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/9 ^U/. 
 MATERIALS 
 
 TOWARDS 
 
 A HISTORY OF THE I IN BAPTISTS, 
 
 IN XII VOLU 
 
 By Morgas Edwards, a. m. 
 
 Fellow of Rhodeifland college, and o v 
 of the Baptift church in Philadelphia. 
 
 Lc ! a people that dyiell alone, an t be ftC 
 
 ; *tg the nations . humb. x x i i i , o . 
 
 LALELPHIA t 
 BY JOSEPH CKUKSKANK, 
 (C CCLI .XX. 
 

MATERIALS 
 
 TOWARDS A HISTORY OF THE 
 
 BAPTISTS IN PENNSYLVANIA EOTH BRI- 
 TISH AND GERMAN, DISTINGUISHED INTO 
 
 f- 
 FIRSTDAY BAPTISTS 
 
 KEITHIAN BAPTITS 
 SEVENTH DAY BAPTISTS 
 
 TUNCKER BAPTISTS 
 MENNONIST BAPTISTS, 
 
 V O L. I. 
 
 Lot a people that dwell alone, and ft: all not fe 
 honed among the nations, numb, xxiii, 9 , 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 PRINTED BY JOSEPH GRUKSHANK, AND 
 
 ISAAO COLLINS; MTCCLXX. 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The following materials have been coll eel ed partly 
 from knowledge, partly from church books, and partly 
 from informations ; colleclions fro?n the two former 
 ?nay be exacl ; but thofe from the other may ?20t befo, 
 hecaufe old memories are unfafe records. If any 
 fliould dif cover errors and givs notice thereof to the 
 editor, he, will take the firft opportunity to reclify 
 them and be much obliged to the informers. 
 
 Morgan Edwards. 
 
s* 
 
 Advertifement. 
 
 THK compiler of the enfuing little volume and 
 of eleven more on the fame iubjecf. would, 
 no doubt, have kept his volumes to himieit 
 bad not the motives which induced him to compile in- 
 duced him alio to publifh. The motive to the firft 
 was, a defire to know the american Baptiiis j the mo- 
 tive to the other was, an equal defire to make them 
 known one to another 5 and the grand motive to both 
 16, a folicitude to unite them together and to fettle 
 fome ufeful means of intercourfe and familiarity be- 
 tween their churches, whereof there are on this con- 
 tinent about 300 including the german Baptifts. 
 
 By the faid union is meant, an union of individuals 
 into churches fo that no baptized believers abide loolc 
 and fcattered (like the (tones of the fanttuary in the 
 book of Lamentation) as is now the cafe in fome 
 places j alfo, an union of thofe churches (ami of o- 
 ther churches which have hitherto ftood by thernielvcs) 
 into affociations in proper vicinities, which arTbcia- 
 tions may be multiplied fo as to have one in every 
 province $ and Hkcwife, an union of thofe afTociaticns 
 (like that of Ketokton and Warren) to the afTociation 
 of Philadelphia, which, from its fituation, mure ever 
 
 be central to the whole By the forementioned 
 
 means of intercom/fe are to be underftood, letters and 
 inefiengers from the churches to their refpe&ive ailbci- 
 ntiens, and from thofe aflbciations to their common 
 center ; and from the center back to the aikrjiiition:,, 
 and thence to the churches, and Co to individuals. 
 Theft means will not only be ufeful for receiving cm! 
 returning intelligence, mutual advice, help &c b^ity 
 alfo for " knitting together 11 the feveral parts of th* 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 kXfihlt baptift church on this continent, as the papts 
 of the natural body are by " joints and bands. Gal., 
 ii. 19. This project is not a new one,, but was be- 
 gun in the year 176 5 when the churches to the weft of 
 Philadelphia formed themfelves into an affbciation at 
 Ketokton in Virginia 5 and was furthered in 1767 
 when the churches to the eaft of Philadelphia did the 
 fame at Warren in Rhodeifland government, both a- 
 dopting the philadelphian plan and engaging to ufe 
 the means of union and intercourie before defcribed. 
 The thing is practicable, as appears by five years tri- 
 al}, and withal, moft beneficial, as might be proved 
 by variety of examples. What remains is only to 
 perfect what has been begun. In order to which the 
 following things have been judged requifite 
 
 fc That the aflbciatian of Philadelphia be embodied 
 by charter 5 and that one perfon from every provin- 
 cial aiTociation be made a member of that enchartered 
 body 
 
 a That am able preacher be. appointed to vifit all 
 the churches in the character and office of an EvANr 
 c eli ST j. and a fufncient fund raifed to defray his 
 expences. Such a fund was let on foot in Philadel* 
 phia in 1766, and is, increaiing every year 
 
 3, That the nature of aflbciations among the Bap- 
 tifts be made public. Something of the kind was at- 
 tempted in 1769 under the title of The senti- 
 ments and, plan of the Warren associ- 
 ation j wherein it is mown that they are only ADr- 
 VISOR Y councils, difclaiming all jurifdiclion 
 and power and every thing elfe which may clafh with 
 the rights of particular churches or thofe of private 
 judgment ; and herein they differ from all aflemblies 
 of the kind known by the fame or other names 
 
 4. That all the baptift churches from Nova Scotia 
 to Georgia be made fuiflciently known one to another 5 
 for it hath been found by experience that a want of 
 
( Si ) 
 
 this kind of knowledge hath much retarded the }iro-- 
 pofed deiign. To remedy which (as hinted before) 
 is the end of publishing the following little volume \ 
 And it is prefiimed the publication will be found a- 
 dequate to the deiign ; and will alfo prefer ve fome a- 
 ■ecdotes, chronologies and facts which otherwife would, 
 have perifhed with the loofe papers from which many 
 were taken, or with the death of ancient people who 
 communicated others from memory. The publifher 
 well knows that the work wants all the apologies he 
 can make both for it, and the price. As to the laft he 
 only takes leave to obferve that he has not rtmck oft" 
 many copies, but juft enow to furnifh every baptiil 
 church with few. Had he intended to fell to every 
 one that would buy he would have enlarged the edi- 
 tion and fo have reduced the price. If the books 
 mould not be valuable they will be fcarce. As to a- 
 pologie* for the work itfelf he will not attempt any, 
 being firmly of opinion that if he mould lefe any re- 
 putation by it he cannot lofe it in a better way than 
 in endeavouring to promote the baptift. inteiett ; which,, 
 in his judgment, is the intereft of chrirt above anv in 
 chriitendom. Whoever finds fault with the perfor- 
 mance will thereby intimate that he is able to fupply 
 its defects and correct its errors ; and if he will do 
 both or either the author would be well pleafed mould 
 every reader be a fault-finder. 
 
 5 Laflly, that the terms of the propofed union 
 mould be fo general as not to preclude anv baptiil 
 church of fair character, though differing from others 
 in uncfTential points of faith or order. Practicing be- 
 lieverVbaptifm is our denominating article. If this 
 betaken away we mall differ from the Independents in 
 no point whatfoever. And the cue thiifrg which 
 diilinguimes us fiom every feet of chrittians, and 
 made, and keeps us a feparate and diflii Q: body of 
 people is, one would think:, a fufficient ground of u- 
 nion among ourfeives, excepting only where this 
 tt truth is held in unrighteoufnefs ,v 
 
. * ( " ) 
 
 I fear tills volume will be deemed a heap of dry re* 
 cords without a fuffieient number of anecdotes to give 
 them a relifh j this is owing to the peace and liberty 
 which the Baptifts have ever enjoyed in Pennfylvania^ 
 In other provinces they have had their troubles which? 
 will make their hiftory intsrefting to every reader* 
 
 N. B. The ftcond fori of this v&* 
 fame will be delivered to the purchafers 
 $f the firft fart as foon as poffble^ they 
 fending their names and places of abode 
 to the publifher. The price the fame 
 with the price of the firft fart viz 
 quarter of dollar 
 

 MAT 
 
 '"""^ ■ 
 
 T w ys&&.n X9 
 HE Baptifts in Pennfylvania may be 
 diftinguifhed into British and Ger- 
 man ; the Britifh again into firstday bap j 
 tists and seventhday baptists ; and the 
 German into tunckers and mennonists; 
 with which muft be mentioned the keithian 
 baptists, though now extindr, becaufe the 
 fabbatarians originated from them. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Treats of the Britifh Baptifts in Penn- 
 Jyhania, who obferve the frji day of 
 ihe week for fab bath. 
 
 The faith and order of thefe people may 
 be feen in the confeflion, catechifm and treatife 
 of difcipline which they adopted in their af- 
 fociation held at Philadelphia in the year 1742* 
 The confeffion (with addition only of article 
 xxiii and xxxi) is that publHhed in London in 
 1689 by a hundred congregations, and there- 
 fore called the Century confefjion. The cate- 
 chifm is that which bears the name of Benja- 
 min Keach, publifhed in London in 1699. 
 The treatife of difcipline is, in effect, the fame 
 with that publifhed in London in 1697 and 
 ftyled, * The glory of a true church, and its 
 < difcipHne difplay'd.' By thefe books it ap 
 
i * ) 
 
 pears that they are Independents with reference 
 to church government, and Calvinijls with re- 
 fpe&to do&rines ; and thefe laft, I may add, 
 £o univerfally that the diftin&ions of general and 
 particular Baptifts have no place among them. 
 Of thefe there are ten churches which we ftiall 
 treat according to feniority, and therefore be- 
 gin with 
 
 PENNEP E K, 
 
 This is the firft church in the province of 
 any note and permanency ; for that gathered 
 at Coldfpring in 1684 broke up in 1702. It is 
 diftinguifhed from its filler churches by the a- 
 foove name of Pennepek (formerly written Pern- 
 mepeka) which is the name of a little river 
 running near the place of worfhip. The houfe 
 is a neat ftone building, 33 feet by 30, with 
 pews, galleries and a ftove. In one corner of 
 it ftands the pulpit, and the galleries in the op- ' 
 pofite angles which is worth noticing, becaufe 
 tereby are remedied the ufual inconveniences 
 attending galleries in fmall places of worfhip. 
 The houfe was ere&ed in 1707 on a lot of one 
 acre, the gift of Rev. Samuel Jones, in the 
 townfhip of Lowerdublin, county of Philadel- 
 phia, eleven miles neIin from the city. To 
 iaid lot have been added three acres ; one by 
 the gift of Mr. George Eaton, the other by 
 purchas of the church, whereon are conveni- 
 ent flables, and a fine grove affording fhade in 
 fummer and fire wood in winter. Befides the 
 above mentioned acres there are other legacies 
 beftowed on this church ( 1 ) Hundred pounds 
 $Iie gift of Peter Duflield (2) Five pounds thz 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 gift of Mr. George Eaton (3) Twenty fire 
 pounds the gift of fundry perfons. With thefe 
 helps the living is reputed worth 50 1. a year 
 to the prefent miniiter, Rev. Samuel Jones. 
 The families belonging to the place are about 
 45 whereof 50 perfons are baptized and in the 
 communion of the church. Their names * 
 are below. This was their ftate in 177c. A 
 retrofpecl of it will lead pretty far back into 
 the lad century when it originated in the fol- 
 lowing manner. About the year 1606, one 
 John Eaton, George Eaton and Jane his wife, 
 Sarah Eaton and Samuel Jones (members of a 
 baptift church refiding in Llanddewi and 
 Mantmel in Radnorfhire whereof Rev. Henry 
 Gregory was overfeer), alio John Baker (mem- 
 ber of a church in Kilkenny in Ireland wh. 
 Rev. Chriftopher Blackwell was paftor\ and 
 one Samuel Vans from England arrived, an J 
 fettled on the banks of Pennepek. In the 
 year 1687 Rev. Eiias Keach of London c:.rr,e 
 
 * Alexander Edwards Efq. and Thom2S Welder 1 
 Holms, Tames Dttngan, Jofeph Miles, George 
 Nerthrop, George Eaten, Richard Rid . 
 Ward, P. P. Vanhorn, John Vincent, Benj, 7- 
 John de Nyce, John Wrjgbt, Jcieph Bui), Tl 
 Marpie, Joftph Bean,lAnn Edwards, Jane Holms, V;a- 
 ton, Su&nnah Webfler, Sarah Marfhal, Elizabeth 
 
 MOWS, EliZl 
 
 Q, Elizabeth Northrop, Mary Edwj:. 
 a, Catherine Eaton, Mary Rich#rdfon, 
 Watts, Rebeeka Evans, Elizabeth Fofter, Mary de 
 landy, Mary Ward, Mary Vincent, Deborah Ingles, 
 rine Richardfon, Mary Eaton, Pleafant ( 
 oek, Hannah Eritain, Janede Nyce, Mary T 
 Ahm Foirer, Rachel Wright, Martha Edwards, M 
 , Mary Powell. 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 among them and baptized one Jofeph Afhtoa 
 and Jane his wife, William Filher and John 
 Watts which increafed their number to twelve 
 fouls including the minifter. Thefe twelve 
 did by mutual confent form themfelves into a 
 church in the month of January 1688, choof- 
 ing Mr. Keach to be their minifter, and Samuel 
 Vaus to be deacon. Soon after, the few e- 
 migrated Baptifts in this province and Weft- 
 jerfey did join them ; alfo thofe whom Mr. 
 JCeach baptized at the Falls, Coldfpring, Bur- 
 lington, Cohanfey, Salem, Pennfneck, Chef- 
 ter, Philadelphia, &c. They were all one 
 church, and Pennepek the center of union 
 where as many,, as could, met to celebrate the 
 memorials of Chrift's death ; and for the fake 
 of diftant members they adminiftred the ordi- 
 nance quarterly at Burlington, Cohanfey, 
 Chefter and Philadelphia ; which quarterly 
 meetings have fmce transformed into three 
 yearly meetings and an affociation. Thus, 
 for feme time, continued their zion with 
 lengthened cords till the brethren in remote 
 parts fet about forming themfelves into dif- 
 tinct churches which began in 1699 and con- 
 tinued till of late years. By thefe detachments 
 Pennepek was reduced to narrow bounds, but 
 yet abides kmong the churches as a mother in 
 the mid ft of many daughters. Various hare 
 hztxi the difficulties they pail'ed through for a 
 courfe of 82 years; but having obtained help 
 of God continue to this day, and are in a com- 
 fortable fituation under the care of their pre- 
 fent worthy paftor. At their fettlement and 
 during the adminiftration of Mr. Keach they 
 were the fame as now with refpect to faith ai;d 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 order ; but when their number increafed, and 
 emigrants from differing churches in Europe 
 incorporated with them divifions began to take 
 place about various things, fuch as abfolute 
 predeftination ; laying on of hands ; diftri- 
 buting the elements ; fmging pfalms ; feventh- 
 day fabbath, 6tc. which threw the body ecclcfi- 
 aftic into a fever. In the year 1747 a tumult 
 aroie about the choice of a minifter which if- 
 fued in a feparation. But this and the other ma- 
 ladies healed when the peccant humours had 
 been purged off, and the defign of providence 
 accomplished ; which defign is expreffed in 
 thefe notable words, There muft be dhijtons a- 
 viong you that they who are approved may be ?uade 
 ruanifejl. 1 Cor. xi. 19. The firil minifter they 
 had was the 
 
 Rev'. Ellas Keach. 
 
 He was fon of the famous Benj. Keach, of 
 London. Arrived in this country a very wild 
 fpark about the year 1686. On his landing he 
 dreffed in black and wore a band in order to 
 pafs for a minifter. The project fucceeded to 
 his wifhes, and many people reforted to hear 
 the young London divine. He performed well 
 enough till he had advanced pretty far in the 
 fermon. Then, ftopping fhort, looked like a 
 man aftonifhed. The audience concluded he 
 had been feized with a fudden diforder ; but, 
 on afking what the matter was, received from 
 him a confeffion of the impofture with tears in 
 hfs eyes and much trembling. Great was his 
 efs though it ended happily ; for from 
 . dated he his coaverficn. H§ heard there 
 
C ™ ) 
 
 was a Baptift minifter at Coldfprlng m Bucks 
 county between Briftol and Trentown. To 
 liim did he repair to feek coufel and comfort \ 
 and by him was he baptized and ordaineda 
 The minifter's name was Thomas Dungan. * 
 From Coldfpring Mr. Keach came to Penne- 
 pek and fettled a church there as before relat- 
 ed ; and thence travelled through Permfylva- 
 nia and the Jerfies preaching the gofpel in the 
 wildernefs with great fuccefs, in fo much that 
 he may be confidered as the chief apoftle of the 
 Baptifts in thefe parts of America. He aad 
 his family embarked for old England early in 
 the ipring of the year 169a, after having re- 
 
 * Of this* Venerable father I can learn no mere than 
 that he came from Rhodeifland about the year 1684. 
 That he and his family fettled at Coldfpring where he ga- 
 thered a church, of which nothing remains hut a grave 
 yard and the names of the families which belonged to it 
 Viz. the DunganSy Gardners, Woods, Doyh, Sec. That 
 he died in 1688 and was buried in faid grave yard. That 
 his children were five fons and four daughters (1) Willi- 
 am, who married into the Whing family of Rhodeifland. 
 and had five children (x) Clement, who died childlefs 
 (3) Thomas, who married into the Drake family and 
 had nine children, (4) Jeremiah, who married into the 
 fame family and had eight children (5) Elizabeth, who 
 married into the Weft family and had four children (<5) 
 Mary who marriedintothe Richards family and had three 
 •children (7) John, who died childlefs (8) Rebecka, who 
 married into the Doyle family and had three children (9) 
 Sarah, who married into the family of the Kerreis and 
 had fix children ; in all 38 «• To mention the names, al- 
 liances and offspring of thefe would tend towards an end- 
 lefs genealogy. Sufficeth it, That the Rev. Thomas 
 _Dungan "(the firft baptift minifter in the province) ncuv 
 dsifteth in a progeny of between kx and fe-yea hundred. 
 
< K > 
 
 Ugned the caj% of the church for a confidera- 
 ble time before to the 
 
 Rev. John Watts, 
 
 JJe was born Nov. 3, 1661 at Lydd * in the 
 jfbanty of Kent. Came to this country about the 
 
 eyear 1686. Was baptized at Pennepek Nov. 
 
 v 2i, 1687. Called to the miniflry in 1688. 
 Took on him the care of the church in 1690^ 
 Continued in the care thereof to Aug. 27, 1702 
 when he died of the fmall pox and was buried 
 at Pennepek, having had Mr. Samuel Jones to 
 his affiftant. He married Sarah Eaton, by 
 whom he had children, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ma- 
 ry, Deborah, Elias and Stephen. Stephen is 
 yet alive. The fons married into the Roberts 
 and Melchior families, and the daughters intov 
 the families of the Yerkes, Davis, Shulls and 
 Ingles and have raifed him twenty nine r grand 
 children, and thefe another generation of be- 
 tween fifty and fixty. Mr. Watts was a found 
 divine, and a man of fome learning as appears 
 by a book * he wrote entitled Davis Difabled. 
 
 * The paper from which I took the above account is 
 fo illegible that I cannot be fure whether the place of his 
 nativity fhould be read Lydd or Lecd or fomething like 
 either. 
 
 * The book whereto Mr. Watts's piece was an anfwer 
 was publifhed in 1700 and entitled Jcfus the crucified 
 man, the eternal fan of God. The main doctrine in this 
 book is " That the divine nature and the human were 
 '* fo blended in the perfon of Chrift that he was not pro- 
 '' perly God nor properly man but a compound of both." 
 
 author, Mr. William Davis, had been a Quake* 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 There was an order for printing this book dated 
 Aug. 3, 1705, but it was not executed. The 
 manufcript is in my poffeffion. He alfo com- 
 pofed a catechifm or little fyftem of divinity 
 which was publifhed in 1700, but of it I have 
 not yet obtained a copy. His fucceffor was the 
 
 Rev. Evan Morgan. 
 
 He came to this country very v early and was 
 a fmart, a knowing, and a pious man. He 
 broke off from the Quakers along with many 
 others of Keith's party in 1 69 1 . Was baptized 
 in 1697 by one Thomas Rutter, and the fame 
 year, renouncing the relkpies of Quakerifm, 
 was received into the church. In 1702 he was 
 called to the miniftry, and ordained 061. 23, 
 1706. by Rev. meflieurs Thomas Griffiths and ' 
 Thomas Killingworth. He died Feb. 16, 1709 
 and was buried at Pennepek, after having had 
 
 preacher. He broke off from them in the grand repara- 
 tion of 1 601 along with George Keith, and was one of 
 the forty eight who figned the reafbns and caufes of 
 that reparation. In 1697 he embraced the principles of 
 the Baptifts and was baptized at Philadelphia by Rev. 
 Thomas Killingworth of Cohanfey. The fame year he 
 joined Pennepek church where he began to inculcate the 
 above mentioned doctrine with great affiduity ; but they 
 deeming it herefy did, after a flrfl: and fecond admonition 
 to no purpofe, expel him Feb. 17, 1698. After that he 
 joined a fociety of Keithians kept at the houfe of Abra- 
 ham Pratt in the neighbourhood of Pennepek (Tome of 
 which had been baptized the year before), and with marcy 
 of them became a feventhday Baptift. He continued to 
 preach to them till he went to Wefferly in Rhodeifland 
 government in 1711, where he abode to 1724 and thence 
 returned to the Jerfies where he* died. After k. 
 Wefterly he wrote a letter to the people there and r 
 ed it 3 wherein he complains of very ill ufage from th 
 
( *3 ) 
 the joint care of the church for upwards of two 
 years. His wife's name was Mary Swift by 
 whom he had a daughter named Frances who 
 married Richard Hall and bore him a fon who 
 is yet alive and married to Sufannah Edge. 
 Her fecond hufband was Jofeph Fifher, by 
 whom fhe had children Ifabella, Mary and 
 Martha who married into the Leech, Green 
 and Hall families. Mr. Morgan's fucceffor, 
 who had alfo been his colleague, was the 
 
 Rev. Samuel Jonet* 
 
 He was born July 9, 1657, in the parifh 
 of Llanddewi and the county of Radnor. 
 Came to this country about 1686. Called to 
 the miniftry in 1697. Ordained Oct. 23, 1706^ 
 at which time he took part of the miniftry 
 with Mr. Evan Morgan. He died Feb. 3, 
 1722 and was buried at Pennepek. His chil- 
 dren died before him. He had Mr. John Hart 
 * and others to his affiftants. The ground en 
 which the meeting-houfe ftands was given by 
 lum. He alio gave for the ufe.of the meeting 
 Pool's annot. 2 vol. Burkit's annot. 1 vol. 
 Keach on the parables and Bifhop's body of di- 
 
 * Mr. John Kart was born Nov. 16, 1651 at "Whit- 
 ney in Oxiord.Qiire. Came to this country early, and 
 preached among the Quakers to 1691 ; at which time he 
 ied with George Keith, and was one of the 48 v. ho 
 Jigned the reaibns of that reparation. From the fepara • 
 t;on in 1 59 1 he preached to a fociety of Keithians, meet- 
 ing at the houfe of John Swift in Southampton, Bucks 
 county. About 1697 he, and fome of the fociety, 
 embraced the principles of the Baptifts. The ordinance 
 was adrniniitred to them by one Thomas Rutter. In 1702, 
 he and the fociety joined Pennepek, Mr, Hart was not 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 vinity, &c. His fucceffoiy who a'Ifo had been 
 Jiis colleague, was 
 
 Rev. Jofeph Wood. 
 
 Hs was born in the year 1659 near Hull in 
 Yorkfhire. Came to this country about 1684. 
 Baptized by Mr. Keachat Burlington Jul. 24, 
 2691. Ordained Sept. 25* 1708, at which 
 time he took part of the minifrry with Mr. E- 
 van Morgan and Mr. Samuel Jones. He died 
 Sept. 15. 1747 and was buried at Coldfpring. 
 His children were Jofeph, Jabez, Jofiah, Ta- 
 bitha, Benjamin, John, Samuel, William and 
 Hannah. Mr. Wood was- reckoned a good 
 preacher ; but in the latter part of life his ufe- 
 fuinefs was much leiTened by fome family and 
 perfonal unhappinefs, better concealed thaa 
 named. His fuccefTor was 
 
 Rev. Abel Morgan. 
 
 He was born in the year 1637, at a place 
 
 called Alltgoch in the parifh of Llanwenog and 
 county of Carmarthen. Entefed on the mini- 
 ftry in' the nineteenth year of his age. Was 
 ordained at Blaenegwent in Monmouthfnire. 
 Arrived in this country Feb. 14. 1711. Refi- 
 
 ordained ; but was reckoned a good preacher and a mod 
 pious Chriftian. The laft words he uttered were, Nou 
 I know to a dernonft ration that Chrifl ditd tofave me ! Kis 
 wife's name was Sufannah Rum, by whom he had chil- 
 dren, John, Jofeph, Thomas, Jofiah and Mary. Thefe 
 formed alliances with the Crifpin, Miles, Paulin and 
 Dungan families and have raifed him upwards of 10 gvivA 
 children. 
 
( * ) 
 
 ded fome time at Philadelphia, and then re- 
 moved to Pennepek. Took on him the care of 
 the church as foon as he landed ; and conti- 
 nued therein to his death, which come to pafs 
 D^c. 1 6, 1722. He was buried in the grave 
 yard of Philadelphia, where a flone is erected 
 to his memory. His firfl; wife was Pri cilia 
 Powell of Abergavenny. His fecond, Martha 
 Burrows. His third, the widow Gooding, 
 daughter of the reverend Thomas Griffiths. 
 She is yet alive under the name of Fulton. 
 By the firft he had, Jane ; by the third, Rachel, 
 Abel, Samuel and Enoch. Thefe married in- 
 to the Holms, Howell, Sprogle and Keen fa- 
 milies, and have raifed him 16 grand children. 
 Mr. Abel Morgan was a great and good man, 
 and is held in dear remembrance by all that 
 knew him. He compiled a folio concordance 
 to the Welfh bible, printed at Philadelphia in 
 1730. Tranflated the Century confeffion to Welfh, 
 and added thereto article the xxiii and xxxi. 
 Several other pieces of his are yet extant in 
 manufcripts. His fuccefTor was 
 
 Rev, Jenkin Joner. 
 
 He became minifter of this churchinthe year 
 1725 which was near three years after Mr. Mor- 
 gan's deceafe, and had Mr. William Kinner- 
 fley # to his affiftant. Mr. Wood was yet a- 
 
 * Mr. William Kinnerfley was born in 1669 at a 
 place called the Lynch near Leominfter, in Erdsfieid pa- 
 id county of Hereford. Kis wife was Sarah Turner 
 of Rofs, ia the, fame county, by whom he had children 
 
( * ) 
 
 live but not verytapable of ferving the church, 
 He continued in the care thereof for upwards 
 of twenty years, and then refigned it, to 
 become the minifter of Philadelphia church 
 where we fhall fay more of him. His fuccef- 
 for was 
 
 Rev, Peter Peterfon Vanhorn, 
 
 He was born, Auguft the 24th, 1719, at 
 Middletown in Bucks county, and was bred a 
 Lutheran. Embraced the principles of the 
 Baptifts Sept. 6, 1741. Ordained June f8 # 
 1747. Continued in the oversight of the church 
 to 1762 when he refigned, and fettled at the 
 Newmills in the Jerfey. His affiftant was Mr. 
 George Eaton # . His wife is Margaret Mar- 
 shall by whom he has children, William, Ga~ 
 
 Ebenezer and Mary, who married into the fturneld and 
 JKubbs families, and have raifed him eight grand children. 
 He came to America Sept. 12, 17 14. Was an exhorter 
 in the church of Tuxbery, but was never ordained. He 
 exercifed his talent in that capacity with acceptance to 
 Feb. 13. 1734 when he died, and was buried at Penne- 
 pek, 
 
 * Mr. George Eaton was never ordained but only au- 
 thorifed to preach as an exhorter about the year 1 7 34, 
 which he continued to do with acceptance to his death in 
 Jul. 1, 1764. He married Mary Davis by whom he had 
 children, George, Peter, John, Sarah and James. Thefe 
 married into the Taylor, Morris, Harris, Grays and 
 Huntfman families, and have raifed him a8 grand children. 
 His fecond wife was Martha Griffiths who is yet alive. 
 He bellowed on the church $ 1. and. an acre of land ; and 
 is buried at Pennepek where a tombftone is erected to his 
 memory by his furviving and pious widow. 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 briel, Peter, Aaron, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mar- 
 (hal, Charles. His fucceflbr is 
 
 Rev. Samuel Jones, A. M. 
 
 He was born Jan. 14, 1735', at a place 
 called Cefen y Gelli in Bettus parifh in Glamor- 
 ganfhire. Came to America in 1737. Bred 
 at the college of Philadelphia. Ordained Jan. 
 8, 1763, at which time he commenced mini- 
 fter of Pennepek and Southampton. He mar- 
 ried Sylvia Spicer of Capemay by whom he has 
 a fon named Thomas. Mr. Jones's ordination 
 fermon was printed ; together with a charge 
 given him, and a hiftorical narrative of the 
 manner in which the folemnity was conduced. 
 1 The next church to Pennepek, in order of. 
 time, is 
 
 WELSHTRACT. 
 
