE W. McEwen
Died Oct. 29, 1874
In the 16th year of
her age.
Here lies
the body of
WILLIAM
MURRAY *8
who departed this
life
July 24. 1773,
aged
85 yrs. 5 ms. and
5 days.
In
Memory
of HENRY McKINNEY,"
who departed this
Life March 11, 1777,
Aged 63 years.
Likewise
AGNES his first
Wife who departed
this Life in August
1753, aged 38 years.
In memory
of
JOHN MEANS,^"
who departed
this life Oct Srd
1795 aged
50 years
In
memory of
ROBERT McCLURE,^^
Died Sept. 26, 1865
aged 65 years.
Here
lies the body
of
ALEXANDER
MEHARGUE, jr.,
who departed this
Life Sept. 4th, 1794.
Aged 29 years.
In
memory of
JANE MEHARGUE
died
March 6, 1850.
In the 61st year
of her age.
814
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
In memory of
ROBERT McCLURE ^^
who departed this life
July 21st, 1839
aged
76 years 7 months
and 3 days
Them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him. 1 Thess iv. 14
In
Memory of
PRISCILLA. McCLURE
who departed this life
September 29th A D 1845
Aged
73 years 10 months
and 20 days.
Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his Saints.
Ps. cxvi 15
In
memory of
ELIZABETH MACREADY
wife ef
Daniel Macready
and daughter of
David & Sarah Patton
who departed this life
Jany 12th 1838
In the 49th year of her
age.
WILLIAM McCLURE
Born Feb, 1st 1795
Died Aug. 16th, 1852
In
Memory of
ANNA MARIA
Daughter of
Josiah E & Jane McCLURE
who died
Feby 3rd A D 1844
in the 6th year of
her age.
FRANCIS JAMES
son of
William & Ellen McCLURE
Died
July 2d 1829
aged 8 mouths & 26 days
To the memory ot
ELEANOR JANE POWER
who died April 21, 1841,
aged
2 years & 9 months.
From sorrows blight, from dan-
ger and temptation God in his
wisdom took the precious one.
SARAH
MONTGOMERY
PEFFER
born April 6th, 1821,
died July 2d, 1822,
" 'Tis God that lifts our com-
forts high.
Or sinks them in the grave."
HENRY PEFFER 5=5
Died Feb. 9, 1867,
ai^ed 78 years.
LOUISA KEAN POWER
daughter of
John and Jane Hamilton
Kean
and relict of
Gen'l Samuel Power
Born at New Market
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
315
then in Dauphin County
July 30, 1799,
Died at Harrisburg,
Oct. 29, 1885.
SUE PAWLING
Died
April 9 1877
in the
54th year of her age.
In
memory of
DAVID PATTON ^^
who departed this life
Jan'y 10, 1832,
aged 74 years.
Dear relations do not weep,
I am not dead but here to sleep,
And here my body must remain
Till Christ shall call me forth again.
In
memory of
SARAH PATTON,
wife of
David Pattou,
who departed this life
May 24th, 1835.
aged 76 years.
Also her daughter,
SARAH
who died Feb'y 9th, 1816,
aged 19 years.
Kind angels watch this sleeping
dust.
Till Jesus comes to raise the just
Then may they awake with sweet
surprise.
And in their Saviour's Image rise.
In
memory of
AGNESS C. PATTON,
Daughter of
David & Sarah Patton
who departed this life
February 20th 1840
in the 44th year of her
age.
In
memory of
DAVID RITCHEY JR
who departed this life
May 28 1830
ased 24 years.
Also
JOHN DUNCAN RITCHEY
who departed this life
Sept'r20th 1800
aged 22 months.
In
memory of
DAVID RITCHEY
who departed this
life April 22d A D 1823
Aged 71 years.
JOHN RITCHEY"
Died 1831.
In
memory of
REBECCA RITCHEY
who departed this life
January 8th A D 1825
in the 75th year
of her age.
316
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
In
memory of
ANN RITOHEY
who departed
this life June
the 27, 1783
Age 26 years
one month & 20
days.
Here
Lieth the Body
of JEANREIGART
who departed this
life Sept 22nd 1801
aged 6 months
and 2 days.
In memory
of
THOMAS RUTHERFORD 56
who departed this life
April 18, 1777
In the 70th year of his age.
MARGARET
RUTHERFORD
Departed this life
January 18, 1810,
Aged 73.
In
memory of
JAMES RUTHERFORD
who departed this life
March 6, 1809
Aged 62 years.
Also his wife
MARGARET
who departed this life
in March 1825.
Aged 78 years.
THOMAS RUTHERFORD
departed this life
January 8 1760
Aged 16 years.
In
memory of
JEAN RUTHERFORD"
who departed this life
Aug. 10, 1789
In the 78th year of her age.
ELEANOR RUTHERFORD
wife of John Davidson
Died December 1799
In the 67th year of her age.
JOHN
RUTHERFORD ^^
departed this life
October 1st, 1804,
Aged 67.
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD &»
Born Dec. 13 1749
Died May 2 1785
Aged 35 years.
SUSANNA
RUTHERFORD
Departed this life
May 8, 1813, aged
63.
In
memory of
THOMAS RUTHERFORD
son ot John Ruther-
ford Who Departed
this life Oetr 15th
1793 aged 26
years.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
317
In
Memory of
SAMUEL
RUTHERFORD "^
Died
Nov'r 26th, A. D. 1833,
in the 65th year of his age.
Also his son
JAMES
Died
April 7th, A. D. 1809,
Aged 13 mouths.
In
Memory of
ELIZABETH
RUTHERFORD
who departed this life
April 29th, 1843,
in the 73d year of her
Age.
lU
Memory of
ISABELLA S. RUTHERFORD
Died March 10, 1852
Aged 54 years.
in
memory of
JOHN RUTHERFORD "
Died
May 1st 1832
in the 59th year of his
age.
JANE RUTHERFORD
first wife of
JOHN RUTHERFORD
Died Sept 4, 1827
aged 19 years.
in Memory of "
DR. LEVI RUTHERFORD
who departed this life
Feb 8th 1851
in the 26th year of his
age.
" Will you meet me."
PRISCILLA
Second wife of
JOHN RUTHERFORD
Died Aug. 23, 1873
Aged 82 years,
In
Memory of
WILLIAM RUTHERFORD"
who departed this life
Jan. 7, 1850
in the 74th year of hia
age
In Memory of
SARAH RUTHERFORD
died June 17, 1852
Aged 74 years
lu
Memory of
MARTHA RUTHERFORD
who departed this life
Oct. 20, 1857
in the 48th year of her
age.
In
Memory of
CYRUS G. RUTHERFORD
who departed this life
March 30, 1850
in the 31st year of his
age.
318
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
MARY
Daughter of William
& Sarah RUTHERFORD
Born June 4, 1817
Died April 14, 1818.
MARGARET RUTHERFORD
Born Sept. 6, 1808.
Died June 7, 1889.
JOHN P. RUTHERFORD,*^
Born Feb. 14, 1802
Died May 12, 1871
ELIZA
wife of
John P. RUTHERFORD
Born Oct. 30, 1801
Died Jan. 30, 1860
In
Memory of
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD"
Born Oct. 8, 1810
Died March 26, 1772
Aged 61 years 5 months
and 18 days
In
Memory of
ELIZABETH
wife of
Samuel RUTHERFORD
Born Oct 18, 1816
Died April 24, 1881
Aged 64 years 6 months
and 6 days
In memory of
MARGARET S. RUTHER-
FORD.
