James Widney (1753)

James Widney
Born	February 10, 1753(1753-02-10) Armagh or Tyrone, Ireland
Died	March 19, 1835 (aged 82)
Resting place	Concord, Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Spouse	Ann Erwin (m. 1775–1806) «Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.–Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.»"Marriage: Ann Erwin to James Widney (1753)" Location: (linkback:http://jimlindstrom.com/mediawiki/index.php/James_Widney_(1753)) Ann Wilds
Parents	James Widney (1728) Mary Wilson
Relatives	Sarah Widney (1757; Sister) Margaret Widney (1758) Charles Widney (1763

James Widney (1st) was awarded a large estate in County Tyrone, in recognition of Col. Widney's war efforts. James Widney (2d) inherited the estate by primogeniture, then sold the entire estate and moved his family, with the exception of his sister Sarah Widney (who immigrated with Hugh Linn), to Concord, Pennsylvania. In honor of Col. John Widney, each of the children of James and Mary Widney named their first child "John."

James was appointed leader of a newly-formed a Methodist society in Concord. Another Widney (William?) donated land upon which the first Methodist Church was a log church built in 1803. This land later became the Methodist Cemetery, lying south of Concord on the road to Doylesburg [Source: Samuel WILLIAM 's autobiography, "Leaves from an Autobiography", published in The Ladies Repository in 1851.] ["Methodist Circuits in Central Penn. bef. 1812", Bell & Berkheimer, Williamsport, PA] ["History of Concord Circuit", by Bertha Jones]

Excerpt From "History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania"

Concord, situated in the upper end of Fannett Township, was laid out by James Widney, and lots offered for sale about 1791. It took its name from Concord, Mass., the scene of the first engagement in the Revolutionary war. The first settlers in the region were the Widneys, the Erwins, the Kyles, McMullins, Linns, McIlhenies, Doyles, Hockenberrys and others. The village has a public school, and three churchest: Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant and United Presbyterian, and the usual line of business. Population, 150.

Episcopal Methodism was introduced into Path Valley, in or about the year 1790, by James Widney, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, who immigrated to the United States soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, and settled in the northern part of Path Valley, at what is now known as Concord. Mr. Widney's father was educated in the mother country for the ministry of the Established Church, but refused to take orders, and his son James espoused the cause of the Methodists in the mother country, and threw his lot in with and identified himself with the Wesleyan Methodists. On arriving at their new home in the Western wilds of the New World, they were very destitute of the Word of God. This state of affairs reached the ears of Bishop Asbury of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he started out to hunt up the few familes of Methodists living in the upper end of Path Valley. This was the first Methodist preaching ever held in this part of the country. After this they were, at great intervals, visited by Revs. Jonathan Forest and Nelson Read. In the year 1800 Mr. Widney persuaded Rev. Alexander McCaine to make an appointment at Concord for preaching, and, this being done and filled, after the sermon McCaine read the general rules of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and at the same time gave a brief account of its ecclesiastical polity and its distinguishing features. At this meeting the formation of a society was proposed, and eleven persons present united together as a society, and Widney was appointed as their leader. This was, at that time, on Huntingdon Circuit, which embraced considerable portions of Huntingdon, Franklin, Fulton, Perry, and Cumberland Counties.

The first Methodist Church was built on the land of Mr. Widney, in what is now the Methodist cemetery, lying south of Concord, on the road to Doylesburg.

Historical Records

• James is listed on an 1786 List of Taxables for Fannett Township, Pennsylvania
• The 1790 Pennsylvania Census for Fannet Township, Franklin County includes a "James Woodney" (James Widney?) with 1 white male over 16 years old (himself), 1 white males under 16 (his son?), and 3 white females.
• The 1800 Pennsylvania Census for Fannet Township, Franklin County includes James Widney
• James witnessed a will for Peter Hockenberry in 1810
• James Widney (the same?) warranted 271 acres on September 17, 1816 in Franklin County.