Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Synagogue officers
Synagogues
Jews
Synagogue records and registers
Pews and pew rights
The document is titled "Proceedings of the Board of Managers of K.K. M. Israel [Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel]; Under the new Constitution and Charter," but is only one page listing officers (parnas, adjunta, gabay, and secretary) for the congregation for the years 1823 to 1827.
Form of service at the dedication of the new synagogue, 1825
Synagogue dedication services
Printed worship service for the dedication of Mikveh Israel's new synagogue. Book is in Hebrew with English translation on the opposite pages.
New York: printed by S. H. Jackson, 91 Mercer Street
Corporate minutes
Congregational minutes of Mikveh Israel, spanning 1810 to 1883. Topics covered include: elections to leadership and caretaking positions; admittance of new members; financial matters such as rents, fundraising, insurance and investments; renovation and expansion of the synagogue; and management of the burial ground. The Articles of Constitution approved in 1823 are reproduced on pages 48 to 62.
Jewish religious education
Hebrew Sunday School Society of Philadelphia (Pa.)
Female Hebrew Benevolent Society (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Gratz, Rebecca, 1781-1869
Sunday schools
Letters
Four letters regarding the Hebrew Sunday school sponsored by Mikveh Israel: One letter from educator and philanthropist Rebecca Gratz, then secretary of the board of the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society, thanking parnas Lewis Allen for "carrying into effect the business of their anniversary meeting" in 1836; another letter from Rebecca Gratz thanking the parnas and adjunta for permission to use a room in the synagogue for the Sunday school in 1841; a letter presenting curtains for the school on behalf of "the ladies of the congregation" in 1845; and finally a letter from Mary Cohen of the Hebrew Sunday School Society to Henry Cohen, the president of the congregation, thanking him for the donation of a stove and permission to hold class in the synagogue, in 1877.
Cohen, Mary M., 1854-1911
Facsimile of Haym Salomon's account of difficulties in financing construction of a new synagogue, circa 1784
Synagogue fund raising
Synagogues--Finance
Manuscript with cover sheet, which describes the manuscript thus: "Haym Salomon Manuscript, in hand of a professional amanuensis, of Salomon's own account of the purchase of the property and the financing of the construction of Synagogue Mikveh Israel in 1782, including his own pledge of one-fourth the cost, 'Be it what it might.' Salomon describes the difficulties with Jonas Phillips which almost led to the latter's excommunication." Cover page indicates the manuscript is from the collection of Sigmund and Felicia Harrison of Ardmore, Pa.
Salomon, Haym, 1740-1785
Charter of the Congregation Beth El Emeth, 1857
Charters
Congregation Beth El Emeth (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Leeser, Isaac
The official charter and constitution of the Congregation Beth El Emeth, singed by the original leaders of the congregation and incorporated by the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia in 1857. Beth El Emeth emerged from Mikveh Israel, under the leadership of Mikveh Israel's retired Rev. Isaac Leeser. After Leeser's death, Beth El Emeth dissolved, and its records returned to Mikveh Israel.
Board and congregational minutes, 1782-1783
Minutes of the parnas (president of the congregation) and junta (board of managers) and general meetings of Congregation Mikveh Israel from 1782 to 1783. The majority of the minutes are concerned with funding and building a new synagogue. Other topics include the election of leaders, the need for a new constitution/code of laws, and the appointment, payment and duties of a shamas (warden or sexton).
Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church finance
Presbyterians
Church records and registers
Presbyterian Church
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript records pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1799 to 1807. Entries are listed by person's name, and contain pew number, rent amount and dates paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1797 to 1803. Entries are listed by date and include name and amount paid.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1792 to 1796. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1789 to 1796. The first several pages have been written on upside down, and read in reverse order chronologically. The next 44 pages consist of individual entries, right side up, of pew rent paid, recorded by date and name. Then entries start over at the back of the volume, written upside down, and thus proceeding backwards chronologically. These entries are listed by pew number and name, and span two pages across. Pages have been numbered accordingly.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. The majority of this bound manuscript is devoted to recording pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1787 to 1789. Entries are usually listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and for most of the book they span two pages, verso and recto. A few pages towards the beginning of the manuscript contain records of payments to individuals and annual collection totals, dating from 1765 to 1769.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1786 to 1787. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and for most of the book they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from May 1799 to December 1780. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. This bound manuscript is a record of pew rents paid to Third Presbyterian from 1773 to 1778. Entries are listed by pew number and congregant name, with dates and amounts paid, and they span two pages, verso and recto.