Born Sept. 2, 1847
Died March 17, 1890
ALICE E
Daughter of
S. & E. RUTHERFORD
Died Jan 1, 1863
Aged 7 yrs 9 mo
& 20 days
HORACE G.
son of
S & E RUTHERFORD
Died Jan. 10, 1863
Aged 10 yrs 2 mo
& 26 days.
ALICE,
Daughter of Wm W.
& Ellen R. Rutherford
Died Oct'r 20th, 1841
Aged 9 months
& 12 days.
In memory
of
ABNER RUTHERFORD «•
Born March 31, 1814
Died Sept. 2, 1890
Aged 76 yrs. 5 months
and 1 day.
SUSAN ESPY
Daughter of
Abner & Ann
RUTHERFORD
Died May 5, 1846
Aged
2 years 7 months
& 18 days.
ALICE AGNES
Daughter of Abner &
Ann RUTHERFORD
Born March 16th 1849
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
319
Died Aug 26th 1850
Aged
one year three mo.
& ten days
In memory of
ABNER
son of
Abner & Ann
RUTHERFORD
Died Jan 10, 1855
Aged 7 years & 18
days.
In
Memory of
THOMAS
RUTHERFORD
Died
August 4th, 1804,
in the 23d year of his
Age.
In
Memory of
J. MARSHALL RUTHERFORD,
Died May 24, 1869
Aged 27 years 8 mos
and 20 days.
In memory of
SARAH A. RENNINGER
(RUTHERFORD,)
Died Dec. 21, 1883.
Aged 38 years, 3 mos
and 21 days.
ELEANOR RUTHERFORD
RENNINGER,
Born Sept. 3, 1874,
Died Oct. 8, 1874.
HELEN PARKE
Daughter of W. F. & A. M.
Rutherford
Born May 13, 1866
Died August 29, 1889.
FLORENCE,
Born Oct. 30, 1863
Died Jan 3, 1864
SAMUEL S. RUTHERFORD 6»
Born
December 17, 1803
Died
January 23, 1872
In
Memory of
MARY C. RUTHERFORD
Born Feb. 8, 1805
Died Aug 13, 1872
Aged 67 years 6 mos
and 5 days
MARY A. RUTHERFORD
wife of
Samuel S. Rutherford
Born June 14, 1810
Died December 14, 1884.
In
Memory of
WILLIAM BRISBEN
son of
Samuel S. & Mary A.
RUTHERFORD
Died Oct 7, 1855
Aged 4 yrs 1 mo & Id.
320
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
NANNIE H. McPHERSON
wife of
J. E. RUTHERFORD
Born Dec 19 1844
Died April 3, 1882
MARY AGNES
Daughter of
J. E. and N. H.
RUTHERFORD
Born Oct 7, 1877
Died Dec. 5, 1881
MARY W.
wife of
S. B. RUTHERFORD
Died Sept 26, 1874
Aged 82 years
ALICE
JESSIE
Daughter of
Wm S & J Eliza
RUTHERFORD
Died July 24, 1864
Aged 6 months
and 3 days
GERTRUDE,
daughter of
Wm. S. & J. Eliza
RUTHERFORD
Born Jan. 15, 1870,
Died Aug. 9, 1870,
Also
JAMES
Born July 9, 1873,
Died July 28, 1873.
LYDIA A
wife of
John A. Rutherford
Died Feb. 14, 1880
In the 46 year
of her age.
SMITHIE P.
son of J. A. & L. A.
RUTHERFORD
Died June 1, 1864
Aged 20 mos & 6 days
Also
An infant son.
WILLIE B.
son of J. A. & L. A.
RUTHERFORD
Died Oct. 14, 1865
Aged 5 yrs 1 mo
and 20 days.
KEZIAH PARKE
wife of
John B. Rutherford
Born Oct. 28, 1810
Died July 2, 1885,
Aged 74 yrs 8 mos and 4 days.
"There remaineth therefore a
rest to the people of God."
NANCY ELDER
Daughter of
J. Q. A. & M. B.
RUTHERFORD
Born Aug 2 1873
Died Sept. 21, 1874
Not lost but gone before.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
321
In memory of
THOMAS SIMPSON
and his family
who settled in Paxtang
Anno Domini
1720.
As a tribute
to the virtues
and worth of
ELIZABETH SIMPSON
consort of
Michael Simpson
this monument
has been erected
She died in 1806
aged 67 years.
Mourned and regretted
by Friends and Relatives
Sacred
to the memory of
MICHAEL SIMPSON s^
who died
on the first day of June
A I) 1813
Aged 73 years
Sacred to the memory of
ANNE STURGEON
who departed this
life October 28, 1811
aged 34 years 9 months
and 2 days.
Sacred
To the memory of
JEREMIAH STURGEON "8
who departed this life
March 11th 1826
aged 67 years 11 months
& 1 dav.
In memory of
ELIZABETH STEWART
who Departed
this Life May the
1st 1773
aged 22 years.
In
memory of
MARY STEWART
who Departed
this Life April
30th 1772
aged 65 years
In memory of
ANDREW STEWART"
who departed
this Life March
the 31st 1774
aged 75 years
SAMUEL SHERER™
died December 26 1821
aged 66 years
In
memory
of GRACE STEWART
& child
who departed
this life
Jan'y 31st 1787
aged 39 years
In
Memory of
W^ILLIAM SWAN "
who departed this life
September 25th, 1782
in the 37th year of his
age
322
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
In
Memory of
MOSES SWAN
who departed this life
September 11th 1822
in the 4l8t year of his
age
In memory of
JOSEPH SHERER"
Died Dec. 1776
Aged 46 years
In
Memory of
MARTHA SMITH
■who departed this life
May 27th 1817
aged 62 years
[The foregoing is interred be-
side the Swans and Major Ingram.]
In
Memory of
MARGARET R
SHERER
who departed this life
July 17th 1822
aged
34 years 10 months
and 9 days.
Here
lieth interred
the body of
JOSEPH SHERER
who departed this life
the 4th day of March 1824
aged 38 years & 6 months.
Also
In memory of
ANN STEPHEN
Died April 20, 1800
Aged 15 years.
ELIZABETH SHERER
died September 24th
A D 1816
Aged 55 years
In
Memory of
ANN E. STEPHEN
consort of Andrew Stephen de-
ceased
Born October 8th 1754
Died Aug 10 1814
ELIZA
daughter of
Joseph & Mary
SHERER died
Oct'r 4th 1822
aged 11 months.
In
Memory of
ANDREW STEPHEN
Died Dec. 3, 1800
Aged 47 years
Also in memory of
ANDREW
son of
Andrew & Ann E STEPHEN
Born May 30, 1791
Died Jan. 12, 1832
Aged 40 years 7 mos & 12 dys.
Paxtang Pkesbyterian Church.
323
In
Memory of
MARY
! wife of
Andrew STEPHEN
Born Oct 11, AD 1797
Died May 29 A D lS5b
Aged 57 years 7 mos
& 18 ds.
in
memory of
JESSE L. RANDALL,
who died
March 25, 1831,
aged 27 years.
