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The congregations of
Buffalo and Alamance, the two eldest and largest of the Presbyterian
denomination, and probably of any other, in the county of Guilford, have
had the singular privilege of enjoying the regular ministrations of the
gospel, with little intermission, for more than eighty years in
conjunction with each other, dividing the Sabbaths—and from two men. The
time of the ministerial relation of the Rev. Messrs. David Caldwell and
Eli W. Caruthers with these congregations, extends from about the time
of the organization of Alamance, in the year 1764, to the present day;
an incontestible evidence of their stability, and the irreproachable
lives of their pastors.
"A Sketch of the Life and
Character of the Rev. David Caldwell, D.D.," by Mr. Caruthers, his
successor in the ministry, replete with various information, gives all
of importance that can he collected, concerning the early life of that
venerable man, who finished his course in the one hundredth year of his
age, and the sixty-first of his ministry.
David Caldwell, born
March 22d, 1725, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was the son of a
respectable farmer, in (rood worldly circumstances, and of unblemished
Christian character. After receiving the rudiments of an English
education, he was bound apprentice to a house carpenter, and served till
the legal period, the age of twenty-one. After working at his trade, as
a journeyman, for about four years, at the age of twenty-five he was
admitted to the communion of the church, on a profession of his faith.
As soon as the hope in Christ was formed in his heart, he began most
earnestly to desire an education for the purpose of becoming a minister
of the gospel. his thirst for information became a passion, and his
desire to be useful in the ministry increased to intense earnestness,
and he resolved to sacrifice time, and labor, and his portion that might
fall to him from his father's estate, to satisfy these strong desires of
his heart. With unwearied perseverance, he pursued the object of his
desire, and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts, from Princeton
College, in the year 1761, the year that President Davies died. He was
then thirty-six years of age.
Some part of his
preparatory course was under the tuition of Rev. Robert Smith, of Pequa,
the father of John B. Smith, so favorably known in Virginia as President
of Hampden Sydney College, and of Samuel Stanhope Smith, known both at
Hampden Sydney and Princeton. After receiving his degree he resorted to
school-teaching, as he had often done before, and passed a year in that
employ at Cape May. Returning to Princeton, he was engaged in the duties
of a tutor in College, and in the study of theology in preparation for
licensure. He was taken under the care of New Brunswick Presbytery at
its meeting; in Princeton, Sept. 28th, 1762, having given the brethren
"good satisfaction as to his motives in wishing to enter the ministry."
After repeated trial of his proficiency and aptness to teach, he was
licensed by that Presbytery on the 8th of June, 1763.
He left no account of his
Christian experience, or of the trials and labors undergone in the
course of study, preparatory to his entrance upon the work of the
ministry. Some anecdotes which have been treasured up as having fallen
from his lips, illustrate his spirit. In order to obtain some necessary
funds, he sold his undivided patrimony to his brothers; and in order to
encourage them to make greater efforts to raise the money, and prevent
all objection, he rated his share much below its real value. The
agreement was verbal, but at the settlement of the estate he confirmed
it in writing, making a journey from Carolina expressly for that
purpose. While in college he pursued his studies in a manner that must
have been ruinous to most men, often passing the night in the summer
season, without either undressing or lying down, sleeping with his head
upon his crossed arms, under the open window; an evidence of a strong
constitution and untiring perseverance, rather than of genius or
prudence.
After supplying various
vacancies in the bounds of the Presbytery, from the time of his
licensure till the following summer, Mr. Caldwell visited North
Carolina. The records of the Synod of New York and New Jersey have the
following minute at their meeting in Elizabethtown, May 23d, 1764:
"Several supplications from North Carolina were presented, earnestly
praying for supplies, which were read and urged with several verbal
relations representing the state of the country." After speaking of the
appointment of Mr. Charles Jef. Smith and Mr. Amos Thompson as
missionaries, the minute proceeds—"Mr. David Caldwell, a candidate, of
New Brunswick, is appointed to go as soon as possible, but not to defer
it longer than next fall, and supply under the direction of the Hanover
Presbytery." This Presbytery at that time was the only one south of the
Potomac in connection with the Synod, and its boundaries on the south
were indefinite. There was an independent Presbytery in South Carolina.
