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Early American Presbyterians -- A
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Rev. Jer. Abel (d. aft 1802)
He was marked absent at the first meeting of the Synod
of Kentucky at Lexington, Kentucky in 1802 and was designated a member
of the Transylvania Presbytery.
Samuel Agnew, M.D. (1777-1849)
He was born at Millerstown, Adams Co., Pa., August 10th, 1777. He graduated
at Dickinson College in 1798, and took his degree of Doctor of Medicine
in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. During the
War of 1812 he served as surgeon, and after its termination commenced the
practice of medicine in Gettysburg, but afterwards located at Harrisburg,
where he rapidly rose to deserved eminence, establishing a large and lucrative
practice. He was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of that place
for fifteen years. His death occurred November 23d, 1849.
William Aikman, D.D. (1824-aft.1905)
From The West Jersey Presbyterian: William Aikman was born in New York
city August 12th, 1824, of Scotch, Huguenot and Dutch ancestry; his forebears
on his mother's side, coming to that city about 1720, and on his father's
side about 1780. The Aikman family belongs to one of the oldest of the
Scottish baronetcies, going back to the year 1050 A. D., the families still
residing in Forfarshire, Scotland, where they have held possessions for
over seven hundred years. Dr. Aikman's ancestors have been ruling elders
in the Presbyterian church, the memory of man not running contrary thereto.
His father, his uncle and grandfather were ruling elders at the same time,
and in the same church--the Pearl Street Presbyterian Church, of New York,
where Dr. Aikman was baptized, and with which he united by profession of
faith in his fifteenth year. Dr. Aikman was prepared for college at an
academy in New York, and entered the New York University in the fall of
1842. He was graduated with honor--the English salutatory--in 1846. He
entered Union Theological Seminary the same year and was graduated in 1849.
He was licensed to preach by the Fourth Presbytery of New York, and was
ordained by the Presbytery of Newark at his installation over the Sixth
Presbyterian Church of Newark, N. J., December, 1849. He remained pastor
of this church until his call to the Hanover church, Wilmington, Del.,
in the spring of 1857. In 1869 he was called to the Spring Street Presbyterian
church, New York. In 1872 he was called too the Westminster church, Detroit,
Mich. In 1877 he was called to Aurora, N. Y. In 1881 a nearly fatal illness
compelled his resignation. In making his recovery, he came to Atlantic
City, and in the summer of 1883 was called to the First Presbyterian church.
After holding the call under consideration for six months, he accepted
it and was installed pastor April, 1884. He continued pastor until his
resignation in 1894. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from
his alma mater, the New York University, in 1869. He was moderator of the
Synod of Pennsylvania at its meeting in Washington, D. C., in 1863, and,
as moderator, presented, in a brief address, the Synod to President Lincoln
when the Synod paid its respects to the President in the White House. Dr.
Aikman was the author of the Personal letter which was addressed by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian church (N. S.) meeting in Syracuse,
in 1861, Expressing in a more personal manner to President Lincoln the
sentiments of the church in reference to himself and the great issues with
which he was called to deal. This letter made a deep impression at the
time, and has since passed into the history of the church. Dr. Aikman has
been many times a commissioner to the General Assembly, and has had a prominent
part in its proceedings. Being a pastor in Delaware, then a slave State,
from 1857 to 1869, and a pronounced and emphatic anti-slavery and Union
man, Dr. Aikman had much to do with the history of that State during the
exciting and trying times before the civil war, when it was coming on,
during its progress and in the days of reconstruction. In 184, Dr. Aikman,
in conjunction with Mr. Binghart, a prominent citizen of Wilmington, was
appointed by the Governor of Delaware to go to the front and look after
the welfare of the Delaware soldiers. He organized a hospital in an Episcopal
church in Fredricksburg, and was there caring for the sick and wounded
during the bloody battles of Spotsylvania Court House and Wilderness, and
until the place was evacuated by the Union forces. Dr. Aikman has, during
all his ministerial life, written for the public press. The list of his
more prominent publications is given as follows: Our Country Strong in
its Isolation, 1851; Seductive Power of the Romish Ritual; Government and
Administration; The Moral Power of the Sea, Phila., 1864, 12 mo.; Life
at Home, or the Family and its Members, N. Y., 1870, 12 mo.; The Altar
in the House, N. Y.; Talks on Married Life and things Adjacent, N. Y.,
1884.
