Archives & History


St. Luke's Church, circa 1890

Old St. Lukes has embarked on an ambitious project to place some of its important papers on the web site.  Here you will find information about the Whiskey Rebellion, Christian history, land claims of Virginia, and other topics that will be of interest to the serious researcher, historian, or family genealogist.  In most of these papers the original spelling and syntax have been kept.  Articles related to OSL and American history are also included.

This page is by no means complete, and is an ongoing project.  For more information, or to make contributions of historic papers related to Old St. Lukes or the Whiskey Rebellion, contact  Rev. Richard W. Davies; E-mail  canrichdavies@aol.com or call 412-489-3795.  

OSL NEWSLETTER for JUNE, 2012 NOW AVAILABLE IN PDF FILE FORMAT - CLICK HERE Get a FREE PDF file reader from Adobe: click HERE

Historians and Researchers - click HERE for links to sites containing documents pertinent to American or Colonial History
1765 - A very busy year here and there Rev. Richard W. Davies looks at some of the "taxing" events leading up to the American Revolution and Whiskey Rebellion

 

1978 Restoration A photo of some of the people who helped restore Old St. Lukes

 

2001 - Unveiling of OSL's Roadside Marker The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission officially recognizes the significant role of Old St. Luke's Church in the history of Western Pennsylvania

 

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A Brief History of OSL's Buildings Rev. Richard W. Davies traces the edifice of Old St. Lukes, from the 1790's Frame Church to the restored structure of today

 

A Dowsing rod and unmarked graves in the Burial Ground Did you ever wonder if "dowsing" works?  It is science or art..or hokum?  Rev. Richard W. Davies tells the story of a modern day dowser and the Old St. Lukes graveyard
 
A Pittsburgh Benefactor The story of John H. Shoenberger, an early industrialist and philanthropist in Pittsburgh, as told by Rev. Richard W. Davies
 
American Coinage and Church Pews The financial health of the Pittsburgh area was often affected by a variety of foreign coinage in the early days of the country.  Rev. Richard W. Davies traces coinage, and the financial health of the local church
 
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Before and After the Naming of Pittsburgh - 1758 In this 250th Anniversary year of the British occupation of the site of Ft. Duquesne, Rev. Richard W. Davies writes a short history lesson, describing the founding of Pennsylvania through what life was like in the Ohio valley
 
Brackenridge, Hugh Henry A look at the life of one of Pittsburgh's most endearing characters of the early Federal period - an article by Richard R. Gideon
 
Brackenridge on Efforts to Form a New State Hugh Henry Brackenridge's role in quashing efforts to create a new state from western Pennsylvania and Virginia; an effort he later regretted.  From the book "Law Miscellanies," and edited by Richard R. Gideon
 
Brigadier General John Neville  1731 - 1803 An article by Rev. Richard W. Davies from the Old St. Lukes Newsletter of July, 2003 in commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the death of General John Neville
 
BURIAL GROUND AND GARDEN Cemetery listings, showing names and locations (where known) of those buried in the grounds of Old St. Luke's.  A genealogical resource.
 
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CELEBRATE 250-73
CELEBRATE 250-74
 
CELEBRATE 250-75
A series of short news items regarding OSL's role in the City of Pittsburgh's "Celebrate 250" year 2008, as published by The Episcopal Dioceses of Pittsburgh
 
CEMETERY GRAVESTONES Examples of CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY's ground-breaking scanning technology in use at OLS to recover gravestone inscriptions lost to time
 
CEMETERY LISTING - SEE BURIAL GROUND AND GARDEN

 

Cemetery listings, showing names and locations (where known) of those buried in the grounds of Old St. Luke's.  A genealogical resource.
 
CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS IN STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, and LET THEIR BE (GAS) LIGHT
 
From the March 2011 newsletter, a double article about Christian Art and how it was once illuminated - by Rev. Richard W. Davies
Christopher Gist, pioneer; and Sequoyah From the March, 2007 newsletter, Rev. Richard W. Davies assembles information from the Jones family concerning their interesting relatives, one of whom developed the Cherokee alphabet
 
Clergy - The Call for Independence From the March, 2003 newsletter, Rev. Richard W. Davies traces the role of the clergy in framing the Declaration of Independence.
 