While Mr. Caldwell was in
the course of his preparatory studies for college, a company of his
friends emigrated to North Carolina, and took their residence on Buffalo
Creek and Reedy Fork; and before their departure from Pennsylvania, made
overtures to him, that, upon his being licensed, he should visit them in
their new abode for the purpose of becoming their preacher. In about a
year after he commenced preaching, he was sent as a missionary by the
Synod to the south, and passed through the congregations and settlements
in the upper part of Carolina, and among others, the settlements of his
old friends. The emigration had been continued, and many pious people
having come to the wilderness, the congregation of Buffalo, whose place
of worship is about three miles from Greensborough, had been organized
according to the rules of the Church. Settlements had been formed on the
Alamance, and in 1764, the year of his visit, the Rev. Henry Pattiilo,
who was afterwards the minister of Hawfields and Little River, organized
a church called Alarnance, whose preaching-place is about seven miles
from Greensborough, and about the same distance from Buffalo.
These two congregations
united in desiring Mr. Caldwell for their minister; though of different
sentiments about the late divisions in the Presbyterian church, both
were orthodox in their creed, and firmly attached to the Presbyterian
forms; but the Buffalo church was composed of members that were of the
Old Side, as they were termed, and the Alamance of those who sided with
New Light or New Side, or as they sometimes distinguished themselves,
followed Whitefield. This division into Old Side and New Side is by no
means to be considered as similar to the divisions made some years since
in the Presbyterian church under the names of Old and New School. The
latter division was, in a great measure, brought about by different
sentiments on important theological subjects; time former principally by
a difference about the nature of revivals and proper measures to be
used, and also the proper qualifications for the ministerial office. The
full and satisfactory history may be found in Hodge's Constitutional
History of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Caldwell's
appointment as a missionary was renewed next year by the Synod.
Philadelphia, May 20th, 1765. "In consequence of sundry applications
from North Carolina for supplies, the Synod appoint Messrs. Nathan Kerr,
George Duffield, William Ramsay, David Caldwell, James Latta, and Robert
McMordie, to go there as soon as they can conveniently, and each of
their to tarry half a year in those vacant congregations, as prudence
may direct." The Presbytery of New Brunswick held a meeting in
Philadelphia, and took the necessary steps preparatory to the ordination
of Mr. Caldwell; and received a call from the churches of Buffalo and
Alamance for his ministerial labors. July 5th,1765, at Trenton, New
Jersey, he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry, and
dismissed to join the Presbytery of Hanover; and as the congregations
making the call were under the care of that Presbytery, he was directed
to make known to it his determination respecting the acceptance. He
proceeded forthwith to Carolina, and entered upon his labors as minister
of the two congregations; was a corresponding member of Hanover
Presbytery at its meeting at the Red House, Caswell county, June 4th,
1766. He neither joined the Presbytery at that time, nor accepted the
call of the two churches; and it was not till the 11th of October, 1767,
he was received as a member, and not till the 3d of March, 1768, that
the installation services were performed, in compliance with a request
made the preceding fall. The Rev. Hugh McAden of the Red House, preached
the installation service, and performed the services prescribed by the
form of government. In the latter part of the year 1766 he was married
to Rachel, the third daughter of Rev. Alexander Craighead, the minister
at Sugar Creek, and became a housekeeper in that part of his
congregation then within the bounds of Rowan county, previous to the
formation of Guilford from Rowan and Orange, the place of his residence
till his death, in 1824.
