_«;iii«iSLi::a£>;!CW»ji»j.(5Hjat-2r-
norriton
Presbyterian Church
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNA.
Regarded as the Oldest Church in Pennsylvania, claiming
connection with the great Protestant Reformation.
INCLUDING
HISTORICAL GLEANINGS
Pertaining to the Early Settlers and Representatives of the
several Religious Denominations, especially of
Eastern Pennsylvania.
• By rev. CHARLES COLLINS,
Member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North.
" Remember the days of old ; consider the years of many generations. Ask
thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee."
— Dt'utt ronoDiy xxxii, 7.
The old stone meeting-house still stands
Where ate the men, whose toiling hands
Reared these firm walls, and built this place?
They've pass'd from earth— no mind can trace.
Two hundred years the winds have swept
O'er graves ot those, once loved, long wept ;
Some few inscribed, some without name,
But " dust to dust "—all marked the same.
COA\PILED FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Special Edition, Limited. Published by the Author.
HERALD PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT
NORRISTOWN, PA.
1895
I
f^^ssimsmum
FROM THE LIBRARY OF
REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D.
BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO
THE LIBRARY OF
PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
DlTiaM SC^d
y^W'i OF PHlf^G^
(^ JAN 20 1932 "^
NORRITON ^^^^&^
Presbyterian Church
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNA.
Regarded as the Oldest Church in Pennsylvania, claiming
connection with the great Protestant Reformation.
INCLUDING
HISTORICAL GLEANINGS
Pertaining to the Early Settlers and Representatives of the
several Religious Denominations, especially of
Eastern Pennsylvania.
By rev. CHARLES COLLINS,
Member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia North.
" Remember the days of old ; consider the years of many generations. Ask
tby father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee."
— Deuteronomy xxxii, 7.
The old stone meeting-house still stands
Where aie the men, whose toiling hands
Reared these firm walls, and built this place?
They've pass'd from earth — no mind can trace.
Two hundred years the winds have swept
O'er graves ot those, once loved, long wept;
Some few inscribed, some without name,
But " dust to dust " — all mark* the same.
COMPILED FOR THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Special Edition, Limited. Published by the Author.
HERALD PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT
NORRISTOWN, PA.
1895
CONTENTS.
T . 1 , PAGE
Introductory words .... I
The church records lost 2
The first landing of Hollanders 2
The discovery of the .Schuylkill river 3
The arrival of the Sv edes, 1637, and of English and Welsh settlers . . 3, 4
Names of a few of the first American-Holland churches 4
Early Germans settling in Pennsylvania 4
A reference to the foreign emigration to Pennsylvania, from 1620 to 1742 . 4, 5
Settlements of Friends, or Quakers, 1680-1700 c
The Hollanders, place of worship 1660 ; the land from the Indians ... 5
Wm. Penn's deed of sale to \Vm. Penn, Jr., dated October 2, 1704 . ... 5
A change of land owners, 1700-1715. Hollanders, Germans and Scotch-Irish 6
A reference to the principles of these devoted Protestant Christians . ... 6,7
They were Presbyterian in faith, and imbued with Calvin's teachings ... 7
The founding of the Presbyterian (Holland) church in Pennsylvania, 1670 8
Persecution, imprisonment and banishment were the dreadful factors ... 8
Arriving in United States, they were scattered along the coast from Mass-
achusetts, south to Georgia , o
A reference to Rev. Francis Mackemie at Rehoboth, Md., 1683 ; Snow
Hill, Md.; Duck Creek, Christiana and New Castle, Del. ... 9
Some Hollanders in Philadelphia, in 1662. The Hollanders, Scotch and
Welsh, combine with \\ m. Penn to purchase New Jersey .... 10
Interesting notes as to the pioneer religious settlers in eastern Penna., 1671, 10
The Hollanders settle in Bucks county, Pa., at North and South Hampton ;
also Germantown U
Rev. Paulos Van Vleck preaches at Neshaminy and Bensalem, in Pucks
county; also at Germantown and Norriton, 1705-10. ... 11
The above statement confirmed by the late Rev. Abram. O. Halsey , . 12
A direct reference, and description of the old Norriton church, as it appear-
ed about sixty years ago r^
Names of the pastors 50 )ears ago, the Sunday singing school, and the
grave-yard as it then appeared 14
Church building repaired, 1844; some of the broken memorial stones dis-
appear ... 15
The oldest gravestones had Holland names 15
An imaginary picture, or description, of the original place of worship. Hol-
landers, the original members 16
Names of some found upon tomb stones, dating prior to the Revolution . . 17
Names discovered by the writer in 1835 and since, most of them m a fair
state of preservation Ij;
Norriton, the mother of all the Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania . . 19
Church extension in the Presbyterian denomination may be traced to the old
Norriton in 1730 lo
Subsequently the two churches were united, as the "Ncrriton and Providence," 19
A statement as to the antiquated appearance of the old building in 1775 . . 20
The original building was of logs 21
An extract of an historical sermon by the writer, in July, 1876; description
of the ancient log church and its surroundings 21-23
A brief extract from Rev. Dr. Thos. Murphy's book, <'The Log College" . 23, 24
Names of the preachers who labored at Norriton and Providence churches,
1714-1894 , 24
Noted revivals of religion at Norriton : Rev. Wm. Tennent, pastor, 1726;
Rev. John Tennent, of Freehold, N. J.: also, a memorable awaken-
ing, under Rev. John Rowland, 1739-40, laboring as a licentiate . 25
Rev. John Rowland's ordination, 1 741, and pastor of Lower Providence and
Charlestown Presbyterian churches in 1742 25 26
... . PAGE
An historical division in the Presbyterian denomination follows. This
schism separates tlie Norriton and Providence churches .... 26
Rev. John Rowland's narrative, written in 1744, one hundred and fifty
years ago. He refers to the Providence congregation ; then alludes
to a revival of religion in their midst 27, 28
A remarkalile event in the history of the Rev. John Rowland, and his prov-
idential deliverance. He was arrested as a horse thief. His death
in 1747 29, 30
Rev. fohn Campbell installed in 1753 30
Reunion ol the Presbyterian denomination took place in 1 758. The two
churches, Providence and Norriton, amica!)ly united again .... 31
Rev. Wra. Tennent liecame pastor in 17S2, and continued until lSl2 ... 31
The Kno.x family. Reminiscences of Mrs. Margaret Knox, as gathered by
the writer. Her memory of Rev. Dr. Tennent . 31, 32
Will. McGIathery, leader of the singing in the Norriton church ^^, 34
The old church used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War, 1777.
Gen. Washington visits the church 34
The Assembly passed an Act in 17S5 to pay for repairs to the church ... 34
Mention of Rev. Geo. Whitefield, 1743; Rev. David Evans, 1713; Rev.
Will. Tennent, Rev. Richard Treat, and Rev. Nathaniel Irwin ; also
David Rittenhouse and Benjamin Franklin at the Norriton church . 34, 35
Matthias Kittenhouse conveys a small piece of land to "ye said Norrington
Presliyterian Meeting-house," in 1737. An extract from the deed . 35
David Rittenhouse, the astronomer. Historical sketch ; reminiscences per-
taining to his earlier years, and the Norriton farm 36-39
The Armstrong family; among the earliest settlers of Norriton ; an inter-
esting history 38-40
The Thompson family ; at Norriton, and in other parts of Montgomery county, 41
The Norris family ; descendants of Thomas Norris, of London. Isaac Nor-
ris, founder of the township, Norriton. The old homestead on the
Schuylkill river, known as Norris Hall 42, 43
Archibald Thompson becomes proprietor of a property, the Norris farm-
house, later tiie Jeffersonville Inn. Items concerning the Thompsons 44
*Col. [ohn iJull ]iurchases 543 acres from Charles Norris, September 17,
1777. Col. Bull sold the plantation just named to Dr. Wm. Smith,
provost of the University of Pennsylvania, in I 779 45
Norristown laid out upon part of this land in 1784 45
The Knox family, and some of the descendants 45
The McCrea family, formerly of Norriton 45
John Patterson ; some items of history ; also Robert Hamill 46
The Porter family. Robert Porter, arriving 1720; Gen. Andrew Porter ;
later, David R. Porter, Gen. James M. Porter, etc 47
Judge Thomas Burnside, and Francis Burnside, of Norriton 47
Daniel Evans, an early settler in Norriton 47
lohn Baker and his descendants; other worthy names mentioned .... 47> 48
Norriton church building repaired in 1893 ... 48
Norriton, Providence and Jeffersonville churches, referred to as bearing a
close relationship 49
The New and Old School division in 1837 ; resulting in a division in the
Providence church in 1843 49
The Jeffersonville church organized in October, 1843; its members with-
drawing from the Providence church $0
The Centennial Presbyterian Church, of Jeffersonville, built upon a new
site, 1875-6 So. 5»
Interesting Revolutionary facts associated with the new Centennial church
ground 5I>52
Presbyterianism dates back to 1644; church of Hempstead, Long Island . 52
Conclusion. Two practical lessons. A brief, retrospective glance at the
old church 52-54
•Ool. Bull removed from Virginia, and died in Northumberland county, Pa., 1824.
NORRITON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
AND COLLATERAL GLEANINGS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
By Rev. Charles Collins,
Formerly minister of the Second Presbyterian Church, Norristown, Pa., t86i-'63, and later
pastor of the Centennial Church, Jeffersonville, Pa., for nearly twenty years— 1866-'85.
"Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. . . .
That the generations to come might know them, even the children which should
be born, who should arise and declare them to their children." — Psalm l-xxviii, 3-6.
Situated on the old Manatawny road ; since A. D. 1800, known as the
Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike ; five miles north of Norristown, one-third
of a mile south of Fairview village, between the nineteenth and twentieth mile-
stones, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.
History in any of its phases, to the ordinary mind, is al-
ways entertaining; and history pertaining to one's country or
ancestry is always deeply interesting ; while history of a gen-
eral character, whether compiled from actual facts or tradi-
tional, yet being the result of patient research, when carefully
studied, is always exceedingly valuable, thought-stimulating
and educational.
A natural desire rules largely among intelligent persons
to discover if possible something of their antecedents; hence,
of late years, the effort is noticeable and commendable, care-
fully to collect all genealogical facts, and to encourage also,
annual family gatherings.
The writer, while a school boy, became interested in the
history of the old Norriton Presbyterian Church. In the
providence of God, when scarcely twelve years of age, he be-
gan to spend the summer months, residing adjacent to this old
building, and being naturally fond of the antiquated, took hold
with interest to inquire into the history of the past. Although
born in Philadelphia, yet a great portion of his life has been
spent in close proximity to the church and grave yard of the
church in question. Herewith he humbly presents the result
of his patient investigation, to which, for nearly sixty years, at
intervals, he has cheerfully devoted time and attention.
With reference to the written records of the Norriton
church, they seem to have been irrecoverably lost. Even if
such records were kept, they were probably meagre and writ-
ten at irregular intervals.
Kindly, yet earnestly, may I just here call the attention
of all church officials to see the importance of carefully keep-
ing the records of their respective congregations, including
the names of all ministers, the membership, baptisms, etc., and
also provide a secure place for preserving the same.
About fifty years ago I made diligent effort to inquire
concerning the Norriton Church records, conferring with the
late Elder John Shearer and Trustees Jacob Custer and Fran-
cis Burnside. The reply was that no records, either of the
Session or Board of Trustees, could be found.
Mr. Burnside informed me, and I have since heard the
same report, that many years ago, about i76o-'75, some re-
cords pertaining to the said congregation were found, written
in a small blank book, among a lot of old papers in an upper
room of the old Fairview Inn. These records were partly
written in German, presumably in low Dutch, helping to es-
tablish the traditional statement (to which we shall refer later)
that the primitive gathering, if not organization of this con-
gregation, was made up of Hollanders.
The discovery of the Hudson river was made in 1609,
and the founding of New Amsterdam, now New York city, in
1612. Therefore, it is not a matter of conjecture but a histor-
ical fact, that many years before William Penn's landing in the
United States, the eastern part of Pennsylvania as well as a
portion of New Jersey were preoccupied by both Hollanders
and Swedes.
The Hollanders, however, being a more commercial peo-
ple, were earlier in the field of exploration, and reached Amer-
ica years before cither the Swedes or their more inland kins-
men, tlie Germans. It is recorded that some Hollanders
visited the Delaware or South river in 1598. Settlements
were made upon it in 1623 by Cornelius May. Only ten
years later, 1633, and some of them had settled along the
valley of the Schuylkill.
It is worthy of note that the existing name of the river
"Schuylkill" was originally bestowed by the Dutch, from the
circumstance of its mouth having been concealed by several
wooded islands, which prevented a ready recognition of the
place where it flowed into the Delaware. Hence, from the
terms "schuil" or " schuilen," signifying concealed or hidden,
and " kill," a channel stream or river, came " Schuilkil," a
hidden or concealed river. Schuylkill may therefore be con-
sidered a corruption of orthograph}'. Governor Stuyvesant,
in 1644, spoke of it as the " Narsche Rivierte," the little fresh
river.