Dr. Aikman married July 25, 1849, Anna Matilda Burns, who, with her
parents, was born of Scotch-Irish parentage in New York city. They have
had four sons and three daughters, four of whom are living in New York,
Detroit and Atlantic City. Dr. Aikman and his wife celebrated their fiftieth
wedding anniversary in 1899, and are now living in their home on States
avenue, Atlantic City. In his 81st year, Dr. Aikman is still engaged actively
in ministerial and philanthropic work; has been president of a local branch
of the N. J. Society for Homeless Children for six or eight years; has
been for over five years probation officer for Atlantic county, N. J.;
has had charge for over a year of the mid-week prayer meeting of the First
Presbyterian of Atlantic City; preaching and lecturing more than an average
of once every week.
Thank you to PThomp9719@aol.com for providing this information.
Rev. Timothy Alden (1771-1839)
He was of Puritan ancestry. He was born at Yarmouth, Mass., August 28th,
1771. He entered Harvard in 1790, and graduated in 1794. He seems to have
engaged somewhat in the study of theology during his collegiate course.
Whilst teaching at Marblehead, Mass., he was licensed to preach the gospel.
November 20th, 1799, he was ordained as co-pastor with Dr. Haven, over
the church of Portsmouth, N.H. He resigned his charge July 31st, 1805,
but continued his labors there until 1808, when he opened a ladies' school
in Boston. In 1810, he took charge of the young ladies' department in the
Academy at Newark, N.Y., and after a few years opened a school for young
ladies in the city of New York. July 28th, 1817, he was inaugurated President
and Professor in the Faculty of Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa. He became
a member of the Presbytery of Erie, April 2d, 1816. He delighted in missionary
work, and for many successive years labored for a time among the Seneca
and Munsee Indians, who had reservations in northwestern Pennsylvania and
southwestern New York. Mr. Alden's connection with Allegheny College terminated
in November 1831. He opened a boarding school in Cincinnati in 1832, and
in 1834, took charge of the Academy at East Liberty, Pa., becoming also
stated supply to the congregation of Pine Creek, in that region. He died,
July 5th, 1839. Besides many occasional sermons and addresses, Mr. Alden
published, in 1814, "A collection of American Epitaphs," in five volumes,
and in 1827, a "History of Sundry Missions," an din 1821, a "Hebrew Catechism."
Archibald Alexander, D.D., LL.D.
(1772-1851)
Dr. Alexander was born near Lexington, Va., April 17th, 1772. His classical
and theological studies were pursued under the direction of the Rev.
William Graham, of Liberty Hall, afterward Washington
College. He was licensed at the early age of nineteen and on expressing
his diffidence, "Presbytery assigned him for a text, "Say not I am a child"
(Jer. i, 7). After spending a year or more in missionary labor according
to the rules of the Synod, he was ordained and installed pastor of Briery
Church, November 7th, 1794. In 1796 he was chosen President of Hampden-Sydney
College, at the age of twenty-four. May 20th, 1807, he was installed
over the Pine Street Church, Philadelphia. In the same year, being thirty-five,
he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly, and in his sermon made
the suggestion of a Theological Seminary. In 1812 he was appointed Professor
in the Theological Seminary just established at Princeton.
Here he remained for the rest of his life, moulding, during forty years,
the studies and characters of two generations of ministers.
When in the prime of life, Dr. Alexander was thin, though he afterwards
grew more stout, with an inclination to corpulence; his complexion was
clear, and his soft brown hair already beginning to be silvered, albeit,
it never became altogether white; his countenance was wonderfully mobile
and animated and his eye like that of an eagle. Latterly he had a stoop
of the shoulder and a characteristic swaying, irregular gait. A broad cloak
hung at an angle on one side, and he would dart sudden downward glances
to the right or left. He was of mercurial spirits, and in the social circle
and at the home fireside often full of vivacity, affectionate gaiety, and
humor. In his best moods it would be hard to find his equal as a raconteur.
He was, however, subject to fits of silence and depression. His life was
"hid with Christ in God." For an hour, at twilight, every evening, he suffered
no interruption of his privacy, and was believed to be then engaged in
devotional or serious meditation.
Dr. Alexander was seized with his final illness in the summer of 1851.