In
Memory of
ELIZA ANN
Daughter of
William & Eliza TRULLINGER,
Died March 26, 1862,
Aged 6 years & 6 days.
In Memory of
WILLIAM ALVAN
Son of
William & Eliza TRULLINGER,
Died Aug. 8, 1858,
Aged 12 years, 10 mon
& 12 ds.
MARY LOUISA.
daughter of
William & Eliza
TRULLINGER,
Died
April 2d, 1842,
Aged
1 year 4 months
and 18 days.
CLARA ESTHER,
daughter of
William & Eliza TRULLINGER,
Died July 9, 1851,
Aged
10 months & 4 days.
In
Memory of
JAMES IRA
Son of
William & Eliza TRULLINGER,
Died July 30, 1858,
Aged 10 years, 6 mo
& 4 ds.
In Memory of
ANDREW EDGAR,
Son of
William & Eliza
TRULLINGER,
Died April 26, 1855,
Aged 10 mo & 15 ds.
In memory of
Daniel Weltmer,
sou of John
& Elizabeth Weltmer,
died
Nov 3rd, 1829,
aged 9 months
& 10 days.
In memory of
Nancy Weltmer
Daughter of Jno.
& Eliz. Wclmer
died the Ist May,
1824, aged 2 years.
5 mo3 & 24 days.
324
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
In Memory of
JEAN WALLACE
who departed this life
May 1786 age 58 years
Also
RICHARD WALLACE,
who departed this Life
Decem'r 23d 1805 age
31 years
Here lieth the body of
MOSES WALLACE
who departed this life
Noveua'r 11, 1803 age
62 years.
He was beloved by all who knew
him, lived respected & died
lamented.
In
memory of
ELIZABETH WALLACE
Daughter of Margaret Wallace
of Franklin county
who departed this life
September 22nd 1815
aged 16 Years 11 months
and 22 Days.
this Life the 5th
Day of June 1784
Aged 68 Years
In memory of
JOHN WIGGINS ^*
SEN'R who Departed this Life the
12th Day of June
A D 1794
Aged 82 years
BEN J. J. WALLACE, D. D.,
LL.D.J3
son of
William Wallace, Esq.
June 7, 1810-July 25, 1862
and his wife
SARAH
April 25, 1812— Dec. 12, 1869.
In memory of
ELIZABETH WIGGINS
who departed
In
memory of
ALEXANDER WILLS
who died April 18, 1853
Aged 73 years 1 month
& 9 days
Sacred
to the memory of
ISABELLA
wife of
Alexander WILLS Esq
Walton Farm Cumberland County
who departed this life
27th January 1826
Aged 50 Years & 13 days
The happy grateful spirit that improves,
And brightens every gift by fortune
given,
That wanders where it will with those
it loves,
Makes every place a home, and home a
heaven.
All these were hers— oh, thou who readst
this stone.
When for thyself [illegible] to the sky
Thou humbly prayest ask this boon
alone.
That ye like her may live, like her may
die.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
325
Sacred
to the memory of
WALLACE ALEXANDER
WILLS who departed
this life 18th of
September 1817
Aged 4 years 6 m(>nths
aad 13 days. Life how
short. Eternity
how long.
ELEANOR M. WALLACE "
Daughter of William Maclay
and wife of William Wallace,
Died January 2d 1823,
Aged XLIX.
Her children place
Over the grave of their Mother
this memorial
Of affection and gratitude,
that to their welfare
was consecrated
a mind of rare power
Animated by strong feelings
ennobled by culture
and softened by Religion.
" He giveih his beloved sleep."
Psa. cxxvii : 2.
WILLIAM WALLACE, ES-
QUIRE '«
late of Harrisburgh,
who departed this life May 28th,
181G,
In the 46th year of his age.
The loss of thi.s truly good and
highly Ci-teemed character
Will be severely felt both in public
and private circles,
For a more useful man nor one of
more ability could not be
Taken from society. He was be-
loved by all, for to every one
He was benevolent and friendly —
by his wife, children and
Connexions he was nearly idolized,
for they were more
Intimately acquainted with his
worth, and they in anguish
Of heart now lament this heaviest
of all afHiction.
"So mourn the father, husband,
friend
Untimely snatched by Death away. ' '
This stone is designed as a solemn
tribute of gratitude
Love and Respect to his memory
by his afflicied wife.
Who in the contemplation of his
virtues and the blessed
Reward he is now receiving for
them derives her only
Consolation for his loss.
Here lies the body of
ELIZABETH WALLACE
who departed this life
January 12. 1804
aged 26 years.
In
memory of
JOHN S. WHITEHILL
Born
Nov'er 12 1793
Died
August 18th 1829
Aged
35 Years 9 Months
& 6 Days
326
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Sacred
to the memory of
GEORGE WHITEHILL ''
who departed this life
January 7th 1831
Aged 60 years and 9 months.
Also
ABIGAIL
his wife who departed this life
April 12, 1825 aged 63 years,
and their children
ANN
who died April 6, 1794 aged 3 years
JAMES
who died March 17, 1799 aged 10
years
and
NANCY
who died June 18, 1801 aged 5
years
In
memory of
MARY WALKER
who died
April 1st 1839
in the 53d year of her
age
In memory of
THOMAS WALKER '^
who departed this life
March 19, 1843
in the 64 year of his
age
In memory of
ANN WALKER
who departed this life
Sept. 25, 1843
in the 23 year of her age
SUSAN K.
wife of
James Walker
Died Sept. 28, 1885
Aged 60 yrs and 5 mo8.
In
memory of
JOHN WILSON
son of Joseph Wilson,
who departed this life Nov. 11,1800,
In the 50th year of his age.
He was a valuable member
of Society, from his youth
pious, and a living example of that
resolution —
"As for me and my house we
will serve the Lord."
Also
SARAH
wife of John WILSON
who died March 12, 1823
Aged about 70 years.
In memory of
WILLIAM WILSON
who departed this life in the
year of our Lord 1759
Also of
JOHN WILLSON, son of WiUiam
Willson
Who departed this life on the 30th
day of
November 1805 in the 50th year of
his age
A firm believer in the religion of
Jesus and an | uniform practiser of
its precepts, he died in the | hope of
a glorious and happy immortality.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
327
"Death thou hast conquered me
"I by thy dart am slain,
"But Christ has conquered thee
"And I shall rise again."
Also of MARTHA the only daugh-
ter of
JOHN and JEAN WILLSON
Who died on the 28th day of May
1795
in the 13th year of her age-
death thou art the king of
terrors,
Nor youth nor goodness can avert
the stroke,
Nor Parent's hope, nor tears nor
prayers
Arrest thy quick approach.
"The earthly joys of Parents dear
"Are with us buried low ;
"But parents do not shed a tear
"For God would have it so."
Here
Lies the body of
HUGH WILSON
Who was born Sept. 26, A. D.
1748
Departed this life April 23d, A. D.
1796
After a life spent in piety
III the forty-eighth year of his age.
He bowed with humble resignation
to the Divine will
His distressed wife and only child
Bereft of his dear society
are left to deplore the loss
of a tender husband
an affectionate father
a real friend
and Christian adviser
In memory of
HUGH WILLSON
departed this life 1810
March 31 age 29 years
11 months & 8 days.
