AREA HISTORY: History of Adams County, Chapter VII, Adams County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/ _______________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886 _______________________________________________ Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 24-31 CHAPTER VII. EARLY MARRIAGES-REV. ALEXANDER DOBBIN-HIS SON, JAMES-RECORD OF MARRIAGES DURING REV. ALEX. DOBBIN’S ENTIRE PASTORATE, 1774 TO 1808. Extended accounts of Rev. Alexander Dobbin are to be found in other chapters. He was a native of Londonderry, Ireland, born February 27, 1742 (O. S.), corresponding with March 7, 1743, and died at his home near Gettysburg, June 1, 1809. He was educated in Glasgow, and ordained by the Reformed Presbytery of Ireland and sent as a missionary to this country, coming direct to what is now Adams County and took charge of the “Rock Creek” congregation that had “called” for him. He first preached in the old log church a mile north of Gettysburg, near what became the site of Blocher’s iron and wood works. The church stood on what is Mr. Hollinger’s farm; in that day was owned by Minor Reed, as Blocher’s was then owned by John Patterson. The exact date of the building of the “log church” cannot be now known, but is was prior to 1773. The road passing by this place to Gettysburg had not then been laid out, but there was a connecting road between the old Carlisle and the Mummasburg road, which struck the latter at a point just west of the gate-house now occupied by S. Kitzmiller. The old church did good service for over thirty years, when it was torn down and the materials carried away, but the foundation marks were visible for many years. As related elsewhere the congregation moved to town and built a brick church, the first of the kind in Gettysburg. Mr. Dobbin was a most exemplary and excellent man. He took an active part in the union of the Associate and Reformed Churches, which was effected in 1782. The United Church was known as the Associate Reformed Church of North America. When Rev. John Murray, pastor of the “Old Hill” Church, near the border of Carroll’s tract left, Mr. Dobbin became the pastor of that church also, dividing his time between the two congregations. Mr. Dobbin was a man of superior mind and education. He was deeply interested in the temporal as well as spiritual welfare of the people. He opened a school in his own house-the Dobbin property-the large old stone house standing near the forks of the Taneytown and Emmittsburg road in Gettysburg. This was the first classical school west of the Susquehanna. Among the children of this pioneer alma mater are well remembered Rev. H. R. Wilson and John Boreland, formerly professor of Dickinson College; Rev. M. Hays, author of a poem entitled “The Seasons;” Rev. Dr. McCanaughy, for many years pro-president of Washington College; and the Rev. Dr. Proudfit, many years professor of languages in Union College; Judge Reed, of Carlisle, professor in Dickinson Law School; Judge Blythe, who became Secretary of the Commonwealth; J. H. Miller, M. D., professor in the Medical College in Baltimore. These and others who became imminent in the world and who had been so happily started along life’s pathway by their loved and venerated teacher, Rev. Mr. Dobbin, were natives of this county. A large proportion of his pupils became eminent in the varied walks of life-a greater number in proportion to the whole than have ever come from any other high school perhaps in the State. The remains of Rev. Dobbin lie buried in Lower Marsh Creek