Local History: Coventry Brethren Church and Urner Genealogy: Chester Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Connie Romito Visit http://www.angelfire.com/mt/urner/index.html for additional information and a GEDCOM of the Urner genealogy. USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ GENEALOGY of the URNER FAMILY and sketch of the COVENTRY BRETHREN CHURCH in CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA by ISAAC N. URNER, LL.D., Late President of Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi Philadelphia Printed by J. B. Lippencott Company 1893 Coventry Brethren Church As the Urners were the founders of the Coventry Brethren Church, and its preachers and bishops for the first eighty-seven years of its existence, a sketch of its history seems the proper introduction to the genealogy of the Urner Family. The Coventry Church took its name from the township is which it is located, and the township is supposed to have received its name through Samuel Nutt, an early settler and iron-master, who came from Coventry, in Warwickshire, in England. The township first took the name Coventry in the year 1724, the same year in which the Church was organize. Previously the district was known in the assessment lists, which contained the names of Jacob, Hans, and Martin Urner, as "Skoolkill District" in 1719 and as "Skoolkill" in 1722. At its formation, the township of Coventry comprised not only the land along the Schuylkill River, now North Coventry, East Coventry, South Coventry, but all of the upper part of Chester County, and even a part of the present county of Lancaster. See "Futhey's History of Chester County," page 172. The Brethren, as the members have always called themselves, have sometimes been called the First Day Baptists, to distinguish them from the Seventh Day Baptists; sometimes they have been called the German Baptists, to distinguish them from the Baptists; and sometimes they are called Dunkers, and Tunkers, from an attempted transliteration of the German word meaning Baptist. In the latter part of the seventeenth and the beginning of the eighteenth centuries vigorous attempts were made by the Protestants of Germany and Holland to reform some of the errors of the Churches. These efforts produced violent opposition and persecutions. They also resulted in heavy emigration of the common people and of many of the learned to America. Of those who did not immediately emigrate, many moved into districts whose rulers had themselves been awakened and so granted to the refugees liberty to worship as they pleased. At Schwarzenau, in the Province of Witgenstein, the first Brethren Church ever organized was started in 1708, the following eight constituent members: brethren George Grebe, of Hesse Cassel; Luke Vetter, of Hesse Cassel; Alexander Mack, of Schriesheim in the Palatinate; Alexander Bony, of Basle, Switzerland; John Kipping, of Bareit, Wirtemburg; and Sisters Johanna Noetinger Bony, Anna Margareta Mack, Johanna Kipping. By studying the Bible these people were led to believer's baptism and Congregational church government, and this in a place where Baptists had never been known. As they increased in numbers, persecutions followed. Some were driven to Holland, some to Creyfeld in the Duchy of Cleves; and the Mother Church at Schwarzenau moved to Serustervin, in Friesland; and in 1719 they emigrated in a body to Pennsylvania, and settled at Germantown; a few scattering to Skippack, Falckner's Swamp, and Oley. This colony consisted of about twenty families. Though very zealous for the truth, they had bickerings and jealousies even during their sojourning in Europe, and while this first colony of Brethren was crossing the ocean, trouble broke out afresh among the members. So for several years after their arrival there were no religious efforts put forth by them. But in the fall of 1722 several of the Germantown Brethren, --Becker, Gommere, Gantz, and the Trauts, visited the scattered Brethren. In the fall of the following years there was an occurrence that finally bridged over their separation and brought them to organize themselves into a church. This event was the application of six "persons on the Schuylkill" for baptism. These "persons on the Schuylkill" lived thirty-five miles up the river, and comprised Martin Urner and his wife and four neighbors. This organization of the Germantown Church and baptism of these first six converts took place on the 25th day of December, 1723. In the "Chronicon Ephratense," pages 22 and 23 of the translation by J. Max Hark, D.D., this happening is referred to in the following words: "In August of the year 1723 a rumor was spread through the country