BIO: Samuel BLACK, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 260.
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  BLACK, REV. SAMUEL, was a native of the north of Ireland, born about 
1700.  He studied theology prior to his emigrating to America, and was 
subsequently licensed by New Castle Presbytery.  The forks of 
Brandywine in Chester county was formed into a separate congregation in 
1735, and in September same year, Donegal Presbytery gave them leave to 
invite Black to preach as a candidate for settlement.  He was called 
October 7, and ordained November 18, 1735.  A portion of his people 
preferred complaints against him September 2, 1740.  This was just at 
the time of the extraordinary effects produced by the preaching of 
Whitfield.  Most of the allegations were sustained, but after a rebuke 
and suspension for a season, he was restored, and afterwards released 
from the pastoral relation.  The new congregation of Conewago between 
Middletown and Mount Joy called him in October, 1741, and he was 
installed the second Wednesday in May following.  He made occasional 
visits to Virginia as a missionary, and was sent to Potomac in 1743.  
Difficulties arose in his flock at Conewago and they asked to have the 
Rev. John Steel, who was supplying Conestoga, sent to them.  North and 
South Mountain in Virginia (the former six miles west of Staunton) 
asked for him March 6, 1745.  He was dismissed from Conewago in April, 
but in the fall they sought to regain him.  A division took place.  
Those who left him obtained one-fifth of the time of the Rev. John 
Roan, pastor of the New Side churches of Paxtang and Derry.  In 1747, 
he, with Revs. Thomson and Craig, was directed to take the oversight of 
the vacancies in Virginia.  In 1751 he was directed to supply Buffalo 
settlements and the adjacent places four Sabbaths.  He took charge of 
the congregations of Rockport and Mountain Plain before 1752.  He died 
August 9, 1770.