minute-book was held on Easter Monday, April 3, 1820, the wardens being chosen at a subsequent meeting of the vestry from among their number. Oliver Ormsby and Peter Mowry were the wardens; Morgan Neville, George Poe, Jr., Abner Barker, Abraham Long, Joseph Davis, Peter Beard, Charles L. Volz, Walter Forward, Nathaniel Richardson, Samuel Roberts, Thomas Cromwell, and John Reno, the vestrymen. A souvenir of these times is an old receipt, signed by the then wardens, in the possession of a granddaughter of the first George Shiras, of which the following is a copy:
"Pittsburgh 27 March 1818—We certify that George Shiras has settled his claims against Trinity Church and it appears he is a contributor of the sum of Three hundred Dollars to said Church.
O. Ormsby. | Wardens." | |
Peter Mowry. |
The singing in the "Old Round Church" was led by an organ, then a great rarity in the Western country, on which Mr. Hopkins performed, his wife and children composing the choir. When he became the lay-reader, previous to his taking orders, Mrs. Hopkins became the organist.
The following were the respective pew-holders in Trinity Church September 1, 1821, as given in the early minute-book: No. 1, Christopher Cowan; No. 2, Abraham Long; No. 3, Dr. Peter Mowry; No. 4, Alexander Johnston, Jr.; No. 5, Oliver Ormsby; No. 6, Morgan Neville; No. 7, George Poe, Jr.; No. 8, Abner Barker; No. 9, Nathaniel Richardson; No. 10, David McGunnegle; No. 11, probably the "strangers' pew;" No. 12, Joseph Barclay; No. 13, Peter Beard; No. 14, Samuel Kingston; No. 15, John H. Hopkins, then in the legal profession; No. 16, Thomas Enochs; No. 17, Mary Cecil; No. 18, George Shiras; No. 19, Mrs. Kerwin and J. Lightner; No. 20, Thomas Barlow, formerly secretary of legation under his uncle, Joel Barlow, minister to France, 1811–12; No. 21, Charles L. Volz; No.