Also see U. of Delaware's web page on Dr. Alison: https://www.mis4.udel.edu/askfa/whois.html From: [email protected] Date: Wed Jan 01, 2003 10:44:01 PM US/Eastern To: [email protected] Subject: [PaOldC] Rev. Francis ALISON D.D. (Bio submitted to Cyndie by separate e-mail - URL when available) Francis Alison was an early Presbyterian minister in Chester county (and Philadelphia), and the founder of the academy that became the University of Delaware and another academy that became the University of Pennsylvania! His son, Dr. Francis Alison was "The senior surgeon of the Army's Middle Department..." according to "Battle of Paoli", by Thomas J. McGuire, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2000, p. 155: This Dr. Francis Alison had two sons. Robert Alison was also a doctor, practicing in Jennersville, and husband to Elizabeth J. Aitken, daughter of John Aitken (of Philadelphia) and Jane McDowell, daughter of Capt. James McDowell and Elizabeth Loughead of Upper Oxford township. Both of the Dr. Alisons are buried in the old section of the New London Presbyterian Church cemetery. Not sure where the Rev. is buried but he died while pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. John ----- Source: Futhey & Cope's 'History of Chester Co., Pennsylvania', pp. 462-3: Francis Alison, D.D. "...was born in the county of Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1705, and completed his studies at the University of Glasgow. He came to America in 1735, and was for awhile engaged as tutor in the family of the father of John DICKINSON, of Delaware. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in 1736 or 1737, and on May 25th of the latter year was installed pastor of the New London Presbyterian congregation in Chester Co., Pa., where he continued fifteen years. "In 1743 he opened an academy at New London, which became a justly celebrated institution, and served to aid in furnishing the Presbyterian Church with well-qualified ministers and the State with able civilians. "In 1752 he removed to Philadelphia, and took charge of the Philadelphia Academy. In 1755, upon the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania, he was appointed vice-provost and professor of moral philosophy. He was also assistant minister of the First Presbyterian Church. "The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Yale College in 1755, and by the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1756; and the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, in 1758. This last distinction, now so common, was then rare, and was only conferred upon men of the most distinguished abilities and learning. "Dr. Alison was a man of high character as a Christian, a scholar, and a preacher. He had an unusually accurate and profound acquaintance with the Greek and Latin classics, and was well informed in philosophy, history, and general literature. To his zeal for the diffusion of knowledge Pennsylvania owes much of that taste for solid learning and classical literature for which many of her principal characters have been distinguished. "He opposed the throwing off of the proprietary government, and as a reward for his services Richard Penn, it is said, gave him a fine tract of land at the confluence of the Bald Eagle with the west branch of the Susquehana. "He was the founder of the 'Presbyterian Society for the Relief of Ministers and their Widows,' and the first named of its trustees. Although his family could ill afford it he made provision in his will for giving his slaves their liberty. "He had considerable influence in the ecclestiastical judicatories, and in the controversy which agitated the Presbyterian Church in his day he adhered to what was termed the 'Old Side.' "He died Nov. 29, 1779, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. The maiden name of his wife was Armitage. Among other children, he left a son, Dr. Francis Alison, who became a physician of eminence, and who was the father of the late Dr. Robert Alison of Jennersville, and of Oliver Alison, at one time sheriff of Chester County." ----- In the December, 1951 Journal of the Presbyterian Historical Society an article by Thomas C. Pears, Jr. contains information about Francis Alison: "In the minutes of the Presbytery of Donegal for Sept 18, 1733 it is recorded that in response to a supplication from the folks of Brandywine, the Presbytery 'concurred with them in endeavoring to obtain a visit from some of those young Gentlemen who are lately arrived from Ireland and we are informed are now joined to the Presbytery of NEW CASTLE' (DE). A Dr. Matthew WILSON of LEWES, DELAWARE, was born in New London, 1-15-1731. He was brought up under Dr. Alison's pastoral care and became one of the Academy's earliest pupils. Upon the removal of the school to Newark, DE, after it had been placed under the direction of Alexander McDowell... ---------- Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, page 617. "FRANCIS ALLISON (sic), D.D., a fine classical scholar and noted Presbyterian divine of Chester County, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1705, and in 1735 came to this county, where he was pastor of New London Presbyterian church for fifteen years, and principal of New London academy from 1743 to 1752. He then removed to Philadelphia, where he had charge of Philadelphia academy until 1755, in which year he was appointed professor of moral philosophy in the university of Pennsylvania, and became assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian church of that city. He died November 29, 1779, and of him it is said that 'to his zeal for the diffusion of knowledge Pennsylvania owes much of that taste for solid learning and classical literature for which many of her principal characters have been distinguished.' " ---------- From http://www.ncpresbytery.org/history.htm "The Synod of Philadelphia agreed to establish a school for those planning to go into the ministry and Newark Academy in New London, Pennsylvania, was started in 1741 by the Rev. Mr. Francis Allison (sic). In 1745 the school moved to Elkton, Maryland, and then, in 1769, to Newark, Delaware. This was the beginning of the University of Delaware. Dr. John McKinly, the first President of the University of Delaware and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in WILMINGTON, paid the salaries of the teachers in the school and sponsored many students in their education there."