the Christ. Libe, a famous Baptist teacher who had long been in the galleys, had arrived in Philadelphia. This moved some newly awakened persons on the Schuylkill to go forth to meet him. The whole thing, however, was a fiction. These persons were persuaded by the Baptists [Brethren] to go with them to their meeting, during and after which they heard so much of the Germans' awakening that they went home very much edified. Soon after a second visit was made to Germantown, by which both parties were so much edified that the Germantown Baptists [Brethren] promised them a visit in return, which they made four weeks afterwards with great blessing. The newly awakened ones were thereby stirred up still more, so that they begged to be received into their Communion by Holy Baptism. This was the occasion of important proceedings among the Brethren in Germantown, for they still had in mind the misunderstandings which had arisen between them the their Brethren at Creyfeld. Besides, they were indeed a branch of a congregation, but yet not a congregation that dared to presume to administer the sacraments. The worst was that they were divided among themselves and had only lately commenced to draw nigh to one another again. After they had seriously pondered over all these things in the spirit, they finally agreed to consent to the request. Accordingly after the candidates for baptism had chosen Peter Becker to be their baptizer, they were baptized in the stream Wiskohikung [Wissahickon], near Germantown, on December 25th, of the year 1723. And as these were the firstlings of all baptized among the high Germans in America, their names shall be here recorded and given to posterity, namely: Martin Urner and his female house-mate, Henry Landis and his house-mate, Frederick Lang, and Jan Mayle. The evening following they held the first love-feast ever celebrated in America at John Gommere's which created a great stir among the people of that neighborhood; Peter Becker, mentioned before, ministering at the same. "Through such a Divine happening the Baptists [Brethren] in Pennsylvania became a Congregation." At the organization of the Germantown Church, in addition to the six who had just been baptized, were the following seventeen members: Peter Becker, Henry Traut, Jeremiah Traut, Balser Traut, Henry Holzapfel, John Gommere, Stephen Kock, Jacob Koch, John Hildebrand, Daniel Ritter, George Balser Gansz, John Preisz, John Kaempfer,--thirteen brethren; and Magdalena Traut, Anna Gommere, Maria Hildebrand, and Johanna Gansz,--four sisters. In the Spring of 1724 they resumed their meetings with great success, particularly among the young. During the summer the fame of their awakening spread abroad, and there was such an increase of attendance that there were not room for their accommodation. They also now deemed it well to make a full report of their reunion and success to the Brethren in Germany. They also resolved on a general visitation of all the Brethren in the country. They started out on the 23rd of October, and visited Skippack, Falckner's Swamp, and Oley; holding meetings with breaking of bread at these several places. They them visited "the newly baptized Brethren on the Schuylkill," where two persons were baptized, and on November 7, 1724, the Coventry Brethren Church was there formally organized; being the second Brethren church in America. The following were the nine constituent members: Martin Urner and his wife, Catharine; Henry Landis and wife; Daniel Eiker and wife; Peter Heffly, Owen Longacre, and Andrew Sell. Martin Urner was made preacher, and when Alexander Mack arrived in America, in 1729, Martin Urner was ordained bishop by him. The visiting Germantown Brethren then proceeded up to Conestoga, now a part of Lancaster County. Here they also had a successful meeting, and after baptizing seven, on the 12th day of November 1724, they organized the Conestoga Church, which was the third Brethren Church in America. This Conestoga Church is often spoken of as the Ephrata Church, as it was near where the twon of Ephrata was subsequently built. The members of this new church made Conrad Beissel, who was one of the seven who had just been baptized their preacher. This Beissel was a man of considerable ability, but of a dreamy, visionary turn of mind, and gave the Brethren churches much trouble during the remainder of his life. He died in 1768. By his peculiar views he divided the Conestoga Church, in 1728, in two parts,--the Brethren, who remained true to their faith, and the Seventh Day Baptists, his followers. He went off into Sabbatarianism, Monachism, and the advocacy of celibacy. He also built at Ephrata a monastery and a