Coal Mines under Old St. Luke's Church
From the November, 2012 newsletter, a listing of three coal mines known to have operated very close to OSL
 
Colonial Care of the Poor Rev. Richard W. Davies provides insight into a time when the "established church" provided civil services
 
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Dramatis Personæ Notes about some of the principals of the Whiskey Rebellion - compiled by Richard R. Gideon
 
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Early Postal Service and Lea the Postmaster

 
A look at the early postal system in the United States from 1787 to 1906 - From the November, 2005 newsletter by Rev. Richard W. Davies  
 
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French and Indian War

 

Information concerning the French and Indian War, and activities coincident with the war
"Fee Tail" 200 Years Ago this Year Traces the lineage of Old St. Luke's Church to the "Fee Tail" will of Maj. William Lea.  An article by Rev. Richard W. Davies
 
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General Daniel Morgan - Sharpshooter Rev. Richard W. Davies looks at the life of Gen. Daniel Morgan, patriot and Federalist, and his connection to the Whiskey Rebellion
 
Grave Changes over the Decades in Pittsburgh

The dead sometimes do not remain "undisturbed" in their graves.  Rev. Richard W. Davies discusses the relocation of the dead in and around the Pittsburgh area
 
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Health in Pittsburgh A table showing the decline in death due to a variety of diseases
 
Historic Site Marker A pictorial of the events surrounding the unveiling of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Historic Site Roadside Marker
 
History and Incidents of Old St. Lukes

 

A selection of vignettes from the days when St. Lukes had an active congregation
 
Holmes Jr., Obadiah (1760 - 1834) From Doddridge's "Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars,"  Obadiah Holmes Jr. (who is buried at Old St. Lukes) and his role in the Moravian Indian massacre. 
 
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Isaac Craig and Pittsburgh's First Glass Factory

 

  Following in the footsteps of Albert Gallatin, Isaac Craig opens the first glass factory in Pittsburgh.  An article by Rev. Richard W. Davies
 
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James Fries and his dog "Whiskey" were here in 1794

 

Perhaps not as well known, the FRIES REBELLION nearly matched the Whiskey Rebellion in terms of the government's response to the "House Tax" protest.  An article by Rev. Richard W. Davies
 
JAMESTOWN, Founding of a Nation and the Anglican Communion  Rev. Richard W. Davies sheds light on the beginning of the Anglican Communion in the United States
 
Jane Lea Nixon, Pioneer Woman in the Chartiers ValleyRev. Richard W. Davies looks at one of the endearing characters of early OSL and Chartiers Valley history - Jane Lea Nixon  PDF FILE FORMAT
 
John McMillan & Francis Reno

What happens when a Presbyterian pastor and a Methodist student get together in early western Pennsylvania?  An article by Rev. Richard W. Davies  PDF FILE FORMAT

 

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Lea, William and Nelson, Dorothy - marriage record

 

From the 1774 record of marriages performed at Christ Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
Lea, William -  pay voucher A 1770 pay voucher for Major William Lea, who left the land upon which Old St. Lukes was built.
 
Lee, Henry ("Light Horse Harry") and Washington County "Light Horse Harry" Henry Lee, the father of Robert E. Lee, is sent by President Washington to quell the disturbance in western Pennsylvania.  An article by Rev. Richard W. Davies PDF file format
 
Lesnett, Christian Christian Lesnett was a cabinet maker who moved to western Pennsylvania after service in the French and Indian War.  Lesnett Road, in Upper St. Clair Township, is named for him
 
Lewis, Meriwether "Meriwether Lewis in Our Midst" - Rev. Richard W. Davies describes Pittsburgh's role in the Lewis & Clark expedition, and offers a short biographical sketch of Meriwether Lewis
 
Louisiana, or Virginia, or Pennsylvania Rev. Richard W. Davies traces a short history of claims and counter-claims to the region of Western Pennsylvania
 
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McFarlane, Capt. James A photograph of the tomb of Captain McFarlane gives another view of General Neville.  Captain McFarlane is buried in the Mingo Creek Cemetery.  The perspective is by Rev. Richard W. Davies.
 
