Churchman, John, 1705-1775

p.16. George Churchman... Dinah... Susanah... John Churchman (son of John Churchman and Hannah his wife) was born the 4th day of the 6th month 1705... Thomas... William... Edward.... Sarah... William...

CHURCHMAN, John (1705-1775). Born at Nottingham, Chester Co. Pa. 6 mo. (August) 1705. Died at the same place, 7 mo. 24, 1775, at the age of seventy. He began to preach at twenty five, and traveled much in his own country, Europe, Great Britain and Ireland, and left an interesting Journal of his travels and experiences. He was chosen a Justice of the Peace in 1748, which was a great trial to him, and after much reflection, he declined the honor, "because God called him to avoid wordly cumbers." He and Israel Pemberton about this time water upon the Major of Philadelphia, probably Charles Willing, and warned him to deal justly. He made also in this year (1748) a visit to the State House, in Philadelphia, where the Assembly was then sitting, and addressed them on the subject of the war tax and slavery, John Kinsey, a leading Quaker of Philadelphia, being then speaker of the House. The visit was not made without such tribulation of spirit, and some discouragement from the Speaker, but the Journals of the two men would indiccate that the Friend to whom John Churchman imparted his "concern" was John Woolman. His address made a deep impression of the statement assembled, and Woolman's encouragement was justified. John Churchman was in England in 1750, and visited Christopher Wilson at Graysothen, near Broughton, and also Robert Barclay, grandson of the Apologist. He returned from this English visit in the "Carolina", Captain Stephen Mesnard, a popular Captain among the Friends, in company with Samuel Fotherfill, in 1754. In the spring of 1758 John Churchman accompanied John Woolman to a few of the New Jersey meetings, and at Chesterfield rebuked the 'raw persons', mentioned by both in their Journals, who had come to see two or three proposals of marriage. In 1759 Churchman says, "In this year I was also engaged with my Friend John Woolman in visiting the some active members ofour Society who kept slaves, first in the City of Philadelphia and in other places; also in New Jersey where we were enabled to go through some heavy labours and were favoured with peace." On his deathbed, John Churchman said "I feel that which lies beyond death and the grave, which is now an inexpressible comfort to me," Divine refreshment seeming, as some presented noted, to pass through him as a flowing stream, "I may tell you of it," said he, "but you cannot feel it as I do." MS A, of Woolman's Journal, contains a long extract from J. Churchman's Journal. John Churchman married Margaret, daughter of William and Esther Brown, of Chester County, Pa. born 1mon. (March) 13, 1707. She died of cancer, after a painful illness, in the summer of 1770.

p.27. The Testimony of Nottingham Monthly Meeting concerning our esteemed Friend John Churchman deceased. He born at Nottingham in Chester County in the Province of Pennsylvania the 4th of the 6th month 1705 of religious parents John and Hannah Churchman... In his 25th year he married and soon after was recommended to the station of an Elder, wherein we find he acted with great caution, humility, and fear... His first appearance in publick Ministry was in the year 1733... He departed this life the 24th of the 7th month 1775 aged near 70 years, a Minister about 42 years...

p.75. George Churchman son of John Churchman and Margaret his wife was born the 28th of 8th month 1730.

John Churchman (the second) departed this life the 24th of the 7th month 1775 near 70 years of age and was buried the 26th of the same in friends burial ground at East-nottingham, having been a Minister and spent upwards of four years in the european islands in that service.

Whereas John Churchman of... Province of Pennsylvania son of John Churchman Deceased... and Margaret daughter of William Brown Deceased, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other... this twenty seventh day of the eleventh month in the year our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty nine or thirty...