Alphabetical list with sundry names to be inquired about, 1894
First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church records and registers
Church membership
Presbyterians
Presbyterian Church
Bound manuscript with "alphabetical list of sundry names to be inquired about." Dates ranging from 1774 to 1803 are penciled in next to the names, which are written in ink. Also included is a letter dated November 17th, 1894 from a researcher interested in "Pennsylvania's early citizens" and listing approximately 90 names connected with First Presbyterian. Numbers penciled in next to the names refer to the page numbers of the bound manuscript on which the name can be found.
Burial records
Cemeteries
One page, front and back, listing the names of individuals interred in the First Presbyterian burial ground and the date and cost of their lot and burial service, from May 1, 1796 to May 1, 1797.
One page, front and back, listing the dates of burials, names of those buried, causes of death, and costs of burials at First Presbyterian Church between September 1998 and May 1799.
List of persons buried at First Presbyterian Church from May 1, 1799 to May 1, 1800. Listings include the date of burial, name of deceased, relatives' names, age at time of death, and the amount paid to First Presbyterian for their burial.
Record of people who were unaffiliated with any parish, buried at First Presbyterian Church from May 1, 1797 to May 1, 1798. Each burial listing includes the date, names of individual buried and relatives such as parents or spouses, and amount paid to First Presbyterian Church for burial.
Ewing, John, 1732-1802
Miller, Samuel, 1769-1850
Religious leaders
Two handwritten copies of a letter from First Presbyterian requesting that the Reverend Doctor Samuel Miller join them as pastor, following the illness of pastor Rev. Dr. John Ewing. The Rev. Dr. Samuel Miller was a prominent Presbyterian minister, teacher and writer in the first half of the 19th century.
Sermons
Alison, Francis, 1705-1779
Francis Alison was born in Ireland in 1705. He studied at the University of Glasgow before traveling to America in 1735. In 1737 he became pastor of Pennsylvania's New London Presbyterian Church. Ten years later he opened an academy in New London. Students included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Secretary of the Second Continental Congress. In 1752 Alison moved to Philadelphia to take charge of the Philadelphia Academy. He was later appointed Vice-Provost of the newly established University of Pennsylvania, as well as Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was also assistant minister at the First Presbyterian Church. Alison died in 1779. The sermons herein date from 1752 to 1755, but notes have been added when the same sermons were given at later dates as well.
Francis Alison was born in Ireland in 1705. He studied at the University of Glasgow before traveling to America in 1735. In 1737 he became pastor of Pennsylvania's New London Presbyterian Church. Ten years later he opened an academy in New London. Students included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Secretary of the Second Continental Congress. In 1752 Alison moved to Philadelphia to take charge of the Philadelphia Academy. He was later appointed Vice-Provost of the newly established University of Pennsylvania, as well as Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was also assistant minister at the First Presbyterian Church. Alison died in 1779. These three notebooks contain sermons dated from 1756 to 1765, with later dates, when Alison delivered the sermons again, noted in his own hand, up to 1775. A few pages in the second notebook are missing pieces, obscuring the text. The inside back cover of the third manuscript includes notes on baptisms Alison performed in 1766 and 1771.
Francis Alison was born in Ireland in 1705. He studied at the University of Glasgow before traveling to America in 1735. In 1737 he became pastor of Pennsylvania's New London Presbyterian Church. Ten years later he opened an academy in New London. Students included three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Secretary of the Second Continental Congress. In 1752 Alison moved to Philadelphia to take charge of the Philadelphia Academy. He was later appointed Vice-Provost of the newly established University of Pennsylvania, as well as Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was also assistant minister at the First Presbyterian Church. Alison died in 1779. These three notebooks contain sermons dated mainly from 1763, 1767 and 1771, with later dates noted when Alison delivered the sermons again for a new audience, up to 1777.
General committee meeting minutes, 1747-1772
Corporate minutes
Church management
Church finance
Church fund raising
Pews and pew rights
Church buildings
Church committees
Meeting minutes begin with the names of members elected for the Committee in May of 1747, and go on to document the dates of meetings, members present, and business conducted. Topics covered include financial matters such as account balances, collections, payments to those employed by the church, and pew rents; charity, including a very active widows' fund; and repairs and upgrades such as new roof shingles and a new velvet cover for the pulpit. The minutes also contain discussion of the need for a second church building to accommodate a growing congregation, and the eventual split with Third Presbyterian ("the Pine Street church.")
List of subscribers for rebuilding the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street, v. 1, 1796
List of subscribers for rebuilding the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street in 1796. Entries are by subscriber name, with amounts and total paid, and span two pages, verso and recto.
List of subscribers for rebuilding the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street, v. 2, 1793-1796
List of subscribers for rebuilding the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street. Each listing in the bound manuscript includes the name of the subscriber and amount given, and entries run from January 1793 to November 1796.
List of subscribers for rebuilding the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street, v. 3, 1793-1798
List of subscribers for rebuilding the First Presbyterian Church on Market Street. This bound manuscript includes entries dating from 1793 to 1798, and begins with an alphabetical index of names. The entries which follow are listed by subscriber name, with amounts paid, and span two pages, verso and recto.
The minutes of the meetings of "the committee for regulating pews" from 1774 to 1786 include the meeting time, place, names of committee members present and business discussed, primarily the assignment of pews and collection of pew rents. Other topics discussed include the split with "Pine Street Church" (Third Presbyterian), fees for burials, and charitable assistance to widows.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian from 1783 to 1785. For most of the book, entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto. The last few pages of the book contain notes written upside down, starting from the back and running backwards chronologically.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian in 1787. For most of the book, entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto. The last few pages of the book contain notes written upside down, starting from the back and running backwards chronologically.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian in 1789. For most of the book, entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian in 1790. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian from 1791 to 1792. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian in 1794. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian from 1794 to 1795. Entries are listed by congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian in 1796. Entries are listed by congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian from 1798 to 1799. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian in 1798. For most of the book, entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents owed and paid to First Presbyterian from 1799 to 1800. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
Proposals for First Presbyterian Church, 1793
Five letters related to the rebuilding of First Presbyterian church: William Ruddack's accounting of his fundraising for the rebuilding from 1793 to 1796; John Johnston's 1793 proposal for plastering work, 1794 letter following up and 1796 bill for services rendered; and a proposal from Lawrence Allman and Rich Guy to do brick and stone work, dated 1793.
Church discipline
Poor
Charity
Missionaries
The Session is a body of elected elders governing a Presbyterian church. Meeting minutes run from 1807 to 1830, and note the date, members present, and business discussed. Business includes elections to office and appointments to committees; management of church finances, including the funding of missionary work and financial assistance to the poor; and the resolution of conflicts between, and discipline of, church members. The history of First Presbyterian is sketched out on the verso of the first flyleaf, and the first few pages of the notebook contains a list of members from 1807. A list of communicants runs from image 116 to image 147, followed by several pages of certifications for members in good standing, and a list of members who had moved to other churches.
The Session is a body of elected elders governing a Presbyterian church. This manuscript begins with a list of pastors at First Presbyterian up to 1830, then includes an historical list of elders, followed by a list of communicants, with their dates of admission as well as notes on certificates, dismissals, exclusions and deaths. Session minutes begin on image 90. They run from 1830 to 1851, and note the date, members present, and business discussed. Business includes elections to office and appointments to committees; management of church finances, including financial assistance to the poor; church membership; and the resolution of conflicts between, and discipline of, church members.