Person:Andrew Wallace (13)

Andrew Wallace

The opening statement in the record of the Christina Church of New Castle Presbytery, Delaware in 1717, among those present are named (Mr.) George Gillespie, minister of, and John Steel elder from Christiana Creek. David and his father, James, must have both attended Head of Christiana, although the James Alexander named as elder there in 1715 is thought to be son of Joseph. From a booklet on Head of Christiana Church, we learn that early elders in the church were: John Garner 1707, John Steel 1711, Andrew Wallace 1726 and David Alexander 1726. Other names of interest, connected with the Alexanders, are Whites, Samples, Kerrs, and Montgomerys. The meeting house was built on land that belonged to John Steel, an Irishman (Scotch-Irish?) who was in Philadelphia in 1711. George Gillespie was ordained in May 28 1713. In March of 1713 James Steel, son of John Steel (who apparently died at this time), leased to the elders of this church two acres and four perches of land. The elders then were: Samuel Johnson and John Cross of New Castle Co., Del, Alexander White and William Semple (Sample) of Chester Co., PA, and David Alexander and Andrew Wallace of Cecil Co. MD. The consideration was an annual payment of six pence if demanded. David Alexander signed the petition, which 88 inhabitants of Cecil Co. signed, and which was sent to the Assembly and by them referred to the 'Committee of Aggrievance^S1

(Elder's Continued with year) 1713 Alexander White, 1715 James Alexander, 1726 Andrew Wallace, 1726 David Alexander, 1728 John Cross, 1732 Samuel Johnson, 1732 William Semple, 1733 John Rankin, 1733 Nathaniel Bryan, 1733 Thomas Weir, 1733 William Wallace, 1733 Joseph Wallace, 1733 Moses Scott.^S1

1.   Welbon, Henry Garner. A history of Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church, the second oldest Presbyterian church in Delaware: containing a story of the church's life; sketches of its pastors; list of communicants; record of marriages. (Newark, Delaware: Kells, 1933).
2.   Scharf, John Thomas. History of Delaware, 1609-1888. (Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox Co., 1974).

   Andrew Wallace (b. 1672-d. 1751) is an early New Munster Hundred
   Settler and co-founder/elder of "The Head of the Christiana" Church. His large slab, gravestone, as well as that of his wife, next to him, can still be seen at the Head of the Christiana churchyard in Newark, New Castle County, Delaware. He, his wife, his son Joseph and Joseph's wife are buried in that churchyard, as are a few other relatives. The Church and county records state he was born in Ireland, but his parents were Scottish.