Rev. John Elder and Mary Simpson
Husband Rev. John Elder 1 2
Born: 26 Jan 1706 - Edinburgh, Scotland 1 2 Christened: Died: 17 Jul 1792 2 3 Buried: - Paxtang Church Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PA
Father: Robert Elder (1679-1746) 1 2 Mother: Eleanor [Unk] (1684-1742) 1 2
Marriage: 5 Nov 1751 4 5 6
Other Spouse: Mary Baker (1715-1749) 4 5 - 1740 4
Wife Mary Simpson 4 5 7
Born: 1732 - Paxtang, Lancaster Co, PA 4 5 7 Christened: Died: 3 Oct 1786 4 7 Buried: - Paxtang Church Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PA
Father: Thomas Simpson (1683-1761) 5 7 Mother: Sarah [Unk] ( - ) 4 7
Children
1 F Sarah Elder 4 8
Born: 19 Oct 1752 4 Christened: Died: 14 Feb 1822 4 Buried:Spouse: James Wallace (1751-1823) 4 8 Marr: 19 Jun 1787
2 F Ann Elder 4
Born: 8 Oct 1754 4 Christened: Died: 10 Aug 1814 9 Buried: - Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PASpouse: Andrew Stephen (1753-1800) 4 Marr: 23 Sep 1779 9 10
3 M John Elder 1 4 11
Born: 3 Aug 1757 - Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PA 4 11 Christened: Died: 27 Apr 1811 - Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PA 11 12 Buried: - Paxtang ChurchSpouse: Elizabeth Awl ( -Abt 1850) 4 Marr: 16 Dec 1778 12
4 F Mary Elder 4 13
Born: 12 Jan 1760 4 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: James Wilson ( - ) 4 13 Marr: 18 May 1784
5 F Jane Elder 4
Born: 21 May 1762 4 Christened: Died: 6 Aug 1763 4 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
6 M James Elder 4
Born: 15 Jun 1764 4 Christened: Died: 14 Jan 1827 12 Buried:Spouse: Lucinda Wallace (1781- ) 4 Marr: Dec 1801 14
7 M Thomas Elder 4
Born: 30 Jan 1767 - Paxtang Twp, Lancaster (later Dauphin) Co, PA 4 Christened: Died: 29 Apr 1853 - Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA 14 Buried:Spouse: Catharine Cox ( -1810) 4 Marr: 23 Mar 1799 15Spouse: Elizabeth Shippen Jones (1787-1871) 4 Marr: 30 May 1813 16
8 M David Elder 4 17
Born: 7 May 1769 - Paxtang, Lancaster (later Dauphin) Co, PA 4 Christened: Died: 22 May 1809 16 Buried: - Paxtang Church Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PASpouse: Jean Galbraith (1772-1842) 17
9 M Samuel Elder 4 11
Born: 27 Feb 1772 - Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PA 4 11 Christened: Died: 26 Sep 1815 - Harrisburg, Dauphin Co, PA 11 18 Buried: - Paxtang Church Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PASpouse: Margaret Espy (1771-1851) 11 19 20 Marr: 7 Mar 1793 11 18
10 M Michael Elder 4
Born: 9 Aug 1773 4 Christened: Died: 25 Sep 1850 - Columbia, Lancaster Co, PA 21 Buried:Spouse: Nancy McKinney ( - ) 4 Marr: 4 Jun 1795 21Spouse: Charlotte Giberson ( - ) 21 Marr: 5 Apr 1827 21
11 F Rebecca Elder 4
Born: 1 Mar 1775 4 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: James Awl ( - ) 4
General Notes: Husband - Rev. John Elder
The famous "fighting parson" of the French and Indian War.
He won distinction as a colonel in the revolutionary war.
