CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BEQUEST JAMES McCALL Class of 1885 1944 Cornell University Library E263.P4 R78 Rosbrugh a tale of the Revolution or olin 3 1924 032 738 407 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032738407 EOSBRUGH, A TALE OF THE EEYOLUTION, OB LIFE, LABORS and DEATH REV. JOHN ROSBRUGH, Pa.'^tor of (Irecinrich, Oxford and Mansfield Woodhouse (Wanhiiigtoii) Presbyten'mi clmrelicf, y. J., from 1764 to 1709; and of Allen Township church, Pa., from 1769 to 1777 ; CHAPIiAIX IN THE CONTINENTAL. ARMY ; CLERICAL MARTYR OF THE REVOLUTION, KiUerl hij Hettsians, hi. the haltle of A.ssfi'npinh , at Trentftnf New Jersey^ J'an. Sd, 1777 . Fo^mded upon a paper read before the New Jersey Historical Society at ita meeting in Trenton, January ^r>th, 1880; to vhirh i« appended genealogical data of all the Rosbriighi' of the connection in America: RET. JOHN Ci^LTDE, A. M., Author of "History of Allen Township Presbyterian Church" — of which Mr. JRosbmgh wax pastor when killed — and of "Genealogies, Necrology and Reminiscences of the Irish Settlement, Northampton county, Pennsylvania" — where Mr. Bosbrugh recruited his company. EASTON. 1880 /]7S^o}\ Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1880, by JOH]^ C. CLYDE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Od lyyiA^' Facsimile of autograph, mlarged in the proportion ofl to 2, made in the Alien Township Church book, November 22d, 1774. PREFACE This Tale of the Eevolution, or historical sketch of one who figured in, und lost his life amid the scenes connected with that ever memorable struggle, l^as t)ie following history, viz.: The author was invited to make an address, in August, 1879, at the liar- vest-home of the Greenwich Presbyterian church, in Warren county, New Jciscy. The spot designated for the festivities was upon the banks of the Pohatcong creek, onc-lialf or three-fourths of a mile from the site of the oi-iginal Greenwich church, in wliicli Kev. •John Eosbrugh was ordained to the christian ministry. The author thought it minlit be aiJpropriate and interesting to speak of the beginnings of things among the people in whose festivities he had been invited to participate. lie accordingly spoke of their first pastor, Kev. John Eosbrugli. A request was made the same day for a copy of the manuscript that the address might be published. As it had been entirely of an extemporaneous character, this request could not be complied with. The public press however, took up and published an out- line of the remarks made, by which means it came to the attention of an olEccroftUe New Jersey Historical Society. A request was preferred by him that the subjeet-njalter- of the address be pat into a suitable form for reading before the Historical Society. .Ve- cordingly (he author prepared the address and read it before the Society, at its meet- ing in Trenton, Jan, 15th, 18S0. As the author subsequently received a number of appli^^ations for copies of the address, he decided to put the same in print, and therefore the Ibllowing pages, founded upon the paper read before the Historical Society, are in the hands of the reader. The address as presented here, lias been divided into short chajilers for the conve- nience of the reader; and at the head of each jiage is given a brief statement of the main subject-matter of that page. All the facts are preserved which were presented to the Historical Society, and in addition, many things in greater detail than Lime and circum- stances then would justify the author in entering upon. The final chapter has been added in order that the whole of the EoBbrugh connection in iVmerica might in this brief manner be linked togetlier; and this was thought to be a suitable ending, since tiie two brothers who came across the sea arc brought forward to- gether in the opening of the address. As additional information was continually coming to hand whilst the work was going through the press, on a number of points explicit statements will be found in the latter pages, which were passed over as uncertain or unknown, in the early part. The sources from which the author has drawn information, outside of his own personal researches, are duly recognized from time to time as they appear, in the body of the work. Bloomsbdey, N. J., June, 1880., J. C. C. CONTENTS Fac-simile of autograph, enlarged in the