The Schuylkill was discovered in the summer of 16 16 by
Captain Hendrickson, a Dutchman, who entered its mouth in
the yacht Restless. Twenty years later the Hollanders had
established themselves along the river as traders, and dealt
largely with the Indians for beaver skins and tobacco. At the
same time they obtained liberal acquisitions of land on the
river and adjacent thereto, for which cargoes of merchandise
were exchanged. As an incident, it is related that an individ-
ual known by the name of Old Shrunk, in 1683, caught three
thousand shad in one night, and a Captain Smith six hundred
cat fish at one draught.
As to the Swedes, it is recorded that they first entered
the Delaware river in 1 637-' 38, under the lead of Peter Min-
uit, who had previously been in the service of the Holland
Company. They purchased land upon the west side of the
Delaware, from Cape Henlopen to the falls at Trenton, and
westward of the river for forty miles. Later, Christina, after-
wards called Wilmington, was founded. Emigrants continued
to arrive. Mocopanaca, now Chester; Coaquennack, the site
of the city of Philadelphia ; Wicaco and Kingsessing, now
the southern part of said city, became settlements. The
Dutch were not idle, however, but planted themselves at New
Castle and other points, scattering as far as parts of Montgom-
ery and Bucks counties, tilling the land to the best advantage.
At Bensalem,and near Churchville, Bucks county, two churches
or worshiping places were established by Hollanders as early
as i670-'75, and the latter place was designated New Holland.
Numbers of English and Welsh settlers also came to
these parts previous to the arrival of William Penn ; for some
English families quartered at Burlington and Salem N. J., in
1675 ; and some immigrants at the same time entered the
Schuylkill to seek homes, but were peremptorily expelled by
the Dutch and Swedes, who were jealous of any other com-
petitors for the existing trade along that river.
The records of the Holland church allude to churches,
viz.: Passaic, N. J., 1693, Revs. Berthoff, Coens, Du Bois,
Van Driessen; Holmdel, N. J., in Monmouth county, 1695-
'99, Revs. Wm. Lupardus, Antonides, Freeman, Morgan; at
Smithfield, Pike county. Pa,, 1737, Rev. Fayenmoet,
Of the Germans, while a few scattered names were re-
ported as early as i64O-'50, as emigrants coming from New
Amsterdam to Pennsylvania, yet about the first of their arrival
as a body is the record of some twenty families that settled at
Germantown in 1683. They continued steadily to increase,
extending their settlements in the early part of the eighteenth
century, principally to Hanover and Frederick townships,
Montgomery county. They took up lands in the valley of
Perkiomen in 1700, extending later, about 1720, to Norriton
and Worcester townships, and between 1730 and 1740 to
Towamencin and Salford townships, and in 1740 going into
Berks and Lehigh counties.
To classify and condense the emigration alluded to we
would name the Dutch or Hollanders as the pioneers, about
1620; then the arrival of the Swedes, 1637-40; the incoming
of the English Friends or Quakers, i68o-'85: the same years
the arrival of the Germans, including the Mennonites, Dunk-
ers, and the Swiss or Reformed denomination; also the Luther-
ans. Of these original settlers the Welsh came in large num-
bers, having purchased of William Penn, before leaving Eng-
land, forty thousand acres in Merioneth or Merion, said land
5
extending into Chester county, now Tredyffiin township, Pa.
Later, in 1734, came the Schwenkfelders, arriving at
Philadelphia and settling in Worcester, Towamencin and Sal-
ford, Montgomery county; and in 1742 the arrival of those
who were founders of the Moravian church in Pennsylvania.
The late Moses Auge, in his book, " Lives of Eminent
Men," alludes to Rev. John Philip Boehm as arriving in
Montgomery county in 1720. Also, to Rev. George Michael
Weiss, from the Palatinate on the Rhine, arriving about the
same time and settling at Skippack, bringing with him four
hundred emigrants. Four years after Mr. Weiss' arrival, fiom
a report made to the Synod of Holland, we learn that there
were fifteen thousand Reformed members holding to the old
Reformed Confession in America, chiefly in New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. Boehm's work points to Blue Bell
Church in this county, and Weiss' labors to Wentz's church,
Worcester township.
From another source we find that the meeting houses of
the English and Welsh Friends are nearly all marked by their
antiquity. As early as i68o-'85, Philadelphia, Burlington,
Pemberton, and Mount Holly, N. J.; Gwynedd, 1698; a little
later, Plymouth, Horsham, Oxford, Abington, Attleboro,
Haverford, Lower Merion, in Montgomery county, and Uvvch-
lan, Chester county; Welsh Quakers, 1690; also, in Tredy-
ffrin township, an old meeting house.
Thus far the writer has recited these historical gleanings
as preliminary, and with the view of establishing the fact that
some Hollanders, about i66o-'70, and probably holding the
lands as squatters, or without legal title, first established this
place of worship, subsequently known, and in later years
organized as the " Norrington Presbyterian Meeting House."
Notice the fact, that it was not until October 2, 1704, that
William Penn, proprietor of the province of Pennsylvania, sold
to his son, William Penn, Jr., all the lands comprising the
township of Norriton, Montgomery county.
We must naturally conclude that these pioneer Holland-
ers, and who for forty or fifty years before, perhaps, were
dwellers upon these lands, must have acquired their rights as
tenants from some of the Indian tribes, for their main thor-
oughfare was the Indian road called " Manatawny."
Be this as it may, later on, and probably about i700-'i5,
there was a noticeable change. The taxable owners of land
now, although comparatively few as yet, were found to be of
Scotch-Irish blood, Hollanders and Germans, they having
combined together to purchase the lands contiguous to the
old log meeting house, located in the then manor of WilHam-
stadt, in Philadelphia county.
In 1707 another great influx of Holland emigrants began ;
also from Ireland and Scotland.
We proceed then to say that more than two hundred and
fifty years ago numbers of men and women, representing fam-
ily ties, abandoned their homes and ventured across the sea,
seeking a peaceful dwelling place upon these friendly shores.
Almost without exception, Protestant in faith, though of
different nationalities, yet one motive chiefly impelled them, viz.,
that they might worship God according to the teachings of the
Holy Scriptures, and the dictates of an enlightened conscience.
They loved the truth as comprised in the Gospel of
Christ; they gloried in the cross, and the unspeakable privi-
lege of acknowledging and honoring God by an humble life
service of faith and devotion, far more than the possession of
wealth, fame, or any earthly gifts. Inured to hardships and
persecutions, tested by severe trials, and having suffered more
or less from fiery discipline, they fled, not as miscreants or
criminals, but as peace makers; and so, being constrained by
conscientious principles, were led to these friendly shores, that
they might enjoy liberty to worship God, and by their lives
bless humanity.
Mysteriously providential, yet controlled by infinite wis-
dom, were the early Protestant Christians directed to this land.
Distinctly may we trace the hand of Jehovah in all their move-
ments, and especially discover His grace, in delivering them
from the yoke of oppression, and providing them an earthly
home where none should molest or make afraid.
Thus they came, suffering deprivations and tossed about
roughly over stormy, wintry seas. They committed them-
selves to God, asking for divine protection and guidance, and
after weary weeks they looked anxiously for the sight of land,
until at last they were cheered with the realization of another
earthly home, though in a strange country.
So, in the beginning of the seventeenth century, did the
Hollanders come to New York; a little later the Pilgrim
Fathers to the rock-bound coast of Massachusetts; then fol-
lowed by the Swedes, the English and Welsh ; other colonies
of settlers from Scotland and the north of Ireland and Switzer-
land; they were scattered among the hills and along the rivers
of eastern Pennsylvania and states of New Jersey and Dela-
ware.
But particularly of the early Hollanders, w^ho were essen-
tially Presbyterian in doctrine, together with the Scotch-Irish
Presbyterians, we are to speak. From these nationalities just
named, we as Presbyterians feel honored in tracing our fore-
fathers.
Our admiration for the w^ell- established principles of
Protestantism and the doctrines of Calvinism, leads us to point
to these noble, self-sacrificing men and women, as the faithful
missionaries and hardy pioneers to the untried western world.
" Amidst the storm they sang,
And the stars heard and the sea,
And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang
To the anthem of the free.
The ocean eagle soared
From his nest by the white waves' foam,
And the rocking pines of the forest roared —
This was their welcome home.
What sought they thus afar ?
Bright jewels of the mine ?
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war ?
They sought at faith's pure shrine.
Aye ! call it holy ground,
The soil where first they trod,
They have left unstained what there they found —
Freedom to worship God."
8
It is our purpose now, in a few paragraphs, to advert to
the founding and organization of the Presbyterian church in
Pennsylvania, and some reference to other places.
It is worthy of note that Pennsylvania was populated
very rapidly, especially its eastern boundaries.
The persecution of the Quakers under the reign of
Charles II. and his successors, and the bitter intolerance
manifested towards the Protestants by the Papists, drove
thousands away from the north of Ireland, who had formerly
removed from Scotland.
We cannot trace the calamities and persecutions which
continued through four deplorable reigns. That struggle, and
the consequent scenes of blood, would of itself fill all the pages
allotted for our paper.
Suffice it, that history records consecutive years of severe
trials from 1637 to 1661, referring especially to the sufferings
of the Irish Presbyterians.
Many were treacherously and brutally murdered; others
in large numbers were banished to Scotland; and many were
the cases of unjust imprisonment authorized by the Bishop of
Down. Other thousands suffered almost martyrdom by ex-
cessive fines, imprisonments in dreary prison cells, and cruel
whippings, from 1662 to 1688.
Such were some of the providential dispensations, which
seemed necessary to prepare our emigrant forefathers for exile,
and probably to inspire them with a deeper appreciation for
the privileges of worship and gratitude to God, for the strange
way that He was pleased to lead them.
From this we may infer, that during the time of James
and Charles, the north of Ireland was for a season to the
Presbyterians of Scotland what New England was to the
Puritans — a place of refuge from persecution, and deliverance
from the chains of oppression.
Many, also, known as English Dissenters, were ungener-
ously dealt with, and after reaching New England were recog-
nized as Congregationalists.
As early as 1637 the pious Rutherford wrote to John
Stuart, Provost of Ayr, Scotland, as follows : " I would not
have you think it strange that your journey to New England
has got such a dash ! Let me hear from you. If I saw a call
for New England I would go."
In 1641 a Scotch minister. Rev. Mr. Castell, published a
book, commending a plan for introducing the Gospel into the
colonies.
Immediately after the battle of Dunbar, several shiploads
of Scotch prisoners (Presbyterians) were sent to the planta-
tions to be sold, and of this number many were consigned to
servitude beyond the Atlantic ocean.
From 1645 to 1670, numbers of these poor exiles were
ruthlessly scattered along the Atlantic coast, from Massa-
chusetts south as far as Charleston, S. C, and even to Geor-
gia. Others made their way to the British West India islands,
Barbadoes, Antigua and Jamaica; also, St. Thomas. In the
English islands just named, Moravian missions had already
been established by the Germans, and at St. Thomas a Re-
formed Dutch church (Holland) was early organized.
Between 1670 and 1684 (the latter being a year when
great numbers were banished to these colonies) Scottish
Presbyterians settled along the eastern branch of the Eliza-
beth river, near Norfolk, Va.; also along the southern part of
the state of Delaware, including the peninsula.
Rev. Francis Mackemie — who was settled and preached
as a Presbyterian minister, 1683, at Elizabeth river, Va., living
at Rehoboth, Md., same year, organized the church at Snow
Hill, Md — wrote under date of July 28, 1685, of one Rev. Mr.
Wardrope, a Presbyterian minister, as having removed to
Pennsylvania to preach. There is a tradition that Mr. W.
preached occasionally at Norriton, and that Rev. Mackemie
also visited the place.
During the period just referred to, which was some thirty
years before the close of the seventeenth century, the Hol-
landers and Swedes also selected homes, both in Delaware
and Pennsylvania. At Duck creek, close to Smyrna, and at
New Castle and Christiana creek, they had settlements and
10
preaching places. The Hollanders usually selected inland
residences, while the Swedes selected for their homes lands
along the creeks or rivers.
As early as 1662 (which I gathered from an old book in
the Philadelphia library) was a reference to one Dr. Thomas
Wynne, a medical practitioner. He, together with his brother
and other friends, all Hollanders, was found settled in Philadel-
phia. This was twenty years before the landing of William Penn.
In 1657, at New Amstel (New Castle, Del.), one Rev,
Everardus Welius was appointed to preach in the Dutch
meeting-house, and his successor. Rev. W'arnerius Hadson,
Avho was ordained in Holland, while on his way to this place
to preach, was lost at sea during the voyage in 1664.
In 1694 there are records of a small sect of German
Pietists, occupying land near Germantown. Twenty years
prior, it was reported that a couple of families akin to the
above were squatters at the Rising Sun, about two miles
southeast of Germantown. The names of the Germantown
settlers of 1694 were John Kelpius, John Seelig, Conrad Mat-
thias (perhaps Matthews), and a physician, Dr. Christopher
Witte. The latter returned to Germantown, and died there
in 1765, living to be over one hundred years of age.