nunnery. The Conestoga Church was by this greatly weakened. The Germantown Church also lost many members, who moved to Ephrata. The Coventry Church, owing to the good sense and conservatism of Martin Urner and his members, suffered the loss of but few. In the year 1729, Alexander Mack, before mentioned as one of the founders of the Brethren Church, with the rest of the Brethren still remaining in Europe emigrated also to Pennsylvania. This colony was composed of about thirty families. This large addition greatly stimulated the Brethren in America, and largely counteracted the deleterious effects of the Beissel secession. The following churches were soon after organized: The Oley Church, in 1732; Great Swamp, in 1733; Amwell, New Jersey, in 1733, Cocalico, in 1735; White Oakland, in 1736; Conowango, in 1738; and others soon after. Owing to the location of the Germantown Church in a town, it never made much progress in numbers. The practice of feet-washing, of trine immersion, and the efforts of some to force a peculiarity of dress upon the members, in imitation of the Quakers, may have been felt as burdensome to persons living in a town. And many of the more emotional of the members found joy in burying themselves in the cloisters of Ephrata and the wilds of Conestoga. In the Coventry Church a more healthy sentiment always prevailed. While it had many accessions, its growth in number was retarded by heavy colonizations from the Church. The members were mostly farmers, and while the land was good, the lands in other localities were better. Some moved to what was them called the Conecocheague, now embraced in Franklin and Perry Counties, in Pennsylvania, and Washington County, Maryland; some to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia; and some to Carroll and Frederick Counties, in Maryland, where the Urners, the Wolfes, and the Crumbachers are still found. This migration, while it greatly reduced the church in number, made its influence, on the denomination at large, very great. While the Germantown Church was historically and by some ten months of organization the mother church, the Coventry Church was practically the mother church. But for the schism in the Conestoga Church caused by Conrad Beissel, that church might have divided honors with the Coventry Church. (See article of A. H. Cassel, in the "Christian Family Companion" of April 9, 1872, pages 228,229). The Brethren churches in American now number one hundred thousand members. MARTIN URNER, SR. Martin Urner, the founder of the Coventry Brethren church, and its first bishop, was born in Alsace, then a Province of France, in the year 1965. The family had been driven by religious persecution out of the Canton of Uri, Switzerland, whence the name Urner, and took refuge in Alsace. About 1708, Ulrich Urner, with his three sons,--Jacob, Hans, and Martin,--emigrated to Pennsylvania, and is said to have settled for a while at Roxborough, near Philadelphia. In 1712 the name of Martin Urner appears among the settlers of Lancaster County (See Rupp's "Thirty Thousand Names," Appendix III., ed. of 1876). In 1718 he bought a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of land of the Penns, in what is now called Coventry township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, on the Schuylkill River immediately opposite the present town of Pottstown. On this property, now called Belwood, he and his descendants lived long years afterwards, and on part of the land the Coventry Brethren Church and the Coventry Brethren Graveyard are located. He died in 1755, and was buried in the Coventry Brethren Graveyard. The following account of this Martin Urner is found in the work called "Materials toward a History of the American Baptists," published in 1770, by Morgan Edwards, then Fellow of Rhode Island College and Overseer of the Baptist Church in Philadelphia. MARTIN URNER, Sr., was born in Alsace about the year 1695, and was bred a Presbyterian. He came to America in 1715. [Earlier, about 1708.] He embraced the Principles of the Baptists in 1722; was ordained by Alexander Mack in 1729, at which time he took upon himself the oversight of the church. He died in 1755 and was buried in the graveyard at Coventry. His wife was Catharine Reist, by whom he had the following children: Mary, Martin, and Jacob. These married into the Wolff, Edis, and Light families. Assistant to Mr. Urner was one Casper Ingles". MARTIN URNER, JR. The second bishop of the Coventry Church was Martin Urner, Jr., son of Jacob Urner and nephew of the first Martin Urner. He was born 1725, one mile northeast of the present town of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He