 This is diftinguifhed by the above name, 
 which is the name of a parcel of land furround- 
 ing the place of worfhip, in the hundred of 
 Pencader and county of Newcaftle, 45 miles 
 s s wqs from Philadelphia. The houfe is a neat 
 brick building, 40 feet by 30, with feats, a 
 ftove, and adjacent (tables. It (lands on a lot 
 of high ground, containing fix acres, the gift 
 of Hugh Morris and formed into an angle by 
 the running of Ironhill brook into Chriftiana 
 river. Here the three branches of the Church 
 meet on the firft Sunday in the month f o cele- 
 brate the Lord's-fupper. One branch refide 
 near ; the other in London-bii ain townfhip 9 
 cailes off. The third at Liukcrtek hundred 
 
( 18 ) 
 
 in the county of Kent, about 32 miles diftastj 
 in each of which places is a meeting houfe. 
 The temporalities of this church are ( 1 ) Two 
 hundred pounds the gift of Thomas Edmunds 
 (2) A plantation of 1 16 acres the gift of Hugh 
 Morris (3) Twelve pounds the gift of Mary 
 Williams. With thefe helps it is propofed the 
 living (hall be worth 100 1. a year. The church 
 is now in its widowed ftate ; but fupplied by 
 Mr. John Davis fon of their late mini fler, who 
 is a fenfible man, bred in the college of Phila- 
 delphia, and about removing to Bofton. The 
 families belonging to the place are about ioo^, 
 whereof 107 # perfons are baptized and in the 
 communion of the church. This was the ftate 
 
 * Ifaiah Lewis and David Evans, dcac. Thomas James, 
 Efq. Thomas M'Kim, Efq. John Evans, Efq. William 
 Buckingham, William Buckingham, jun. John Bucking- 
 ham, John Bowen, Thomas Davis, John Davis, Tho- 
 mas Jones, Jofeph Gardner, Abel Davis, Daniel Davis, 
 William Eynon, Jofeph Price, Lewis German, Benja- 
 min Jones, Daniel Griffiths, David Hughs, Hugh Glaf« 
 ford, Ifaac Hughs, Jacob John, James Jones, William 
 James, Jacob Lemmon, Richard Lemmon, John Tcun- 
 fend, James Williams, Edward Miles, John Morgan, 
 John M'Cormick, Enoch Morgan, James Mundle, A- 
 lexander M'Kim, Thomas Robifon, Morris Thomas, 
 Nicholas Paine, Jane Buckingham, Jane Bowen, Anne 
 Bulh, Hannah Bonham, Sarah Braken, Ruth Cloud, 
 Hannah Connoly, Mary Cann, Mary Clark, Mary Ro- 
 gers, Margaret Morphy, Either Rees, Hannah Davis 3 
 Rachel Davis, Elenor Davis, Efther Davis, Mary Price, 
 Hannah Eynon, Jane Evans, Mary Evans, Rachel Fa- 
 ris, Mary Evans, Rachel Griffiths, Mary Griffiths, A- 
 bigail Giles, Elizabeth Prichafd, Margaret Williams, 
 Hannah Duglas, Gwen Hughs, Phebe Hughs, Hannah 
 Hughs, Elizabeth John, Tamar James, Sufannah Jones. 
 Hannah Jones, Joanna Jones, Jennet Jones, Mary Jury, 
 Choice Townfend, Sarah Whitten, Catherine Watfon, Su- 
 frnnah Watfon, Mary Watfon, Jane Williams, Debc- 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 of Weifhtracl in the year 1770. Their ftate 
 from that time to their original will lead us 
 back to the beginning of the century and acrofs 
 the Atlantick to Wales where it originated in 
 the following manner. In the fpring of the 
 year 1701 feveral baptift acquaintance in the 
 counties of Carmarthen and Pembroke refolved 
 to go to America. And as one of the compa- 
 ny was a minifter they were advifed to form 
 themfelves into a church. They did fo. The 
 inftrument of their confederation is ftill extant 
 but without a date. Their names were, Rev, 
 Thomas Griffiths, Griffith Nicholas, Evan Ed- 
 munds, John Edwards, Elifha Thomas, Enocli 
 Morgan, Richard Davis, James Davis, Eliza-* 
 beth Griffiths, Lucy Edmunds, Mary Jones, 
 Mary Thomas, Elizabeth Griffiths, Jennet Da- 
 vis, Margaret Mathias, Judith Morris. Theis 
 1 6, which may be Ityled a- church emigra?;t, 
 met at Milford haven in the month of June 
 1 701, and embarked on board the good fhip 
 James and Mary ; and on the eighth of Sep- 
 tember following landed at Philadelphia. The 
 brethren there treated them courteoufly, and 
 advifed them to fettle about Pennepek. Thi» 
 ther they went, and there continued for about 
 a year and a half; during which time 21 per- 
 fons joined them. But finding it inconveni- 
 ent to abide about Pennepek they purchafed 
 
 rah Whitten, Sarah Jones, Elizabeth Lemmon, Mary 
 Lewis, Sarah Miles, Saiah Miles, jun. Mary Morgan, 
 Hannah M'Cormick, ?,largaret Morgan, Margaret Mun- 
 dle, Rachel Morrifon, Elizabeth Morgan, Agnis M'Kim„ 
 Sarah Oborn, Catherine Rees, Mary Roberts, Elizabeth 
 Robifon, Mary Rhodewell, Jane Rowland, Mary Tho- 
 mas^ Mary Thomas, jun. Hannah Thomas, Elizabeth 
 nglcton, Rev. Robert Lemmon. 
 
( 2° ) 
 
 land in the county of Newcaflle and gave it 
 the name of Wel/htraft : . Thither they removed 
 in the fpringof 1703 and the fame year built a 
 meeting houfe on the fpot where the prefent 
 ftands. This removal left fome of their mem- 
 bers near Pennepek, and took fome of the Pen- 
 nepek members to Welfhtracl: ; yet neither 
 could commune with their neighbours by rea- 
 fon of difference about laying on of bands ; (the 
 church of Pennepek being grown indifferent a- 
 bout the rite ; but that of Welfhtracl deeming 
 it prerequifite to the communion of faints.) 
 To remedy this inconvenience both churches 
 appointed deputies to compromife matters as 
 well as they could, who met to the number of 
 24 at the houfe of Richard Miles, June 22. 
 1706, in the townfhip of Radnor and county of 
 Chefter. The iflue of the meeting was an a- 
 greement ( 1 ) That the members of either church 
 might tranfiently commune with the other, but 
 not be received into memberfhip (2) That the 
 Votaries of the, rite might freely converfe on 
 the fubjecl, and that the reft would hear. Con- 
 viction followed ; for within three years after 
 we read that fome minifters and about 55 pri- 
 vate perfons fubmitted to the ordinance. No 
 very remarkable events have happened in this 
 church for a courfe of 69 years, except two 
 divifions (and divifions muft be) which have 
 been pretty well healed long ago. Four things 
 may be faid in commendation of thefe people 
 ( 1 ) They were the firft who received the Centu- 
 ry confeljion which was fubfcribed by 122 of 
 them in the year 17 16, with addition of arti- 
 cle the xxiii and xxxi. It had been translated 
 for their ufe by Mr. Abet Morgan (2) They 
 
( »J ) 
 
 ^ere means of enlightening many touching the 
 nature and obligation of the ordinance of lay- 
 ing on of hands after baptifm (3) They main- 
 tained ftricl difcipline (4) They were exact ia 
 keeping records ; though hereafter they will be 
 of no fervice as they were written in Welfh 
 down to the year 1732. The miniftry of this 
 church hath been filled with great and good 
 men who have been as ufeful and have fup- 
 ported the facred character as well as any fet 
 of clergy in America. The firfl was 
 
 Rev. Thomas Griffiths . 
 
 He was born, 164c, in Llanfernach parifh 
 and county of Pembroke. Took on him the 
 care of the church at their conftitution in 170K 
 Arrived with them in this country Sept. 8, 
 1 70 1 . Died and was buried at Pennepek July 
 25, 1725. His childrens names were Eliza- 
 beth, Samuel, Ifaac, Mary, Judith. Thefe 
 married into the families of the Trueax, Good- 
 ing and Morgan and have raifed him 18 grand 
 children ; and thefe thirty nine great grand 
 children moft of them alive under the names of 
 Loyds, Wards, Holms, Halls, Likings, Mor- 
 gans, Howells, Griffiths. His daughter Ju- 
 dith is yet alive, and widow of Mr. Fulton. 
 His fuccefTor, who had been his colleague, was 
 
 Rrj. Eli Jim Thomas. 
 
 He was born in Carmarthenfhfre in 1674. 
 Arrived in this counry September 8, 1701. 
 Took on him the care of the church, July 25, 
 J 7 25. Died Nov. 7, j 730, and was buried at 
 
( M ) 
 
 tVelftitracl where a tomb is erected to his Me- 
 mory. He had two daughters. Rachel and 
 Sarah. The firft is yet alive and widow of 
 the Rev. David Davis. Her firft hufband was 
 of the Jones family by whom fhe had a daugh- 
 ter (now married to John Evans, Efq.) who 
 has children, John, Rees, Mary, Qfwell. 
 The fecond daughter married into the family 
 of the James and went to Carolina, where 
 fome of her offspring exift to this day. Mr. 
 Griffiths's fucceiTor, who alfo had been his 
 colleague, was 
 
 ■Rev.-. Enoch Morgan. 
 
 He was bor,n in 1 676 at a place called Allt- 
 goch in the parifh of Llanwenog and county of 
 Cardigan. Arrived in this country Sept. 8, 
 1 701. Took on him the fole care of the church 
 Nov. 7, 1730. Died,Mar. 25, 1740, and was 
 buried at Welfhtradt where a tomb is erected 
 to his memory. His widow is yet alive. By 
 her he had children, Abel (now minifter of 
 Middletown and unmarried), Efther and E- 
 noch who married into the Douglas and 
 Howell families and have raifed him many 
 grand children. His fucceffor, who alfo had 
 been his colleague, was 
 
 Rev* Onven Thomas. 
 
 He was born in 1691 at a place called Givr- 
 godllys in Cilmanllwyd parifh and county 
 of Pembroke in Wales. Came to America in 
 1707. Took on him the care of the church 
 Mar. 25, 1740. Continued in the care thare- 
 
C n ) 
 
 of to May 27, 1748 when he removed to Vin- 
 cent near the Yellowfpring, where he died and 
 was buried Nov. 12, 1760. His children were 
 Elizabeth, Morris, Rachel, Mary, David, Sa- 
 rah, Owen who married into the Thomas* 
 Cantrel, Allifon, Jury, Rogers and Evans fa- 
 milies and have raifed him forty fix grand 
 children. Mr. Owen Thomas left behind him 
 the following remarkable note. " I have been 
 94 called upon three times to anoint the fick 
 " with oil for recovery. The effect was fur- 
 " prizing in every cafe ; but in none more fo 
 " than in that of our brother Rynallt Howell. 
 " He was fo fore with the brurfes of the wag- 
 " gon when he was anointed that he could not 
 " bear to be turned in bed o t her wife than with 
 " the fheet ; the next day he was fo well that 
 f* he went to meeting". I have often wonder- 
 ed that this rite is fo much neglected as the pre- 
 cept is fo plain, and the effects have been fo 
 falutary. His fucceflbr, who alfo had been his, 
 colleague, was 
 
 Rev, David Davis. 
 
 He was born in 1 708 in the parifh of Whit- 
 church and county of Pembroke. Came to 
 this country m the year 17 10. A/Turned the 
 care of the church May 27, 1748. Continued 
 in the care thereof to Aug. 19, 1769 when he 
 died. He was an excellent man ! and is had 
 in precious remembrance bv all that knew him. 
 His childrens names are Rees, Jonathan (now 
 miniiter of the feventh cay b.ipti ft church at 
 Cohanfey), John (now ^a probationer }y Sufaa- 
 na, Mary, Margaret. Johnand Margaret are 
 
t *4 ) 
 
 fibgfe ; the reft are married into the families 
 €>f the Miles, Bonhams, Bentleys and Parrs 
 and have raifed him eighteen grand children. 
 Go temporary with Mr. Davis was 
 
 Rev. Griffith Jotter* 
 
 He was bom 0&. 8, 1695 at a place called 
 Alltfanurm the parifli of Llanon and county of 
 Carmarthen. Entered on the miniftry in the 
 19th year of his age. Settled fir ft at Penyfai r 
 and afterwards at Cefcnhengoed. Came to Ame- 
 rica in I749> and fettled at Duckcreek. Died 
 Dec. 4, 1754 and was buried atPencader. He 
 had two wives, by whom he had children Ma- 
 ry, Samuel, Morgan (now minifter of Hemp- 
 ftead in England), John, Benjamin, Robert* 
 Rachel.— -The next church in point of fenioritje 
 is the 
 
 GREAT VALLEY. 
 
 It is diftinguiflied by the above name of 
 Greatvalley, which is the name of a long bottom 
 of land reaching from Schuylkill to Sufquehan- 
 11a. In the eaft end of which, in the townfhip 
 of Tredyffryn, county of Chefter, eighteen 
 miles WN-wh-N from Philadelphia ftands the 
 meeting- houfe. Its dimenfions are 28 feet 
 fquare, erected in 1722 with feats, galleries, 
 and a ftove. The ground about it contains 
 near two acres ; a part of which was given 
 by William George ; the reft purchafed by the 
 church. On this lot are ftables ; and adjoin- 
 ing it a fchool houfe. The fituation is plea- 
 fant, being rifing ground by the highway and 
 
( 2J ) 
 
 bordering on a fmall brook called Nant yr E- 
 nvig. The church exifts in two branches. The 
 one near ; the other ztYe/loufpring in the town- 
 ihip of Vincent, about 12 miles off where is a 
 meeting houfe, a fchool houfe, and a liable. 
 The houfe is 30 feet by 20, and flands on a lot 
 of four acres, the gift of Mr. Cox. Other le- 
 gacies appertain to this church (1) One hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds the gift of William 
 George ; one third of which is appropriated to 
 the Yellowfpring (2) Fifty pounds the gift of 
 Thomas Rees (3) Fifty pounds the gift of John 
 Phillips (4) Sixteen pounds the gift of Edward 
 Mathews (5) Five pounds the gift of Richard 
 Owen (6) Four pounds the gift of William 
 Morgan (7) Twenty pounds the gift of Thomas 
 Jenkins (8) Five pounds the gift of Sarah Miles 
 
 (9) Five pounds the gift of Griffith Jenkins 
 
 (10) Five Pounds the gift of Griffith Philips 
 
 (11) Ten pounds the gift of John David Rees 
 
 (12) Ten pounds the gift of William Rees 
 
 (13) Fifty pounds the gift of Hugh Wilfon to- 
 wards fupporting the fchool houfe (14) Twen- 
 ty pounds the gift of Owen Phillips towards 
 keeping the meeting houfe in good repairs (15) 
 A plantation of fifty acres with a good houfe 
 and outhoufes on it, the gift of Henry Davis. 
 With thefe helps the living is judged worth 
 lool. a year. The families belonging to the 
 place are about 92, whereof 99 # peribns are 
 
 * John Davis, ?nhu James Davis, eTd. Sarnne! Jones an J 
 John Williams, deac. Samion Davis, David Thomas, 
 Thomas Nicholas, Jofeph Nicholas, George George, 
 Thomas Davis, Rev. Thomas Davis, Edward Powell, 
 Nathan Powell, David Cornog, Abraham Cornog, Tho- 
 mas Cornog, Daniel Cornog, Evan Thomas, Griffith 
 
( 2* ) 
 
 baptized and members of the church. The pre- 
 fent minifter is Rev. John Davis. Thus flood 
 matters at the Greatvalley in 1770. A retrof- 
 pect of their affairs will lead us to the year 1701 
 and 1 702 when feveral families from Wales ar- 
 rived and fettled in the eaft end of faid valley ; 
 one of which was James Davisj a member of 
 the baptift church of Rydwilim in Carmarthen- 
 fliire. Near to his plantation, in Radnor town- 
 fhip lived one Richard Miles who, with his 
 wife, had been baptized a little before by Mr. 
 
 William Beckingham inUpperprovidence. 
 
 Thefe two families conforted together, and in- 
 vited minifters from other parts to preach at 
 their houfes, by which means feveral were 
 baptized particularly William Thomas Hugh, 
 Arthur Edwards, William Davis, Margaret 
 
 Thomas, William Griffiths, John Edwards, Lewis Mor- 
 gan, Edward Jones, Ifaac Adams, Elijah Davis, David 
 Thomas, Owen Thomas,William Grano, John Thomas, 
 Thomas Morris, William Gorden, David Jenkins, Phi- 
 lip Jenkins, Philip Lewis, Enoch Lewis, Jofeph Philips, 
 David Philips, John Philips, James John, William- Wells, 
 David Davis, Sarah Evans, Mary Davis, Hannah Jones, 
 Mary Williams, Catharine Jones, Elizabeth Nicholas, 
 Mary Nicholas, Hannah Davis, Mary Evans, Ann Wal- 
 ters, Catherine George, Hannah George, Mary Davis, 
 Mary Pugh, Mary Davis, Mary PowcT, Elizabeth Ste- 
 vens, Margaret James, Catherine Cornog, Jane Cornog f 
 Mary Thomas, Elizabeth Thomas, Sarah Cornog, Mar- 
 tha Lewis, Jane Davis, Sarah Mather, Mary Davis, Mar- 
 garet , Sarah Edwards, Martha Edwards, Edith 
 
 Adams, Alee Adams, Elizabeth Davis, Catherine Ro- 
 berts, Lcttice Thomas, Margaret Gran©, Mary Loyd, 
 Lettice James, Lettice Davis, Hannah Morris, Sarah 
 Gorden, Joan Davis, Margaret Jenkins, Jane Jenkins, 
 Ann Lewis, Elizabeth Martin, Mary Philips, Margaret 
 Phillips, Mary Williams, Emma Vaughn, Margaret 
 Smith, Hannah Wells, Mary Davis, Elizabeth Davis, 
 Elizabeth Jones, Catherine Bartholomew, 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 J>avis, Joan Miles, Jane Miles, Margaret 
 Phillips, Margaret Evans. In 17 10 Rev. 
 Hugh Davis (an ordained minifter), William 
 Rees, Alexander Owen, John Evans and Mar- 
 garet his wife arrived and fettled in the fame 
 neighbourhood which increafed their number 
 to fixteen, and made them think of forming 
 themfelves into a church. Accordingly, Ap. 
 22. 171 1, they were incorporated, and did 
 choofe Rev. Hugh Davis to be their minifter ; 
 and Alexander Owen, and William Rees to be 
 elders, and the fame year they joined the afTo- 
 ciation ; the former officiated as a deacon till 
 Griffith Jones arrived from Rydwilimin the year^ 
 17^2. From this time to 1722 they increafed 
 fall partly by Mr. Davis's miniftry, partly by 
 comers from other parts, but chiefly by emi- 
 grants from Wales, which made it inconveni- 
 ent for them to hold their meetings in private 
 houfes, and fet them on erecting the buiJding 
 before defcribed. No very remarkable event 
 hath come to pafs in this church for a courfe 
 of 59 years except a debate which arofe among 
 them in 1726 on account of the Teventh day 
 iabbath and which caufed five families to with- 
 ; draw ; of which more hereafter. The firft mi- 
 nifter which the Greatvalley had was 
 
 Rev, Hugh Davis, 
 
 He was born in 1665 in Cardiganftiire. 
 Baptized and ordained at Rydwilim. Arrived 
 in this country Apr. 26, 171 1. Settled with 
 the church when firft conftituted. Continued 
 among them to his death, which came to pafs 
 ©&• 13* 1753, after haying faithfully fcrved 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 the church for 42 years five months, and 21 
 days. He had one daughter who married Da- 
 vid Davis. The family yet exifts near Sufque- 
 hanna. Mr. Hugh Davis was a man of parts 
 with a natural turn for fatyr ; which neverthe- 
 lefs he managed to advantage in his fermons. 
 Some years before his death he had a fevere 
 pain in his arm which gradually wafted the 
 limb, and made life a burden. After trying 
 many remedies he fent for the elders of the 
 church to anoint him with oil, according to 
 James v. 14 — 17. The effect was perfect cure 
 fo far, that the pain never returned. One of 
 the elders concerned (from whom I had this 
 relation) is yet alive, and fucceeds Mr. Hugb 
 Davis in the miniftry, viz. 
 
 Rev. John Davis. 
 
 He was born Nov. 1, 1702 in Llanfernach 
 pariih, county of Pembroke. Arrived in A- 
 merica Jul. 27, 17 13. Called to the miniftry 
 in 1722. Ordained Nov. 16, 1732, at which 
 time he took part of the miniftry with Mr. 
 Hugh Davis ; and has had the fole care of the 
 church fmce his death in j 7 5 3 . Mr. John Da- 
 vis married Abigail Miles, by whom he had a 
 fon named Samfon who alfo married into the 
 fame family and has children, Abner, Abigal, 
 
 Hannah, Nathan and John. The next 
 
 church is 
 
 BRANDIWINE. 
 
 This receives its diftinclion from a river of 
 the above name near to which the church rs- 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 fides. It exifts in two branches ; the one in 
 Birmingham townfhip in the county of Chefter 
 where is a meeting-houfe, creeled in i 7 1 8 on a 
 lot of one acre the gift of Edmund Butcher, 
 38 miles wbs, wefterly, from Philadelphia ; 
 the other branch is in Newlin townfhip, 1 2 miles 
 off, where is a houfe, erected in 1742, on a 
 lot of one acre the gift of Jeffrey Bendy. They 
 adminitter the Lord's-fupper alternately in each 
 place the third iunday in the month, when they 
 have help ; for at prefent they are in a widow- 
 ed ftate. There are no temporalities belong- 
 ing to this church, nor many rich ; for which 
 reafon it is fuppofed that 20 1. a year would be 
 the utmoft they could raife towards fupporting 
 a minifter. The families belonging to the 
 place are about 26, whereof 19 * perfons are 
 baptized and in the communion of the church. 
 This was the ftate of Brandiwine in the year 
 1770. It originated in the following manner 
 
 . About the year 1697 a fociety of Keithian 
 
 baptifts was formed in the neighbourhood ; of 
 which more hereafter. This fociety broke up 
 in 1 700 on account of a difference that arofe a- 
 mongft them about the Sabbath Such as pre- 
 ferred the fir ft day of the week lay fcattered in 
 the neighbourhood to thejrear 17 14 when Mr. 
 
 * Jeffrey Bently dcac. John M'Kim, Samuel M'Kim, 
 
 Samuel Richee, Samuel , John Garret, Robert 
 
 Chalfont, George Bently, James Shields, James Bird, 
 William Collet, Elizabeth M'Kim, Jane Shields, Eliza- 
 beth Garret, Margaret Baldwin, Sufanna Simmons, Eli- 
 zabeth Barnet, Ruth Frame, Margaret Collet, Hannah 
 M'Kraken, Mary Shields, Margaret Shields, Elizabeth 
 Powelf, Dorcas Davis, Martha Barnet, Sarah Piper, Eli- 
 -:hWay, Elenor Bently, Mary Evans, Efther Hop- 
 ton. 
 
( 3° ) 
 
 Abel Morgan vifited them, and baptized one 
 Jeremiah Collet. He continued his vifits and 
 found the following remains of the Keithian 
 church of Providence to be regular and found 
 In the faith, viz. Edmund Butcher, John Po?- 
 yell, Richard Buffington, John Beckingham ? 
 Jofeph Powell, David Roberts, ThomasGeorge, 
 Elizabeth Powell, Hannah Beckingham, Mar- 
 gery Martin, Hannah Hunter, Mary Robinet, 
 Mary Powell, Joan Powell. Thefe 15 perfons 
 were, by faid Abel Morgan, formed into a 
 church June 14, 1 7 1 5 ; and the fame year re- 
 ceived into the aflbciation. The church hath 
 Slow exifted for upwards of 55 years without a- 
 Tlj remarkable event. At fir ft they met in the 
 ioufe of John Powell at Upperprpvidence ; but 
 ~the body of the people removing northward 
 they agreed in 17 17 to hold their worfhip at 
 Birmingham^ where they built the houfe be- 
 fore defcribed. But many of them fettling 
 northward dill they found it necefTary in 1741 
 to have another meeting in Newlin townfhip 
 within the forks of Brandiwine, where they al~ 
 fo built a houfe, as has been obferved before. 
 They were for near 5 years without any mini?* 
 fter except visiters from other churches. The 
 iirft that fettled among them was 
 
 Rev* William Butcher. 
 
 He was born May 18, 1699 in the townfhip 
 pf Birmingham and county of Chefter. Bap- 
 tized Aug. 11, 1717. Entered on the mini- 
 ftry in 17 19. Continued in it among them to 
 1721 when he removed to Cohanfey where he 
 died and was buried Dec. 12, 1724. He mar- 
 
( 3i ) 
 
 ried the widow Wallin, but had no Iflue. From 
 his departure to the Jer'ey, Mr. Owen Thomas 
 and others vifited the church once a month till 
 they had a miniiter of their own again, which 
 Was not till about 40 years after. Mr. Butcher 
 was a popular preacher ; and withall very tall, 
 and of a majeftic prefence which procured him 
 the name of The high prleft. The next minifter 
 they had was 
 
 Rev. Atel Griffiths. 
 
 He was born Dec. 23, 1723, in the townfhfp 
 of Montgomery and county of Philadelphia. 
 Was baptized Apr. 14, 1744. Ordained in 
 1761. Settled at Brandiwine Ap. 12, 1761 
 where he continued for fix years, and then re- 
 moved to Salem in the Jerfey. He married Sa- 
 rah Coffin by whom he has children, Sarah, 
 Rachel, Elizabeth, John and William, all fm- 
 gle. The next church in order of time, is 
 
 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 This is diftinguifhed by the above name of 
 the town (hip where the^ meeting is, in the 
 county of Philadelphia about 20 miles Nbw from 
 the city. The houfe is a ftone building, 42 
 feet by 24, with feats, galleries, a ftove and 
 two fire places. It was erected in 1 73 1 on a lot 
 of one acre, the gift of John Evans, whereon 
 are alfo convenient (tables and a fchool houfe, 
 This church exifts in three branches ; the one 
 near the place of worfhip ; the other at Per- 
 quefy where is a houfe, erected in 1737 by Mr. 
 William, Thomas who alfo appropriated theret# 
 
( M > 
 
 four acres ; the third at Upperperquefy where. 
 is a houfe built in 1752, on an acre of land the 
 gift of John Kelly, within 8 miles of the mo- 
 ther church ; the other within four miles. 
 From thefe quarters the people refort to Mont- 
 gomery to celebrate the Lord's fupper on the 
 fecond fun day in every month. Befides the 
 iaid acres there are othe* legacies left to this 
 church (1) Twelve pounds a year, the gift of 
 Thomas Edmunds (2) One pound ten {hillings 
 a year the gift of Thomas Rees (3) One pound 
 fixteen millings a year the gift of Thomas Jones. 
 With thefe helps the living is thought t€> be 
 •worth 40 La year. The families belonging to 
 the place are about 90., whereof 99 # perfons 
 
 * John Thomas mlnif. Ephraim Thomas and Ifaac 
 James elders , Jofeph Thomas and Jofeph Lunn deac^ 
 Jenkin Evans, Jofeph Thomas, Henry Harris, Thomas 
 JDavis, ManafTeh Thomas, Enoch Thomas, Thomas 
 Thomas, Job Thomas, Nathan Britain, Samuel Jones, 
 Jofeph Griffiths, Peter Evans, John Hitchman, Benja- 
 min Drake, Laurence Kelly, John Mathias, Evan Ma- 
 thews, Jeremiah Vaftine, Edward Jones, Edward Eaton, 
 Jofeph Days, Thomas Mathias, Thomas Morris, Tho- 
 mas Jones, John Williams, John Britain, Nathaniel Bri- 
 tain, Jofeph Britain, Jonathan Newhoufe,, Henry God- 
 Ihalk, Abel. Griffiths, Richard Britain, John Weft, Tho- 
 mas Jones, Evan Pugh, Ann James, Mary Davis, Eliza- 
 beth Thomas, Martha Harris, Martha Jones, Sarah 
 Bates, Sarah Thomas, Alee Lunn, Elenor Thomas, Sa- 
 rah Thomas, Mary Thomas, Rebecka Thomas, Ana 
 .Britain, Leah Jones, Elenor Evans, Mary Lewis, Mary 
 Griffiths, Rachel Drake, Rachel Drake, Hannah Hum • 
 phrey, Joanna Davis, DeboVah Drake, Sarah Thomas, 
 Alee Mathias, Hannah Mathias, Mary Mathews, Rebec- 
 ka Eaton, Elizabeth Vaftine, Gwenliian Morris, Sarabf 
 Gray, Margaret Jones, Sarah Vaftine, Mary Eaton, Doy 
 rothy Days, Elizabeth Mathias, Ann Morris, Ann Lew- 
 is, Ann Williams, Elizabeth Jones, Ann Williams, 
 Hefter Jones, Elizabeth Britain, Hannah Coiner, Ami 
 
( 33 > 
 
 are baptized and in the communion of the 
 church. The prefent minifter is Rev. John 
 
 Thomas. This was their ftate in the year 
 
 1770. For their original we muft look back to 
 1710 when John Evans and wife (members of 
 a baptid church in Wales whereof James James 
 was paftor) ; the next year one John James and 
 wife (members of Ridwilim church whereof 
 John Jenkins was paftor) arrived and fettled int 
 laid townfhip. In the year 1712 Mr. Abel 
 Morgan began to vifit them. In 1718 he bap- 
 tized William James, Thomas James, Jofiah. 
 James, James Lewis and David Williams. la 
 1 7 1 9 arrived one James Davis, which increafect 
 their number to ten fouls. Then they were ad- 
 vifed either to join Pennepek or be formed into 
 a church. They preferred the latter ; and ac- 
 cordingly were, June 20, 1719, conftituted by 
 the faid Abel Morgan, and the fame year were 
 received into the affociaticn. In 1720 many 
 emigrants from Wales joined them which indu- 
 ced them to build a meeting houfe on the fpot 
 where the prefent ftands. In 1722 they called 
 to the miniftry one Benjamin Griffiths and Jo- 
 feph Eaton, who were foon after ordained.—* 
 From that time to the prefent they have fent 
 forth many ministers, fuch as Rev. meffieurs 
 John Thomas* John Marks, John Davis, Abel 
 Griffiths &c. This church hath now exifted 
 for upwards of 50 years without any remarka- 
 ble event, except a divifion which took place 
 
 Newhoufe, Mary Cook, Kathcrine Philips, Mary Lewis^ 
 Mary Griffiths, Rebeeka Pugh, Rachel Britain, Margaret 
 Jones, Abigal Britain, Ann Young, Elizabeth Godihalk, 
 Catherine Dungan, Ann Jones, Ann Weft, Sarah Par* 
 fcer, Elizabeth E.ee§» 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 in 1743, of which more hereafter. The Sr{| 
 fettled minifter they have had was 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Griffiths- 
 
 Hs was born Oft* 16. 1688 in theparifli of 
 lilanllwyni and county of Cardigan. Came to 
 this country in 1710. Baptized May 12, 17 1 1- 
 Settled at Montgomery in 1720. Called to thc- 
 sniniftry in 1722. Ordained Oct:. 23, 1725. 
 Continued in the care of the church to his 
 death, which came to pafs Oct. 5, 1768, and 
 •was buried at Montgomery in the 8 1 year o£ 
 iis age and the 47 of his miniftry ; having had 
 Mr. William Thomas* to his affiftant for many 
 years. His funeral fermon was preached by 
 Rev. David Thomas of Virginia and isprinted^ 
 He married Sarah Miles by whom he had chil- 
 dren, Jane, Abel (now minifter of Salem), Sa- 
 yah, Jofeph, Rachel, who are married into the 
 Evans, Coffin and Roberts families, and have 
 raifed him 22 grandchildren. Mr. Griffith* 
 was a man of parts though not eloquent, and 
 liad by induftry acquired tolerable acquaintance 
 with languages and books* He appeared iar 
 
 * He was born in Llanwenarth parifh in Monmouth* 
 Ihire. Arrived in this country Feb. 14, 1712. He was 
 never ordained but preached as an cxhorter to his death 
 'which came to pafs in the year 1757. He was buried at 
 the meeting houfe which he himfelf had erected . His 
 children were Thomas, John (now minifter at Montgo~ 
 anery), Job, Ephraim, Manafleh, William, Ann. ■ 
 Thefe have married into the Bates, Williams, James* 
 ;Morris, Days and Rouland families, and have raifed hin* 
 * numerous progeny. He purchased feven plantations 
 
 for his fevea children and built qjj each a good floa* 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 print m vindication of the refurreclion of the 
 fame body (a very fcaree piece) ; and in anfwcr 
 to an anonymous pamphlet entitled The divine 
 right of infa?it baptifm. He wrote a treatife of 
 difcipline which has been twice printed ; alfo 
 an EJJay on affectations, <bc. ; An anfwer to But- 
 ler's creed which have not been printed. He 
 was offered a commiffion of the peace, whic& 
 lie refufed* Upon being afked why he declin- 
 ed the honour, made anfwer " Men are not 
 to receive honour from offices but offices from 
 men ; as much as men receive, the others lofe^ 
 till at laft offices come to have no honour at 
 all." Mr. Griffiths's fucceffor, and the pre- 
 fait minifter of Montgomery, is 
 
 Rev. John Thomas^ 
 
 He was born Dec. 9, 1703 in the townfhip 
 cf Radnor and county of Chefter. Called to 
 the miniftry at faid Montgomery in the year 
 1749. Ordained in 1 7 5 1 ; and has had the 
 fole care of the church fince the deceafeof Mr, 
 Griffiths. He married Sarah James by whom 
 he has children, Ann, Rebecka, Lea, Rachel ; 
 the laft is a maiden ; the others are married in- 
 to the Britain, Pugh and James families, and 
 have raifed him many grandchildren.— —The 
 gext church, as to feniority, is 
 
 TULPEHOKON. 
 