Scotchmen, Hollanders, and some Welsh, combined with
William Penn for the purchase of New^ Jersey; and to-day the
large number of Reformed Dutch and Presbyterian churches
in that state, some of them organized over two hundred and
fifty years ago, abundantly confirm this fact.
Gabriel Thomas, writing from Pennsylvania to London
in May, 1695, alludes to "numerous Low Dutch congrega-
tions and Presbyterian settlements in eastern Pennsylvania as
early as 1671." He adds: " They are chiefly from Holland;
a few from England and Wales; and makes mention of these
same people as having places of worship and settlements, in
Delaware and Maryland.
Among the early settlers in Trcdyffrin township, Chester
county, Pennsylvania, prior to 1700, were the PViends, or
English Quakers, and Welsh Presbyterians.
II
Dubois, Newkirk and Vanmeter, and others, were among
the early names of the founders of the Great Valley Presby-
terian Church.
Especially in New York, on Long Island, did the Hol-
landers, years before the above date, occupy the land. Jama-
ica, L. I., was possibly the first settled, but at Newtown, L. I.,
is the record of one Rev. Wm. Leverich, serving as a Low
Dutch preacher in 165 1, and continuing until 1669,
In Bucks county. Pa., it is well known that large numbers
of Hollanders, Welsh and Germans were settled considerably
before William Penn's arrival. The same is true as to Mont-
gomery county, Pa. This fact is readily explained; that so
attractive a country adjacent to New Jersey, and on the high-
way to New York, would naturally be sought after and ex-
plored by these emigrants. And this circumstance is author-
itatively published, that to these parties Edmond Andros, then
Governor of New York, granted letters patent for the lands,
and thus encouraged them in their primitive settlements.
"Watson's Annals" confirms the above statement.
The same Mr. Watson refers to the original Market
Square Church, of Germantown (now Presbyterian), as being
a Holland congregation, under the Synod of the Reformed
church of Holland, and from thence its first pastors were sent.
The first building was of logs, date unknown, probably about
1695.
Old records of the Dutch Reformed church confirm the
statement, that Holland ministers, perhaps coming from New
York or northern New Jersey, visited and preached in North
and South Hampton, 1700 to 17 10; also at Germantown,
Neshaminy, Bensalem, and other places adjacent.
On May 20, 17 10, Paul VanVleck, a Holland minister,
was installed pastor of the united churches of Germantown,
Bensalem and Neshaminy. Traditional reports allege that
this same Paulos VanVleck was accustomed to preach at
Norriton and the Low Dutch church of Neshaminy a few
years before, say about 1 705-7, and questions arising concern-
ing his credentials were referred to the Classis at Amsterdam,
and subsequently he was fully recognized in the ministry. He
first appeared as a school master, at Kinderhook, N. Y., 1702,
and sometimes preached, but complaints were made against
him, and he was obliged to desist.
It may, therefore, be reasonably inferred, that a number
of these Dutch churches, both in Montgomery and Bucks
counties, so far as their origin, were contemporary with some
of the Holland churches of New Amsterdam (New York) and
contiguous points, probably worshiping in their rude log houses
for a half century, more or less, before the organization of the
Neshaminy, Bensalem or Abington Presbyterian churches;
and likewise before the founding of the renowned Log Col-
lege.
Let it not be overlooked, that in New Amsterdam (now
New York), as early as 1609, Hollanders had landed, chiefly
with a view to business enterprises; but the planting of the
church as an organization is dated from 1628. It was known
as the Dutch Reformed Church.
Twenty-three miles east from Norristown, and two miles
from Churchville in Bucks county, is an ancient settlement,
known for over two hundred years as " Holland." The remains
of a very old grave-yard are still to be found, attached to which,
two centuries ago, was a log meeting house, used by a Low
Dutch congregation. This spot is located near Feasterville.
The late Rev. Abraham O. Halsey told me (about i860),
while pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of North and
South Hampton (organized in 17 10), that the present location
at Churchville was the legal successor of the ancient congre-
gation and the old church, which building at Holland had long
been obliterated. The present large stone church building is
the third erected upon the premises.
Of its former history, there is little known, except tradi-
tionally, and the dates, many of them utterly extinct, on the
old grave stones.
A few of the names of the seventeenth century were Van-
arsdalen, Wynkoop, Vanmeter, Coryell, Vanzant, Cornell,
Craven, Lefferts, etc.
13
We shall now speak particularly of the old Norriton
Church. Located on the Germantown and Perkiomen turn-
pike, near the twentieth mile stone, and about five miles north
of Norristown, is to be found the plain stone building, long
known as the Norriton Presbyterian Church.
It is a spot of sacred antiquity, as in bygone years the
dates upon the tomb and grave stones gave undoubted proof
of burials prior to the year 1700. The burial ground is en-
closed by a substantial stone wall, giving the appearance of
great antiquity.
Evidently the walls of the church are the same as when
erected. Over the antique windows are substantial arches of
stone, and upon the north or rear side of the house, two small
windows, intended for pulpit light, are still there. One large
double door, for ingress and egress, is found upon the front
or south side.
I remember well, as a lad of ten years of age, the internal
parts of this church. I speak of it as it appeared between 1833
and 1843. The pews were the old style, hard board seats,
very high, straight backs, so that a child with difficulty could
see over them ; one aisle in the centre, entering from the
door, with two square blocks of pews, on either side of the
pulpit. These corner blocks of pews made recesses, in which
space two old-fashioned stoves, designed for burning long
sticks of wood, each stove conveying tortuous sheet-iron stove
pipes to the chimneys upon either side.
The quaint pulpit of the olden time would be regarded as
a rare curiosity to-day. Its dimensions were only large enough
for a single good-sized man. Where the minister stood to
preach was a closely confined place with three panelled sides,
having a small desk for the Bible and hymn book, the wood
work being dark oak. The steps ascending to the pulpit were
narrow and spiral, while directly over the preacher's head was
a conspicuous round arched sounding board of perhaps three
feet in diameter, neatly made, with ornamented mouldings, out
of selected walnut boards. Immediately behind the speaker,
upon either side, were the two small windows alluded to.
H
During the ten years named above, from December, 1835,
to January, 1839, the tall, stalwart form of Rev. Robert W.
Landis (in later years a professor in Danville Seminary, Ky.)
held forth as the pastor of Lower Providence Presbyterian
Church; and from May, 1839, until October, 1844, Rev. Syl-
vanus Haight was the minister. I recall distinctly the rever-
ential appearance and earnest sermons of the latter. He was
a man already advanced in years, stout in physical frame,
pleasant countenance, snow-white hair, winning with the child-
ren, and greatly respected by the congregation. Public wor-
ship in those days was regarded as a privilege and not a task ;
therefore, the first day of the week would show a full congre-
gation, when services were held at Norriton.
Instead of Sunday school, the custom of those days was
to hold a singing school in the afternoons, to which the young
of both sexes would come en masse, and make the old church
ring with the music. A Mr. Foust; also, Mr. Kendall, were
the teachers.
Now as to the old grave-yard adjoining the church. It
contains perhaps about one-third of an acre of ground, and is
enclosed by a stone wall, seemingly in good repair.
In 1833 to 1840, from actual observation, the grave-stones
were far more in number, than at this writing. The tomb-
stones have generally been well preserved : but the primitive,
dark sand-stones, worn by the elements, rain-storms and win-
ters of two centuries, have many of them entirely disappeared.
In 1835 a number of such grave-stones stood fairly up
against the church walls on the north as well as the east side.
At the time the writer made earnest and repeated efforts to
decipher the epitaphs, names and dates and record the same.
Subsequently, two or three years later, he made another effort.
He well remembers that among the number were some epi-
taphs graven in Dutch or Holland; also, German words, show-*
ing dates prior to 1700. Some were the names of ministers,
evidently those who had labored there; others were probably
some of the first settlers in this new wilderness; and some two
or three had been soldiers, possibly in the Revolutionary War.
15
In the rear end of the grave-yard is a flat stone without any
inscription, said to be very ancient, of a man killed in a neigh-
boring stone quarry. These dark-colored sand-stones, unat-
tractive, dilapidated, illegible, and long uncared for, adjoining
the church building, at length disappeared. With some re-
luctance, yet I feel constrained to furnish an explanation.
In January, 1844, it was deemed necessary by the trus-
tees of Lower Providence Church to repair and modernize the
old building; also, to underpin the walls of the house upon
the north and east sides, as well as repair the grave-yard
walls.
Accordingly, in the following spring, the old style pews
were removed and replaced by others, the floors were repaired,
the antiquated pulpit and sounding board were taken down,
and a new roof placed upon the building. Daniel Shuler and
Andrew Shuck, carpenters, did the work.
At the same time the walls were pointed and repaired.
It was early spring-time ; the masons were short of stone to
finish the work; and the old memorial stones, some of them
already defaced and broken, together with the old date stone,
which had fallen to the ground, were ruthlessly destroyed,
gathered together, daubed with mortar and driven under the
old walls, thus leaving as a memento of these workmen (their
names unknown) a cruel act of thoughtlessness or heartless-
ness, perhaps both.
This piece of vandalism is much to be deplored, because
the very grave-stones in question belonged to the ancient
days. They bore inscriptions and testimonies to the memory
of the first settlers of Norriton, and the thought is a sad one,
that there is no remote possibility that any of those lost names
shall ever be restored or recovered.
As already intimated, although the lapse of many years
had rendered the lettering difficult to decipher, the family
names of some, at least, distinctly bore evidence that they
were Hollanders, having the prefix of " Van." The names of
some of the first land holders in the vicinity were Dutch, such
as Van Fossen, Van Santword, Van Baun, Amish, Yeagle,
i6
Du Bois, Rittinghausen, Kester (or Custer), Beyes (or Beyer),
Le Fever and Recup.
It may be proper to add incidentally that the alterations
to the old church above were not done by the unanimous
consent of the trustees. The Providence Church was without
a pastor at the time. The sexton, Mr. Shuck, was directed
by Colonel A. W. Shearer and Francis Burnside to put on a
new lock upon the front door to prevent the work ; neverthe-
less, the alt-erations were made.
The items and facts just recited were confirmed by
Andrew Bean, an aged resident living immediately opposite
the church ; also, by Samuel B. Beyer and the late John
Hoffman, Esq., who also resided near by.
The ancient tomb and grave-stones, now extant, were
chiefly made of marble, and are fairly modern in antiquity,
compared with those rude, dark sand-stones, first used in the
primitive burial ground.
Taking now a retrospective glance, one can imagine how
changed are the surroundings of that old house of worship.
When it was reared out of logs, doubtless a dense forest
surrounded it, and the Indian would pause and gaze, and per-
haps wondered why it was built there ; and frequently, it may
be surmised, the curious savages* would rest beneath the forest
trees, quietly lingering there, ignorant of the old Dutch
preacher's message, yet possibly enjoying the sweet concord
of sounds welling up from the united voices of the worshiping
assembly. The little Indian children would play among the
first made graves, and with childish innocence pluck the wild
flowers from the silent mound.
No other road save the Indian path was there ; after-
wards called " Manatawny "; and upon the southern slopes of
the present Fairview village did these friendly Indians abide
in their accustomed huts.
To speak specifically of the old Norriton Church, my
opinion (which has been duly confirmed by traditional state-
ments) is, that this religious society or organization was at
first composed of Hollanders, the original members having
17
landed at New York, but later emigrating from Bucks county
thither. It is probable that they made some terms with the
Indian owners for the use of the land. Without doubt they
built the first meeting house from the trees of the forest, and
it is possible about 1675. There was at that time no taxable
inhabitants, but it is known that in twenty or twenty-five
years later the population had not only materially increased
but also changed by the incoming of a new emigration of
Scotch and north of Ireland pioneers.
Early in the eighteenth century this fact was established
by the names of the owners of farms whose respective tracts
of land were parts of the manor of Williamstadt, comprising
7,480 acres (later Norriton township), granted in 1704 to Wm.
Penn, Jr., and shortly after to Isaac Norris and William Trent.
In 1 71 2, Isaac Norris, by purchase from Trent, acquired
the whole tract. This manor was changed to the township of
Norriton in 1730, at which time there were but twenty-five
taxables therein.
We append herewith some of the names of those whose
tomb stones exhibit dates previous to the Revolution :
Joseph Armstrong, aged 4 years, died April 29, 1740.
Archibald Thompson, Sr., aged 68 years, died in 1745. Sam-
uel Thompson, aged 35 years, died in 1746. Robert Thomp-
son, aged 40 years, died in 1746. Robert Thompson, aged 46
years, died in 1747. Moses Thompson, aged 31 years, died
in 1748. Robert Dunn, aged 40 years, died in 1748. Jane
Christey, aged 72 years, died in 1756. John Christey, aged
87 years, died in 1766. Robert Porter, aged 72 years, died in
1770. Joseph Armstrong, Sr., aged 80 years, died in 1766.
Mary Armstrong, aged 76 years, died in 1776. Barbara Hen-
derson, aged 34 years, died in 1772. Catharine Freeman, died
in 1776. Archibald Thompson, Jr., aged 39 years, died in 1779.
