On October 2, 1799, Rev. Joshua Williams was
ordained and installed pastor of the sister
churches, to serve two-thirds of his time at
Derry, with a salary of £120, while Paxton paid
her accustomed £60 for her third. This seems
to have been a period of disheartenment and a
rapidly diminishing flock. The tide of westward
migration had set in and the sons and daughters
of the old church were rapidly seeking homes in
the ever-widening frontiers. Again there were
troubles before Presbytery about arrears in sal-
ary, and finally, Mr. Williams resigned in June,
1801, after a year and eight months service.
That it was no fault of the pastor can be judged
from his long and faithful ministry at Big
Spring Church, Newville.
Joshua Williams, of Welsh descent, was born
in Great Valley, Chester County, in 1765, the
family moving soon after to Dillsburg, York
County. He was graduated from Dickinson Col-
lege, 1795, and licensed to preach by Carlisle
Presbytery in 1797.
By nature quiet, retiring, of solemn manner,
he was not one of the brilliant men of the church,
but a hidden force whose sound judgment was
highly respected by his brother clergymen.
He was a great reader and we are told that
once, when he was bedfast for eight months, he
read six volumes of Watson's Theology Tracts, a
commentary on the Old Testament, the New Tes-
107
tament through twice, besides Edwards on the
Will, which he re-read each year. He was one
of the directors of the Harrisburg Library Com-
pany, organized in 1795.
Dr. Williams died in 1838 and was buried in
the graveyard of Big Spring Church. After he
left Derry and Paxton the practice of having the
pastor president of a corporation of thirteen
trustees ceased.
Rev. James Russel Sharon
1807—1843
It must have been a direct answer to the
prayers of the faithful that Mr. Sharon was sent
to Paxton and Derry after six years of supplies.
During this time, James Adair, young and tal-
ented, was called in 1802, preached a number of
Sundays, but died before he was installed, the
Rev. James Snodgrass being paid £1.10 for
preaching his funeral sermon.
For thirty-six years Mr. Sharon labored faith-
fully among his people, the longest pastorate,
save Mr. Elder's, the old church has ever known,
and the only minister in all these generations
who died in office. He was visiting his daughter
in Milton at the time and is buried in that town.
Many years later this daughter said the family
would be entirely agreed should Paxton congre-
gation wish to remove his remains to our own
graveyard, as her father always said, "Paxton
was his Reuben !"
James Russel Sharon was born in Lost Creek
Valley, now Juniata County, in 1775, was a
108
graduate of Dickinson College and was licensed
by Carlisle Presbytery in 1806. He was installed
pastor of the sister churches May 29, 1807. He
was greatly beloved by his people and the years
of his work were those of steady, if quiet growth,
years so peaceful that they are uneventful from
an earthly standpoint. Factional differences
were over, there was no question of arrears of
salary and for years after his lamented death
his name was a household word in this congrega-
tion. Because of his justice and clemency. Par-
son Sharon was often asked by Presbytery to
settle difficulties between sister churches or
church factions. His decisions were rarely re-
versed.
Page 40
Presented as published in 1913. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
On October 2, 1799, Rev. Joshua Williams was ordained and installed pastor of the sister churches, to serve two-thirds of his time at Derry, with a salary of £120, while Paxton paid her accustomed £60 for her third. This seems to have been a period of disheartenment and a rapidly diminishing flock. The tide of westward migration had set in and the sons and daughters of the old church were rapidly seeking homes in the ever-widening frontiers. Again there were troubles before Presbytery about arrears in salary, and finally, Mr. Williams resigned in June, 1801, after a year and eight months service. That it was no fault of the pastor can be judged from his long and faithful ministry at Big Spring Church, Newville.
Joshua Williams, of Welsh descent, was born in Great Valley, Chester County, in 1765, the family moving soon after to Dillsburg, York County. He was graduated from Dickinson College, 1795, and licensed to preach by Carlisle Presbytery in 1797.
By nature quiet, retiring, of solemn manner, he was not one of the brilliant men of the church, but a hidden force whose sound judgment was highly respected by his brother clergymen.
He was a great reader and we are told that once, when he was bedfast for eight months, he read six volumes of Watson's Theology Tracts, a commentary on the Old Testament, the New Tes-
tament through twice, besides Edwards on the Will, which he re-read each year. He was one of the directors of the Harrisburg Library Company, organized in 1795.
Dr. Williams died in 1838 and was buried in the graveyard of Big Spring Church. After he left Derry and Paxton the practice of having the pastor president of a corporation of thirteen trustees ceased.
Rev. James Russel Sharon 1807—1843
It must have been a direct answer to the prayers of the faithful that Mr. Sharon was sent to Paxton and Derry after six years of supplies. During this time, James Adair, young and talented, was called in 1802, preached a number of Sundays, but died before he was installed, the Rev. James Snodgrass being paid £1.10 for preaching his funeral sermon.
For thirty-six years Mr. Sharon labored faithfully among his people, the longest pastorate, save Mr. Elder's, the old church has ever known, and the only minister in all these generations who died in office. He was visiting his daughter in Milton at the time and is buried in that town. Many years later this daughter said the family would be entirely agreed should Paxton congregation wish to remove his remains to our own graveyard, as her father always said, "Paxton was his Reuben !"
James Russel Sharon was born in Lost Creek Valley, now Juniata County, in 1775, was a
graduate of Dickinson College and was licensed by Carlisle Presbytery in 1806. He was installed pastor of the sister churches May 29, 1807. He was greatly beloved by his people and the years of his work were those of steady, if quiet growth, years so peaceful that they are uneventful from an earthly standpoint. Factional differences were over, there was no question of arrears of salary and for years after his lamented death his name was a household word in this congregation. Because of his justice and clemency. Parson Sharon was often asked by Presbytery to settle difficulties between sister churches or church factions. His decisions were rarely reversed.