I visited this church on April 10, 2001. The church doesn’t have any old records on file. The Easton Public Library has microfilm copies of the church’s session minutes and birth, marriage, and death records. The original books are deposited in the home church in Philadelphia.

Some Surnames From My Tree Who Were Members of the Church

Many of my ancestors were members of this church. Here is a list of some of them (and some other of the same surname that may or may not be in my direct line) by date of admission, extracted Centennial history of the First Presbyterian church of Easton, Pennsylvania: 1811-1911. which you can see online here.

1816
Margaret McElroy
1817
Alexander Wilson
1819
Peter Snyder
Elizabeth Snyder
James Wilson
1822
Thomas McElroy
Thomas McKeen
Elizabeth McKeen
1826
John Wilson
1827
Eliza A. Wilson
1828
James McKeen
1834
Joseph Farquhar
Christianna Farquhar
1836
Elizabeth Wilson
1837
John Farquhar
1838
Jessie Farquhar
Ailse Farquhar
George Farquhar
Dorotha Farquhar
Ann Farquhar
1841
Sarah Wilson
1842
Mary Farquhar
1846
Mary Wilson
1847
Alexander Wilson
Mary Cathcart Wilson
1849
Jane Wilson
Anna Wilson
1854
Ann Wilson
1855
Mary Ann Wilson
Jane Wilson
1860
James Barnard Wilson
Mattie Wilson
1867
Jane Wilson
1878
J. Frank Wilson
1895
Laura Bowers LaBarre
1897
Ellen M. Wilson
Harry Wilson
1900
John H. Wilson
1902
Mrs. Ada F. La Barre

Records from The First Presbyterian Church, Easton, Pennsylvania

These records were extracted by Dan Wilson and kindly shared with me.

WILSON, JAMES
Married ELIZABETH THOMPSON on 11 April 1825. This was found in the records of Rev. David Bishop who died 19 May 1822. He was followed by Rev. John Gray who was installed in September 1822. Therefore it must have been Rev. Gray who performed the service. Bride and groom were both of Easton, Pa. There was also a JAMES WILSON who married ELIZABETH McKEEN according to Condit(1885). We have no indication that these ELIZABETHs are the same. They had children as follows.

WILSON, MARY CATHCART b.____? bap. 25 Mar 1827
——, ELIZABETH b.____? bap. 25 Apr 1830
——, WILLIAM THOMAS b.____? bap. 20 Nov 1831
——, ANNA b.____? bap. 27 Oct 1833

WILSON, JAMES
Was ordained an elder of the church 27 Mar 1831. He died 20 February 1847. He may be the one who married ELIZABETH McKEEN as stated by Condit(1885).

===============================================================
Children of Alexander Wilson and Margaret McElroy
(Records of the First Presbyterian Church of Easton, PA)
===============================================================
WILSON, JOHN…………. b. 24 Nov. 1817; bap. 5 Feb 1818
——, JAMES………… b. 26 Apr. 1820; bap. 2 Jul 1819
——, MARY…………. b. 28 Oct. 1821; bap. 5 May 1822
——, SARAH………… b. ___________?; bap. 5 Sep 1823
——, JANE…………. b. ___________?; bap. 27 Nov 1825
——, THOMAS……….. b. 15 Mar 1827 ; bap. 28 Oct 1827
——, MARGARET……… b. __________ ?; bap. 5 Apr 1829
——, ANN………….. b. __________ ?; bap. 24 Apr 1831
——, WILLIAM C…….. b. 22 June 1834; bap. 31 Jul 1835
——, MARTHA……….. b. __________ ?; bap. 9 Jul 1837
——, HARRIET McKEEN… b. 15 Jul. 1832; bap. 10 Aug 1832
===============================================================

WILSON, WILLIAM R.
of Phillipsburg, Pa., married MATTIE McKEEN of Easton, Pa on 29 Nov 1866 and had a son WILLIAM A. b.? bap. 19 Dec 1867.

WILSON, JANE GRAY of Easton
Married SAMUEL McLEAN of Carbon County, Pa. on 23 Jan 1855 and moved to Mauch Chunk 27 Nov 1857. She may have been related to REV. JOHN GRAY who became pastor of the 1st Presby Church of Easton upon the death of Rev. David Bishop 19 May 1822. REV GRAY remained at his post for 44 years, 7 months. She may also have been related to REV. THOMAS McKEEN GRAY who became pastor of the Bridge-Hampton Church. She may also have been the daughter of Alexander Wilson and Margaret McElroy of Easton. They had a daughter Jane, bap. 27 Nov 1825 and admitted to the church in 1849. There was another Jane Wilson admitted to the church in 1855, but since she married Samuel McLean in January 1855, it seems unlikely that the Jane Wilson of 1855 is Jane Gray Wilson.
_______

WILSON / McELROY – church membership admission dates
1st Presbyterian Church of Easton, PA

1816 McElroy, Margaret (wife of Alexander Wilson)
1817 Wilson, Alexander (husband of Margaret McElroy)
1819 Wilson, James (probable brother of Alexander Wilson)
1822 McElroy, Thomas (probable brother of Margaret McElroy)
1826 Wilson, John (probable brother of Alexander Wilson)
1827 Wilson, Eliza A. (probable wife of James Wilson of 1819)
1836 Wilson, Elizabeth (probable daughter of James Wilson of 1819)
1840 Wilson, James (probable son of Alexander Wilson)
1841 Wilson, Sarah (probable daughter of Alexander Wilson)
1846 Wilson, Mary (probable daughter of Alexander Wilson)
1847 Wilson, Alexander
1847 Wilson, Mary Cathcart (daughter of James Wilson of 1819)
1849 Wilson, Anna – (probable daughter of James Wilson of 1819)
1849 Wilson, Jane – (probable daughter of Alexander Wilson)
1854 Wilson, Ann – (probable daughter of Alexander Wilson)
1855 Wilson, Jane –
1855 Wilson, Mary Ann –
1860 Wilson, James Barnard –
1860 Wilson, Mattie –
1867 Wilson, Jane –
1878 Wilson, J. Frank –
1897 Wilson, Ellen M. –
1897 Wilson, Harry –
1900 Wilson, John H. –
1904 Wilson, Mrs. Mary –

…………… MC KEEN FAMILY ………………

The McKEENs were an influential family in the Church, and the name can be found in the Washington Township area. The name is connected with Clan Donald of Glencoe, i.e. MacIan.