proportion of 1 to 2, made in the Allen Town- ship Church book, November 22d, 1774. Map to illustrate early history of Eosbrughs in America. Map to illustrate the position of the American and British armies previous to the battle of Trenton, Dec. 26th, 1776 — at which the Hessians were captured — and the battle of Assunpink, or second battle of Trenton, Jan. 2d, 1777 — at which Mr. liosbrugh was kill- ed. Map to illustrate the march of the American army after the battle of Princeton, to the wintei^quarters at Morristown, in 1777, which closed the campaign in which Mr. Rosbrugh's company participated. Diagram to illustrate the battle of Trenton, Dec. 26th, 1776— at which the Hessians were captured — and the battle of Assunpink, or second battle of Trenton, Jan. 2d, 1777 — at which Mr. Kosbrugh was kill ed. Diagram to illustrate the battle of Princeton, where Mr. Rosbrugh's company fought, Jan. Sd, 1777. Preface. ['AGE. CHAPTER I. EARLY LIFE. Name. Nativity. Education. 1 CHAPTER II. PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY. A beneficiary. Licensure. 4 CHAPTER III. FIELD OF LABOR IN NEW JERSEY. Preaching points. Old Greenwich. Mansfleld Woodhouse. Oxford. 8 CHAPTER IV. MINISTRY IN NEW JERSEY. Marriage. James Rosbrugh born. Ecclesiastical fidelity. Discouragements. 12 CHAPTER V. TRANSITION TO ALLEN TOWNSHIP PENNSYLVANIA. Letitia Rosbrugh born. Call to Allen Township. Negotiations for transfer to Allen Township Church. Allen Township Church transferred. Installation. 17 CONTENTS. CHAPTER V I. MINISTRY IN ALLEN TOWNSHIP PENNSYLVANIA. Field of labor in Pennsylvania. Mirthfulness. Anecdotes. 21 CHAPTER VII. INCENTIVES TO PATEIOTISM. Patriotism. Synodical urging and admonition. Friends and neighbor enter army. Siege of Fort Washington. Washington's retreat. Excitement in Pennsylvania. Increased excitement. Heroic preparations. Families provided for. Schools - and places of business closed. General Howe arrives at Princeton. Washington dictatorial. > Washington's summons to Northampton. 25 CHAPTER VIII. THE MAECH TO THE SEAT OF WAR. Mr. Eosbrugh takes the decisive step. The patriotic sermon. Last will and testa- ment. The military company formed. Arrival at Philadelphia and first letter to wife, Scarcity of salt. Commissioned chaplain. Colonel Siegfried commiss- ioned. 38 CHAPTER IX. ACTIVE MILITARY PUTIES AND DEATH. Distribution of the American army. Preparing to capture Hessians. AVasliinston's Crossing. Marcli on Trentou. Battle of Trenton and capture of Hessians. Gen- eral campaign. Plan of campaign. Favorable providence. The last letter. Brit- ish move on Trenton. Battle of Assunpink. Circumstances leading to death. Mr. Eosbrugh killed. The burial. Ecclesiastical records of death. 46 CHAPTER X. THE COMRADES AND BEREAVED FAMILY. Preliminaries to the battle of Princeton. Americans arrive at Princeton. Battle of Princeton. Mr. Rosbrugh's company return home. Provision for soldiers' wives and children. Mrs. Rosbrugh's trials. Petitioning the Executive. ' Mrs. Ros- brugh granted redress. Orphans Court proceedings. Mrs. Rosbrugh's death and burial. Genealogical record of Rev. .lohn Rosbrugh's descendants. 61 CHAPTER X I. WILLIAM ROSBRUGH'S FAMILY. Historical and genealogical record of the family, in the United States and Canada. 82 APPENDIX. A. Thatjher family. B. "A relic of N'orthampton county." C. Robert Rosbrugh family. JOHN ROSBRUGH, CLERICAL MARTYR OF THE REVOLUTION. CHAPTER I. MMJ^Y LIFE. The evil that men do, lives after them ; But the good is oft interred with their bones. . Shakespeare. If illustrations were sought to prove that the reverse of this is true in many cases, perhaps no more suitable one could be found than may be drawn from the life and death of the one who is made the subject of this sketch, and whom we may appropriate!