burying ground, where he, his two wives and several of his children are buried. The above facts were chiefly furnished by Rev. Jameson, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church. The second son of Mr. Dobbin, James, was a member of the bar of Adams County, and is well remembered for his many eccentricities of character. He was born January 14, 1777; died October 6, 1852. During the latter part of his life he had desk room in the office of A. R. Stevenson, Esq., who, from this circumstance, came into the possession of Rev. Mr. Dobbin’s record of marriages during his entire pastorate; a most valuable paper, indeed, as it is a recovery of valuable information that otherwise could never have been gathered. There are 216 marriages recorded of the generation that has passed away. The large number shows, conclusively, that for this sacred office there was no one so sought after, far and wide, as the Rev. Mr. Dobbin. We give them as they were transcribed from his record, preserving the spelling and the order of the entry; giving the names, dates of the ceremonies and the residences of the parties: Balt. Kilpatrick and Agnis Patterson, March 24, 1774, Drummore…...John Wade and Jennett Brownlie, April 19, 1774, Anti-item (this is Antietam, evidently).... James Finney and Martha Crunely, April 20, 1774, Canigagig....Ephraim Wallace and Jennet McCullough, April 25, 1774, Canigagig...John McBride and Eliz. Gillmore, May 12, 1774, Cumberland Township....Samuel Wilson and Eliz. Morrow, June 2, 1774, Hamilton’s Bann....James Wilson and Isabel Mitchel, August 30, 1774, Rocky Spring....Ebenezer Mitchel and Jene Richey, December 12, 1774, Canniwago....James McCormick and Mary Ridic, December 14, 1774, Cumberland.... Alexander Blackburn and Sarah McNaughton, March 1, 1775, Canniwago....Joseph Anderson and Agnes McMurry, March 16, 1775, Cumberland....Joseph Clark and Margaret Finly, April 13, 1775, Cumberland....John Drenan and Mary Robertson, August 8, 1775, Cumberland....Robert Walker and Mary Marshal, October 16, 1775, Westmoreland....Alexander Ewing and Jene Anderson, November 28, 1775, Hamilton....William Fulton and Mary Ker, December 14, 1775, Mountpleasant.... Hugh Bond and Ann Anderson, December 26, 1775, Hamilton. John Celler and Susanna Cruncleton, January 2, 1776, Antrim....Samuel Scot and Elizabeth Wilson, February 14, 1776, Antrim....Samuel Scat and Elizabeth Wilson, February 14, 1776, Cove....Joshua Morlin and Agnis McCullough, March 25, 1876, Canigagig....John Mitchell and Jene Wilson, March 27, 1776, Marsh Creek.... William Robison and Margery McNought, March 28, 1776, Canniwago....John Cochran and Sarah Mitchel, April 9, 1776, Rocky Spring....James Clark and Jene Cochren, April 10, 1776, Anti-item....Alexander McCibben and Sarah Peden, April 16, 1776, Philadelphia....James Dinsmore and Rebecca Walker, September 4, 1776, Toms’ Creek....John Johnson and Elizabeth Cithcart, September 17, 1776, Cumberland Township....William Marshal and Sarah Marshal, October 21, 1776, Toghland Township....John Renken and Mary Muaray, November 15, 1776, Hamilton’s Bann. Robt. Jamison and Jene Wilson, February 25, 1777, Cove....Samuel Moore and Annie McFerran, March 31, 1777, Cumberland....Hugh Bockley and Sarah McCullough, June 19, 1777, Cannigagig....James McFerran and Susanna McFerran, September 16, 1777, Cumberland....John Ewing and Elizabeth Gray, November 25, 1777, Berwick. David Dunwoody and Susannah Patterson, January 27, 1778, Mt. Pleasant.... Thomas Porter and Mary Gibson, April 14, 1778, Cumberland