Fayette County PA Archives Church Records.....Dunlap's Creek Presbyterian Church Session Records ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/fayette/ ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Beatty klbeatty@npgcable.com December 29, 2006, 3:45 pm The Session Book of the congregation of Dunlaps Creek commencing with 1787. Commences with a "Sacramental Season" on June 24, 1787 & gives a list of the Communicants that were admitted to the ordinance that day "though many was absent who should have been admitted". "Elders in full standing at the above season with their wives" Charles McClain, Andrew Frazer, Robert Baird, John Parker, Samuel Torrence, Daniel Reeder, Ebenezer Finley, William Fraim (Frame) William Rose & wife Elizabeth Adams Sen James Fraim (Frame) & Susanna Richard Watts & Else James Adams jr Benjamin Adams, suspended Georg [sic] Smith William Linn Senior Sarah Willson John Moore & Jane Samuel Sprout & Elizabeth Margaret Smith Mary Alton William Norris & Ann Mary Willson, removed John Jones John Baird Linn Oliphant William Powl [sic] & wife Linn Gillilen Elinor McClain John Miller & Sarah Absalom Little & wife widow McKim William Conwell & wife James Adams & Margaret Lewis Davidson & wife Thomas Gallaher & Ann Joseph Moss Samuel McKinley & Agness Reuben Winget Samuel Adams Sen & wife James Laughlin & Agness Jacob Rider & Eleanor James Veech & Rebecca George Hill Martha Work William Grey & Mary Samuel Adams & wife Stephen Reeder George Lee Susanna Adams, suspended James Brown David Reeder & Mary Eliza Reeder & Jemima Mary Hubbell June 29, 1842 Baptized Ebenezer Finley, infant son of Robert Finley & Catharine Finley decd Dec 16, 1847 Johnston Van Kirk Junr, Miranda Van Kirk, Nancy Wilkins & William T. Kerr, after due examination were recd as members of the church. Saturday Feby 16, 1850 Miss Synthia Van Kirk & Mr Phineas Rotruck were after due examination received as members of the church on profession of their faith Oct 15, 1852 Miss Harriet Kerr was examined & received as a member of this church on a profession of her faith Feby 25, 1853 Session met in the new church at New Salem for the first time, present the Moderator (Rev Samuel Wilson), Ebenezer Finley, Finley Chalfant & Jacob Deffenbaugh (of McClellandtown) as a corresponding member. The first session after my birth was on Apr 30, 1854 present the Moderator Ebenezer Finley, James Ewing, Joshua V. Gibbons, Saml Lynn, E.T. Gallagher, M.B. Porter & Cephas Porter (four of them my relatives) Miss Margery Finley (my 1st cousin) after due examination was received as a member of the church. May 19, 1854, Mr Thomas Wilson of the session of McClellandtown being present was invited & took his seat as a corresponding member May 20, 1854 Mr Thomas Wilson sat again with the session May 21, 1854 session met with the Moderator J.V. Gibbons & C. Porter present in the sick chamber of Mr John Wilson who was duly examined & received to the communion of the church on a profession of his faith in Christ. Aug 5, 1855, the Moderator reported to session that it was well known through common fame that Eliza Jackson, a member of this church had been departing from the paths of duty by the sin of fornication, the evidence & proof of which she was now bearing in her arms. Stated that because of her illness & that of her child's, he had not sooner called attention to it. The Moderator, Cephas Porter & E.T. Gallaher were appointed a com. to wait upon her & report. Sept 2, 1855. The above Com reported that they had called on Eliza Jackson, but she declined to see them as she was in a very weakly condition of health, subject to fainting & much troubled in mind that her mother Elizabeth Jackson, a member of this church informed the Com that Eliza freely confessed her sin & did not pretend to deny it & expected the session to do what they deemed right. After consideration, she was suspended until she gave satisfactory evidence of repentance. June 28, 1856 Thos Wilson