}' desig- nate Clerical Maktyr of the Revolution. Amid all the liglit thrown upon his career socially, ecclesiastically and politiciillv — -hy tradition and historical record — nothing but the good he did lived after him, whilst the evil was interred with his bones — so Car as known no blot rests on his fair name. Si: — "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. " If: — "It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country-. " "2 Name, John Rosbrugh tasted of that sweetness, and had the patriot's glory. His unmarked grave deserves a tribute of respect from every true American who is in the enjoyment of the liberties which he died to secure. His name and record are worthy of a place, not only in the archives of written history, but in the thankful remembrance of every lover of human liberty, along with the other Revolutionary patriots who died that a nation might be born and live. The records of many of his compatriots have long since been written, but these have been largely devoted to the perpetuation in memory of the courage and prowess through which these warriors were enabled to march to glory or death in the face of a foreign foe. This man's record is unique in that whilst he was a noncombatant, he met, we may perhaps truly say, the most cruel death of them all, in his efforts to subserve with them the great cause of American freedom. "We are then to trace the life and character of the man, not so much in the light of the soldier, as in the light of the patriotic and devoted citizen and minister of the gospel who shared the lot and died the death of the Revolutionary soldier. We are to make a record of the man's life and character as rettected by tJie motives which impelled, and the circumstances which surrounded him, in his career. It is to this task we now address ourself. In order that his name may be correctly quoted and written by future generations, we fii-st settle its orthography. This has been, in the minds of some, an unsettled question for nearly one hundred and twenty years. In the minutes of the Synod of !N"ew York and Philadelphia, between the years 1761 and 1777, it is spelled once " Roxburrow, " once " Roxborough, " and nineteen times " Rosborough. " In the Reords of the College of New Jersey it is spelled *'Rosbrough." Mr Headley in his papers on "The Naimty. 3 Clergy of the Eevolution," under date of August 12th, 1875, in the "New Yorlc Observer," vfTcoie of hixa. as "Rev. John Eossburgh. " Rev. D. X. Junkin, D. D, in the same paper, under date of August 26th, attempting to correct Mr. Headley's orthography, spelled it " Roseborough. " In Ellis's history of ]S"orthampton county we find it "Rosebury." We would state that there are still in existence letters written and signed by Mr. Rosbrugh, and his autograph may be seen also in the records of the Allen Township Presbyte- rian Church, of which he was the pastor at the time of his death. From these sources it is ascertained the correct spelling is "Ros- brugh." The name however, in latter years is by his descendants and other branches of the family, spelled "Rosebrugh, " and so pronounced. John Rosbrugh was not a native born American but belonged to that sturdy class known as the Scotch-Irish, who have furnished so large a proportion of the brains, backbone and muscle which have been indispensable in shaping and maintaining our nationality. He was of the number of those who, fpr conscience sake, left Scot- land and went to the North of Ireland, and who have made that part of Erin's Isle present socially, rehgiously and politically so marked a contrast with its more southerly portion. He was born in the year 1714, shortly before the family left Scotland, or shortly after they arrived in the E'orth of Ireland, the exact date of the mi- gration not being now attainable. Of the family to which he be- longed we have no definite information further than that h(j had an older brother, William. It seems that the same impulse which constrained the family to migrate from Scotland to the E'orth of Ire- land, impelled this William Rosbrugh, together with his brother John — though the latter was young in years — to take their depart- ure for a land more inviting, beyond the sea, in America. tlust when they came to America is not now definitely known. 4 JEdiieation. Collateral circumstances however, would point to the probable time at which they came. It was doubtless at the time those Scotch- Irish Settlements were formed in the Middle States, which figured so prominently in colonial history and the early history of our nation. They settled in New Jersey, but in what particular part we are unable to decide. John's first marriage took place about the year 1733, when he was nineteen years of age. His wife's christian name was Sarah, but the surmame has been lost. He has no descendants l)y this marriage, the wife dying at the birth of their first child, which also died at the same time. For the next twenty-seven or twenty-eight years we have very little information with regard to the family. The elder brother William, died, leaving two sons, Robert and John. The latter, after his father's death, and until he was of age, made his home with his brother John, for whom he was called. Abner A. Rosebrugh, M. D., of Toronto, Canada, is a descend- ant of William, the brother of the Subject of this sketch. CHAPTER II. PREPARA TION FOR THE MINISTR Y. What private advantages Mr. Eosbrugh had for obtaining an education, is now unknown. He however pursued his studies in A Beneficiary. 