Marriages of the Reverand Robert Cooper, 1786-94, Middle Springs Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County

MARRIAGES BY THE REVEREND ROBERT COOPER, 1786—94 MIDDLE SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CUMBERLAND COUNTY transcribed by Chester Arthur Lawton III * I t has long been understood that records of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church prior to 1800 were burned. Consequently, the earliest extant marriage from that church is that of Joseph Arthur and Mary Leeper on 6 October 1803, recorded by the Reverend John Moody, who had been ordained and installed the previous day, succeeding the Reverend Robert Cooper.1 The Hamilton Library at the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle holds a small pamphlet of four photocopies entitled “Kister, Jacob: Marriage Records of Mechanicsburg, Pa. found in the papers of Edgar F. Frazer, 1837—1873.” They are identified as “From File at Dauphin County Historical Society, Harrisburg, PA. Unidentified manuscript of marriage records; in same folder as the marriage records of Mr. Kister of Mechanicsburg,” with a handwritten notation, “East Concococheague Presby. Church–Franklin Co.”2 The identity of the donor of the copies is unknown, but they were aquired in 1980. * Chester Arthur Lawton III, 203 West Upper Ferry Road, West Trenton, NJ 086282719, is a trustee of the Genealogical Society of New Jersey; editor of their newsletter; and author of “Finding the Beatty of Beattystown,” The Genealogical Magazine of New 1 Jersey 74(1999): 49—57, 101—6, and of “William Ashburn of Bucks County–English Origin and Westward Migration to Greene County,” Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 43(2002): 212—31. His wife, Elizabeth Hooker, is a descendant of Nathaniel Atchison and Mary Rosenberry of Big Spring, later of Elbert, Madison, and Coweta counties, Georgia, who were married by Reverend Cooper in 1786. He gratefully acknowledges the courteous and efficient assistance of the staff of the Hamilton Library and, of course, the unidentified genealogist who over twenty years ago gave the photocopy to the Cumberland County Historical Society. This material is used with the permission of the Cumberland County Historical Society. 1 Belle McKinney Hays Swope, History of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, Middle Spring, Pa., 1738—1900, (Newville: Times Steam Printing House, 1900), preface, 107, 32. Hereafter cited as Swope, Middle Spring Church. William B. Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit; or Commemorative Notices of Distinguished American Clergymen of Various Denominations From the Early Settlement of the Country to the Close of the Year Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-five, (New York, Robert Carter & Brothers, 1858) [hereafter cited as Sprague, American Pulpit], 2:270—72. Rev. Cooper’s pastoral relation with the church was dissolved in 1797 owing to poor health. Sometime after this was done, his health started to recover and he resumed “his ministerial labours . . . though he never afterwards had a stated charge.” 2 Catalog Number CR/KIS #177. 32 Final copy 31 January, 2010 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 43 (2003) 2003] Marriages by Reverend Robert Cooper, 1786—94 33 I visited the Dauphin County Historical Society in an attempt to locate the originals. Even with the staff assistance, the search was unsuccessful. Consequently, the copies at Carlisle are the only known available images of these records. It was not immediately apparent that these are the records of Reverend Cooper. Individuals are identified as being from “this congregation” (unnamed), Rocky Spring (north of Chambersburg in north-central Franklin County), Big Spring (between Carlisle and Shippensburg in northwestern Cumberland County), and Path Valley (northeastern Franklin County), with one each from Chestnut Level (Drumore Township, Lancaster