As the congregations had
promised him but two hundred dollars salary, he felt the necessity, from
the first, of making provision for his family, and accordingly purchased
a small farm, on which through life he depended in part for the comforts
of his household. He commenced, too, at his house a classical school,
which, with some few short interruptions, he continued till the
infirmities of age disqualified him for the duties of teacher. This was
the second classical school of permanence, and perhaps the first in
usefulness, in the upper part of Carolina; that in Sugar Creek being
probably the first; and that of Mr. Pattillo, in Granville, being the
third. Delighting in the employment of teacher, having a peculiar tact
for the management of boys, and being thorough in his course of
instruction, his school flourished, and was the means, during the long
period of its continuance, of bringing more men into the learned
professions than any other taught by a single individual or by a
succession of teachers during the same period of time. Five of his
scholars became Governors of States; a number were promoted to the
bench, of whom were Murphy and McCoy; a larger number, supposed about
fifty, became ministers of the gospel, of whom were Dr. McCorkle, of
Thyatria, Dr. Matthews, of New Albany, Indiana, Dr. Brown, of Tennessee,
and many others that were shining lights; a large number were physicians
and lawyers. Of those whose names have been mentioned as eminent, most,
if not all, received their entire classical education from him, and the
ministers of the gospel, in addition to that, their theological
education; so that, for a time, his school was academy, college, and
theological seminary. The number of students attending was generally
from fifty to sixty; and, assembled from different parts of the State,
put his powers of government to the test. These must have been
extraordinary; as it is not recollected by any of his family, or any of
his pupils living, that any student was ever expelled, or sent away for
improper conduct. His students loved, reverenced, and obeyed him. And
such was the impression made upon the minds of those under his
discipline, that an instance was known of a student, with whom the Dr.
was compelled to he very severe, in after life riding more than two
hundred miles, for the sole purpose of revisiting the scenes of his
school days, and once more taking the Dr. by the hand.
There were frequent times
of revival in his school. An aged minister told Mr. Caruthers that
himself and nine of his schoolmates became pious while under his
tuition, and all entered the ministry. The influence of Mrs. Caldwell
over the students was great, and all in favor of religion; on that
subject she was their confidant and adviser. Intelligent, prudent, kind,
and conciliating, she won their hearts and directed their judgements,
and the current saying through the country was, "Dr. Caldwell makes the
scholars, and Mrs. Caldwell makes the ministers." Multitudes will rise
and call her blessed. The Rev. E. B. Currie, still living, speaks of her
as it wonderful woman to counsel and encourage, having felt in his own
case her extraordinary power, wile a member of the school. A precious
revival took place under the ministrations of Rev. James M'Gready, who
visited the school, and was the happy means of leading many to Christ.
In addition to the
numerous labors belonging to his multiplied callings, the condition of
his people turned his attention to the practice of medicine. There being
no physician in the neighborhood, or within many miles, the sick turned
their attention to their minister, in the double capacity of physician
for the soul and for the body. He procured some books and read
carefully; a physician by the name of Woodsides came and resided a year
in his family, and practised in the congregations; at his death Mr.
Caldwell came in possession of his books; Dr. Rush, who was a college
mate, was his correspondent through life; with these advantages, his
patience and perseverance triumphed, and in all the common diseases of
the country he became celebrated, and also in some of much greater
difficulty. He continued the practice of medicine till his fourth son
was prepared to take his place; and then, except in very special cases,
he declined further service.
The Rev. E. B. Currie,
one of his pupils, says, "Dr. Caldwell's life was rather a life of labor
than of study; and when we consider that he had a large school, which he
attended five days in the week; two large congregations which he
catechised at least twice in the year four communions, which always
lasted four days each, besides his visiting the sick, frequently
preaching in vacant congregations, etc., etc., we can see there was not
much time left for study; but he was a close student when opportunity
offered." During the first sixteen or eighteen years of his ministry he
studied closely. Retiring to rest at ten, and rising at four, he
redeemed time for regular and protracted study. His library being
destroyed during the war, and his public duties increasing, as his
strength decayed, he was of necessity, rather than inclination, less
studious in the latter part of his life. That he might preserve his
health, he was strictly temperate in eating and drinking, and always
kept some work of manual labor of importance ready, to exercise himself
every day, when not called from home.