5 the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, graduating there, as the records show, in 1761 in the class with David Caldwell, Lawrence Van Derver, David Gillespie, Isaac Handy, Thomas Henderson, "William Jauncy, Kathan Ker, John Lefferty, Thomas McCracken, David Eice, Samuel Sloan, Jacob Thompson and Jahleel "Wood- bridge. What incentives constrained him to seek the christian minis- try will now perhaps never be known, but that his attention was so directed the sequel shows. It seems also that he was not possessed of sufficient pecuniary means to obtain that thorough education which was required of those who would enter the sacred office in his day. But there was a beneficiary fund in connection with the College of "Eew Jersey, and to this he turned for aid. The condi- tions upon which aid could be obtained from this fund settled the question as to the beneficiary's character and qualifications. On the afternoon of Oct. 3d, 1755, Gilbert Tennent and Samuel Davics presented the following report to the Synod of E"ew York, convened in the city of Philadelphia. " To the Sever end Synod of New York, "The annual interest of the following donations was appropria- ted by the donors, for the education of such youth for the ministry of the gospel, in the College of l^ew Jersey, as are unable to defray the expenses of their education, who appear, upon examination, to be of promising genius, Calvinistic principles, and in the judge- ment of charity, experimentally acquainted with a work of saving grace, and have a distinguished zeal for the glory of God, and sal- vation of men." Following this was a list of thirty-four names, showing a sub- scription amounting to £357 4s 6d, the donors being residents of the mother country. 6 A Beneficiary, This fund was placed in the hands of the officers of the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, and the Synod by committee, from year to year examined beneficiaries and disbursed the interest of the fund. From 17.58, the year in which the Synods of ISTew York and Philadel- phia united, till 1765, no regular report was made to the united Syn- od of the disbursements of the interest of the fund. In this year however, the committee in charge of the same made a report covering the whole period. The record is as follows : "The committee appointed to dispose of the money in the handsofthetreasurer of New Jersey College, appropriated for the education of poor and pious youth, brought in a state of their ac- counts since the year 1758, which is as follows : 1758, Nov. 23. Paid by the treasurer to Mr. William Tennent for the use of Mr. Leslie, Por Mr. Carmichael, - - - 1759, Nov. 23. To Mr. Carmichael, - 1760, June 11. To President Davies, for use of Mr. Blair, 1761, Aug. 3. To Mr. Eosborough, per order, - 1762, May 25. To do per order, - 1763, Aug. 26. To Mr. Robert Cooper, per order, 1764, July 5. To do per order, " Nov. 13. To Samuel Leak, per order, 'fhus we see John Rosbrugh at Princeton College in 1761 and 1762 — thoughjwell on in years — classed as a poor, pious, promising Calvinistic young man, giving evidence of a work of grace in the heart, and having a distinguished zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of men. £13 14 15 1 10 00 , 20 00 30 00 14 00 20 00 13 00 40 00 £174 15 1 Ucmsure. 