early joined the church, and was active in all its offices. On the death of Martin Urner, Sr., in 1755, the entire charge of the church fell on him. He was ordained bishop in 1756. He continued preaching to the church with marked success until the time of his death in 1799. After the death of his uncle, Martin Urner, Sr., he bought the homestead and made it his permanent home. In the year 1772, during his ministry, the first house of worship was built for the Coventry Church. Prior to the building of this first meeting-house the member met by turns at the homes of different brethren, though generally at the home of Martin Urner. It was customary to stay and take dinner after preaching, and spend the afternoon in conversation, singing, and prayer. This proved so edifying that it drew many into the church. The Germantown brethren did the same, but in 1770 they built their meeting-house. As the Coventry Church was at that time very closely connected with the Germantown Church, two years after, in 1772, they also built a meeting-house. This Martin Urner died in 1799, and was buried in the Coventry Brethren Graveyard. The following anecdote is told of this Martin Urner by David Urner (son of Jonas Urner and Hannah Reinhart), of Springfield, Ohio, of the fifth generation, in a letter to the writer of this sketch, dated October 14, 1872. "I never saw my grand father, Martin Urner, as he died a few years before I was born. I learned, however, from an old friend, that he was esteemed by his brethren in the church and ministry, as a preacher of more than ordinary ability; so much so, that at their yearly meetings he was always one of the number that were called upon to preach. My friend said that on one occasion when the Yearly Meeting was held in Philadelphia, as the preachers from the country were jogging along on horseback, going to that meeting, one of the preachers said to my grandfather, ŒAs you will no doubt be called upon to preach at this meeting, I want you to preach particularly against the wearing of fine clothes, as the brethren and sisters of Philadelphia are becoming entirely too fashionable in their dress.' And although he urged the matter lengthily, he though my grandfather did not give all heed to what he said, and asked, ŒDid you hear what I said?' and the answer was, ŒYes.' The next question was, ŒWill you do it?' when my grandfather replied, ŒIf I am called on to preach, I hope I shall have something of more importance that to talk to the people about the rags with which they cover themselves." Morgan Edwards gives the following account of this Martin Urner. "The next and present minister [1770] is Rev. Martin Urner, Jr. He is nephew to the forementioned Martin Urner. He was born in 1725, in New Hanover Township and County of Philadelphia. Was ordained in 1756, at which time he took on him the care of the congregation. His assistant is Mr. Peter Reinhart. Mr. Urner married Barbara Switzer, by whom he has children, Mary, Joseph, Martin, and Elizabeth." In the Brethren's Almanac of 1873, page 15, published by H. R. Holsinger at Dale City, Pennsylvania, we have the following fuller account by Abraham H. Cassel, of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, the historian of the Brethren Church. MARTIN URNER, JR. Martin Urner, Jr., was a very popular preacher among the ancient worthies. He was a brother's son, or nephew, of the before-mentioned Martin Urner, Sr., and was born in New Hanover Township, then in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, but now in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1725. He became a member of the church at Coventry while very young in life, and after serving in her different offices with exemplary piety and disinterested zeal, he was finally promoted to the office of bishop, being ordained in 1756. From that time on, the sole care of the church devolved upon him, until released by death. He died in May, 1799, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He was married to Sister Barbara Switzer, of Coventry, by whom he had children, Joseph, Mary, Martin, and Elizabeth, who have raised him a numerous progeny, many of whom are still in fellowship with the Brethren. This Brother Urner appears to have been somewhat of a revivalist, as the church flourished greatly under his ministerial labors. He was also the bosom friend of Alexander Mack, as their correspondence manifests the most intimate terms of love and friendship between them during life, and the record of his death, also, is in language the bespeaks great tenderness and affection for him. JONAS URNER The Urner family gave a third preacher to the Coventry Brethren Church, Jonas