When Dr. Hodge visited him
for the last time, he expressed his desire that Dr. John McDowell should
preach his funeral sermon, but with the injunction that he should not utter
one word of eulogy He then, with a smile, handed Dr. Hodge a white bone
walking-stick, which had been presented to him by one of the chiefs of
the Sandwich Islands, saying, "You must leave this to your successor in
office, that it may be handed down as a kind of symbol of orthodoxy." He
died October 22d, of that year. On Friday, October 24th, Dr. Alexander's
precious remains were deposited in the cemetery at Princeton.
Of American divines, the names of Edwards
and Alexander take the first place. Dr. Alexander's published writings
are too numerous to recite here. We may only mention "History of the Colonization
Society," "Evidences of the Christian Religion," "Thoughts on Religion,"
"Counsels to the Aged," "Practical Sermons," all of which are works fo
much interest and value. He also published numerous tracts, and was a frequent
contributor to the Princeton Review.
Rev. Caleb Alexander (1755-1828)
He was born in Northfield, Mass. on the 22d of July, 1755. He graduated
at Yale in 1777, and took his second degree at Brown University in 1789;
on the 14th of October 1778, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the
Eastern Association of New London county. February 28th, 1781, he became
pastor of the church in New Marlborough and on April 12th, 1786, was installed
over the church in Mendon, Mass. In 1801, he was appointed by the Massachusetts
Missionary Society to visit the churches and Indians in the western part
of New York. He resigned the charge of his church, December 7th, 1802,
to go west. On his return to the State of New York, he divided his ministerial
labors among the three churches of Salisbury, Norway and Fairfield. When
Hamilton Academy, at Clinton, was advanced to the dignity of a college,
he was, July 22nd, 1812, unanimously elected its President, but did not
accept the position. The same year he became Principal of an academy at
Onondaga Hollow. After resigning the place, he engaged with great zeal
and energy in the founding of the Theological Seminary at Auburn. He died
at Onondaga, April 12th, 1828, in the seventy-third year of his age.
Rev. David Alexander
He was a native of Ireland. He may have been educated at the Log
College, and licensed by New Castle Presbytery. He was ordained and
installed pastor of Pequea Church, in the Presbytery of Donegal, October
18th, 1738. The West End (Leacock) petitioned that a portion of his time
might be given to them. In 1741 Leacock was declared by the Synod entitled
to all the privileges of any vacant congregation. Mr. Alexander let no
man outstrip him in his violation of all rules in his treatment of those
whom he esteemed "opposers of the work." He was suspended by his Presbytery
till "satisfaction was given for his disregardful conduct to them, and
his refusal to submit to the government of Christ's Church in their hands."
The conjunct Presbyteries of New Brunswick and Newcastle appointed him,
on account of "the necessity in the Great Valley," to supply there. From
that time his history cannot be traced.
Rev. Joseph Alexander, D.D. (d. 1809)
He graduated at Princeton College
in 1760; was licensed by the New Castle Presbytery in 1767; the same year
was installed pastor of the Sugar Creek Presbyterian Church, in North Carolina,
where he established a classical school which soon established a high reputation.
In a few years he became pastor of Union Church, South Carolina, where
he remained until 1773, when he was installed pastor of Bullock's Creek
Church, and continued to be so until 1801. Dr. Alexander was active in
the cause of education in South Carolina as he had been in North Carolina.
He was endowed with fine talents, and was an uncommonly animated and popular
preacher. he was an ardent patriot throughout the Revolution. He died July
30th, 1809.
Francis Alison, D.D. (1705-1779)
He was born in the parish of Lac, County of Donegal, Ireland, in the year
1705. He came as a probationer to this country, in 1734 or '35. On the
recommendation of Franklin, he was employed by John Dickinson, of Delaware,
the author of the "Farmer's Letters," as the tutor of his son. Leave to
take a few other pupils was granted, and he is said to have had an academy
at Thunder Hill, Maryland. He was ordained pastor of New London, by New
Castle Presbytery, before May, 1737. In 1749 he was invited to take charge
of the Philadelphia Academy. This institution was incorporated in 1750,
endowed in 1753, and erected into a college in 1755, at which time Mr.
Alison was appointed its Vice Provost and Professor of Moral Philosophy.
He was also assistant minister of the First
Presbyterian Church. Both these positions he filled with acknowledged
fidelity and success. In 1758, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity
from the University at Glasgow. He was the first of our ministers who received
that honor, and the Synod of Philadelphia returned their thanks for the
favor, to the University.