7' Having been received under the care of Presbytery, May 22d, 1762, as a candidate for the ministry, by Aug. 16th, 1763. he had so far progressed in his theological studies that the Presbytery of New Brunswick saw their way clear to license him to preach the gospel. This fact appears also in a subsequent record made with reference to it. On the forenoon of May 17th, 1764, there was in- serted in the minutes of the Synod of N'ew York and Philadelphia, convened at Elizabethtown, the following: "The Presbytery of N'ew Brunswick report that since our last, they have ordained to the work of the ministry, the Kev; Messrs. Amos Thompson, Jacob Kerr and Nathan Kerr ; who being present took their seats in the Synod ; and that they licensed Messrs. David Caldwell, Francis Pepper and John Roxburrow, to preach the gos- pel." It is probable Mr. Rosbrugh further pursued his studies after his licensure, and at the same time exercised his gifts as a preacher. By December 1764, the Presbytery was so well satisfied with his qualifications that they proceeded to his ordination. A reference to the minutes will show that this took place Dec. 11th, 1764. It was reported to the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, con- vened in Philadelphia, on the afternoon of May 15th, 1765, as fol- lows : " The Presbytery of New Brunswick report that they have or- dained Messrs. James Lion and John Roxborough to the work rif the ministry, and that they have licensed Simon "Williams. " The place at which Mr. Rosbrugh was ordained was the old 8 Old Greenwich. Greenwich Presbyterian church, now within the bounds of the Presbytery of Newton, in Warren county, New Jersey. CHAPTER III. FIELD OF LABOR IN NEW JERSEY. In referring to the old Greenwich church, formerly known in the neighborhood as the Tennent or Brainerd church, we must not confound the building and locality with the present Greenwich Presbyterian church, though the latter has occupied its present site for more than a hundred years. The spot where Mr. Eosbrugh was ordained was a half or three-fourths of a mile to the south or south- west. Leaving Phillipsburg for New York by the Ceu. R. E. of N. J. the traveler is brought by a journey of about five miles, to the Pohatcong creek. As he passes over the high embankment by which the care are carried over the bed of the stream, if he will look to the south-east, his eye will rest upon the site of the original Greenwich church, which is but a few hundred yards distant. It stood upon what is known as the Keily farm, now owned by Hon. II. R. Kennedly. If the traveler will go upon the spot, he will behold a scene of marvelous beauty. To the south he will see the Musconetcong range of mountains, with the stream of the same name flowing at its base. Tb the south-west and west he will see PreaeJmg Points. 9 a broken range of hills, stretching far away across the Delaware into Pennsylvania. To the north-west and north, across the Pohat- cong creek, will be spread out the fertile valley of the Delaware, in "Warren county New Jersey, and JS'orthampton county Pennsylva- nia, the whole circumscribed by the Kittatinny .or Blue-mountain range, twenty miles or more away. To the nort-east and east will appear the valleys of the Pohatcong and Musconetcong creeks with the range of hills which separates them. Such was the scene that met the eye of John Eosbrugh in December 1764, when he repaired to the old Greenwich church to receive ordination to the christian ministry. Ifothing remains of the log church in which he reverently knelt except the foundation stones, which have been built into a lime kiln, which may now be seen near by. It is probable that at the time of his ordination, Mr. Eosbrugh entered upon regular pastoral labors in the congregations of Green- wich, Oxford and Mansfield "Woodhouse. Although there had been more or less preaching at one or other of these points by various clergymen as missionaries or supplies by appointment of ecclesias- tical courts, for perhaps twenty-five years previous, Mr. Eosbrugh seems to have been the first settled pastor — at least of the Presby- terian order — north of the Musconetcong mountains, in the bounds of what is now "Warren county, New Jersey. These three points of his charge seem to have been the earliest localities in the region, from which the principles of the christian religion were dissemina- ted. By following the early records from 1739 on, it will be found that preaching was supplied from time to time at Mr. Green's — then Green's Eidge — ^then Greenidge — then Greenage — and finally lower Greenwich, which meant the place where Mr. Eosbrugh was or- dained. Likewise contemporaneously, preaching was provided at "Mr. Barber's neigjiborhood, near Musconnekunk. " " Mr. Barber's. " was supplanted by the name "Mansfield "Woodhouse," doubtless to 10 