Urner. He was the son of the second Martin Urner, and, beginning to preach to the church at an early age, he continued to preach to it down to 1811, when he moved to Carroll County, Maryland, and labored with the Pipe Creek Church. He died in 1813, and his remains were buried in the Wolfe Graveyard, in Carroll County. LETTER OF ABRAHAM H. CASSEL AS TO WHEN THE FIRST HOUSE WAS BUILT AND WHEN REBUILT. Harleysville, PA., March 18, 1890 ISAAC N. URNER; "DEAR SIR,--Yours of the 15th inst. just to hand. I am sorry that I cannot give you absolutely certain dates, but corroborative incidents seem to settle it satisfactorily in my mind that the present building was erected in 1817. Many years ago, when I first commenced writing sketches of the early churches, I made considerable inquiry of those who assisted in the building, and never heard of any other than 1817; and I was also informed that when they resolved on building the new house, they bought a half-acre of ground from Daniel Urner, I think, to enlarge the meeting-house lot, which was in 1817, according to the conveyance; which I think should settle that point beyond a doubt. James Wells being the architect, I think you might find some papers among his descendants that would substantiate that date. "You are correct about the church being founded in 1724, but they had no meeting-house for a long time, as the old Brethren were opposed to having a meeting house. They held their meetings in a kind of rotation, at Martin Urner's and at four other places, and the custom then was that where the meeting was most of the people stayed for dinner, and the afternoons were spent in private conversation, singing and prayer, which was so edifying to the people that is was the means of drawing many into the church. The Germantown Brethren did the same, and it there also brought many into the church. In 1770, however, the Germantown Brethren built a meeting-house, which was the first that the Brethren had in America. For all of this I have original documents. As the Coventry Church was then a branch of the Germantown Church, they took example fo them, and also built a meeting-house soon after. I have an old list of the members that belonged to the Coventry Church in 1770, in which it is said that they still had no meeting-house, and that they still held their meetings in the above mentioned rotation. But for various reasons, I feel sure it was built soon after. I think in 1772. "Very respectfully, "Your friend, "ABRAHAM H. CASSEL" After the receipt of the foregoing letter I called Mrs. Catharine Keim, a daughter of James Wells referred to in the letter. She said that she had always been told that the meeting-house was built in the year in which she was born; and she was born in 1817. After the proceedings had been entered, the following sketch of the Coventry Brethren Church was received from Abraham H. Cassel, dated April 12, 1890. A SHORT SKETCH OF THE COVENTRY BRETHREN CHURCH Mainly from the writings of Morgan Edwards. "The Coventry church is so called from the township in which it is located. It was organized in 1724, when Martin Urner and wife, Henry Landis and wife, Daniel Eiker and wife, Peter Heffly, Owen Longacre, and Andrew Sell did unite to celebrate the Lord's Supper and to walk in unity and love, having called Elder Peter Becker to their assistance. "The first minister that they had was the above named Martin Urner. He was born in Alsace, then a province of France, in 1695, and was bred in the Presbyterian faith. He came to America before 1715 and embraced the principle of the Brethren in 1722, and was baptized in 1723. He was ordained to the office of bishop by Elder Alexander Mack in 1729, at which time he took on himself the entire oversight of the church. He died in 1755, and was buried in the Coventry Brethren Graveyard. His wife was Catharine Reist, by whom he had three children, Mary, Martin, and Jacob. They married into the Wolfe, Edis, and Light, or Lichty, families. His assistant was Casper Ingles. "The church increased fast, and in 1770 would have been a very large congregation had not so many gone away to get better lands elsewhere, as they were mostly husbandmen. Numbers went to what was then called the Conecocheague, in Franklin and Perry Counties, in Pennsylvania, and some also to Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas. "The next minister was Martin Urner, Jr. He was the nephew of the older Martin Urner. He was born in 1725, in New Hanover Township, then in Philadlephia, now Montgomery County. He was ordained in1756, at which time he took on himself the care and oversight of the church. His assistant in the ministry was Peter Reinhart. This Martin