of McClellandtown Session sitting as a corresponding member, Mary Moore & Hannah McCombs joined church Rebecca Miller & Lydia M. McCombs had joined the day before. May 15, 1857, the case of Miss Mary Finley by common fame charged with fornication was taken up & the Moderator & Cephas Porter were appointed to confer with her & report. July 5, 1857, the Moderator reported that he & Mr Porter had an interview with Mary Finley in reference to her recent fall from Christian integrity that she had ackd her sin, the evidence of which was manifest & undesirable & she was hence suspended from the sealing ordinances of the church for the sin of fornication until she give satisfactory evidence of Godly repentance, the Moderator to give public notice to the church from the pulpit at New Salem. Aug 21, 1858. Miss Mary Finley appeared & made her declaration of deep sorrow & repentance for the sin of fornication & she was restored to the communion of the Church with exhortations for earnest prayer & greater watchfulness. Mch 19, 1859 Miss Clarissa Hibbs, Fermine, Finley, Mrs Sarah W. Finley, Samuel Elliott Finley, Lynn S. Herbert, Geo H. Poundstone, Susannah Poundstone, Margery Moore & Mrs Elizabeth Rose were duly examined & recd as members of the church. James Gilmore & wife Margaret Gilmore were recd on cft from the Church of Ozark & Canton, Iowa Apr 9, 1859 Moderator announced that in pursuance of a previous appointment, he had had a free conversation with Wm Searight Colley (no doubt our Searight W. Colley) regarding an alleged crime of antenuptial fornication & Mr Colley candidly acknowledged the truth of the matter, declared his deep sorrow & contrition for it & his desire to be retained in the church & inasmuch as he had done what he could to wipe out the reproach by marrying the person & manifesting deep sorrow for the sin, session voted that he be not suspended, but Moderator was to make a public statement of the case to the Church on next Sabbath. Feby 15, 1861 Miss Margaret Graham, Ellen Abigail Van Kirk, & Elizabeth Breading Ewing were examined & recd members of the church. Mr Cephas Porter brought up the question of music for their devotional services & the request of the young people to form themselves into a choir was granted. May 17, 1861 Mr Thomas Davis Ewing was recd on letter from Ebenezer Ch Pres of Saltsburg. Aug 3, 1861 Albert Wilson Finley was recd on examination Aug 15, 1863 Miss Violet Finley & Ann Eliza Finley recd on Exam. Sept 2, 1864, Miss Sallie Ann Swan & Miss Margaret Dearth on exam Feby 4, 1865, Maggie Finley & 4 others recd on exam June 17, 1865 Mrs Malinda Niccolls recd of cft fr 1st Pres Ch of Bloomington, O Oct 2, 1865, Sarah Dorcas Higinbotham, Margaret Ellen Ewing & Matilda Ruth Van Kirk recd on examination. Mch 9, 1866 Johnston Van Kirk, Thomas Wilson Finley, John Evans Finley, Johnston Steel Craft, Wm Edwin Dunaway & 10 others were recd in the church on professions of faith. Apr 13, 1866 Miss Jane Moore & 4 others recd on exam Feby 9, 1867 the case of Miss Margery Moore whom common fame charged with fornication came up & the Moderator & Ebenezer Finley were appointed to see & converse with her about it. May 12, 1867 the com. to visit Margery Moore reported that they had seen her & found filled with sorrow & sadness & by reason of her Godly sorrow advised that she be not suspended from the sealing ordinances, but otherwise suspended for six months. Roll of members in the Presbyterian church of Dunlaps Creek Apr 1, 1869 as listed (the first 192 of them) by Rev Dr Samuel Wilson (The remark after different names, particularly the deaths of some which partly affords the reason of recording the list here, are in another handwriting.) 