Many of the older stones were found without any letter-
ing, hence entirely unintelligible, owing to the soft and perish-
able nature of stone used in those early days. Notwithstand-
ing this, the descendants of these nameless ones who lived
after them possessed sterUng characters, and were a credit to
later generations. Especially true is this, as to many worthy
i8
families who settled as emigrants in both Norriton and 'Wor-
cester, They were a sturdy stock from the north of Ireland,
noted for their enterprise, intelligence, and reliable Protestant
principles. These Scotch-Irish people came quietly and un-
heralded, but made the best of citizens; and although many
of their posterity have since removed away from the vicinity
of the old church, they have carried with them a good record
for honesty, fidelity and christian character, wherever it has
fallen to their earthly lot to dwell.
It may not be amiss, therefore, to furnish some additional
names found in the little grave-yard, to make known to the
present generation, and possibly some relatives, those who once
lived in the neighborhood, and worshiped in the old meeting-
house.
Buck, in his Montgomery county history, visited this old
burial place in 1858, while the writer made his occasional visits
to the same place beginning full twenty years earlier, say in
1835-
Armstrong, Bayley, Burns, Hooven, Curry, Smith, Knox,
Christey, McCrea, Dunn, Bryant, Darrah, White, DeHaven,
Hanna, Fitzwater, Freeman, Fulton, Porter, Foster, Richards,
Hiser, or Heyser, Trump, Henderson, Thompson, Keesey,
Zeigler, McGlathery, Stuart, Patterson, Philips, Stroud, Stew-
art, Lefever, Shannon, McLean, St. Clair, Baker, Dettra.
The above, it will be understood, are names representing
families, and as a consequence, some names exhibiting a large
number of graves. For example: the Armstrong family, one
of the earliest, shows over thirty graves. Also, there are sev-
eral of the Thompsons, the Porters, the Stuarts, the McCreas,
the Burns, the Pattersons, and others.
The head stone of one Mary Curry records almost a cen-
tenarian, departing this life in 1804, in her ninty-eighth year;
also John Porter, dying in 1821. in his ninety-fifth year.
Here lie the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Christopher
Stuart, an officer in the Revolutionary War, and an old resi-
dent of the neighborhood, who died May 27, 1799, aged 51
years.
19
This old congregation, claiming, as we believe, to be the
mother of all the Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania, gave
the first exhibit of church extension, by the organization of the
Presbyterian church, denominated " Norriton and Providence,"
which occurred in 1730.
This church, now called " Lower Providence," has already
erected its third edifice, and dedicated the same in the early
summer of 1869.
During the months while engaged in erecting the new
church building, the Lower Providence congregation met stat-
edly for worship on Sabbath days in the Jeffersonville church,
the same having been tendered by the pastor, Rev. Charles
Collins, and session of said congregation.
The Jeffersonville church was taken <^own and removed
in May, 1875, together with the remains of those buried in the
cemetery adjoining, about three-fourths of a mile east, on the
Ridge turnpike, and a new granite building erected, known
thereafter by a new charter, as the Centennial church of Jef-
fersonville.
Just here it may be proper to say, that after the Lower
Providence church was first built, about 1730 or '32, the cur-
rent of population seemed to turn in that direction, and possibly
the spirit of dissension already rife helped also to weaken the
old Norriton congregation.
This item will explain how rapidly the then new grave-
yard of Providence filled up; and likewise, how very many
of the same family names were multiplied there, which has
since grown to large proportions as a rural resting place for the
dead.
This fact of the united congregations, the " Norriton " and
the " Providence," so long under the direction and control of
the same session, and so long enjoying the same pastors, since
1758 at lea.st, until this writing, 1894, is a remarkable state-
ment; hence, by legal succession, the Lower Providence
church has always, heretofore and now, the ownership, as well
as all rights in the real estate, and entire control of the build-
ing, as to its uses for public worship.
20
We have also regarded it as a mistake, perhaps lack of
due consideration, when in the Spring of 1844, the Trustees of
the Lower Providence church permitted the alterations that
were then made to the old building. In a previous paragraph
we have made allusion. At that time we think the Providence
church was without a pastor, or possibly better counsel might
have prevailed.
Before the destruction of the old oak board floors, and
especially the old pulpit and sounding board, internally, it was
a quaint exhibit of the olden time. Why not have done the
necessary repairs, but at the same time preserve the work of the
forefathers, as was done in the case of the ancient Lutheran
church at the Trappe (now Collegeville), erected under the
charge of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, in 1743.
The venerable Jacob Beyer, Sr., with whom I had many
conversations, informed me, about 1835—40, that the existing
old Norriton church was very similar in its external appear-
ance to the old Lutheran church just named, and formerly
had, to his distinct recollection, an antiquated hip-roof, which
he thought (trusting to his memory), being dilapidated, was
taken off about 1774—75, and the present barn-roof style sub-
stituted.
He also told me that his great-grandfather, Abraham
Beyer, the founder of the family in Montgomery county, who
married Rosina Yeakle in Holland, settled within a short dis-
tance of the Norriton church in 1736. He lived just over the
line of Norriton in Worcester township, then in Philadelphia
county, and died October 30, 1754.
His son was Andrew Beyer, who married Philipina Wey-
and November 7, 1758, died April 19, 1773, aged forty years,
and had removed to the Norriton township farm. His son,
Jacob Beyer, Sr., married Rachel Metz. He was born Feb-
ruary 14, 1762, and died August 23, 1846, in his eighty-fifth
year.
He had a distinct recollection, good memory, and many
reminiscences pertaining to the Norriton church prior to, and
after the Revolution, was often personally present during
21
those trying years, and entertained me frequently with inter-
esting recitals of his early days and the by-gone years.
One statement impressed me, and which he loved to re-
peat, viz., that when his great-grandfather settled there in
1736, he told his family, after careful inquiry and investiga-
tion, that the Norriton meeting-house was, at that date, called
an old church and burial place, at least a half century or more
in existence; that the building was first of logs, and stood
some twenty years; that probably about 1698 to 1705 the
present stone church was erected; also, that Hollanders were
first on the ground; and later, probably just after the violent
struggles in Scotland, lasting from 1660 to 1688, the new emi-
grants took up the soil.
It is a historical fact that the Presbyterian church in Ire-
land was mainly the offspring of Presbyterian emigration from
Scotland, and, as in the sister kingdom, it grew up under
severe persecutions and sufferings, driving several ship-loads
of emigrants to Philadelphia about i688-'90.
I might add that Jacob Beyer and Andrew Beyer, sons
of the last named Jacob Beyer, Sr., often took pleasure in after
years to repeat the above statements. To strengthen this
view, fifty or sixty years ago Joseph Metz, Charles Gouldy,
the brothers Jacob and John Dorworth, who died aged ninety-
four; Christian Dettra, who was almost a centennarian ; and
one John Metz, now living at ninety- two years of age, have at
intervals in past years repeated similar statements to me.
The late John Hoffman, long a justice of the peace, had
at intervals in former years given me some valuable traditional
statements. He also referred to the old, black grave-stones,
now extinct, and referred to an old deed of a Holland minister
owning a farm close to the old meeting-house, about 1700-
1710.
The following is an extract of a historical sermon by the
writer, deHvered in July, 1876. It is descriptive of the old
house of worship:
" Here, in strange solitude, upon the lower declivity of
wooded Methatchen, the old log house of worship stood two
22
centuries ago. We can readily imagine that the wild and
wandering red men oft halted and heard with wondering inter-
est, mingled with awe, the unintelligible jargon of the sturdy-
Dutchmen who offered prayer in uncouth language to the
Great Spirit, or whose lofty hymns of praise went up as sweet
incense to the Father of Light from the recesses of these for-
est glades. They still lingered by the woods and waters that
their fathers loved, long after the white man's axe had made
scattered clearings, and their dusky children, in company with
those of the pale faces, played gleefully over the green hillocks
made by the graves of the first settlers.
" The old log church probably stood from thirty to forty
years, or until after the arrival of Penn and his English
Quakers, and a more steady settlement of the infant province
began. An important evidence as to the antiquity of the
newer stone church was the old date stone, which stood at
the eastern gable of the house. This was broken and de-
stroyed at the same time with the older tomb-stones above
mentioned. Unfortunately, it is an undecided point whether
this bore the inscription of 1689 or 1698. If the former, it
would cause it to rank as the oldest church in the state ; other-
wise it comes second in antiquity. An approximation toward
ascertaining the exact time has been sought through re-
searches among title deeds of lands granted in the vicinity, by
which some information might be obtained as from whom the
property was derived, and when it was set apart for religious
purposes. But insurmountable difficulties have hitherto baf-
fled the search, and no transfer of the adjoining property
earlier than 1 704 has been found. Probably from no title
granted originally from Penn or his successors, does it owe its
land.
" But forty or fifty years later the original Dutch settlers
were to be superseded by another and a very different people,
speaking a different tongue, though worshipers in the same
faith, and also adherents of the theology of Calvin, the Scotch-
Irish. From and after 1700 these came in and settled the
surrounding country. We can imagine that from their pre-
dominance the language used in worship was speedily changed
to English ; that there were some jarring and disagreements
in those rude times with the former inhabitants ; but that the
latter soon acquired English and became accustomed to the
new order of things. The inscriptions found upon the present
tombstones inform us of the family names common among
these Scottish settlers. In after times, at a much later period,
23
still another influx of people of another race began gradually
to occupy the surrounding region, strangers to the language,
and unfamiliar with the manners and customs, as well as the
traditions of the Presbyterians. These were mainly German
Dunkards, Mennonites and Schwenkfeldters. Thus smothered
and hemmed in by adverse influences the old church began to
decay, its membership died, emigrated to the west, or removed
to more congenial associations, until it has long since ceased
to exist as a separate organization.
" In the beginning of December, 1777, a division of the
American army under Washington began its march towards
Valley Forge, which was to become famous for all time, on
account of the sufferings and hardships endured there with
such patience and fortitude. The weather was cold and
severe during their march thither. A portion of the sick and
exhausted soldiery found welcome rest and shelter for a brief
period within the walls of the Norriton church, which lay
along the route of their dreary march.
As confirmatory of the premises we have already taken
concerning the status, age and changes of the Norriton church,
it will be helpful to carefully observe the following facts:
The Bensalem church, as furnished by Dr. Thomas
Murphy in his excellent " History of the Log College," sets
forth the age of the Bensalem church, Bucks county, as being
organized in 1710; adding, "it must have been a preaching
place for some years before. Its proximity to the settlement
of Hollanders, who, at an early period, formed the Dutch Re-
formed church in the neighborhood, and the many Dutch
names found among its original members, would indicate that
a large part of its families at first came from that people."
With reference to the church of Norriton and Providence,
Dr. Murphy says: "We have been much perplexed with the
question whether Norriton (at first called Norrington) or Ben-
salem, should have the first place in the annals of our Presby-
tery."
It is certain that in Norriton we have the very first trace
of a Presbyterian enterprise within our bounds. A trust-
worthy tradition affirms that a plot of ground was purchased
there for a grkve-yard, forerunner of a church, in the year
24
1678, no less than twenty-seven years before the founding of
the Presbytery. * * * jt ^Iso appears, that a Welshman
named David Evans was preaching in that neighborhood be-
fore 1705. * * * j|. comes to light with certainty, that in
17 14, Norriton enjoyed stated preaching by Rev. Malachi
Jones, who was then pastor of Abington church. At that
time, 1714, we date the commencement of the Norriton church
as Presbyterian, though, undoubtedly, it was a preaching place
long before.
The church of Providence, which was founded sixteen
years later, in 1730, adopted the strange plan of holding ser-
vices in Norriton during the winter season, and at Providence
during the summer.
Many of the names of the worthy ministers who labored
in these two churches, have been lost, but the following are
known to have preached there :
Malachi Jones, 17 14, for thirteen years; David Evans,
1727, four years; Richard Treat, 173 1, ten years; John Row-
land, about 1741-45; John Campbell, 1747, six years; Ben-
jamin Chestnut, 1756, nine years; David McCalla, 1774,
eight years; Wm. M. Tennent, 1782, thirty years; Joseph
Barr, 18 14, three years; then followed John Smith, Joshua
Moore, Thomas Eustice, Chas. W. Nassau and William Wool-
cott; Rev. Robert W. Landis, December, 1835, to January
1839; Sylvanus Haight, 1839 to 1844.
Rev. Henry S. Rodenbough was ordained and installed
May 14, 1846. Faithfully, and most acceptably he ministered
to this congregation, and was called to his heavenly rest,
deeply mourned by a devoted people. May 3, 1890. Rev.
Claude R. Brodhead is the present pastor, and was installed
October 3, 1890.
The Abington church, Montgomery county, was organ-
ized 1 714, Rev. Malachi Jones, pastor; and the Neshaminy
church in 1726, when Rev. Wm. Tennent, Sr., became pastor,
and continued for sixteen years.