 This is diftinguifhed by the above name, 
 'Which is the name of a river that runs through, 
 the neighbourhood. The fir ft meeting houfe 
 was built ia 1740 oft a lot of three acres, tie 
 
( 3<$ > 
 gift of Hugh Morris, Evan Loyd, and Evaitf 
 Price, in the townfhip of Cumry, county of 
 Berks, about 65 miles Nwbwqw from Phila- 
 delphia. It is in dimenfions 26 feet by 16. 
 The other houfe is of the fame fize, diftant frorrf 
 the firft 4 miles, built the fame year on a lot of 
 one acre, the gift of Thomas Bartholomew and 
 Hannaniah Pugh ; both near Reading, and the 
 high road leading thence to Philadelphia. — 
 There are no temporalities belonging to this 
 church ; nor many wealthy people, for which 
 reafon it is thought that 20 1. a year would be 
 the utmoft they could raife towards fupporting 
 a minifter. The families belonging to the place 
 are' about 12, whereof 19 # perfons are baptiz- 
 ed. The minifter is Rev. Thomas Jones. -^* 
 This was their ftate in 1 770. Their beginning 
 was in 1738 when the following perfons re- 
 moved from the Greatvaliey and Montgomery 
 and fettled near the banks of Tulpehokon, Tho- 
 mas Jones and wife, David Evans and wife 5 , 
 James James and wife, Evan Loyd and wife, 
 George Rees and wife, John Davis and wife, 
 Thomas Nicholas and wife, James Edwards 
 and wife, Rees Thomas and wife, Henry Har- 
 ris, David Lewis and Thomas Loyd. Theie 
 21 perfons finding themfelves too far from their 
 refpective churches requefted leave to be con- 
 stituted into a diftinct fociety, which according 1 - 
 ]y was done Aug. 19, 1738 •, and the fame 
 
 * Thomas Jones and wife, Thomas Jones jur. John 
 Davis,. John Davis, Thomas Nicholas, John Edwards, 
 David Evans, Nathan Evans, Mary Jones, Martha Da- 
 vis, Mary Davis, Mary Nicholas, Maiy Harris, Sarah 
 Broom field, Efter Lenvil, Hannah Evans, Margara 
 J>ayis, Sajah Cornog, 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 year joined the aflbciation. In the year 174$ 
 Rev. Thomas Jones became their paftor. Thh 
 church hath exifted for 32 years without any 
 remarkable incident, except that it is in a very 
 declining (late, owing to the departure of bap- 
 tift families to other parts, and the coming of 
 Germans in their (lead. Their firfl, and pre- 
 lent rniniiler is 
 
 Rev, Thomas- Jones, 
 
 He was born in 1703 in the parifh of New* 
 townottage in Glamorganshire. Arrived in 
 this country Jul. 22, 1737. Ordained in 1740, 
 at which time he took the overfight, of the 
 church. He married Martha Morris by whom 
 he has children, Martha, Thomas, Samuel 
 (now minifter of Pennepek) , Griffith, Elizabeth, 
 Sarah. Thefe have formed alliances with the 
 Davifes, Bropmfields, Spicers, Loyds and Cor- 
 nogs and have raifed him 16 grand children. 
 
 SOUTHAMPTO N. 
 
 This is the feventh church in the province ; 
 and is diilinguifhed by the above name of the 
 townfhip where the meeting is, in the county 
 of Bucks, about 18 miles nne from Philadel- 
 phia. The houfe was erected in 173 1 on a let 
 of one acre, the gift of John Morris, with feats, 
 galleries and a Hove. Near it are (tables, a 
 fchool houfe, and a grove. The prefent place 
 of wcrfhip is fmall and decaying ; but prepara- 
 tions are making for a new houfe which is to 
 be 45 feet by 35. The endowment of this 
 church is a plantation of 112 acres with- a good 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 houfe and outhoufes, the gift of John Morris* 
 now let for 20 1 a year. With this help the 
 living is reputed worth 60 1. a year. Their 
 preacher is Mr. Erafmus Kelly who is not yet 
 ordained. The families belonging to the con- 
 gregation are about 50, whereof 56 # perfons 
 are baptized. This was the ftate of the South- 
 ampton church in 1770. It originated from 
 two fources. The one was a monthly meet- 
 ing kept in the neighbourhood by fome who 
 belonged to Pennepek. The other was a foci- 
 ety of Keithians in the fame neighbourhood 
 •who became baptifts about the year 1697 and 
 joined the former in the year 1702. Thus 
 they went on to the year 1746, when they were 
 all incorporated into a diftincl: church with the 
 leave of their brethren of Pennepek. The day 
 "was Apr. 8. Their number was 46. Their 
 names, Thomas Dungan, Jeremiah Dungan, 
 Thomas Potts, Nicholas Gilbert, Robert Par- 
 fons> Samuel Gilbert, John Hart, Thomas 
 
 * Stephen Watts eld-, Anthony Yerkes and Arthur 
 Watts dent. Jofeph Hart Efq. John Shaw, Randel Mor- 
 gan, Clement Dungan,. David Dnngan, John Gilbert, 
 Silas Yerkes, Thomas Dungan, Thomas Dungan juiv 
 Abel Morgan, James Dungan, Jofepn Dungan, WilUam 
 Folweil, John Brooks, David Marple, Jeremiah Dun- 
 gan, Jofeph Newtown, John Newtown, Thomajs Fol- 
 well, Jane Griffiths, Mary Davis, Elizabeth Watts, Sa- 
 rah Shaw, Efter Beans, Mary Gilbert, Elizabeth Hart,. 
 Rebecka Cuningham, Sarah Beans, Jane Yerkes, Mary 
 Dungan, Elizabeth Hellings, Elizabeth Storts, Rebecka 
 Prichard, Sarah Watts, Martha Brooks, Hannah Burnci, 
 Mary Craven, Sarah Shaw, Ann Folweil, Elizabeth Par- 
 ibus, Mary Morgan, Elizabeth Folweil, Mary Richifon, 
 Sarah Dungan, Chrifliana Johnfton, Sufanna Rum, Re- 
 becka Yerkes, Elenor Beans, Elizabeth Marple, Grace 
 Webiler, Elizabeth Saudi, Elizabeth Beans, 'Mary Fore** 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 Ptmgan, Stephen Watts, Jofhuah Potts, Ran- 
 deliviorgan, John Eaton, John Morford, John 
 Harrilbn, John Shaw, John Jones, Clement 
 Dnngan, David Dungan, James Dungan, Da- 
 vid Rees, Jofeph Beans, John Gilbert, Jofeph 
 Hart, Ifaac Eaton, Silas Yerkes, Oliver Hart, 
 Elenor Hart, Elizabeth Hart, Elizabeth Yer- 
 kes, Elizabeth Watts, Sarah Shaw, Mary Dun- 
 gan, Grace Morgan, Sarah Murrey, Efter 
 Beans, Mary Jones, Mary Gilbert, Jane Yer- 
 kes, Sufannah Thomas, Elizabeth Baldwin, E- 
 lizabeth Hellings, Rebecka Humphrey, Mary 
 Newman, Ann Potts, Elizabeth Morford, Sa- 
 rah Hufty. The fame year they joined the af- 
 fociation. They have now exifted as a church 
 for upwards of 24 years without any remarkable 
 event, except that they have fent forth two 
 very excellent minifters, meffieurs Oliver Hart 
 and Ifaac Eaton. They alfo attempted to re- 
 gulate marriages after the manner of the Qua- 
 kers, which would have ftrengthened the foci- 
 ety by mixture of blood, and alliances ; but 
 their worldly wifdom was foon confounded, 
 which, with other things, tempts one to believe 
 that the baptift intereft has fomething in it 
 which excludes policy ; and will fhow that it 
 is a kingdom not of this world. The fir ft mi* 
 nifter they have had was 
 
 Rev. Joftuah Potts. 
 
 He was born Jan. 4, 17 19 at Mansfield in 
 tMJerfey. Baptized Sep. 2, 1738. Ordain- 
 ed May 29, 1746, at which time he took on 
 Iiim the care of the church, and continued 
 therein to his death, which came to pafs June 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 1 8 , 1 7 6 1 > and was buried at S ou thampton . Mr . 
 Potts is faid to have been endowed with a very 
 uncommon fhare of thofe qualifications which 
 render the civil and minifterial life amiable. 
 He married Ann Bordon by whom he had chil- 
 dren Mary, Amy, Abigail, Rebecka, Hannah, 
 Joihuah, Thomas, all fingle, except two who 
 are married into the Edwards and Taylor fa^ 
 milies. Mr. Potts's fucceffor was 
 
 Rev. Tbo?nas Davis. 
 
 He continued among them for a confidera- 
 ble part of the two years that elapfed between 
 Mr. Potts's death and the corning of Mr. Jones, 
 but not as a . fettled paftor ; for which reafon 
 *we will take notice of him when we come to 
 Oyfterbay in Longifland. The next miniiter 
 which this church hath had was 
 
 Rev. Samuel Jones, A. M„ 
 
 He took the joint care of them and Penne- 
 pek Jan. 8, 1763 ; and continued his care 
 thereof to June 1, 1770, when he refigned in 
 favour of Mr. Kelly. We have fpoken already 
 of Mr. Jones under Pennepek. His fucceffor is 
 
 Mr. Erafmus Kelly, A. B. 
 
 He began to preach flatedly at Southamp- 
 ton. May 13, 1770 but is n(5t "ordained. ^Ke 
 was born Jul. 24, 1748, in Perquefy, courffey 
 of Bucks. Had his education at the college 
 of Philadelphia where he commenced in 1769. 
 u Waa baptised June 5, 1760 5 called to the mi- 
 
( 4* ) 
 niftry and licenced to preach the fame year. He 
 is a hopejful youth ! 
 
 PHILAD E LP HI A. 
 
 Th i s is the eighth church in order of confti- 
 tution ; but in reality is within one year as old 
 as Peunepek. It is dillinguiilied by the above 
 name of the city where it exills ; and is conii- 
 dered as accn:^ iie affociating churches. 
 
 The place of worfhip is a neat brick building* 
 6l feet by 42, with pews and galleries, erected 
 in 1762 at the charge ct 2:00 1. It Hands near 
 the center of the city on a lot of 303 feet by 44, 
 having the bu/ und to the back, and a-' 
 
 court to the front opening to Seconditreet ; in 
 one corner of which is theparfonagc houfe. A 
 part offaidlot did belong totheKeithians; the 
 other part was given by John Holms, ful 
 to a debt of icol. The endowments of this 
 church are confderable ( 1 ) A parfonage houfe, 
 erected by Rev.Jenkin Jones at his own expence 
 in part, and in part at the expence of John 
 
 . : who bequeathed 50 1. for that purpofc 
 (2) Three houfes, the gift of Sarah Branfon, 
 now let for co 1. a year (;) Three hundred 
 pounds the gift of Sarah Smith (4) One hun- 
 dred pounds the gift of Septimus Robifon ancf 
 
 Son (0 Two pounds ten fhillings a year 
 
 the gift of John Morgan. The mini tier has a 
 
 to 10 1. out of faid houfes ; to the intereit 
 
 K of the laid three hundred ; and to 
 age houfe ; the reft arc either appropri- 
 > the poor, or left to the difpofal of the 
 th the above helps the li\ ing is re- 
 puted worth 2cc 1. a year to the mini- 
 

 ( 4* ) 
 fier, Rev. Morgan Edwards. The families be- 
 longing to the place are about 120, whereof 
 14.0* perfons are baptized and in the commu- 
 nion of the church. This was the ftate of Phi- 
 ladelphia in the year 1770. Their (late in re- 
 trofpec?i will lead us almoft to the founding of 
 the city. In the year 1686 one John Holms 
 arrived and fettled in the neighbourhood : he 
 wara man of property and learning ; and there- 
 fore we find him in the magiftracy of the place 
 in 1 69 1. He died judge of Salem court. 
 In 1696 John Farmer and his wife arrived: 
 they belonged to the church of Rev. An- 
 fard Knollis, in London. In 1697 one 
 Jofeph Todd and Rebecka Woofencroft 
 came to the lame neighbourhood, who be- 
 longed to a baptift church at Limmington in 
 Hampfhire whereof Rev. JohnRumfey was paf- 
 tor. The fame year one William Silverftone, 
 William Elton and wife, and Mary Shepherd 
 were baptized by Rev. Thomas Killingworth. 
 
 * Morgan Edwards, win. Ifaac Jones, Efq. George 
 Wefcott and Samuel Davis, eld. Jofhuah Moore, Samuel 
 Miles, Jofeph Moulder, deac. Samuel Afhmead, Efq. 
 Rev. Ebenezer Kinnerfley, John Perkins, John Stande- 
 land, Jofeph Ingles, Samuel Burkilo, Thomas Byles, 
 Joh** Bazeley, Catherine Standeland, Mary Burkilo, E- 
 »dith Prieftley, Efther Afhmead, Elizabeth Byles, Sarah 
 'Bazeley, Elizabeth Shewell, Mary Morgan, Ifaac B.ellen- 
 gee, Rebecka Williams, Mary Morris, Jennet Church, 
 Either Tommins, John Linnington, Sarah Ncrtb, Ma- 
 ry Harris, William Powell, Mary Rufh, Sufanna Wood- 
 row, Eienor Kefler, Abraham Levering, Ann JU»ring, 
 Catherine Morgan, Edward Middleton, MarthaBtoflin, 
 Mary Thomas, Rachel Davis, Septimus LeveriiMBjtta- 
 j*y Levering, Elizabeth Church, Catherine Coughlin, 
 Ann Barns, Jofeph Watkins, Joanna Anthony, Frances 
 Jones, £Iuabeth £yles, Mary Bartholomew, Catherine 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 Thefe 9 perfons did, on the fccond ftmday in 
 Dec. 1698, affemble at ahoufein Barbadoes 
 lot, and did ccalefce into a church for die com- 
 munion of faints, having Rev. John Watts to 
 their affiftance. From that time to the year 
 1746 they increafed, partly by emigrations 
 from the eld country, and partly by the 
 occafional labours of rev. meflieurs Elias Keach, 
 Thomas Killingworth, John Watts, Samuel 
 Jones, Evan Morgan, John Hart, Jofeph 
 Wood, Nathaniel Jenkins, Thomas Griffiths, 
 Eliiha Thomas, Enoch Morgan, John Bur- 
 rows, Thomas Selby, Abel Morgan, George 
 Eaglesfield, William Kinnerfley and others. 
 
 Bartholomew, Benjamin Davis, Barnaby Barns, Jemima 
 Timmerman, Sufanna Morris, John Dickfon, Samuel 
 Jones, Mary Powell, Sarah Hellings, William Perkins, 
 Eilher Davis, Hannah Stakes, Andrew Edge, Jofeph 
 Williams, Mary Iden, Sarah Shcwell, Sarah Gardner, 
 Mary Wood, Sarah Edge, Frances Maglone, Sufanna 
 M'Laneghan, Hannah Swanfon, Samuel Miles, John Ma- 
 fon, Nehemiah Davis, John Morgan, Grace Loyd, 
 William Jenkins, Jofeph Moulder, Sarah Moulder, Sa- 
 rah Neaves, Elizabeth Holton, Thomas Shields, Aim 
 Ruxby, Margaret Emmet, Rebecka Wilfon., Charles 
 Wilfon, Abel Gibbon, Sarah Thomas, Martha Mafon, 
 
 3 Hunter, Sarah Harper, Lydia Shields, Jonah Tho- 
 map, Mary Robifon, Mary Jones, Joan Thomas, Su- 
 fanna Rofe, John Rofe, Hannah Drinker, Poliydore and 
 Nelly, Jacob Levering, William Harper, Sarah Powell, 
 Elizabeth Shcwell, Ann Bray, Thomas Fleefon, Samuel 
 Oiden, Elizabeth Morgan, Sarah Briding, George In- 
 gles, Jofeph Gilbert, John Stow, Rebecka - Barger, Mary 
 Riehcy, Judith Fulton, Evan Jenkins, Thomas Du* 
 John Flintham, Samuel Woodbridge, Ifaac Powell, Eli- 
 .^:x:ih Morris, Sarah Megetcgen, Mathias MairlS, Matr 
 ^^BfLevering, Sufannah De Nyce, John Drinker, E- 
 
 1 Morgan, Erafmus Kelly, Sarah Marfh. Mary 
 
 h, Mary Evur.s, M-ij PaweU, Charles M'L©- 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 from the beginning to the laft mentioned time 
 (1746) they had no fettled minifter among 
 them though it was a period of 48 years. The 
 firft that might be properly called their own 
 was Rev. Jenkin Jones ; the reft belonging to 
 other churches. They did indeed in 1723 
 choofe George Eaglesfield to preach to them, 
 contrary to the fenie of the church of Penne- 
 pek ; but in 1725 he left them and w T ent to- 
 Middleton. About the year 1746 a queftion 
 arofe, whether Philadelphia was not a branch 
 of Pennepek ? and consequently, whether the 
 latter had not a right to part of the legacies 
 beftowed on the former ? This indeed was a 
 groundlefs queftion. But for fear the defiga 
 , of their benefactors fhould be perverted the 
 church of Philadelphia did, May 15. 1746, 
 formally incorporate, which had only been 
 done implicitly in Dec. 16. 1698. The num- 
 ber of perfons that did incorporate was 56. 
 Th-nr names were, Jenkin Jones, Ebenezer 
 Kioneriley, William Branfon, Andrew Edge r 
 Thomas Pearfe, Stephen Anthony, Auguitint 
 Stillman, Samuel Alhmead, Mathew Ingles, 
 John Perkins, John Standeland, Robert Shew- 
 cll, John Biddle, Jofeph Crean, Henry. Hart- 
 iey, John Lewis, Jofeph Ingles, Samuel Bur- 
 kilo, John Catla, Thomas Byles, John Baze- 
 ley, Samuel Morgan, Lewis Rees, Mary Stan- 
 deland, Hannah Farmer, Mary Catla, Ann 
 Yerkes, Mary Burkilo, Mary Prig, Hannah 
 Crean, Ann Davis, Harma Bazeley, Jarre 
 Giffm, Edith Bazeley, Alee Clark, Lafeipia 
 Creenman,MaryBall, UftawLewis, Jane Loxfey, 
 Eiler Afhmead, Hannah Jones, Sarah Branfon,. 
 Catherine Anthony,. Jane Pearfe, Mary Edge/ 
 
( 49 } 
 
 Mary Valecot, Elizabeth Shewell, Mary Mid- 
 dleton, Frances Holwell, Elizabeth Sallows, 
 Mary Morgan, Ann Hall, Phebe Hartley, 
 Ann White. The place where the church met' 
 at firft was the corner of Secondftreet andChef- 
 nutftreet, known by the name of Barbadoes lot. ^ 
 The building was a ftore houfe ; but when the 
 Barbadoes company left the place the Baptifts 
 held their meetings there, So alfo did the -» 
 Prefbyterians,when either a baptift or prefbyte- 
 rian minifter happened to be in town; for as yet J 
 neither had any fettled among them. But when \ 
 Jedediah Andrews came to the latter they * 
 in a manner drave the baptifts away. Several j 
 letters paffed between the two focieties on the .. 
 occalion, which are yet extant. There was al- j 
 fo a deputation of ttree baptifts appointed to i 
 remonftrate with the prefbyterians for fo unkind 
 and right lefs a conduct ;' but to no purpcie. 
 From that time forth the baptifts held their 
 worfhip at a place near the draw-bridge known ' 
 by the name of Anthony Morris's bre^vhoufe : 
 Here they continued to meet to Mar. 15. 1707 
 when, by invitation of the Keithians, they re- 
 moved their worfhip to Secondftreet where they 
 hold it to this day. The keithian meet' 
 houfe was a fmall wooden building 'erected in 
 1692. This the baptifts took down in 17:1, 
 and raifed on the fame fpot a neat brick build- 
 ing, 42 feet by 30. This alfo was taken down 
 in 1762 to make way for theprefent which hath 
 been already defcribed. But an accident in 
 1734 had like to have deprived the baptifts of 
 their valuable lot and houfe. Then one Tho- 
 mas Peart died afcer having made a conveyance 
 ef the premifes to the church of Engl.. 
 
( A6 ) 
 
 Theveflry demanded poffeffion. The fcaptiffsv 
 refufed. A law fuite commenced, which 
 brought the matter to a hearing before the af- 
 fembly. The epifcopalians being difcouraged 
 offered to give up their claim for 50 1. The 
 offer was accepted ; and contention ceafed. 
 No other very remarkable event hath hap- 
 pened in this church except a divifion which 
 took place in 171 1 occafioned by the turbulent 
 Spirit of an Irifh preacher that was among 
 them, along with Mr. Burrows. His name 
 was Thomas Selby. When he had formed a 
 party he fhut Mr. Burrows and his friends out» 
 who thenceforth met at Mr. Burrows's houfe 
 in Chefnutftreet. This was the fituation of 
 affairs when Mr. Abel Morgan arrived in 171 1 . 
 But his prefence foon healed the breach, and 
 obliged Selby to quit the town, which he did in 
 1 7 1 3. and went to Carolina ; and there died 
 1 he fame year, but not before he had occafion- 
 ed much disturbance — The minifters which this 
 church have had from the beginning to the 
 year 1746 are mentioned above, and fome of 
 ihem have been already character ifed. The 
 rell will be mentioned in proper places. The 
 following are the minifters they have had finc.e 
 that time. 
 
 Rev. Jenkin Jones* 
 
 He was born about 1690 in the parifli of 
 Uanfernach and county of Pembroke. Ar- 
 rived to this country about 17 10. Calk 1 .0 
 the miniftry at Welmtracl in 1724. Removed 
 thence in 1725. Became the mini fter of Phi- 
 ladelphia, only, at the time they were recon- 
 
( 47 ) 
 ftituteJ in May i£. 1746 ; for theretofore he 
 had the care of Pennepek alfo. He died at 
 Philadelphia Jul. 16. 1 761, and was there 
 buried, where a tomb is creeled to his memo- 
 ry, lie married the widow Mclchior, but had 
 no i/Tvie. Mr. Jones was a good man and has- 
 done real fervices to the church, and to the 
 baptilt intereft. (1) He fecured to them the 
 pofTeflion of their valuable lot and place of 
 worihip before defcribed. (2) He was the 
 moving caufe of altering the direction of li- 
 cences fo as to enable diffenting minifters to 
 perform marriages by them. (3) He built a 
 parfonage houfe partly at his own charge* 
 (4) He gave a handfome legacy towards pur- 
 chafing a fdver cup for the Lord's table, which 
 is worth upwards of 60 J. His name is en- 
 graven upon it Cotemporary with him was 
 
 Rev. El:n:zzr KinnerJIey , A. M. 
 
 He was born Nov. 30. 171 1, in the city 
 ofGloucefter. Arrived in this country Sept, 
 12. 1 7 14. Ordained in 1743. Preached at 
 Philadelphia and elfewhere to 1754 when he 
 got a profe/Tor's chair in the college of faid 
 city, which he fills with reputation to this day. 
 He is well known to the learned world on ac- 
 count of his improvements in electricity. He 
 married Sarah Duffield by whom he has two 
 children, Hefter, and William. — Mr. Jenkin 
 Jones's fucceflbr L> 
 
 Rev. Morgan Edwards, A. M. 
 
 He was born May o, i] 2 2, in the pasifh of 
 
( 4§ ) 
 Trevetnin and county of Monmouth. Was 
 bred a churchman. Embraced the principles 
 of the baptifts in 1738'. Had his grammar 
 learning in Wales. His academical in Briflol 
 under Dr. Fofkett. Entered on the niiniftry 
 in the fixteenth year of his age, Was ordain- 
 
 Jed, June 1. 1757, in Ireland where he refided 
 fiine years; He married Mary -Nun of Cork, 
 by whom he had many children, two of which 
 are alive, William and Jofhuah, The eldeft 
 is now 'in RhodeifFand college. Mr. Edwards 
 arrived in Philadelphia M ay 2 3 . 1 7 6 1 ; and 
 has had 'the overfight of the church e\er fmce. 
 He publifhed (1) A Farewell Sermon at Rye in 
 Suflex in 1760, which has been twice printed 
 (2) An Ordination Sermon, delivered in the 
 college of Philadelphia, Jan. 8. 1763 ; with 
 a Narrative of tire manner in which the ordina- 
 tion was conducted (3) The cuftoms of primitive 
 churches ■, being a fet of precepts and precedents 
 relative to minifterial offices (4) A New-year's 
 gift, publifhed at Philadelphia Jan. 1. 1770, 
 which has pafTed through four editions. He 
 laboured hard to fettle a baptift college in 
 Rhodeiiland government and to raife money to 
 endow it ; which he deems the greateft fervice 
 he has done or hopes to do for the honour of 
 the baptift intereft. 
 
 NEWBRITAIN. 
 