County) and Franstown (possibly Frankstown in Blair County). East Concococheague Presbyterian, in Greencastle, Franklin County, is only a few miles from the Maryland border. The Presbyterian churches at Middle Spring (Shippensburg, Cumberland County) and at Rocky Spring would have been much closer for the couples. Therefore, the East Concococheague Church attribution seemed inappropriate. Middle Spring (between Big Spring and Rocky Spring) is not named in the record, thus it is the best possibility for “this congregation.” A comparison of surnames in the marriages with a 1781 Middle Spring Church subscriber list yielded many matches, in particular Allworth, Blythe, Nesbit, Simerall, Sterrett, and Witherow.3 Significantly, Reverend Samuel Wilson studied under Reverend Cooper,4 and the first of the surviving seventy-nine marriage entries is that of the “Samuel Wilson, preacher.” Furthermore, Elizabeth, daughter of Reverend Cooper, was married to Reverend Isaac Grier,5 and the 1793 marriage of Elisabeth Cooper to Isaac Grier is on the last surviving page of the marriage list. Final confirmation came when I located a 1772 letter written by Reverend Cooper. A comparison of the two documents leaves no doubt that both were penned by the same man.6 These eight sheets, then, are the earliest extant marriage records of Middle Springs Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County, as recorded by the pastor, Reverend Robert Cooper.7 3 Swope, Middle Spring, 43—46. 4 Swope, Middle Spring, 31. 5 Sprague, American Pulpit, 272. 6 Robert Cooper, Official Letter written as Donegal Presbytery Clerk to Levi Frisbie and David McClure at Pittsburg, dated 2 October 1772; Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Dreer Autograph Collection, American Clergy, 2:81. Despite the fourteen years between documents, comparison shows striking similarities. 7 The four photocopies show eight pages, each approximately 4"×7" as copied. It appears two larger sheets were folded in half and sewn, but have broken at the fold and separated, as one page is incorrectly oriented. Reverend Cooper’s official ministry at Middle Springs began well before 1786 and did not end until 1797, suggesting there were probably earlier and later sheets as well. The handwriting is generally legible, and the spelling consistent. After the initial transcription, other resources such as tax records and church documents were consulted, which clarified some surnames. Final copy 31 January, 2010 34 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine [Vol. 43 [likely earlier page(s) missing] Nov. 13. 1786. Were married Samuel Wilson preacher & Jean Mahon Nov. 21st –86. Were married Robt Brotherton & Martha Culberlson Ditto Nathaniel Atcheson & Mary Rosenberry of Big Spring Decr 21st –86. Were married Moses Kirkpatri[ck] and Margt Canningham Decr 28th –86. Were married Jas Robeson and Elisabeth Nisbet. Jan. 25th 1787. Were married John McCune and Bathsheba Sterrat. Mar. 1st –87. Were married John Laughlin and Margt Browster of Big Spring Mar. 27th –87. Were married Willm Nisbet & Ester Robinson April 5th –87. Were married Jas Coffey and Mary Leper April 26th 1787. Were married Joseph McKean & Elis.[?] Cocrine [new page] May 3d 1787. Were married Robt McKean & Margt Greer May 15th –87. Were married Thos Shannon & Margt Hanna June 12th –87. Were married Jas Brady and Rachel Speer Decr 18th 1787. Were married Joseph Baldridge and Jane Gibb Decr 25th –87. Were married Jas Johnson and Margaret McMahan Jan. 8th 1788. Were married David Kennedy and of Juniata & Isabella Scott of this Congn Jan. 14th 1788. Were married Ben. Blyth Junr and Eleanor Beattie Feb. 26th –88 Were married Saml Duncan and Sarah Mahon Mar. 25th 1788. Were married James Doughtery of Rocky Spring & Mary Moor of this Congn [new page] Aug. 12th 1788. Were married Kennedy Brown and Martha Beattie both of this Congn Sep. 16th 1788. Were married Joseph Campble & Jane Hill Ditto Sep. 16th Were married Benjamin Hucth Hutcheson & Mary Vance Octob. 