Traditionally, we have the statement, that the coming into
the vicinity of the Norriton and the Providence churches, of
25
one Rev. John Rowland, about the end of 1739 and through
1740, a most memorable revival of religion transpired. He
preached in the two churches alternately, until the whole
region round about seemed pervaded with " the great awaken-
ing."
Of this noted evangelist we shall have more to say in
some following pages. Suffice it, that scores of sinners were
converted, and many careless Christians revived and estab-
lished in the faith.
It is certified that among the number were the grand-
father and grandmother of Rev. Archibald Alexander, D. D.,
long the beloved and greatly respected professor in Princeton
Theological Seminary. In the Providence grave-yard, may be
found the progenitors of the Alexanders belonging to two or
three generations.
The above facts, calmly considered, go very far to estab-
lish our plea, that the Norriton church is really the oldest in
the state, not excepting the meeting-house at Lower Merion.
During the early part of the eighteenth century this church
was well-known to the Hollanders settled in Bucks county,
as well as New Jersey, and later, during the great revival that
began at Freehold, N. J., in 1732, under the labors of Rev.
John Tennent, the Norriton church, as a Presbyterian congre-
gation, notably participated.
A remarkable schism interrupted the progress of the
Presbyterian church as a denomination, in 1740. It made
havoc as the evil rapidly spread. The log church first built
at Providence, had been recently replaced by the first stone
building.
Owing to the prevailing disturbances, Norriton was with-
out a regular pastor, but one. Rev. John Kincaid, took hold
as their minister, and did a good work.
Rev. John Rowland, who had received his education at
the Log College, applied for a license to the Presbytery of
New Brunswick, N. J. He was ordained as an Evangelist
June I, 1 74 1. After laboring a year in New Jersey, he came
over into Pennsylvania.
26
In 1742, accordingly, he took charge of Lower Provi-
dence church, and Charlestown church, Chester county, Pa.
But whilst he was the instrument in performing an extraordi-
nary work in the community, with ability and tact to reach
the masses, yet a little later, dissensions, strife and personal
envy, resulted in disorder.
Largely as a result of the division of the Presbyterian
body just referred to, it was destined to divide many of the
congregations, and had already most seriously affected both
Norriton and Providence churches. The tendency was to
weaken both, but Norriton suffered most.
The consequences of the schism, and the soreness result-
ing from the separation of kindred and friends, had kindled
undue animosity; hence, even those who were workers in the
Master's vineyard, were first to suffer.
To advert to the causes of the division, we might say,
that for two or three years preceding the preaching of the re-
nowned Revs. Geo. Whitefield and Gilbert Tennent, so elo-
quent and earnest, yet so thoroughly Evangelical in its tone,
had arrested the unusual attention of the multitude.
The lethargic slumbers of the formal professors of reli-
gion .were awakened by these bold innovaters, whose service
naturally aroused opposition.
The two parties were called, by way of distinction, " old
lights" and "new lights."
Long fomenting grievances resulted in increased hostility,
the division of congregations, together with untold acrimony,
and a spirit of unforgiveness.
Old Norriton church, with its staid membership and rigid
adherence to the Westminster standards, opposed Whitefield.
A goodly portion of the members seceded, and cast in their lot
to strengthen the Providence church, and uphold the teachings
of Rev. John Rowland.
He was evidently an independent preacher, with boldness,
fortitude, and ability to defend his cause, yet remarkable for
his readiness to speak fluently, intelligibly, and convincingly
to those who were not yet heirs of salvation. To show the
27
character of the man, we quote from a narrative written by
him in 1744, now one hundred and fifty years ago.
Is it not true that " distance lends enchantment to the
view," as we learn, that the glamour which appears as a bright
vision, and which we are inclined to call "the good old times,"
is apt to be dispelled, as we get a nearer and clearer view of
former days.
He attempts to describe in no very favorable terms the
character of the people to whom he was then ministering, at
New Providence church, as it-was then called.
The tone of this letter is exceedingly condemnatoiy as to
the spiritual condition of the membership, charging upon them
an exhibition of unkindness in their intercourse with one an-
other, and an utter lack of benevolence and Christian charity.
In this narrative which he wrote and addressed to Mr.
Prince, he says:
"In the year 1743 I came to live in Charleston, Chester
county. Pa,, and have continued according to the order of
Presbytery, preaching among them, and the people of New
Providence.
" But as my ministry has been chiefly successful in the
latter place since I came into these parts, I shall only speak
of what I have observed of the work of God in New Provi-
dence.
"The people of this place, before I came, were but an
ignorant sort of people, unacquainted with religion, both as to
principle and practice; and though they would pretend, some
to belong to one denomination and some to another, yet a
vain name, was all. Looseness prevailed much in the place,
and there was not one to speak to another in a suitable man-
ner, neither of the vileness, deformity and unprofitableness of
the ways of sin, nor of the glory and excellency, and profit-
ableness of the ways of God.
"I know not that any of them observed family prayer, or
ever asked a blessing on their food. This was the case among
them, as they told me several times, and again since I began
to wriie this narrative.
28
"The conviction and conversion of the people of New
Providence occurred within about two months of one another.
"It was the time of my traveHng among them that the
Lord chose to bless for their ingathering into Jesus Christ ;
and since I have labored statedly among them it has been as
much my endeavor to build up those who were called into the
fellowship of God as to convince sinners of their misery; and
to this end my labors were blessed again among them through-
out the year 1744.
"As to their conviction and conversion unto God, I may
say, they are capable to give a scriptural account of these
things.
" I forbear to speak of many extraordinary appearances,
such as some scores of persons, crying out at one instant for
mercy, and of others, falling down and fainting.
"These people are still increasing; and, blessed be the
Lord, since the great reviv^al, are endeavoring to walk in com-
munion with God, and with one another. And for this end
they now meet in society in the meeting-house, two or three
hours at a time, for praise and prayer, and they find this an
excellent means to prepare them for the Sabbath.
" They are now careful to maintain the worship of God
in their families, and to use all agreeable, proper means to in-
crease their own knowledge in the things of God.
" I choose to say no more, though I may truly say, that
what I have spoken of the glorious work of God in this place,
.is but a little to what I might have said."
The authority for the above, is the Rev. Archibald Alex-
ander, D. D., page 353, " Log College," published by the Pres-
byterian Board.
Dr. A. adds, " that the faithful, yet sometimes denuncia-
tory preaching of Mr. Rowland, gave him the soubriquet of
" Hell-fire Rowland."
A veritable yet remarkable story is told of Rowland,
which involves some interesting questions of psychology, and
seems to show in a remarkable case how mysterious are the
subtle workings of the human mind, concerning the philoso-
29
phy of which science has as yet given us little light. It
also indicates the almost incredible animosity and rancor
existing at that time, and which was exhibited by so-called
Christian people. These hesitated not at any effort that mal-
ice could devise, by which might be ruined, not their enemies,
but preachers of the Gospel, and members of the same house-
hold of faith.
For a very singular reason, Rowland was once arrested
as a horse thief, and came near suffering the penalty in that
case made and provided. It seems that a noted scroundrel of
this type so resembled in physical appearance the reverend
gentleman, that people could not readily distinguish between
them. The horse thief was in the neighborhood of Freehold,
N. J., when the landlord of a hotel where he stopped, addressed
him by the name of Rowland. The man was not slow to
take the hint, that here was an excellent opportunity for
profiting by their mistaken identity. He may not have been
acquainted with Rowland, but had doubtless heard of him.
Assuming his name and title, and gifted with facile address,
he easily imposed himself as the preacher. He was soon
afterward at the house of a deacon, a leading member of a
church, and had been appointed to preach on a Sunday morn-
ing. With his household they rode toward the place of wor-
ship. But a member of the family rode behind the wagon,
astride a splendid horse. We may be sure that the sight of
the superb beast was quite too tempting to the would-be
preacher, and he instantly formed a plan to make him his
own. He suddenly pretended that he had forgotten his ser-
mon at the house. The horseman politely offered to go back
and get it for him, but the false Rowland said no one could
find it so readily as himself. If the other would but take his
seat in the wagon, he would mount the horse and go back
himself. This was unsuspectingly complied with, and it is
needless to state that the congregation vainly waited for the
preacher to appear that morning, and the good deacon never
saw his handsome steed again.
30
When this took place, Rowland was many hundred miles
away in Virginia preaching, in company with Tennent and
Anderson. When they came back, Rowland was quickly
arrested as the thief. Of course Anderson and Tennent were
able to swear to an alibi, and he was soon acquitted. But the
animosities of the " Old Lights," who had instigated Tennent's
arrest, thus baffled at one point, took revenge at another.
They had Tennent and Anderson arrested for perjury. Un-
able to find confirmatory proof, and surrounded by their foes,
their trial came on at Trenton, and Anderson was first con-
victed. As part of his punishment, he had already stood in
the pillory. But Tennent was most providentially acquitted
by the arrival of a man and his wife from Virginia, who knew
them both, and had been forewarned of their peril. On three
successive nights he had been warned in a dream of the dan-
ger in which these preachers stood, and so vividly had it im-
pressed his mind, that he determined to go to their rescue with
his testimony. It is said that Tennent had all the while de-
clared, that some unforseen interposition of Providence would
save him and his companion, so great was his faith and trust that
his prayers would be answered. Of course the man's testimony
established their innocence, and the release of both resulted.
Rev. John Rowland died in 1747. Then Rev. Richard
Treat, of Abington, took charge of the Providence and Charles-
ton churches. Rev. David Brainard acting as assistant pastor.
In the autumn of 1747 Rev. John Campbell was ordained
and installed pastor of the Providence and Charleston churches,
and remained until 1753. His call from life and duty was
sudden. Hew^as in the act of giving out the i i6th Psalm, to sing
these words, when instantly stricken with palsy in the pulpit :
" Dear in thy sight is thy saint's death,
Thy servant Lord am I."
He was buried at Providence grave-yard, and on his
tomb may be found this inscription :
" In yonder sacred house I spent my breath ;
Now silent, mouldering here, I lie in death.
These silent lips shall wake and yet declare
A dread Amen, to truths they uttered there."
31
Then followed Rev. Benj. Chestnut, who resigned in
1763. His wife Judith lies buried in the Providence ceme-
tery, adjoining the church.
After the reunion of the Presbyterian church in general,
in 1758 (following the schism of 1741), the name of the Nor-
riton and Providence churches was assumed, and by a re-
newed amicable arrangement, they worshiped for many years
after, alternately, in the two churches.
Rev. Richard Treat, of Abington, took charge in 1763,
and continued until 1772. Then Rev. David McCalla fol-
lowed for eight years.
Later, in 1782, Norriton, Providence and Abington all
united in securing as pastor Rev. Wm. M. Tennent, D. D.,
who continued with much favor and marked success to min-
ister to these churches for thirty years until 1810.
Pursuing my investigations between i845-'55, I was
several times entertained by Mrs. Margaret Knox, widow of
Robert Knox, who was the oldest son of Capt. Andrew Knox.
The latter was somewhat renowned in his day, from the cir-
cumstance that an unexpected assault was made upon him by
some Tories one night (February 14, 1778) during the Rev-
olutionary War. While there appeared to be threatenings on
the part of these evil disposed men, they were unsuccessful,
and were driven off, Capt. Knox holding the fort. His son
Robert, above alluded to, was married to Margaret McNeely.
April 6, 1800, but he was a witness and present when the
affray occurred, and Hved for many years after, to recount the
hair-breadth escape of those dangerous night prowlers.
During our interviews, Mrs. Knox would often expatiate
with much earnestness in describing the eventful scene, ex-
hibiting to me the front door of the farm house, that had been
pierced with a number of bullet holes, and which door, sub-
sequently, was given to Independence Hall, Philadelphia, as a
relic of those troublous times.
Among other items of the by-gone years, the old lady
called my attention to what was left of an old, decayed willow
tree, nigh to the old spring-house, and stated that General
32
Washington, upon an occasion of making a visit, having come
from near Germantown, after alighting from a handsome white
horse that he rode, himself took the willow switch which he
had used as a whip, and planted the same, that for over a half
century or longer, was the well-known thriving, luxurious,
shady Washington tree.
Our conversation usually led to the old Norriton church,
about which she loved to talk, reverting to the old-time Sab-
bath days, as days of privilege, as well as a time of social
greeting.
Vividly she would refer to the congregation, naming
numbers of those who were active and conspicuous in the
church, mostly persons living in the vicinity as neighbors and
familiar friends; and then, often with a sigh exclaiming, "but
they are all gone, and I am left alone!"
I recall with much satisfaction my visits to the old farm,
and remember well her personal appearance, cheerfulness of
manner, and her readiness to communicate.
She departed this life about i86i, and was interred in the
cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church, Norristown. She
was the aunt (by marriage) of the late Col. Thomas P. Knox,
of Norristown.
Considering her advanced age, Mrs. Knox's memory was
excellent. The acquaintances of her early years, together
with certain scenes attaching to the old Norriton church, had
made a lasting impression upon her mind.
When quite a young woman, she remembered the Rev.
Dr. Wm. Tennent, w^ho she described as a fine-looking, portly
man, with a pleasant countenance, gray hair, and with man-
ners always dignified, yet proverbially cheerful and social.