At a meeting of Hanover
Presbytery, held at Buffalo meetinghouse, March, 1770, a petition was
prepared for Synod, asking for a Presbytery for Carolina and the South.
This petition was granted in May, and the Rev. Messrs. Hugh McAden,
Henry Pattillo, James Criswell, David Caldwell, Joseph Alexander,
Hezekiah Balch, and Hezekiah James Balch, were constituted a Presbytery
by the name of Orange, to meet at the Hawfields; and the Rev, Henry
Pattillo, the pastor, to open the Presbytery with a sermon. This
Presbytery has flourished greatly, its congregations are numerous, and
at the present time there are three Presbyteries in the State of North
Carolina, in the bounds occupied by this, besides those in South
Carolina which, for a time, were reckoned as belonging to its bounds.
Dr. Caldwell and Mr.
Pattillo were near neighbors for a few years. Whether Mr. Pattillo
taught school during the five or six years he preached at the Hawfields,
is not distinctly known; that he did after his removal, and for a long
time, is well known; and, also, that his circumstances required him to
have a greater income than his salary. The probability is that he
pursued a course similar to that pursued by Dr. Caldwell. The famous
Regulation battle, May 16th, 1771, took place in the region lying
between their respective fields of labor. Both congregations were deeply
and generally involved in the troubles that brought the contest, and
partook fully of the spirit that prompted the resistance, and were
sharers in the battle. Of the part that Mr. Pattillo took we have no
account left, either in manuscript or tradition; but from his after
history, which is well known, we feel at no loss to conjecture. Dr.
Caldwell sympathized with his congregations in their troubles, ' and in
their resistance. That such men as Pattillo and Caldwell were the
ministers of four large congregations, which embraced the space of
country in which the principal localities of the Regulation difficulties
are found, entirely forbids the idea that the Regulators, as a body,
were untaught and savage, or unprincipled men. The congregations of
these men read their Bibles, heard no indifferent preaching on the
Sabbath, and had committed the admirable formulary—the Shorter Catechism
of the Westminster Assembly, which they were taught to believe, and to
reduce to practice; and if they read few other books, and seldom saw a
newspaper, it is evident they understood the laws of Nature and the laws
of God, and were ready to defend the privileges and rights which the
king's officers trampled on then, but all the world concedes now.
When the governor was
marching against the encampment or gathering of the Regulators, with the
evident intention of giving them battle, the cool calculating mind of
Caldwell clearly saw that the probability of success was entirely with
the governor. With him were officers that had seen service, and some
field ordnance, and men that had been disciplined; on the other side,
the side of his friends, was courage, a sense of oppression, confidence
in the right of their cause, and a belief that the governor would not
attack them, and could not beat them if he did,—but no discipline, no
field ordnance, no experienced military officer, not even a
commander-in-chief, or a council of commanders,—every man obeyed whom he
chose, and few chose to command.
Dr. Caldwell visited both
parties, for the purpose of proposing terms of accommodation, and was
treated with respect by Tryon. On the morning of the battle he had an
interview with both, still hoping to prevent the effusion of blood; and
warned by an old Scotchman, who understood the movements in the
governor's line, he had left the ranks of the Regulators but a few
moments before the firing began. There were many brave spirits from the
congregations of Buffalo and Alamance, in that battle, whom no
remonstrance could drive from the ranks and fortunes of their fellow
Regulators. That the loss of that battle was not owing to want of
courage, may be argued from the spirit displayed by the people of these
congregations during the war which, in a few years, succeeded.