 This is the ninth church in the province 
 with refpect to feniority. It is commonly dif- 
 tinguifhed by the above name of the townfhip 
 where the meeting is, in the county of Bucks, 
 about 25 miles Nb^hn from Philadelphia.—^ 
 
( 49 ) 
 The houfe is of (tone. 40 feet by 30, erected in 
 1744 on a lot of two acres, partly the git: ot 
 judge Growden, and partly the purchase ot the 
 congregation, whereon are ilables, a fchool 
 houfe and a fine grove. It is a riling ground, 
 formed into an angle by the eroding of two 
 high roads. The houfe is accommodated with 
 feats, galleries and a dove. This church ex- 
 ifts in two branches ; the one near the meeting 
 houfe ; the other on the border of the Great- 
 fwamp, 14 miles off, where alfo is a meeting 
 houfe, commonly known by the name of Rock- 
 bill. All aflemble at Newbritain on the fir ft 
 funday in the month to celebrate the Lords 
 fupper. There are fome temporalities belong- 
 ing to this church alio. (1) Thirty pounds, the 
 gift of Thomas Jones (2) Five pounds, the 
 gift of William George (3) Five pounds the 
 gift of Simon Mathews. Withthefe helps the 
 income of the miniiler may be eafily made up 
 forty pounds a year. The families belong- 
 ieg to the place are about feventy. The mem-, 
 bers 49. Their names are below* .• This was 
 
 * Rev. Jofhua Jones, John Mathewi and Davii Ste- 
 phens, deac. David Stephens, Evan Stephens, William 
 Jam es, Mary Jam es, John James, John W-liiaras, Margaret 
 Williams, Walter Sheweil, Mary Shewell, Rebecka But- 
 ler, Diana Mathews, Sarah James, Mary Mathews, Re- 
 becka Thomas, Samuel Jones, Daniel Jones, William 
 Bryan, Rebecka Bryan, Rebecka James, Richard Lee, 
 Ann Lee, Catherine Morgan, Ifaac Richards, Thomas 
 Jones, Hannah Jones, Margaret Lewis, Thomss Barton, 
 Joieph Barton, Catherine Evans,- Peter Eaton, Catherine 
 .lie, Lyoia Eaton, James James, Elizabeth James, 
 William Dungau, Catherine Dungan, Clement Dcyle v 
 raret Doyte, Thomas Humphrey, Elizabeth Pari-, 
 £>avij Jones, Sarah Lee, Jane Thomas, Rachel Dav:- 7 
 Caleb Todd, Lienor Joi.cs. 
 
( So ) 
 tie ftate of the church in 1770. As for its 
 paft flate we have no further back to look for 
 it than 1743. To that year the people in this 
 neighbourhood had been a branch of Montgo- 
 mery; but then they divided. The caufe of 
 the divifion was a propofal for a new meeting 
 houfe on Leahy hill, which fhould be central 
 for all the people. This project Montgomery 
 warmly oppofed, and the N ewbritainers as 
 ■warmly urged till the unhallowed paffions of 
 Ipoth were ftirred up. There was alfo a diffe- 
 rence fubfifting among them touching the fon- 
 Jhip of Chrift. Some grounding the character 
 of/on on an eternal generation ; others on me- 
 diation only ; but both allowing his perfonality, 
 and equality with the father. "A controversy 
 therefore too mconliderable to produce the ef- 
 fects it did had not a feparation been a deter- 
 mined point. Accordingly the matter was fo- 
 mented by a paper that was afterwards called 
 Butler s creed. How the controverfy was ma- 
 naged may be feen by the report of the com- 
 koittee which the a/Tociation had 'appointed to 
 examine the whole affair, dated^Noy. 7. 1744* 
 and figned Nathaniel Jenkins, Owen Thomas, 
 Benjamin S telle, Thomas Jones, They blame 
 both parties, and leave it doubtful which was 
 mod blameable. However a divifion took 
 place ; one party having Benjamin Griffiths at 
 their head ; the other Jofeph Eaton ; each 
 crying " the temple of the Lord are we : the 
 " effence of the church is with us." Hence- 
 forth they acted as two feparate churches, and 
 fometimes under the fame roof. Number fa- 
 voured the claim of the Newbritainers ; but 
 they quitting the houfe in 1 J 44 the fcale lean- 
 
( s? ) 
 
 ed to the people of Montgomery^ claim. Ne« 
 verthelefs, Newbritain petitioned for a difmii- 
 fion, and Montgomery granted it. The one 
 to confirm their churchfiup ; the other to get 
 into the affociation. At the divifion. about fif- 
 teen fided with neither party ; tiieieiore were 
 called Neutrals ; fome of which belong to no 
 vifible church to this day. When the New- 
 britainers had obtained a diimitlion they did 
 formally incorporate Nov. 28. 1754 ; but were 
 not received into the affociation till 1755. 
 Their number was 23. Their names Jofeph 
 Eaton, Ifaac Evans, David Stevens, Evan Ste- 
 vens, John Williams, Walter She we 11. Jofhu- 
 ah Jones, William George, Clement Doyle, 
 William Dungan, John James, David Mor- 
 gan, Thomas Jones, David Stevens. Thomas 
 Humphreys, Mary James. Mary Shewell, Ma- 
 ry James, Margaret Philips, Elizabeth Stevens, 
 Jane James, Catherine Evans, Margaret 
 Doyle. No very remarkable event hath hap- 
 pened in this church, except their disavowing 
 the nation of a mediatorial fonfhip. The mi- 
 aifiers which they have had are 
 
 Rev. Jofeph Eaton . 
 
 He was born Aug. 25. 1679, inthe parim 
 of Nantmel and county of Radnor. Came to 
 this country about 1686. Was called to the 
 miniftry at Montgomery in 1722. Ordained 
 Oct. 24. 1727. Continued in the joint care of 
 that church to the divifion in 1743, an ^ from 
 that time to his death was miniiter of Newbri- 
 tain. HediedApr. 1. 1749, and. was buried 
 Nkwbritaia, He married Gwen Morgan by 
 
( 5* ) 
 
 whom he had children, John, Jofeph, George, 
 Edward, David, Mary, Joanna, Sarah. His 
 fecond wife was Una Humphreys ; by whom 
 he had Ifaac (now miniiler of Hopewell) Jacob, 
 Hannah. George and Jacob died childlefs ; 
 Jofeph is not married. The reft formed adv- 
 ances with the Todds, Youngs, Davids and 
 Walls, Williams, Godrens, Jones and Butlers 
 and Wilgus, Stouts and Doyls, and have raid- 
 ed him a moil numerous progeny of grand chil- 
 dren. His fuccelTor, who had alfo been his 
 colleague, was 
 
 Rev. William Davis. 
 
 He was born in 1695, at Caftellneth in Gla- 
 morgandiire. Game to this country firft in 
 1722 but foon went back again. He returned 
 in 1737, and fettled at Vincent. Thence he 
 removed to Newbritain, and had the joint care 
 of the church to his death, which came to pafs 
 ..Oct. 3. 1768. He was buried at James's hun- 
 dred in Kent county. He had tw T o children, 
 William and Mary who married into the Evans 
 and Caldwell families and have rai fed him four- 
 teen grand children. His colleague and fuc- 
 celTor was 
 
 Rev, Jojhaah Jones. 
 
 He was born in 1721 in the parifh of New- 
 caftle and county of Pembroke. Arrived in 
 America* in 1726. Was ordained at Newbri- 
 tain in 1 76 1, and has had the fole care of the 
 chuixh fince Oct. 6, 1768. 
 
{ S3 ) 
 KONOLO W A. 
 
 This is the tenth and yourigeft church in 
 the province among the britiih baptifts who ob- 
 ferve the-firft day of the week for fabbath. ^ It 
 takes its diilinction from Konoltnua river, nigh 
 to which the meeting houle ftands in Air town- 
 fhip, Cumberland county, about «2CO miles 
 whs from Philadelphia. The place of wor- 
 ship is 22 feet by i8, eretted in the year 1752 
 on a lot of 50 acres ; towards the purcha ilng 
 of which the afibciacion of Philadelphia con- 
 tributed 12 I. 6, 1 in 1767. With this KttU 
 glebe the living is worth about 30 1. a year to 
 the prefent minifter, who is Rev. Jofeph Pow- 
 ell. He was born at Pennepek in the county 
 of Philadelphia, Mar. 6, 1734. H*d his edu- 
 cation at Hopewell ; where alfo he was ordain- 
 ed in 1764 ; and thenceforth became minifter 
 of Kono&wa. He married Rachel Rofe of Jer- 
 fey, by whom he has children, Mary, Elea- 
 nor, Anna. The families belonging to the 
 place are about 40, wherof 30 * perfons are 
 baptized and in the communion of the church. 
 This was their ft ate in 1770. They ori- 
 ginated in the following manner. In the year 
 175 1 one James Dunn preached in the neigh- 
 bourhood. The next year Rev. Samuel Hea- 
 
 * Their names are Rev. Jofeph Powell and wife, Eli- 
 as Btilwell, James Graham, Robert Eennet, Martha 
 Higgins, Apn Combes, Mar} 7 John, David Bowen, Han- 
 nah Bowen, Thomas John, Jonathan Harnet, Catherine 
 Harnet, Jane P.ofs, Owen Davy, Hannah Davy, 33avid 
 Bowen, S^rah Bowen, Edward Combes, Jeremiah Stil- 
 well, Sarah Evolt, John Mellot, Sarah Mellct, Rachel 
 Powell, Mary Biddlecom, Elizabeth Wiggins, John Blir- 
 triJ^e, Jounua Rofc, Thomas Applegate. 
 
( J4 ) 
 ton vifited thofe parts, and baptized one Elias 
 Stilwell, William Lenn, John Graham, James 
 Graham, Ifrael Hines, Sarah Graham, Ann 
 Graham. About the fame time one Richard 
 Abbot (a member of Montgomery church) fet- 
 tled in the neighbourhood ; alfothefaid Mr. 
 Heaton from Milcreek. Hitherto they were a 
 branch of Milcreek church. But obtaining a 
 difmiffion from thence, were incorporated in- 
 to a diftincl fociety, Aug. 25 . 1765 and the 
 fame year joined the affociation. No very re- 
 markable event hath happened fmce ; only they 
 were driven away from their habitations the 
 laft war by the Indians ; which, when the 
 church of Philadelphia heard of, they, in 1763 
 fent 25 I. 12, 6 to their relief. The church 
 atprefent is in a declining way by reafon of fa- 
 milies removing thence towards Redftone creek 
 on Monongaheia^ where a church is like to be 
 gathered icon. There is alfo a likelihood that 
 another baptift church will be raifed in the nor- 
 thern liberties of Philadelphia. 
 
 From what hath been written it appears (1) 
 That there are in Pennfylvania about 650 fa- 
 milies of the britifh baptifts who obferve the 
 firft-day fabbath ; which, if multiplied by 5, 
 •will feem to contain 3252 fouls; whereof only 
 668 are baptized (2) That there are ten chur- 
 ches of fuch baptifts ; to which appertain 18 
 meeting houfes ; and only 11 minifters (3) 
 That the firft conftituents of thofe churches 
 were chiefly emigrants from Wales, or their 
 offspring (4) That fome of the firft fettlers 
 in the province were of the baptift denom> 
 sation, 
 
( 5> ) 
 PART II. 
 
 Treats of the keithian Baptijls. 
 
 Soon after the fettlement of Pennfylvania 
 a difference arofe among the Quakers touch- 
 ing The fufficiency of ivhat every man naturally 
 has nvithin kimfelf for the purpofe of his onvn falva- 
 tion. Some denied that fufficiency, and con- 
 fequently magnified the external Word, Chrift 
 &c above Barclay's meafure. Thefe were head- 
 ed by the famous George Keith, and therefore 
 called keithians. The difference rofe to a 
 divifion in the year 1691 when feparate meet- 
 ings were fet up in diverfe parts of the country, 
 and a general one at Burlington in oppofitioa 
 to that of Philadelphia. This year they pub- 
 lifhed a Confeffion of faith, containing twelve ar- 
 ticles much in Barclay's ftrain, and figned by- 
 George Keith, Thomas Budd, John Hart, 
 Richard Hilliard, Thomas Hooten and Henry 
 Furnis in the behalf of the reft. They alfo 
 publifhed The reafons of the feparation &c figned 
 by the fame perfons and others to the number 
 of 48. About the fame time, and afterward 
 were publifhed feveral other pieces*. The de- 
 
 * The pieces which came under my notice are, Ccpy 
 of the judgment againft G. Keith &c. Expojfulatiou -with 
 Samuel Jennings, Thomas Loyd &lc. Plea of the innocent 
 &c. Second Expoftulation &c. Appeal to the fpirit of 
 truth Sec 7 innocence againjl calumny and defa- 
 
 mation &c. TcJIimony again}} opinions &c. Fundamental 
 truths &c. Falfe judgment reprehended &c. Ar.fwcr to 
 n from Maryland &c. JuH rebuke &c. DifcavetJ 
 cf hypocrify &c. Herefy and hatred &c. New Eng- 
 ine of perfection in Pennfylvania &c. Serious 
 appeal &.C. ' Spirit of the hut &c'. 
 
( *6 ) 
 
 Cgn of tliofe publications was (i) To inform 
 the world of the principles of the feparate- 
 Quakers. (2) To fix the blame of the fepara- 
 tion on the oppofite party ; and (3) To com- 
 plain of the unfair treatment, flanders, fines, 
 imprifonments and other fpecies of perfecution 
 which they endured from their brethren . — •- 
 Whether thefe complaints be juft or not is nei- 
 ther my bufmefs nor inclination to determine. 
 If juft, the Quakers have alfo fhown < That 
 every feci would perfecute had they but power'. 
 I know but one exception to this fatyrical re- 
 mark, and that is the Baptifts ; they have had 
 civil power in their hands in Rhodeifland go- 
 vernment for a 136 years, and yet have never 
 abufed it in this manner, their enemies tteoiv 
 felves being judges. And it is remarkable that 
 John Holmes Efq, (the only baptiftmagiftrate, 
 in Philadelphia at the time refered to) refufed 
 to act with the Quaker magiftrates againft the 
 Keithians, alledging " That it was a religious, 
 « difpute and therefore not tit for a civil court". 
 Nay, he openly blamed the court (held at Phi- 
 ladelphia Dec. 6 — 12, 1692) for ffefufmg to 
 admit the exceptions which the prifoners made 
 to their jury. However, the keithian quakers 
 foon declined ; their head deferted them and 
 went over to the Epifcopalians. Some follow- 
 ed him thither. Some returned to the Penn, 
 Quakers ; and fome went to other focieties. 
 Neverthelefs many perfifted in the fepar-atioH, 
 particularly at Upperprovidence ; at Philadel- 
 phia ; at Southampton; and at Lowerdublin.. 
 Thefe by refigning themfetVes to the guidance 
 of Scripture began to find water in the com 
 
( 57 ) 
 milTion (a) ; bread and wine in the command 
 (e) ; community of goods, love'feait, kifs of 
 charity, right hand of fellowfhip, anointing 
 the fick for recovery, and waihing the difci- 
 ples feet in other texts {J ) ; and therefore were 
 determined to praclife accordingly 
 
 The fociety of Keithians mo ft- forward in 
 thefe matters was that kept at the houfe .of 
 Thomas Powell in Upperprovidencc ; which 
 forwardnefs, it is faid, was owing to one Abel 
 Noble who vifited them, and was a fevenihday- 
 tift minifter when he arrived in this country. 
 The time they began to put their defigns in 
 practice was Jun. 28. 1697 when the faid Abel-j 
 Noble baptized a public Friend (whofe name! 
 was Thomas Martin) in Redley creek. After-/ 
 wards Mr. Martin baptized other Quakers \\z 
 Thomas Powell, Evan Harry, Hugh Harry, 
 John Palmer, Judith Calvert, Alee YeftaJ, 
 Thomas Budd, Richard Dungworth, John 
 Powell,. David Thomas, John Hannum, Mar- 
 gery Hannum, Margery Martin, Mary Palmer, 
 Elizabeth Powell, JohnBeckingham. To them 
 joined one William Beckingham who broke o/F 
 from the church of Cohanfey. Thefe 19 per- 
 fons did, October 12, 1697, incorporate; and 
 proceeded to choofe a miniiter by lot. Three 
 were put in nomination, William Beckingham, 
 Thomas Budd, Thomas Martin ; the lot fell 
 on the laft, who the fame day adminiftred the 
 Lord's fupper to them for the flrft time From 
 that day forth other keithian quakers were 
 
 (a) Math, xxviii. 19 (^) Math. xxvi. 16 — ?q. 
 
 (1) Aft. ii. 41 — 47. Jud. iz. Rom, xvi. iC . Cul. ii. 9, 
 Joh. xiii. Jam. v. 14— id 
 
( 58 ) 
 j baptized, Ann Compton, Samuel Miles, Han- 
 nah Brunfdun, William Thomas, Richard Buf- 
 fington, Elizabeth Thomas, Jane Phillips, Ed- 
 ward Lane, Edward Edwards, James Plumley, 
 David Phillips, Elizabeth Paviour, Mary Clark, 
 Elizabeth Hall, Rees Price &c, fome of which 
 lived in other parts of the country. But m 
 1 700 a difference arofe among them touching 
 the fabbath which broke up the fociety. Such 
 as adhered to the obfervation of the feventh 
 day kept together at Newtown, where fome of 
 their pofterity are to this day. The reft lay 
 fcattered in the neighbourhood till Mr. Abel 
 Morgan gathered together 1.5 oi them, and 
 formed them into a fociety, now called the 
 Church ofBrandinvine. See p. 29. 
 
 Another fociety of keithian quakers who 
 kept together was that of Philadelphia, where 
 they builded a meeting houfe in 1692. Of 
 thefe, two public perfons were baptized in 
 1697 by Rev.ThomasKillingworth of Cohanfey 
 Their names were William Davis and Thomas 
 Rutter. The firft joined Pennepek ; the other 
 kept preaching in Philadelphia where he bap- 
 tized one Henry Bernard Kofter, Thomas 
 Peart, and feven others whofe names are not 
 on record. Thefe 9 perfons united in commu- 
 nion June 12, 1698, having Thomas Rutter to 
 their minifter. They increafed and continued 
 together for 9 years. But fome removing to 
 the country, and the unbaptized keithians fall- 
 ing off, the fociety in a manner broke up in 
 1707 ; for then the few that remained invited 
 the regular baptifts to join them, and were in- 
 corporated with them 
 
 A third fociety of keithian quakers was at 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 Southampton in Bucks county, kept at the 
 houfe of oue John Swift. Their preacher was 
 John Hart. In 1697 faid John Hart, John 
 Swift, Evan Morgan and others were baptiz- 
 ed by the forementioned Mr. Thomas Rutter. 
 Evan Morgan joined Pennepek the fame year ; 
 the reft kept together to 1702, and then fol- 
 lowed the iteps of Evan Morgan 
 
 The other fociety of keithian quakers was 
 that in Lowerdublin towniliip, kept at the houfe 
 of Abraham Pr itt. One of thefe, John Wells, 
 became a baptift Sep. 27, 1697. The next 
 year Mr. William Davis joined them, being put 
 out of the church of pennepek for herefy. In 
 1699 and afterwards others were baptized, as 
 David Price and wife, Abraham Pratt and wife, 
 Richard Wanfell, Margaret Davis, Martha 
 Deal, Peter Deal, PJchard Wells, Richard 
 Sparks, Nicholas Afhmead, Alexander Bab- 
 cock, Sec. Thefe united in communion afer 
 the manner of their brethren at Upperprovi- 
 dence, having William Davis to their minifter. 
 But they had not been long a fociety before 
 the fame queftion d\ ided them, as in Chefter 
 county. Thofe who preferred the feventii day 
 were William Dav.'s, their preacher; the Wells 
 the Wanfels, the Pratt ;, the Afhmeads, Sec. 
 Thefe met by tbemfelves ; and In 170.2 biu't a 
 place of worfhip in Oxford townfliip. But th eir 
 preacher, WilliamDavis, leaving the 1 71 1; 
 
 and their meeting houfe being taken trom them 
 they became as fhecp without a fhepherd. 
 Thofe who adhere! to the obfervance of the 
 firltday fabbath joined Penn^. .k 
 
 Thus havt we fctn that- the keithian q**?.kers 
 ended in a hind cf transformation into keithian 
 
( 6o ) 
 btpnjls ; they were ajfo called quaker bapiijt}^ 
 feecnufe they ftill retained the language, drefs, 
 and manners of the quakers. We have feen 
 alfo that the keithian or quaker baptifts ended 
 in another kind of transformation into feventb- 
 day baptifts ; though fome went among the 
 firftday baptifts and other focieties. However 
 thefe were the beginning of the Sabbatarians 
 m this province. A confeflion of faith was 
 publifhed by the keithian baptifts in 1697 : it 
 confifts chiefly of the articles in the Apoftles creed. 
 The additions are articles which relate to bap- 
 tifm by immerfion ; the Lord's fupper ; diftin- 
 gni ihing days and months by numerical names; 
 plainncfs of language and drefs ; not fwearing ; 
 not fighting &c. 
 
 PART I1L 
 
 'Treats of the f event h day baptifts. 
 
 These, it is well known, receive their dif- 
 tinclion from the day of the week they obferve 
 for holy reft. The characters of general and 
 particular divide them in this province, few as 
 they are. They originated from the keithian 
 baptifts in 1700, as has been obferved before, 
 who were general in. their fentiments touching 
 the redemption of Chrift. Before that time I 
 can find but one feventhday baptift in Pennfyl- 
 vania viz Mr. Able Noble. He arrived, it is 
 faid, in the year 1684. His. name is among 
 the forty eight who figne'd the reafons of the 
 keithian feparation in 1691. By him was the 
 firft keithian baptized in 1697 : and by hino. 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 \w'£ the reft gained over to the obfervance of 
 the feventh day. I fuppofe therefore he may be 
 called the father of them in this part of Ame- 
 rica. The congregation of german baptifts at 
 Tunkerftown, who obferve the feventh day, owe 
 their peculiarity in that point to this man. 
 But more of thefe hereafter : at preient wc 
 have only to do vtith the britijh feventhday 
 baptifts. Of thefe there be four focieties in the 
 province. 
 
 The firft fociety we ftiall mention is that at 
 Newtown in Upperprovidence, Chefter county, 
 about 24 miles wbs from Philadelphia. The 
 meeting is kept at the houfe of David Thomas. 
 Three families belong to this place ; whereof 
 the folio win;;* perfons are baptized, David 
 Thomas, John German, Hazael Thomas, 
 Ruth Thomas, PrifcilJa Wane, Elizabeth 
 Wane, Mary Gilky. This was their ftate in 
 1770 They originated in 1700 inthemanner 
 defcribed in page 58 ; but their miniftersmef- 
 fieurs Martin, Beckingham and Budd dying, 
 and none rifmgin their ftead they are reduced. 
 to a fmall handful 
 
 The next fociety of them is at Penntpek in 
 Lowerdublin, county of Philadelphia, about 
 9 miles neIin from the city. The meeting is 
 held at the houfe of Benjamin Tomlinfon, e- 
 very fecond fabbath, by Mr. Enoch David. 
 The families belonging to this fociety are e- 
 leven ; thereof the following perfons are bap- 
 tized, Samuel Wells, Richard Tomlinfon and 
 wife, Job Noble and wife, Elizabeth Weft, 
 Mary Keen, Rebecka Dungan, Enoch David. 
 was their (late in 1770. They originated 
 in the manner defcribed in page 59 abQUt 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 year 1701. But their minifters, William Da- 
 vis and Thomas Rutter quitting them,- and 
 none other rifing in their (lead they are re- 
 duced at prefent to 9 fouls. In the year 1702 
 I they built a meeting houfe on a lot given them 
 j by Thomas Graves; but they neglecting to 
 j take a conveyance in due time, the epifcopali- 
 -( ans have got both the lot and houfe. On the 
 lot they have built Oxford church, and turned 
 the baptift meeting houfe to a (table while it 
 flood, but now it is no more 
 
 The third fociety of them is at Nottwghamm 
 Chefter county, about 50 miles ssw from Phi- 
 ladelphia. The meeting is kept fometimes at 
 the houfe of Abigail Price in faid Nottingham, 
 but chiefly at the houfe of Samuel Bond in 
 Cecil county, in the province of Maryland. 
 The families to which Nottingham is central 
 are fix ; whereof 8 perfons are baptized viz 
 Daniel Ofborn, Jofeph Ofborn, Samuel Bond, 
 Richard Bond,Richard Clayton, Abigail Price, 
 Ann Bond, Mary Bond. Here a yearly meet- 
 ing is kept on the laft fabbath in Auguft. This 
 was their ftate in 1 770, They originated from 
 the keithians at Upperprovidence as defcribed 
 in page 58. But having no minifter among 
 them, and lying wide one of another they have 
 not increafed. 
 
 The other fociety of them is at Frenchcreek in 
 Eaft Nantmel tow'nfhip, county of Chefter, a- 
 bout 32 miles Nwbw from Philadelphia. Here 
 is a meetinghoufe, 30 feet by 22, built in 1762, 
 on a lot of one acre, the gift of David Rogers. 
 The families belonging to the place are fix; 
 whereof 10 perfons are baptized, Philip Tho- 
 mas, Gwen Griffiths, David Rogers, Abel 
 
( *3 ) 
 Griffiths, James Roberts, William Griffiths, 
 Daniel Griffiths, Owen Hughs, Edward 
 Hughs and Ann Hughs. They have no ftated 
 worfhip in this houfe, though it be the only 
 one belonging to the fabbatarians. This was 
 their ftate in 1770. They originated in the 
 year 1726, when the following perfons broke 
 off from the Greatvalley church on account of 
 their change of fentiments concerning the fab- 
 bath, Philip Davis, Lewis Williams, Richard 
 Edwards, Griff y Griffiths ; and the next year 
 William James. Thefe five, with their families 
 removed to French creek in the fore faid year. 
 Philip Davis and Lewis Williams did preach a- 
 mong them, and after them, John Brayman ; 
 but for fometime paft they have been as fheep 
 without a fhepherd 
 
 Thus have we feen (1) That there are in 
 Pennfylvania of the feventh-day baptifts 26 fa- 
 milies containing about 130 fouls, allowing 5 
 to a family ; whereof 31 are baptized. (2) 
 That they originated from the keithian bap- 
 tifts about the year 1 700 by means of Abel No- 
 ble (3) That they have two yearly meetings ; 
 and one meeting houfe. To which we may 
 add, that they have one minifter. He is 
 
 Rev. Enoch David. 
 
 He was born Feb. 22. 1718 at Duckcreek in 
 the county of Kent. Went amctog the Indians 
 in 1740. Called to the miniftry, at Welfhtract, 
 in 1 7 5 1 . Embraced the fentiments of the Sab- 
 batarians in 1752. Ordained Oct. 16. 1769. 
 He has had four wives, by whom he has 
 children, Marian, Ebenezer, Sufanna, Eliaffiib, 
 
-I 
 
 ( h ) 
 
 Zedekiah, Elizabeth, Daniel, Owen. Ebene- 
 #er is now at Rhodeifland college. 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 "Treats of the Germans in Pennfyhania 
 who are commonly called Tunkers, 
 to dtftinguifh them from /^Menno- 
 nists; for both are fly led 2)ie ^tillfeC 
 or Baptifts. 
 
 They are called Tankers in derifion which 
 is as much as to fay Sops, from tunken to pat a 
 morfel into fauce ; but as the term fignifies Dip- 
 pers they may red content with the nick-name, 
 fince it is the fate of Baptifts in all countries to 
 bear fome crofs or other. They are alio call- 
 ed Tumblers, from the manner in which they 
 .perform baptifm, which is by putting the par- 
 ty's head forward under water (while kneel- 
 ing) fo as to referable the motion of the body- 
 in the action of tumbling. The Germans 
 found the letters t and b like d and p ; hence 
 the words Tankers and Tumblers have been cor- 
 ruptly written Bunkers and Dumpier 7. The 
 firfl appearing of thefe people in America was 
 in the fall of the year 17 19 when about twenty 
 families landed in Philadelphia, and difperfed 
 themfelves,fome toGermantown, fome to Skip- 
 peck, fome to Oley, fome to Conneftogo and 
 ^lfewhere. This difperfion. incapacitated- them 
 to meet for public worfhip; and therefore they 
 foon began to grow lukewarm iri<religion. But 
 in the year 1722 mcflleurs Baker, Gomery, 
 
( 65 ) 
 
 <7antz and the Traatzs viiktd their fcattered 
 
 hren which was attended with a great re- 
 vival, in fe much that focieties were formed 
 wherever a number of families were within 
 reach one of another. But this lafted not a* 
 hove three years. They fettled on their lees 
 
 in, till about thirty families more of their 
 perfctuted brethren arrived in the fall of the 
 
 ' 1729, which both quickened them again, 
 und increafed their number every where. — 
 Thefe two companies had been members of one 
 and the fame church, which originated at 
 Schwardzenau in the year 1708. The firit 
 conftituents were Alexander Mack and wife, 
 John Kipin and wife, George Grevy, Andreas 
 Pihoney, Lucas Fetter and Joanna Nethigeim. 
 Thefe had been bred prefbyterians, except Kip- 
 in who was a lulheran ; and, being neighbours, 
 they conforted together to read the bible, and 
 edify one another in the way they had been 
 
 tight up ; for as yet they did not know that 
 there were any baptifts in the world. However, 
 believer's baptifm and a congregational church 
 foon gained upon them, in ib much that they 
 were determined to obey the gofpel in thefe 
 natters. They defired Alexander Mack to bap- 
 tize them ; but he deeming himfelf in reality 
 unbaptized, refufed. U^un which they call 
 i<> find who fhould be admiiiiilratnr. On 
 
 no the lot fell hath been carefully concealed. 
 Kov prized they were in the river E- 
 
 mau ; and then fofn 
 feives into a church ; choofmg / 
 
 k to be rheirminirUr. T 
 and began to fpread 'heir branch 
 
 a and Epftcin, having John Naafs, and 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 Oiriftian Levy to their minifters in thofe pfo* 
 ^ces. But perfecution quickly drave them thence, 
 ibme to Holland, and fome to Creyfelt. Soon 
 after the mother church voluntarily removed 
 from Schwardzena.il to Seruftervin in Frizland; 
 ; and from thence migrated towards America in 
 1719. And in 1729 thofe of Cr.ey.felt and Hol- 
 land followed their brethren. - Thus we fee 
 that all the Tunker churches in America 
 fprang from the church of Schwa.rdzenau in 
 Germany; that that church began in 1708 
 with only feven fouls, and that in a place 
 where no baptifis had been in the memory of 
 man, nor any now are. In 62 years that little 
 one is become a tboufand, and that fmall one a great 
 nation. It is very hard to give a true account 
 .of the principles , of thefe Tunkers as they have 
 not publifhed any fyftem or creed, except what 
 two individuals have put forth ; which have 
 not been publicly avowed. However, I may 
 afTert the following things concerning them 
 from my own knowledge. They are general 
 baptifis in the fenfe which that phrafe bears in 
 Greatbritain ; but not Arians nor Sociiians, as 
 moil of their brethren in Holland are. General 
 redemption they certainly hold ; and, withall, 
 general falvation ; which tenets though wrong 
 are confident . They ufe great plainnefs of 
 language and drefs, like the Quakers 5 and 
 like them will neither fwear nor fight. They 
 will not go to law ; nor take intereft for the 
 money they lend. They commonly wear their 
 f beards ; and keep the firft day fabbath, except 
 ! one congregation. They have the Lord's fup- 
 j per with its ancient attendents of love-feafis, 
 1 wafting feet, kifs of charity, and right hand of 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 feilfiwfJnp. They anoint the Tick with oil fW' 
 recovery ; and ufe the trhte im7?ierfion> with lay- 
 ing on of hands and prayer, even while the per- 
 fon baptized is in the water ; which may eafi- 
 ly be done as the party kneels down to be bap- 
 tized ; and continues in that pofture till both 
 prayer and impofition of hands be performed. 
 But though their baptiim be well contrived for 
 trine immerfion, yet it lofes the refemblance of 
 a' burial. Their church government and disci- 
 pline are the fame with thofe of theenglifh bap- 
 tiils ; except that every brother is allowed to j 
 (land up in the congregation to fpeakin a way j 
 of exhortation and expounding ; and when by! 
 thefe means they find a man eminent for know- 
 ledge and aptnefs- to teach, they choofe him to 
 be a minifler, and ordain him with impofition ' 
 ©f hands, attended with fafting and prayer and j 
 giving the right hand of fellowfhip. They 
 alio have deacons- ; and ancient widows for dea- I 
 Conejfes ; ' and exhort ers ; who are licenced to ufe j 
 their gifts ftatedly. They pay not their mini- ' 
 fters unlefs it be in a way of prefents, though ! 
 they admit their right to pay ; neither do the 1 
 minifters affert the right, efteeming it foore \ 
 hiejfsd to give than to receive. Their acquaintance \ 
 with the bible is admirable. In a word, they 
 are meek and pious chriftians ; and have juftly 
 acquired the character of the Harmlefs Tunkers. 
 Of thefe there are, in Pennfylvania, feveral 
 congregations. Here follow fome accounts of 
 them, and of their preachers. Thofe in other 
 provinces fhall be fpoken of hereafter. ( The 
 t fociety of this people is that at 
 
( 6$ y 
 
 BEGGARSTOW N. 
 
