Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1847-05-28
Tile LAVE GEO. c. DRoMGooLE.

The following Letter from the late Zen prom
oooIe written three years ago, giving an account
ofbis descent, will perhaps be of interest to num-
ho- If opr readers as it was 10 us We copy 1t
f,om the New York Tribune
WASHINGTON, January 81, 1874.
~, Srp. Yours of the I'd was duly receiv-
A., narents were not both natives OF the
T,neraId Isle. Ny father, Edward Dromgooe,
iIaS born in Sligo When youth he came to
America a poor boy, with religious impressions
md 4 strong desire for religious freedom. lie
Iandsd At Philadelphia in l772--came 10 Batti-
more and resided in that city, or Its vicinity, with
~ Jobn Harrerty, a tailor by trade, and man
"r ,s, exemplary piety. Edward Dromgooe
had been brought up in Ireland TO the trade OF 4
linen weaver When he came 10 reside with Mr..
U,rrerty that he might not eat the bread OF idle
rosS he assisted him in the business OF tailoring.
'Tbc tbjmbIe with which he worked Is still care
eli preserved in the family. They worked to-
,ro,Ler and prayed together, and thus formed a
Social and religious attachment which endured
during their Joint lives and the survivor. Edward
Dromroo!e to the day Of his death, cherished the
memory of his departed friend with the fondest re-
collection. They were disciples, or followers as
it was termed in those days, of John Wesley.
In1774 Edward Dromgoole commenced preach
;rr While residing with Mr.. Ilaggeriy, how
ever. he formed a society or class OF Methodists,
and hell the first Methodist Class Meeting an
AmerIca.
Of itincrant labor in the ministry. He proceeded
from Maryland TO Virginia, and travelled extern
sively in the latter State and in North Carolina
HIS aiopted America eqgroaSed all his feelings oil
attachment to country. Without mngiIng IN Po-
IIcal discussions and controversy, he was the
ardent prayerlu advocate OF Civil and Religious
Freedom In the very nciPIeHcy of the war be-
tween the Colonies and Grea' Britain, he hesita-
ted not one moment in deciding whether he should
own allegiance TO America or to England lie
quickly and voluntarily repaired to his Trend and
Christian brother, Robert Jones' magistrate IN
the county OF Sussex, in the State OF Virginia. n
man of treat responsibility and undoUbted patriot
ism Before him he took the oath OF fidelity and
aliauiancc administered at his own request. a
ccrtIl-lic of this oath he continually kept with
him He vcllcddurngthe Revolutionary war,
every where performing his ministerial functions
and was in the neighborhood of Halifax, North
Carolina, when the news of the Declaration OF In
dependence was received. After preaching to
larre congregation, lie read to them, from his
stand at the request of Willie Jones, ESD and
other distinguished patriots Of the town, the DecIa-
ration of Independence.
lie settled in Brunswick county, in the State of
Virginia, where he resided until his death, in 1885,
in the SIth year Of his age, having been a minis
ter of the gospel for more than sixty years.
He intermarried with Rebccra Walton, in said
county, whose ancestors had carly cmigracd from
England to Virginia. Whether they descended
from the family of the bishop the author of the
po!vclot Bible or from old Izak the fisherman, is
not known, nor is it material They lived happi-
w together. raised and educated family OF chill
drcn and left them a competency, acquired neither
6y specul4ti0p n0r eEhJ,liDa-it wa- the result of
economy and honest industry. | am their young
est child.
Very respectfully, &c.
GEORGE c. DROMGOOLE.
To WILLIAM l.. MAcNEN2I&, Esq, N. York.