Mansfkld Woodhouse. correspond with the name of the township in which it was located, or to designate it as heing at a particular woodhouse in Mansfield township. * This was some eleven or twelve miles ahove lower Greenwich, and like it, in the Musconetcong valley. The traveler taking the cars of the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Eailroad, at Hampton Junction on the Central Eailroad of New Jersey, and riding toward "Washington, passes through the bounds of the old Mansfield "Woodhouse congregation. As he leaves the station he will|see in the valley below, surrounded by white tombstones, the present \iusconetcong Valley Presbyterian church, which is one of the daughters of the original Mansfield "Woodhouse church. As he sweeps around the point of the hill a half mile further on, he will see, across the valley, upon the hill side, two or three miles distant, the white tombstones in the graveyard where once stood the mother church. On arriving at "Washington he will see as one of the most prominent buildings of the place, the present First Mansfield or "Washington Presbytei-ian church, M^hich is the other daughter. Repairing to the old graveyard just indicated, now lying a half mile south of him, he will see all that remains to call to remem- brance the labors of the Revolutionary pastor there. 1^0 stone, we believe, now chronicles the burial of parishioner or friend during his ministry, but the western part of the burial ground is filled with nameless graves, by the side of some of which he doubtless stood and performed the last rites of christian burial for the departed. Standing here upon the side of the hill which separates the Musco- netcong and Pohatcong valleys, a beautiful prospect is spread out before the eye. To the south and south-west, three or four miles away, is seen the irregular range of the Musconetcong mountain * Two other petitions from the Towhships of Greenwich and Mansfidd- Woodhmtse, in the County of Sussex, both of the same purport as above; were ako read, and ordered a second reading, — Minutes Provincial Congress of New Jersey, Oct. 12. 1775. Oxford.. \i beyond the stream of the same name, whilst in the intermediate landscape are seen fertile fields, comfortable farm-houses and invi- ting groves. Oxford, the other part of the. phai;ge, ,\\:§p near Belvidere, the county seat of Warren. In early days it was known as "Green- wich upon Delaware," "Upper Gi;eenwich,"" Ajcford's," — which name may still be seen in the buryingground and heard in the com- munity — and finally " Oxford. " It is now known as the First Ox- ^ford 'Presbyterian churoh, Presbytery of Newtqii. Two miles from 'Belvidere, upon a little eminence, just where a, small .stream flows GUtifcom among'thc northern spurs of Scott's Mountain, we find the, site of the original Oxford church. Standing at the modern 'churchanlid the graves of past generations, to the south-west, west •and north,. stretch out beautiful hills and vales in upper Northamp- ton county, Pennsylvania, and Warren county, New Jersey. Fol- ilowing: the < range of the Kittatinny mountains as they ai^e, seen pro- jected against the sky, the Delaware Water Gap soon comes promi- mently into viewto the right, whilst the New Jersey f^ot-hills ■ stretchaway to the east in broken profusion. Ijittle or nothing re- f mains at' the site of the church to call to remembrance the first i-pastor and the days of the lievolution. Thus we see Mr. Rosbrugh ;in 1764, practically in charge of all the interests of the Presbyterian church in that large and prosperous region now known as Warren ■ connty. 12 Marriage. CHAPTER IV. MINISTRY IN NEW JERSEY. It was at Mansfield Woodhouse that Mr. Kosbrugh made his home. Whilst occupied with the regular duties of his charge, he was appointed from time to time to supply neighboring congrega- tions. On April 16th. 1765, Presbytery appointed him to supply two Sabbaths between that date and the third Tuesday in October, at Upper and Lower Hardwick — now Yellow Frame and Haeketts- town, respectively — in the Presbytery of Newton, "Warren county, New Jersey. On May 29th of the same year, he was appointed to supply two Sabbaths at Deep Run, near Doylstown, Pennsylvania, twenty-five or thirty miles distant. On October 16th, 1766, he was again appointed to supply two Sabbath at Upper and Lower Hard- wick — twenty to thirty