In memory of
ALEXAND'R WILLSON
who departed this life
June 7th 1786 age 45 years.
Also
GRIZZLE WILLSON
who departed this life
February 11th 1809 aged
about 54 years
In memory of
MARY WILLSON
who departed this life
January 31, 1808 age 21
years 6 months & 3 days
Also
RICHARD WILLSON
who departed this life
February 4th, 1819, aged 20
years & 5 mo.
In
Memory of
MARY,
consort of
Robert WILSON,
who departed this life
October 19th, A. I). 1835,
Aged
31 years, 1 tnonth
& 15 days.
" Dust to its narrow home beneath
Soul to its lace on High."
328
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
In
Memory of
MARY KENNON,
Daughter of
Robert & Mary
WILSON,
of Highspire,
who departed this life
Sept'r 24th A. D. 1832
Aged
4 years 11 months
& 9 days
In
memory of
MARGARET MARY
Daughter of
Robert and Mary S.
WILSON
who departed this life
March 21, 1842
Aged 6 years 7 mos
and 6 days.
In memory of
EMMA ELIZA
Daughter of
Robert & Eliza G.
WILSON
who departed this life
July 18, 1871
Aged 31 years 1 mo & 24
days.
In
memory of
ROBERT WILSON '9
departed this life
March 26, 1878
In the 86th year of his
Age.
Sacred to the memory
of JOHN WILSON & ELEANOR
his wite, the former of
whom died July 11, 1780
and the last April 8, 1801
under this stone are also interred
the remains of HENRY &
MARTHA RENICK
And since it's so that all must die,
And death no one doth spare
So let us all to Jesus fly,
And seek for refuse there.
In
Memory of
ELEANOR WILSON,
who departed this life
Oct. 11, 1848,
In the 62nd year of her
age.
In
Memory of
ELEANOR JANE
daughter of Robert WILSON,
who departed this life
Sept. 12, 1849,
Aged 15 years, 10 months & 18
days.
Memory of
JOHN NEWELL
son of Robert WILSON,
who departed this life
Oct. 1, 1855,
aged 17 years, 9 months & 28
days.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 320
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
'Jacob Awl was born on August 6, 1727, in the North of Ireland.
He was a tanner, a man of means, and when he came to America,
settled near his relative John Harri-', at Harris' Ferry, and erected a
tannery. Was an Ensign in Col. John Elder's battalion in the frontier
wars and aided upon the outbreak of the Revolution in organizing the
associated battalions of Lancaster county. He was a commissioner in
laying out the county of Dauphin, and trustee appointed by John
Harris for the public grounds ceded by him at the laying out of the
town of Harrisburg, for public uses. He was a public spirited man,
but refused to accept public office. He married Sarah Sturgeon. The
following from a lady in Ohio, a descendant of the Awls, who said she
had it from her grandmother, descriptive of the marriage of Joseph
Green, sou of C 1. Timothy Green, of Hanover, and Sarah, second
daughter of Jacob Awl, may not be out of place in this connecti(m :
" On the morning of the wedding the party accompanying Mr. Green
came riding ' down the lane ' to Mr. Awl's house, all in the style of
the day. The groom wore his hat with three black plumes, long stock-
ings, knee breeches, &c. It was a gay affair for those days. On the
Sunday following all went to Mr. Elder's church. Jenny Awl, sister
of the bride, it seems, was one of the singers for tune raising on that
occasion. She made her debut, having sent to Philadelphia for a
handsome pair of stays, which the wore on that day ; but caused some
stir by fainting and having to be carried out."
^ William Brown, was born at pea, June 30, 1720, and was the son
of John and Hannah Brown, who emigrated from Scotland to Paxtang
in 1720. He was a prominent actor in Provincial and Revolutionary
times, a representative man on the frontier, and a zealous Covenanter.
At his own expense he visited Ireland and Scotland on behalf of his
religious brethren to procure a supply of ministers, and brought over
the celebrated Rev. Messrs. Lind and Dobbin, who subsequently, with
the Rev. John Cuthbertson, organized at Paxtang, at the little church
built by him near his residence, the Reformed Presbyterian Presbytery
of Amei'ica. Brown's church was situated on the Jonestown road near
the present school-house, and until within a few years the foundations
were distinctly visible. There was no grave-yard attached to the church,
■330 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
the Browns and other members burying in Paxtang. It was occupied
as a church for less than twenty years, when, from an item in the
Oracle of Dauphin, we learn that "on the 11th of September, 1795,
James Byers and James Wilson, Executors of William Brown, Esq.,
of Paxtang, offered for sale a log house, near the residence of Mr.
Brown, formerly occupied as a house of worship by the Rev. Matthew
Lind," and it was then sold. Mr. Brown represented Paxtang at the
meeting of the General Committee at Lancaster in 1774, was a mem
ber of the Assembly in 1776, and during its sessions proposed the
general Emancipation of slaves within the Commonwealth, a measure
not very favorably received at the time, but subsequently adopted. He
served again in the Assembly in 1784 ; was a member of the Board of
Property in 1785, a Commissioner to superintend the drawing of the
Donation Land Lottery in 1786. He was an active and public spirited
■citizen, of unquestioned piety, and kind-hearted and generous. The
Rev. Matthew Brown, D. D., first President of Washington College,
and afterwards President of Jefferson College, was adopted and educat-
ed by him. He was a son of his brother Matthew.
^ Thomas Brown was a son of Matthew Brown, born in White Deer,
Northumberland county ; married Margaret Ainsworth, and died on
the old Brown homestead.
* John Brisban was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and was born
December 25, 1730. He emigrated with a brother to this country,
about the beginning of the French war, and was with Gen. Wolfe on
the Plains of Abraham, for which he received a grant of land from
G-eorge III. He early espoused the Colonial cause, and was a Captain
in the Second Pennsylvania battalion, and was in active service in
Canada. At the close of that campaign was transferred to the Third
Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, resigning in 1777. He subse-
quenily returned to the service, and remained to the end of the Revolu-
tion. He died at the residence of his son-in-law, Samuel Rutherford,
near Harrisburg.
^ James Bigger was first a school teacher, but in 1834 took charge
of the famous tavern, located on the turnpike, near where the late
Margaret Rutherford lived, known as the Green Tree, and continued
to dispense hospitality to the traveling public until his death, when the
business was continued by his widow for a number of years. The hotel
is no longer in existence.
^ James Cowden was born in Paxtang, June 16, 1737, and followed
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 331
the life of a farmer; was an early advocate of Independence, and one
of the leading spirits at the meeting at Middletown in 1774, of which
Colonel James Burd was chairman, and after which, raising a battalion
of Associators, he was made Captain of a company. His company, al-
though not belonging to the Pennsylvania line, did faithful service at
Fort Washington, in the Jerseys, at Brandy wine and Germantown, and
in the war on the Northern and Western borders. At the close of the
war he returned to his farm. He was appointed a justice of the peace
in 1793, and held the office until appointed associate judge in 1795. In
1809 he was a Presidential elector, and an ardent supporter of Madison.
He married Mary, daughter of Col. James Crouch.
'Mathew B. Cowden was elected an Associate Judge in 1848, was
highly respected, and of great influence in the county.
