Francis Makemie (c. 1658-1708), the organizer of the first American
Presbytery, was born in Ulster of Scots parentage. In 1676 he went to
Glasgow to attend the classes in the University there, and his name
still stands in the matriculation register of the University:
"Franciscus Makemius ... Scoto-Hibernus," i.e. Francis Makemie, a Scot
of Ireland. In 1683 he was ordained by the Presbytery of Laggan and
sent over to the American colonies, where he immediately began the
organization of churches and presbyteries. William Traill, another
Scot, Moderator of the Presbytery of Laggan, was sent over shortly
before Makemie but he confined his work to preaching. George Gillespie
(1683-1760), born in Glasgow, was one of the earliest ordained
ministers in New Jersey and Delaware. Alexander Garden (1685-1756), an
Episcopalian, born in Edinburgh, settled in Charleston, South
Carolina, as Rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Samuel Auchmuty
(1722-77), son of the eminent Scottish lawyer of Boston, was Rector of
Trinity Church, New York city, and had charge of all the churches
there. Thomas Gordon, the "fighting parson" of Bacon's Rebellion
(1676) was a Scot. Henry Barclay (1712-64), Rector of Trinity Church,
New York, Trustee of the New York Society Library, and a Governor of
Columbia University, was the son of John Barclay, a Scot, Surveyor
General of East New Jersey. Robert Sandeman (1718-71), born in Perth,
and died in Danbury, Connecticut, was principal founder of the
Sandemanians or Glassites. John Mason, a native of Linlithgow, "one of
the most accomplished preachers and pastors of his day," was appointed
Minister of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, New York, in 1761. James
Caldwell (1734-81), soldier parson of the Revolution, was of Scots
parentage or descent. Finding the Revolutionary soldiers short of
wadding he distributed the church hymn books among them, with the
exhortation, "Now, boys, put Watts into them." His son, John E.
Caldwell, was one of the founders of the American Bible Society.
Alexander McWhorter (1734-1807), of Scottish parentage, took an active
part in Revolutionary matters and was a Trustee of Princeton College.
McWhorter Street in Newark, New Jersey, is named in his honor. James
Waddell (1739-1805), famous in Virginia as "The Blind Preacher," was
probably a grandson or great-grandson of William Waddell of Monkland
parish, Scotland, one of the prisoners captured at Bothwell Brig in
1679. Samuel McClintock (1732-1804), minister of Greenland, New
Hampshire, of Scottish origin, was present at Bunker Hill and appears
in Trumbull's painting of the battle. Four of his sons served in the
Revolutionary war. Alexander McLeod (1774-1833), born in the island of
Mull, died in New York as Pastor of the First Reformed Church.
Described as "a powerful preacher, a man of learning and wisdom, and a
devout Christian." George Buist (1770-1808), born in Fifeshire,
Scotland, educated in Edinburgh, "one of the most eloquent and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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