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Key for map of churches, 18th century, eastern Pennsylvania Jeffrey La Favre - jlafavre@gmail.com This map is not a comprehensive survey of 18th century churches. It is presented as an aid for research on the Lefevers of Philadelphia and Northampton Counties. The Lefevers belonged to the German Reformed religion and the map concentrates on churches of that religion in the larger vicinities of the Lefever homes. Additional churches, especially Lutheran churches, are mapped as well. In at least one case, there is a known record of a Lefever marriage in a Lutheran church. The Moravian settlement, named Friedensthall, is included on the map because it was very near the Lefever property in the Forks township, Northampton County. The Old Norriton Presbyterian church is also labeled on the map because it was very near the property of Abraham Lefever in Norriton township, Philadelphia County (now Montgomery County). The locations labeled for churches may not be exact in all cases. Many of these early churches started as congregations only, without a church building. In cases where worship began prior to erection of a church building, the place of worship was likely in a home of a congregation member or members. German Reformed churches (blue circles)The German Reformed churches were located on the map according to information (including a map) provided in "Life and Letters of the Rev. John Philip Boehm, Founder of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, 1683-1749" edited by Rev. William J. Hinke, Ph.D, D.D., 1916. The description for the churches is also from Hinke (1916). Northampton County A. Forks of Delaware, founded about 1746, at Morgan Hill, near Easton, now First Church, Easton. Communion set is dated 1746, see Kieffer, First Settlers of Forks of Delaware, 1902, pl. facing p. 48; visited by Schlatter in June, 1747, see Life, p. 162. "The first church in which the Easton congregation worshipped, stood at the foot of Morgan's Hill, about a mile and a half from town, a little to the left of the old Philadelphia road. This building was dedicated to the service of God in 1758." See Weekly Messenger of Febr. 8, 1837, a statement made most likely by Rev. Thomas Pomp, from 1796-1850 pastor of the congregation. [The Lefevers apparently were members of the Forks congregation while living in Northampton County. Some of the early records for this congregation are found in the books of the Tohickon Union Church, Bedminster township, Bucks County, PA. In fact, some of the early Reformed pastors at Tohickon were known to simultaneously serve a number of Reformed congregations in what are now Northampton and Lehigh Counties, PA. The Tohickon Reformed records that span the time of Lefever residency in Northampton County are as follows:
Unfortunately, there are no records for marriages prior to 1755, a time period when Abraham, son of Johannes Lefever, would have married Elizabeth. Were they married by Wirtz or Riess? Listed here are the Lefever records found in the Tohickon books:
Hinke (Life and Letters..., p. 446) gives us the following regarding John Conrad Wirtz "...from 1745 to 1749 he was preaching at Saucon, Springfield and the Forks of the Delaware." In his history of the Tohickon church, he informs us that John Jacob Riess was charged with congregations at Tohickon, Saucon and Indian Creek, but is silent regarding Forks. In addition, Hinke does not specify the Forks as a congregation of Hecker. Unless the Lefevers had their children baptized at a location other than the Forks, we must assume that Hecker did indeed minister at the Forks. It should be noted that some of the early records were transcribed into the Tohickon books at a later date. Thus, it is possible that some original records were not transcribed into the books, which could account for the lack of records for the Lefevers prior to 1757. In any case, if the marraige records of Wirtrz and Riess had (or have?) survived, we could have more hope of discovering the maiden name of Abraham Lefeber's wife, Elizabeth.] C. Saucon, founded about 1734, near Hellertown, Christ's, Lower Saucon township. Mentioned by Boehm in 1734, see p. 252; by Goetschy in 1736; the Saucon church is referred to in 1740 in the Egypt record. E. Plainfield, founded about 1750, St. Peter's, in Plainfield. Warrant for church land dated Oct. 18, 1750, see Pa. German, Vol. X, p. 306; date of first church unknown. F. Moretownship Church, founded about 1750. The date 1723, frequently given, is unsupported by any contemporaneous evidence. Emanuel, Petersville. According to Rev. J. C. Becker, who became pastor in 1811, there were three congregations in that neighborhood about 1750, namely, one each in Moor township, Indianland and Indian Creek, see Church Record of Stone Church, at Kreidersville. G. Indian Creek, founded about 1747, at Jost Dreisbach's mill, in Lehigh township. Probably mentioned by Schlatter as "Great Lehigh," in 1747; according to the letter of Simon Dreisbach of Jan. 1773, the Indian Creek congregation was older than Indianland and the Mooretownship Church, see Ref. Ch. Review, XVIII, 1914, p. 214; continued in 1772 as Stone Church at Kreidersville. H. Indianland, founded about 1750, St. Paul's in Lehigh township. Date of founding according to Rev. J. C. Becker, see preceding congregation [Moretownship Church]; first church built in 1756, according to a document preserved in the church.