* James Collier came to Pennsylvania from the Province of Ulster,
Ireland, about the year 1740. He served in the French and Indian
war. His son, Captain James Collier, of the Revolutionary army,
removed to Ohio, where he died.
^ James Crouch was born in Virginia iu 1728, removed to Walnut
Hill, near Higl. spire, before the Revolutionary War, in which he was a
sergeant in Captain Smith's company, serving in the expedition against
Quebec, where he was captured. After his release he became an officer
of the Associators, and subsequently paymaster of the battalion. He
served during the whole of the war with honor and distinction. Col-
onel Crouch married, Sept. 22, 1757, Hannah Brown, born 1727, died
May 24, 1787.
1° Edward Crouch was born at Walnut Hill, Nov. 9, 1764. A ruling
Elder in Paxtang church, a soldier of the Revolution, a member of the
Assembly from 1804 to 1806, a Presidental elector, an associate judge of
Dauphin county, and a member of the Thirteenth Congress. He was
a merchant, and married Margaret, daughter of General James Potter,
of the Revolution.
^^ James Cochran, probably the son of Andrew Cochran, was born
in 1742; was a private in Capt. Rutlierford's company of Associators
in 1776, and married Nov. 22, 1770, Mary Montgomery.
^^ John Cochran married Hannah Cowden.
^^ John Duncan was one of the early settlers in Paxtang. He left
two daughters, one of whom married Ritchey, and the other, Elizabeth,
married John Hilton. He was overseer of roads in 1765.
332 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
"John D. Durkees, was from "Norwich in the County of New
London and State of Connecticut."
^^ Rev. John Elder was the son of Robert Elder, who was born
about 1679, in Scotland, emigrated from Lough Neagh, County Antrim,
Ireland, where he had previously settled, to America, about 1730, loca-
ting in Paxtang, on a tract of land near the first ridge of the Kittoch-
tinny mountains, five miles north of Harrisburg. He died July 28,
1746, and is buried in Paxtang grave-yard. While resident in Edin-
burgh iu 1706, John, the famous pastor of Paxta.ng, was born, who
received a classical education and graduated from the university in tbat
city. There, too, he subsequently studied divinity, and in 1732 was
licensed to preach. In 1736 he followed his parents to America and
to Paxtang, where, on the 12th of April, 1737, he accepted a call to
the pastorate of Paxtang church, and on the 22d of November follow-
ing was ordained and installed, the Rev. Samuel Black presiding.
^® John Elder was the second son of Rev. John Elder. He served
iu the Revolution as an ensign in Colonel Burd's battalion, was deputy
surveyor in 1780, and sheriff of Dauphin county from 1794 to 1797.
He was an enterprising man, erecting the first steel plant in the State
at Middletown. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Jacob Awl, of
Paxtang.
" Robert Elder, the eldest son of Rev. John Elder and Mary Baker,
was born at Paxtang June 11, 1742, and educated at the academy in
Chester county, and was destined by his father for the ministry. The
French and Indian war breaking out, he enlisted as a ranger on the
frontier, and afterwards entered the revolutionary army, succeeding
Col. Burd in the command of the companies raised in Paxtang. At
the close of the war he followed farming, preferring that to public office.
He was a ruling elder of Paxtang church. He married Mary J.
Thompson, of Derry, who died in 1813.
^^ Joshua Elder was the second son of Rev. John Elder and Mary
Baker. During the frontier troubles of 1763-64 he was in active mili-
tary service. During the revolution he was a leader on the patriot
side, and one of the sub lieutenants, as also a justice of the peace,
serving until the close of the war. He was active in the formation of
Dauphin county, and Governor Miffiin appointed him an associate
judge in 1791, and Governor McKean prothonotary, which latter office
he occupied from 1800 t^j 1809. In 1810 he was elected burgess of
Harrisburg. Judge Elder was twice married — first to Mary McAllister,
and secondly to Sarah McAllister.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 333
•» Samuel Sherer Elder entered U. S. Army in 1853 as a private;
appointed second lieutenant First Artillery March 23, 1861 ; promoted
first lieutenant May 14, 1861 ; brevet captain Sept. 17, 1862 ; captain
August 1. 1863 ; brevet major Feb. 20, 1864, and brevet lieutenant-
colonel May 15, 1864. He married Elizabeth Garland, of Henderson,
Kentucky.
-" Samuel Elder, son of Rev. John Elder and Mary Simpson, vs^as
born Feb. 27, 1772, in Paxtang; was educated in Paxtang school ; a
soldier in the whiskey insurrection ; sheriff of the county, 1800-1803.
The newspapers of the day speak in the warmest terms of his faithful-
ness as a public officer and his worth as a private citizen. He married,
March 7, 1793, Margaret Espy.
" William Espy married, June 2, 1807, Susanna Gray, daughter of
Joseph Gray and Elizabeth Forster.
^'■^ Robert R. Elder was a ruling elder in Paxtang church. He
was twice married — first, Sarah Sherer ; second, Elizabeth Galbraith
Elder.
'■'^Joshua Elder was a ruling elder in Paxtang church.
^* Ann Kirkpatrick, daughter of William and Margaret Kirkpatrick.
'^ Doctor Espy was a physician of ability — studied with Dr. White-
side. Subsequently entering into the practice of his profession with
him in Harrisburg. He died unmarried.
^* David Espy was a precentor in Paxtang church for many years.
-'Richard Fulton, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1706;
came to America in 1722, with relatives, and was among the earliest
settlers at Paxtang. His farm was situated at the Susquehanna river
just below Harrisburg, a portion of it being now included within the
city limits. His will was probated at Lancaster in 1774, of which his
son inlaw Moses Wallace, and Hugh Wilson, were the executors ; his
plantation was valued at £1,540, and his farming implements, &c., at
£340, 6 s. 6 d. He married in December, 1744, Isabel McChesney.
'■^^ Thomas Forster, 1st., was a native of county Antrim, Ireland, ot
Scotch parentage, born in 1696. He emigrated to America at an early
period, and was among the first to take up land in Paxtang ; he was a
man of means, had received a good education, and was for many years
one of the Provincial magistrates. He was ousted because of his refusal
to oust some squatters from Proprietary lands. Was much interested
in the establishment of Paxtang church. During the Indian troubles
334 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
he was active in the defense of the borders. He was never married.
His estate went to his brother John and nephew Thomas.
^^JoHN Gilchrist, although but fifteen years of age, served in the
company of Col. Burd's battalion of Associators, in which his father,
John Gilchrist, was first lieutenant, and was among those captured at
Fort Washington on its surrender in November, 1776. After the Revo-
lution he took great interest in military matters and rose to the position
of Major.
^° Moses Gillmor was born in Ulster, Ireland, 1749 ; in 1766 he
came to Hanover, but returned to Ireland before the Revolutionary
war, where he remained until 1783, when he returned, and in 1784
married Isabella, third daughter of Robert and Mary Wallace, of
Hanover. Upon the laying out of Harrisburg he located on Market
square as a merchant. He was prominent in local political affairs,
and in the church of which he was one of the founders, the Market
Square Presbyterian, he was a ruling elder from 1794 to 1825.
^^ Robert Gillmor was the son of Moses Gillmor and the last of
his family in the male line. He learned the trade of a watchmaker,
but his father leaving him a competency, he never went into business.