Church committees
Church management
Church discipline
Charity
Inscribed as "The Pine Street Presbyterian Church Committee Book," this bound volume contains the minutes of the meetings of trustees of Third Presbyterian from 1771 to 1796. Each entry includes the date, place, members present, and business discussed. Topics of the meetings generally include the collection of pew rents, settlement of financial accounts, improvements to the buildings and grounds, and management of charitable funds, as well as more specific entries such as the seasonal adjustment of service times and adoption of a new version of the Psalms. Of particular interest are the minutes pertaining to the call for George Duffield to serve as their new pastor, and the resulting rift with First Presbyterian Church. The bulk of the minutes end on page 168, and pages 174, 175 and 176, which list the books and verses read from during services, are written upside down, so run in reverse chronological order. Note: Prior to 1797, the Trustees were called "the Committee."
Deeds
Deed granted by Thomas and Richard Penn to "Members of the Congregation belonging to the old Presbyterian Meeting House," naming in particular William Allen, John Allen, George Bryan, William Humphries, John Mease, Peter Chevalier and Samuel Purviance, for a new lot at 4th and Pine Streets. The congregation had grown too numerous for the existing house and grounds of First Presbyterian. John Penn, the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, witnessed the deed in 1765. On the reverse side, the above-named congregants deeded the land and newly built church to "The Committee of the united first and third Presbyterian churches in the city of Philadelphia" in 1772.
Charter granted to Third Presbyterian Church by Thomas and John Penn, establishing it as a separate institution from First Presbyterian Church. Witnessed by Lieutenant Governor Richard Penn on August 27th, 1772. This charter explains that the church will be recognized by King George the Third of England.
Clergy
Duffield, George, 1732-1790
Religious leaders
Following a majority vote by the congregation, the subscribers of Third Presbyterian wrote to Reverend George Duffield requesting he become their new pastor. The letter, dated August 9, 1771, offers him an annual salary of 200 pounds. Duffield accepted the call, and served as pastor at Third Presbyterian until his death in 1790. Duffield also served as chaplain of the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War.
St. Paul's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Church buildings
Church fund raising
Church membership
Church schools
Churchwardens' accounts
Episcopalians
Cemeteries
Episcopal Church
Minutes of the meetings of the St. Paul's vestry, from 1810 to 1829. Each entry includes the date of the meeting, members present, and business discussed. Topics include but are not limited to: vestry elections; appointment of wardens and sextons; various committee assignments; management of financial accounts, including loans, investments and bequests; management of pew assignments; management of the cemetery; mediation of interpersonal disputes between church members; upkeep of and improvements to the buildings and grounds; the continued quest to secure a church organ; and continued support for the church school and house for aged widows.
Minutes of the meetings of the St. Paul's vestry, from 1797 to 1810. Each entry includes the date of the meeting, members present, and business discussed. Topics include but are not limited to: elections to the vestry and the appointment of wardens and sextons; hiring of a new minister and assistant minister; management of church finances, including ground rents, pew rents and bequests; the problem of a full burial ground; appointments to various committees; plans for a singing school for children and home for aged widows; establishment of a subscription to raise funds for a church organ; and ongoing upkeep of church buildings and grounds.