On the union of the Synods, May 24th, 1758, Dr. Alison preached from
Ephesians iv, 4-7, and the sermon was published, with the title, "Peace
and Union Recommended." He went with Colonel Burd, as chaplain to the expedition
to Fort Cumberland, and remained from August to November. Together with
Gilbert
Tennent and the Presbyterians generally, who were headed by Chief Justice
Allen (father-in-law of Governor John Penn), he opposed the throwing off
the Proprietary Government, and, as a reward for his services in that matter,
Richard Penn gave him the splendid tract of one thousand acres at the confluence
of the Bald Eagle with the West Branch of the Susquehanna. He was the efficient
agent in the establishment of the Widows' Fund in our Church, and was wisely
active in the convention with the Connecticut ministers to withstand the
gradual but determined innovations of Churchmen and the Crown on our liberties
as citizens and Christians. He died November 28th, 1779, aged seventy-four,
and set free his slaves in his will.
Bishop White, who was a student in the College of Philadelphia while
Dr. Alison was a Professor in it, ways of him in his Memoirs: "He was a
man of unquestionable ability in his department, of real and rational piety,
of a liberal mind; his failing was a proneness to anger, but it was soon
forgotten, for he was placable and affable." President Stiles pronounced
him "the greatest classical scholar in America, especially in Greek," and
"in Ethics, History, and general reading, a great literary character."
And Dr. Ewing, in his funeral sermon, said: "He was truly a scribe well
instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, a workman that needed not to be
ashamed, for he rightly divided the Word of Truth, and was peculiarly skillful
in giving to every one his portion in due season."
Rev. Hector Alison (b. bef 1726)
He was ordained by New Castle Presbytery, in 1746, probably at White Clay.
In 1750 he was sent for eight Sabbaths to Western Virginia, and seems to
have labored in that region for some time. He was settled at Drawyers from
1753 to 1758. In 1760 he went as Chaplain to the Pennsylvania forces, and
in answer to a very pressing application made to the Synod in May, of that
year, by the English Presbyterian gentlemen in Albany, he was directed
to act as a supply in that place till July. He joined New Castle Presbytery
after the union in 1761, and was released in a little time from his charge
at Appoquinimy. A call was received by him from Baltimore, but the proposal
was so unsatisfactory that it was not accepted. In December, 1761, he was
dismissed from the Presbytery probably with a view to join South Carolina
Presbytery, and settled at Williamsburg, South Carolina.
Rev. Moses Allen (d. 1779)
He was born in Northampton, Mass.; was licensed to preach by the Presbytery
of New Brunswick, February 1, 1774, and on March 10th, 1775, he was ordained
at Charleston, S.C., and installed pastor of an Independent Church at Wappetaw.
In 1777 he resigned his charge and removed to Liberty county, Ga., where
he took charge of the Midway Presbyterian Church; but the next year his
congregation was dispersed and his church burned. He entered the army as
chaplain; was taken prisoner and in attempting to escape, by swimming from
the prison-ship in which he was confined, was drowned, February 8th, 1779.
The friends of independence admired Mr. Allen for his popular talents,
his courage, and his many virtues.
Patrick Allison, D.D. (1740-1802)
He was born in Franklin (or what was then known as Lancaster) county, Pa.,
in the year 1740. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1760.
Shortly after he left the University he commenced his theological studies,
but in 1761 was appointed Professor in the Academy at Newark, Delaware,
which office he accepted. He was licensed to preach by the Second Presbytery
of Philadelphia, in March, 1763. In August of that year, he was invited
to a church in Baltimore, and in 1765 was ordained its pastor, in which
relation he continued for thirty-five years, till his death, which took
place August 21st, 1802. He represented the Presbytery of Baltimore at
the first meeting of the General
Assembly in Philadelphia in 1789.
Dr. Allison was noted for his ardent patriotism, his blameless character
and his fine scholarship. He was especially eminent in the judicatories
of the Church, and in all public bodies. As a preacher, though his manner
was not very attractive, his discourses were marked with much ability,
being generally didactic, often profoundly argumentative. It was one of
his dying injunctions that all his manuscript sermons should be committed
to the flames.
