Gawrelski Family Tree » John Elder Rev (1706-1792)

Personal data John Elder Rev 

• He was born on January 26, 1706 in Edinburgh City, Scotland.Sources 4, 5

  Attention: Was older than 65 years (69) when child (Rebecca Elder) was born (March 1, 1775).

  Attention: Was older than 65 years (66) when child (Samuel Elder) was born (February 27, 1772).

  Attention: Was older than 65 years (67) when child (Michael Elder) was born (August 9, 1773).

• He died on July 17, 1792 in Paxtang, Dauphin, PA, he was 86 years old.Sources 3, 4, 5
• He is buried July 1792 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States of America.Source 5
• Probate on May 3, 1792 naar Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA.Source 3
• A child of Robert Elder and Eleanor Gillespie

Household of John Elder Rev

(1) He is married to Mary Simpson.

They got married on November 5, 1751 at Paxtang, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States, he was 45 years old.Source 2

Child(ren):

1. Sarah Elder  1752-1822
2. Ann Elder  1754-1814 
3. John Elder  1757-1811
4. Mary Elder  1760-1843
5. Jane Elder  1762-1763
6. James Elder  1764-1827
7. Thomas Elder  1767-1853
8. David Elder  1769-1809
9. Samuel Elder  1772-1815
10. Michael Elder  1773-1850
11. Rebecca Elder  1775-????

(2) He is married to Mary Baker.

They got married on August 13, 1741 at Paxtang, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, United States, he was 35 years old.Sources 2, 4

Child(ren):

1. Robert Elder  1742-1818
2. Joshua Elder  1745-1820
3. Eleanor Elder  1746-1775
4. Grizzel Elder  1749-1769

Notes about John Elder Rev

"John Elder won distinction as a colonel in the revolutionary war. He received a classical education and graduated from the University of Edinburg. He subsequently studied divinity, and in 1732 was licensed to preach the gospel. In 1736, four years afterwards, he followed in the footsteps of his parents and came to America. The Paxtang Church gave him a unanimous call, which he accepted, but trouble soon arose. The Whitfield excitement or revival spread over the Presbyterian church and Mr. Elder preached against it. He was accused of preaching false doctrine; he was tried by the presbytery, which sustained him. The Whitfield followers separated from him. Following these ecclesiastical troubles came the French and Indian war. Associations were formed throughout the province of Pennsylvania for the defense of the frontiers, and the congregations were prompt to embody themselves. Rev. John Elder became their leader and captain, and they were trained as scouts. He superintended the discipline of the men, and his mountain rangers were known as they Paxtan boys. During two summers at least, every man who attended church carried his trusty rifle with him, also the minister took his. Subsequently he was advanced to the dignity of colonel by the the Provincial authorities, his commission being dated July 11, 1763. He had charge of all the block houses from Easton to the Susquehanna river. The Governor in tendering this appointment, expressly stated that nothing more would be expected of him then the general oversight. "His justification," says Webster , "lies in the crisis of affairs . . . Bay at York , Steele at Conecocheague , and Griffith at New Castle , with Burton and Thompson , the church missionaries, at Carlisle , headed companies, and were actively engaged.” During the latter part of the summer of 1763 , many murders were committed in Paxtang , culminating in the destruction of the Indians on Conestoga Manor and at Lancaster . Although the men composing the company of Paxtang men who exterminated the murderous savages referred to belonged to his obedient and faithful rangers, it has never been proved that the Rev. Mr. Elder had knowledge of the plot formed although the Quaker pamphleteers of the day charged him with aiding and abetting the destruction of the Indians. When the deed was done, and the Quaker authorities were determined to proceed to extreme lengths with the participants, and denounced the frontiersmen as "riotous and murderous Irish Presbyterians,” he took sides with the border inhabitants, and sought to condone the deed. His letters published in connection with the history of that transaction proved him to have been a man judicious, firm and decided. During the controversy which ensued, he was the author of one of the pamphlets: "Letter from a Gentleman in one of the Black Counties to a Friend in Philadelphia.” He was relieved from his command by the Governor of the Province, who directed that Major Asher Clayton take charge of the military establishment. Peace, however, was restored--not only in civil affairs, but in the church. The union of the synods brought the Rev. John Elder into the same Presbytery with Messrs. John Roan , Robert Smith , and George Duffield , they being at first in a minority, but rapidly settling the vacancies with new side men. By the leave of synod, the Rev. Mr. Elder joined the Second Philadelphia Presbytery May 19, 1768, and on the formation of the General Assembly, became a member of Carlisle Presbytery. At the outbreak of the revolution, when the British army overran New Jersey, driving before them our half-starved soldiers, Rev. Elder went to church one Sabbath as usual. He began with a hasty prayer, then called upon the patriotism of all effective men present and exhorted them to aid in the spirit of liberty's cause and defense of their country. In less than thirty minutes a company of volunteers was formed, Colonel Robert Elder, the pastor's son, was chosen captain, and his son John, then sixteen years old, was the first to enlist; they marched the following day. His son John was a lieutenant and afterwards judge of Mifflin county. His son Joshua , sub-lieutenant of Lancaster county , could not quit the service he was employed in, but sent a substitute. Until his death, for a period of fifty-six years, he continued the faithful minister of the congregations over which he had been placed in the prime of his youthful vigor, passing the age not generally allotted to man--that of fourscore and six years. His death was deeply lamented far and wide. Not one of all those who had welcomed him to his early field of labor survived him. Charles Miner , the historian of Wyoming , gives this opinion of Rev. John Elder: "I am greatly struck with the evidences of learning, talent, and spirit displayed by him. He was, beyond doubt, the most extraordinary man of Eastern Pennsylvania . I hope some one may draw up a full memoir of his life, and a narrative, well digested, of his times. . . He was a very extraordinary man, of most extensive influence, full of activity and enterprise, learned, pious, and a ready writer, I take him to have been of the old Cameronian blood. Had his lot been cast in New England , he would have been a leader of the Puritans." He had, with one who well remembered the old minister, "a good and very handsome face. His features were regular--no one prominent--good complexion, with blue eyes. . . He was a portly, long, straight, man over six feet in height, large frame and body, with rather heavy legs. . He did not talk broad Scotch, but spoke much as we do now, yet grammatically." His remains quietly repose amid the scenes of his earthly labors, in the burying-ground of old Paxtang church, by the side of those who loved and revered him. Over his dust a marble slab bears the inscription dictated by his friend and neighbor, William Maclay , first United States Senator from Pennsylvania. it bears the following inscription: "The body of John Elder lies under this slab, born 1706, died 1792, aged eighty-six. Sixty years he filled the sacred character as minister of the Gospel, fifty-six of which he officiated at Paxtang.""Copied from:"History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania"
Vol. III, compiled by John W. Jordan in 1906, pages 533-539

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Timeline John Elder Rev

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