Minutes of the meetings of the St. Paul's vestry, from 1792 to 1797. Each entry includes the date of the meeting, members present, and business discussed. Many entries include wardens' accounts, as reports from the committee appointed to examine those accounts. Other topics include: elections to the vestry and the appointment of wardens and sextons; the management of pews and of the church graveyard; the departure of one minister and need to secure a new one; and the presentation of an act of incorporation to the state assembly for ratification in 1795.
Church of England
McClenachan, William, 1714-
Minutes of the meetings of the St. Paul's vestry, from 1762 to 1774. Each entry records the date of the meeting, members present and business discussed. One of the main topics covered is the ill health of Reverend McClenachan and the subsequent need to secure an assistant minister and, eventually, a replacement minister. Other topics include: election of vestry members, wardens, clerks and sextons; appointments to committees; management of finances; pew assignments; regulation of burials, fundraising for an organ; building upkeep such as painting doors and windows; and the purchase of supplies such as candles and collection plates.
Parish register, including early trustee minutes, 1759-1835
Marriage records
Burial records
Baptismal records
This bound volume includes St. Paul's early trustee and vestry minutes from 1760 to 1762, marriage records from 1759 to 1835, baptism records from 1782 to 1834, and death records from 1790 to 1812. The first numbered pages include a defense of Reverend Mcclenachan, and plans to build a church separate from Christ Church. Entries then cover the election of trustees and a treasurer, committees to secure land and materials for a new church, lotteries to raise funds, decisions on architecture and furnishings, management of pews, and selection of wardens. Vestry minutes from 1762 start on page 21; these can also be found in the separate volume entitled "Vestry minutes, 1762-1774." Records of marriages, baptisms and deaths start with image 46, whereupon page numbering starts anew. Marriage and baptism records include the date of the ceremony, officiant and the names of the people being married or baptized. Later baptism records also note names of parents. Death records include the name of decedent, age at time of death (or date of birth, from which it can be extrapolated), and date of death.
Marriage register of Rev. Joseph Pilmore, 1786-1813
Record of marriages performed by Rev. Joseph Pilmore, occurring at St. Paul's Church between 1786 and 1794, at Christ Church in New York between 1794 and 1804, and again at St. Paul's Church from 1804 to 1813. Entries are listed chronologically and include the names of the bride and groom. Additional marriages by Rev. Pilmore after the end of this register are in the registers of St. Paul's Church.
Record of interments at St. Paul's from 1852 to 1869. Each entry includes the decedent's name and date and location of burial. Some entries also include age at time of death and cause of death. Some disinterments are also noted, with the location of re-burial. Entries from 1856 to 1869 are listed in the first eight pages; after a few blank pages there are earlier entries from 1852 to 1845, recorded upside down.
Record of payments received and made by St. Paul's from 1794 to 1809. Entries are listed by date, and include the payee's name, amount paid, purpose of the payment, and signature of the church official who accepted or disbursed the payment. Some of the payments received by the church are charitable donations, and others are payments due, for example, for rents. Outgoing payments by the church include employee's salaries and repairs and additions to the buildings and grounds.
Registers of births, etc.
Confirmation
Record of baptisms, confirmations, communions, marriages, and burials performed for the members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, as well as offerings made to the church, from 1866 to 1888. Extended sequences of empty openings have not been scanned, page numbers make jumps accordingly. In addition, pages 261, 262, 271 and 272 are missing, the former having been cut from the book, and the latter having fallen out. Baptisms are listed chronologically by date the baptism was performed, beginning on page 110, which is image 16. Entries cross two pages, recto and verso, and include place of baptism, name, birthdate and sometimes birthplace, name of parents and witnesses, signature of the clergyman who performed the baptism, and other notes such as whether the person baptized was suffering from an illness. Confirmations are listed chronologically beginning on page 218, which is image 80. If the person was also baptized at St. Paul's during this time period, the page on which their baptism is recorded is also noted. Communions are listed chronologically beginning on page 234, which is image 94. Entries span two pages, recto and verso, and include notes on whether the communicant later died or was transferred or removed from the church. Marriages are listed chronologically beginning on page 278, which is image 134. Entries span two pages, recto and verso, and note the place of the wedding, the names of the bride and groom, their ages at the time of marriage and respective towns of residence, and the signature of the clergyman who performed the ceremony, as well as other notes such as the bride and groom's place of birth, their occupations, and parent's names and residence. Burials are listed chronologically beginning on page 310, which is image 158. Entries span two pages, recto and verso, and include the decedent's name, age at time of death, place of burial, and signature of clergyman who performed the funeral, as well as other notes including decedent's residence, and their date and cause of death. Offerings are listed chronologically beginning on page 326, which is image 174. Entries include the amount raised and the object of the offering, such as a hospital, school, or mission, or people in need such as orphans, widows or victims of a fire.
