Democratic messenger., 1881-04-09
Some Old time Presbyterians.


EDITOR EssENGER-Dear Sir In
the year 1851 the Presbyterian congre
CATION of snow liiI Fown, il the county
Of Worcester, Md, bull, aeig church
10 take the place OF the old one which
had passed away after serving the con-
gregation since 1854, when Mckenzie
came to preach to the Presbyterians
settled in these parts.
Who built and paid for the Mckenzie
church we do not know no records of
them remain. Who built the neW
church in 1851 we do know, for their
names and the amounts contributed by
them are found in the records of the
church in the beautiful penmanship of
Robert King, Jr., Clerk of Session
In 1895 the neU church of 1851 Ga
frame structure) was removed, as the
Mckenzie church had been IA years
before, and the present old church was
erected of brick. Thus the Mckenzie
church stood 81 years, the successor of
it "a years, and the present building
has stood sc years.
The cost of the church of 1851, in
cluding the pulpit and "gallerys," but
exclusive of the pews, was one hundred
and forty-two pounds, five shillings and
four pence.
Oliver Goldsmith was two years out
Of college when this church was built.
The model from which he drew his
Village Preacher y" in the Deserted
Village" had died few years before.
Describing a scene in Ireland he calls
the minister " Passing rich on forty
pounds year" The Irish Presbyte-
rians did somewhat better for their min
ister in Snow Hill his salary was forty
four pounds, thirteen shillings and two
pence.
AS it must be pleasant for children
to look back on the honorable deeds of
their fathers, l propose to give the
names of the men who sustained this
church I3o years ago, and if desired,
may furnish the names of those who
paid for the present building also.
There are in all 81 subscribers to the
church built in 1851 but as some Of
these may have been only friends of the
congregation, the following list may
suffice. 1t includes all who in I75I
were subscribers to both the building
fund and the minister's salary.
Adam Spence, Samuel Stevenson,
Robert King Jr, Samuel Bratten,
James Rownd, Angus McFedding,
James Martin, John Slingo,
Margaret Hall, John Irving,
Benton Harris, John Richardson,
james Stevenson, Thomas MilbOurp,
William Bratten, Robert Nelson,
william, Aydelui, Sr., John Ssh hoield,
William Nel:on, Charles Richardson,
Robert Richardson, james Richardson,
William Robinson, William Beavins,
Thomas Peale, Hannah Bratten,
Caleb Williams, Samuel Bratien,
Esiher Nelson. Mathew HOPKINS,
Henry Satchell, Naihaneal Hopkins,
J ,mes Noble, Richard Ayrts,
Herr, Turner. William Duer,
Sarah Stevenson, JOHN Dreaden,
Samuel Stevenson, Samuel Hall,
SAMUEL Nelson, William Bsnnit
John Bratten, William Braiten, Jr
james llorn-or HON.
And next year we find the following
additional names Of families belonging
TO the church:
Adam Stevenson, Samuel Ball,
Samuel Dreaden, Adam Scott,
Thomas Martin, Mary Martin,
Mary M'Cauley, Arthur NJ Allen,
Mary Bratten,
james Bratten son of James.
On the records the following changes
Of spelling are found Nilsson, or Mel
son Dreaden, or Dryden; Stevenson,
or Stephenson; Schofield, or School
field the former being the earlier in
each case.
DAVID CONWAY,
Snow Hill, Apl. 5, 81. Pastor.