[Futhey/Cope "History of Chester Co., PA" p272]
(Account of Morgan Edwards)
KNAUERTOWN CEMETERY/FRENCH CREEK: Rte. 23, from Morgantown, a little
east of Kauertown, small, stone wall, along old road parallel to new one,
looks like raised plateau held up by stone wall, steep steps up to the
cemetery. (barn behind it in 1950's). Also, about a half mile west (#23)
from Coventryville.
"The other society of them is at French Creek in
East Nantmel Township,
county of Chester. Here is a meeting house
30 feet by 22, built in
1762, on a lot of one acre, the gift of David Rogers.
The families
belonging to the place are six, whereof 10 persons
are baptized."
Baptized are:
Philip Thomas
Gwen Griffiths
David Rogers
Abel Griffiths
James Roberts
William Griffiths
Daniel Griffiths
Owen Hughs
Edward Hughs
Ann Hughs
"They have no stated worship in this house, though
it be the only one
belonging to Sabbatarians."
"They originated in the year 1726, when the following
persons broke off
from the Great Valley Church on account of their
change of sentiments
concerning the Sabbath:"
Philip Davis
Lewis Williams
Richard Edwards
Griffy Griffiths
the next year:
William James
"These five with their families removed to French
Creek in the fore said
year. Philip Davis and Lewis Williams did
preach among them, and after them
John Brayman, but for some time part they have been
sheep without a shepherd."
This church was in what is now Warwick township, a short distance east
of
Knauertown. The old frame building disappeared many years ago,
but the graveyard
remains, in which sleep the families of TEMPLIN, THOMAS, DAMPMAN, EVANS,
KNAUER, JAMES, HARRIS, and others.*
*"the oldest tombstone which can be deciphered is
that of
Elizabeth THOMAS, who died on the 21st of May, 1774,
in the
eightieth year of her age;"
"Next to it is that of her son, Philip THOMAS, who
died on
Sept. 12, 1773, in the seventy-sixth year of his
age."
"Another old tombstone marks the grave of Thomas
HARRIS who
died Feb 28, 1748," [age 34y--Colket]
[p273]
"aged thirty-four years."
"Richard TEMPLIN, the ancestor of the family of that
name, is
buried here. He died April 13, 1775, in his
eighty-seventh year
of his age,"
[TEMPLIN] "and his wife, who sleeps beside him, died
April 6, 1775,
in her seventy-eighth year."
"John Christopher KNAUER, the ancestor of the KNAUER
family, is also
interred in the ancient cemetery. He was born
in Coburg, Germany,
in 1702, and died Aug. 12, 1769, aged 66y 10m 12d"
[Pottstown Ledger, August 1879]" [b Oct 4, 1702--Colket]
In 1794 a petition was presented to the Legislature by the Seventh-Day
Baptists, asking relief from the penalties attached to a non-observance
of the first day of the week as the Sabbath. Another petition
in their
behalf was signed by a number of other prominent citizens of the county.
[In some cases the numbers which were written-out, were changed to numerals]
Some of the names copied by C. Howard Colket:
John Horn, died Jan. 30, 1809, aged 72 y.
Margaret, w/o John Horn, d. 9 July 1827, age 84y 6m 19d
John, s/o John and Margaret Horn, d. 12 July 1791, age 19y
John Mcraken (not dates)
Peninnah Mcracken w/o John Mcracken (no dates)
Ann Hugh, d. 17 Jan 1771, age 66y
Ruth, w/o George Dipple, b 15 Dec 1799, d. 18 March 1869, age 68y 3m
3d
Jacob Price, s/o George Price, b 25 Sept 1784, d. age 1y 4m
Ruth Anna Coel, b 11 Jan 1811, d. 14 Jun 1860, age 49y 5m 1d
Hazael Thomas, d 24 Oct 1860, age 80y
Anne, w/o Elijah Ayers, d. 15 Feb 1796, age 37y
Evan James, d. 27 Nov 1825, age 69y [69y 7m--Colket]
Rachel James d. 9 Aug 1815, age 59y
Evan James, s/o Evan and Rachel James, d. 19 Feb 1816, age 26y 6m
Hannah James, d. 1819, age 27y 7m
Ruth M. Evans, w/o Benjamin Evans b 1or4 Jan 1794, d. 21 Jan 1863
Adam Dampman [d. 19 Aug 1811, age 52y--Colket]
[Elizabeth Dampman, d 11 Oct 1836, age 75y 2m 10d--Colket]
Mary Evans, w/o Joshua Evans [Joshua Evans, Sr.--Colket]
John Thomas, s/o Philip Thomas, d. Mar 1736, age 29y [d. 15 Mar--Colket]
Mordecai Thomas, s/o Philip and Esther, d. 8/1771 age 39 [age 32--Colket]
Esther Thomas, w/o Philip Thomas, d. Jun 1750 age 50y [d. 11 Jun--Colket]
Philip Thomas d. Sept 1773, age 76y [d. 13
Sept 1773--Colket]
Elizabeth, m/o Philip Thomas, d.1744, age 80th y [d. 21 May--Colket]
Sarah, w/o David Thomas, d. 1789, age 24y [d. 7 Dec--Colket]