While the older persons had an intense admiration for the
minister, at the same time, the young people clung closely
to him.
She remembered distinctly of his coming from Neshaminy
to Abington, some twenty miles, usually on horseback, and
preaching statedly about once a month, and during the sum-
mer oftener. She loved to describe the venerable and solemn
33
preacher as he stood in the quaint pulpit, closely shut in,
speaking under the old sounding board.
In 1 812 the labors of Dr. Tennent, including his long
miles of travel, became too severe for his endurance, and he
resigned the pastorate, greatly to the regret of the congre-
gation.
For the two following years, the church was supplied by
occasional preaching by neighboring ministers, some of them
coming from Philadelphia, until 18 14, when Rev. Joseph Barr
was called, and remained for three or four years.
Another old lady, a Mrs. Shannon, far advanced in years,
yet with faculties unimpaired, took delight in calling my at-
tention to the congregational singing in those old days. It
was before the professional singer was born, before the quar-
tette had any existence, and before the pipe organ was granted
permission to sound in any Presbyterian church.
William McGlathery was the excellent precentor, or leader,
of the singing. He stood immediately in front of the pulpit,
facing the congregation, and who, being in his prime, having
a good physique and strong, clear voice, carefully beating the
time with the accuracy of the metronome, he made the welkin
ring.
The old tunes of Norriton church were St. Martin's, Duke
Street, Wells, Shirland, St. Stephen's, Arlington, China, Peter-
boro, Warwick and Old Hundred.
Mr. McGlathery was also a genius in his way. To assist
him in leading the singing he had invented and made with his
own hands a small, neat, wooden mouth organ, which, by
placing to his lips, he could at once obtain the pitch or proper
sound. This he carried with him to the church as carefully
as he did his hymn book, and which, too, he found to be help-
ful in raising the songs of Zion. Robert Stinson, John Mc-
Crea and Joseph Armstrong, assisted in leading the singing.
I may add, that I had the pleasure of conversing with
Wm. McGlathery and some of his family with reference to the
Norriton church many years ago, when they resided near
Washington Square, northeast of Norristown.
34
William McGlathery, just referred to, was the father of
Mehelm McGlathery, a worthy and respected citizen of Nor-
ristown. The latter is still living, with mind and memory
in healthful exercise, genial and communicative, at the ad-
vanced age of ninety-one years, having been born November
2, 1803.
It should be mentioned, that John McGlathery was among
the early settlers in this county. He came from Scotland,
doubtless with those worthies who sought a refuge from per-
secution, and brought with him the established principles of
the Christian religion, as held by Calvinistic Presbyterians.
He was born in 1693 and died in 1784.
Isaac McGlathery, son of John, became distinguished as
a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. He was born in 1749
and died in 1834.
William, alluded to in the above paragraphs, was the son
of Isaac. He was born in Norriton in 1775, died in 1850; and
had six children, viz., Mehelm, Samuel, John, Ann, Martha
and Rachel.
An incident may be introduced here. During the Revo-
lutionary War this old church was used by the soldiers for
quarters, and later, in 1777, for the purposes of a hospital. It
■was currently reported that Gen. Washington, while tarrying
at the Peter Wentz Inn, located on the Skippack road, in Oc-
tober, 1777, made one or two visits to the church.
In consequence of the damages that said church suffered
during the war, the Assembly passed an act in 1785, on Sep-
tember 17th, allowing a lottery, to raise money to pay for
necessary repairs to the church.
The writer has also a clear recollection of several con-
versations with some of the older residents living near the
church, about 1833 to 1838. The grand-parents of these per-
sons were the first white settlers of Norriton. They had com-
municated to their children the fact of the Rev. Geo. White-
field having preached in the church in 1743.
Thirty years before. Rev. David Evans, and a little later,
Rev. William Tennent, preached there; also, the name of Rev.
35
Richard Treat and Nathaniel Irwin, were familiar as among
the useful ministers.
From their own memories, going back to 1780— '85, they
assured me that they could distinctly recall the presence of
Benjamin Franklin in attendance at the church, both before
and after his return as Minister to France. He was accom-
panied each time by the astronomer, David Rittenhouse, who
enjoyed the friendship and companionship of Franklin, as his
guest.
The grave-yard was on the extreme western corner of the
Rittenhouse farm. The oldest histories of Pennsylvania ex-
tant, as well as Watson's Annals, briefly refer to this ancient
church and cemetery.
The old church property adjoined, and was once part of
the Matthias Rittenhouse farm. He purchased the place in
1734, and evidently found the place of worship already located
there, and conveyed the property three years later, although
himself a worthy member of the Mennonite denomination,
David Rittenhouse was at that time but two years old, having
been born in 1732 in Germantown. In 1764 Matthias con-
veyed to his son David this same farm.
The ancient, time-worn deed is dated March, 1737, and
recites that this property is a part of 7.482 acres of land, com-
ing from William Penn, proprietor and Governor of the pro-
vince of Pennsylvania, made to John Penn, Jr., which the
latter sold to Isaac Norris and William Trent. Subsequently,
Isaac Norris became the owner, and conveyed about one hun-
dred acres to Matthias Rittenhouse in 1734.
The contract is made between Matthias Rittenhouse and
Elizabeth, his wife, of the township of Norrington, county of
Philadelphia, and " ye said Presbyterian Profession of ye town-
ship, aforesaid, conveying seventy-two poles of land" (giving
the boundaries) "for a meeting-house and grave-yard for ye
use of ye said Presbyterian Profession of ye township afore-
said," adding, " Now this indenture witnesseth by ye said
Matthias Rittenhausen and Elizabeth, his wife, for and in con-
sideration of one silver half crown, current money of England,
3^
to them in hand paid by ye said Presbyterian Profession, that
they do hereby convey and confirm," etc., etc.
The probabihty is, that Matthias Rittenhouse, having
found the meeting-house and old grave-yard upon the corner
of his farm, and having been located there before Wm. Penn's
purchase, was prompted by generosity, as well as honorable
motives, to convey the ground to " ye said Presbyterian meet-
ing-house," as the above deed defines.
In his boyhood days, upon this farm (then owned by
Samuel Gouldy, who purchased it in i8i i), the writer remem-
bers what was left of the old frame observatory, together with
its foundation of stone, which had been built and used by
David Rittenhouse in his astronomical researches; and, also,
an English box-wood tree, that had been brought by Franklin,
from London; and was growing and flourishing near to the
dwelling house, on the farm of his familiar friend Rittenhouse.
Although nearly a hundred years have passed since the
death of David Rittenhouse, it may be recorded truthfully to-
day, that in scientific research and astronomical ability, he has
not been excelled since. And, while not designing a bio-
graphical sketch of the deceased, the circumstance of his home
and surroundings being contiguous to che old Norriton church,
and the same having been the gift of his parents, will explain
the reason, for the following additional paragraphs.
The farm house is still standing on the opposite corner,
about two hundred feet southwest from the church, where
Rittenhouse, at seventeen years of age, made his first wooden
clock. Here, also, he attempted his first astronomical observ-
ations; having a superb view of the heavens, especially look-
ing north and south, from this point of Fairview. For many
years this farm was owned by Jacob Harley.
As I remember this house, in 1835, on its west end Philip
Harley kept a country store. He took delight in calling at-
tention to the above, and showed me the identical second-
story front room, which still retained some memorable marks,
left by Rittenhouse. Later, as I was informed, in the same
house, he manufactured the first large eight-day clock, termed
37
his Astronomical clock ; exhibiting the changes of the moon,
with moving calendar ; which in these modern years have
been sought after, simply known as the David Rittenhouse
grandfather clock.
The year 1769 is memorable in the annals of astronomy.
During that year, his successful observations and subsequent
reports, pertaining to the transit of Venus, made him world-
renowned. The same year there was also a transit of Mer-
cury ; when along with such names as Dr. Smith, Lukens,
Owen Biddle, and others, he rendered his observations, which
were published by the American Philosophical Society; when
again, David Rittenhouse, of Norriton, equalled them all.
In 1770 he conceived the idea of endeavoring to report
by machinery the planetary system. The relative situations
of the members of the solar system, at any period of time,
for five thousand years back, could be shown in a moment.
This was pronounced a great success. President John
Adams extolled him. Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller, of Princeton
College, spoke in high praises concerning his invention. Dr.
Gordon, the English historian, said : " There is not the like in
Europe." Dr. Morse, the geographer, eulogized him.
His friend Thomas Jefferson said : " Surpassing in in-
genuity, contrivance, skill, accuracy and utility, any thing of
the kind, ever before constructed. * * * Hq ji^g i-jq|-^ i^_
deed, made a world ; but he has by imitation, approached
nearer his Maker, than any man who has lived, from the Cre-
ation, to this day."
For this wonderful instrument, the Orrery, two univer-
sities vied with each other to obtain it; the University of
Pennsylvania, and Princeton College ; while the former, Dr.
Smith, desired to have it, yet. Dr. Witherspoon, of the latter
institution, secured it by the payment of ^300.
These facts lend interest to the spot, made memorable by
the works, and inventive faculty of David Rittenhouse at
Norriton ; with the near prospect of the old church, being
always in sight from his country home, and the attractive for-
38
est-covered Mehacton Hill (usually pronounced Methatchen),
lying in the near south-west.
He was born April 8,1732; retained this place as his
rural residence, until 1796, being 62 years ; and departed this
life in Philadelphia, June 26, 1796; aged 64 years.
Another family name, more intimately associated with the
early years of the old Norriton church, was that of Arm-
strong.
The writer is favored as the recipient of an old manu-
script, giving many interesting items.
The Armstrong family were of the Scotch-Presbyterian
persuasion. The possibility exists that the elder Armstrong
came over with his family about the time of Penn's landing.
This record has been lost. Joseph Armstrong, Sr., the son,
was born in 1686, died 1766, aged 80 years. p:phraim Arm-
strong, son of Joseph, was born 1730, died 1804. aged 74
years. Joseph Armstrong, son of Ephraim, was born 1762,
died 1844, aged 82 years. Benj. E. Armstrong, son of the
last named Joseph, was born 1798. He removed to the state
of Ohio, from Pennsylvania, in 1849, and died there, about
1876. All the above (excepting only Benjamin) together with
some thirty members of the family, all lie buried in the old
Norriton church ground.
Ephraim, inherited the old farm from his father in 1767 ;
who had settled upon the land, about 17 10.
To incourage rapid settlement, this land was not sold;
but was let out on perpetual lease, at the low price of ten
bushels of wheat per year, as a consideration for each 160
acres ; said wheat, to be delivered at Robison's mill, on the
Wissahickon, five miles north of Philadelphia. Then, there
were no surveyed roads ; and the delivery was by pack horses.
In 18 1 5, the lands were rehnquished from the leases, and a
fee simple deed issued, in its stead.
Ephraim was father to eleven children ; five sons, and six
daughters. The Revolutionary war found him \\'ith this
large helpless family.
He was in comparatively easy circumstances ; but the
39
fortunes of war, during the severe winter of 1777-8, palced
him, as it were, just between the winter quarters of the con-
tending armies.
Washington's suffering and almost starving troops at
Valley Forge, four miles distant, and the British outposts be-
ing only eight or ten miles distant on the Philadelphia side,
made him subject to the frequent visitation of the enemy's
marauding parties, while distressed also, at the famishing wants
of the American army. This state of affairs continued for
more than six months ; and the surrounding country, as a
consequence, was not only reduced to a state of actual desti-
tution, but many lacked even the necessary comforts of life.
But this was not all. During the horrors and desolation
of the war, in addition to the trial of being despoiled of a
means of subsistence, Ephraim was drafted in the army which
Washington was recruiting with a view of dislodging the
British from Philadelphia.
This was an emergency ; a condition of things to try
one's soul.
To leave his family in an unprotected condition at such a
time, was to leave them to perish.
Joseph, his first born son, was then in his sixteenth year,
A recruit, particularly as a substitute, was required to be
eighteen.
In this dilemma, Joseph, who was of large stature and
manly appearance for his age, resolved to use the pardonable
deception of passing himself for eighteen years, and taking the
place of substitute for his father, in which plan he succeeded,
and thus entered the army.
He was subsequently in the battle of Monmouth, N. J,;
which was fought on the 28th day of June, 1777, ten days
after the evacuation of Philadelphia. He stood faithfully to
his duty, in skirmishes, and battles, throughout the war; and
to the admiration of the officers, established his well earned
military reputation.
When peace was restored he returned to his father's
faj-m, where he remained until he was married ; except a period
40
of two years, spent in the employ of the Commissioners, David
Rittenhouse, of Pennsylvania, and DeWitt Clinton, of New
York ; appointed to settle the boundary lines of those two states.
Joseph Armstrong had five sons and one daughter.
One son only, B. E. Armstrong, survived him. He lived with
this son, for the last fourteen years of his life on his farm,
located in Upper Merion township, Montgomery county; there
Joseph Armstrong died in 1844, aged 82 years.
His remains repose in the Norriton church graveyard.
