Rev. Joseph W. Henderson and Sarah Dixon
Husband Rev. Joseph W. Henderson 1 2
Born: Abt 1752 - Franklin Co, PA Christened: Died: 19 Sep 1836 - Center Twp, Indiana Co, PA 3 Buried:
Father: James Henderson ( - ) 4 Mother: Maria Breckenridge ( - ) 4
Marriage:
Other Spouse: Elizabeth Scott ( - ) 4
Wife Sarah Dixon 4
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: Col. James Dixon ( - ) 4 Mother:
Children
1 F Nancy Henderson 2 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 - Elders Ridge, Young Twp, Indiana Co, PA Buried:Spouse: Benjamin Sloan ( -Bef 1880) 2 4
2 F Mary Henderson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: Rev. James Galbraith ( -Bef 1880) 4
3 F Jane Henderson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: Victor King ( -Bef 1880) 4Spouse: John Thompson ( -Bef 1880) 4
4 F Margaret Henderson 5
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: Col. Thomas Laughlin ( -Bef 1880) 5
5 M James Henderson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:
6 F Susan Henderson 4 6
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: Thomas Pollock (1772-1847) 4 6
7 F Sarah Henderson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: James Loughrey ( -Bef 1880) 4
8 F Eliza Henderson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:Spouse: Abram Hendricks ( - ) 4
9 F Hannah Henderson 4
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1880 Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Rev. Joseph W. Henderson
He graduated at the college of New Jersey, in 1776, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Donegal, June 16th, 1779. On the 20th of October following, he received a call from the congregation of Hanover, which he declined. Another call was presented to him on the 21st of June, 1780, from the congregation of Conewago; and again, on the 17th of October, of the same year, he received a call from the united congregation of East Fennsborough and Monaghan.
In each of these calls, the salary promised was to be paid in wheat. He accepted the call from Conewago, and was ordained and installed their pastor, June 20th, 1781. When the Presbytery of Carlisle was erected in 1786, he was one of its original members. On the 15th of April, 1795, in consequence of his congregation failing to meet their engagements with regard to salary, he asked leave to resign his pastoral charge.
With a view to ascertain the facts, the Presbytery appointed a committee consisting of Messrs. Black and Paxton, upon the report of which committee, his request for a dissolution of his connection with the congregation was granted. Shortly after this, having obtained leave from the Presbytery, he traveled Westward, as far as Kentucky, where he labored for some time.
On his return, he preached one or two Sabbaths in the congregations of Bethel and Ebenezer, within the bounds of the Presbytery of Redstone, but without any view to settlement, as his purpose was to settle in Kentucky. Having reached his home in York County, Pennsylvania, he made application at the next meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle, and received a dismission on the 11th of April, 1798, to connect with that of Redstone, and about the same time set out with his family for the west.
On his arrival in Westmoreland County, he stopped in the congregations of Bethel and Ebenezer, where he had preached on his journey eastward. So urgent were the people of these congregations that he should remain with them, he consented to supply them for a year. Before the close of the year, a call was prepared and put into his hands on the 9th of April, 1799, at the same meeting of the Presbytery of Redstone at which he was received as a member. Of this call he declared his acceptance, and became the settled pastor of these churches, although he was never formally installed.
At the time of his settlement, he was the only Presbyterian minister in that part of Westmoreland, which was later included in Indiana County. His charge was extensive, and the country being new, he was often subjected to much exposure, and had to endure many hardships in the fulfillment of his pastoral duties. But, although his constitution was weak and his health delicate, by a rigid attention to the rules of temperance, he was enabled, by the grace of God, to labor successfully among the people of his charge for more than twenty-five years. He was finally obliged, however, at the expiration of that period, and about twelve years before his death, to relinquish his connection with the people of his pastoral charge, in consequence of the loss of his voice, by which he was disabled from preaching. When the Presbytery of Blairsville was erected by the Synod in 1830, he was one of its original members.
He died at his residence in Center township, near Bethel church, on the 19th of September, 1836, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
The following extract from an obituary notice of him-written, as we have been informed, by the Rev. Robert Johnston,-will show the estimation in which he was held by those most familiar with his character and attainments.
"The general opinion of those who were accustomed to hear him was, that his principal excellence appeared in the pulpit. Everything like ostentation or display, he despised. Perspicuity, simplicity, precision and comprehension of thought, were the general characteristics of his sermons. His style and method are said, by those qualified to judge, very much to have resembled those of Dr. Witherspoon, under whose instructions his habits of thinking and writing had been formed.
As a man, whether at home or abroad, he was in a high degree companionable, easy of access, amiable in his disposition, a pattern of politeness, cheerful without levity, and always instructive in conversation. In a word, his general deportment was that of the finished gentleman and the humble christian. His hospitable mansion was always open for the accommodation of friends or strangers, and his benevolent heart could never say to the needy, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled," without imparting such things as were needful.
He was the decided friend of all the benevolent operations of the day, and their liberal patron, in proportion to the means which he possessed. He had no desire to be rich in this world's goods, and never had more than a competency, and of the little that was left for the support of his declining years, he bequeathed, in his will, fifty dollars to the cause of missions. A few months previous to his death, he sent for the writer, and told him of the bequest, and that having lived longer than he expected, he began to fear that he might live to see the end of his funds, and as he had given that sum to the Lord, he felt that it was not his own, and desired me to receive it, and give one-half of it to each of the boards of missions, which was accordingly done.
He was a zealous friend and advocate of the cause of temperance, and both by precept and example, inculcated the principle of entire abstinence, long before a temperance society was formed. He continued to the last to manifest a deep interest in the purity, prosperity and peace of the church; and he viewed with painful solicitude, the progress of error, and the consequent divisions, jealousies and unhallowed contentions which were rending the church into parties, and holding her up as a reproach to the enemy.
The curious reader will be gratified with the subjoined transcript of the original certificate of his graduation, over the signature of President Witherspoon:
"These testify that the bearer, Joseph Washington Henderson, has resided in the College for two years preceding this date, behaving himself regularly; that he applied himself to his studies with diligence and success; was examined for admission to the degree of Bachelor of Arts and approved, and is entitled to that standing from this time. In witness whereof, the above is written and subscribed at Princeton, September 26, 1776, byJOHN WITHERSPOON."
It is said that the cognomen-Washington-was conferred upon him at college, on account of some peculiar excellence which he possessed.
Note on Rev. Joseph W. Henderson by Josiah Capeley.
1 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 258, 368.
2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 573.
3 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 258.
4 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 368.
5 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 368, 453.
6
Wm. H. Egle, Historical Register: Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical (Harrisburg, PA: Lane S. Hart, Publisher, 1883), Pg 199.
Home | Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List
This Web Site was Created 15 Apr 2023 with Legacy 9.0 from Millennia