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From:
Subject: Were all Scot-Irish immigrants to US Presbyterian?
Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 23:45:21 EST



There has been some discussion on this list about the likelihood that
Scot-Irish Americans came as Presbyterians and remained Presbyterians when they
emigrated to the U.S.

Well, if my family is any indication, not all of the Scot-Irish families
remained Presbyterian after they arrived. . . .

Most of my McCulloughs had became Methodists by the mid 1800s. A few seem
to have changed BACK to the Presbyterian church, but that appears to be after
marrying Presbyterian women. Most of my McCulloughs, having lived in the
intersection of MD, DE, and PA married into the plentiful descendants of the
early Quaker lines -- some spouses were still Quakers and some had left the
Quakers prior to marrying the McCulloughs. I have wondered whether the early
Methodists were much like the Quakers in philosophy and, thus, a good
alternative to Quaker church membership. Might the folks that I'm now finding in
Methodist cemeteries (including in Cecil Co. Methodist cemeteries) have changed to
the Methodist church because they married former Quakers who had become
Methodists, or because they married Quakers who were ousted from the church and
the couples found a new home in the Methodist church?

And some Scot-Irish Americans were already Methodists when they arrived and
were part of starting Methodist churches all over the country. . .

All of my Clarkes/Clarks who came to the U.S. from Scotland via Ireland were
Methodists when they got here. Adam Clarke -- famous Methodist, Irish,
colleague of the Wesleys--(who was purported to be a cousin of my direct American
ancestor,Adam Clarke, as per obit) would be a prime example of an active
Methodist element in Ireland. That protestant Irishman is credited by many as
the person who held the Methodist church together after the death of the
Wesley brothers.

Because my Clarkes/Clarks came here so early, I have not been able to
provide a paper trail connecting them to Scotland prior to their Irish residency
(which does show up on census records in 1850 for the two of the five original
immigrants who survived long enough to be included in the 1850 census).
However, the genealogists who were supported by the Irish government told me that
the given names in my family tended to be Scottish names -- Adam, Archibald,
Gabriel, and perhaps Philander -- and pretty strong evidence that their
initial roots lay in Scotland prior to landing for a time in Ireland.

In any event, at least some Scot-Irish Americans had been converted to
Methodism prior to coming west to the Americas.

Karen

In a message dated 11/21/2005 8:41:24 AM Central Standard Time,
writes:

Allison-
The Presbyterian Historical Society
425 Lombard St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-627-1852
They have copies of church records for churches that have closed. They have
reference material as church histories. They can also tell you if they have
records for any Cecil County Presbyterian Churches. They do not do the
research in the records-you can do it-or there are people who know their records
that you can hire to search.
www.familysearch.org also can be searched for microfilmed church records to
rent and to look at in a Family History Center nearby.
Here is 1 listed for Cecil County-
Church records, 1878-1968 Rock Presbyterian Church (Elkton, Maryland)
Don't know what community you are searching.
Nancy
----- Original Message -----
From: Alison Causton
To:
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 2:41 PM
Subject: Re: [MDCECIL] Thomas Huggins, died c.1788; Availability of church
records


On 16-Nov-05, at 9:24 AM, gordon crooks wrote:

> Alison: I very much doubt if they changed their religion. For the
> most part those coming from N. Ireland to America were of
> Ulsterscots origin and Presbyterian Convenantors and they remained
> that here. They did split into several different groups (oldsiders
> vs newsiders). Your problem is this some churches kept precise
> records, other did not, some were lost over a period time etc.
> Cecil Co.is not my major area of research, Franklin Co., Pa. is and
> I know where every single Presbyterian Church is or was located and
> what if any records are available. There might be a Presbyterian
> Hist. Soc. for the area such as Pennsylvania has which could be a
> fountain of info. You need to check web sites such as
> www.interment.com and see what they have to offer. Good luck
>
> Gordon

Thank you, Gordon, for this perspective.
Cheers,
Alison





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