Returning to Ephraim Armstrong, father of Joseph, it
was said, that he lived about twenty-six years, after the close
of the Revolutionary war, and was held in high repute, as one
of the community in which he dwelt. He was a strict Cal-
vinistic Presbyterian, uncompromising in his religious convic-
tions, decided in his actions and purposes, yet thoughtful and
charitable towards those who differed with him.
Withal, he was kind and benevolent at heart, as he had
opportunity, yet regarded as rigid and austere in the training
of his family.
As was customary with old men of that time, he wore a
red and white striped cap, manufactured out of silk ; from the
crown of which hung a large tassel.
He died at the old family homestead, Norriton, November
6, 1804, aged 74 years. Much respected and lamented, he was
buried in the old Norriton Presbyterian graveyard.
To his memory it may be added, that he was one of the
most devoted and useful members of this church. The writer
long years ago, listened to commendatory words from an aged
lady, who spoke of him, as the faithful Elder, always ready to
•extend the kindly smile, and the friendly grasp of the hand, at
the services upon each recurring Sabbath. He also contributed
generously to support the church, and willingly gave his ser-
vices as precentor, or leader of the singing, for many years.
The location of the old Armstrong farm, containing about
100 acres, was near the church, on the southwest side of
Manatawny road ; now, Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike,
opposite to the renowned David Rittenhouse farm.
41
This place was owned, 1835-45, by one Woodley; later
Wanner, Anderson, Freas, Bean, Miller and now Jos. Cassel.
The Thompson family evidently were early associated
with the old Norriton church. Occasionally, we find the name
printed Thomson.
William Penn by his deed, as the first proprietory of
Pennsylvania, on the 20th of April, 1689, conveyed to Major
Robert Thompson 10,000 acres of land in Chester county, Pa. ;
covering a large part of Vincent and Coventry townships. By
his will 14th April, 1691, he devised all the said land to his
son Joseph Thompson, the son of his son Joseph, for life, etc.
It is thought that some near of kin (perhaps a brother of
Major Thompson) about the same time chose Montgomery
county and Norriton as his future home. They came from the
north of Ireland, and were distinctively old stock Presbyterians.
The graveyard gives evidence that of the Thompsons
there were several in Norriton, as residents, during the eigh-
teenth century. The families of Archibald, Samuel, Robert,
Joseph, Moses, and again Archibald, were in their day and
generation well known. Their farms were chiefly in Norriton,
and perhaps one in Worcester township. James Thompson,
who came from Ireland, about 1755, died in Pottstown, Pa , in
1782, aged 65 years.
A distinguished citizen was the Hon. Charles Thompson.
He was born in Ireland in 1730, came over in 1741, and lived
in Lower Merion, where he died in 1824, aged 96 years. He
was a strict Presbyterian, and his remains were interred in the
Presbyterian graveyard, near his residence ; but afterwards,
removed to Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
His hfe, and the active part he took in the American
Revolution, not only exhibited the manliness and courage of
the Irish character, but he became conspicuous in our national
councils ; having been the Secretary of nearly all the sessions
of our Revolutionary Congress.
The following paragraphs will furnish items of much in-
terest, referring to the Norris family, also to one Archibald
Thompson.
42
The first of the Norris family, distinguished as among the
early settlers of Pennsylvania, and of whom any record has
been preserved, was Thomas Norris, a merchant, of London,
England, who had gained the Society of Friends, soon after
the rise of that sect.
He emigrated about 1678, with his wife and large family,
to the island of Jamaica, West Indies ; and perished in the great
earthquake, which destroyed Port Royal, on the 7th of June,
1692.
Isaac Norris (said to have been the ninth child of the
above named Thomas Norris) and founder of the family in Penn-
sylvania, was born in the city of London, July 26, 167 1, and
was about seven years old, when the family removed to Jamaica.
In 1690 his father sent him to Pennsylvania by a sailing
vessel, to examine the country, preparatory to the family
settling there.
He returned to Jamaica, to learn the distressing fact, that
his father and many others had perished in the earthquake.
In 1693 he came back to Philadelphia (then only about ten
years settled) with a fortune scarcely more than ^{^lOO, and
entered into mercantile business ; rising rapidly to be one of
the colony's wealthiest and most successful merchants.
Purchasing, together with Trent, the manor of Williarns-
tadt in 1704, and later, having renounced political distinction, in
1709 called to a seat in the Governor's Council, 171 2 elected
Speaker of the Assembly, holding also many conspicuous offi-
cial positions, he died suddenly, while attending Friends meeting
in Germantown, Philadelphia, June 4, 1735, in his 65th year.
Charles Norris, son of the Councillor, and who married
Eunice Gardner, at Nantucket, Mass., July 4, 1793, died on the
farm, Norris Hall, Montgomery county. Pa., Dec. 24, 181 3.
He and his wife, together with their children and children's
children, arc interred in the old family burial ground attached
to said farm.
This property (1894) is now in possession of John Schrack,
son of the late Charles Norris Schrack, and great-grandson of
the last named Charles Norris.
43
John Schrack, Sr., born in Upper Providence, November
10,1787, and who died, July 21, 1872, married Mary, daughter
of Charles Norris last named ; and who was a lineal descendant
of the family named Norris, after whom both Norriton town-
ship and Norristown are named.
The old farm, with continental stone buildings, about lOO
years old (which stands in the place of the log house of two
centuries ago) has long been known as " Norris Hall ; " and
is a part of the patrimonial estate, which comprised several
hundred acres on the west side of the Schuylkill river, south
of Jeffersonville, and extending to Port Kennedy.
In bygone years, conversing at sundry times with John
Schrack, Sr., and his sons David, Charles Norris, and John
Schrack, Jr., M. D., many interesting items were recited, re-
ferring to the days long gone by.
A little north of the land mentioned above, about 1730,
and orignally owned by them, was a tract, also, called " the
Norris farm."
In 1758, this Norris farm house, a roomy house, built of
stone, had been converted into a tavern. It was leased subse-
quently to different tenants, and became a convenient stopping
place for the increasing travel on the main road to Reading.
It stood at a point of land, being the junction of the old Egypt
and Ridge roads, and for a time was commonly called the
Egypt Inn. In later years, it was called the Jeffersonville
tavern ; by which name it is known, up to this writing. As a
traditional item, it was currently reported, that a District
Court was held here, and a secure lockup was built in the
basement for temporary convicts ; the remaining cell walls of
which were to be seen there in later years.
In 1766 Archibald Thompson was the landlord ; and in his
day was respected for his accommodating spirit as well as his
family antecedents.
In 1776 said Thompson was assessed for eighty acres of
land. This was during the exciting period of the Revolution-
ary war ; but he continued as the owner and host of this public
house, while at the same time he was on duty as an esteemed
44
Colonel, in the patriotic army, assisting most devotedly in de-
fending American principles.
On the 1st of November, 1779, Archibald Thompson died.
He was comparatively a young man, and formerly of a strong
physical frame; but his arduous and earnest personal efforts,
during the war, were often days of danger, exposure, and
sacrifice ; and it was thought these things possibly hastened
his death.
His lineage was of Presbyterian Scotch-Irish stock ; and
probably he was the son of Archibald Thompson, Sr., who
died in 1745 ; they both lie buried in the old Norriton Presby-
terian church ground.
After 1779 Archibald Thompson's widow, Hannah, con-
tinued to keep the Egypt Inn (now Jeffersonville) for a num-
ber of years ; for in 1784 she is still recognized as the pro-
prietor.
Returning for a moment to " war times," one beautiful
autumn day, September 7, 1777, a company of British soldiers
appeared, and without any notice, yet with the display of
huzzas and apparent malice, they deliberately set fire to the
property, and burned the hotel and its contents, leaving only
the blackened stone walls. As a miserable and most unsatis-
factory plea, it had been reported that a certain noted rebel
was interested in the ownership of the property.
As a result of this disaster, in after years, the widow,
Hannah Thompson, received £'&'jo from the State, as com-
pensation for her loss.
A public vendue was extensively advertised to take place,
at Archibald Thompson's Hotel, in February, 1777. It is not
known with certainty whether at that time any sale took
place. But the following September 17th the whole planta-
tion, consisting of five hundred and forty-three acres, includ-
ing and reaching southward from the tavern property just
named, all the way to the site of the present Norristown, was
sold by Charles Norris to John Bull. The latter was formerly
a native of Providence township, having near family connec-
tions in Chester county.
45
He was likewise a colonel in the Revolutionary army;
had been a justice-of-the-peace; and was considered in his
day a brainy, intelligent man, of marked executive ability.
Benjamin Thompson was doubtless his only son, who died
April 6, 1 829, aged fifty-three years. His wife, Elizabeth, also
died in Norristown, December 28, 1878, aged a hundred and
two years, one month and fourteen days.
In 1779 Colonel Bull sold the plantation to Dr. William
Smith, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, for ^6,000.
Soon after. Colonel Bull removed from Pennsylvania, and
purchased lands in Berkely county, Virginia. He lived there
with his family for a number of years; and report has since
confirmed the statement that he died there.
The fact is well known, that Montgomery county was
erected in 1784, out of Philadelphia county. William Moore
Smith, son of Dr. Smith, had a town site laid out on part of
this plantation in 1785; and later, public buildings were
erected. The growth, and subsequent history of Norristown,
reveals the excellent judgment and forecast of Dr. Smith.
It seems relevant to our narrative, to relate some items
pertaining to others, who were early interested in the Norriton
church. Of such were the Knox family.
David Knox, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, 1700;
and died 1780. He emigrated in 1732; and settled on a farm,
located on the township line, west of Washington Square, in
Whitpain township. This farm remained in possession of the
Knox family, until 1862, one hundred and thirty years. Cap-
tain Andrew Knox, son of David, was born in County Antrim,
as above, 1728, emigrated 1732, and died in 1807. Andrew
Knox, the second, was born August 13, 1773, died October 3,
1844. He had two sons, Thomas P. Knox and Andrew
Jackson Knox, now both deceased. The former resided in
Norriton, the latter in Plymouth township.
About the same time John McCrea settled in Norriton,
three-fourths of a mile southeast of the church, on the turn-
pike. Adjoining this, north, he also had a farm. He died
March 3, 1823. On the first, for many years afterward, Fran-
46
cis Burnside resided. The place is now owned by Albert
Pawling. On the second farm, many years ago, was a pot-
tery; and Joseph McCrea lived thereon. Some of the family
settled in Norristown; a son, named William H. McCrea,
Hved in Philadelphia, as did his aged mother, Catharine Mc-
Crea, who died in Philadelphia, September 5, 1856. They lie
buried at Norriton grave-yard.
About 1798, when strife and turbulence prevailed in Ire-
land, John Patterson came to this country in the same ship
with Robert Hamill, and together settled for a while in Nor-
ristown. They alike came from County Antrim, Province of
Ulster, North Ireland. They were each descended from gen-
uine Presbyterian parentage, having an excellent family record,
and lived useful lives. The two united in a business partner-
ship for two or three years in Norristown. After that, Mr,
Patterson removed to Philadelphia. The writer, as a school-
boy, remembers him very well. His place of business, as a
wholesale grocer, was at the southeast corner of Fourth and
Race streets ; and also, recalls his regular attendance at the
services in the Second Presbyterian Church, which stood, in
1835, ^t northwest corner of Third and Arch streets. John
Patterson married the daughter of Colonel Christopher Stuart,
of Norriton ; and Robert Hamill married the daughter of Col-
onel Andrew Todd, of the Trappe, Upper Providence. Col-
onel Todd was a soldier of the Revolution. John Patterson
died in Philadelphia, August 20, 1850, in the eighty-second
year of his age.
Joseph Patterson was the eldest son, long well-known
and highly esteerried in Philadelphia, where for years he was
the competent and much respected cashier of the Western
Bank of that city. His residence was at Chestnut Hill. Our
school-days recall ^pleasant memories of another son and
brother of Joseph, viz., Henry Stuart Patterson, who became
a successful physician in Philadelphia. He died comparatively
young, and was buried in the Norriton grave-yard; but some
years afterwards his remains were removed and interred in
Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
47
About i720-'30, much earlier than those preceding, one
Robert Porter, emigrated from the north of Ireland, and set-
tled in Worcester township, near the Norriton line.
General Andrew Porter was his son, born in 1743. On
the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he offered his ser-
vices to Congress, received a commission as Captain of Ma-
rines, and was later engaged in the battles of Trenton, Prince-
ton and Brandywine.
At the dreary, suffering encampment at Valley Forge,
during the winter of i777-'8, he was major of a regiment of
artillery. Several of his sons became distinguished; David
R. Porter, governor of Pennsylvania, and General James M.
Porter, a member of the Assembly, and Secretary of War,
under President Tyler.