Rev. Isaac Anderson (1780-1857)
He was born in Rockbridge county, Va., March 26th, 1780. Having prepared
himself for the ministry, he was licensed to preach the gospel by Union
Presbytery, in May, 1802, and in the Autumn following was installed pastor
of Washington Church, Knox County, Tenn. Here he labored for about nine
years, during which time he also performed much missionary service, which
was attended with signal success. In the Spring of 1811 he was called to
the New Providence Church, Maryville, took charge of it the next autumn,
and there performed the principal part of the labors of his life. The Southwest
Theological Seminary, at Maryville, was established chiefly through
his instrumentality, and for many years enjoyed the benefit of his labors
as a teacher. He died, January 28th, 1857.
Rev. James Anderson (1678-1740)
He was born in Scotland, November 17th, 1678, and was ordained by Irvine
Presbytery, November 17th, 1708, with a view to his settlement in Virginia.
He arrived in the Rappahannock, April 22d, 1709, but the state of things
not warranting his stay, he came northward, and was received by the Presbytery,
September 20th. He settled at New Castle, Del. In 1717 he accepted a call
to a congregation in New YorkCity, which, at the time was worshiping in
the City Hall. September 24th, 1726, he received a call to Donegal,
on the Susquehanna, and accepted it. He was installed the last Wednesday
in August, 1727. In September, 1729, he began to give every fifth Sabbath
to the people on Swatara, and joined the congregation of Derry. In April,
1738, at the behest of John Caldwell, the founder of Cub Creek Congregation
in Charlotte Co., Virginia, the Presbytery decided to ask the Synod
to send a deputation to wait on the Virginia Government, and solicity its
favor in behalf of Presbyterianism there. The Synod wrote to the Governor,
and sent Mr. Anderson to bear the letter, providing supplies for his pulpit,
and allowing for his expenses "in a manner suitable to his design." This
mission he performed satisfactorily. He died July 16th, 1743. At
the time of his death, he owned a farm of 305 acres well stocked and three
slaves. He was a charter member of Donegal Presbytery October 11,
1732, and was Moderator of the Synod of Philadelphia May 23, 1739.
February, 1713 he married Suit Garland, daughter of Sylvester Garland of
the head of Apoquiminy, by whom eleven children. She died December 24,
1836 and he married Rebecca Crawford of Donegal, Pennsylvania.
John Anderson, D.D. (1767-1835)
He was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 10th of April, 1767.
He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Orange, North Carolina,
in the year 1791, and shortly afterwards was ordained as an evangelist.
After laboring two years in the southern part of North Carolina, and the
northern part of South Carolina; from 1793 to 1798 of '99, he itinerated,
amid many privations and dangers, through the State of Tennessee and Kentucky,
sometimes crossing the Ohio and preaching to the settlements in what is
now Ohio and Indiana. In 1801 he began his labors in Upper Buffalo Church,
Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was installed as its pastor the next
year, a relation which he held with great acceptance and usefulness, until
it was dissolved by his own request, on account of declining health, January
15th, 1833.
Dr. Anderson conducted the theological education of a large number of
young men, some of whom rose to eminence in the Church. He was one, if
not of the originators, at least of the most active members of the old
Board of Trustees of the Western Missionary Society, and under its direction
he made several tours to the Wyandotte Indians, on the Sandusky river.
He was also largely instrumental in founding the mission of the Maumee,
and visited it once, in company with the Rev. E. Macurdy, with a view to
settle some existing difficulties. After the transfer of that station to
the United Foreign Missionary Society, he became one of the most efficient
supporters of that Society, and subsequently of the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions into which it was merged. In forming
the present General Assembly's Board of Foreign Missions, at Pittsburg,
in 1831, he took a most lively interest, and extended to it his cordial,
and active support till the close of his life, which occurred January 5th,
1835.
Samuel C. Anderson, Esq. (1788-1865)
He was a ruling elder in the "College" Church at Hampden-Sydney,
Va., in which village are located on the Hampden-Sydney and Union Theological
Seminary, the two institutions existing under separate corporations. He
was elected elder in August, 1834, and continued in this office till his
death, in April, 1865. The inscription on his tomb is a brief epitome of
his honorable life, and is as follows: "In Memory of Sam'l C. Anderson.
Born in Cumberland County, Va., 22d July, 1788. Died 15th April, 1865.