 This takes its diftin&ion from a little village 
 of the above name, in the townfhip of Ger- 
 mantown, eight miles Nqw from the city. The 
 meeting houfe is of ftone, 30 feet fquare, e- 
 recled this year, on a lot of eighty rods, the 
 gift of one Peter Shilbert. On the fame lot 
 ftands their old building erected by one John 
 Pettikoffer for his dwelling houfe in 1 73 i ; and 
 becaufe it was the firft houfe in the place, and 
 erected by a beggar, the village ailumed the 
 name of B-eggarjionvn. The families belonging 
 to this congregation are about 30 ; whereof 
 57 * perfons are baptized and in the communi- 
 on of the church. This was their date in 1770. 
 For their beginning we have no further back to 
 look than Dec- 25 1723 when the following 
 perfons (fame baptized in Germany and fome 
 in this country) formed themfelves into a fo- 
 ciety, having Mr. Peter Baker to their minifter ; 
 znd had the Lord's fupper and love feafl &e 
 
 * Alexander Mack minift. with his wife and daughter, 
 Chriftopher Sower exh, with his wife and fon, Margaret 
 Boyer dtac. George Shriber and wife, Henry Slingluffand 
 two daughters, Philip Weaver and wife, Peter Lybert. 
 and wife, John Slingluffand wife, Henry SlinglufF, An- 
 thony Snyder and wife, Richard Roob, Michael Keyfer, 
 Ptter Keyfer and wife, Jacob Bowman and wife, Juftus 
 Pox and wife, John Kiroe, Conrad Good, Conrad Stamm 
 and wife, Hannah Starnm, Mary Baker, Sarah Baker, 
 Safannah Baker, Eve Fith, Elizabeth Boyer, Mary Hoi- 
 jert, Margavet Herfzbaek, Magdalen Mellingcr, Eliza- 
 beth Roob, ChrKr?an de Laf het and wife, William Spy- 
 ra and wife, Nathaniel Shrybcr, Xatherme Shryber, Hen- 
 ry Sharpneck and wife, Mary Nyfe, Rudolph Haly and 
 wife, Mary Fend* S^beik Eat, 
 
( 6? ) 
 
 far the fir ft time ; and the firft time they were 
 celebrated by them in the province. Their 
 names were Mr. Peter Baker, Henri ck Traut, 
 Henry Holzapfel, Johannes Gomery, Jeremi- 
 ah Traut, Balfer Traut, Stephen Koch, Jo- 
 hannes Hiidebrand, Daniel Ritter, George 
 Balfer Gans, Jacob Koch, John Preis, John 
 Kempfer, Magdaiina Traut, Anna Gomery, 
 Maria Hiidebrand, and Joanna Gans. From 
 this fmall beginning with 16 perfons they have 
 in 47 years mcreafei to the number of 57. No 
 other remarkable event had happened in this 
 congregation. The minifter they hxft had was 
 
 Rev. Peter Baker. 
 
 He was born in 1687 at Dilfheim in Ger- 
 many. Educated a prefbyterian. Embraced: 
 the principles of the baptifls in 1 7 1 4. Arrived 
 in this country in 17 19. Settled with the 
 church of Beggarflown in 1723. Went to 
 Skippek in 1747 where he died and was buried 
 Mar. 19. 1758. lie married Dorothy Part- 
 man by whom he had two daughters, Mary 
 and Elizabeth who married into the Heerly and 
 Stump families and have raifed him 15 grand 
 children. Whatever his real character was- 
 yet this may be faid of him, He laboured more 
 abundantly than all his cotemporaries. His 
 fucceflor who had been alio his colleague was 
 
 Rev. Alexander Mack. 
 
 He was born in the year 1680 at Schrifbeim 
 in Germany, Was educated a Caiviniit. Em- 
 braced the baptift principles in 1 708. Arrived 
 
(' ft ) 
 
 fo this country with many ©f his congregation 
 in 1729, and became a mmifler of Beggarftown 
 the fame year. Died in 1735 and was buried 
 at German town. He married Anna Margare- 
 ta Kling by whom he had children, Valentine, 
 John, Alexander, (now minifter of Beggarf- 
 town) who married into the Hildebrand, 
 Sneider and Nife families and have raifed him 
 many grand children. His fourth chiid was 
 Anna, now a fingle filler at Ephrata. Mr. 
 Mack was a man of real piety. He had a 
 handfome patrimony at Schrifheim, with a 
 profitable mill and vineyards thereon, but fpent 
 all in raifing and maintaining his church at 
 Schwardzenau whereof he was father, and the 
 father of all the Tunkers. His fucceffor is his 
 cwn font 
 
 Rev. Alexander Mack. 
 
 He was born at Schwardzenau, Jan. 28. 
 1*712. Baptized in 1728. Arrived to Ameri- 
 ca in 1729. Ordained in 17493 at which time 
 he took on him the care of the church. He 
 married Elizabeth Nife, by whom he has chil- 
 dren, William, Sarah, Hannah, Lydia, Eliza- 
 beth, Margaret. Mr. Mack is a fmcere good" 
 man. Affiftant to him is 
 
 Rev. Chrijlopker Sower. 
 
 He was born, Sep. 26 r 1721, atLafphe in 
 Witgeinftein. Bred a prefbyterian. Game to 
 this country in 1724. Baptized. in 1737. Or- 
 dained Jun. 10. 1753, He married Catherine-: 
 Sharpnexk by whom he has children, Chrifta* 
 
( 7i ) 
 
 plicr, DanieJ, Peter, Catherine, Either, Da- 
 vid, Samuel. The next church to this is 
 
 GREATSWAMP. 
 
 This* fociety is diftinguiflied by the above 
 name, which is the name of a tracl ofland call- 
 ed the Greatfwamp. The meeting is kept at 
 the houfe of Mr. John Frick in Uppermilford 
 townlhip, in the county of Bucks, about 40 
 miles Nqw from Philadelphia. The families 
 belonging to the fociety are about 20 whereof 
 28 * perfons are baptized. Thus Mood things 
 with them in 1 7 70. Their beginning was in this 
 manner. In the year 1733 one Salome Miller 
 ,and Jofeph Miller her brother, John Brechand 
 wife, Peter Longanacre and Peter Rhode w T ere 
 baptized by Mr. John Naafs. In 1735 were 
 baptized, by Mr Peter Baker and Mr. Martin 
 Urner, one Hanfe Zuk and wife, John Slei- 
 fer, and John Frick and wife ; and the fame 
 •time had tkeLord's fupper adminiitred to them 
 by Mr Peter Baker. This was the period of 
 their exiftence as a fociety ; and 1 1 their num- 
 ber. They have exifted for 35 years without 
 any remarkable event, except that count Zein- 
 zendorf took away fome of them in the year 
 j 752. At firft they were vifited by miniiters 
 
 * John Frick exhor. and wife, Laurence Erboch and 
 wife, Andrew Meinzinger, John Demnd and wife, John 
 fileifer and wife, Henry Kun, Philip Goodman apd wife, 
 Philip Deal, Frederick Deal, John Redroch and wife, 
 Fgite Chriflian and wife, Lodowick Chriitian and wife, 
 Jacob Staut and wife, Mary Christian, widow Rinkcr, 
 Catherine Rinker, widow Olinger, widow Cray ling, Fre- 
 jiy Triffch 
 
( V ) 
 
 from other parts, and increased faft. Several 
 of the Mennonifte joined them. But fmce that 
 time the increafe has been inconfiderable. The 
 firit fettled minifter they had was 
 
 Rev, Abraham Dubvy, 
 
 He was born in 1679 at Epftein in Germany, 
 Bred a prefbyterian. Embraced the principles 
 of the baptifts in 17 12. Came to America in 
 1728. Settled atPerkiomen ; and from thence 
 went to the Greatfwamp in 1738, where he di- 
 /ed and was buried Mar. 21. 1748. Since 
 that time Mr John Frick hath preached to 
 them ; but is not ordained. The next church 
 is 
 
 COVENTRY. 
 
 This takes its diftinclion from the townfliip 
 where mod of the members refide, m the coun- 
 ty of Chefter, 37 miles Nwhw from Philadel- 
 phia. Coventry is on the banks of Schuylkil, 
 appofite to Potfgrove, Thefe people have no 
 public place of worfhip,but ho-d their meetings 
 in a kind of rotation at five private houies. 
 The prefent minifter "is Mr. Martin Urner ; who 
 has to his affiftant Mr. Peter Reinhart. The 
 families belonging to them are about 22, where- 
 of 40 # perfons are baptized. This was their 
 
 * Martin Urner mhilf. and wife, Peter Reinhart exhor. 
 Owen F^einhart, Henry Dalker and wife, Nicholas Har- 
 -wick and wife, Abraham Grub and wife, Chriitiari Mo:i- 
 fieur, Barbara Miller, Barbara Welty, Frederick Rein- 
 hart and wife, Barbara Urner, Elizabeth' Ingles, Cathe- 
 rine Grismbacker, (Ltfieriiie Boch, John Eiker, Jacob 
 
( 73 ) 
 ftate in 1770. For their original we mud lock 
 "back to 1724 when one Daniel Eiker and wife, 
 Henry Landis and wife, Peter Heffly, Martin 
 Urner, Owen Langanacre and Andrew Sell 
 (who had been baptized before) did unite to ce- 
 lebrate the Lord's fupper and to walk together 
 in love, having Rev. Peter Baker to their affif- 
 tance. They increafed faft, and would now be 
 a very large fociety had not fo many families 
 gone away to Virginia, Carolina and other 
 parts. The firft minifter they had was 
 
 Rev. Peter Urner 
 
 He was born in Alface about the year i6o£, 
 and was bred a prefbyterian. He came to A- 
 merica in 1715. Embraced the principles of 
 the Baptifts in 1722. Was ordained by Rev. 
 Alexander Mack in 1729, at which time he took 
 on him the overfight of the church. He died 
 in 1755 and was buried in the grave yard at 
 Coventry. His wife was Catherine Reift by 
 whom he had children Mary, Martin, Jacob. 
 Thefe married into the Woolf, Edis and Light 
 families. Afllftant to Mr. Urner was one Caf- 
 per Ingles. The next and prefent minifter is 
 
 Rev. Mart hi Urner 
 
 He is nephew to the fore mentioned Martin 
 Urner. Was born 1725 in Newhanover town- 
 
 Pfauts and wife, Abraham Boch, Andrew Woolf, Eaft- 
 her Switfer, Wendle Danfelfer, Henry Bear and wife 
 Jacob Sweitfer and wife, Maud Reinharth, Jacob Light 
 and wife, Philip Waggoner and wife, Eliz. Holderman, 
 Anthony Bernard and Daughter, John Light and wife. 
 
( 74 ) 
 fhip and county of Philadelphia. Ordained in 
 1756, at which time he took on him the care of 
 the congregation. His afliftant is Mr. Peter 
 Reinharth. Mr. Urner married Barbara Sweit- 
 fer by whom he has children Mary, Jofeph, 
 Martin, Elizabeth. The next fociety is 
 
 EPHRATA 
 
 This church is diftinguifhed by the above 
 name which is the name of the village where 
 it exifts, in Cocolico townfhip and Lancafter 
 county, 60 miles WNwhw from Philadelphia. 
 The fame village is frequently called Tunkers- 
 tvwn. It confifts of between 30 and 40 build- 
 ings, and ftands on a parcel of land containing 
 1£5 acres. The land is formed into a triangle 
 by the erodings of the paxton and lancafter 
 roads and Cocolico river. The places of wor- 
 ship in the village are three : one (called Sha- 
 ron) adjoins the fifters appartments by way of 
 chappel ; the other, called Bethany, is a chap- 
 pel belonging to the appartments of the bre- 
 thren, where they refort to worfhip morning 
 and evening, and fometimes in the night, as 
 the fifters alfo do in the other chappel ; the 
 third is a common church called Zion, built on 
 the fummit of a little hill, about 200 yards 
 diftant from the other. Here the fmgle breth- 
 ren and Tingle lifters and the married people 
 and their children meet once a week for pub- 
 lic worfhip. The brethren have adopted the 
 drefs of the white friers with fome alteration ; 
 and the fifters that of the nuns ; and both, 
 like them, have taken the vow of celibacy. 
 But fome break through the vow. Then they 
 
( IS ) 
 
 quit their cells and go to the neighbourhood a- 
 mong the married people. All the fraternity 
 wear their beards. Their livelihood they gee 
 by cultivating the land, by a printing office, by 
 a grift mill, a paper mill, an oil mill occ ; and 
 the lifters by {pinning, weaving, fewing, &c. 
 They flept at fir ft on board couches with, 
 blocks tor pillows, but now fleep on beds ; and 
 have otherwife abated much of the fevcrity of 
 their order. They keep the feventh day of the 
 k for iabbath, to which their founder had 
 been profelyted by the remains o4 the keithian 
 bapcifts, particularly Rev. Thomas Rutter, Wlio 
 in this affair was the difciple of Abel Noble. 
 From the uncouth drefs, the reclufe and afec- 
 tic life of thefe people four afpects and rough 
 manners might be expected ; but on the contra- 
 ry, a fouling innocence and meeknefs grace 
 their countenances, and a foftnefs of tone and 
 accent adorn their con verfalion, and make their 
 deportment gentle and obliging. Their fmg- 
 ing is charming ; partly owing to the pleafant- 
 nefs of their voices, the variety of parts they 
 carry on together and the devout manner of 
 performance. The families belonging to the 
 ibciety are about 40 whereof about 135 # per- 
 fons (including the fingle brethren and fillers) 
 
 • The number of (ingle brethren is only 14. Their 
 names are Rev. Peter Miller, John Mayle, Jacob Moyer, 
 Mark Graff", John Huplc, John Reiiman, Chrirtian Reb, 
 Jacob 1 uel Fafik, George Miller, Jacob Kim- 
 
 William Lebrccht, Henry Bendle, Jacob Funk 
 - number of Tingle fillers is iS, Barbara Moyer and 
 , Catherine Hegcman, Mai y 
 rine Volzin, Elizabeth Zinn, B w 
 , Elizabeth Heafly, Anna Maria Gra/nar, H . 
 ice Gardner, Rohua C 
 
,( 76 ) 
 
 are baptized and in communion.. This was 
 their ftate in 1770. They had their exiftence 
 as a fociety on Nov. 12. 1724 when Conrad 
 Beiffel, Jofeph Shaffer, John Moyer and wife, 
 Henrick Hehn and wife and Veronica Frederick 
 were baptized in Pequea river by Rev. Peter 
 Baker. The fame day thefe feven incorporat- 
 ed into a church and chofe Conrad Beiffel to be 
 their minifter. After this they continued fome 
 time at Millcreek ; and then, removing about 
 three miles northward, pitched on the land 
 of Rudolph Neagley, in Earl townfhip. Here 
 they continutd about feven years ; and hither 
 
 "Fufik, Maria Miller* Elizabeth Mack, CatherineHenrick, 
 Veronica Funk, Chriftiana Lefslcy, Mariah Henrick, Su«- 
 fanna Stedtkr, Louifa Beiflel, Barbara Kimmel, Maria 
 Hecker, Maria Eiker, Maria Graff, Dorothy Monfhour 
 
 The married members and their offspring are Jehn 
 Hoffman, John Miller aiad wife, Mrs. PethkofFer, John 
 peth coffer, Ifaac Fethcoffer, Mrs. Heuple, Henry Heu* 
 pie and wife, Magdalene Lefhar, Jacob Seibers and wife 
 and fon and daughter, Godfreid Scufinger and wife, E- 
 Ion Miller and wife, Jacob Kellar and wife, Sebaftian 
 Keller, Jofeph Keller and wife, Frederick Keller and 
 wife, Jofeph Heafly, John Heafly and wife, Magdalene 
 Gitter, Jaeob Martin, Maria Martin, Jacob Spregle 
 wife and daughter, Mrs Hahn, Jacob Graff and wife, Jo- 
 feph GrafT, Daniel Good and wife, James Anguis and 
 wife and daughter, Jacob Senfeman and wife, Mrs Senfe- 
 man, Mrs Shreid, Jacob Gorgas and wife, Adam Ken f 
 ickmaker, Jacob Neagley and wife and maid, Catherine 
 Janfin, Herman Zinn and wife, Conrad Boldhaufon, 
 Peter Fahnftick and wife, Margaret Fahnftick and maid, 
 John Neagley and wife, John Garber and wife, Benjamin 
 Bowman and Wife, John Bowman, Laurence Double and 
 wife, Martha Simeon and daughter, John Huber, Jere- 
 miah Miller and wife, Lodowick Hecker, Sufanna Hart- 
 man, Barbara Rorback, Geo. Zinn & wife, And. Hook & 
 wife, Lod.Bender & wife, Gertrude Mellinger, An.Thom- 
 mim, Ann Lefsley, Jacob Rohrer and wife and fon and 
 daughter, John Fahnftick and wife. 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 reforted many to fee them, fome of which joia 
 cd the fociety. Here they began their oecono- 
 my, the men living by themfelves on the fore- 
 mentioned lands, and the women alfo by them- 
 felves on the adjoining lands of John Moyly. 
 Here Conrad Beiffel appointed two elders and 
 a matron to prefide over his church in the wii- 
 dernefs, binding them by a foleran promife (and 
 at the fame time giving to each a teftament) to 
 govern according to the rules of that book. 
 Then he withdrew, and made as though they 
 fhould fee him no more. This was done in the 
 year 1733. He travelled northward till he 
 came to the fpot where Ephrata or Tunkerf- 
 town now ftands, and with his hoe planted 
 indian corn and roots for his fubfiftence. But 
 he had not been long in the place before the fo- 
 ciety found him out and repaired to his little 
 cot ; the brethren fettling with him on the weft 
 banks of Cocolico, and the fifters on the eaft, 
 all in fight of one another with the river rim- 
 ing between them. The next year they fet a- 
 bout building their village, beginning with a 
 place of worfhip. The village is inclofed with 
 a large ditch, and fortified with pofts and rails 
 and quickfets. The founder of this people and 
 their firft minifter was 
 
 Rev, Conrad Beijfel 
 
 This was his real name ; but when he be- 
 came a baptift he afTumed the name of Freid- 
 fam Gottrecht, and gave new names to all the 
 brethren and fifters. He was born in 1690 at 
 Eberback in Germany. Bred a prefbyterian. 
 Arrived in JBoftoa iji J720. Thence he and his 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 two companions, Stunts and Steiffel, travelled 
 weftward to Pennfylvania, and lived as her- 
 mits about Millcreek and the Swedefpring in 
 Lancafter county. He embraced the principles 
 of the Baptifts in 1724. Died Jul. 6 1768 and 
 was buried at Ephrata. As for his charafte r 
 I give it in the words of one who knew him 
 well " He was very ftrifl in his morals and 
 " praclifed felfdenial and mortification to an 
 " uncommon degree. Enthufiaftic and whim- 
 *' fical he certainly was, but an apparent de- 
 " voutnefs and fincerity ran through all his od- 
 *' dities. He was not an adept in any of the 
 46 liberal arts and fciences except mufic ; in 
 "■ which he excelled. He compofed and fet to 
 " mufic (in three, four, fix and eight parts) a 
 •* folio volume of hymns, and another of an- 
 « c thems. He publifhed a differ tation on the fall 
 " of man in the .rn.yfterio.us drain; alfo ava- 
 '** lume of letters. He left behind feveral books 
 J< in manufcripts curioufly written and embei- 
 «'• lifted." It is expected his life will be pub- 
 lifued by his fucceiTor and the prefent miniftex 
 of Ephrata. 
 
 Rev. Peter Miller 
 
 He was born in 1 709 in the bailywick of Kai- 
 ferlautern in Germany. Had his education in the 
 univerfity of Heildeberg. Came to this coun- 
 try in 1730 and fettled with the dutch prefby- 
 terians in Philadelphia. There he was ordain- 
 ed by Rev. meflienrs Tennent, Boyd and An- 
 drews the fame year. He embraced the prin- 
 ciples of the baptifts in 1735 ; and in 1744 re- 
 ceived another ordination from Rev. Conrad 
 
( 79 ) 
 Belflel to be prior of the fociety, over which he 
 £1 ill prefides. Dr. Douglas (in his hiftory of 
 the provinces) faith that he is a good fchollar 
 and writes fine latin 
 
 No very remarkable event hath happened in 
 this fociety, which hath now exifted for 46 
 years, except a confederacy which Eckerlin 
 (their firft prior) had formed to fupplant the 
 founder. He had feduced the brethren tohispur- 
 pofe, and began to tamper with the fillers ; but 
 they, perceiving his delign, oppofed and defeat- 
 ed it. He has fince caufed uneafmefs by rea« 
 fon of the power he has as truftee for the land. 
 But the fociety are meditating to have their 
 grievances redreffed by a bill of afTembly. 
 The number of Tingle brethren and fitters is 
 much reduced ; nor is it likely that young peo- 
 ple will join them to keep up a fucceflion 
 
 O L Y 
 
 This fociety takes its diftinclion from the 
 townfhip where moR of the people refide, in 
 the county of Berks, 54 miles nw from Phila- 
 delphia. The prefent preachers are mefs. 
 Martin Gaby and Jacob Joder, but nol or- 
 dained. The families belonging to the | 
 are about 1 2 whereof 20 * perfons are b&p 
 ed. This is their prefent (late. They had 
 their beginning about r 732 when one Ritters, 
 Shiibert, Blanlh, and others did unite for com- 
 
 * Martin Gaby' cxhor. and wife, John Joder e.d:r, 
 and wife, Conrad Price and wife, D;;vid Price and wife, 
 David Kinfey and wife, Jacob Baker and wife, Cbriftfojl 
 Kin fey and wife, Peter Kleine, Lifs Ellis, Margaret 
 Harpinej Catherine plank, Dsmitl IUeinc and wife. 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 amnion of faints, having Peter Baker totlielr 
 affiftance. Since this time they have had no 
 ordained minifter, but are vifited by Rev.George 
 Kleine. This church is much reduced by rea- 
 fon of removals of families to other parts, par- 
 ticularly to Conecocheague in 1743 
 
 C O C O L I C O 
 
 This fociety is diftinguifhed by the above 
 name which is the name of a little river near to 
 -which the people refide, in Cocolico townfhip 
 and county of Lancafter, 60 miles WNwhw 
 from Philadelphia. The minifter is Rev. Ja^ 
 cob Sonday, who has Mr. John Landis to his 
 afliftance. Mr. Sonday was born in Germany 
 in 1700. Came to this country in 1733. Was 
 ordained in 1763, at which time he took on 
 him the overfight of the church. He married 
 Mary Landis by whom he has one fon. The 
 families belonging to the fociety are about 53 
 whereof 86 * perfons are baptized. This is 
 
 * Rev. Jacob Sonday and wife, John Landis, cxhor^ 
 and wife, John Rofh and wife, Peter Eychelberger and 
 wife, Michael Fran tz and wife, Henry Mohier. and wife, 
 Peter Reyer and wife, Tobias Miller and wife, Chrifto- 
 pher Becker and wife, Elizabeth Lefsley, Catherine Har- 
 lacher, Ann Mohler, Magdalene Millenger, Daniel Bal- 
 linger and wife, Daniel Reyer and wife, John Reyer and 
 wife, Martin Meyer and wife, Jeremiah Woolf and wife 2 
 George Schwarts and wife, Jacob Landis and wife, Da« 
 •vid Landis, Chriftopher Weftenberger and wife, Jacob 
 Sponhauer and wife, Chriflopher Widder and wife, Jacob 
 Xnodel and wife, Salome Harlacher, Barbara Fran tz, 
 Catherine Reyer, Margaret Landis, Barbara Steiner, Bar- 
 bara Schob, Henry Schneider and wife, Daniel Hollinger 
 and wife, Chriftopher Reyer and wife, John Meyer and 
 ^vife 3 Samuel Good and wife, Eya Sychrift, Jefemiaj^ 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 their prefent (late. They originated about the 
 year 1735 when the following perfons feparat- 
 ed from the church of Ephrata and became a 
 diftinct fociety viz Michael Pffauts, Rant Wo 
 olf, John Frantz, Emick Reyer, George Re- 
 yer a John Landis, Samuel Good, Henry Snei- 
 der, Philip Rouland and others, having Rev. 
 
 Peter Baker to their affiftance The firft mi- 
 
 nifter they had was Rev. Michael Frantz, a na- 
 tive of Switzerland. He was ordained in 1734 
 and the next year took on him the overfight of 
 the church. He died in 1748 and was buried 
 at Cocolico. After his death Rev. Michael 
 Pffautz and others preached to them until their 
 prefent minifter was ordained 
 
 WHITEOAKLAND 
 
 This fociety is diftinguifiied as above from 
 a tract of land fo called, in the parifh of War- 
 wick, Lancafter county, 75 miles wbN from 
 Philadelphia, and 2 miles from Letitz. They 
 hold their meeting at private houfes. The mi- 
 nifter is Rev. Chriftian Langanacre, who was 
 born Nov. 11. 1732 in Raffo townfhip. Or- 
 dained May 15 1769 at which time he took on 
 him the care of the church. He married Mar- 
 garet Geib by whom he has fix children. The 
 families belonging to the fociety are about 39, 
 
 WooUjur. and wife, Jonas Joner and wife, Jacob Heller 
 and wife, Mrs Hiftant, Mrs Mofer, Mrs Behr, ChriiH- 
 an Haas and wife, Jacob Harnly and wife, Magdalene 
 Landis, Mary Frantz, Magdalene Bellenger, Mary 
 Koch, Barbara Koch, Henry Schneider ,/w. and wife, Su* 
 fannah Landis, Catherine Landis, 
 
( ^ ) 
 
 whereof 65 # perfons are baptized. This is 
 their prefent fiate. They began in this man- 
 ner. About the year 1729 one George Reyer, 
 John Langanacre and others came from Ger- 
 many and fettled in this neighbourhood. Af- 
 ter them came feveral more from cthgf places 
 who in the year 1736 united together and had 
 the Lords fupper adminiftred to them by Rev 
 Michael Pffautz. He was their firil minifter 
 but lived at Cccolico. He married Catherine 
 Schlauch by whom he had four children. Was 
 ordained in the year 1735. Died May 21. 
 1769 leaving behind him a good character 
 
 GREATSWATARO 
 
 This church is £o diftinguifhed from a river 
 near to which the people dwell ; and fometimes 
 by the name of Eaficonenuago which is another 
 river that runs through the neighbourhood. 
 The meeting is held chiefly at private houfes in 
 the to wnfhip of Mountjoy, county of Lancafter, 
 20 miles from Lancafter and 86 miles wbN from 
 Philadelphia. Their preachers are meff, George 
 Miller and Adam Hammaker, but not ordained. 
 The families belonging to the congregation are 
 
 * Rev. Chnftian Langanacre and wife, John Zug* and 
 wife, John Langanacre and wife, Chriftian Zug and wife, 
 John Pffautz and wife, Henry Kuenfing, Jacob Kuen- 
 fing and wife, Chriftian Krabiei and wife, Jacob Zug and 
 wife, widow Huber, Catherine Eitner, Elizabeth Reir, 
 Abraham Flohry and wife, Conrad Gingie, George Moh- 
 ler ^md wife, Elizabeth Huft, Martin Schuh and wife, 
 Jacob Herfiiy and wife, Andrew Eby and wife, Henry 
 Giebel and wife, Barbara Eby and four daughters, Henry 
 Eter and wife, Elizabeth Langanacre, Henry Langanacre 
 and wife, Uirick Langanacre, Jehu Hackman and wife, 
 
( 8 3 ) 
 
 about co whereof 39* perfons are baptized. 
 This is their prefent fkte. They began in this 
 manner. In the year 1752 the faid George 
 Miller embraced the principles of the Baptifts, 
 and foon after, his wife. Others removed hi- 
 ther from Whiteoakland, and in the year 1756 
 united into a fociety, having Rev. Michael 
 PfFauts to their Affiftance. He continued to vi- 
 fit them while he lived ; and after him, others. 
 They purpofe foon to ordain Mr. Miller to be 
 their minifter 
 
 LITTLESWATARO 
 
 This church alfo takes its diftinclion from 
 a river of the above name, in the townfhip of 
 Tulpehokon and county of Berks, 25 miles 
 from Reading and 81 miles swbw from Phila- 
 delphia. Some of the people live in Bether 
 townfhip in Lancafter county. They hold their 
 worfhip in private houfes. Their preacher is 
 Mr. Peter Heckman, but he is not ordained. 
 The families belonging to the fociety are about 
 
 Henry Stohler and wife, John Lautermikh and wife, 
 George Kleine and wife, Catherine Gifh, John Frantz 
 and wife, Ann Huber, Fronica — , Catherine Reyer, 
 Salome Borghart, Mrs Kratzer, Conrad HaufTer and wife, 
 and George Stchler and wife. 
 