Record of baptisms, marriages, funerals, communions and confirmations performed for members of St Paul's church from 1829 to 1865. Baptisms are listed alphabetically by name beginning on page 1, and then again chronologically by date of baptism starting on page 16. Both sets of entries include date of birth and parents' names. Marriages are listed chronologically starting on page 49; entries include the date of marriage, names of bride and groom, and any other remarks, often including the location of the ceremony and name of the officiant. Funerals are also listed chronologically, beginning on page 97. These records include the date of burial, name of decedent, and other remarks such as location of funeral. Communions are listed chronologically starting on page 145. Entries include date, name, and other remarks such as where communion was received and who granted it. Additionally, an alphabetical list of communicants appears across several pages at the end of the book. Finally, confirmations are listed chronologically from pages 185 to 212. Blank pages were not scanned, which accounts for gaps in page numbering.
Register of baptisms, church membership, bible class membership, confirmations, communions, marriages and funerals at St. Paul's, dating from 1821 to 1829. Baptisms are listed across two pages, recto and verso, and run from page 1a to 13b. Each entry includes the name of the person being baptized, their parents' names, date of baptism, person who baptized them, their age at time of baptism, and any special notes. A list of the members of the church in 1822 runs from pages 15 to 22, and includes both names and street addresses. An alphabetical list of members of the bible class follows, on pages 25 to 33. Confirmations begin on page 37, with names listed by date. Communions follow, starting on page 53 and listing name, address, age & any other remarks, such as the communicant's place of origin. Marriage entries begin on page 73 and include the date of the ceremony and names of bride and groom. Finally, funerals begin on page 86 and include date of burial, name of person(s) being buried, and age upon death.
Marriages, alphabetical index, 1759-1803
Record of marriages performed at St. Paul's from 1760 to 1802. Each marriage is listed twice, under the last name of the groom and the bride. Each listing includes the date the ceremony was performed and the names of individuals being married. It appears that records were originally recorded in a chronological register. They have since been copied, cut apart and pasted into a bound manuscript in alphabetical order.
Register of marriages performed at St. Paul's by a succession of ministers, including Rev. William McClenachan from 1759 to1765, Rev. William Shinger from 1768 to 1778, and Rev. Joseph Pilmore from 1786 to 1794 and again from 1804 to 1824. Entries are listed by year, with the date of the wedding and names of the bride and groom. Many of these entries can be located using the separate volume entitled Marriages, alphabetical index, 1759-1803, if names are known but dates are not. Also, date gaps may be filled in by other marriage registers from St. Paul's.
Record of funds raised by St. Paul's 1774 church lottery, with entries ordered by ticket number, with the name of purchaser and total amount paid for all tickets per person.
Lottery account book, 1773 and charity collections, 1802-1812
The first 24 pages of this account book record the funds raised by St. Paul's 1773 church lottery, with entries ordered by date. Records of St. Paul's charity collections from 1802 to 1812 start from the back of the book and run chronologically, upside down, for another eight pages.
Record of interments at St. Paul's from 1811 to 1852. Entries include the date of the funeral, name of deceased and location of burial. Some children are listed by parent's name. Some entries include the the decedent's former address and cost of the burial. Some removals to other gravesites are noted in pencil. Page numbering starts over again after page 124, and the last 30 pages look like an inventory of existing graves and vacant lots.
Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Education
Public schools
Forty loose pages documenting the activities of the church committee charged with overseeing the development of the "congregational or charity school" in 1795. Documents include committee reports regarding school organization, securing the land and completing the school building, and accounting for such things as plumbing improvements and school supplies. Documents also include a list of initial subscribers and their donations, and records of continuing donations over the course of three years.
Schoolmaster records, 1786-1791, John Ely
In 1787, schoolmaster John Ely agreed to rent the Second Presbyterian schoolhouse and provide instruction to local children on reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion, with Second Presbyterian serving as a patron to the school and referring children of parishioners for instruction there. These seven loose documents include Ely's contract with Second Presbyterian, and letters from Ely regarding the need to enlarge the schoolhouse, a proposal to create "an academy for the instruction of young ladies," the employment of tutors and ushers, and an account of his expenditures in improving the building.
Memoranda book, pew rent and Sunday collections, 1793-1795
Memoranda book with brief entries running chronologically from 1793 to 1795, listing congregant names with amounts received for pew rents, as well as totals received in church collections.
Twenty-one documents relating to Second Presbyterian's finances, including lease agreements, bonds, protests of non-payment, promissory notes, and insurance policies, dating from 1764 to 1808.
Correspondence regarding leasing of church property, 1784-1826
Twenty-nine pages of correspondence between Second Presbyterian and various Philadelphia merchants who leased land and/or buildings from the church over the years spanning 1784 to 1826. Topics include lease terms, requests for reduction in rent, improvements to properties, and repossession of properties by the church.
Land previously deeded by Thomas and Mary Coates to the trustees of Second Presbyterian Church in 1784, in 1788 deeded to James Hartley, as witnessed by William Rush and Peter Thomson.
Counterpart deed of land, granted by William and Margaret Coats to the trustees of Second Presbyterian, and attested by Robert Smith. The lot is located at Campington in Northern Liberties, beginning at the corner of Coates & Second Street and running up to St. John's street.
Deed of land, granted by William and Margaret Coats to the trustees of Second Presbyterian and signed and dated October 20th, 1784 by William Rush. The lot is located at Campington in Northern Liberties, beginning at the corner of Coates & Second Street and running up to St. John's street.
Charter for Second Presbyterian Church, located at the northwest corner of Third Street and Mulberry Street, issued by Thomas and John Penn, witnessed by Richard Penn, and "Inrolled in the Rolls Office" in 1772.
Record of persons buried at Second Presbyterian Church in 1851. Burials are listed by name of deceased, and include date and cause of death, age at time of death, and location of grave.
Record of persons buried at Second Presbyterian Church from 1838 to 1860. Burials are listed by permit number, and include date of death or burial, name of deceased, place of birth, age at time of death, occupation, cause of death, whether the deceased was a church member or stranger, grave location, ground fees, and any additional remarks by the sexton.
Receipt book with stubs for interments at Second Presbyterian Church from 1826 to 1910. Each stub lists the date, name of deceased, at which burial ground they were laid to rest, and fees paid. Note: Scanned image "Insert 4" is an attachment to page 160.
Record of persons buried in Second Presbyterian's northern burial ground between 1804 and 1867. Burials are grouped by range, then listed by plot number, with the name of the deceased and age at time of death. This bound manuscript was used by the exhumation crew when the graves were moved to Mount Vernon Cemetery in 1867, and the crew noted their findings as they worked.
Account of people buried in the graveyard of Second Presbyterian Church from 1785 to 1808. Each listing through page 45 records the date of burial and name of deceased, or in some cases parent's name, and notes if the decedent or parent is a stranger to the church. An index of decedent age at time of death starts at page 46.
Record of persons buried in Second Presbyterian Church's Arch Street burial ground, who were moved to Mt. Vernon cemetery in 1867. Each burial listing includes the original grave location, name of deceased, the location of their grave after reinterment at Mt. Vernon, the size of their case and the type of grave marker used.