1. Samuel Wilson, pastor resigned Apr 1869 2. Anna Maria Wilson dismissed by letter Aug 9, 1869 3. Moses B. Porter, ruling elder dismissed May 27, 1864 4. & Mary Porter 5. Ebenezer Finley (ruling elder) 6. Phebe Finley 7. James Ewing (ruling elder) died Sept 26, 1878 8. & Harriet B. Ewing 9. Finley Chalfant (ruling elder) 10. & Prudence Chalfant 11. Cephas Porter (ruling elder)} dismissed to Dwight, Ills 12. & Sarah Porter } Dec 6, 1870 13. Ebenezer T. Gallaher (ruling elder) 14. & Rachel Jane Gallaher died Dec 25, 1877 15. Rachel Porter (of Hon Charles) died Oct 19, 1870 16. Hannah Porter 17. William Dunaway 18. & Elizabeth Dunaway 19. Robert Finley decd Oct 7, 1874 20. & Ann Finley 21. Eli H. Finley 22. & Sarah Finley died Dec 1876 23. Johnston Van Kirk Senr died Aug 22, 1870 24. & Elizabeth G. Van Kirk dismissed to Uniontown 25. Zenas Van Kirk 26. & Mary Van Kirk 27. Theodore Van Kirk 28. & Jane Van Kirk 29. Elijah Van Kirk 30. Jane Brown (widow of W.B.) certificate 31. William K. Gallaher 32. & Nancy Gallaher 33. Mary Christopher died 34. Mary Jane McGinness 35. John McMullen died Sept 11, 1872 36. & Phebe McMullen 37. William Moore 38. & Ruth Moore 39. Elizabeth Conwell (of John) 40. Ann Conwell (of Stokely) died Dec 31, 1870 41. Tamar Dearth (of Maxwell) died 42. Lydia Brown 43. Ann Elizabeth Brown dismissed 44. Warwick Miller 45. Elizabeth Jackson died Oct 11, 1870 46. Eliza Jackson (suspended 1885) restored 47. Amanda Cooke 48. Margaret McCrea (should be McCray) 49. Rebecca McCrea (should be McCray) 50. Mary Ann Moss (of Jno M.) 51. Samuel Hibbs 52. & Elizabeth Hibbs deceased 53. Jane Hibbs (of Jno H.) 54. Aaron Hibbs 55. Hannah Jane Brown dismissed 56. James W. Porter dismissed 57. Mary Porter dismissed 58. Druscilla Roderick (of Jas R.) dismissed 59. Nancy Riley 60. Mary McCormick (widow) died Dec 1876 61. Jane Dixon died Oct 4, 1877 62. William McCormick & Phebe McCormick 63. Jonah Dearth 64. & Naomi Dearth 65. Ruth Dearth (of George) 66. Mary Moore (of Aaron) died Aug 26, 1873 67. Levi Francis dismissed 68. & May C. Francis died July 30, 1870 69. John M. Gallaher 70. & Elizabeth Gallaher 71. Margery Baird (of Jeremiah) 72. Irenia Ensly (of Porter) 73. Albert McMullen (first on the list still living. 74. Andrew Davis died Dec 1871 75. & Leah Davis died Aug 12, 1873 76. L.S. Herbert dismissed 77. & Harriet Jane Herbert dismissed 78. William Laby dismissed 79. James Wilson (of Major J.W. decd) dismissed Jany 1, 1879 80. Margaret Wilson (of Pastor) dismissed by letter Aug 9, 1869 81. Mary Ann Deffenbaugh 82. Mary Eastman (of Dr E) (still living) 83. Elizabeth Roberts 84. Caroline Chalfant 85. Rebecca Chalfant 86. Anna Maria Porter dismissed May 27, 1884 87. W. Searight Colley 88. & Catharine Colley 90. [here JVT's number gets off & he corrects it in the margin noting all numbers will be one higher. I'll put in the correct numbers CW] 90. Rebecca Woods (of Thos) 91. Hannah Campbell (of Saml) 92. Thomas Dixon 93. & Priscilla Dixon 94. Eliza Ellen Dixon (married) 95. Rachel Jefferies (of W.J.) 96. John Dixon 97. Mary Ann Keyes dismissed to East Liberty near Pgh 98. Sarah Jane Dixon 99. Elizabeth Jackson Jefferies (of W.) 100. Caleb McCormick 101. Mary Jane McCray (of Frank W.) 102. Matthew Johnston (Suspended 1865) restored, dismissed 103. Samuel Elliott Finley (of Robt) 104. & Sarah Maria Finley, living 105. Fermine Finley 106. Mary Youler (of A.Y.) 107. Elizabeth Rose (widow) died 108. Margery Moore 109. Sarah Elizabeth Dearth (of C.B.) 110. William Elliott Finley (of Eli H.) 111. Jane B. Ewing (widow of Dr E.) dismissed 112. Samuel Wilson Porter dismissed Aug 27/69 by letter to Farm Ridge, Ills 113. & Elizabeth Porter dismissed Aug 27/69 by letter to Farm Ridge, Ills 114. John H. Stone dismissed 115. Elizabeth Stone (widow of W.S.) died July 4, 1874 116. Elizabeth Stone died Feby 5, 1872 117. Mary E. Stone dismissed 118. Rebecca Stone dismissed 119. Mary Barker (widow) died 1877 120. Margaret Craft (of Capt W.S.) 121. Ellen A. Van Kirk now wife of Jeff W. Hibbs 122. Elizabeth B. Ewing dismissed 123. Lewis Durnal 124. & Henrietta Durnal 125. Robert Vance died Feby 28, 1876 aged 73 yrs 126. Albert Wilson Finley 127. William Hartford } moved away 128. & Sarah Hartford } 