Urner was married to Barbara Switzer, by whom he had four children, Mary, Joseph, Martin, and Elizabeth. "The Coventry Church always had a very efficient local ministry, as their early preachers were all men of talent and ability, and were often visited by able preachers of other localities and of other denominations, such as Morgan Edwards, Elhanan Winchester, George De Benneville, Peter Keyser, and others. Peter Keyser was baptised by Martin Urner in 1784. The following list of members in 1770 may seem small, but we must remember that great numbers moved away, that some joined Conrad Beissel's Fraternity at Ephrata, and that several also were led astray by the Moravian Count Zinzendorf, and that many were carried away by death. "From corroborative facts known to me, I have no doubt but that the Coventry Church had hundreds of additions between its organization in 1724 and its census in 1770. ABRAHAM H. CASSEL "Harleysville, April 12, 1890" LIST OF MEMBERS OF COVENTRY BRETHREN CHURCH IN 1770 Martin Urner and wife, Barbara John Eiker Peter Reinhart Jacob Pfoutz and wife Owen Reinhart Abraham Bach Henry Dasker and wife Andrew Wolff Nicholas Harwick and wife Esther Switzer (nee Urner) Abraham Grubb and wife Wendel Danfelder Christian Monsieur Henry Bear and wife Barbara Miller Jacob Switzer and wife Barbara Welty Maud Reinhart Frederick Reinhart and wife Jacob Light and wife Barbara Urner Philip Waggoner and wife Elizabeth Ingles Elizabeth Halderman Catharine Grumbacher Anthony Bernard and daughter Catharine Bach John Light and wife The above list is taken from Morgan Edward's work. In the year 1890 the Coventry Church, with its two branches, Parkerford and Harmonyville, had three hundred and twenty members. LIST OF PREACHERS OF THE COVENTRY BRETHREN CHURCH FROM 1724 TO 1893. Born Died Martin Urner, Sr 1695 1755 Martin Urner, Jr 1725 1799 Jonas Urner 1772 1813 Casper Ingles Peter Reinhart 1733 1806 Martin Reinhart 1757 1820 Abraham Reinhart 1770 1842 George Price 1753 1823 John Price, Sr. 1782 1850 John Price, Jr. 1810 1879 Jacob Harley 1786 1842 John Harley 1812 David Keim 1802 Peter Hollobush 1805 Isaac Urner Brower 1844 Jesse P. Hetric 1844 John Y. Eisenburg 1840 As many of the facts connected with the early history of the Brethren Church in America, and of the early history of the Coventry Church, and of the connection of the Urners with these organizations, are found in Morgan Edward's work, and as copies of this book are becoming very rare, those parts of the history relating immediately to the subjects under consideration are here appended. MATERIALS TOWARD A History of the American Baptists BY Morgan Edwards, A.M., Fellow of Rhode Island College and Overseer of the Baptist Church in Philadelphia IN TWELVE VOLUMES PHILADELPHIA PRINTED BY JOSEPH CRUKSHANK AND ISAAC COLLINS MDCCLXX "VOL. I., PART IV. "Treats of the "Germans in Pennsylvania who are commonly called Tunkers, to distinguish them from the Mennonites, for both are styled Die Taujer, or Baptists. "The first appearance of these people in America was in the fall of the year 1719, when about twenty families landed in Philadelphia and dispersed, some to Germantown, some to Skippack, some to Oley, some to Conestoga, and elsewhere. The dispersion incapacitated them to meet for public worship, and therefore they soon began to grow lukewarm in religion. But in the year 1722, Messieurs Baker, Gomery, Gantz, and the Trauts visited their scattered brethren, which was attended with great revival, in so much that societies were formed wherever a number of families were within reach one of another. But this lasted not above three years. They settled on their lees again, till about thirty families more of their persecuted brethren arrived in the fall of 1729, which both quickened them again and increased their number everywhere. These two companies had been members of one and the same church, which originated at Schwarzenau in the year 1708. The first constituents were Alexander Mack and wife, John Kipin and wife, George Grevy, Andreas Bhoney, Lucas Fetter, and Joanna Nethigeim. These had been bred Presbyterians, except Kipin, who was a Lutheran, and, being neighbors, they consorted together to read the Bible and edifiy one another in the way they had been brought up; for as yet they did not know that there were any Baptists in the world. However, believer's baptism and congregational church soon gained upon them, in so much that they were determined to obey the Gospel in these matters. They desired Alexander Mack to baptize them, but he, deeming himself, in reality, unbaptized, refused. Upon which they cast lots to find who should be administrator. On whom the lot