Judge Thomas Burnside, afterwards of Centre county,
and Francis Burnside, of Norriton township, were sons of
William, who came from Scotland, about i78o-'90, and settled
on a farm near Fairview, in Lower Providence township. He
adhered to the old continental costume of looped-up hat,
straight coat, buckskin breeches, with long stockings, and
large silver shoe buckles. At Judge Burnside's residence, in
Bellefonte, Centre county, the writer spent many pleasant
visits, in 1842-3. While at times, brusk and outspoken, he
was remarkably penetrating, and as a conversationalist, ex-
ceedingly entertaining. Governor David R. Porter, in 1 841,
appointed him judge of Montgomery county, and by the same
governor, in 1845, he was set apart to the bench of the Su-
preme Court.
The writer is in possession of a manuscript, giving a par-
tial genealogical history of Daniel Evans, who married Elea-
nor, daughter of David Rittenhouse.
Daniel Evans, was among the first settlers in Norriton,
after the Penn grant. While of Quaker proclivity, and a model
man, yet Evans was not of the strictest of the sect; exhibiting
much liberality and charity, as to his religious opinions.
The writer has also a number of interesting items con-
cerning John Baker and his descendants. He was an ingeni-
48
ous worker in iron, steel, and other metals, and was a resident
of Lower Providence township. His farm lay adjacent to
that of Ephraim Armstrong, previously referred to; although
in a different township; both bounded on the same line, about
a mile apart. His father was a native of Germany; and a
very early settler in this vicinity.
During the Revolutionary war, Mr. Baker rendered very
efficient aid to the Whig cause, by his handicraft, in the work
of making and repairing suitable fire-arms. Mr. Baker lived
to a great old age ; being nearly a centenarian ; and died
about 1820. His wife was a Roberts of Welsh extraction,
whose parents resided in the neighborhood.
Their children were Samuel, John, Arnold, Catherine,
Mary, Hannah, Rebecca and Elizabeth.
Arnold died at the old homestead on the Germantown and
Perkiomen turnpike, near the present Hartranft station, Stony
Creek railroad, about 1858.
Justly and deservedly (did our space allow), we might
also refer to Colonel Christopher Stuart, Dr. James McFarland,
Abraham Lefevre, Dr. Robert Shannon, Andrew Supplee,
Archibald Darrah and others, all of Norriton, and among the
early settlers.
Following in later years were the Hamills, Stinsons, Mc-
Ewens, Keysers, Craigs, Shearers, Gettys, Heisers, Taneys,
McHargs, Bosserts, Powels, Snyders, and other names, rep-
resenting reputable families, of whom the present generation
give abundant evidence of their honorable lineage and useful-
ness as worthy citizens.
" What a changing world is this,
Void of all substantial bliss ;
All we see beneath the sun,
In successive changes run ;
But, our Jesus, proves the same;
Endless blessings on His name."
A final reference to the old Norriton church is made in
the following paragraph. In 1893, quite extensive, yet need-
ful repairs were again made to the building. A new shingle
roof, new floor, new ceiling and some new pieces of furniture,
49
were added, making substantial improvements for a generation
to come. Beside, the stone walls of the house as well as the
walls of the burial ground, were pointed and put in good con-
dition. The cost was 1^301.68 ; contributed willingly by friends
of the institution.
Occasional religious services are held by Rev. C. R.
Brodhead, and a summer Sabbath School convenes, having
about one hundred scholars.
As it has been necessary to refer largely to the Provi-
dence church in this paper, the narrative would not be com-
plete without furnishing a brief history of the Jeffersonville
church, which was directly an outgrowth of the former.
The old Norriton, Providence and Jeffersonville churches
were located within about two miles of each other, and while
it is true that nearly all the Presbyterian churches of Eastern
Pennsylvania have legitimately decended from the old Norriton,
yet, in a peculiar manner, this trio of churches bears a close re-
lationship to each other.
Immediately following the unfortunate division, which oc-
curred in the Presbyterian body in 1837, the rural churches
soon partook of the spirit manifested by the city congrega-
tions ; some taking sides with the Old School, while others
leaned towards the New School parties.
At once the Presbyteries were known as "New" and
' Old School," in their tenets, theology and teachings.
A strange coincidence may be mentioned, that it was
about one hundred years since a similar and most memorable
division crept in, and separated the Norriton and Providence
congregations.
Now, the division takes place in the Providence church.
For several years strife, complainings, bickerings and bitter-
ness fanned the embers of suspicion and dislike, lurking in the
minds of the membership, until April, 1843 ; when the hidden
fires broke out into a conflagration, and the eruption was
heralded abroad. Persistently a division was called for. Rev.
Sylvan us Haight was the pastor at the time. A man in the
prime of life, of good attainments as a scholar, and of excellent
50
repute as a minister, he used all reasonable means to re-estab-
lish peace and good will, but failed. The predilections of Rev.
Haight favored the New School system ; in company with
such distinguished men as Revs. Albert Barnes, Ezra Stiles
Ely, Anson Rood, Adair, Brown, Emerson, John Patton, Joel
Parker and others ; and indeed for two or three years preced-
ing, many who were prominent in the congregation accepted
the New School theology. Later, however, the majority of
the Providence congregation decided peremptorily to adhere
to the Old School Presbytery, which at once instigated a sep-
aration of friends and kindred, resulting in the founding of the
Jeffersonville church, whose membership allied themselves
with the Third (New School) Presbytery of Philadelphia.
In October, 1843, the Jeffersonville Presbyterian church
was organized, comprising in its membership those who had
w^ithdrawn from the Lower Providence church. Li 1844, the
year following, a stone building, rough cast 36 by 54 feet, was
erected, having a basement Sunday School room. Rev. Charles
F. Diver was the first pastor. It stood on an ineligible place
on the north side of the Ridge turnpike on a flat, wet piece of
ground, about three-fourths of a mile west of the village. It
was regarded as an unfavorable, isolated situation, aad, be-
coming somewhat dilapitated, was taken down in June, 1875-.
In the autumn of 1874 a new location for a new church was
sought for, and prudently selected in the centre of the village,
and by a unanimous vote of the congregation, May 17, 1875,
the name of the congregation was changed to the " Centennial
Presbyterian Church, of Jeffersonville, Pa.," and a charter ac-
cordingly obtained. The eligible lot on which the church is
built, was purchased from Benjamin and Elizabeth Custer on
very favorable terms.
The entire beautiful plot of ground on which the church
building stands, including also the cemetery lot, comprises
about three acres. This, in addition to other beneficent gifts,
was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Whiting, of Jeffersonville.
On the 1st day of June, 1875, ground was broken for the
foundation of the building. On July 3d the corner-stone was
CENTENNIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
JEFFERSONVTLLE.
51
laid, and on the following day, July 4th, Sunday afternoon,
suitable religious services were held recognizing the event.
On Sunday, January 2, 1876, the chapel was formally
dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The pastor. Rev.
Charles ColHns, who began his work in said church, Novem-
ber, 1866, preached a dedicatory sermon from Psalm 122, first
verse.
The new church building is of gray sand-stone, pointed
work, gothic style, 50 by no feet, having a stone tower 70
feet in height, with handsome spire reaching nearly one hun-
dred and fifty feet, and cost about ^25,000, being free of debt.
In point of location, it is unexcelled, and in beauty of
architecture, as well as furniture and all the modern appoint-
ments, it is not surpassed in the county.
The church was finally opened and dedicated October 4th,
1876; three large congregation being in attendance morning,
afternoon and evening.
The building was erected under the supervision of the
pastor. Rev. Charles Collins, who would render a grateful
testimony to the helpful services of James Shaw, David Schrack,
M. D., Francis Whiting and others.
The inquiry has been made, why was the name of the
corporation changed? We answer, primarily, because the
building was chiefly erected during the Centennial year. But,
there are historical reasons for the name.
In the beginning of December, 1777, General Howe sur-
prised the American camp at Whitemarsh, Montgomery
county.
The following day, that part of the army under General
Washington, started to march toward Valley Forge, and owing
to the severity of the weather, were seriously delayed ; a por-
tion of them tarrying on this very ground, at the time being
wood-land.
Others took shelter in the ancient stone house, occupying
the site of the Jeffersonville Inn, while others, of a division
which had been hindered and exhausted (some of whom were
suffering and sick), were quartered in the old Norriton church.
52
Tradition has it that some of the soldiers died at both places
named.
On the I ith of December, 1777, Washington finally went
into winter quarters at Valley Forge. History records the
fact that the condition, as well as the prolonged sufferings of
many of the soldiers, was simply indescribable.
On the march from Whitemarsh many were without
shoes, their feet being bare on the hard frozen ground, and
therefore were severely cut and bruised.
Upon the very spot where the new church was built,
while digging up the earth in 1875, at depth of about two feet,
some laborers were surprised by finding a coin of Spanish
silver money, bearing date 1774, and which was probably lost
by some one of the Revolutionaiy soldiers, while tenting there,
one hundred years before.
Among other relics, this pieces of money was deposited
in the corner-stone of the new building.
Digressing for a moment, it is worthy of note, as a pub-
hshed fact, that on October 14, 1894, the two hundred and fiftieth
anniversary of the organization of the First Christ Presby-
terian Church of Hempstead, Long Island, was celebrated in an
appropriate manner. This confirms that Presbyterianism had
come with the pioneers, as early as 1644.
In concluding this history, which has been of intense
interest to myself, it is probable that some imperfections and
errors may be discovered.
It is no easy task, at this late day, to obtain the desired
information; neither is it a trivial work, to arrange system-
atically, and narrate the incidents, of which so many have
'largely sunk into oblivion. But, my thought has been, that
in future years it may prove useful and valuable, by exhibiting
the traits of religious character, as well as the fidelity and
integrity of our forefathers; and we shall hope, too, that it
may awaken a zeal, and stimulate others, to grasp any and
every opportunity to note the passing events, and record the
same, for the benefit of coming generations.
53
Some may be disposed to criticise the noticeable feature —
that so much of this narrative has been interspersed with
correlative statements, pertaining to the first emigrants and
early settlers, not directly pertinent to the old Norriton church ;
but it will be granted that all this is valuable, and will com-
pensate the reader, because it furnishes a compilation of tradi-
tional and historical facts, calculated to confirm the premises
we have taken, as to the Holland settlers, and the antiquity of
the Norriton place of worship.
As intimated in the opening page, that although my
attention was turned to this old church almost sixty years
ago, yet, I desire to add, that the leading items on the Norriton
church herewith published, are largely extracts, traditional
and historical, from three discourses which the writer dehvered
in the Centennial Church of Jeffersonville, in July, 1876.
Reviewing the preceding pages, at least two valuable
lessons may be learned. First: Thatinevery age of the world's
history, the true people of God have their trials. No circum-
stances will exempt them. Tribulations, in some form, seem
to be the appointed lot of man ; and, therefore, there are times
when neither wealth, eminence, nor education can purchase
deliverance.
Hence, our fathers had their perplexities. To them, oft-
times, these things proved blessings. Trials made them
heroic, enduring soldiers. They persevered, they conquered!
They grew to be stalwart men, ready for any emergency.
As a result of their faith, their hardships and endurance,
they have left us a rich legacy of Christian character, in testi-
mony of their trust.
The second lesson is, that strifes and contentions are
always unprofitable; but especially among Christians.
The result of the first great dissension in the Presbyterian
church, alluded to in these pages, occurred in 1740, and lasted
until 1758 ; for seventeen years. But really it was not entirely
subdued until 1788, or nearly half a century.
Who can imagine the heart-burnings, the bitterness, the
54
separations of relatives and friends, and the lasting dishonor
to the household of faith, and the cause of religion.
The results of the later division in the Presbyterian
church, 1837, extended through more than a quarter of a
century, before a reconciliation took place. What a dreary
retrospect these statements bring before the memory !
Finally, reverting for a moment to the old Norriton
church, and in imagination fixing our eye thereon, how
changed the scene!
Long, long ago, the old gray-haired preacher's voice has
ceased; the old hymns and psalms of praise have ended; the
old elders, John McCrea and Stephen Porter, and others,
have left the earth; the voices of the worshipping congrega-
tion are all hushed in silence!
The curious old pulpit, and quaint, high-back pews, have
been removed. And in these later years, the surrounding
forests have fallen beneath the woodman's axe; the old cedar
trees have greatly diminished in number; the grand old
English Lombardy poplars, once so tall and thrifty, lining the
opposite side of the road, have all decayed, and are gone !
But, the old stone meeting house, stands, as it were,
alone, and isolated; yet a fitting monument of the fathers;
and the old grave-yard, the quiet resting place of the dead,
even though many of the earlier memorial stones are obliter-
ated or entirely gone, seem to whisper to the pilgrim traveler,
that upon all things here, it is written, "passing away! i^ass-
ing away !"
Time 7uas, is past; thou canst not it recall ;
Time is, thou hast ; employ the portion small ;
Time //</«;'!?, is not; and may never be ;
Time present, is the only time for thee !
Fhiladelphia, November i, iSg^.
'9 1 >r 5T a
^^^^^^^^^^^
t
NEWS Csratfi
- » >»»♦ ♦M»»».
HISTORIC CHURCH
DAM AGED BY FIRE
Blaze from a Defective Flue De-
stroys the Interior of the An-
cient Presbyterian House of
Worship at Norriton.
N
Special Despatch to ''The Press."
Norristown, Pa., Nov. 1.— The old his-
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