miles distant. On April 16th, 1766, he was appointed to supply one Sabbath at Upper Hardwick and one at liedmiufiter — in Somerset county, twenty-five to thirty miles distant. Kaving entered upon the full work of the ministry, he felt that he ought to take to himself again a wife. Belonging to the class known as the Scotch-tish, it was most natural for him to seek a helpmeet from among those who were of similar origin. Some twenty miles away, in Allen township, in "Forks of Delaware," now Northampton county, Pennsylvania, had been for nearly forty yvurs, a settlement of the Scotch-Irish. To the Irish, or Craig Set- tlement as it was called, therefore, he looked for a wife. It was not long till he had found and won the object of his desire. He be- came intimate with the family of tfames Balston, an elder in the Irish Seltleffifebt, of Alka Township Prfeshyteriaa ehuteh. The falnilf was cOiitipoSed of the following membefs, we bfelieve, viz: Samuel, John, Maty, Jane and Letitia. As living deSisendants of this fataily, among others, we Alight mention llev. J. Grier Ealston, t). I>., of FofristoWn and the Ealston families of the old Brandy- wine Manor Presbyterian fcongregation, Chesteir county, Penn'a. The wife of the venerable Eev. J. E". C. drier, D.D., for forty years pastor at Brandy wine Manor, was also a descendant. Mr. Eosbrugh married the daughter Jane of this family, and took her to their home in the bounds of the congregation at Mansfield Woodhouse. The time at which the marriage took place we have not been able to learn, but conjecture it was in the early part of 1766. He was absent from the meeting of Synod, which convened in New York, May 21st^ of that year. We conjecture he silently rendered his ex- cuse, whilst absent, in the words of Nehemiah. ( 6 : 3 ) "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. " — I am getting married. In Philadelphia, May 20th, 1767, he gave to Synod his reasons for the previous year's absence, and for aught we know, gave them as here indicated. On the 24th of April, 1767, there was born to him a son, whom he called James, doubtless for his wife's father, James Ralston. Between the time of his marriage and the birth of his son, we find him engaged in numerous labors beyond the bounds of his own charge. On October 2lst, 1766, he was appointed to supply at Upper and Lower Hard wick the first Sabbath of December, 1766, and first Sabbath in January and February, 1767. April 2l8t 1767, he was appointed to supply two Sabbaths in May, at Lower Hard- wick, fourth Sabbath in July at Upper Hardwick, and fourth Saib- bath in September at Bedminster. These labors in May, outside of his own charge, together with the journey to and attendance upon the meeting of Synod in Philadelphia the same month, show the arduotisness of the service he rendered. We find Mr. Rosbrugh was a man careful to obey the behests 14 EcclesiasUcal FiddHy. of the ecclesiastical courts which had jurisdiction over him. The Syuod of New York and Philadelphia had taken steps to secure a fund for the propagation of the gospel among the poor. They had enjoined upon the members to make collections for the purpose. On the afternoon of May 22d, 1767 — the Synod then being in sess- ion iu Philadelphia — the members were called upon to render an account of their faithfulness in the matter. When the list had been completed, the following minute was made, viz : " The Synod are obliged to declare that it is a matter of real grief to them to find that so many of their members have paid so little regard to the authority of Synod, enjoining a liberality for so pious and important a purpose." Mr. Eosbrugh however, escaped this censure, for among the reports from the Presbyteries, the following came from the Presby- tery of New Brunswick, to which he belonged, viz: " Of New Brunswick Presbytery. Mr. Keed, - - £1 10 Mr. Hanna, - - 1 Mr. Kirkpatrick, - 2 17 1 Mr. Rosborough, - 1 £6 7 1 Pro. cur." Thus he appears as one of four, in his Presbytery, who "were faithful under the injunction laid upon them. On the 28th of May he obtained leave of absence for himself and elder, .fohn Maxwell, from further attendance upon the sessions of the Synod at that meeting, and started upon his journey home- ward. Having returned to his duties at home, he doubtless in con- nection therewith, performed the extra service in July andSeptem- Discouragements. 