The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-04-23

The following. from the Presbyterian .jo,r-
nal, III relation 10 the origin at til Presby-
rrrian Church in rhr United Sta.es, is AN
Interesting item of local church hi tory:
In Thanksgiving" Sermon preached at Car
mock Scotland in July. 1928. the Rev. Ralph
Erskine told his hearers that among other causes
for thankfnlncSs was the iact that they were not
horn in America. where the people were Worship
ping the devil. Nevertheless il is true. that he
levers i'll his own TAI h had crossed the ocean and
built church in that wildern, s. Of the Western
world. and now known rs the first Presbyterian
Church ever erected on the American continent
This il located mt Rel oboth. in Somerset county
Maryland, on the P"comokc River. The original
editice w"s o. wood. and established by the Rev.
Francis Mackenzie. about the wear 1855. Sir Robert
King. B.ronet. from the north OF Ireland emf
GRATED with large wealth to Virginia. and by him
and his d"scen' ants the first impetus WIG given
To the eNtenS.hi of the Presbyterian faith. The
King family came from Virginia to Maryland,
undoubtedly attracted by the existence OF the
church Of their fathers and abOnt the yeHr 1891
gave anot her site and "rect' ut their own expense
mainly the brick building which has remained
ever since. The Kings We're large land and slave
holders. and som" their paatial r. sidences may
be seen ri their old homrsteads tOthis day.
After Rev. Francis Mackenzie had established
his ministry. the Rev. John Henry and the Rev
John Hampton. belonging to the King family
continued their labolS up the Peninsula uni they
reached Philadelphia. where some ii teen years
later the first PrcshyteIy was formed. and about
ZIG the first Synod was held. Madame Hamp-
tim. nee King. wife OF the Rev. John Hampton. is
especially named in the traditions of that great
christian work. and as eminent IN hfr sphere oi
action rs one Of the noted women Of England Of
the same period Her tombstone is visible to-day
near the old church. From Sir Robert King
sprang several o. the most distinguished families
OF Virginia and Maryland OF the present time
Col. Thomas King. al Somerset county. VI iryland.
was one al the most remarkable men who lived in
the American Revolution. 'ur his patriotism.
age in the right. and aristocratc bearing. He
could brook no form of tyranny and oppression.
yf,-ltNN hal.
most cnnScicntiuuSlS that his slaves were entitled
to their lEs proportion OF all the products o their
Labor. and generously distributed tho share to
each. When the tnuTcn I'll Fa, an imposed the
tax. just before the American Revolution. he re
fused TO submit to the Injustice. and although it
could not hay" been felt by one OF his wealth. he
went to prison sooner than allow il to he extorted.
His example was at once followed. and gave life
and soul 10 the Revolutionary cause. DIR. II mia
MN Rush his old friend and classmate writing
to Col KING on the moral effect vi the Declaration
OF ludcpcn icnc" in November. 1910. allules to
his action in refusing the tyrannical exaction OF
TnGIaEa, and said. the king had best illustrated
The Iteat tJri.rip.Cs .nL.,l c,I il. tic aLicri
can struggle. The daughter and sole hcress OF
his large estate. Elizabeth Barnes King. married
Col Henry James Carroll. o St Marv.s county.
Maryland, whose family goes back with the far
thcst and most ariSto'ratiC OF his name His in
heritan"e was entaied through his cousin Charles.
who Il the good fortune to be made one OF the
si.nerS from Maryland OF the Declaration OF In
dependence. Although Col. Carroll was reared
Roman Catholic. ami continued in that faith his
LiihIir:; pf! .Gca!eI, ~ me presbyterian ,'nrh
the faith OF their Inuthef. One Of theuI WAS the
late Governor Thomas King Carroll OF Maryland.
one OF The very best citizens the State the coun-
try ever produced. The old session book OF the
Rehoboth Church. which his descendants
dcavorlng to obtain, was AT one time in possession
OF the Governor. 1t was afterwards in the hands
OF the late Gen. Henry. who descended from the
Rev. John Henry. once the minister thereof. This
book throws flood OF light On the origin OF Pres
l." erie n,arr on tins continent. But few adherents
81 ,iils "iIfCii len.aiI! in th- r2...tt ra.i tie
State. though services are held i'll the old church
every fortnight. Mrs. Governor Carroll was the
daughter OF the late Henry Stevenson. OF Bati-
more. than whom no citizen wills more highly
spccted or better known. In the late celebration
OF the iourdin" OF Baltimore. the Stevenson deeds
were emblaL"ncd ON banners borne in the proces-
sion. One az the author OF the plan Of the city
the oti"r as having converted his costly residence.
the first of the sort eyrs erected, into snallp oy
iGenitn FAn; ;Hat fearful 2cGlTr2 sTe;lt ,lvaV tho
%itF. fhese stVentHli, l;r lFeffEy ana Dr. l9hfl,
were from the north Of Ireland, and Zeal6us Pres:
hytcrians and among the few who established
that system in the city OF Baltimere--frst in IL
small wooden structure and then in building the
larae br'ck church tayettc street, which, as
history shows, has had but few pastors from that
period 10 the present. The Rev, DR.. BIckus. the
last still survives