CHAPTER 28
The Tracy Family History
Donegal Presbyterian Church, 1721
We know that our people were staunch Presbyterians. Their generations founded and supported churches of this faith. This was their church while in Pennsylvania. Originally, it was a small log building. Around 1730, the present stone church was built. It has been a continually operating church for more than 270 years. Because our people arrived shortly after the founding of the log church, they were not among the founding fathers. However, records show that they were supporters of this historical church.
From the graveyard we see the church today.
The smaller building behind is the visitor's center.
This is the original stone building, although it has
undergone revisions, restorations, and some major changes over the years.
Within the walls of today’s graveyard stood the original log
church.
These people, our people, were strong patriots. There are
many Revolutionary War soldiers whose graves are within these walls. For 260 years
there stood a huge white oak tree at the entrance of the church. When the
British army advanced forcing Washington to retreat to Chadd’s Ford, the
congregation stood beneath this tree “...with hands joined, they vowed
allegiance to the cause of the patriots, and their minister, Rev. Colin
McFarquhar, who always prayed for the King of England, united with them. Since
then, this tree was always known as the “Witness Tree.” (Chadds Ford,
Pennsylvania, on Brandywine Creek, was the site of the famous Battle of Brandywine
in September 1777.)
The old tree made it through many wars and many years,
but could not survive beyond the year of 1991. It was too infirmed to go on any
longer and has since been converted into fine furniture and little mementos,
courtesy of the Donegal Society.
The first pastor was the Reverend James
Anderson, a man so highly respected that generations of our people would name
their children after him. Our families would intermarry and the Andersons would
become part of American history.
Under his leadership, Donegal Church would become the
“...fifth Presbytery of Presbyterianism in America.” (“This was a ruling body in
Presbyterian Churches consisting of the minister and representative elders from
congregations within a district.”)
Reverend Anderson would lead the church for 13 years, dying
in 1740. He and his wife are buried in the church graveyard, “...to the left as
one enters the gate.”
THE TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BEAUTY: In some chapters yet to come I refer to the
Twelve-Year-Old Beauty. Family tradition says that when Michael Woods and our
clan crossed Pennsylvania to the frontier, they stopped at the house of the
Reverend James Anderson. He had a beautiful daughter twelve years of age named
Susannah. Michael Woods' son, John, was four years her senior and fell violently
in love with her. He vowed to return and win her as his wife after he became a man.
In a few years he returned and they were married. (However, there is another
family that is not in our line that claims Susannah married a Robert Taylor. This
family believes their information is well researched.)
________________
The noted genealogist, George Shelden Wallace, tells us the
following (1927):
In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, still stands the old
Donegal Church and in it is the pewter communion service which was brought from
Scotland by its first Pastor, the Rev. James Anderson.
This congregation later became a part of the Lebanon
congregation and an old communion cloth made for the early Church is still to be
seen at Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
“Maybe it will interest you to know that we are using in our
church (Lebanon Presbyterian) the table cloths that Hannah Woods, who married
William Wallace, spun the flax and wove them. They are beautifully white and in
perfect condition.”
March 15th, 1927 M.H.R
The present church historian is not aware of these relics of
the past. Thus, bringing into question if the above story is correct.
George Selden Wallace published his best known genealogy book
in 1927:
Wallace: Genealogical Date Pertaining to the Descendant of Peter Wallace &
Elizabeth Woods, His Wife. It is 275 pages of genealogy and some history. It
is very well done and a must for those of you who are more interested in our
family tree.
The book is available in reprint from: Higginson Book Co.,
148 Washington St., P. O. Box 778, Salem,
Massachusetts 01970
My family history web site has 79 chapters. If you would like to know more about the other chapters then go to my Home Page www.thetracyfamilyhistory.net
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