 * George Miller exbor. and wife and daughter, Adam 
 Hamm3cker exbor. and wife and daughter, Peter Ertz- 
 ftone and wife, Philip Roemer and wife, John Buck and 
 wife, John Eter and wife, Jacob Metfegar and wife, 
 Henry Thomas and wife, Chriftopher Branfer and wife, 
 Margaret Thomas, Philip Reicker and wife, Peter Berfn 
 and wife. Henry Stohner and wife, Wen del Mcrich and 
 wife, Frederick Hefs and wife, Jacob Eter and wife, 
 George Balfhbach and wife, George Henry and wife, Bai- 
 bara Henry, Freny Cais. 
 
( §4 ) 
 ip whereof 45 # perfons are baptized. This is 
 their prefent ftate. Their beginning was in 
 this manner. About the year 1745 one George 
 Befher fettled in this neighbourhood, and one 
 Michael Frantz, Peter Heckman, John Frantz 
 and others. Thefe were baptized by Rev. 
 George Kleine, and in 1757 coalefced into a 
 church having the faid Kleine to their aflif- 
 tance. He has miniftred the Lords fupper to 
 them ever fmce ; but they purpofe foon to or- 
 dain Mr. Peter Heckman 
 
 NORTHKILL 
 
 This little fociety is diftinguifhed as above 
 from a fmall river called Northkill, in the town- 
 fhips of Tulpehokon and Bern, county of Berks, 
 15 miles from Reading, and 71 miles Nwbw 
 from Philadelphia. The minifter is Rev. 
 George Kleine. He was born at Zweinbrec- 
 ken in Germany, Oct. 9 171 5. Came to A- 
 mericain 1738. Was baptized in 1739 by Mr. 
 Naas of Amwell in the Jerfey. Ordained in 
 1757 by Rev. Michael Pffautzand Martin Ur- 
 ner. He married Dorothy Repman by whom 
 he has feven children. The families belonging 
 
 * Peter Heckman exhor. and wife, Jacob Heckman and 
 wife, Michael Frantz and wife, Nicholas Gerft and wife, 
 Jacob Moyer and wife, George Beafher, David Marge 
 and wife, Simon Menich and wife, John Frantz and wife, 
 Chriftian Frantz and wife, Rofe Shnables, Jacob Smith 
 and wife, Lifs Kentzel, Adam Henrich, Mrs Cyder, 
 Philip Zeigier and wife, Jacob Breneifen and wife, David 
 Kleine and wife, widow Benedict, Elizabeth Benedict, 
 Sophy Kilh, Leonard Sebalt and wife, John Grove, 
 Jacob Baker and wife, Jacob Deal and wife, Hans Ston- 
 ier and wife, Jacob fieihor and wife. 
 
( 8j ) 
 
 to them are 7, thereof 11 * perfons are bap- 
 tized and in fellowihip. This is their prefent 
 ftate. They began to be a church about the 
 year 1748 "when one John Stump and fitter, 
 Frederick Moyer and wife, with a few more, 
 had the Lords fupper adminiftred to them by 
 the Rev. Michael PfFautz. About two years 
 after, their prefent minifter fettled among them, 
 "The foci ety was reduced to its now low eftatc, 
 by the removal of families to other parts 
 
 C O D O R U S 
 
 This fociety is diftinguifhed as above from 
 ti river that is called Codorus y in a townfhip of 
 the fame name in the county of York, 1 1 miles 
 from the town of York, and 99 miles whs 
 from Philadelphia. The preacher is Mr. Hen- 
 ry Neff, but he is not ordained. The fami- 
 lies belonging to the place are about 20 
 whereof 3 5 f perfons are baptized and mem- 
 bers of the church. This is their prefent ftate. 
 
 * Rev. George Kleine and wife, Valentine Lang, Eli- 
 zabeth Rciler, Elizabeth Stump, Sarah Soienbergcr, 
 John Stohncr and wife, Mary &tohner, Sufa-nna Mack- 
 Icy, Elizabeth Brandel. 
 
 t Henry Keffn7;or. and wife, Jacob Tilman and wife 
 and daughter, Jacob Spitler and wife and two daughters, 
 Peter Brilharth and wife, Jacob Ncifwanger ancf wife* 
 Ann Ncifwanger, Catherine Beightlev, Elizabeth Eeip, 
 George Beary and wife, John Harold and wife, Rudy 
 Yunt and wife, William Spitler and wife, Chriftian E- 
 by and wife, Wendel Eaker and wife, Michael Berky and 
 ^ne, George Ettor and fon 3 MrJiias Sitlcr and wife, Su» 
 fftcna Wckner. 
 
( 86 ) 
 They began to be a church about the year 
 175S when one Rudy Yunt, Peter Brilharth, 
 John Brilharth and others, united for com- 
 munion of faints, having Rev. Jacob Tanner 
 to their atfiftance. This Tanner left them to 
 go to Monocafy ; fince, they have been top- 
 plied from other places. Mr. Neff will foon 
 be ordained 
 
 LITTLECONEWAGO 
 
 This fociety is fo diftinguifhed from a 
 branch of the river Conewago near to which the 
 people made their fettlements, in the townfhip 
 of Hanover and county of York, 20 miles from 
 the town of York and 107 miles whs from 
 Philadelphia. The preachers are meff. Jacob 
 Moyer and James Henrick, but are not ordain- 
 ed. The families belonging to the place are 
 about 40, whereof 52 # perfons are baptized. 
 Their beginning was in 1738 when one El- 
 drick, DierdoriF, Bigler, Gripe, Studfman 
 tind others united into a church* having Rev. 
 
 * Jacob Moyer exhor. and wife, James Henrick, cxhor, 
 smd wife, Hans Adam Sneider and wife, Barbara Sneider, 
 George Wine and wife, John Geiny, Daniel Woods and 
 wife, Henry Geiny and wife, Jofeph Moyer and wife, 
 Nicholas Houfteter and wife, ChriiUan Houfteter, Rudy 
 Brown and wife, Dobis Brother and wife, Jacob Miller 
 and wife, Michael Kouts and wife, Mrs Powitr, Mrs 
 Moyer, Stephen Peter wife and daughter, Maud Powfbi , 
 George Peter, Henry Tanner and wife, Michael Tanner 
 and wife, John Moyer and wife, Jacob louder and wife, 
 Henry HoerF and wife, Heifher Wcife, ChrHlian Etor, 
 John Peter Weaver, Barbara ikur, John Svv«4'U *kd wifCj 
 jjfs iuWii'i J -gj Cii'Cat J-iY.irn.ii. 
 
( 2 7 ) 
 Daniel Leatherman to their afliitancc. He left 
 them and went to Monocaiy ; after him they 
 had Rev. Nicholas Martin who alio quitted 
 them to go to Conecocheague ; of both which 
 we (hall (peak when we come to the "Baptifts in 
 Maryland. Their fucceflbrs are the prefcnt 
 miniiters, before mentioned 
 
 C O N E W A G O 
 
 This fociety alio takes its diftmction from 
 a river of the above name rear to which the 
 people refide, in the townfhip of Reading, 
 county of York, 14 miles from the town of 
 York and 10 1 miles w from Philadelphia. 
 Their preacher is Mr. George Brown, who is 
 no: ordained. The families are about 4^ 
 whereof 77 * perfons are baptized. Their be- 
 
 * George Brown, exhor. and wife, Peter \\%rds, John 
 Heiner and wife, Peter Fox and wife, Anthony DierdorfT 
 and wife, John Dier«Jorffand wife, Nicholas Mover and 
 wife, Manafs Bruch and wife, Michael Bafierman and 
 . Davie! Erhard and \\\ic,. Ann Mummard, Danitt 
 Raker and wife, Abraham Staoner and wife, denry Dier- 
 dorff and wife, John Burckholter and wife, ChrifKaq 
 Fray, Andrew Trimmer and wife, Dftace Reinftl and 
 wife, Samuel Arnold, Peter DierdorfT and wife, Burner; 
 Achenbach and wife, Mary Latzcho, Catherine Btudytfa- 
 ker, John Xeaglcy and wife, Michael Biiflel and wife, 
 Velte Britfel and wife, Mathias Boufer and wit'e anddaugb- 
 ter, Laurence Bakener and wife, Nicholas iJAencr, Phi- 
 lip Snell and wife, Nicholas Bakener, jur. x^\ wife, 
 6*n\ bower and wife and two daughters, Adam Bit '^ 
 
 Marilis Kaker, Henry Briflel and wife, Da\id 
 1 and wife, Sarah BrinVl, Henry Raud 
 wife, George Waggoner and wife, Jacob Milier, Mr* 
 M-rtlfc, Rudolcb Brown, George Rceftn and 
 
( S3 ) 
 
 ginning, as a fociety, was In the year tf^t 
 when John Neagley, Adam Sower, Jacob 
 Sweigard, Peter Neiper, Jofeph Latzcho &c 
 did unite for communion of faints, having to 
 thejr affiftance Rev. George Adam Martin, of 
 •whJDm more hereafter. Next to him were Rev. 
 Daniel Leatherman and Nicholas Martin, of 
 whom we {hall fpeak when we come to Mary- 
 land 
 
 BERMUDIAN 
 
 Th i s fociety alfo is diftinguifhed by the a- 
 bove name of a little river, in the townfhip of 
 Warrington and county of York, 15 miles from 
 the town of York and 102 miles whM from 
 Philadelphia. Moft of thefe people obferve the 
 feventh day of the week for fabbath, and are 
 to be confidered as the offspring of Ephrata 
 church. Their preacher is Mr. Henry Low- 
 man, who is not ordained. The families are 
 about 40, whereof 58 * perfons are baptized. 
 They began to be a church in 1758 when Phi- 
 lip Gebel, Peter Beiffel, Henry Lowman and 
 ethers united for communion of faints, having 
 
 * Henry Lowman, exhor.. and wife, Frederick Reuter 
 wife and daughter, Daniel Fahnftick and wife, Peter Hen- ' 
 ry wife and mother, Diertick Fahnftick and wife, Paul 
 Traub. and wife, Sebaftian Shalles and wife, John Cook 
 wife and fon, Peter Bender and wife, Melchior Webber 
 and wife, John Bence wife and daughter and four fons, 
 
 Friek, John Lehn and wife, John Meflerhach 
 
 and wife, John Miller wife and two fon s, George Reiii, 
 George Neifs and wife, Benjamin Gebel and wife, Philip 
 Gebel, Peter Beut 11 wife and fon and daughter, Philip 
 Beuflel and wife, Belzar Smith and wife, Adam Weyley 
 and wife, Mrs Dorothy,- Stauifer, Elizibeth Foltz*. 
 
( s 9 ) 
 
 Rev. Conrad Beiffel to their affiftance. Af- 
 terwards Rev. melf. Peter Miller and George 
 Adam Martin and others officiated among 
 them 
 
 STONY CREEK 
 
 This is alfo denominated from a little ri- 
 ver of the above name, in the townfhip of 
 Bruederthal (alias BrGtherfioivn) in the county 
 of Bedford, 30 miles from Bedford and 245 
 miles whN from Philadelphia. The minifter 
 is Rev. George Adam Martin of whom men- 
 tion has been made before. He was born near 
 Landftuhl in Germany in the year 1 715. Was 
 bred a prefbyterian. Embraced the principles 
 of the Baptifts in 1737, and was ordained by 
 Peter Baker in 1739. Afterwards he refided at 
 Littleconewago where forne mifunderftanding 
 arofe between him and the people and occa- 
 fioned him to remove to Antitum. In the 
 year 1762 he adopted the fentiments of the fe- 
 venthday Baptifts, and preached at Bermudi- 
 an. From thence he went to Stonycreek this 
 year. He married one of the Knippers and 
 lias many children. The families belonging to 
 the place are 12 whereof 17 perfons are bapti- 
 zed and may be confidered as the conftituents 
 of the church, viz. Rev. George Adam Martin 
 and wife, Henry Roth and wife and daughter, 
 Henry Roth. yr/r., and wife, George Newmoyer, 
 Philip Ofwald and wife and daughter, Abra- 
 ham Gebel and wife, Philip Kimmel and wife, 
 Mr Widdebarger and wife. This church alfo 
 is the offspring cf Ephrata where (for the mod 
 part) the feventhday fabbath is kept 
 
( 90 y 
 
 Thus we fee that there are in this province 
 1 5 churches oiTunkjrbaptiJls ; to which apper- 
 tain 3 ordained minifters, and 13 exhortcrs or 
 probationers, and 4 meeting houfes ; the reg- 
 ion of their having no more places of wor- 
 ihip is, That they chooie Father to meet front 
 boufe to hoafe in imitation of the primitive Chri- 
 itians. We fee alfo that their families are a- 
 bout 419, which contain about 2095 fouls al- 
 lowing five to a family ; whereof 763 perfons 
 -ire baptized and in communion. There are 
 more Tunkers about Conecocheague, Antitum, 
 kz but they border on Maryland and belong 
 w churches in that province 
 
 F A R T V, 
 
 Treats of the Mennonij? Baptijl's in Ptntr- 
 fyhania* 
 
 These have their denomination from the. 
 perfonal name of Menno Simon, a native of Wit- 
 mars and a man of parts and learning who car- 
 ried the reformation one ftep further than ci- 
 ther Luther or Calvin ; and who (no doubt), 
 would have been ranked with the chief refor- 
 mers had there not been feme croffgrained fa- 
 tality attending the laudable deeds of Baptiits. 
 to prevent their having (in this world) the 
 praife they deferve. He was born in the year 
 150^,, Got into orders in 1528. Continued 
 a famous preacher and difputer to 1531 when 
 he began to fufpecl the validity of many things, 
 in the church of Rome, and, among the reft, 
 
( 9? J 
 
 that of Infant baptifm. He discovered his fuf- 
 picions firft to the doctors of his own fraterni- 
 ty ; but they, reiblvmg all to the authority of 
 the church, relieved him not. Then he vifit- 
 ed Luther and many befides who had at the 
 time avowed the word of God to be the only 
 rule of faith and practice in religious concern- 
 ments. What fatibfaction they gave him touch- 
 ing other matters I do not find ; but their 
 grounding infant baptifm on confequences and 
 expedience rather than on any exprefs precept 
 or precedent increafed his fufpicion. He then 
 betook himfelf to the clofe ftudy of theNewteft- 
 ament and ecclefia&ical hiftory ; and finding 
 no traces of it in the firft nor iecond century 
 nor yet in the word of God ; and ftrong indi- 
 cations of believers baptifm in both he renounce- 
 ed the former, and embraced the principles ot 
 the Baptifts notwithstanding the difgrace which 
 the profcftloii had been brought under by the 
 appearance of fome baptifts in the infurrections 
 of thofe times which were common throughout 
 moll parts of Germany. [J Thefe in fur reel ions 
 were not of the religious kind but druggies of 
 the people for civil liberty againft the tyranny 
 and opprelhon of the princes. In fome of thefe 
 not a proteftant of any denomination was found, 
 In none of them'were the proteftant Baptifts 
 either the agitators or the mo ft numerous ; no, 
 not in that of Munfter. The contrivers of this 
 and the firft that appeared in it are well known 
 to be of other denominations ; and though 
 three Baptifts (one by his wealth and the other 
 
 j| Ad omnes fere germaniae partes hac contagic perva* 
 Ct Skidan's Kill. b. 4. r- nS 
 
I 92 ) 
 
 two by their fupertor {kill and courage) became 
 principals in fighting the tyrant and defending 
 the town yet had they not the guilt of the plot- 
 ters nor of the fir ft infurgents ; nor were the 
 baptifts under their command many in compar- 
 ifon oftheother citizensand boors which made 
 the whole body of the madmen of Munfter, as 
 they are called. Neverthelefs the blame of the 
 whole is fixed on the Baptifts contrary to all 
 fair dealings and the hiftorical evidence of facts, 
 and follows them to this day even in foreign 
 countries. Merino continued preaching and 
 planting churches in various parts of the Low 
 countries for a courfe of about thirty years, 
 and died in peace Jan. 31. 1561, after having 
 been hunted like a partridge on the mountain 
 by both proteftants and papifts. The faith and 
 order of this eminent reformer may in fome 
 rneafure be gathered from the fragments of his 
 works which are now extant. K general B apt I ft 
 (as that character is underftood inGreatbritain) 
 he certainly was; but I have not feen fufficient 
 evidence of his being (what is now called) an A- 
 rian or Socmian. I rather think that the term 
 Arniinian or Remonftrant would better fuit his 
 
 religious fentiments But the Menno?iiJis 
 
 in Pennfylvania and in other parts of the world 
 have fomewhat deviated from Menno in mat- 
 ters both of faith and practice ; particularly in 
 that of baptifm. He fin his Declaration con\ 
 cernlng chrljllan baptifm in water, printed in 1539 
 
 page 24) exprefsly faith " After we have 
 
 6 * fearched ever fo diligently we fhall find no 
 u other baptifm befides dipping in water. 
 < J which is acceptable to God and maintained 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 " in his word" f After which he ados p. ^7 
 " Let who will oppofe, this is the only mode 
 <« of baptifm that Chrift Jeius inftituted and 
 <* the apoftles taught and pracufed" ** Ac- 
 cordingly Menno was dipped, and did dip o- 
 thers. His facceflbrs did the fame,except when 
 they made prcfelytes inprifons or were hinder- 
 ed from going to rivers ; and this they excufe- 
 ed from the confideration of neceffity ; juft as 
 Cyprian, in his 69 epiftle, exenfes the ufage 
 of fprmUhig or pouring in (lead of dipping becaufe 
 the fubjects were confined to their beds, which 
 made it be called Clinical baptifm. But (as in 
 Africa fo in Europe) what was done at fir ft 
 out of a fuppofed neceflity became afterwards 
 to be prac*tifed out of choice. What excufed 
 the Mennonifts in Europe excufe them not irt 
 Pennfylvanta. In the former they made con- 
 verts in prifons whom they could not lead to 
 the^water and therefore fetched water to them. 
 In the former they were hindered from going 
 to rivers and therefore did as well as they could 
 in the- inner chambers ; but in Pennfylvania e- 
 very one may do what is right in his own fight 
 without either fear or fhame. It is earneftly 
 prayed therefore that the Mennonifts of Ame- 
 rica will return to follow Menno in an affair 
 wherein he was fo eminent a follower of Chriil 
 
 f Wunt hoeneerftelick wioock foeken des nachts en- 
 de daechs, fa en bevinden \vl nocht ans niet mcer den 
 een dobpfel inden water dat God aenghenaem is, wtghe- 
 druct end begrepen in Gods woort 
 
 ** Obftant ergo principes ut velint, obftant dotYi inge- 
 nii fui acumine ui norint, obftant univerfi qui fub cotlo> 
 funt omnibus raodis uuibus pollint hie eft unicus iile bap- 
 
 i modus, quem Chriftus Jefus iplc inftituit c; 
 ftoii docuermnt, celcbraruntqus 
 
I 94 ) 
 
 and his apoftles, efpecially as fo many of th£ 
 common people have defired a reftoration of 
 ijumerfion and have gone off to the Tnnkers for 
 want of it. Touching the fubjects of Baptifm 
 the Menncnifts ftill retain their integrity by ad- 
 miniftring the ordinance to none butthofe who 
 profefs faith and repentance and make vows of 
 fubjeclion to the goipel of Chrift, which keeps 
 Up the diftinction between world and church (for 
 where baptizing infants prevails there can be 
 no world ; all are church) ; but they do not > 
 prefer dipping. Their common method is this. 
 The perfon to be baptized kneels ; the minifter 
 holds his hands over him into which the dea- 
 con pours water and through which it runs on 
 the crown of the kneeling perfons head : after 
 which follow impofition of hands and prayer. 
 The parents fometimes infift on their children's 
 being baptized before they will confentto their 
 marriage which I wifh they would not, left a- 
 ny be forced to a thing which fhouid be a mat-, 
 ter of perfonal choice following convictions and 
 calls of confeience ; for then only is baptifm 
 what it mould be, the anfujer of a good confeience 
 towards God I Pet. iii 21. The principles and 
 practices of the Mennonifts in Pennsylvania may 
 be feen in their Confefion of faith publifhed at 
 Philadelphia in 1727. This confeffion, as far 
 as it goes, is orthodox ; and is none other than 
 a tranflation of that framed and publifhed at 
 Dordrecht in 1 632 by deputies from all the Men- 
 nonifts in Europe. But as the book is fcarce 
 I may be allowed to mention fome particulars. 
 ,The Menncnifts do not, like the Tunkers, hold 
 the doctrine of general falvat ion ; yet, like them* 
 they will neither fwear nor fight, nor bear any 
 
( 9> ) 
 civil office, nor go to law, nor take intereit 
 for the money they lend (though many break 
 through this Ian 1 ). Some of them yet wear 
 their beards ; nor are the ancient rites of 
 ivafhing feet, &c wholly out of ufe among them. 
 They, like the Tunkers ufe great plainnefs of 
 fpeech and drefs. This Jail is fo capital a 
 point with them that fome have been expelled 
 from their focieties for having buckles to their 
 lhoes. and pocket holes to their coats. Their 
 church government, like that of all Baptifts, 
 is wholly democratical or republican. Their. 
 miniilers they chufe by balloting ; and when | 
 two or more are thus nominated they leave it j 
 to the decifion of lots which fhall be the man. 
 They do not pay them ; nor do the minifters! 
 affert their right to a livelihood from the gof- 
 pcl. They are put into their office by the lay- 
 ing on of the hands of the prefbytery attended with 
 fafing and prayer . They call their ordained mi- 
 niilers Bijhops, which term (though as fcrip- 
 tural ispajlcr, elder &c) other ditfenters avoid 
 as if they were confeious that the proper office 
 of a bifhop is not among them. The brothers 
 are allowed to fpeak in the church by \v:iy of 
 exhortation or expounding but are not permit- 
 ted to preach publicly till they obtain licence , 
 from the church. Thefe, they call preachers J. 
 helps, ezhcrters. Their aim in America is to j 
 have a pious miniftry rather than a learned 
 one ; but in Europe they covet both and have / 
 a college among them for the purpofe. The 
 epithets which thefe people give themfelves in 
 their writings are Harmlefs chri films, Reiengelefs 
 drift tans, Weapon I eft chrijlians Si c ; and as inch 
 arc they considered by the rulers oi the prov 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 •vince and by thofe of other ftates. Remarka- 
 ble on this fubject are the words of the Dutch, 
 embaffador (van Beaming) to monfleur deTu- 
 renne, <c The Mennonifts are good people and 
 ** the moft commodious to a (late of any in 
 6i the world ; partly, becaufe they do not af- 
 *< pire to places of dignity ; partly becaufe they 
 " edify the community by the Simplicity of 
 *' their manners and application to arts and 
 * ( induftry ; and partly becaufe we fear no re- 
 ** bellion from a feci who make it an article of 
 *' their faith never to bear arms". The faid 
 induftry and frugality they carried with thena 
 to Pennfylvania, and thereby are become very 
 •wealthy. Some raennonlft families were in the 
 province as early as the year 1692 who came 
 hither from Newyork government which at 
 iirft belonged to the Dutch and was called New- 
 netherlandy extending from the riverDeiaware to 
 the river of Connecticut. They fettled in the 
 'neighbourhood, now called Germantown and 
 jprankfort, &c. Other families foon followed ; 
 and after them many came dire&ly from Eu- 
 rope, in fo much that May 23 1708 there was 
 a church fettled at Germantown coniifting of 
 52 members, which exifts to this day, and is 
 not only the iirft in the province but in fome 
 fort the mother of all the reft. The names of 
 the members were, Rev. Jacob Godtfchalk, 
 William Rittenhoufe, Harmon Cafdrop, Mar- 
 tin Kolb, Ifaacvan Centern, Conrad Johnfon, 
 Henry Caffel and their wives, Harmon Tey- 
 ner, John Kry, Peter Connerts, Paul Klump- 
 kes, Arnold van VofTen, John Kolb, Jacob 
 Kolb, Wynant Bowman, John Gorgas, Cor- 
 3aelius ClafTen, Arnold Kofter, Mary Tuynen, 
 
( 97 ) 
 Helena Krey, Gartrudc Conners, Mary ran 
 VoiTen, Barbara Kolb, Ann Uowman, Marga- 
 ret Huberts, Mary Sullen, Elizabeth Hufters, 
 Margaret Tuyfen, Altien Revenltock, John 
 Nife, Hans Nife, John Lcnfen, Ifaac Jacobs, 
 Jacob lfaacs, Hendrick Sellen, John Connerrs, 
 Peter Keyfer, Herman Kofter, Chriftopher 
 Timmerman, Sara van Centcrn, Civilia Con- 
 nerts, Altien Tuyfen, Catherine Caffclb^rg, 
 Civilia van VolTen. In about 16 years after, 
 this church had branched out to Skippek, Co- 
 neftogo, Greattwamp and Monatony and be- 
 come 5 churches ; to which appertained 16 mi- 
 nifters, viz. Rev. oieflieurs Jacob God-fchalk, 
 Henry Kolb, Martin Kolb, Cleas Johnfen, Mi- 
 chael Zeigler, John Gorgas, John Cone 
 Cleas Rittinghaufen, Hans Burghaltzer, Chri- 
 ftian Heer, Benedict Hirchy (who is yet alive) 
 Martin Beer, Johannes Bowman, Vei eCk 
 Daniel Langanecker and Jacob Beghtly. The 
 pre lent (late of the Mennoniits in this province 
 is as follows (i) Their churches, which con- 
 tain many branches, are 13 (2) The meeting 
 houfes belonging to them are 42 (3) Their or- 
 dained miniiters or bifhaps are 15 (4) Their 
 probationary or licenfed preachers are $3 (5) 
 The families are about 8 10, which, allowing 5 
 to a family, contain 4050 foi.ls ; wher 
 perfons are baptized and members of their chur- 
 ches. This account, I believe, is pretty cx- 
 
 except the county of Lancafter hath intro- 
 duced any error into it ; for in that county I 
 have not met with as much readinef: to gi/c 
 
 the informations I fought, as in the other 
 counties : owing, I believe, to a fufpicion that 
 a taowkdge of their (late would fome way or 
 
 I 
 
( 98 ) 
 other b« to their prejudice. The Mennonifts 
 which border on Maryland fhall be mentioned 
 when we come to treat of the Baptifts in that 
 province. 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 Dr. Douglas in his hiftory of the provinces 
 (Vol. 2. p. ijo) faith " I am well informed 
 that at prefent in Pennfylvania there are fix- 
 teen or feventeen different forts of Anabaptifts, 
 Englifh and German" This hiftory was pub- 
 limed in 1753 ; at which time and long before 
 there were no other forts befides thofc already 
 mentioned, viz. Firftday baptifts , S event bday baptifts, 
 *Tunkerbaptifts and Men?io?iiftbaptifts ; and thefe 
 laft are, in a great meafure, baptifts in name 
 rather than in fact. Of the number and ftate 
 of thefe four forts I have already given feparate 
 accounts. I will now drop the diftinclions, and 
 put them and their affairs in one point of view, 
 
 Baptift churches in Pennfylvania ■ 42 
 
 Members or communicants ■ ■ ■ ■ 2920 
 
 Meetinghoufes g 65 
 
 Families I00 5 
 
 Souls, allowing 5 to a family, 9S^S 
 
 Minifters ordained 35; 
 
 Minifters licenfed or probationary — • 69 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 The pecuniary terms, pounds* Jlrillings, pence, 
 having been ufed in the foregoing (beets, it may 
 be proper toobferve, that in Pennfylvania the 
 {Unas they exprefs are lefs in value by one third 
 
( 99 ) 
 than the fums which the fame terms exprefs iq 
 Greatbritain. Sub (tract the third from any 
 ium and the remainder will be fterling. 
 
 APPENDIX III. 
 
