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Archiver > PAALLEGH > 2000-11 > 0973789919


From: Clare <>
Subject: [ALL] 1st Reformed Presb. Church,
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2000 09:11:59 -0800


From:
Dave Spriggs <>
To:





Hi Listers,

The marriage certificate of my great grandparents indicates only that
they
were wed by a John Douglas, VDM, Presbyterian minister, in Pittsburgh in
June 1888; no location or witnesses. Given their economic situation, I
doubt that it was a "church wedding"; more likely they obtained the
license
at Orphan's Court and found the nearest minister who would perform the
ceremony. Indeed, the ceremony took place on the same day as the license
was issued. They resided in Shaler Twp, so it is unlikely that the Rev.
Douglas in Pittsburgh was their family pastor.

I am searching for any church documentation which may record the
wedding,
particularly any addresses or witnesses. I located a web site which
contains the 1858 City Directory of Pittsburgh Churches has following
listing under the category of Presbyterian:

>1st Reformed cor Liberty and Plumb ay.
> Rev. John Douglas

I am assuming that this is the same John Douglas who performed the
ceremony
in 1888. I can easily find Liberty, but I can find no "Plumb" or "Plum"
in
Pittsburgh. Most likely the street name was changed or the street was
lost
to urban construction. Also, I can find no current telephone directory
listing for a 1st Reformed Presbyterian Church.

So, here are my questions to you Pittsburgh historians:

(1) What would be the current street coordinates of the 1858 location of
the church? Was the church (the organization, not the structure) still
at
that location in 1888? If not, where was it in 1888?
(2) Does a church building now stand at that location? Is it the 1st
Reformed Presbyterian?
(3) What was the street address of Orphan's Court in 1888? Was that
location near the corner of Liberty and Plumb ... or a possible 1888
location of the church? (I know the current address Orphan's Court is
414
Grant. That site is not near Liberty Ave.)
(4) Does there now exist a 1st Reformed Presbyterian Church in
Pittsburgh? If there is not one, where might the their church records
have
been deposited?
(5) What does the "ay." signify after the street coordinates in the
listing above? It appeared in about half the listings for PGH churches.

Given the specificity of my questions, off-list replies are welcome
to ()

Many TIAs to any and all who reply.

Dave Spriggs
Norfolk Virginia USA

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