fell hath been carefully concealed. However, baptized they were in the River Eder by Schwarzenau; and then formed themselves into a church, choosing Alexander Mack to be their minister. They increased fast, and began to spread their branches to Merienborn and Epstein, having John Naass and Christian Levy to their ministers in these places. But persecutions quickly drove them thence, some to Holland and some to Cryfelt. Soon after, the Mother Church voluntarily moved from Schwarzenau to Serustervin, in Frezland; and from thence migrated to America in 1719. And in 1729 those of Cryfelt and Holland followed their brethren. Thus we see that all the Tunker Churches in America sprang from the church of Schwarzenau, in Germany; that that church began in 1708, with only seven souls, and that in a place where no Baptist had been in the memory of man, nor any now are. In sixty-two years that little one has become a thousand, and that small one a great nation. "BEGGARSTOWN [GERMANTOWN] "This takes its name from a village of the above name, in the township of Germantown, eight miles north by west from that city. The meeting-house is of stone, thirty feet square, erected this year [1770] on a lot of eighty rods, the gift of one Peter Shilbert. On the same lot stands their old building, erected by one John Pettikoffer for his dwelling in 1731; and because it was the first house in place, and erected by a beggar, the village assumed the name of Beggarstown. The families belonging to the congregation are about thirty; whereof fifty-seven persons are baptized and in the communion of the church. This was the state in 1770. For their beginning we have no further back to look than December 25, 1723, when the following persons (some baptized in Germany and some in this country) formed themselves into a society having Peter Baker to the minister; and had the Lord's Supper and Love-feast, etc., for the first time they were celebrated in the Province. [For names, see pages 10 and 11.] "REV. PETER BAKER "He was born in 1687, and Dilsheim, in Germany. Educated a Presbyterian. Embraced the principles of the Baptist in 1714. Arrived in this country in 1719. Settled with the church of Beggarstown in 1723. Went to Skippack in 1747, where he died and was buried March 19, 1758. He married Dorothy Partman, by whom he had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, who married into the Harley and stump families and have raised him fifteen grandchildren. Whatever his real character was, yet this may be said of him, he labored more abundantly than all of his contemporaries. His successor, who had also been his colleague, was "REV ALEXANDER MACK He was born in the year 1680, at Schrisheim, in Germany. Was educated a Calvinist. Embraced the Baptist principles in 1708. Arrived in this country with many of his congregation in 1729, and became a minister of Beggarstown the same year. Died in 1735 and was buried at Germantown. He married Anna Margareta Kling, by whom he had children, Valentine, John, Alexander (now minister of Beggarstown), who married into the Hildebrand, Sneider, and Nice familes, and have raised him many grandchildren. His fourth child was Anna, now a single sister a Ephrata. Mr. Mack was a man of real piety. He had a handsome patrimony at Schrisheim, with a profitable mill and vineyard thereon, but spent all in raising and maintaining his church at Schwarzenau, whereof he was the father and the father of all the Tunkers. His successor is his son, "REV ALEXANDER MACK "He was born at Schwarzenau, January 28, 1712. Baptized in 1728. Arrived in America in 1729. Ordained in 1749, at which time he took on him the care of the church. He married Elizabeth Nice, by whom he has children, William, Sarah, Hannah, Lydia, Elizabeth, Margaret. Mr. Mack is a sincere, good man. "COVENTRY CHURCH "This takes its distinction from the township where most of the members reside, in the county of Chester, Thirty-seven miles northwest by west from Philadelphia. These people have no public place of worship, but hold their meetings in a kind of rotation at five private houses. The present minister is Mr. Martin Urner, who has to his assistance Mr. Peter Reinhart. The families belonging to them are about twenty-two, whereof forty persons are baptized. [Here in a foot-note the names of the forty members are given, as found on page 20, preceding.] This was their fate in 1770. For their original we must look back to 1724, when one Daniel Eiker and wife, Henry Landis and wife, Peter Heffly, Martin Urner, Owen Longacre, and Andrew Sell (who had been baptized before) did unite to celebrate the Lord's Supper and to walk together in love, having Rev. Peter