The battle was lost to
the Regulators, and in the murderous executions that followed, there was
evidence that some, at least, of the Regulators, knew how to die like
men and Christians. It is by no means improbable that the proportion of
such in the camp, was equally as great as in the prison. That there were
unprincipled men among the Regulators is well known, and was regretted
then as much as criticised now; but that the mass were men of principle
and morals, true friends of their country, and lovers of liberty and
law, there is less doubt now than there was then. If living in log
cabins, with none of the luxuries of life, makes men vulgar, and
lawless, and ignorant, then these men were all their enemies charged
upon them, and merited neither success nor sympathy. But if devotion to
principles and country makes men patriots, then the graves of the
regulators are the bed of the "Sons of Liberty,"
The executions being finished, and the oath of allegiance being
administered, the governor left the country in triumph, trusting to the
binding force of an oath to preserve the peace and quiet he vainly
supposed were established in the State. his trust in the binding
influence of the oath was not misplaced, for these men had knowledge,
and they had a conscience; they dreaded the judgment of Him who has said
that liars shall not have a portion in the heavenly inheritance. When
the national Declaration of Independence was made, and the war of the
Revolution was begun, then commenced, in the counties of Orange and
Rowan, and those formed from them to break up the influence of the
Regulators, the contest in many a brave man's mind between his love of
liberty and his sense of obligation. By his oath he had saved his
property, and perhaps his life; by his condition his heart was with his
countrymen. Must he serve his king or join with his countrymen? Here the
patriotism and cool calculation of Dr. Caldwell manifested itself. He
argued with his people that allegiance and protection were inseparable;
that as the king had not protected them from the rapacity which had
driven them to rebellion on a former occasion, and was not able to
assert his authority over the country now, their oath of allegiance,
which had been exacted by force, was no longer binding. The independent
State of North Carolina demanded their services, and the Congress of the
United Colonies called for their aid; to fight for the king would be to
resist the established government. With some the argument was
satisfactory; they took up arms and served through the war; others
remained neutral; and some few took arms for the king. The active tories
were from another race of people in Orange.
By the erection of the
county of Guilford, in 1770, from the counties of Orange and Rowan, the
congregation of Buffalo embraced the centre, and had the county-seat
within its bounds, a few miles from the residence of Dr. Caldwell.
Guilford Court-house will be known as long as the history of the
American Revolution is read; and the sufferings and bravery of the four
large congregations of Eno, Hawfields, Buffalo, and Alamance, can never
be unknown while constancy and bravery are admired. These congregations
were the scene of the plunderings of the hungry, needy, irritated army
of Cornwallis, after he had burned his baggage and lost the object of
his pursuit, and found himself far from his stores, and in an enemy's
country. The detail of plundered houses, insulted women, and murdered
men, is too sickening to be dwelt upon. The catalogue of sufferings
would fill a volume. And of these Dr. Caldwell had his full share. His
house was plundered, his library and valuable papers destroyed, his
property stolen, and he himself, watched for as a felon, passed nights
in the woods in a secret place. He heard the roar of the battle of
Guilford Courthouse, and rejoiced in the consequent retreat of
Cornwallis. But his joy was mingled with sorrow, for the victory was
purchased with the blood of sonic of his people. But with the retreat of
Cornwallis, the savage warfare between whiffs and tories raged more
violently for a time, and then came to an end; and the distressed
congregation of Dr. Caldwell had a respite from the horrors of war.
It is a fact worthy of
observation, that the track of the armies through North Carolina,
previous to the battle of Guilford, embraced the residence of the
Scotch-Irish, and Scotch families, and put to the test the solemn
asseveration in the two declarations that the cause of independence
should be defended at the cost of "life, fortune, and most sacred honor."
How far Dr. Caldwell was prepared to vindicate that pledge, can be seen
in the extended account of his trials and sufferings, given by Mr.