 In p. 62 it was obferved that the epifcopali- 
 ans poffeffed themfelves of a meeting houle and 
 Jot belonging to the baptitts in Oxford town- 
 fhip ; and, in p. 45, that they attempted a like 
 thing at Philadelphia. Prior to this laft, Rev. 
 Mr. Clayton (epifcopal minifter of faid Phila- 
 delphia) laboured to pofTefs himfelf of the bap* 
 till congregation in the fame city. The fol- 
 lowing letter (addreffed to Mr, Clayton) will 
 give as good a notion of the affair as may be 
 expected at this difcance of time. 
 
 "SIR, 
 Whereas we received a letter invitatory 
 from you to return to your church of England 
 (dated Sep. 26. 1698) wherein you defire us 
 to fend you in humility and without prejudice the ob- 
 jections ivfyive may not be united in one communion ; 
 and withal that you dAuh not but hy the Hefirig and 
 of Cody you will be able to Jbenv the;:: to fa 
 bling blocks i made ly our wills, and not 1 
 reafon ; and ibme of us in behalf of the reil 
 having, on the reception thereof, given you a 
 vifit and had difcourfe with you concerning 
 fome of the ceremonies of your church (about 
 which you gave no fatisfaclion) we knew noc 
 that you expected any other aufwer from us ; 
 but in your late letter to John Watts yon figrJ- 
 fy> that you have received no anfwer to your 
 ae* letter ; we therefore taking tlya i»ta 
 
( 100 ) 
 
 confideraticn dofignify, in anftVer to your fore- 
 £iid invitation and propoial, That to rend from 
 a rightly conftituted church of Chrift is tha£ 
 which our fouls abhor ; and that love peace 
 and unity with all chriftians and concord and 
 agreement in the true faith and worfhip of G od 
 are that which we greatly defire ; and wefhould 
 be glad if yourfelf or others would inform us 
 wherein we err from the truth and ways of 
 Chrift ; nor are we at all averfe to a reconcili- 
 ation with the church of England, provided it 
 can be proved by the holy fcriptures that her 
 conftitution, orders, officers, worfhip and ier- 
 vice are of divine appointment, and not of hu- 
 man invention. And fmce you yourfelf are 
 the perfon that hath given us the invitation 
 and hath promifed to fhow us that our objeftion' 
 are Jiumbling block! 'made by our wills and not by our 
 reafon ; and we underftanding that our lord jefus 
 Chrift is the only head, king, lord and lawgiver 
 of his church whom all are bound to hear and? 
 obey under the fevere penalty of an utter ex- 
 tirpation from among the people of God ; and 
 that his laws and will are only to be found in 
 and known by the facred fcriptures which are 
 the only fupreme, fufficient and (landing rule 
 of all faith and worfhip ; and not underftand- 
 ing the conftitution of your church (with all 
 the orders, officers, worfhip and fervice at this 
 day in ufe and maintained therein) to be agree- 
 able thereto and warranted thereby, hath been 
 the caufe of our feparation from her, and is the 
 objection we have to make, or the Humbling 
 block which lies in our way to fuch an union 
 and communion as you defire ; we therefore 
 hope and expect, according to your promife, 
 
( ioi ) 
 that you will endeavour its removal by fhowing 
 us from holy fcripture thefe two things asabfo- 
 lutely necefTary in order thereunto ( i } That the 
 formation of your church, with all the orders, 
 officers, rites and ceremonies, now in ufe and 
 praclifed therein, are of divine inftitution ; par- 
 ticularly, That the church of Chrift under the 
 Newteftament may confift or be made up of a 
 mixed multitude and their feed even all that 
 are members of a nation who are willing to go 
 under the denomination of Chriftians, whether 
 they are godly or ungodly, holy or profane ; 
 
 that lords archbifhops and diocefan lords 
 
 bifhops, fnch as are now in England, are of di- 
 vine inftitution and appointment ; that the 
 
 government of the church of Chrift under the 
 gofpel is to be prelatical, according as it is 
 pra&ifed this day in your church ; and that 
 your ecclefiaftical courts are of divine appoint- 
 ment ; that particular churches or congre- 
 gations with their minifters or elders who have 
 power and authority to receive perfons into 
 membership, have not likewife authority (by 
 
 Math, xviii, 15 — 18 1 Cor. v.) to execute 
 
 church cenfures and excommunication upon 
 mifcreants, fwearers, liars, drunkards, adulter- 
 ers, thieves, atheifts, &c. ; but that it is by di- 
 vine appointment that they muft be prefented 
 to their ordinaries, and only proceeded againft 
 in your ecclefiaftical courts ; that the fe- 
 ver a 1 offices of deans ', fub 'deans ', chapters, arckdea- 
 cons, prebendaries •, chancellors, comnufjaries, offici- 
 als, regijlers, canons, pettxcanons, vicars, cboralr, 
 apparitors ; organ: /Is, vergers, fviging men and boys , 
 feptins, epijllers, gofp e/lers] and fuch like offices 
 and officers of your church and ecclefiaftical 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 courts are of divine inftitution or have any 
 scripture warrant to juftify them and to bear 
 
 them harm lei's in the la ft day ; that un- 
 
 preaching minifters may celebrate the facra- 
 ments, by fcripture warrant ; that their dif- 
 ferent apparel in time of divine ferviee, fuch as 
 hoods, tippets-, furpiices, &c. are pf divine in- 
 ftitution or have any fcripture warrant under 
 
 the iSJewteftament ; that the manner of the 
 
 public ferviee and liturgy of the church of En- 
 gland with the vifitation of the tick, burial of 
 the dead> churching of women, matrimony, 
 cvc. as now in ufe, are of divine appointment \ 
 
 ■ that the people ought by the rule of God's 
 
 •word audibly with the minifters to fay the con* 
 fefiion, lords prayer and creed ; and make 
 fuch anfwers to the public prayers as are ap- 
 pointed in the book of common prayer ; 
 
 that it is God's holy will and pleafure that faint: 
 days or holy days fhould be kept and obferved. 
 by chriftians, according to the ufe of the church 
 
 of England ; that inftruments ofmufick are 
 
 to be ufed in Gods worfhip under the Newteft- 
 
 ament ; that infant bap tifm is a duty ; 
 
 that pouring or fprinkling water is the right 
 
 manner of baptizing ; that your manner of 
 
 adminiftring the facraments and figning with 
 the fign of the crofs in baptifm are of divine 
 appointment; — that godfathers and godmothei 3 
 are of divine appointment — Thefe are fome of the 
 things we deflre you to prove and make plain 
 to us by the holy fcripture. But if the cafe be 
 fuch that fome or all of them cannot be there- 
 by proved ; then the (2) thing neceflary to 
 «ur reconciliation with your church is, That 
 you wilj give us clear and infallible proof from 
 
( TC 3 ) 
 
 God's holy word, fuch as will bear usharmlefs 
 in the laftday, that our lord JeftttChrift hath gi- 
 ven power and authority to any man, men, convo- 
 cation orfynodtomake conftkuteandfet up any 
 other laws, orders, officers, rites and ceremonies 
 in his church befidesthofe which he hath appoint- 
 ed m his holy word ; or to alter or change thole 
 which he hath therein appointed according as 
 may from time to time to them feem convenient ;. 
 and that we are bound in conference towards 
 God by the authority of his word to yield obe- 
 dience thereunto ; or whether it will not ra- 
 ther be a fore refleclion upon the fufneiency of 
 the holy fcriptures, and a high defamation o£ 
 the kingly and prophetical ofiices of Jefus 
 Chrift to fuppofe fuch a thing. — Thus have we 
 in humility and without prejudice tent you our ob- 
 jections ; and if you can, according to your let- 
 ter, fhow them to \>z Jl umblir.g blocks made by c:ir 
 wills and not by our reafen we fhall be very thank- 
 ful ; and you (hall not find us obftinate but rea- 
 dy to accept your invitation . But until you do 
 fo and prove the constitution, orders, officers, 
 rites and ceremonies of your church to be of 
 Cod it is but reafen that you fhould fufpend alt 
 charge of fchifpt again ft us, and clefift from 
 blaming us for our peaceable feparation ; which 
 is all at prefent from your loving friends wha 
 deiire information and unity among faints and 
 the churches peace that God in all things may 
 be glorified through our lord Jefus Chrift. A* 
 men. Subfcribed by us, members of the gene- 
 ral meeting in behalf of the reft, March n^ 
 J 699. John Watts Samuel Jones 
 
 Joicph Wood George Eaton 
 
 ^George Eaglesfield Thomas Bibb/* 
 
 - 
 
( io 4 ) 
 The times to which the above letter refers 
 were remarkable for the fpirit of profelyting, 
 excited chiefly by means of the Rev. George 
 Keith, who, it is faid, was admitted to orders 
 upon condition that he would return to Penn- 
 fylvania and endeavour to bring his party over 
 to the church of England. He and his breth- 
 ren met with fuccefs at fir ft ; but a copy of the 
 above letter being made public they were fome- 
 what embarrafTed, and their progrefs retarded. 
 
 APPENDIX IV. 
 
 It was obferved in p. 45 that the baptifts of 
 Philadelphia did hold their worfhip at a ftore 
 houfe on Barbados lot whither the few prefby- 
 terians, then in town, did refort to hear baptift 
 minifters ; and where they were received with 
 courtefy and brotherly love for the fpace of a- 
 bout three years. Within that time the latter 
 increafed, and had a mini iter of their own, and 
 then foon began to difcover an unwillingnefs 
 that baptift minifters fhould preach in the houfe 
 any longer, though the baptifts had a better 
 right to it becaufe of prior occupancy; and 
 further than occupancy neither could lay claim 
 thereto, the building being the property of 
 traders who had quitted the town. The fol- 
 lowing papers relate to the affair, and may be 
 depended upon, as they are extant in the hand- 
 writing of Rev. John Watts. 
 
 " Upon the requeft of fome friends about 
 the 2d month, in 1695, John Watts had con- 
 fented to preach at Philadelphia every other 
 Lord's-day, and had fo continued to do to this 
 
( io 5 ) 
 
 time (1698) unlefs prevented by a hand of pro- 
 vidence ; and divers of the perfons who came 
 to that affembiy were prefbyterians in judg- 
 ment (they having no miniver of their own, 
 and we having hitherto made no fcruple of 
 holding communion with them in the public 
 worfhip of God and common duties of religi- 
 on ncr of admitting their minifters, if at any 
 time they came amongft us, to pray and preacn 
 in our afTemblies). But being now provided 
 with a minifter from Newengland there appear- 
 ed forne fcruples on their fide, as not being 
 willing to condeicend fo far to us or to allow 
 our minifters the like liberty. For our better 
 fatisfadtion touching their judgment in this 
 point, and for the prefervation of love and u- 
 nity we wrote to them as follows." 
 
 " To our dear and well beloved friends and 
 brethren Mr. Jedidiah Andrews, John Green, 
 Jofhuah Story, Samuel Richard ion and the 
 red of the prefbyterian judgment belonging to 
 the meeting in Philadelphia ; the church of 
 Chrift baptized on confcffion of faith, over 
 which John Watts is pa ft or, fend falutation 
 of grace mercy and peace from God our father 
 and from our lord Jefus Chrift — Dearly belov- 
 ed ! Having ferioufly and in the fear of God 
 confidered our duties of love to and bearing 
 with one another and receiving the weak in 
 faith ; and knowing that love peace and unity 
 tend much to the honour of Chrift and Chrift- 
 lanity and to the conviction and converfion of 
 finners and the comfort and eftablifhment of 
 believers ; and being defirous of your company 
 heavenward as far as may be, and as much as 
 we can to heal the breach, betwixt us occafiaaed 
 
( *o6 ) 
 
 hy our difference in judgment (none being yet 
 perfect in knowledge) we have thought it ne- 
 ceifary to make to you this proportion follow- 
 ing for peace (as being the necellary term up- 
 on which we may fafely comfortably and peace- 
 ably hold chriftian communion together in the 
 things wherein we agree in the public wcrlhip 
 oi- God and common duties of religion, as in 
 prayer, preaching, praifing God, reading and 
 hearing the word) viz. We do freely confefs 
 and promife for ourfelves that we can and da 
 own and allow of your approved minifters who 
 are fitly qualified and found in the faith and of 
 holy lives to pray and preach in our aiTemblies. 
 If you can alfo freely confefs and promife for 
 yourfelves that you can and will own and allovf 
 of our approved minifters who are fitly quali- 
 fied and found in the faith and of holy lives 
 to preach and pray in your affemblies ; that fo 
 each fide may own, embrace and accept of 
 one another as fellowbrethren and minifters of 
 Chrift ; and hold and maintain chriftian com- 
 munion and fellowship. Unto which propofi- 
 tion for peace (that further difputes and vain 
 janglings may be prevented) we mall defire, if 
 you pleafe, your plain and dired anfwer ; and 
 if it may be by the fourth day of November, 
 and left for us at the widow Elton's houfe in 
 Philadelphia. Subfcribed in behalf of the reft 
 the 30th of the 8th month, 1698. 
 
 John Watts Thomas Bibb 
 
 Samuel Jones ThomasPotts." 
 
 George Eaton 
 To this letter the prefoyterians returned the 
 following anfwer, but not in fincerity how 
 goodly foever their words may be. 
 
( 107 ) 
 " To the church of Chrift over which Mr. 
 John Watts is paftor we whofe names are un- 
 der written do fend falutation in our Lord Je- 
 fus Chrift — Brethren and well beloved — For as 
 much as fome of you in the name of the reft 
 have in a friendly manner fent us your defire 
 of unity and communion in the things of God 
 as far as we agree in judgment that we may 
 lovingly go together heavenward we do gladly 
 and gratefully receive your propofal, and return 
 you thanks for the fame, and blefs God who 
 hath put it in your minds to endeavour after 
 peace and concord ; earneftly defiring that 
 your requeft may have a good effect which 
 may be for the edification of us ' all that we 
 may the more freely perform mutual offices of 
 love one towards another for our furtherance 
 in Chriftianity. But that we may do what we 
 do fafely ; and for our more effectual carrying 
 on our aforementioned defire we have thought 
 it might be profitable to us all and more condu- 
 cive to our future love and unity that we might 
 have fome friendly conference concerning thole 
 affairs before we give you a direct anfwer to 
 your propofition which, we have confidence, 
 you will not deny. And in purfuance hereof 
 we do requeft that fome of you (who you think 
 beft) would meet with us or fome of us at a 
 time and place you fhall appoint that what we 
 may agree upon may be done in order. Sub- 
 scribed in the name of the reft, Philadelphia 
 Nov. 3, 1698. 
 
 Jedidiah Andrews Herbert Corry 
 John Green John Vanlear 
 
 Samuel Richardfon Daniel Green ," 
 David GiSine 
 
( io8 ) 
 
 *' According to their requeft for a meeting 
 of conference we appointed the 19th of the 9th 
 month for that purpofe at their and hitherto 
 our common meeting houfe in Philadelphia 
 near Mr. Andrews's lodgings, and acquainted 
 fome of the fubfcribers thereof ; and accord- 
 ingly three of us went to town to hear what 
 they had to propofe to us. And early in the 
 morning we fent word to Mr. Andrews defiring 
 his and their company ; but he excufed him- 
 felf with faying that he knenv it not to be the day 
 hut took it to be the Second day after. Having tar- 
 ried till near fun fet ; and under (landing by 
 fome of his friends how the matter was, we 
 wrote to them as folio we tm" 
 
 c( To our well beloved friends and brethren 
 m Chrift Jefus, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Giffing, Mr. 
 
 Corry &c. grace and peace be multiplied - 
 
 We having made to you a proportion for peace 
 and unity, and having received your letter 
 wherein you defired of us firft fome friendly 
 conference at a time and place that we mould 
 think convenient before you could give us a di- 
 rect anfwer ; we accordingly appointed this day 
 in this place, and you living near together we 
 expected to have met with you /upon notice gi- 
 ven) that we might hear what you had further 
 to propofe to us. But for as much as we miff- 
 ed of our expectation of meeting and confer- 
 ing with you after your requeuing it ; and con- 
 fidering what the defires of divers people are 
 and how they ftand affected, and that we are 
 not like to receive anfwer to our reafonable pro- 
 portion neceflity conftrains us to meet apart 
 from you till fuch time as we receive an anfwer 
 and are affured that you can own us fo as we 
 
( 109 ) 
 ran do you ; though ftill we remain the flimc 
 as before and (land by what we have written. 
 No more at prefent, but prayers for you, and 
 deareft loves to you in Chrift Jefus. Philadel- 
 phia, Novem. 19 1698 
 
 John Watts 
 Samuel Jones 
 Evan Morgan 
 
 " Whereupon the next day following, being 
 
 the Lords day, we met apart from them " 
 
 This was what the prefbyterians wanted in re- 
 ality, as more plainly appeared foon after ; 
 .particularly in a letter directed to one Thomas 
 Revell of Burlington, and figned, Jedidiah An- 
 drews wherein are thefe words " tho' 
 
 we have got the Anabaptifts out of the houfe 
 yet our continuance there is uncertain ; and 
 therefore mud think of building notwithstand- 
 ing our poverty and the fmallnefs of our num- 
 ber— " 
 
 APPENDIX V. 
 
 Some account has been given of Rev. Elias 
 "Keach in p. 10. Since that I have met with 
 a book of his containing a confeflion of faith, 
 a church covenant, treatife of discipline, &c. 
 To the book is prefixed his effigies, whereby it 
 appears that in 1697 he was thirty years of 
 age. I have alfo found one of his letters di- 
 rected to the Rev. John Watts of Pennepek 
 which would have been inferted in p. 10 had it 
 come to my hands in due time, becaufe it leads 
 further into the character and hi (lory of that 
 good man. The date and locality of the let- 
 
( no ) 
 
 ter are thus expreffed " From my houfe m 
 Long- walk near St. Mary Magdalene's church 
 at the lower end of Barnaby ftreet in South- 
 ward London, the 12th month, 20th day, 
 
 1693-4" 
 
 " Rev. and dear brother Watts 
 Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied t& 
 you (to your dear wife and to all my dear 
 brethren and fitters with you) from God our 
 father and from our lord Jefus Chrift - — I was 
 glad to receive a letter from you lad fummer ; 
 and it was the fir ft and the all that I have yet 
 received from your parts. I fee, brother, you 
 have not forgotten me. It is well. Neither 
 have I forgotten you nor my brethren with you 
 but have you all in my prayers, tho' I doubt 
 fome of them have al mo ft forgotten me, feeing 
 their chriftian love is not at all minded to me, 
 except that of my dear fifter Dungan and fa- 
 mily ; nor do any of them write to me. In- 
 deed I was under great temptations and under 
 great trials and troubles among you ; and 
 fome, I fuppofe, were defirous of getting rid 
 of me, that is to fay, had rather have my room 
 than my company. Satan did ftoutly beftir 
 Kimfelf. But the fecret and alwife hand of 
 Jehovah was in it to bring about his eternal pur- 
 pofe for the converfion of many fouls under my 
 miniftry in this great city. I having baptized 
 into the church (which I have gathered fmce I 
 came hither and over which I am ordained a 
 paftor) about 130 perfons in the fpace of about 
 nine months to the admiration of all the chur- 
 ches in the city ; and we have continual addi- 
 tions and are like to be a numerous and great 
 people. Glory be to God in the higheft. We 
 
( ill ) 
 
 were conftituted laft April ; and I was after- 
 wards ordained by imposition of hands in pre- 
 fence of a great congregation by my honoured 
 father and the Rev. 'brother Hereules Collins. 
 As to news, the war is like to continue ; ma- 
 ny impoveri&ed and undone ; provifion very 
 dear ; great preparation by fea and land for 
 the expedition of this rummer enfuing. The 
 Lord only knows what the event will be. We 
 are full of expectation of great changes over 
 the whole world. Many are waiting for the 
 coming and kingdom of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; 
 and we are apt to conclude that it will be 
 uihered in by the miraculous effufion of the 
 holy Spirit as in the primitive times. And 
 the Lord jefus to confirm the truth of his di- 
 vinity hath begun already to work miracles a- 
 rnong us ; a very cecrepid and crooked french 
 girl (of about 14 years of age here in the city- 
 reading in the goipel concerning the miracles 
 of Chrill) was made to believe Chrift would 
 cure her ; and immediately there was heard a 
 crackling, and rlie was cured and made ftraight 
 though ilie had been very crooked from a child. 
 This was done this winter, and is an infallible 
 truth. Alio, fmce this, a wicked wretch (be- 
 ing a fhepherd to a gentlewoman at Hitchin in 
 Hartfordlhire an 1 an infirm perfon much trem- 
 bled with the painful fwellings and ulcers of 
 the king's evil) as he was hearing a fermon 
 from an eminent gofpel preacher, at Hitchin a- 
 forefaid, was converted, and though lame went 
 home from the meeting leaping and fkipp inl- 
 and praiiing God and admiring his free grace, 
 being cured at once in foul and body. This 
 alfo '153 great truth. I might inftance more ; 
 
( «« I 
 
 but tliis is enough to fet your congregation to 
 work. And no doubt you will hear of greater 
 things than thefe ere long. Brother, be ready* 
 Stir up the church to prepare to meet chrift in 
 the clouds. Be folic! and humble in the confe- 
 deration of thefe things. Look out, we are 
 come almoft to the end of the worlds. I am a~ 
 £rald left any of you fhoulcl be unfound in your 
 principles. If you do not trull to the active 
 and paCuve obedience of chrift as the only mat- 
 ter of your juftincation you are befide the foun- 
 dation. That you may be rightly informed. 
 and well grounded in this great point I have 
 fent you (as a token of my love to your foul 
 •and the fouls of them who are with you) four 
 iermons of rntriej in print, by brother Samuel 
 More, It is a plain difcourfe, but preached 
 -at the chief meeting houfe in the city to a 
 great and learned auditory. I blefs God for 
 the light I have received fmce I came hither. 
 
 brother, I never faw clearly into the glori- 
 ous gofpel till I came to London this laft time. 
 Gofpel light hath broke forth here more of 
 late in thrte or four years than, I believe, (ince 
 the apoftacy. Arminianifm and Socinianifm 
 begin to gafp for life. Univerfal redemption 
 and falling from grace are almoft heart fick. 
 BleMed be God for the clear revelation of his 
 grace in the everlafting covenant. O brother, 
 
 1 am afraid left you ihould be in the dark about 
 the covenant of grace, and want light into the 
 eternal compacl between the father and fon. 
 Pray read, weigh and take in thofe precious 
 plain truths in my book. I have a tender care 
 of you and of all thofe lambs the Lord made 
 me inftrumental to gather among you. Bro- 
 
( US ) 
 ther, take heed how and with what you feed 
 thofe fheep which Chrift hath purchafed with 
 his own blood. Let me hear often how it 
 fares with you. How your fouls thrive ; and 
 what addition of members you have. I hope 
 they * of Burlington and you of Pemmepekn 
 are conjoined into one church. Pray encou- 
 rage young gifted brethren. Keep up meet- 
 ings of conference. Stir up the brethren. 
 Don't let them fleep ss others do. Take heed 
 of the fins and heretics and errors of the place. 
 Strive for peace with all men. Provoke one a- 
 nother to love and good works. Pray earned:- 
 ]y for me that I may be kept humble and faith- 
 ful, and that my poor labours may yet be fuc- 
 ceeded with a bleffing. Brother, I have lent 
 you two books more ; pray improve them both ; 
 they were lately put forth by my father ; one 
 is called, The ax laid to the roct, ie. the other, A 
 counter antidote again ft infant baptifr:. Doctor 
 Wright is alive and is now a particular baptift. 
 His daughter, Mrs. Jane Wright, lives with 
 us and was lately baptized by me and is a mem- 
 ber of our church. I and my wife are both 
 but indifferent as to health. Our dear loves, 
 with my father's, are to you and to your wife 
 
 * There was a little baptift church at Burlington plant- 
 ed by Mr. Keach about the year i6qq ; which was one ot 
 the two that he is Lid to have gathered in this country. 
 Sec L> ,p* 3°9- The names of the members 
 
 , Thomas Bibb, Thomas Potts and Ann his 
 niel Douglas and Emblem his wife, Edmund Wells, 
 in Gill. John Joiner, Na'thaniel Weft 
 Elizabeth his wife. They br< :d Pen- 
 
( 114 ) 
 and to all our brethren and fillers by name % 
 from jour unworthy brother and fervant 
 
 EliasKeach." 
 " P. S. My dear love to brother Afhton and 
 Wife, to brother Duffield and wife (his brother 
 Robert is dead though I have not yet been in, 
 Kent nQr Suflex), to brother George and John 
 Eaton and their wives, to old brother John 
 Baker, to brother Jof. Meridith (if he come o- 
 ver I will ferve him what I can), my duty to fa- 
 ther * Holmes and mother, love to all the 
 world. My wife's love to all, and my daugh- 
 ter Hannah's love to all ; me is now a great 
 girt I have no more alive, and know not 
 whether I ever ihall. I have alfo lent you by 
 brother Samuel More (fealed in a paper by 
 themfelves) the few imall books following as a 
 token of my clear love to you, Though the 
 books be fmali the matter is facred and weigh- 
 ty ; pray cover thole which are not covered 
 and let our brethren have the perufal of them, 
 but take care of them. I was in hade other- 
 wife you ftiould have had them in better order. 
 The books are > A counter antidote to purge ov.t the 
 
 * He calls him father in reverence to his age ; for 
 TU'Ige or prefident Mordant! (from whom the manor of 
 Moreland is named) was father to Mr. Keach's wife. Her 
 name was Mary Moreland. By her he had a daughter 
 named Hannah who married in London to one Harrifon. 
 This Harrifon had one fon by her, named John Elias 
 Reach Harrifon who arrived in this country about the 
 year 1734 and poileiTed part of the Moreland eftate in 
 H&ht of his mother. He lived at the Billet and was a 
 worthy member of the Baptiil church of Southampton. 
 His wife was one of the Coarfons who bore him a fon 
 that now lives, with his family, at Tenicum near Dela- 
 ware ; fo that we have among us yet the offspring though 
 not the name of Kiias Reach > 
 
( us ) 
 
 Malignant effects of a late counterfeit ; two books 
 more of my father called, The ax laid to the root. 
 A little piece called London s *** [illegible **] 
 of a proud Spiral being a fearful example of a late a- 
 theijl ; half a fliect, being A true copy of a letter 
 of the miraculous cure at Hit chin ; one book on 
 justification, or my four laft iermons at Pinner's 
 hall morning leclure (where it is fnppofed I 
 had 1500 hearers), in all feven pieces final! and 
 great. Brother, pray do not flip any oppor- 
 tunity to write to me. I look upon myfelf dill 
 concerned with, you and the church to give 
 what advice and help I can at fuch a diftance* 
 Tell my brother Foiler, that my affairs in the 
 church have as yet hindered me from travel- 
 ing into Kent and Suffex. I know not yet hew 
 matters (land there, but hear that his brother 
 Robert has been dead above a year. Tellium 
 I intend to write to him by th>e fir ft opportuni- 
 ty 
 
 Elias Keaeh." 
 
 APPENDIX VI. 
 
