The Presbyterian Church of the Upper West Conococheague |
The Presbyterian Church of the Upper West Conococheague was established in 1738 about two |
miles east of Mercersburg at a place now known as Church Hill. The early church was served by |
itinerant preachers until 1754 when the Rev. John Steel became pastor. These were troubled times; |
the Indians had become bolder with Braddock's defeat so that the Rev. Steel felt compelled to |
have his rifle close by the pulpit during church services. Security was also afforded by a stockade |
surrounding the church. In 1794, on ground given by the Hon. Robert Smith, a new church was |
built in the new town of Mercersburg. The structure at Church Hill was abandoned and the |
building was removed in 1885 [Note M8]. The stone walled cemetery remains today [Note M13]. |
Franklin County was erected in 1785 [Note M9], set off from Cumberland County; since the church |
moved into Mercersburg in 1794, the records of this church are associated with Franklin County |
today, although events before 1785, including the 1776 marriage, were all in Cumberland County. |
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(1785) Franklin County, created 9 Sept. 1784, from Cumberland County, when Antrim, Peters, |
Hamilton, and seven other townships were transferred to the new Franklin County [M3 p.114]. |
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Sources from the Church Records |
According to the 1846 Church History [Note M10], Rev. John King was first ordained in 1767, |
and came to the Conococheague Presbyterian Church in 1769, where he served continuously for |
over 40 years, until his retirement in September 1811. During that time, Rev. King kept his own |
'register' himself, at least until approximately 1805. He suffered from a rheumatic ailment during |
his last six years; he died soon thereafter, on 15 July 1813, and was buried there, in Church Hill |
cemetery [M13]. Unfortunately, Rev. King's contemporary 'church register' is not available today. |
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The earliest known source, 'Church Records 1769 1811' [M11], is only available on microfilm, |
and shows 'Daniel McNench' and 'Mary Smith' married 11 June 1776 by Rev. John King D.D. |
This earliest known source is cataloged as "Transcript of records, 1769-1813" document [M11] |
("1769-1813" in the film title, vs. "1769 1811" actually written on the title page). This document, |
also known as 'Church Records 1769 1811' and short reference '1769 1811', has the handwritten |
description "Mercersburg Church Records" and the dates "1769 1811" written on the title page. |
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Rev. King received his D.D. degree in 1792, from Dickinson College, Carlisle, the county seat |
of Cumberland County, still in present-day Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The handwritten |
pages in the '1769 1811' document (baptisms, marriages, membership, etc.) that have been titled |
". . . by John King D.D." were written after 1792, and probably soon after Dr. King died in 1813. |
So, this earliest document "Transcript of records, 1769-1813" was probably created ca.1813-1820. |
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Daniel McAninch 1776 Marriage, Cumberland Co., Penn. Copyright Frank McAninch |
McAninch Family History Newsletter v.XXVII n.2 July 2019 p.2019-20 |
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