129. Abigail Van Kirk 130. Ann Eliza Finley 131. Sallie Ann Swan 132. Margaret Ann Dearth (of J.D.) 133. Aaron Baird died Nov 18, 1870 134. Robert Moss died June 1871 135. Persis Baird 136. Joseph Rogers Wilson, dismissed 137. Annie Louisa Ewing 138. Sarah Margaret Porter dismissed to Dwight 140. Adaline Van Kirk 141. Jennie Persis Gallaher dismissed to Peoria 142. Maggie Ann Finley (of R.F.) dismissed to Streator 143. Lizzie Hibbs (of Saml C.) dismissed to Farm Ridge 144. Marie Van Kirk 145. Robert B. Porter, dismissed 146. James Gideon Wilson dismissed by letter Aug 8, 1869 147. Malinda Niccolls (widow of J.N.) dismissed to Normal, Ills 148. Elizabeth Van Swearingen (widow of Wm) 149. Clark R. Hess dismissed 150. Sarah Dorcas Higinbotham died 1877 151. Matilda Ruth Van Kirk dismissed to Streator, Ills 152. Margaret Ellen Ewing dismissed to Uniontown 153. Margaret Krepps (of Cl [best guess] Krepps) 154. Emily Sevilla Gilmore Margaret Hibbs (of Aaron) [unnumbered] 155. Sallie Van Kirk 156. Harriet C. Ewing dismissed to Hopewell 157. Ann Elizabeth M. Gallaher 158. Harriet Izabella Porter, dismissed to Dwight, Ills 159. James Murray, died 160. Johnston Van Kirk Junr 161. John Palmer, died 162. Thos Wilson Finley 163. Jno Evans Finley 164. Hannum Cooke (of Jas C) 165. Johnston S. Craft, dismissed 166. Susan Durnal 167. Wm Edwin Dunaway, dismissed 168. Miranda Ellen Deffenbaugh, dismissed 169. Mary Ann Deffenbaugh, dismissed 170. Ellen Seaton Herbert, dismissed 171. Delina Bell Herbert, dismissed 172. Margaret Jane Francis, dismissed 173. Alexander Wilson, now a minister Jany 1877 174. Barbara Ann Brooks 175. Mary L. Hess (of Geo Hess) 176. Mary Jane McCombs 177. Mary Ann Core 178. Mary Ann Hess 179. Margaret Moore 180. Jane Moore 181. Malvina Murray, dismissed 182. Eliphalet Hayden Baird 183. Mary Catharine Freeman 184. Dr F.C. Hazlett dismissed 185. & Mrs Nancy E. Hazlett dismissed 186. Harriet Jackson Dixon 187. Elizabeth L. Crago, dismissed 188. Ellenor C. Hart died Mch 1870 189. Joseph Hanna 190. & Jane Hanna 191. Fermine M. Deffenbaugh (of Jno D. ) dismissed 192. Mary Margaret Baird (of E.H.B.) Approved thus far Long Run Apr 28, 1869 Saml Wilson the connection existing between Moderator Saml Wilson D.D. Dunlaps Creek & McCellandtown churches was this day dissolved at Long Run. Ebenezer Finley George Porter Commissioners 193. Eliza Jane Brown from C.P. Church 194. William Freeman 196. Mary Freeman 197. Margaret C. Poundstone, dismissed 198. Ann Maria Alice Scott, dismissed 199. Ruth Ann Johnston, 200. Kate Grace Herbert, dismissed 201. John A. Moss 202. Joseph Moss 203. S.D. Finley 205. Charles S. Francis 206. John Moore 207. Hannah R. Moore 208. Winfield Scott 209. George McCray 210. Albert Poundstone 211. John Morgan Messmore 212. Mary Caroline Herbert, dismissed 213. Eliza Jane Deffenbaugh 214. Margaret Jane Lincoln 215. Eliza Bell Freeman 216. Adaline Moore Sept 13, 1869 the congregation of Dunlaps Creek, met & made out a unanimous call for Rev J.P. Fulton of Pulaski, Lawrence Co, Pa Pres of Beavor for 3/4 of his time. Nov 2, 1869 the Pres of Redstone met at New Salem, Pa for the purpose of installing Rev J.P. Fulton Rev E.P. Lewis preached the sermon. Rev L.Y. Graham charged the minister, Rev W.W. Ralston charged the congregation, Rev H.O. Rosborough moderated Presbytery. Mr J.M. Thompson, Elder was secretary Pro Tem 217. Nancy Hart died 218. Sarah E. Hess 219. Joseph Woodward 220. Agness Woodward 221. Robert Kerr dismissed deceased 222. Harriet A. Hibbs 223. Frances C. Fulton 224. Wm S. Fulton dismissed now a minister 225. Elizabeth McCombs 226. Martha Lackey 227. Levinia Jane Strawn 228. Harriet A. Chalfant 229. Leonora Harford 230. Winona Baird 231. Anstress [sic] Eastman 232. Maria Johns } dismissed 233. Margaret Flood} dismissed 234. Margaret Conwell died Feby 29, 1876 235. Elizabeth Conwell 236. Harriet Porter, dismissed 237. Amelda Johnson dismissed 238. Jane Violet Swan dismissed Jany 9, 1870. The cases of