In 1812 a soldier of his country. From 1813 an eloquent advocate. And from
1828 a devout Christian. He was four years thereafter a legislator for his
State; thirty-eight years a trustee of Hampden Sydney College, and for
thirty-three years an elder of the College Church, and a faithful defender
of Christ's truth. In the highest as in the lowest courts of his Church
he filled every station honorably."
Rev. John Andrews (b. pre 1794)
In 1813 he was accepted by the Washington
Presbytery from the Presbytery of West Lexington. He started a Presbyterian
newspaper at Chillicothe, Ohio in 1814, which was afterwards merged into
the Presbyterian Banner of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was dismissed
from the Chillicothe Presbytery, formerly the Washington Presbytery, to
the Presbytery of Redstone in 1822.
Rev. Jedediah Andrews (1674-1747)
He was born at Hingham, Massachusetts, July 7th, 1674. He graduated at
Harvard in 1695. In 1698 he came to Philadelphia, and preached in a building
which had been used as a storeroom by the "Barbadoes Company," on the northwest
corner of Chestnut and Second streets, in this city. He was probably ordained
in the Fall of 1701, for his "Record of Baptisms and Marriages" begins
1701, tenth month, fourteenth day. In 1704 his congregation left their
first place of worship, and erected a frame building on the south side
of Market (then Buttonwood) street, between Second and Third streets, the
first, and for many years, the only
Presbyterian Church in the city. The church is said to have been in
some sense, Congregational, but it was represented by elders in Presbytery
from the first.
In September, 1733, Mr. Andrews preferred a request to the Synod that
he should be allowed an assistant, in the ministry. The congregation could
not agree in the choice of an assistant, the preference of some being for
Jonathan
Dickinson, and of others for Robert
Cross; but, while the matter was in debate, the friends of the latter
asked of the Synod that they might be erected into a new congregation,
and authorized to call a minister for themselves. Their request was granted,
by a large majority, with the understanding that they were not obliged
to form a distinct society, but might do so, if, upon mature reflection,
they thought best. The commission met in June, 1736. The endeavors to effect
a reunion of the congregation having been unsuccessful, they persuaded
the friends of Robert Cross to make a further effort, and Mr. Andrews heartily
approved of the design, but his friends would not consent to it. The new
congregation had various supplies until 1737, when Robert Cross accepted
their call. The two congregations were then united, and were allowed fifty
pounds out of the funds of the Synod, to buy a burying ground. Mr. Andrews
was recording clerk of the Presbytery and of the Synod as long as he lived.
He died in 1747.
Rev. Wells Andrews (1787-1867)
Born in Hartland, Connecticut on Nov 21, 1787. Graduated Jefferson College
in 1812 and attended Princeton Theological Seminary 1814-16. He was licensed
in 1816 and did missionary work in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania and Wilmington,
North Carolina 1816-17. He was received by the Winchester Presbytery from
the Presbytery of New Brunswick November 12, 1817 and ordained January
11, 1818 of the Second Presbyterian Church of Alexandria, Virginia. He was
dismissed October 29, 1824 to join D.C. Presbytery. He was the pastor of
the congregation at Hartford Centre, Connecticut 1827-37 and was a pastor
at Ogelthorpe University 1837-43. He joined the New School branch. He spent
time in Prarie and Tremont Illinois, 1843-1855 and Washington, Illinois
1856-67, all in Tazewell Co. He died in Washington, February 14, 1867 aged
79.
Amzi Armstrong, D.D. (1771-1827)
He was born in Florida, Orange Co., New York on the 1st of December, 1771.
He commenced the study of languages when he was quite young, under the tuition
of the Rev. Amzi Lewis, then pastor of the Church at Florida. Subsequently
to this he spent two years as a member of Dr. Dwight's school at Greenfield,
Conn. He was never connected as a student with any college. After studying
theology under the direction of the Rev. Jedediah Chapman, he was licensed
to preach by the Presbytery of New York, October 23d, 1795. He was installed
pastor of the church in Mendham, New Jersey, November 29th, 1796, and continued
laboriously and zealously in this relation for twenty years. October 2d,
1816, he took charge of an academy in Bloomfield, and remained its Principal
till about a year previous to his death, which occurred at Perth Amboy,
March 4th, 1827.
