The above picture is of my ancestor, William Clingan (1721-1790). He was one of the founding fathers of our country. He was a member of the Continental Congress and was a signer of The Articles of Confederation for the United States as a representative from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served alongside Benjamin Franklin, also from Pennsylvania.
I am a seventh generation American. My roots are Scotch-Irish. My great (x7) grandfather, George Clingan immigrated to this country from Ireland. He was one of three brothers who came to this country with their Presbyterian pastor, The Rev. John Roan.
A Memorable Fourth of July
In the summer of 2000 I took my family to Washington D.C. for the Fourth of July. It was one of our most memorable family trips. We traveled up into Lancaster, Pennsylvania and found the grave site of the above William Clingan. We also discovered the Donegal Presbyterian Church which was founded in the early 1700’s and was home to many of my early ancestors. We were surprised to find the church is still very much alive today. The current pastor of the church gave us an extended tour and a history lesson we would never forget. He showed us an early drawing of the layout of the sanctuary and I was glad to see the Clingans paid their tithes and thus owned a pew.
The Witness Tree
It seems that in September of 1777 Lord Howe invaded Pennsylvania and the word was traveling quickly by horseback through each township to muster the militia. The Revolution had come to Pennsylvania. The story goes that when the messengers arrived at the Donegal Presbyterian Church, services were in progress. The congregation quickly assembled outside and gathered around an oak tree at the front of the church. The current pastor had offered prayers each Sunday for the King and the people knew his inclinations were toward the British. The assembled church told their pastor it was decision time. He quickly and wholeheartedly joined them. The church gathered around the tree, held hands and vowed allegiance to the Patriot cause. Thus the tree would be known as the “Witness Tree.”
The huge oak tree stood in front of this church for 260 years until it succumbed to drought and old age and was taken down in 1991. All that was left was this giant stump and several seedlings that the current pastor hoped would survive. I set my camcorder on a nearby fence and made my family stand around the tree holding hands just like our ancestors and together we confessed we would be spiritual patriots for the cause of Christ and our country on that very hot afternoon in July of 2000.
I am a seventh generation American. My roots are Scotch-Irish. My great (x7) grandfather, George Clingan immigrated to this country from Ireland. He was one of three brothers who came to this country with their Presbyterian pastor, The Rev. John Roan.
A Memorable Fourth of July
In the summer of 2000 I took my family to Washington D.C. for the Fourth of July. It was one of our most memorable family trips. We traveled up into Lancaster, Pennsylvania and found the grave site of the above William Clingan. We also discovered the Donegal Presbyterian Church which was founded in the early 1700’s and was home to many of my early ancestors. We were surprised to find the church is still very much alive today. The current pastor of the church gave us an extended tour and a history lesson we would never forget. He showed us an early drawing of the layout of the sanctuary and I was glad to see the Clingans paid their tithes and thus owned a pew.
The Witness Tree
It seems that in September of 1777 Lord Howe invaded Pennsylvania and the word was traveling quickly by horseback through each township to muster the militia. The Revolution had come to Pennsylvania. The story goes that when the messengers arrived at the Donegal Presbyterian Church, services were in progress. The congregation quickly assembled outside and gathered around an oak tree at the front of the church. The current pastor had offered prayers each Sunday for the King and the people knew his inclinations were toward the British. The assembled church told their pastor it was decision time. He quickly and wholeheartedly joined them. The church gathered around the tree, held hands and vowed allegiance to the Patriot cause. Thus the tree would be known as the “Witness Tree.”
The huge oak tree stood in front of this church for 260 years until it succumbed to drought and old age and was taken down in 1991. All that was left was this giant stump and several seedlings that the current pastor hoped would survive. I set my camcorder on a nearby fence and made my family stand around the tree holding hands just like our ancestors and together we confessed we would be spiritual patriots for the cause of Christ and our country on that very hot afternoon in July of 2000.
