James Francis Armstrong

James Francis Armstrong Chaplain Maryland 2nd Brigade May 1777-1782 James Francis Armstrong served as Chaplain in the American Revolutionary War for the Maryland Second Brigade. He not only attended Princeton University but lived with the family of Rev. John Witherspoon (the college president). He graduated with the class of 1773 as did Henry Lee. James Madison graduated in 1772 and Aaron Burr in 1774. After graduation, Armstrong stayed a while longer and studied theology under Dr. Witherspoon (as did Madison). James was preparing for the ministry in New Brunswick in 1776 but the presence of the British Army in New Jersey changed his plans. He became an ordained minister and started serving as a regimental chaplain in the Continental Army. A big factor in his being assigned to the Second Brigade in Maryland is the fact that he was born in West Nottingham, Maryland (near Rising Sun, Maryland on the eastern side of the Susquehanna River). After the war, Armstrong served as the pastor of the Elizabeth New Jersey Presbyterian Chuch (1782-1783) where Rev. James Caldwell served until meeting his death at the hands of the British. Armstrong married William Livingston’s daughter Susannah in August 1782 with Rev. Witherspoon officiating at the service. Armstrong served as minister to the First Presbyterian Church at Trenton from 1786 until his death in 1816 (thirty years). There are so many facets where this story can go deeper. One can read about Rev. James Caldwell (in my book 1776 Faith, pp. 160-1), chaplains in the Continental Army, Maryland’s Second Brigade, William Livingston, Susannah Livingston (who took care of John and Sally Jay’s son while they represented the United States in Spain and France from 1779 until 1783), Elizabeth Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, Rev. Witherspoon, Princeton, Henry Lee, Aaron Burr, James Madison, etc.

John Hancock Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving and Includes God

John Hancock Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving and Includes God John Hancock as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the Constitution issued the following proclamation on Oct. 5, 1791, declaring a Day of Thanksgiving for Nov. 17, 1791 “It being our indispensable duty as a people, in a public and religious manner, to acknowledge the preserving and governing providence of Almighty God, and more especially to celebrate the Divine Goodness in the various blessings conferred upon us in the course of the year past. “I have therefore thought fit, with the advice and consent of the Council, to appoint, and do hereby appoint Thursday the Twenty-Fifth Day of November next, to be religiously observed as a Day of Thanksgiving throughout this Commonwealth; hereby calling upon Ministers and people of all denominations, in their several assemblies, to unite with grateful hearts in celebrating the Praises of Almighty God, of His great goodness and bounty vouchsafed [given] to a sinful and unworthy people; particularly for the great and signal interpositions of His Providence in behalf of the United States in the course of the late contest, and that after being rescued from the dangers and calamities of war; peace has been restored to us, and that our public affairs are in so promising and happy a situation; for granting to us a plentiful harvest in the great abundance of the fruits of the earth; for the general health enjoyed throughout this State during the course of the year, and preventing epidemical and mortal distempers from spreading among us; reviving our trade, navigation and fishery and protecting the same from the insults of Pirates and other disasters; for directing and succeeding our public Councils, and above all for continuing to us the light of the blessed Gospel, and securing to us our religious and civil liberties and privileges. “And to join with their praises their earnest and humble supplications to Almighty God, for the pardon of our past ingratitude and other transgressions; and that He would grant that all instances of the Divine goodness may have an effectual influence for working a general reformation in all orders of persons among us; that so we may be that happy people, whose God is the Lord, and that all nations may bow to the scepter of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that the whole Earth may be filled with His Glory.” — John Hancock -“Yes, but…he never mentioned Jesus Christ.” Yes he did specifically mention Jesus Christ -“Yes, but… it was not done while Massachusetts was under the Federal Constitution.” (Constitution passed in 1787 and ratified by the states in 1789; this was 1791) Yes it was after the Constitution was passed. -“Yes, but… Hancock and all the other Founders were deists.” If Deists believed “that all nations may bow to the scepter of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that the whole Earth may be filled with His Glory.” Is that what most deists believe? I would think that phrase would qualify for a Christian worldview rather than a deist one. Have a happy Thanksgiving even though there are many voices clamoring for you to have an unhappy thanksgiving. What is an unhappy thanksgiving like? Everyone eats sour grapes, is generally cranky and unthankful but of course they are the smartest in the country and the universe. On top of that, they will let you know it. “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together Against the LORD and against his Anointed One The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. “(Psalm 2:1-2,4)

John Hancock, John Adams at Church as young children

From birth until he was seven years old, John Hancock and John Adams attended the same church. You see John Hancock's father was the pastor at the church where John Adams attended church. Reverend John Hancock began to serve as pastor of the North Parish in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1726. John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 and Rev. Hancock baptized/christened him. John Hancock III who would later serve as President of Continental Congress was born on January 12, 1737 and was also baptised/christened there. If you noticed that he was John Hancock III, it was because he grandfather was also John Hancock. The first John Hancock was called Bishop John Hancock. He served as minister for 54 years at the Lexington Congregational Church. If you will recall,where did the British troops try to find John Hancock (III) and Samuel Adams to attempt to arrest them in April 1775? They sent troops out to Lexington, Massachusetts to arrest the ringleaders. Where did they stay? They stayed at the home of Rev. Clarke. If I left the description there (like many would do), I would be not telling the whole truth. He stayed at the manse of the Congregational church now called the Hancock-Clarke House. It gets its Hancock name after Rev. John Hancock the First who lived there 54 years (from 1698-1752). John Adams and John Hancock attended a small school together in 1742 under a Mrs. Belcher. In the spring of 1744, John Hancock the Second became ill and died. John Adams and John Hancock were split for the moment (as John Hancock the Third had to stop school) but were destined to work together later. John Hancock the Third stayed with his grandfather for a few months in Lexington until one day when his Uncle Thomas came and took him to live with himself and his wife Lydia in Boston. Thomas Hancock shared a similar background to Robert Morris and learned the shipping business and did exceedingly well. John Hancock learned greatly from his uncle and eventually inherited his business. Did John Hancock have a Christian worldview? Stay tuned!