These pages were created by Aprille Cooke McKay circa 2002 and went offline from the University of Michigan site that hosted them in late 2005. I've reproduced them here with her permission in 2006 and have done some minor corrections of typos. I do not plan to actively update these pages but I do welcome corrections, supplementary info, and links to complementary info and related church sites. Please use the threaded discussion boards on this site to discuss these pages and to offer additional info, clarification and to network with descendants for genealogy purposes. Hosting for these pages is provided courtesy of GetOggz.com. & Malcolm Humes.

Early American Presbyterians -- N-O

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    • Dr. Charles Nisbet (1736-1804)

    He was born in Haddington, Scotland, January 21st, 1736. At the age of eighteen he graduated at the University of Edinburgh, and studied divinity for six years more, when he was licensed to preach, in 1760. In early life he was employed as Tutor in the family of Lord Leven. After an engagement in Glasgow he was settled as pastor of the large congregation of Montrose, May 17th, 1764. Like his friend, Witherspoon, he was bitterly opposed to the Moderate party in the Kirk, and lampooned them without mercy. He became no less noted as a fried of the American colonies, and being strongly recommended by Dr. Witherspoon, he accepted an invitation from John Dickinson and Dr. Rush, to become President of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Here he remained from July 4th, 1785, till his death, January 18th, 1804 in the sixty eighth year of his age.

     Dr. Nisbet was a man of strong natural abilities, but these were so overshadowed by his extensive reading and prodigious memory, that it is by traditions respecting the latter he is now best known. He was called a walking library. He could reciete copious passages if not whole books, from the Greek, Latin and British classics. A gentleman once made a quotation from the Aeniad, and paused. Dr. Nisbet exclaimed "Why don't you go on, man! The rest is as good as what you have given." But the other being unable to do so, Dr. Nisbet completed the passage at length. He was acquainted, more or less, with nine languages, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Low Dutch.

     His wit and sarcasm were not less remarkable than his memory. He preached from memory, and for a time served as co pastor of the Carlisle Church, and his discourses were lengthy. When the people complained, he said, that a long sermon was a long affliction to the ungodly, but consented to an agreed limit. As soon as the limit was reached he would stop short, though in the middle of a sentence, and say, "But hour hoor being out, we insist no further." A lady who had imbibed the fashionable infidel sentiments which prevailed during the French Revolution was scoffing, in his hearing at preaching, and at preachers as lazy and good for nothing. "Why," said she, "I could preach a sermon myself." "Suppose ye try it," said Dr. Nisbet, "and I'll give ye a text: 'It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman in a wide house.'" The lady was incensed, and reproached him with want of courtesy. "Do you mean me?" said she. "Oh, madam," rejoined the doctor, "you must try it again, you've come to the application too soon."

     Dr. Nisbet was a man of vast learning, united with the simplicity of a child in worldly affairs. But his proneness to express his opinions without reserve, his satirical turn, his fixed European habits, and his want of flexibility to accommodate himself to the requirements of his new position, undoubtedly proved impediments to the wide and beneficial influence fondly expected from his transference to America.
     

    Rev. Sampson Occum (b pre 1739)

    He was ordained by the Presbytery of Suffolk, Long Island, New York on August 30, 1759 which ordered him to pursue his ministry at Montauk, and among the other Indians

    Rev. John Orme (b. pre 1703)

    He was the pastor of Upper Marlborough in Maryland in 1723 and was one of the first Presbyterian ministers commissioned to visit Virginia.

    Rev. Ethan Osborn (1758-1858)

    He was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, August 21st, 1758. While at College, at Dartmouth, he was admitted to full communion with the Congregational church there. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the second year of the Revolutionary War, and was with the forces under the immediate command of Washington, in the retreat through New Jersey. After the study of theology in his native State, he was licensed to preach in 1786, and installed December 3d, 1789, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, pastor of the Old Stone Church of Fairfield, New Jersey. At this time the congregation was scattered through the whole of Fairfield township, and parts of the adjoining townships of Downe and Deerfield including a portion of the people of Bridgeton, where, as yet, there was no church of any denomination.

    In the year 1809 his congregation was visited with a revival of great power and blessed influences. In 1819 there was a second revival. Again, in 1826, another extensive work of grace was enjoyed. In 1836, when he was seventy-eight, he took on an associate pastor, the Rev. David McKee, from Kentucky. During this co-pastorate there was another revival. Mr. Osborn continued to preside over the church until 1844--fifty-four years, when he offered his resignation, and it was only accepted because "it was felt by all concerned a mournful necessity."