Milford chronicle., 1929-12-06

Milford:
VIM. v. Coulter
Ruth NJ. Coulter
S. Matilda Kennedy
Eleanor A. Morris
Mary Tharp
Elizabeth Lofand
Elizabeth Primrose
1.-THE above roll of one man and
six ladies deserves to be remember
! ed as long as the church endures.
The Presbytery appointed commit
tee composed of Reverends J. G.
How, J. E. Rockwell, J. w. X. Han
dy, and Hon. willard Hall to CO.
operate with Rev. Kennedy in car
rying out the wish of the petition
ers. A meeting was held in the
School House, Wednesday evening,
December 10, 1849, at which time
the petitioners were organized into
church and VIM. V. Coulter was
unanimously elected and ordained
as the first ruling elder. After the
church was organized and on the
same evening a movement was
started to erect a building and the
following were made a committee
for that purpose: VIM. Tharp, Peter
F. Causey, VIM. V. Coulter, John A.
Hazard, Henry B. Ffdderman,
James B. Lof1and, Purnell Lofland
and Rev. Kennedy.
"The committee agreed upon a
brick building 35 by so feet with
a basement story, cupola and a
steeple. April 1, 1850, the congre-
cation approved of the plans of the
committee and elected the members
of the committee as trustees of the
church. Contracts were made to
erect such building at the cost of
SO, 3,436.O0. Subsequently it was de-
cided to build a parsonage in con-
nection with the church.
"The lot upon which the Church
was built was in the main a gift.
1t was 10S feet long on the Front
street side, 62 feet long on the South
Walnut street side, 591s feet long
on the side of Pearl Alley and 107
feet long on its southern boundary.
The lot was donated by Mrs. Rachel
Draper and her son-in-law, John A.
Hazard, by the way of subscrip-
ton of $4,000 each with the excep-
ton of a strip leading to Cedar
Greek which was bought of Mrs.
Jane Masten for $4,000. The records |
in the court house at Georgetown
show that a deed was executed |
April 12, 1850, by Rachel Draper
and VIM. Masten and his wife to the |
trustees of the church so that they |
may build or erect or cause to be
built or erected house of worship |
for the use of the members of the |
Presbyterian Church of the village |
of South Milford in connection with |
the Presbytery of Wilmington usu-
ally nominated-(The New School |
Presybyterians). The consideration |
named was $4,000.
Erection of the building began. |
The laying of the corner stone oc-
CURED July 4, 1850, in the morning. |
A large concourse of people assemb- |
led under a tent on the front lawn
of the residence of Col, (and later,
Governor) P. F. Causey. Appropri-
ate speeches were made and a re-
ligious service was held. Then the
people went to the church lot and
deposited in the corner stone a zinc
box hermetically sealed and contain
ing a list of the names of the SUBJ
scribers, copy of the Milford Bea-
con, copy of the Christian Obser-
yer (Phila.), other papers, a Bible,
the Declaration of Independence and |
a brick from the ruins of the old |
Three Runs Presbyterian Church.
On the evening of the same day the
ladies held fair on Col. Causey's |
lawn for the purpose of promoting |
the interests of the church. In col
lecting funds for the church it is |
noticeable that the greatest amount |
was collected by Rev. Kennedy, or
$2,374. The next greatest amount |
was secured by Governor Tharp as |
an appropriation from the legisla-
ture of Delaware. 1t was for $1,000. |
Some years later the building was !
enlarged and remodeled.
cat the time he was carrying on |
this work Rev. Kennedy originated |
and conducted for six years the |
Milford Female Institute. Here his |
daughter and many young ladies Of |
Milford were educated.
"The first members received into |
the church were in the year 1851, |
and they were Robert G. and Henry |
]. Hall, Mrs. Maria Williamson and |
Mrs. Rolina w. Holston. The first |
infant to be baptized in the church |
was William Francis Kennedy, son |
of Rev. and Mrs. G. w. Kennedy. |
Baptism was administered by Rev. |
B. Bradford, a visiting minister. The |
first recorded death of member |
was that of Elizabeth Lof1and, Au |
gust, 1855.
Having resigned Rev. Kennedy |
concluded his labors with the church |
in March, 1856. Rev. John w. Mears |
began his ministry with this church !
November 5, 1857. His salary was |
placed at $25000 per year and that |
of the Sexton was $25.00 per year.
November IA, 1858, Rev. Mears |
observed the anniversary of his first |
year with the church. Thirteen |
members had been added to the |
roll.
March 8, 1859, Joanna M. Black
(nee Scott died. She was the first !
member whose entire Christian life |
had been associated with the church,
having united less than one year
previous.
"In 1859 Governor Causey donated |
a lot near the site of the old Three |
Runs Church to be used as Pres
hxyforion oaroatarv Tho Gift was |
accepted. It was decided to rent |
the parsonage for $4,000 per year.
February Is, 1860, Rev. Mears
concluded his work with the church |
and became Co-Editor of the Amer