He was unmarried and died on his farm one mile north of Progress.
^- John Gray, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1698,
emigrated to America about 1730, locatiog first at Chester, and sub-
sequently at Paxtang. He was one of the pioneers during the French
and Indian war, (1755-1764,) was captain of a rifle company in Col.
Elder's batallion, subsequently, Col. Asher Clayton's. Captain Gray
was twice married, first, in 1730, to Susan Armstrong, and second, in
1753, to Hannah Stevenson Semple, widow of George Semple. The
original farm owned by John Gray, was, upon his death, divided into
four tracts, and remains in that shape to the present. These tracts
were severally inherited by Joseph, George, Robert, and John.
George dying unmarried, his farm passed out of the family, Joseph's is
owned by his grandson, Josiah Espy, John's by his grandson, Newton
Gray, and Robert's by his granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Bigham.
^^ On grave-stone of her so» Joseph.
^* Robert Gray, son of John Gray, was born in Paxtang in 1757.
He served in the war of the Revolution, and was in the half-starved
and illy-clad army of Washington during the cantonment at Valley
Forge. His stories of the hardships endured during the struggle for
independence were very interesting. He lived a long and honorable
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 335
life, and was the last of that gallant band of heroes of "seventy six,"
in this locality. He married Mary Rutherford, daughter of Captain
John Rutherford and Margaret Parke, and had thirteen children.
^^ John Golaugher, sou of John, was born in Ireland ; came to
America with his parents early in life ; and married a daughter of
Robert Montgomery. His sons settled on Pine creek, Northumber-
land, now Lycoming county, Pennsylvania.
^^JoHN Harris, the Founder, was the son of an Englishman of ih&
same name, who made the first known white settlement at the place
afterwards known as Harris' Ferry, in 1707, and who, in December,
1733, obtained from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania a grant of three
hundred acres of land near his residence. He carried on a considera-
ble trade with the Indians of the vicinity. In 1763, the Penn's granted
to his son John Harris, the Founder, the right to establish a ferry. In
1784 the town was laid out, and it became the seat of justice of the new
caunty, called Dauphin, after the French crown prince. As John
Harris had laid out the town, and offered lots therein for county pur-
poses, he was accorded the privilege of naming it.
" Elizaueth Harris, the daughter of Richard McClure, of Paxtang,
was born in 1729, and died in 1764, and was a woman of undoubted
energy and courage. Two incidents told of her illustrate this : The
house was surrounded with a stockade, and one night the gate being
left open an Indian entered and thrust his rifle through one of the i)ort
holes, pointing it at an English officer present. The night being damp
the gun flashed. Instantly Mrs. Harris blew out the candle to prevent
the Indian shooting a second time and he retreated. On another occa-
sion a servant going up stairs on an errand with a piece of candle
without a caudle stick and coming down without it, Mrs. Harris asked
what she had done with it, the reply was she had stuck it in the barrel
of flaxseed. This, however, happened to be a barrel of powder. Mrs.
Harris instantly arose and without saying a word went up stairs and
carefully removed the candle.
^^ Benjamin Jordan was born on the ground where Milton now
stands ; between 1805 and 1808 he engaged in the book publishing
business, in Lancaster, and assisted in editing the Intelligencer. In
1808 he was appointed weighmaster of the port of Philadelphia. In
1816 he resigned and eame to Walnut Hill, now owned by Mr. John
Motter, in Dauphin county, to reside. Mr. Jordan represented the
Dauphin district in the State Senate, 1846-1850. He was for many
336 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
years precentor of Paxtang church. October 29, 1811, he married
Mary, daughter of Edward Crouch and Margaret Potter.
^^ James Ingram, son of William Ingram, a hero of the revolution,
was an important personage in the early decades of Harrisburg history,
and was a major of one of the militia battalions. One of his daughters
became the wife of the late William Dick Boas, the journalist.
^ General John Kean was one of the earliest settlers of Harrisburg,
one of the first judges of Dauphin county, a county commissioner for
eight years, twice Senator from Dauphin and Berks, register general of
Pennsylvania, Presidential elector in 1800, voting for Jefferson, and a
justice of the peace at Harrisburg. In 1780 he entered the army, and
was with it until the surrender at Yorktown. He was one of the most
active and influential of the early citizens of Harrisburg. He was twice
married — first, in 1786, Mary Whitehill ; secondly, Jane Hamilton-
He left no male descendants.
" John Kean came to America in 1742, and served as a captain in
the revolutionary army.
*^ William Kelso was the son of Joseph Kelso, one of the first set-
tlers west of the Susquehanna, who established the west side of Har-
ris Ferry, which went by the name of Kelso's Ferry. The ferry-house
•erected prior to 1730 yet remains, although badly damaged by the
flood of 1889. It is the oldest building in existence in the Cumberland
Valley. The Kelsos of Erie are descended from this family.
*^ Jacob Kuhn was for many years a resident of Harrisburg, where
he followed his trade as a cabinet-maker. At one time he was a stew -
■ard at the almshouse.
** George Ktthn, son of Jacob, was a native of Dauphin county, and
in 1853 was elected a teacher in the public schools of Harrisburg, hold-
ing the position for twenty-seven years, and in his time imparting the
rudiments of an education to many men who are now prominent in all
circles of life.
*^ George Lorrett, was born September 15, 1773, on the farm now
owned by John Matter, in Lower Swatara township, Dauphin county,
and usually called the "Jordan Farm." His mother was a slave, and
owned by the Crouches, who were one of the first families to own slaves
within the confines of the Capital county, and were owners of a large
number. After the death of Mr. Crouch, the mother of George Lor-
xett became the property of Benjamin Jordan, Crouch's son-in-law.
Paxtang Prksbyterian Church. 337
also George her son. George was a favorite of his master's family, and
was industrious and frugal, so that at an early day he was one of the
first black or African men to own realty in Dauphin county. When he
died he was the last slave in the county, as he had never been set free
by his master, Benjamin Jordan, although his freedom had been offered
to him time and again, but always refused. At one time when Mr. J.
asked him why he would not accept his freedom, as he was now the pos-
sessor of a small plantation, he replied " Massey, dis I'se got to-
day — to-morrow it may be gon, den I'se can go back to my massa, but
if I'se free, you not take me." He invariably went by the nick-name
of "King George," very rarely by that of "Black George." The
euphonious title he secured by reason of his owning a small parcel ot
land, and not allowing the other people of his race to associate with or
visit him, believing them to be inferior to himself. The land which he
owned lies about one and a half miles N. E. of Middletown, and now
owned by Jacob Ebersole. When Lucy and George Lorrett died, they
were buried on his plantation, a short distance to the rear of the house,
which was surrounded by a neat wire fence, where their bodies lay un-
disturbed until the year 1888, when Mr. Ebersole secured permission
from tlie elders and trustees of the old Paxtang Meeting-House to re-
iuter their bodies within that ancient enclosure. For be it remembered,
that "King George," or George Lorrett, was a communicant of "The
Paxtang." All glory to the jjrivi lege granted by these devoted " blue-
stockings." — E. w. s. p.
*® Robert Montgomery was born in the parish of Ballymore, county
Armagh, Ireland. He emigrated to Pennsylvania about the year 1737,
as the date of his certificate is May of that year. His descendants
settled in Northumberland county.