Caruthers. Slow to engage in warfare, timorous in provoking bloodshed,
when the warfare and the battle came he stood his ground prepared to
suffer, with his flock, the last extremity, and escaped captivity and
death only by the special providence of God. Many and many a time did
the British and tories lie in wait for him, and watch his house, and
make sudden visits, and use false pretences to draw him from his
hiding-place; and once so well was the story feigned, that the prudence
and foresight of his wife was overreached, and the hiding-place
discovered. But God preserved him in all emergencies, that God in whom
he put his trust, and when the enemy were rejoicing that now, at last,
he was discovered, they found his rude shelter deserted.
After the peace, Dr.
Caldwell's labors as teacher and preacher returned upon him with
increased weight. Though by his own vote in the convention of 1776,
which formed the constitution of the State of North Carolina, and drew
up the Bill of Rights, he could not be a member of the legislature
without laying down his ministerial office, his influence with political
men was rather increased, and his unobtrusive opinions carried great
weight with all that knew him. Pattillo was member of the first
Provincial Congress, in 1775, and Caldwell of the State Convention, in
1776. It is a matter of tradition that he drew up the 32d article
"That no person who shall
deny the being of God, or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the
divine authority either of the Old or New Testament, or who shall hold
religious principles incompatible with freedom and safety of the State,
shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit, in
the civil department within the State." The preceding section
disqualifies preachers of the gospel for the legislative functions, in
virtue of their office. The convention of 1835, to amend the
constitution, changed the word "Protestant" in the 32d section to
"Christian." Dr. Caldwell harmonized with the paper drawn up by Dr.
Ephraim Brevard, in the fall of 1775, which probably he never saw; both
felt that anti-protestant belief in religion was anti-republican, and
therefore not to be encouraged; both desired freedom of conscience for
all Protestant denominations; neither asked any reprisals on the
denomination that had been the favorite of the crown, and the State
religion of the colony; neither desired any privileges for their own;
both desired that the Protestant religion should be the religion of the
State, and that all denominations should be equally free from all
disabilities and all patronage, fully believing that religion would
support itself.
While Dr. Caldwell sought
public favor neither for himself nor his family, public favor sought
them. When the present system of district courts went into operation,
there were many applications to the judge, for the office of clerk of
Guilford county. On the day of opening the court, public expectation was
high, from the number of candidates, and the uncommitted silence of the
judge. Calling to Lawyer Cameron, then at the bar, now Judge Cameron of
Raleigh, he requested him to act as clerk that clay, and also to see if
Dr. Caldwell was on the ground. To both of these requests, Mr. Cameron
assented; and finding the old gentleman in the midst of a circle of his
friends, he introduced him to the judge's room. After a kind salutation
from his former pupil, the Dr. was surprised by the inquiry, "Have you a
son qualified for the office of clerk of this county?" After some
reflection, he replied that he thought not, as clone of them had been
educated in prospect of such employment. After some persuasion from the
judge, he agreed "to go home and look them over, and give him word the
next day." As not a word of this was public, expectation was higher than
ever, as the applicants saw Mr. Cameron act as clerk, and not a single
intimation from the judge who should fill the office. The next morning,
the Dr. appeared at the judge's room, and entered with one of his soils;
saluting the judge, and turning to his son, "Here, judge, I have done
the best I could." McCoy conferred on him the office; and neither the
judge nor the county have had cause to regret the appointment.
During the last wear,
when a draught was called for from Guilford, and the attempt to meet the
demand by volunteers was likely to fail front the great reluctance of
the citizens to go to the seashore of a neighbouring State, whose faire
for healthiness ranked no higher than Norfolk did at the time, Dr.
Caldwell, by request, addressed the people in the court-house. Through
infirmity, he was carried to the magistrate's bench; and having preached
from the words, "He that bath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy
one;" with all the infirmities of age upon him, he produced such a
feeling among the young men, that the required list was immediately
filled out. This was patriotic in him, who, knowing the horrible evils
attending armies, was opposed to the war in the commencement; but in its
advancement, remembered that he was a citizen of the United States, and
that he must stand or fall with his country.