Rev. James Francis Armstrong
(1750-1816)
He was of Irish extraction, and was born at West Nottingham, Maryland, April
3d, 1750. He graduated at Princeton,
in 1773, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle, in
January, 1777. He was ordained by the same Presbytery, in January, 1778,
an don the 17th of July following was appointed by Congress "Chaplain to
the second brigade of the Maryland Forces." In June, 1782, he commenced
preaching to the Church in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and he supplied that
pulpit for nearly a year, when he was compelled to discontinue his labors
on account of an enfeebled state of health. In April, 1787, Mr. Armstrong
accepted a call to Trenton. The charge included besides the church in town,
one a few miles distant in the county, known in later years as "Trenton
First Church." In April, 1787, the former church found a separate supply.
He then served the town church alone, until September, 1790, from which
date, until 1806, he was the joint pastor of the Trenton and Lawrenceville
congregations. He was a delegate for the Presbytery of New Brunswick for
the first meeting of the General
Assembly in 1789. Mr. Armstrong died January 19th, 1816.
Gen. John Armstrong (1720?-1795)
Probably no one among the early settlers of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania
had more influence in directing its institutions than John Armstrong. He
came from the North of Ireland, and settled in Carlisle, in 1748. He was
a surveyor under the Proprietary Government; in 1775 he was a Colonel,
and subsequently he was a Justice of the Peace. The Indians, who often
made merciless incursions, by which the peaceable inhabitants were despoiled,
captured and massacred, had for a rendezvous a town called Kittaning, about
two hundred miles westward from Carlisle. About two hundred and eighty
provincials were mustered, under the command of Colonel Armstrong, and
sent (1755) to surprise and destroy this stronghold. They succeeded in their
scheme, burned the buildings of the Indians, and put to death the chiefs
and most of the warriors. It was a terrible vengeance, but indispensable,
even in the interest of humanity. For this brilliant success the Corporation
of Philadelphia presented Colonel Armstrong with a piece of plate and a
silver medal, with a medal for each of the officers under him, and a sum
of money for the widows and children of such as had been killed. In 1758
he marched with the advanced division of three thousand Pennsylvanians,
under Colonel Bouquet, belonging to the expedition under Brigadier-General
Forbes against Fort Du Quesne. During this campaign he formed an acquaintance
with Colonel Washington, which subsequently ripened into intimacy and warm
personal friendship. His commission as a Brigadier General in the Continental
Army bears date March 1st, 1776. In 1777 he was Major General in command
of the Pennsylvania troops during the battle of Brandywine, and in the
military operations of that year in the eastern part of the State. He was
also a member of Congress in 1778-1780 and 1787-88.
He was an elder of the first church organized in Carlisle, and of which
Rev.
George Duffield, D.D. was first pastor. He was much interested in opposing
the infidelity which became prevalent in this country soon after the American
and the French Revolutions. The epitaph on his tombstone, in the Old Cemetery
of Carlisle, informs us that he was "eminently distinguished for patriotism,
valor and piety, and departed this life March 9th, 1795, aged seventy-five
years."
Rev. Thomas Arthur (1723-1751)
He graduated at Yale in 1743 and was, on being licensed, employed for a
time at Stratfield, Conn. He was ordained and installed, by New York Presbytery,
pastor at New Brunswick, in 1746. He was one of the original trustees of
New
Jersey College. He died February 2d, 1750-1, aged twenty-seven.
William Mayo Atkinson, D.D. (1796-1849)
He was the son of Robert and Mary Tabb (Mayo) Atkinson, and was born at
Powhatan, Chesterfield Co., Virginia, April 22nd, 1796. He graduated at
the College of New Jersey in 1814;
was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession in Petersburg until
1833. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the East Hanover Presbytery,
June 17th, 1833, and ordained as an evangelist, April 26th, 1834. Shortly
after his licensure, he traveled extensively in Virginia, as agent of the
Virginia Bible Society, and after a year or two his field was enlarged
so as to include several other of the Southern States. In this agency he
was remarkably successful. On resigning, he supplied vacancies for a few
years, in Chesterfield county, and in the vicinity of Petersburg. He was
installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Winchester, in February 1839.
In the Spring of 1846 he resigned this charge, and accepted an Agency for
the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church. He died February 24th,
1849, and is buried in the Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Winchester. He married
Rebecca Bassett Marsden of Norfolk on Jul 10, 1821, she died in 1844 and
they had twelve children. He married secondly, Betty J. White in Winchester
January 1846 and had two children. He was the brother of Rev. John Mayo
Pleasants Atkinson and Rev. Joseph Mayo Atkinson