McKEEN, THOMAS
Condit (1885) says COL. THOMAS McKEEN offered $4200 to the Church for erection of a parsonage. He had a daughter ELIZABETH McKEEN who married JAMES WILSON. THOMAS McKEEN was ordained an elder of the church 8 Jun 1823 and died 25 Nov 1847. There was another THOMAS McKEEN of South Easton who died 1868.

McKEEN, HARRIET PORTER d. 2 Feb 1864.
Church records identify her as “wife of THOMAS McKEEN.” Also, we note that ALEXANDER and MARGARET WILSON had a daughter named HARRIET McKEEN WILSON.

McKEEN, ELIZABETH BENNET d. 28 Oct 1835.
Church records identify this person as “Mrs. McKeen”, but do not identify her husband.

McKEEN, ELIZABETH, d. 18 Apr. 1830.
There is no indication of her connection with THOMAS McKEEN, but she may have been the daughter who married JAMES WILSON.

McKEEN, JAMES and ELIZABETH had children:

McKEEN, THOMAS b.? bap. 22 Mar 1833
______, ELIZABETH b.? bap. 18 May 1836

A JAMES McKEEN was mentioned as a deacon of the Brainerd Presbyterian Church by Condit(1885). This church was a spin-off of the 1st Presby Church of Easton and was founded 5 Mar 1853. Elders included JOHN STEWART who had been an elder of the 1st Presby Church of Easton.

McKEEN, HELEN b.? bap. 15 April 1841 to JAMES and MARY McKEEN.

GRAY, REV. THOMAS McKEEN
Married MARY JANE NOE of Elizabethtown, N.J. on 15 May 1856 and became pastor of the Bridge-Hampton Church.

…………………………………………….

References

Condit, Rev. Uzal W. (1885). THE HISTORY OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia: George W. West. (at Mesa FHL – microfiche)

For more records of the First Presbyterian Church of Easton, Pennsylvania, see the UsGen Web’s Northampton County Pennsylvania Archives at .

The following data was submitted by JUNE Gerbode

From the 1850 census (‘Bushkill Ward’, Northampton Co.,PA)

Wilson, Alexander 84, IRE
Margaret 51, PA
Mary 29, PA
Thomas 23, PA
Jane, 25, PA
Ann, 20, PA
Harriet 18, PA
Martha 13, PA
William, 15, PA

===========================

The two obitutaries are from the Illinois State Register, Springfield, IL.
(Dec.26,1904)
Clark – At the family residence, 914 South Second street, at 10:30 o’clock, Sunday, Dec.25,1904, Mary Elizabeth Clark, aged 83 years, 2 months and 35 days.
Mrs. Clark came to this city with her husband S. G. Clark, in 1861, and has been a resident of this city since that time. Besides her husband, who is very ill at home, she is survived by four sons, William and Alexander of this city, Sylvester of Battle Creek, Mich. and Fredrick of South Bend, Ind., and three daughters, Mrs. G. A. Kimber, and Miss Minnie Clark of this city, and Mrs. Redick Ridgely of Fulton, KY.
The remains were removed to the residence of her daughter, Mrs. G. A.Kimber, 916 South Second street, from which place the funeral will take place at 3 o’clock this afternoon, and the interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery. Friends desiring to view the remains may do so between the hours of 12 and 2 o’clock.

* * * *
(June 29,1914)
Clarke – The funeral services for Sylvester Goodrich Clarke, who died at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the family residence, 914 North Fourth street, will be held at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G.S.Kimber, 914 South Second street. Burial will be in Oak Ridge cemetery.
The funeral services will be private.
Friends wishing to call may do so between the hours of 10 and 12 o’clock this morning,

===========================

Sylvester Goodrich Clarke
b. 19 Jan 1828 Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies
FA: Silvester (IRE)
MO: Kath:Ann (West Indies)
d. 27 June 1914 Springfield, Sangamon Co. IL
U.S.A. 1850

(m) 26 Nov 1851 Easton, Northampton Co. PA>

Mary Elizabeth Wilson
b. 28 Oct 1821 Easton, Northampton Co.PA
d.26 Dec 1904 Springfield, Sangamon Co. IL
FA: Alexander Wilson
MO: Margaret McElroy

Children:
Annie Harrison Clarke (1852-1942) (m-1875) Gus A Kimber
William Martin Clarke (1854-1932)(m1886) Addie Hay
Alexander Wilson Clarke (1856-1911)(m-1889) Effie A.Likes
Sylvester Murray Clarke (1858-1923)(m-1884) twice
Frederick McLean Clarke (1860- ? )
Mary Elizabeth Clarke (1862-infancy)
Mary ‘Minnie’ Elizabeth Clarke (1863-1929) single
Sallie Amelia Clarke (1867-1951)(m-1889) R. Ridgely

Contact Info:
First Presbyterian Church of Easton, PA
333 Spring Garden Street
Easton, PA
610-253-3579