Baker to their assistance. They increased fast, and would now be a very large society had not so many families gone away to Virginia, Carolina, and other parts. The first minister they had was "REV. MARTIN URNER "He was born in Alsace about 1695, and was bred a Presbyterian. He came to America in 1715. [Earlier.] He embraced the Principles of the Baptists in 1722. He was ordained by Rev. Alexander Mack in 1729, at which time he took upon himself the oversight of the church. He died in 1755 and was buried in the graveyard at Coventry. His wife was Catharine Reist, by whom he had the following children: Mary, Martin, Jacob. These married into the Wolff, Edis, and Light families. Assistant to Mr. Urner was one Casper Ingles. The next and present minister is "REV. MARTIN URNER "He is the nephew to the forementioned Martin Urner. Was born in 1725, in New Hanover Township and county of Philadelphia. Ordained in 1756, at which time he took on him the care of the congregation. His assistant is Peter Reinhart. Mr. Urner married Barbara Switzer, by whom he has children, Mary, Joseph, Martin, and Elizabeth. "EPHRATA "This church was distinguished by the above name, which is the name of the village where it exists, in Cocalico Township and Lancaster County, sixty miles west-northwest by west from Philadelphia. The same village is frequently called Tunkerstown. It consists of about thirty or forty buildings, and stands on a parcel of land containing one hundred and fifty- five acres. "They had their existence as a society on November 12, 1724, when Conrad Beissel, Joseph Shaffer, John Mayer and wife, Henrich Hehn and wife, and Veronica Frederick were baptized in Pequea River by Rev. Peter Baker. On the same day these seven incorporated into a church and chose Conrad Beissel to be their minister. After this, they continued some time at Mill Creek, and then removing about three miles northward, pitched on the land of Rudolph Neagley, in Earl Township. Here they continued about seven years; and hither resorted many to see them, some of which joined the society. Here they began their economy, the men living by themselves on the forementioned lands and the women living by themselves on the adjoining lands of John Moyley. Here Conrad Beissel appointed two elders and a matron to preside over his church in the wilderness, binding them by a solemn promise (and at the same time giving to each a testament) to govern according to the rules of that book. Then he withdrew, and made as though they should see him no more. This was done in the year 1733. He traveled northward till he came to the spot where Ephrata, or Tunkertown, now stands, and with his hoe planted Indian-corn and roots for his subsistence. But he had not been long in the place before his society found him out and repaired to his little cot; the brethren settling with him on the west bank of the Cocalico, and the sisters in the east, all in sight of one another, with the river running between them. The next year they set about building their village, beginning with a place of worship. The village is enclosed with a ditch and fortified with posts and rails and quicksets. The founder of this people and their minister was "REV CONRAD BEISSEL. "This was his real name; but when he became a Baptist he assumed the name of Friedsam Gottrecht, and gve new names to all the brethren and sisters. He was born in 1690, at Eberbach in Germany. Bred a Presbyterian. Arrive in Boston in 1720. Thence he and his two companions, Stunts and Steiffel, traveled westward to Pennsylvania and lived as hermits about Millcreek and Swedesprings, in Lancaster County. He embraced the Principles of the Baptists in 1724. Died July 6, 1768, and was buried at Ephrata. As for his character, I give it in the words of one who knew him well. "'He was very strict in his morals and practiced self-denial and mortification to an uncommon degree. Enthusiastic and whimsical he certainly was, but an apparent devoutness and sincerity ran through all his oddities. He was not a adept in any of the liberal arts and sciences except music, in which he excelled. He composed and set to music (in three, four, six, and eight parts) a folio of hymns and another of anthems. He published a dissertation on the fall of man in the mysterious strain; also a volume of letters. He left behind several books in manuscript curiously written and embellished. It is expected that his life will be published by his successor and the present minister of Ephrata." [The expected "life" or work just referred to has been published, and is called "Chronicon Ephratense." An extract from this work, referring to Rev. Martin Urner, appears on page 9, preceding.}