Township....William McClelland and ---Anderson, June 16, 1778, Cumberland Township....James Blakely and Agnis McDowell, June 30, 1778, Cumberland Township....James Stewart and Mary Walker, September 14, 1778, Hamilton’s Bann....William Moore and Jene McFerran, September 30, 1778, Cumberland....Mathew Richey and Rachel Wallace, October 13, 1778, Antrim....Alexander McFerson and Mary Brounlee, November 16, 1778, Maryland....Alexander Stewart and Mary Shannon, December 1, 1778, Cumberland.... Hugh Murphy and Jennet Thompson, December 3, 1778, Cumberland....William Galbraith and Sarah Ker, December 29, 1778, Mountpleasant. John Forest and Agnis Hurt, January 27, 1779, Antrim....Christopher McMichael and Martha Findly, March 1, 1779, Antrim....William Stewart and Elizabeth Leeper, March 7, 1779, Hamilton....Joseph Junkin and Elinor Cochren, May 24, 1779, Antrim...Isaac Walker and Mary Stewart, September 14, 1779, Marsh Creek....John Murphy and Ann Guthory, November 4, 1779, Hamilton’s Bann....Archibald Findly and Mary Poe, November 9, 1779, Cumberland John Renfrew and Sarah Ray, November 9, 1779, Cumberland....David Erwine and Susanna Wilson, December 7, 1779, Cove. Moses Blackburn and Margaret McKnight, January 6, 1780, Canniwago....John McCaul and Jane Stewart, February 15, 1780, Cumberland....Josiah Ker and Sarah Reynolds, February 17, 1780, Cumberland....Samuel Findly and Mary Graham, February 22, 1780, Cumberland....William Reynolds and Sarah Wilson, March 28, 1780, Cumberland....James Nicol and Isabel Richey, March 30, 1780, Canniwago....William Thompson and Jene Mitchel, April 3, 1780, Letter Kenny....James Kilpatrick and Jene Findly, April 25, 1780, Cumberland....Robt. Love and Jean Gibson, May 22, 1780, Himilton’s Bann....Alex. McCutchen and Sarah Crunleton, June 27, 1780, Antrim....Charles Hart and Jennet Dale, July 6, 1780, Peters....James Burns and Jene Gebby, November 7, 1780, Maryland. Robert Campbell and Martha Paxton, April 16, 1781, Letter Kenny....Thomas Patterson and Elizabeth Brown, May 1, 1781, Midleton....James Dickson and Margaret Robinson, May 14, 1781, Cumberland....William Finny and Anne Morton, November 2, 1781, Westmoreland....James McClelland and Agnis Sinclair, November 13, 1781, Cove. James Kirkland and Anne Colter, March 28, 1782, Cumberland....Robert Crunkleton and Anne Morhead, June 25, 1782, Washington....David Danton and Jene McEwen, August 20, 1782, Menellan....Samuel Cross and Sarah Dunwoody, August 20, 1782, Cumberland. William Hall and Miriam Brandon, May 6, 1783, Huntington....John Monteith and Jennet Leat, June 24, 1783, Cumberland....Thos. Oveond and Margaret Po, July 15, 1783, Cumberland....Benjamin Fowler and Deborah Fowler, July 28, 1783, Cumberland....Thomas McCleland and Agnis Fergus, August 19, 1783, Cumberland....John Bell and Isabel Russel, September 9, 1783, Rastrover....David Dunwoddy and Elizabeth Ker, November 2, 1783, Hamilton’s Bann....Thomas Dunlap and Martha Ramsey, November 25, 1783, Cumberland....Hugh Lind and Margret Kane, December 18, 1783, Cumberland....Arthur Chamberlain and Margret Hodge, December 23, 1783, Reading....James Moore and Margaret Young, November 11, 1783, Hamilton’s Bann. Joseph Thompson and Jane Hunter, November 23, 1784, Cumberland. James Douglas and Elinor Orr, January 20, 1785, Mountjoy....John Fergus and Elizabeth Douglass, February 1, 1785, Cumberland....Alexander Patterson and Jenney Porter, March 10, 1785, Mountjoy....Robert Taylor and Nancy Kerr, May 3, 1785, Hamilton’s Bann....William Vance and Sarah Moore, September 