 The prefent generation of baptifts in Penn- 
 fylvania and the other colonies (german bap- 
 tills excepted) have fome how realoned them- 
 felves out of the pra&ice of anointing the fick 
 for recovery, not believing that the fame kind 
 ofreafoning [purfued] would lead them to dis- 
 continue every pofitive rite, as it actually led 
 Barclay and thouiands befides. Our pious 
 fore fathers in this province practifed the rite 
 frc [uently and fucccfsfully as might eafily be 
 Ihown. See two examples p. 2:. 28. The 
 lame may be fold of the bapti:ls in Grerubri- 
 
( n6 ) 
 
 tain and Ireland. Their progenitors alfo ufed 
 the falutary unction, whereof fome narratives 
 have been made public. Whether that of Col- 
 chefter in Oldengland hath been printed I know 
 not ; but as the narrative hath lately fallen in- 
 to my hands I will prefent my reader with an 
 abridgement of it, after premifmg that the ma- 
 nufcript (by its appearance) may be as ancient 
 as the fadl it relates ; and that it was given me 
 by my worthy friend Rev. Ebenezer Kinnerfly 
 who found it among his father's papers 
 
 " God in this age hath not left himfelf with- 
 out teftimony of his eternal power and God- 
 head, as will appear by the following narra- 
 tive- — A church at Tiverton in the Weil (hav- 
 ing one among them whom they defigned for 
 their paftor) wrote to the church of Colchefter 
 in Su(fex for a difmiffion of faid perfon ; and 
 their opinion upon this queftion, Whether laying 
 on of hands in ordination was neceffary P The 
 paftor of Colchefter being abfent I was defired 
 to anfwer the letter ; and when I came to the 
 query I wrote as followeth ; Laying on of ha?ids 
 being an inftgnifcant thing* only as it denotes, the 
 ■perfon ordained and having no power to convey any 
 miniferial gifts we judge it a mere ceremony (tike 
 anointing the Jick and wafing feet ) which ceafed 
 with the apoflles. This letter the church would 
 not fignbecaufe fome alledged that thofe rites 
 ought yet to be praclifed. I oppofed them, and 
 quoted authors I had read on the fubjecls ; but 
 to no purpofe, for the letter they would not 
 fign ; and another was drawn to their mind. 
 But from that time I was left in great darkneis 
 that I often queftioned my intereft ia Chriftj 
 
 
( "7 ) 
 and kept many days of falling and prayer {or 
 the return of the light of God's countenance.* 
 Thus I went on for the fpace of about two 
 months. Tfcwards the latter end of I 
 (being at St. Edmund (bury in Suffolk) I was 
 defired to pray by a gentleman and his wife 
 who had been long affiled. At prayer I was 
 much in the dark, and thought I had much 
 more need to pray for my fall" than for Oth 
 which I did in forne Click words as thefe. 
 haft thou Lft me Lord ? Why haft thou hid thy 
 Return, return, Lord, arid lift up 
 the light of thy countenance upon me ! To whicil 
 it was replied in thought, Thou haft denied my 
 ordinances of laying en of hand'!, anointing the Jick 
 andiMajhingfett! I anfwered, If 1 knevj thsrn to 
 be thy ordinances, Lord, I iucitU not deny them ! 
 Then it was that I was convinced of the conti- 
 nuance of thofe ordinances, and made to be- 
 lieve that if I praftiied them the Lord would 
 accompany them with a bletling. I was refol- 
 ved. And thereupon the Lord reftored the 
 light of his countenance, and my prayer was 
 turned to praiie. When I rofe from prayer I 
 faid to the gentlewoman (who had the dead 
 pally in one fide) Miftrefs ! I believe your 
 limbs would be reftored if you were anointed in 
 the name of the Lord ; for I am mo ft ftrange- 
 ly convinced of that which I ftrongly oppofed 
 not long fince. She faid fhe could not fub- 
 mit ; neither had fhe any faith in it. I ufed 
 fome arguments with her ; but to no purpofe. 
 That day I returned to Colchefter ; and going 
 to one Mrs. Munings (a widow who kept a 
 milliner's mop near the market) I told her how 
 I had been convinced touching the ordinance 
 
{ us y 
 
 ef anointing with oil. She was much furpri- 
 zed (knowing how vigoroufly I had oppofed 
 k) and afked, Whether I had faith in the ap- 
 plication of it to her daughter ? I told her, I 
 had ; and afked, Whether fhe believed in the 
 ordinance ? She replied in the affirmative. 
 Then I afked the daughter, Child ! do you 
 believe the Lord can make you whole ? She 
 anfwered, The Lord's hand is not fhortened 
 that it cannot fave ; neither is his ear heavy 
 that he cxnnot hear. Well, faid I, if you be- 
 lieve his ability I believe his willingnefs. Then 
 Jiqt mother afked whether I would be plea r ed 
 to adminifter it ? I told her, I would, but 
 not then, becaufe of my ftudies, it being the 
 laft day of the week. On the fecond day fol- 
 lowing (being to expound after my wonted 
 cufrom and the faid Mrs. Munings being pre- 
 sent) I went to her horde ; and addrefled my- 
 felf to the bufmefs in the following manner ; I 
 prayed that God would raife our faith in the 
 ordinance, and that we might ky hold of the 
 promife ; then I fefc the oil apart, by prayer* 
 from a common to a fpecial ufe, and anointed 
 her three times on the place aggrieved in the 
 name of the Lord jefus of Nazareth. But 
 when I came to anoint the ankle I was a ft on i- 
 fhed, for her lamenefs was in this manner ; 
 her hip bone was out of the focket and would 
 run up towards her arm ; her leg was crook- 
 ed, and the ankle had ftarted out of its place 
 ib that none was to be feen on the infide ; her 
 lefc foot' was in the form of a (tump. Her mo- 
 ther does not know whether fhe was born thus 
 or not, for the cafe was difcovered when fhe 
 was in leading firings, and ihe now is about 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 i 6 years r [any did her mother ap- 
 
 ply t< p. An eminent furgeon being 
 
 call. a in, faid, that he v. ould not take Mrs. 
 Munings money, becaufe it was not in the 
 power of man to remedy the cafe, as the cup 
 of the hip was filled with a flefhy matter fo that 
 the bone could not be reduced to its place ; 
 the fineWs were fhrunk in a heap under her 
 ham, and the whole fide fo weak that fhe could 
 not lift a four pound weight with that hand. 
 When I faw how matters were (as I faid before) 
 my countenance fell, and I faid to my felf, 
 Surely I am worfe than a madman ! Can 
 crooked limbs be made ftraight ? And with 
 that fuch a trembling feized me that I could 
 not (lay my hand to anoint but with the help 
 of the other. In this confufion that text drop- 
 ped into my mind, Though thou belirjejl not yet 
 ke abideth faithful and cannot deny him f If I had 
 no fooner done anointing but I fell on my 
 knees hi an agony and faid, Lord I have done 
 my part ; I have gone to the extent of my corn- 
 million ! Lord I leave in thy hand the accom- 
 plishment of the work i While I was thus fay- 
 ing I funk into a kind of a trance, and beheld, 
 as it were, the heavens open, and Chrift at the 
 father's right hand prefenting a petition. Then 
 1 cried out, Lord ! that is our petition ! and 
 we wait for thy anfwer ! The mother and fit- 
 ters wondered at the expreffion. But as foon 
 as I faid the above words I had this text bro'c 
 to me, Be it unto you according to your faith ! 
 When I got oh? my knees I took fome turns a- 
 bottt the room, and fat down. Then looking 
 upward, faid, Child ! the Lord hath made thee 
 whole ! The mother faid, Sir, why do you 
 
( *s° ) 
 
 fay fo before -you know ? I replied, Unbelief, 
 Hand thou by ! Child ! the Lord Jefus hath 
 made thee whole ! At which the mother re- 
 peated what fhe faid before. Then faid I with 
 greater vehemence, Child ! the Lord hath 
 made thee whole ! Whereupon the damfel 
 got up and faid, What fhall I render to the 
 Lord for all his benefits ! while you pronoun- 
 ced me whole the fecond time my bones fnap- 
 ed to their places without any pain ! And to our 
 ,aftonifliment -we beheld her straight and whole 
 and a full hand's breadth taller than fhe was 
 before. So fhe put forth her foot and fhowed 
 jher ankle and all was well. Her other diftem- 
 pers alfo left her ; and her foul with ours 
 were filled with the loving kindnefs of the 
 Lord in fuch a manner that we did not know 
 iiow to contain ourfelves. Come, faid I to her 
 mother and fillers, let us fing the praifes of 
 the Lord. No faid the mother, left the neigh- 
 bours ihould hear us. I replied, ShouLd we 
 Jiold our peace the Hones in the ftreet would 
 cry out againft us. So we fang the praifes of 
 God extempore. Before this the mother had 
 faid to the girl, Go, fee whether your Bro- 
 ther cries. She went up flairs and fetched him 
 down though a lul'ly boy of about five years 
 of age. The day following (when the mem- 
 bers of the church were called together) was; 
 fpent in thankfgiving, and this relation was 
 figned. Jan. i. 1705 — 6 
 Thomas Pryer, John Maxey, Nathaniel Hicks, 
 Sam. Tod, jur. John Blackfcill, John Brown, 
 Thomas Pettly, Jofeph Ellingford, Daniel 
 Hart, Francis Howard, Robert Harris, Phi- 
 lip Stowary, Benjamin Smith, Jeremiah Bax- 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 ter, William Rawlings, Sarah Pryer, Mary 
 
 Maxev, Mary Munings, Mary Munings, jur. 
 
 Elizabeth Munings, Sarah Sped, Mary 
 
 Capes, Sarah Hible. 
 N. B. The reafon why we, the fitters, have 
 figned this is, becaufe we have more, narrowly 
 fearched her as to the hip." 
 
 APPENDIX VII. 
 
 Frequent mention having been made in 
 the foregoing fheets of the ajjbciation of Phila- 
 delphia it may not be improper to fay fome- 
 thing of the origin- — nature — and ufefulnefs of 
 it. The origin of it, under its prefent name and 
 •regulation, is afcertained by the following pa- 
 ragraph in the records of Pennepek p. 43. 
 €( Before our general meeting held at Phila- 
 -delphia in the 7th month 1707 it was conclud- 
 ed by the feveral congregations of our judg- 
 ment to make choice of fome particular breth- 
 ren fuch as they thought moft capable in eve- 
 ry congregation, and thofe to meet at the 
 yearly meeting to confult about fuch things as 
 were wanting in the church and fet them in 
 order ; and thofe brethren met at the faid 
 yearly meeting which began the 27th of the 
 7th month on the 7 th day of the week, and a- 
 greed that the faid meeting fhould be continu- 
 ed till the third day of the week following in 
 the work, &c." The chofen brethren who met 
 were from Pennepek, Middletown, Pifcataqua, 
 Cohanfey and Welfhtracl:. This was the time 
 of the affociation's exiftence ; and Rvq chur- 
 ches its condiments. Since, it has increafed fo 
 *> to coiuaia 34 churches exclufive of thofe 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 ^hieh have been detached to form another af- 
 fbciation. Before that period (Sept. 27. 1707) 
 even from the fir ft fettiement of baptifts about: 
 Delaware they had fet up a general meeting 
 : for preaching, admini fixing ordinances, &c. 
 which meeting (as their then fcattered Rate 
 required} was held in different places. The 
 iirft, on record, was at Salem in the month of 
 May, i<588 when feveral were baptized and a 
 deacon ordained. Penn. Rec. page 4, 5. This 
 was about three months after Pennepek church 
 was conftituted ; the next general meeting was 
 jheld at Lowerdublin in the fall of the fame 
 year ; the next at Philadelphia in March 1 68 9 ; 
 the fourth at Burlington in the fummer follow- 
 ing. Afterwards it ihiftedto Cohanfey, Welfh- 
 tract, Middletown and elfewhere. The peo- 
 ple who lived in each of thofe places called it 
 a yearly meeting becaufe it came to them but 
 once a year ; but the minifters and others who 
 attended in every place fpeakof it as a quarter' 
 ly meetings becaufe (I fuppofe) in one place or 
 another it was held four times within the com- 
 pafs of twelve or thirteen months. Some bu- 
 fmefs was done at thefe meetings whereof fee 
 one example p. 99 , but then it was done with- 
 out the authority of a delegation. Thus they 
 went on from 1688 to 1707 which was a peri- 
 od of about 19 years; but in the laft mention- 
 ed year (Sep. 27) the general meeting which 
 Iiad been held at Philadelphia from 1689 was 
 transformed into An ajfdciation of mejjengers aw 
 thorized by their refpeclive churches to meditate and 
 execute defigns of public good \ and has been con- 
 tinued in the fame place ever fince, one year 
 excepted. The faid general meeting (held iu 
 
( *|3 ) 
 
 three other places) is called yearly meeting to 
 'lis is the ftate of matters now 
 i 770. It was pretty much the fame 56 years 
 ago, as appears by a letter of Rev. Abel Mor- 
 gan, add relied to the London minifters and 
 dated Philadelphia, Aug. 12. 17.14 " We now 
 have for the better affifting one the other four 
 general meetings ; one at Welfh tract where all 
 the nennfvlva- :hes refer t in May ; the 
 
 ether at Cohan icy where Philadelphia affifts ; 
 the third at Middletowir where Philadelphia 
 slfo arTiils ; the fourth at Philadelphia in Sep- 
 tember where all do refort and where moft of 
 the public matters are fettled by meffengers 
 from every particular church. " The general 
 meeting of Middletown is moveable. No pub- 
 lic bufmefs is done at thefe three yearly meet- 
 ings which makes fome neglect them as unmean- 
 ~' T cmb!ies. The fourth, or affociation, is a 
 meeting ofbufinefs. 
 
 From the origin of the affociation we pro- 
 ceed to the nature thereof. It has been before 
 ityled a confederate body of delegates from the chur- 
 ches ; but it is to be obferced that their delega- 
 tion raifes them no higher than an a dvi fry coun- 
 cil ; it gives them no eccleliaftical legislature, 
 nor jurifdiction, nor coercive power, nor any 
 thing elfe which may interfere with the rights 
 of particular churches, or thofe of private 
 judgment. Some motions were made in 1766 
 and afterwards which (if admitted one way) 
 would have brought in, by way of appeal, mat- 
 ters that had been determined in particular 
 churches : but an effectual oppofition was made 
 to the motions from an apprehenfion that as 
 loon as the aficciation ftarts from its prefent 
 
( m ) 
 
 firm bafis of an advisory council To focm 
 "will it become contemptible for want of power ; 
 or, having power, become tyrannical, as all 
 affemblies of the kind have proved. Nay, the 
 very word appeal has a caveat upon it in the 
 records, left the judgment or advice which the 
 affociation give upon matiers brought before 
 them, by the mutual confent of churches or 
 parties concerned, Ihould be confidered as de- 
 cisive, or the acts of a fuperior judicature 
 
 The perfons who form this afibciation (as hint- 
 ed before) are delegates or mefTengers from the 
 churches. The choice falls generally on the 
 $ninifters and elders or deacons. With them 
 each church fends a letter addreffedto the affo- 
 ciation containing the names of their mefTen- 
 gers and an exact account of their church fiate, 
 with a fpecificatibn of what advice or help they 
 .want— The time when the affociation meet, 
 is the Tuefday after the fecond Sunday in Ocr 
 tober. It continues commonly to the Thurf- 
 day or Friday following. Then the mefTen- 
 gers return with letters to their refpective 
 churches. Thefe letters contain an exact ac.r 
 count of the number of communicants in each 
 church ; the number baptized, reftored by re- 
 pentance, or ctherwife added in the year ; the 
 Dumber dead, excommunicated or otherwife 
 ioft ; the opinion of the affociation upon que- 
 ries brought into it ; their advice relative to 
 things whereof it was afked ; tfte times when 
 vacant churches are to be fupplie,d> and by 
 whom ; with minutes of the tranfactions, &c< 
 Th^fe letters have of late years been printed — . 
 The manner in which the affociation is con- 
 ducted is as followed*. After divine fervice (a 
 
( 12; ) 
 part of which is a difcourfe on fome article in 
 the Century confeffion) the moderator for the pre* 
 ceding year nominates a fuccefTor and a fecre- 
 tary ; thefe being approved and feated the let- 
 ters to the affociation are called for, and read, 
 and the names of the meilengers enrolled, 
 which commonly fmifhes the bufinefs of the 
 firft day. The next (and each fucceeding) 
 day they meet at appointed hours, and after 
 calling the roll over proceed to bufinefs. All 
 matters are determined by majority of voices, 
 except what are determined by fcripture ; inch 
 things are never put to the decifion of votes. 
 All the mefTengers may freely fpeak to any mat- 
 ter in hand, and make replies and rejoinders, 
 obferving decorum and addrefilng themfelves 
 to the moderator. Nothing is put to vote till 
 all have faid what they chufe to offer. The 
 bufinefs of the laft fitting is to frame and figu 
 the circular, and other public letters ; to ap- 
 point a preacher for next affociation, and h ,v 
 fubjecl. It fhould be obferved that ear 1 ; ~ cin S 
 and riling is attended with prs**r °7. 
 
 deratcr- Churches- ~. rec 5 ! ve , d \ nt0 1 J 1S 
 
 aiTociationby pe ^ ns > fet r tm ? {oV \ h * eir de ; 
 fire to be Emitted ; their faith and order, and 
 wilit'iigaefs to conform to the rules of the affo- 
 ciated body. A petition being read, and fuff- 
 rage in its favour being obtained, the modera- 
 tor declares that fuch a church is received ; in 
 token of which he* gives the mefTengers the right 
 hand of fcllowfhip, and bids them take their 
 feats. 
 
 The laft thing propofed was to fay fome- 
 tVing of the ufefulnefs of this affociation. And 
 the experience of 63 years bath fhown it to he 
 
{ 126 ] 
 
 fo confiderable as to recommend fueh a com- 
 bination of churches, were there no divine pre- 
 cept or precedent for it. I will mention feme 
 Jate inftances (i) It hath made the baptifts a 
 refpectable body of people in the eye of other 
 focieties and of the civil powers on this conti- 
 nent — The baptifts of Montague pleaded a law 
 of the province for their exemption from mi- 
 nifterial tax ; but the court would not hear 
 them till they mewed their connection with a 
 
 branch of the affociation of Philadelphia 
 
 Their brethren of Afhfield had 395 acres of 
 land taken from them towards building a pref- 
 byterian meeting hcufe and paying a prefbyte- 
 rian minifter ; they applied for help to thefaic! 
 branch of the affociation who have engaged the- 
 reftoration of their property by laying their 
 cafe before the king, if they cannot fucceed with 
 
 the aflembly of Bofton —Rev. John Davis 
 
 upon fettling in Maryland was much harraffed 
 -.J;;^ He affociation efpeufed his caufe ; then he 
 . K -«», and is now much e deemed in the 
 r,e^n.ourhouo^ _ The rev> Davld T i 10mas 
 A. M. was roughly trea^ ^ Virginia by both 
 rncbsjind magiftrates ; he appv^ to the CQurt 
 of "Vl/iliiamfburg for his qualificatio»s-; n order 
 to obtain the protection of the toleration a£L 
 The court would not know him. He then ap- 
 plied to the affociation of Philadelphia for ad- 
 vice ; he had it, and returned, ifnd is now 
 tinder the protection of the Law Rev. No- 
 ah Hammond of Longifland was treated by his 
 neighbours as if he were no minifter in the fenfe 
 Oi the law ; and confequenliy theynoifed it a- 
 broad that the marriages he performed were 
 not legal, and that the iffue would not be legU, 
 
( I2 7 J 
 timate. This greatly difquieted him and tbA 
 parties concerned ; but upon the reception of 
 him and his church into the affociation the 
 clamor ceafed (2) The faid combination or 
 churches has- in a good meafure remedied the 
 pernicious effects of the pruritus praedicandi 
 which rages fo much in America. One of the 
 firft refolves is, " That no man fhall be al- 
 lowed to preach among the affociated churches 
 except he produce credentials of his being in 
 communion with his church, and of their ha- 
 ving called and licenfed him to preach". Be- 
 fore this, rain and inefficient men would fet 
 chemfelves up to be preachers, and ftrolLabout 
 the country under the name of baptift minil- 
 ters ; al fo minifiers degraded and excommuni- 
 cated, who with their infufficiency and immo- 
 rality brought difgrace on the very name of 
 baptifts (3) The faid affociation has been ve- 
 ry beneficial to the churches concerned in ma- 
 ny other refpecls. Some have beea fupplied 
 with money towards erecting places of wor- 
 ihip ; fome to defend themfelves again ft op- 
 preflbrs, as is now the cafe with refpect to the 
 churches of Newengland, for whom a confi- 
 derable fum is raifed ; fome to relieve their ne- 
 ceffities, as in the cafe of the brethren of Kono- 
 lowa who were driven from their habitations 
 by the Indians; fome are affifted with counfel 
 
 and advice when in difficulties among them- 
 
 o 
 
 feJves, as appears by the records of the aflbci- 
 ation ; fome with miniiterial helps, whereof 
 many inftances appear in the yearly letters to 
 the churches. Many other evidences of its uti- 
 lity might be produced. Of any ill effect a ti- 
 ding it I have not known one inftance ; nti- 
 
( 123 ) 
 
 ther have I heard any clamor aga'mft It except 
 from the felf-made preachers and degraded cul- 
 prits before mentioned whofe trade is almoft 
 ruined hereby, and who (like quack- doctors, 
 and pettyfogging lawyers) do more harm than , 
 good (4) But what! deem the chief advan- 
 tage of this affociation (and indeed the fpring 
 of all the benefits before mentioned) is, that 
 it introduces mto the vifible church what are; 
 called joints and bands -whereby the whole body zV> 
 knit together and compacted for increafe by that which, 
 every part fupplieik. And therefore it is (as hint- 
 ed in the preface) that I am fo anxious to ren- 
 der the faid combination of baptift churches* 
 univerfal upon this continent. And fhouldr 
 God give me fuccefs herein, as in the affair of? 
 the baptift college, I fhall deem myfelf the. 
 liappieft man on earth* 
 
 A P P E ND-IX VIII, 
 
 Though it be doubtful whether a nation c£ 
 ancient Britons (ufually called Welfh Indians y 
 do exift in America yet the grounds of the con- 
 jecture are not to be defpifed. It is no longer, 
 than 1767 fincefome Indians from the back o£ 
 lake Superior averred at Quebec " That far. 
 weftward of them was a tribe of white people 
 who wore beards, and dreffed differently from 
 the Spaniards, French and Englifh ; that they 
 had the ufe of arms, poffeffed a well improved 
 country, but were very ihy of the black Indi- 
 ans, &c." See the account publiflied at Lon- 
 don in the Ledger of Feb. 2 . 1 7 68 . However, 
 our forefathers believe^ there were fuch a peo* 
 pie, as. appears by their letters \ one, of whicli 
 
( i2 9 ) 
 'reded to the Britiili Society, and J 
 Philadelphia, Mar. i, 1735 — 4} is as follow- 
 ed!. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 M It is not unknown to you that Maddoc 
 
 Cwynedd, prince of Wales did, about $00 
 
 i to the ' jral 
 
 Hi? ps and a great Dumber of his fubjedts ; and 
 
 heard :es of the 
 
 being found in old and cfeferted 
 
 fettlefpentfl about the MiffiflSppi, make it pro- 
 
 I up that river. And wc^ 
 
 with brotherly love to ou^coun- 
 
 trymen, are meditating to go in (earch of them ; 
 
 but are difcouraged by the di (lance of the place, 
 
 and uncertainty of the courfe we fhould iteer. 
 
 If you can give us any information and dii 
 
 tion, together with fome help to heap the ex* 
 
 pence we fhall find men adventurous enough to 
 
 undertake the expedition ; having no other end 
 
 in view than to carry the gofpel of peace a- 
 
 mong oar ancient brethren ; and believing it 
 
 will be to the enlargement of the britilh En 
 
 tnd a proof of prior right to t>ie 
 whole continent, (hould we happily fucceed* 
 remain, Gentiemcn, Your loving coua- 
 ocn, 
 
 Nathaniel Jenkins, John Davis, 
 Benj. G David Evans, 
 
 Jofeph Eaton, Rynallt IJowl 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 Some places are famous in hiftory for 
 [ been the baptijlcr'wm of the ancients, as 
 Jordan, iEnon and ikihabura in i\. 
 
( *3° ) 
 Swale, Gwenie, Sec. in England, particularly 
 Swale which St. Auftin is faid to have confe- 
 crated and therein to have baptized ioooo in 
 the depth of winter about the year 595. And 
 why mould not Schuylkill be -mentioned with 
 Jordan, Swale and Gwenie, feeing there is a 
 like reafon for it, efpecially that part delineate- 
 ed in the frontifpiece ? In this river I have 
 baptized many. My predeceiTor, Rev. J. Jones 9 
 &c. had done the fame before me. Nay, a late- 
 clergyman of the church of England was wont: 
 to make this river his baptifterion. The part" 
 above refered to is about a mile and a half 
 out of Philadelphia ; and is not only conve- 
 nient for the celebration of baptifm but raoft 
 delightful for rural fceneries. Hither the towns 
 people in fummer refort for recreation and en- 
 tertainment. To this river hath Francis Hop- 
 Mnfon Efq. led his bards and literati: to fweep 
 their lyres and meditate on juftice and religi-* 
 en *. Round faid fpot are large oak, afford- 
 ing fine made. Underfoot, is a green, varie- 
 gated with wild flowers and aromatic herbs. 
 Juft by was lately erected a houfe for dreffing"- 
 and undreliing, and for the ufe of the profeucbes 
 of the ancients. Act. xvi, 13 : it is divided into 
 two rooms by a hanging partition, and fo con- 
 trived that when the partition is lifted up and 
 the doors opened, and the folding fhutter in 
 the front let down, that it refembies an alcove, 
 facing a profpect of land, wood, water, rocks, 
 hills, boats, &c. In the micift of this fpot is a 
 large (tone rifing about three feet above ground, 
 round which I. have often feen the people (h?.- 
 
 * See his pretty poem, called science^ 
 
( i.S* ) 
 
 imitation of Chrift, Lu. iii, 21) kneel to pray 
 after baptifra had been adminiitred. The top 
 is made level by art, and fteps hewn to afcend ; 
 on the top itands the minifter to preach to the 
 people who refor't thither to fee baptifm per- 
 formed ; and a multitude of hearers he com- 
 monly has. I have once reckoned there 32 
 carriages, and have often feen prefent from 100 
 to 1000 people, all behaving much better than, 
 in fome other places. With thefe exercifes of 
 religion and the delightfulnefs of the place ma- 
 ny confefs to have had fuch feelings as the dit- 
 ciptes when they faid, Lord, it is good for us t& 
 be here ! Let us here erect tabernacles ! By way 
 of concluflon to this appendix I will add the 
 -hymn that is wont to be fung in this place up- 
 on the occafions before named, with force ad- 
 ditions to accommodate it to HeimJJe\-tu?:e : if 
 it be fung to the old tune the additions [ in 
 crotchets] mull be omitted, and two verfes Pi;t 
 together, 
 
 Schuylkill Hymn. 
 
 Jefus matter O difcover 
 Pleafure in us, now we (land 
 On this bank of Schuylkill river, 
 To obey thy great command, 
 [Pleafure in us, pleafure in us, pleafure in us, 
 fVbo obey thy great com?nand~\ 
 
 Make this ftream, like Jordan, bleffed* 
 Leprous Naamans enter in. 
 Rife, faith Jefus, be baptized, 
 S3?td you ivaf/j away your Jin. 
 [Be baptized, be baptized, be baptized \ 
 Avdyou wafo cvway your fin\ 
 
( 132 ) 
 
 Here the world and fie fh and devil 
 We do folemnly renounce ; 
 Here we vow to ceafe from evil ; 
 And a life to God announce. 
 \Ceafe from evil, ceafe from evil, ceafe from evtl$ 
 And a lifemto God announce* 
 
 Of our vows this flone's a token 
 Stone of witnefs* bear record 
 'Gainft us, if our vows be broken 
 Or if we for fake the Lord. 
 
 \Solemn vowing, folemn vowing, folemn vowing : f 
 Stone of witnefs hear record, .] 
 
 .Help' us, thou baptized Jefus ! 
 What we vowed to fulfil. 
 Of our fears of failing eafe us. 
 Form, and mould us to thy will. 
 \Help us Jefus, help us Jefus, help us Jefus? 
 What we vowed to fulfil^ 
 
 Hence we go our way rejoicing 
 Confcious of our pleafing God, 
 Foll'wing Jefus ftill propofmg 
 In the paths his feet have trod. 
 £6*0 rejoicing, go rejoicing, go rejoicings 
 Confcious of our p leafing Cod J 
 
 * And Joihua— took a great ftone, and fet it up there 
 under an oak, that was by the fanftuary of the Lord, 
 And Jofhua faid unto all the people, Behold, this (tone. 
 (hall be a witnefs unto us; for it hath heard all the words 
 of the Lord which he fpake unto us : it fliall be there- 
 fore a witnefs unto you, left ye deny your. God. Jqffnm 
 xxiv, atfj *7 V 
 
( 133 I 
 
 E R R A T A.' 
 
 The errors, both of the printer and of the 
 Writer, which have been difcovered in the fore- 
 going fheets may be thus rectified, 
 
 for one read partly 
 
 for the ether read and partly 
 
 for Tunckers read Tv.nkers 
 
 for purchas read pur -chafe 
 
 for Elizabeth read Eleav.:*- 
 
 for 1688 read 1687—8 
 
 for con f el read coimfel 
 
 dele and ordained 
 
 for Elias read Silas 
 
 for *7/.? tffr<? read a piece 
 
 for tomhflme read headJlo?ie 
 
 for i/«j£ Morris read /^w^ James 
 
 for Bonha??is read 2?c»^r 
 
 for 19 read 29 
 
 for one year read ten years 
 
 for 20 read 23 
 
 f or fame year read following year 
 
 for 7X0'/ Kil/ingwort bread John Watts 42 
 
 for Jedediah read Jedidiah 
 
 for 1690 read 1686 
 
 for Llanfemach read Llandydocb 
 
 for 1761 read 1760 
 
 for Nrwbritain read Moritgzmery 
 
 for 3252 read 3250 
 
 for 668 read 678 
 
 for 31 read 34 
 
 for ^W read /W£ 
 
 for was read // 
 
 dele #W /# 1702 £«/// a place ofwor* 
 
 flip in Oxford tcrwn/hip 59- 28 
 
 p- 
 
 1. 
 
 6 
 
 27 
 
 6 
 
 28 
 
 SSctitk 
 
 6 
 
 29 
 
 7 
 
 3°' 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 11 
 
 14 
 
 16 
 
 3^ 
 
 16 
 
 33 
 
 17 
 
 26 
 
 24 
 
 2 
 
 29 
 
 •7 
 
 4' 
 
 5 
 
 3i 
 
 23 
 
 42 
 
 19 
 
 42 
 
 21 
 
 45 
 
 13 
 
 46 
 
 29 
 
 46 
 
 30 
 
 43 
 
 3 
 
 51 
 
 34 
 
 54 
 
 27 
 
 54 
 
 28 
 
 63 
 
 21 
 
 69 
 
 12 
 
 70 
 
 9 
 
( 134 ) 
 dele and their meeting houfe being taken 
 
 from them 59 51 
 
 for they built read they and others while 
 
 keithian baptifts built fa 5 
 
 for Sarah Branfon read William and 
 
 Sarah Branfon 41 23 
 
 for three hundred read three hundred 
 
 and thirty 41 24 
 
 after John Morgan add tke following 
 paragraphs 
 (5) Seventy eight y pounds fifteen fnllings 
 the gift of Francis and Amy Pullin to~ 
 wards difcharging the debt of half the 
 lot, on which the meeting houfe Jlands- 
 (6) Thirty pounds the gift of St eph. An- 
 thony towards difcharging the debt cm* 
 trailed in building the meeting koufe 41. 2& 
 
 The end of the firft volume. The 
 fecond volume (containing Materials 
 towards a hiftory of the Baptifts in New* 
 jerfey) will be published with all con- 
 venient fpcedt 
 
I 
 
 ' 
 
II 
 1 1 
 
 M 
 
 ■ 
 
 H 
 II 
 
 •4B 
 
 ■ H 
 
 i ■ 
 
 ■ 
 
 It; ^ 
 
 Hv, 
 
 m