He received a classical education and graduated from the University of Edinburg, Scotland. He subsequently studied divinity, and in 1732 was licensed to preach the gospel. In 1736, four years afterwards, he followed in the foot-steps of his parents and came to America. The Paxtang church gave him a unanimous call, which he accepted, but trouble soon arose. The Whitfield excitement or revival spread over the Presbyterian church and Mr. Elder preached against it. He was accused of preaching false doctrine; he was tried by the presbytery, which sustained him. The Whitefield followers separated from him. Following these ecclesiastical troubles came the French and Indian war. Associations were formed throughout the province of Pennsylvania for the defense of the frontiers, and the congregations were prompt to embody themselves. Rev. John Elder became their leader and captain, and they were trained as scouts. He superintended the discipline of the men, and his mountain rangers were known as the Paxtan boys. During two summers at least, every man who attended church carried his trusty rifle with him, also the minister took his. Subsequently he was advanced to the dignity of colonel by the Provincial authorities, his commission being dated July 11, 1763. He had charge of all the block houses from Easton to the Susquehanna river. At the outbreak of the revolution, when the British army overran New Jersey, driving before them our half-starved soldiers, Rev. Elder went to church one Sabbath as usual. He began with a hasty prayer, then called upon the patriotism of all effective men present and exhorted them to aid in the spirit of liberty's cause and defense of their country. In less than thirty minutes a company of volunteers was formed. Colonel Robert Elder, the pastor's son, was chosen captain, and his son John, then sixteen years old, was the first to enlist; they marched the following day. His son John was a lieutenant and afterwards judge of Mifflin County. The Historian of Wyoming county says that Colonel John Elder was beyond doubt the most extraordinary man of eastern Pennsylvania. He had great influence, was full of activity and enterprise, and was a learned, pious, fearless and ready writer. Over his grave is a marble slab dedicated by his friend and neighbor, William Maclay, the first United States senator from Pennsylvania; it bears the following inscription: "The body of John Elder lies under this slab, born 1706, died 1792, aged eighty-six. Sixty years he filled the sacred character as minister of the Gospel, fifty-six of which he officiated at Paxtang."
He received a classical education, and graduated from the University at Edinburgh. He subsequently studied divinity, and in 1732, was licensed to preach the gospel. Four or five years later, the son followed the footsteps of his parents and friends, and came to America. Coming as a regularly licensed minister, he was received by New Castle Presbytery, having brought credentials to that body, afterward to Donegal Presbytery, on the 5th of October, 1737. Paxtang congregation having separated from that of Derry in 1735, and Rev. Mr. Bertram adhering to the latter, left that of Paxtang vacant, and they were unanimous in giving Rev. John Elder a call. This he accepted on the 12th of April, 1738, and on the 22d of November following he was ordained and installed, the Rev. Samuel Black presiding. The early years of Mr. Elder's ministry were not those of ease; for in the second year the Whitfield excitement took a wide spread over the Presbyterian Church. He preached against this religious furore, or the "great revival," as it was termed, and for this he was accused to the Presbytery of propagating "false doctrine." That body cleared him, however, in December, 1740; "but a separation was made," says Webster, "and the conjunct Presbyters answered the supplications sent to them the next summer, by sending Campbell and Rowland to those who forsook him. He signed the protest. His support being reduced, he took charge of the 'Old Side' portion of the Derry congregation." Following closely upon these ecclesiastical troubles came the French and Indian war. Associations were formed throughout the Province of Pennsylvania for the defense of the frontiers, and the congregations of Mr. Elder were prompt to embody themselves. Their minister became their leader\emdash their captain\emdash and they were trained as scouts. He superintended the discipline of his men, and his mounted rangers became widely known as the "Paxtang Boys." During two summers, at least, every man who attended Paxtang church carried his rifle with him, and their minister took his. Subsequently, he was advanced to the dignity of colonel by the Provincial authorities, the date of his commission being July 11, 1763. He had command of the block-houses and stockades from Easton to the Susquehanna. The Governor, in tendering this appointment, expressly stated that nothing more would be expected of him than the general oversight. "His justification," says Webster, "lies in the crisis of affairs . . . Bay at York, Steele at Conecocheague, and Griffith at New Castle, with Burton and Thompson, the church missionaries, at Carlisle, headed companies, and were actively engaged." During the latter part of the summer of 1763, many murders were committed in Paxtang, culminating in the destruction of the Indians on Conestoga Manor and at Lancaster. Although the men composing the company of Paxtang men who exterminated the murderous savages referred to belonged to his obedient and faithful rangers, it has never been proved that the