20, 1785, Menallen. Hugh Burns and Elinor Ramsy, January 22, 1786, Cumberland....Samuel Maxwell and Jennet Ramsy, March 7, 1786, Cumberland....Thomas Douglas and --- ----, March 28, 1786, Pipe Creek....John Krail and Elizabeth McCann, April 14, 1786, Menallen....William Donaldson and Isabel Gibson, July 4, 1786, Cumberland....Thomas Cochren and Margaret Knox, October 17, 1786, Hamilton’s Bann. Samuel Fergus and Mary Paxton, February 13, 1787, Mountpleasant....John Young and Rachel D. Fus, March 26, 1787, Mountpleasant....Robert Townsley and Nancy McCleland, August 7, 1787, Hamilton’s Bann....William Bogle and Rebecca Peden, December 15, 1787, Hanilton’s Bann....Samuel Smith and Jane Caldwell, October 16, 1787, Gettistown. James Blakely and --- Branwood, August 28, 1788, Franklin....John Swock and Anney Vanausdale, October 22, 1788, Mountjoy. Albert Demoro and Mary Vantind, February 24, 1784, Mountpleasant. John Stewart and Jane Stewart, March 5, 1789, Cumberland....George Kirker and Jane Gilmore, June 23, 1789, Hamilton’s Bann....William Speer and Catarine Blakely, July 9, 1789, Menallen....Thomas Patterson and Agnis Blakely, July 9, 1789, Menallen....Samuel Knox and Rebecca Hodge, August 13, 1789, Reading. William McCreary and Agnis Speer, January 5, 1790, Hamilton’s Bann....Hugh Fergus and Sarah Gibson, January 4, 1790, Mountjoy....Joseph Walker and Elizabeth Stewart, January 14, 1790, Cumberland....James White and --- Peden, May, 1790, Hamilton’s Bann....John Young and Margaret Clugston, December 7, 1790, Hamilton’s Bann. James Wilson and Mary Young, March 17, 1791, Mount Pleasant....John Reynolds and Hanna McWilliams, March 29, 1791, Mount Pleasant....David Breden and Jane Coulter, May 5, 1791, Mountjoy....William Butler and Mary Bann, December 20, 1791, Hamilton’s Bann....John Watson and Jenny Torrens, December 22, 1791, Mountpleasant....Thomas Jorden and Mary Barnwood, December 27, 1791, Franklin. John Fleming and Anna Agnew, January 23, 1792, Hamilton’s Bann....Hugh Dunwooddy and Martha Findly, April 12, 1792, Hamilton’s Bann....John Ewing and Jane Bogle, May 14, 1792, Strabane....Samuel Cross and Littice Brandon, July 12, 1792, Huntington....William Baldridge and Rebecca Agnew, July 17, 1792, Pipe Creek....Hugh Dunwoody and Margaret Morrow, November 22, 1792, Hamilton’s Bann. John Speer and Sally McCallan, March 1, 1794, Cumberland....Richard McLaglen and Elizabeth Hatch, July 15, 1794, Emmittsborough. Alex Young and Jennet McCreary, January 20 1795, ------------- ....Alex Horner and Jenny McCalen, February 12, 1795, Cumberland....James Crooks and Anne Ambros, June 31, 1795, Cumberland. David Brines and Elizabeth Stewart, March 29, 1796, Gettistown....William Stewart and Jennet White, April 19, 1796, Tyrone....Henry Ferguson and Susanna Coulter, May 19, 1796, Strabane. Samuel Hays and Polly Yanst, June 29, 1797, Strabane....William Patterson and Elenor Porter, September 19, 1797, Hamilton’s Bann....James Patterson and Betsey Withrow, October 26, 1797, Hamilton’s Bann. George Ker and Nelly Wilson, March 11, 1798, Gettistown....Robert Taylor and Ruth Hunter, March 29, 1798, Cumberland....James Crooks and Sarah Dunwoody, April 5, 1798, Cumberland....David Hart and Sally Paxton, April 12, 1798, Hamilton’s Bann....Daniel Murphy and Margaret Livingston, April 23, 1798, Cumberland....John Hetzer and Elizabeth Geyer, June 26, 1798, Gettistown....Charles Golden and Assina Filson, December 18, 1798, Cumberland. Samuel McKnight and Ehster Logan, May 9, 1799, Strabane....Joseph Walker and Mary Ann