*'' William Maclat, the son of Charles Maclay and Eleanor Query,
was born July 20, 1737, in Chester county. He was educated at Rev.
John Blair's classical school, was an ensign in the Pennsylvania bat-
talion during the Indian war, and promoted lieutenant 1758 ; distin-
guished himself in the Forbes' expedition ; in 1763 was in the fight
at Bushy Ruu, and commanded a company on the line of the stockade
forts on the route to Fort Pitt. For his services he was given a grant
of land. Studied law and was admitted at York in 1700. In 1772 he
laid out the town of Sunbury. In the Revolution participated in the
battles of Trenton and Princeton, and held the position of commissary
of purchases. In 1781 was elected to the Assembly, and from that
time held various offices in the State. In January, 1789, he was
338 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
elected to the United States Senate, taking his seat there as the first
Senator from Pennsylvania. He differed with Washington, and ob-
iected to the presence of the President on the floor of the Senate
during the transaction of business. While in the Senate he preserved
notes of debates, and criticised private and public customs of the
statesmen of the period, now famous as Maclay's Diary. He erected
the stone mansion now occupied as the Harrisburg Academy. He
was a strong man in his day ; able, independent, and courageous.
He married Mary McClure Harris, daughter of John Harris the
founder.
*^ William Murray married Isabella Lindley, of Scotland. After
settling in Pennsylvania, he followed farming and held no political po-
sitions save local ones. He did not live long enough to witness the
struggle for Independence, but several of his sons were active partici-
pants on the side of his adopted country. Of these, James was captain
of a company that was in the service in 1776 and John was commis-
sioned, March 7, 1776, captain of a rifle company in Col. Miles' regi-
ment and rose successively to major, first major, and lieutenant colonel,
and remained in the army until it was disbanded in 1783.
*^ Henry McKinney, son of John McKinney, an early settler from
the north of Ireland, where the son was born, was an Overseer of the
Poor in 1771, and served in the Revolutionary Army.
"" John Means was a member of Capt. Murray's Company, Pennsyl-
vania Rifle Battalion, in the Revolution.
^' Robert McClure was a ruling elder in Paxtang Church, and
county commissioner at the time of his death. In a notice of him made
at the time, the writer said of him ; "He was one of those men who, while
indulging in no pretensions, abounded ever in good works — a Christian
who exhibited his faith in God by his acts toward men — and one of
those steady-minded citizens whose example has a large influence on
the patriotism and prosperity of the community in which they live."
^^ Robert McClure was a prominent member, and a ruling elder in
Paxtang Church. Although young when the Revolution took place,
he was in active service at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth.
** Alderman Peffer was more generally known to the people of
Dauphin county than almost any other within her borders. He was an
officer in the War of 1812, and commanded a company on the frontier*
and it was said that no braver man was to be found in the service. He
waa County Commissioner, 1848-1850 ; was a prison inspector, and
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 339
secretary of the board ; a notary public, and at the time of his death,
an alderman in the city of Harrisburg.
^* David Patton was the son of David Patton, Sr., an emigrant from
north of Ireland. He was a native of Paxtang, and was quite promi-
nent in church affairs. The father was an elder in the Old Church.
'^^JoHN RiTCHEY died in 1831. He was a ruling elder in Paxtang
Church ; was a prominent and wealthy member of the community in
which he lived ; honored and esteemed by all. Margaret, his wife, a
cultured, refined woman of strong Christian character, was devoted
through her life to the promotion of the cause of Christ.
^Thomas Rutherford, was born June 24, 1707, and baptised by
the Rev. John McClave, in the parish of Derry-lousan, county ot
Tyrone. He emigrated to America in 1729, going to Donegal, in Lan-
caster county, in pursuit of Jean Murdoch, whose family had preceded
him, and with whom he had had an understanding before either left Ire-
land. They were married on the 7th of September, 1730, by Rev.
James Anderson, and after the death of John Murdoch, father of Jean,
in 1744, he removed about 1750 to Paxtang, and was the ancestor of the
Rutherfords of Paxtang valley.
"^ Jean (Murdoch) Rutherford, came to America in 1728, and be-
came the wife of Thomas in September, 1730.
^"^Captaim Ruthkrford commanded the company in the Revolution-
ary war that assembled at Middletowii on the 12th of August, 1777, and
participated in the campaign in the Jerseys and on the Brandywine,
and in 1779 marched with a company to Bedford to protect the
border, and remained six weeks.
^*Samuel Rutherford was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary army.
*" Samuel Rutherford was' a ruling elder in Paxtang church.
"John Rutherford was a surveyor, and in 1817 a member of the
Pennsylvania Assembly.
*^ Col. Rutherford was for many years prominent in the military and
political affairs of the State, and was a member of the House of Rep-
resentatives 1809-1821 and 1829-1831.
*^ Capt. Rutherford held many places of public trust ; was superin-
tendent of the Wiconisco canal in 1837, an auditor of the county, a
jury commissioner, vice president and treasurer of the State Agricul-
tural Society, and during the rebellion a quartermaster in the army.
Dr. Egle says of him : ''He was a strong anti-slavery advocate, as were
340 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
all his family, and many a weary pilgrim in the days of the fugitive
slave act, sore of foot and heart, fouad in Capt. Rutherford hospitable
assistance, material aid, and manly encouragement." He married
Eliza, daughter of Samuel Rutherford.
^* Samuel Rutherford was the son of "William, who began farming
in Ross county, Ohio, in 1839, but upon the death of his father, in 1850,
returned to Paxtang and became the owner of the homestead, which
has been in the family since 1763.
®^ Abneb Rutherford was for many years a prominent citizen of the
State ; from 1835 to 1841 he was captain of the Tenth company, 98th
regiment, Pennsylvania militia ; he was one of the founders of the
State Agricultural Society, of which he was vice-president for many
years, and during the last fifteen years of his life president of the
First National Bank of Hummelstown. In early life he joined the anti-
slavery society of Pennsylvania, and was a consistent member until the
work was finished by the war of the rebellion.
*® In early life Samuel Rutherford was one of the masters in the
school connected with Paxtang church ; he was one of the founders of
the State Agricultural Society, of which he remained a member during
his life. He was an earnest opponent of slavery, and for many years
a member of the Anti-slavery Society of Pennsylvania. The farm upon
which he spent his whole life was a part of the original tract purchased
by Thomas Rutherford in 1755.
^^ Michael Simpson, the son of Thomas, the pioneer, was a
farmer of limited educaion ; when the Indian forays following the de-
feat of Braddock spread dismay and desolation along the frontiers, he
became an ensign in the provincial service, and served under Forbes
and Bouquet, and in the expedition which brought peace to the settle-
ment. At the outset of the Revolution he was a lieutenant of Captain
Matthew Smith's company, and was attached to the Quebec expedi-
tion under Arnold ; was subsequently first lieutenant. First Pennsyl-
vania, and was in command of his company at the battle of Long
Island. December, 1776, commissioned captain, and as such was in the
battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germautown, and White
Plains. He was not retired until 1781, and served his country and its
cause faithfully and well. Subsequently, as brigadier general of the
militia, he was known as General Simpson. He was of aristocratic
bearing, and yet much loved and respected.