Rev. Mr. Elder had previous knowledge of the plot formed, although the Quaker pamphleteers of the day charged him with aiding and abetting the destruction of the Indians. When the deed was done, and the Quaker authorities were determined to proceed to extreme lengths with the participants, and denounced the frontiersmen as "riotous and murderous Irish Presbyterians," he took sides with the border inhabitants, and sought to condone the deed. His letters published in connection with the history of that transaction prove him to have been a man judicious, firm and decided. During the controversy which ensued, he was the author of one of the pamphlets: "Letter from a Gentleman in one of the Black Counties to a Friend in Philadelphia." He was relieved from his command by the Governor of the Province, who directed that Major Asher Clayton take charge of the military establishment. Peace, however, was restored\emdash not only in civil affairs, but in the church. The union of the synods brought the Rev. John Elder into the same Presbytery with Messrs. John Roan, Robert Smith, and George Duffield, they being at first in a minority, but rapidly settling the vacancies with New Side men. By the leave of synod, the Rev. Mr. Elder joined the Second Philadelphia Presbytery May 19, 1768, and on the formation of the General Assembly, became a member of Carlisle Presbytery. At the time the British army overran New Jersey, driving before them the fragments of our discouraged, naked, and half-starved troops, and without any previous arrangement, the Rev. Mr. Elder went on Sunday, as usual, to Paxtang church. The hour arrived for church-service, when, instead of a sermon, he began a short and hasty prayer to the Throne of Grace; then called upon the patriotism of all effective men present, and exhorted them to aid in support of liberty's cause and the defense of the country. In less than thirty minutes a company of volunteers was formed. Colonel Robert Elder, the parson's eldest son, was chosen captain. They marched next day, though in winter. His son John, at sixteen years, was among the first. His son Joshua, sub-lieutenant of Lancaster County, could not quit the service he was employed in, but sent a substitute. Until his death, for a period of fifty-six years, he continued the faithful minister of the congregations over which he had been placed in the prime of his youthful vigor, passing the age not generally allotted to man\emdash that of fourscore and six years. His death was deeply lamented far and wide. Not one of all those who had welcomed him to his early field of labor survived him. Charles Miner, the historian of Wyoming, gives this opinion of Rev. John Elder: "I am greatly struck with the evidences of learning, talent, and spirit displayed by him. He was, beyond doubt, the most extraordinary man of Eastern Pennsylvania. I hope some one may draw up a full memoir of his life, and a narrative, well digested, of his times . . . He was a very extraordinary man, of most extensive influence, full of activity and enterprise, learned, pious, and a ready writer. I take him to have been of the old Cameronian blood. Had his lot been cast in New England, he would have been a leader of the Puritans." He had, with one who well remembered the old minister, "a good and very handsome face. His features were regular\emdash no one prominent\emdash good complexion, with blue eyes . . . He was a portly, long, straight man, over six feet in height, large frame and body, with rather heavy legs . . He did not talk broad Scotch, but spoke much as we do now, yet grammatically." His remains quietly repose amid the scenes of his earthly labors, in the burying-ground of old Paxtang church, by the side of those who loved and revered him. Over his dust a marble slab bears the inscription dictated by his friend and neighbor, William Maclay, first United States Senator from Pennsylvania.
1 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 535.
2 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 187.
3 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 536.
4 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 191.
5 Emma Siggins White, Genealogical Gleanings of Siggins and Other Pennsylvania Families (Kansas City, MO: Tiernan-Dart Printing Co., 1918), Pg 622.
6 William Henry Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1894), Pg 161.
7 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Company, Publishers, 1896), Pg 142.
8 William Henry Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1894), Pg 120.
9 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 193.
10 William Henry Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Company, 1894), Pg 164.
11 William Henry Egle, History of the County of Dauphin in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 482.
12 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 194.
13 William Henry Egle, History of the County of Dauphin in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: Everts & Peck, 1883), Pg 513.
14 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 195.
15 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 196.
16 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 197.
17 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 661.
18 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 198.
19 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 191, 218.
20 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Company, Publishers, 1896), Pg 1002.
21
William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 199.
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