15 * ber, to which he had been appointed by Presbytery in the spring. We find that at the fall meeting of Presbytery, on dctober 20th, 1767, he was appointed to preach one Sabbath at Upper Hardwick and one at Smithfield — ^the latter being now within the bounds of Lehigh Presbytery, in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, beyond the Kittatinny range of mountains, twenty or thirty miles distant. We present these details of labor that an adequate idea may be formed of the arduous and patient services rendered by the subject of this sketch. Mansfield Woodhouse and Oxford were each ten or twelve miles fi-om Greenwich, and five or six from each other. Remem- bering this, and also that in addition to the labor of serving these congregations under such circumstances,, he traveled far and preached much in the regions beyond, we have some forecast of the indomi- table courage, perseverance and devotion to duty which manifested itself in severer trials in after years. In all this work there was doubtless little encouragement, at least in a worldly point of view. The discouraging phase of his experience is reflected in a represen- tation which he made of his charge to Presbytery on April 19th, 1768. The record is as follows : "Mr. Rosborough represented to the Presbytery, that Mans- field Woodhouse, one branch of his present charge, through the re- moval of sundry of his members out of the congregation, and by other means were now become so few and weak as not to be able to contribute their quota towards his support, and that sundry of them had consented to his leaving them. And that seeing the other branches of his charge were not able to make up the deficiency of that now mentioned; and as his circumstances are straightened and necessitous, these things laid him under the disagreeable necessity of asking to be wholly dismissed from his present charge. " Tfie consideration of this matter was laid over till the next day. It then came up and the following record was made with regard to it. 16 Discouragements. " Mr. Rosbrugh's request for a removal from his present charge, came under consideration, and the Presbytery after hearing and considering the reasons for said motion, do judge that the matter is not yet ripe for proceeding to his removal, as it does not appear to us that Mansfield Woodhouse, the branch of the congregation which it seems is most deficient in supporting Mr. Rosbrugh, have been formally notified of Mr. Rosbrugh's design at this time to sue for a dismission from them; neither is there any representative here to answer for them; neither is there any one here to represent Oxford congregation, which is another branch of his charge; and as the re- moval of a minister is a weighty matter, and not to be rashly done, we would proceed with all possible tenderness and caution in it. We therefore think proper to defer the matter till the fall Presby- tery, and in the mean time order that Mr. Rosborough give due notice to the people of Mansfield Woodhouse that unless they dis- charge their arrears and pay their quota as usual, his labors shall be taken from them; and should they decline to bear their part as before, then Mr. Rosborough is to preach one half of his time till next Presbytery, at Greenwich, and a third part at Oxford, and the remainder at discretion. " Such was the status of his affairs in April, 1768. At the same meeting of Presbytery when the above action was taken, he was appointed to supply one Sabbath at Smithfield and one at Allen- town, in the Irish Settlement, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and preach as often as he could at Upper and Lower Hardwick, be- tween that time and the spring meeting of Presbytery. At the fall meeting of Presbytery, October 18th, 1768, the report was brought in that Mansfield Woodhouse had failed to make up their quota of Mr. Rosbrugh's salary, and that he had accordingly preached one- half of his time at Greenwich, and one-third at Oxford. The Pres- bytery adjourned to meet at Oxford on the third Wednesday of l^vembier to fartber considier the case. At tfete iB,«ieting it s^ems some arrangement was mad« and eeFtain conditions specified upon wMch Mr. Rosbrugh was to remain in charge of Greenwich and Oxford, At "the spring meeting ofPtesbytery however, April 18th, 1769', it was reported that Oxford and €|reenwi