Militias, A Standing Army and the Whiskey Rebellion Rev. Richard W. Davies describes the condition of the army in post-Revolutionary War America
 
Miller, William From INCIDENTS OF THE INSURRECTION IN THE WESTERN PARTS OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE YEAR 1794, by Hugh Henry Brackenridge, an account of the pivotal incident that sparked the outbreak of hostilities.
 
MONTOUR’S OHIO RIVER ISLAND AND JOHN NEVILLE A short history of Pittsburgh's major Ohio River island by Rev. Richard W. Davies  PDF file format
 
The MOTIVATIONS TO BEGIN AND END CHURCH BUILDINGS What were the reasons for constructing or tearing down a church building in 19th Century Pittsburgh?  Find out in this article by Rev. Richard W. Davies, which includes a listing of Public Events in Pittsburgh 1845-1869  PDF file format 
 
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Neville, General John A ledger from the Craig-Neville plot in section 11 of the Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh.
 
Neville - History of General John Neville

 

A short history of General John Neville, including the names of his wife and children.
 
NEWSMAKER LIGHT HORSE HARRY LEE

The father of Robert E. Lee makes news in the Western Pennsylvania during the Whiskey Rebellion -- an article by Rev. Richard W. Davies  PDF FILE FORMAT
 
Nixon, Sgt. Thomas A letter to Sgt. Thomas Nixon (buried at Old St. Lukes), congratulating him on firing the last shot into Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House
 
O
Oh! Those Pittsburgh churches Rev. Richard W. Davies explores the development of Pittsburgh church life during the period 1754 to 1805
 
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Parkinson's Ferry, "Whiskey Point" and Monongahela Combined problems threaten the stability of the Western Pennsylvania region, culminating in the "Whiskey Rebellion" -- an article by Rev. Richard W. Davies  PDF FILE FORMAT
 
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Reno, Rev. Francis A short biography of Rev. Francis Reno (1758 - 1836), first settled Episcopal clergyman west of the Allegheny Mountains.
 
Restoration Memories From the Old St. Lukes Newsletter, April, 2000.  Cleaning and restoration work in the years 1949 and 1963.
 
Role of Clergy and Albert Gallatin Albert Gallatin counsels moderation and peace while doubting the Constitutionality of the Whiskey Excise Tax - not unlike many local clergymen -- an article by Rev. Richard W. Davies  PDF FILE FORMAT
 
S
South, Daniel Daniel South served in the French and Indian War
 
Steel, David David Steel is responsible for establishing a garrison fort on the land now occupied by Old St. Lukes
 
The Strategic Location of Old St. Lukes A discussion of the reasons for locating Old St. Lukes along Chartiers Creek
 
Steamboats, Livelihood and Fire What did the early settlers in the Chartiers Valley do for a living? Rev. Richard W. Davies answers that question and more - PDF FILE FORMAT  
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Two Similar Churches - Maryland and Pennsylvania
 
Rev. Richard W. Davies explores the similarities between OSL and Emmanuel Church in Cumberland, Maryland. 
 
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The WASHINGTON FAMILY STONE and OLD ST. LUKE'S CHURCH

 

Rev. Richard W. Davies describes how a stone from the Washington family home in England became part of the wall of Old St. Luke's Church
 
West Augusta County, Virginia, Court Records

 

Virginia Court records pertaining to the dates 1775 - 1778.  The BOLD faced references are those tied to Old St. Lukes.
 
West Augusta County, Virginia, District of The act of the Virginia legislature creating West Augusta County, and defining the boundaries thereof.
 
West Augusta County, Virginia, Map of An original map of the area of Western Pennsylvania claimed by Virginia, and was included as part of the court records for the period 1775 - 1780
 
Westsylvania

 

A short discussion of the petition attempt to create a new state west of the Allegheny Mountains
 
The Whiskey Flags  Vexillologist Richard R. Gideon describes the flags used during the Whiskey Rebellion.  Reprinted, courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association and copyright holder Richard R. Gideon  PDF FILE FORMAT
 

Why, Aaron Burr, did you fire? OSL Director and Historian Rev. Richard W. Davies recounts the events leading up to the July 11th, 1804 duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
 
William Lea's 1787 Pennsylvania Land PatentOSL's existence on William Lea's land is courtesy of King George III.  Rev. Richard W. Davies describes how Lea got his land patent  PDF FILE FORMAT