McMaster, July 2, 1799, Strabane....James Stewart and Elizabeth McCarter, July 18, 1799, Cumberland....Samuel Cooper and Jene Campbel, November 5, 1799, Baltimore....Mathew Longwool and Elizabeth Thomson, November 14, 1799, Hamilton’s Bann....Alexander Caldwell and Dolly Agnew, December 3, 1799, Hamilton’s Bann....Robert Morrison and Jenne Findly, December 12, 1799, Hamilton’s Bann. Mathew Steen and Margret Campbell, February 11, 1800, Hamilton’s Bann....John Crooks and Elizabeth Jenkins, February 13, 1800, Franklin....William McFarland and Margery Beatty, March 25, 1800, Mountpleasant....John Magoffin and Kitty Casset, March 25, 1800, Mountpleasant....Thomas Breden and Jane Neely, April 30, 1800, Conowago....John McCay and Polly Ackrey, June 12, 1800, Hamilton’s Bann....Thomas Carson and Mary Wilson, October 16, 1800, Hamilton’s Bann....Alexander McGaughy and Rebecca Torrence, October 21, 1800, Mountpleasant....James Young and Jenney Orr, December 25, 1800, Hamilton’s Bann. John Kelly and Lydia Teat, March 31, 1801, Strabane....Hugh Garvin and Sally Stewart, April 6, 1801, Hamilton’s Bann....Samuel Holdsworth and Ruth Caldwell, September 15, 1801, Mountpleasant. John Keys and Kitty Slasher, March 23, 1802, Cumberland....Robert Hays and Rebecca Agnew, June 21, 1802, Cumberland. Samuel Cobean and Betsey Cuningham, June 9, 1803. Eli Bradford and Mary McEn Nay, February 7, 1804, Liberty....James Wilson and Mary Wilson, February 6, 1804, Cumberland....Samuel Carter and Nancy Cowan, April 24, 1804, Franklin....John Quigly and Agnes Paton, September 6, 1804, Mountpleasant....William Johnson and Mary King, November 12, 1804, Chansford....John Adair and Libi Ewing, December 6, 1804, Cumberland. William Withrow and Sarah Cooper, March 7, 1805, Maryland....David Cuningham and Polly Stuart, March 14, 1805, Cumberland....James Stewart and Susanna Peden, March 27, 1805, Liberty....John Deyernord and Jenny Gwin, April 4, 1805, Cumberland....Jacob Smith and Hanna Kip, May 23, 1805, Cumberland....William Cochran and Bekey Morrow, May 23, 1805, Liberty....William Wilson and Betty Dunwooddy, August 20, 1805, Cumberland....Samuel Reid and Mary Agnew, September 30, 1805, Cumberland. Isaac Hulic and Sally Commongore, January 21, 1806, Mountpleasant....John McCammon and Polly Proudfoot, March 25, 1806, Hopewell....John McClereghan and Rebecca McClereghan, March 25, 1806, Amtrim. Thomas Reed and Sarah Peden, March 10, 1807, Strabane....John McAlister and Jene Work, April 7, 1807, Cumberland....Hugh Bingham and Esther Baily, October 13, 1807, Cumberland. John Calter and Sally Heagy, February 23, 1808, Mountjoy....Alex McKeelop and Sarah Slents, March 29, 1808, Mountpleasant....Henry Ferguson and Rebecca White, April 12, 1808, Reading....John Gourdly and Martha Caldwell, April 28, 1808, Mountpleasant....William Hizlit and Elizabeth Steele, September 29, 1808, Cumberland....John Agnew and Jane Wilson, October 27, 1808, Cumberland. Here is a wide range for tracing family ties and the social and marriage relations of a great many of the early settlers. If we only had a similarly complete record from the other early ministers, what an invaluable record it would be! The descendants of those named above form a large part of the present population of Adams County, as well as having representatives in many of the States of the Union, especially the States west of this. They were the children of pioneers, and many of them took up the western march where their fathers stopped, and aided greatly in bearing our empire to the Pacific shores.