Southern Migration Hanover Presbyterian

Contents 1 Source 2 Text 3 Notes

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Source

From: Archive.org

Author: Robinson, Thomas Hastings, 1828-1906; Hamilton, A. Boyd (Adam Boyd), 1808-1896

Subject: Hanover Presbyterian Church (Dauphin Co., Pa.); Conewago Church (Dauphin Co., Pa.); Registers of births, etc. -- Pennsylvania Dauphin County; Dauphin County (Pa.) -- Genealogy

Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Dauphin County Historical Society

Text

At this period, from 1756 to 1764, the entire region was greatly harrassed by Indian wars. The savages, spurred on by the French, who were at hostility with England, made many incur- sions into the country along the Susquehanna. Hanover congrega- tion, lying next the mountains, was greatly exposed, and the people were often driven from their homes. Forts and stockades were built for defence, but murders and massacres frequently occurred. So greatly were the people harrassed that many left their farms and homes for safer regions. On June 6, 1759, we learn that Mr. Sankey [pastor to Old Hanover Church in Hershey], having received a call to a congregation in Virginia, and designing to remove there, applied for and received credentials from the Pres- bytery. His relation to the Hanover church as pastor seems to have been already dissolved. He removed to Virginia, accompanied by many of the Hanover congregation, about 1760. The main reason for going was to escape the incursions of the savages. He settled at Buffalo, joined the Hanover Presbytery of Virginia in 1760 and was appointed to preside at the opening of the Synod of Vir- ginia in 1785. He lived to a good old age, respected by his people and his brethren in the ministry.

Mr. Sankey served Hanover church for twenty-one years, and though no further record is known of his ministry it was evidently an acceptable one to the people, who kept him so long, and many of whom accompanied him when he left. This closed the first pastorate of Hanover church. After his dismissal during the year 1759 the church was supplied occasionally by Rev. Messrs. John Steel and John Elder.

Notes

Location of Hanover Presbyterian Church (Old Hanover):

From Egles Notes and Queries, 3rd Series, Vol. I, X:58

Old Hanover Chrch lies 15 miles east of Harrisburg and 2 miles north of the public road that led from harrisburg trhough Jonestown to reading, and on a road leading from Plamyra crossing the Swartara Creek at Dixon's old Ford, to Manada Gap by which Manada Gap passes through the First or Blue Mountains.

This description seems to place the church in or near modern Hershey, PA.