Cuthbertson

Below in this first column ▼are excerpts from 3 pages of Vol. I, A History of the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania, Edited by Dr. George Donehoo and published by the Susquehanna History Association in Harrisburg, 1930. The title of the chapter explains that the content is the historical importance of Rev. Cuthbertson's diary but I think it contains much more. It shows the perseverance and character of this early missionary who daily who in selfless deprivation endured years of hardship and danger on the early American frontier. Unfortunately I did not find the Miller name among the names listed in diary and I suspect that I will have to travel to the home of the Pennsylvania Archives in Harrisburg to explore the entire list of diary entries.

From National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol XX. No. 4. December, 1932, pp. 16-18.

COVENANTERS AND THE WORK OF REV. JOHN CUTHBERTSON

By Miss S. Helen Fields, Washington, D.C.
...
Into the midst of these distressed but brave people came John Cuthbertson, sent by the Presbytery of Scotland because of their leading for an Under Shepherd. He set foot on American soil at New Castle, Delaware, August 5, 1751. With him came his sister, Mrs. Archibald Bourne, with her husband and infant son John, and a colony of Covenanters. Mr. Cuthbertson was the First Reformed Presbyterian Missionary to come to America. Young, fearless, and imbued with a God-like spirit, he began his work without delay, and throughout the years strubbled long distances on horseback and on foot (usually from his headquarters at Middle Octorara, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) over mountain and stream, to bring consolation to his fellow countrymen and to others. He frequently speaks of being cold, sick, hungry, distressed in body and mind, molested, but still never faltered in the task he had set before him. We find him, old and broken, carrying on up to a few months before his death in 1791.

Thanks to Bill Patterson for providing this information.

In this ▼column ▼you will find first excerpts from pages 380 and 381 of a book entitled History of Pittsburg and Its Environs by George Thornen Fleming, published by the American Historical Society located in New York and Chicago, 1922. The red underlined portion of the text shows that Rev. Cuthbertson traveled to western Pennsylvania and may have even been in the area of the home and property of Robert Miller and his son Isaac. Washington County (mentioned in the book below) is less than ten miles to the southwest of their property across the Monongahela River. Robert's property was also about five miles west from a historic trail crossing the Big Sewickley Creek which is Braddock's Trail. This road follows a failed military expedition trail lead by British Major General Edward Braddock (during the French and Indian wars and before the Revolutionary War) who was severely wounded in battle and died July 13, 1755. The widened trail they blazed through the wilderness became a major thoroughfare for settlers on their way west and Indians alike, as well used as the Forbes Road to the north. To find out more about this trail click here:
http://www.frenchandindianwar250.org/visit/braddock_trail.aspx
Very close, within two miles, to Robert Miller's property today are two Presbyterian churches, one of which may have been inspired by the followers of Rev. Cuthbertson's band of Reformed Presbyterian Coventors. Both of these churches have the word "Sewickley" in their name and one is on the north side of the creek and the other on the south side of the creek. The Millers and other settlers probably used Braddock road and other Indian trails to travel to their new homes on the Big Sewickley Creek.