Miss Adaline Van Kirk & Mrs Fermine Brown whom common fame charge with scandalous offences were considered & separate committees appointed to talk with them & report to next meeting. Jany 23, 1870. The committees appointed to visit Miss Adaline Van Kirk & Mrs Fermine Brown reported & session unanimously by reason of humble penitent & Christian spirit displayed by these offenders thot [sic] they be allowed to continue in full communion. Eliza Jane Brown was recd into the church on cft fr the Cumb Pres Ch. Oct 18, 1871 Miss Eliza Jackson who had been suspended from the sealing ordinances of the church appeared before Session & asked for a restoration to the privileges of the church. Unanimously voted that she be restored to full privileges. Winona Baird, Anstriss [sic] Eastman, Jane Violet Swan & eleven others were admitted to the church. Feby 6, 1872 the Com. appointed to visit Mrs Ellen Hibbs & ascertain her views & feelings in regard to a scandalous offence of which she was guilty reported that she frankly acknowledged her sin & with apparent penitence expressed her great sorrow & the session in view of all the circumstances & that she had been virtually suspended from Communion for the past six months & her expressions of penitence voted to restore her to the communion of the Church. Mch 25, 1874, the following were recd on profession of their faith, James A. Chalfant, Joseph Newton Chalfant, Noble McCormick, John G. Dixon, Robt M. Moxley, John W. Gallaher, Lacy Hibbs, John Newton Hibbs, Ethelbert Courtney, John McCray, Lizzie E. Colley, Quindora Dearth & eleven others were recd into the church. Apr 4, 1874 at Bunker Hill School house Session met & recd in the church George Roberts, Johnston Van Kirk, William Kefover, Charles F. Kefover, Joseph A. Woodward, John E. Craft & 19 others. Apr 18, 1874 session met at Dunlaps Creek & recd the following on profession of faith: John Conwell, Capt W.S. Craft, J.P. Power, W.J. Burelinal & 9 others, the latter on cft Mch 8, 1875 session met at New Salem Pa. The following persons having given satisfactory evidence of their faith in Jesus, were recd into full communion of the church: Wm L. Moore, Cyrus P. Carothers, Ada Belle Van Kirk, Mary Elizabeth Dearth & Margery Ann Moore June 19, 1875 Samuel W. Boyd & Mrs Sarah Boyd on cft fr Uniontown, Pa & Miss Hattie Boyd on cft fr Louisville, Ky were recd in the church Nov 10th, 1875, it was reported that at a Congregational meeting Oct 31/75 Theodore Van Kirk was elected Trustee of the Church & E.H. Baird & Johnston Van Kirk had been added to the eldership. Apr 26, 1876 minutes approved at McKeesport, Pa by Samuel S. Gibson June 4, 1876 Jeremiah Baird applied for admission to the church & after examination & profession of his faith was recd. There are about six pages of later members of the church listed but I am not transcribing but note therefrom that Cyrus P. Carothers died Apr 16, 1876. Among adult baptisms noted were Elliott & Mary Ann Hibbs Apr 12, 1874. Quindora Dearth Dearth [sic] Mch 1874 & among children were: August 1871 Geo Hayden Baird of Jer & Margery Sept 1872 Ruth Steel of Wm S. & Maggie Craft Mch 8, 1874 Lulu Etna & Theo Van Kirk of Jeff & Ellen Hibbs & Clara Jane of Eli & Tillie Cope Aug 1871 Anna Catharine Finley of S.E. & S. Finley Oct 1874 Eliza Jane of Wm S. & Maggie Craft June 19, 1875 James Fulton of Jeremiah & Margery Baird June 18, 1876 Winona Bertha of John S. & Josephine Finley Nov 4, 1876 Elijah, son of Capt Wm S. & Maggie Craft Apr 14, 1877 Robert Baird son of Cyrus A. & Mary Jane Porter & of further adults baptized were: Feby 27, 1876 George Gribble & his grandfather John Gribble in his 86th year. Nov 4, 1876 John S. Conwell The last meeting of the session reported in this book was at Dunlaps Creek July 20, 1877 when Mrs Adaline Taylor & Mrs Annie Miller, both guilty of prenuptial fornication were restored to the full privileges of the church. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 20.6 Kb