The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-08-22
HISTORIC BARN NOW
USED AS CHURCH
Lutheran Congregation in Sub
urb of Philadelphia Utilities
Landmark.
WAS SCENE OF CARNAGE
Virginia Troopers Sleeping in Stable
Surprised and Mur-
dered.
WAS SCENE OF CARNAGE

l.
Lutheran church of ROXborOugh, which
was organized about ten years ago by
former members of Bethany church,
who left because the pastor would not
consent to preach in the English Ian
guage alternately, is erecting a hand
some Gothic edifice on the northwest
corner Of Ridge and ROXborOugh ave-
nues The site is q historic one and
was long reVered by the older resi-
dents for the part taken there during
the Revolutionary war. The old stone
dwelling has been demolished, but the
large barn in the rear not only has
been preserved, but Is being used as a
house of worship while the building of
the church home is in progress.
Both the barn and the house figured
in cowardly proceeding during the
winter OF l777-l77S, while the British
were in possession OF Philadelphia.
WashingtOn's army was at Valley
Forge, enduring the hardshtps OF that
terrible winter. and scouting parties
were frequently sent out from the en-
campment there to the outlying dis
tricts of the city. One December after
noon, during a snOwstOrm, company
of Virginia troopers rode down Ridge
avenue, then known as the Plymouth
road, through ROXbOrOugh, and, seeing
the spacious and inviting barn, stopped
at the house and asked permission of
Andrew Wood, the owner, TO spend the
night in the barn. Wood was a patriot
and at once acceeded TO the request,
urging number or the troopers 10
spend the night in the house. In his
historical sketch the late HOratiO
Gates Jones gives this account of the
troopers visit and what followed:
British PIundered and Slew.
1T was during the occupation of
Philadelphia which extended to June
Is, l77S, that our ancestors were mar
auded and plundered in the most
shameful manner. The enemy to pro-
tect themselves established a line of
redOubts which extended from York
road to the SchuyikilL In ROXbOrOugh
the redoubt was located on the east
side OF the WiSSahickOn al the abut-
ment of the railroad bridge near Rob
lnSOn's house, now High Bridge hotel
Within these FedOubts were encamped
a large number of Hessian soldiers,
Who were aiding the British.
Andrew Woods family consisted of
himself, his wife, a son, two daughters
and an old serving man named Nicholas
Near. concerning whom he often ex-
pressed the belief that he would not be
buried in a coffin.
"On q cold winter night company OF
Virginia troopers called at the Woods
house and asked permission 10 spend
the night, owing to the British soldiers
being so near. But, poor fellows, they
were tired and were willing for the
sake OF a few hours repOse TO run the
risk. After supper had been provided
they betook themselves to rest. Some
rest in the barn. little thinking of the
future and perhaps dreaming Of their
homes in the sunny south.
SIaugh tered in Stable.
Midnight passed. and the weary
troopers were indulging in dreams OF
deliverance from their foes and soon
return TO their own 1iresldes, when
suddenly the sentinel detected the ap-
prOach OF body OF hOrsemen. He had
scarcely given an alarm when they
rushed by him. In a moment the house
and barn was the scene of confusion,
alarm and disorder. Already had some
of the Virginia troopers mounted their
horses and were Fastening TO escape
by Cares lane, opposite the house,
when the British rushed on to the at
tack giving no quarters. Mr.. Wood es-
capped by fleeing into the forest in the
rear of the barn. Old Nicholas got into
the garden and hid under bushes. Mrs.
Wood was very courageous and sent
her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, aged
IS years. 10 take the younger daughter
to the home of a neighbOr In the
meadow. AS she opened the door sew
eral soldiers walked in and demanded
Of her where she was going. They per-
mitted her TO go. When she returned
she found flames bursting from the
roof and windows of the barn. Most
OF the Americans had escaped, but those
remaining were fallen upon and
murdered in cold blood.
After the British had departed Mr..
Wood hurried to the burning barn and
dragged out the wounded and dead
troopers Old Nicholas had been dis
covered by the enemy and killed. In
the morning the wounded were taken
TO camp and the dead, including Mich
olas, were buried in the Woods family
burying grounds"
Remains Are Removed.
In 1860, through the efforts OF HOra-
ito Gates Jones and others OF ROX-
borough, the bones OF these Virginia
troopers were reinterred in Lexington
cemetery, and a large granite mOnu-
ment, suitably inscribed. erected over
their remains.
Grace Lutheran church. after holding
services in the ROXDOrOugh Lyceum
hall, rented the Woods house, the
lower part of which was fitted up as a
chapel with Sunday school rooms on
the upper floors. The property was
subsequently purchased, the old house
torn down and the barn brought into
service.
Before the new edifioe is completed
the patriotic societies in ROXbOrOugh,
II is thought, Will arrange a memorial
window or erect a suitable tablet in
memory of the massacred Virginia
troopers in the church building.
THE Ferullo band has no rival; Il
stands magnificently alone "-Opie
Read. Hear this great band at Saltair
all week.
oil Gel