REV. MATTHEW HENDERSON was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1735, graduated at Glasgow, studied theology, and was licensed to preach in 1756. Ordained in 1758, he was sent to America. Soon after his arrival he settled as pastor of the Associate Church at Oxford, Chester Co., Penn., and remained at Oxford until 1781, when he became pastor of Chartiers and Buffalo churches in Washington county, Penn., being the first minister of that denomination to settle west of the Alleghany mountains. He remained with this people, teaching and preaching the Gospel, until called to his rest October 2, 1795. A falling tree caused his death. He was married to Mary Ferris, and to them were born ten children, namely: Matthew, Mary, John, Ellen, Elizabeth, Ann, Ebenezer, Joseph, Robert and Jane. Matthew was a minister and married Miss Patterson; Mary married Samuel White, a farmer; John married Isabella Russell; Ellen married Samuel Murdoch, M. D.; Elizabeth married Alexander Murdoch; Ann married Rev. Thomas Allison; Ebenezer was a minister and married Miss Noble; Joseph was a physician; Robert married Elizabeth Russell, and Jane married James Clark, a farmer. Robert Henderson, who married Elizabeth Russell, lived on a farm in Chartiers township, and to them were born seven children: Matthew, Andrew, Ebenezer, Alexander, John, Mary and Robert. Their eldest son, Matthew, was born December 1. 1803, in Chartiers township, was married February 11, 1829 to Mary Hutchinson, and lived here until 1853, when they moved to Mercer county, Penn In 1859 they moved to Lawrence county, Penn, and returned to Washington county in 1885. Mrs. Mary Henderson died in Lawrence county, January 1, 1877. To them were born six children: John H., Elizabeth R., Robert A., Martha J., Frances M. and Harriet A. John H. married Nancy Hammond, who died, and he married Emma C. Robinson. By his first wife he had four children: John Allison, Margaret, William and Alexander. The latter died at the age of nineteen. Elizabeth R. married Robert J. Harper, and to them four children were born: Anna M., Elizabeth H., Ella (now deceased) and Eva O. G. Robert A. married Mary Ellen Blair, to whom three sons were born: Frank B., Audley C. and William A. Martha J. remains single. Harriet A. died December 17, 1881. Frances M. married Rev. John Weir, has two daughters: Mary H. and Margaret B. Rev. John Weir died May 28, 1873. He was a preacher in Canada. In politics Mr. Matthew Henderson was a Whig, and is now a Republican. In religious faith he is a member of Chartiers United Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 194 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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