Bucks County B. Tohickon, founded about 1743, St. Peter's, Tohickon. September 1, 1743, date of deed for church land; first church built about the same time. D. Springfield, founded about 1745, Trinity, Springfield, near Pleasant Valley P. O.
Lehigh County I. Egypt, founded about 1734, near Coplay, Whitehall township. July 27, 1734, first baptism by Boehm, in church record; mentioned by Goetschy in 1736; the first log church was built in 1764, see Roberts, History of Egypt Church, 1908, p. 13. J. Jordan, founded about 1744, in South Whitehall township. Warrant for land secured in 1744; union church built in 1745; mentioned by Schlatter in 1747, see Life, p. 163; the Reformed people separated and built their own church in 1752, on land presented by Lorenz Guth, see Anniversary History of Lehigh County, 1914, Vol. I, p. 884f. K. Schmaltzgass, founded about 1740, New Jerusalem, Western Salisbury, near Emaus, in Salisbury township. First church built in 1741, according to the church record; the deed, dated Dec. 15, 1745, mentions the church and the first pastor, John William Straub, see Skizzen aus dem Lecha-Thal, Allentown, 1886, p. 72. L. Upper Milford, founded about 1750, near Old Zionville, Upper Milford township. Date of founding according to Anniversary History of Lehigh County, Vol. I, p. 790; oldest known burials in cemetery in 1753; first log church built about 1750. M. Great Swamp, founded about 1734, one mile north of Spinnertown, in Lower Milford township. First referred to Boehm in 1734, see p. 253; warrant for church land dated May 23, 1738, see Weiser, Monograph, p. 42; date of first log church not known.
Montgomery County N. New Goshenhoppen, founded 1727, near East Greenville, Upper Hanover township. Oct. 12, 1727, first communion, see Boehm's letter of Nov. 1730, p. 216. First church built before 1739, see p. 281. [There is a Lefever record in this church:
O. Falkner Swamp, founded 1725, in New Hanover township, near Swamp village. Oct. 15, 1725, first communion, see Boehm's report of 1744, p. 409. The first church was built in 1741, see p. 337. P. Old Goshenhoppen, founded about 1730, near Salford Station, Upper Salford township. Mentioned by Boehm, Nov. 1730, see p. 204; warrant for land secured 1732; first church built 1744; see p. 425. Q. Indian Creek, founded about 1745, (called also Indian Field) Christ's, Indian Creek, near Telford, Franconia township. Oct. 20, 1746, visited by Schlatter, see Life, p. 140, when he preached "in a wooden church". R. Skippack, founded 1725, at Harleysville, Lower Salford township. Nov. 1725, first communion, see Boehm's report of 1744, p. 409. The first church was dedicated June 22, 1729, see p. 217; discontinued in 1748, rivived as Wentz's, Worcester township, in 1762. S. Providence, founded 1742, St. Luke's at Trappe, Providence township. Nov. 5, 1742, first communion, see Boehm's statistics of 1744, p. 399; first church built in 1747, see Schlatter's private diary in Journal of Presb. Hist. Soc., III, 165. T. Wentz's Church, founded 1762, Worcester township. U. Whitpain, founded 1747, Boehm's Church, at Blue Bell, Whitpain township. Febr. 3, 1747, organized by Schlatter, see Boehm's letter of Dec. 1748, p. 456; church built in 1747, see Life of Schlatter, p. 150; also p. 456, above.
Lutheran Churches (magenta circles)Notes for these churches from Earliest German Lutheran Churches, p. 241, in The Pennsylvania-German Society Proceedings and Adresses at Easton, Oct. 26, 1900, Vol. XI, 1902. Northampton County 2. St. John's on the Forks of the Delaware established 1740 3. St. Lukes (Williams Township Church), records include baptisms 1733-1831, marriages 1740-1759, deaths 1756-1760, communicants (see: http://www.eastonpl.org/ChurchIndexList.htm ) 4. Emanuel Lutheran as early as 1723 (note this is contested by Hinke)
Lehigh County 5. Jordan, founded 1738. 6 St. Paul's "Old Blue", 1737 warrant for the land, on which the Old Blue church in Upper Saucon township stands, was drawn, the records of this church dating back to 1740. [There is a Lefever record in this church:
7. Lutheran church at Dillingersville, Upper [Lower?] Milford, was formed 1733, and not long afterward a log schoolhouse was built and a school established.
Montgomery County 8. New Goshenhoppen, established 1732 9. St Paul's - Pennsburg, established 1739 B. Little Zion, in Franconia township, in the Perkiomen district, is also said to have been established in 1730. C. Old Goshenhoppen, established 1732
Bucks County A. Tohickon, established 1743
Other Churches (magenta cicles)1. Friedensthal (Moravian settlement) - Northampton County D. Old Norrition Presbyterian - Montgomery County
Last update November 27, 2010 jlafavre@jcu.edu |