28th 1788. Were married John McCarroll & Polly McKnight Nov. 18th 1788. Were married Joseph Duncan & Hannah Brady Decr 6th –88. Were married Jas Allworth & Margt Strahn Ditto Were married Edward Strattle and Margaret McMullen Jan. 6th 1789. Were married John McKea & Anne Wier Jan. 6th 1789. Were married Isaac Stark & Widow W[illegible]sdal Final copy 31 January, 2010 2003] Marriages by Reverend Robert Cooper, 1786—94 35 Jan. 8th 1789. Were married John McKea & Anne Wier [new page] Jan. 20th 1789. Were married Captn Robt Peepbles & Sarah Clinoff Jan 27th –89. Were married Edward McDonald & Elisabeth Kinderson Feb. 26th –89. Were married Jas Jack and Nancy McKinney Mar. 10th –89. Were married John McCann of Big Spring & Sarah Adamson of this Congn Mar. 23d –89. Were married John Richie of Chesnut Level & Mary McCune April 9th –89. Were married Thos Wilson & Eleanor McCune Wid. May 12th –89. Were married Thos G Glenn & Jane Bromfield June 18th 1789. Were married Paul Martin & Jane Brady June 23d –89. Were married Saml Walker & [missing] Barr [new page] July 14th –89. Were married Ro[missing] [missing]rue & Frances Donovan Aug. 18th –89. Were married John [illegible]r & Jane Dunlap Decr 1st 1789. Were married John McDowel of Big Spring & Mary Sharp of Rocky Spring Decr 10th 1789. Were married John Murran of & Jane Big Spring & Jane McClean of this Congn Decr 23d –89. Were married Willm McClay Junr & Margt Culbertson of Rocky Spring June 22d 1790. Were married John McKibben & Hannah Beard Ditto Hugh McKibben & Agnes Beard June 24th –90. Were married John Elder of Path Valley & Sarah Barr of this Congn Octob. 10th 1790. Were married Benjamin Futhy and Elisabeth Cambridge Octob. 24th –90. Were married Willm Fairman and Prudence Kenn Kennedy both of Path Valley [new page] [missing] 1790. Were married Willm [missing]am of Path-Valley & Margt [missing]tson of Rocky Spring Decr 30th 1790. Were married Richard Witherow & Sarah McCormick Jan. 13th 1791. Were married Joseph Davis & Hannah McKibben Jan. 27th –91. Were married Willm McConnell & Mary McMullen Mar. 22d –91. Were married David Sterrat & Elisabeth Hanna. Final copy 31 January, 2010 36 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine [Vol. 43 April 5th –91. Were married Saml Kirkpatrick & Ruth Wier. Decr 13th 1791. Were married John Coffee & Ruth [illegible] Mitchel Decr 19th 1791. Were married William Piper[?] & Nancy Thomson [new page] Feb. 16th 1792. Were married [illegible] Gilmore & Agnes Johnson Aug. 16th 1792. Were married Jesse Kilgore & Jane Clark Decr 25th 1792. Were married John Sterrat & Mary Patterson Ditto Isaac Cook & Margt Scott Decr 27th 1792. Were married John Reid of Franstown & Elis. Highlands Jan. 14th 1793. Were married Willm Leper & Hanah Reynolds Feb. 12th –93. Were married Thomas Moor & Widow Porter Feb. 21st –93. Were married John Brittain & Elis. Reid. Mar. 14th –93. Were married Robt Patterson & Peggy Lindsay Andrew Love & Hannah Ca[missing]bridge George Sloan & Mary Story. April 4th 1793. Were married Hen[missing] [missing] & Margaret Wyly [new page] June 6th 1793. Were married Isaac Grier & Elisabeth Cooper Aug[?] [illegible] 93. Were married in Path Valley John Witherow & [blank] Killgore Sep. 17th 93. Were married William Means & Temperance Wyly Octob. 17th 1793. Were married Moses Kirkpatrick & Elisabeth McKee Octob. 29th –93. Were married Doctor Saml Davis & Mary Neil Mar. 11th 1794. Were married George Skelly and [blank] McMullen May 6th –94. Were married George Cooper & [illegible] Margt Henderson June 3d –94. Were married Jas Piper[?] & Margt Simmeral June 19th 94. Were married Saml Ray & Martha [missing]ce July 1st 94. Were married Will[missing] Starrit & Mary Duncan[?] July [illegible] [blank] Paterson[?] & [blank] Lindsay[?] July[?] [missing] [illegible] McCune & Mary [illegible] [likely later page(s) missing] Final copy 31 January, 2010