Dr. Caldwell knew what
affliction was from experience, for God saw it not best that his
laborious servant should fulfil his ministry without sharp trials. And
in choosing his afflictions, the Lord his Saviour proportioned their
measure to his usefulness and influence, sending upon him as bitter a
cup as could probably have come to him, without the ingredients of
sinfulness or death. First, a daughter of superior endowments and
liberal education, gave evidence that reason had lost its dominion; and
all the skill of his friend Rush could not bring it back to its throne.
Then a son, and then another son, was added to the list by a mysterious
providence. The venerable parents bowed in submission; and in meekness
and parental fondness watched over these erratic, yet not harmful
children. They never recovered the right use of their reason. The son
that preached for a time at Rocky River, was splendid in his ruins.
When the University of
North Carolina went into operation, he declined being considered a
candidate for the Presidency. As a mark of their respect for his
character and usefulness, the trustees conferred upon him the degree of
D.D., at an early stage of their proceedings, when a spirit, not the
most friendly to religion, was exercising a temporary influence in their
councils.
Dr. Caldwell continued
his pastoral services till about the year 1820; often, from weariness,
on his return home, requiring assistance to dismount, and being carried
into his house. On the 25th of August, 1824, he literally fell asleep,
to wake no more till the Resurrection, his earthly pilgrimage having
continued a period lacking only about seven months of a hundred years.
He went to his grave like a shock of corn fully ripe.
One of his sons was for
many years pastor of Sugar Creek, the congregation of his grandfather
Craighead; and one of his grandsons for a term of years ministered to
the same congregation."The seed of the righteous is blessed."
Mrs. Caldwell survived
her husband less than a year; and departed in the exercise of a good
hope, through grace, of everlasting life. Her remains were laid beside
those of Dr. Caldwell. A marble slab marks the place of sepulture of
this venerable pair, near Buffalo church, the place in which they had so
often worshipped God.
There is an interesting
tradition connected with the family of William Paisley, of Alamance. The
well-attested facts and dates respecting Mrs. Paisley, mother of the
Rev. Samuel Paisley, as received from the son, are—That she used to say
that she had no recollection of ever seeing father, mother, brother, or
sister; that it was understood that the Indians killed her father, and
that her mother died soon after hires; that Mr. Smith and Mr. Clack used
to say, the Indians had the child; that she never spoke of her
captivity; that she was reared and educated by the Rev. James Davenport,
of Pennington; that she went to school to a Mr. Chesnut, an Englishman,
about twenty miles from Philadelphia; that William Paisley became
acquainted with her there, and gaining her affections, he took her to
Philadelphia, where they were married by Rev. William Tennant, in the
year 1763, in her 20th year; that they event to Princeton, and lived
there till after the birth of their eldest son, and then removed to
North Carolina. The tradition in Jersey about this lady is—That the Rev.
James Davenport, whose wife's maiden name was Paine, was from New
England, and settled first on Long Island, in New York, and from thence
removed to Pennington, New Jersey, and was pastor of the church there
for many years; that he obtained the child from the Indians, gave it the
name of Deliverance Paine, and reared it carefully as his own.
Miss Sally Martin and
Miss Phoebe Davis lived together a long time in Princeton, New Jersey,
taught school, and had the first instruction of almost all the children
of the place. Miss Davis is still living (1546). These ladies used to
tell the children about little Dilly Paine, as is well recollected by
some that went to school to them, and re-affirmed by :Hiss Davis, upon
inquiry, in 1544; that the Indians brought her along and claimed her as
theirs, and said she had no parents; but would not tell where nor how
they got her, nor give her up to the white people; that getting out of
provisions, and having nothing to buy with, and becoming wearied of
carrying the child with them, they sold her to Mr. Davenport, for a loaf
of bread and a bottle of ruin. With Irene the little orphan grew up and
lived till her removal to Carolina. |