*^ Jeremiah Sturgeon was the son of Jeremiah Sturgeon, one of the
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 341
earliest settlers in Paxtang. He was a substantial pioneer farmer,
and quite prominent in military circles, in the old time "battalion
days."
*" Andrew Stewakt and his wife came from Scotland, prior to 1740.
He was a Covenanter of the most rigid faith, and ihe earliest of the
Reformed Presbyterians in America. On the organization of the Cove-
nanter church at Paxtang, he and his wife became members. Rev.
John Cuthbertson frequently tarried at his house while on his mis-
sionary tours, and in his diary under date of August, 1751, notes the
baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew Stewart. But little is known
of this hardy pioneer, save that in his day and generation he was ever
faithful to the Solemn League and Covenant.
™ Samuel Sheker, was the son of Captain Joseph Sherer. The latter
came with his father from Londonderry, Ireland, in 1734, and located
in Paxtang.
'^ William Swan, of an English family, which came over about 1750
and settled in the Hanover's and at Paxtang.
" Captain Joseph Sherer, the son of Samuel Sherer, was a native
of the North of Ireland, born in 1731. His parents came to America
in 1734, locating in Paxtang. He was the recipient of an ordinary
English education, and was brought up as a farmer. During the
French and Indian war he served as a non-commissioned officer. At
the commencement of the Revolution he commanded a CDmpany in
Col. Burd's battalion. Captain Sherer was a member of the Lancaster
committee, and a member of the first Constitutional Convention of the
State, which met in Philadelphia July 15, 1776. He married February
6, 1759, Mary McClure, had eight children : Mary, married Samuel
Cochran ; Samuel, John, Jean, Richard, Joseph, William, and Cath-
arine. Captain Sherer was a man of influence on the frontiers prior to
the Revolution, brave, energetic, and spirited.
" Rev. Dr. Wallace was born in Erie. His childhood and youth
were spent in Harrisburg. From 1827 to 1830 he was a cadet at West
Point ; he resigned and became a divinity student at Princeton ; he
occupied a prominent place in the Presbyterian church, attaching him-
self to the New School organization. He had charge of various
churches in Pennsylvania and in Kentucky. Was for a time professor
in Delaware College, and for fifteen years editor and principal contribu-
tor to the Presbyterian Quarterly Reoiew.
" John Wiggins came with his father from the north of Ireland to
342 Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
America in 1732. He was one of the early pioneers of Paxtang, and
during the Indian forays of 1755-1763 was more or less prominent as
an officer in the ranging companies. He was an ancestor of Judge
John Wiggins Simonton, of Dauphin county.
''^Doctor Egle in his history of Dauphm county says, "Mrs. Eleanor
Maclay Wallace was a woman of fine talents and great force of char-
acter. As a young lady she had gone with her father to the Capital,
and acted as his private secretary. While she enjoyed society, she
was more deeply interested in the political questions which came be-
fore the first Congress tor settlement. It was in harmony with those
early tastes that after her marriage she read more than one elementary
work in her husband's legal library. She was a woman of profound
piety, of fine social qualities, and of noble gifts and attainments of
mind."
^^ William Wallace was the eldest son of Benjamin Wallace and
Elizabeth Culbertson, and was born in Hanover, 1768. He was grad-
uated at Dickinson, studied law with Galbraith Patterson, and ad-
mitted to the bar in 1792. Interested in the Presque Isle Land
Company, he removed to Erie. About 1810, he returned to Harrisburg
and resumed the practice of the law. He was defeated as the Federalist
candidate for Congress in 1813, was the first president of the old Har-
risburg bank, and burgess of the town of Harrisburg at the time ot
his death. He was distinguished for his social qualities, entertaining
strangers hospitably, Chief Justice Gibson being frequently among his
guests.
'' George Whitehill, the son of John, was born in Donegal, Lan-
caster county, in 1760. His father purchased land in Paxtang prior
to the revolution and removed thither. He began the hardware busi-
ness at Harrisburg about 1800 ; was appointed by Governor Snyder one
of the associate judges of the county, in 1817, but in July, 1818, with
his colleague, Obed Fahnestock, resigned, owing to the commissioning
of Judge Franks as president of the court by Governor Findlay.
'^ Captain Walker, was the son of James Walker and Barbara Mc-
Arthur, and was born in Paxtang. He was a farmer ; learned survey-
ing, and was deputy surveyor 1804-1809. In 1810 began "merchan-
dising" in Harrisburg, and in 1814 marched to the defense of Balti-
more as captain of the "Harrisburg Volunteers." In 1821 was ap-
pointed prothonotary by Governor Hiester, and in 1824 was elected
sheriff. It was said of him that he was an ardent patriot, a popular
officer, and an active, enterprising citizen.
Paxtang Presbyterian Church. 343
^'Robert Wilson was born in the town of Killyleah, county of
Down, in the north of Ireland, May 1, 1792. He emigrated to America
in 181G, and after residing in various places he settled at Elighspire in
1822, where he resided until his death. In 1823 Mr. Wilson erected a
distillery which became well known for the superiority of its product.
He was one of the oldest Masons in the country, having joined lodge
No. 792 in the county of Killyleah, Jan. 14, 1814. He was a commu-
nicant of Paxtang, having joined in 182(5 ; was a man of strong con-
victions and extreme partizanship, public spirited, and benevolent.
344
Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
PAXTANG CHUPCH ORGANIZATION— 1890.
Jolui B. Rutherford,
Francis W. Rutherford,
Pastor.
Rev. Albert B. Williamson.
Elders.
Spencer F. Barber,
Matthew B. Elder.
Trustees.
John Elder, President, James Boyd,
Silas B. Rutherford, Treasurer, James C. Walker,
William F. Rutherford, Secretary, James R. Walker,
J. Q. A. Rutherford, Herbert Elder,
James A. Rutherford, J. Newton Gray,
Governor James A. Beaver, William Kunkle.
Communicants.
John B. Rutherford,
Silas B. Rutherford,
John A. Rutherford,
William F. Rutherford,
J. Quincy A. Rutherford,
Francis W. Rutherford,
Howard A. Rutherford,
James Walker,
James R. Walker,
J. Newton Gray,
Spencer F. Barber,
Mathew B. Elder,
Herbert Elder,
Daniel Grouse,
James Pearl,
William Kunkle,
Mrs. Abner Rutherford,
Miss K. Virginia Rutherford,
Mrs. Annie W. Rutherford,
Miss Elizabeth M. Rutherford,
Mrs. Adaline M. Rutherford,
Mrs. Margaret B. Rutherford,
Mrs. Eleanor S. Rutherford,
Miss Eleanor G. Rutherford,
Miss Martha K. Rutherford,
Miss Susan E. Rutherford,
Miss Louisa Gray,
Mrs. Ada B. Barber,
Mrs. Frances R. Elder,
Miss Matilda Elder,
Mrs. Daniel Grouse,
Mrs. James Pearl,
Mrs. Leah R. Kunkle,
Mrs. Mary J. Elder,
Mrs. A. B. Williamson,
Mrs. James A. Rutherford,
Mrs. John P. Rutherford,
Miss Jane D. Rutherford,
Miss Adaline M. Rutherford,
Miss Martha Gray,
Miss Mary McBay,
Miss Eliza Reed,
Miss Anna E. Rutherford,
Miss Mary B. Rutherford.
7d
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