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William Bertram
WILLIAM BERTRAM was born Feb. 2, 1674, in the city of Edinburgh,
Scotland. He received his education in the university of his native place,
studied for the ministry, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Bangor,
Ireland, whom he gave �ample testimonials of his ordination, ministerial
qualifications and regular Christian conversation�. He married, about 1706,
Elizabeth Gillespie, and their children were John and Elizabeth. During one of
those periodical political excitements in the British Isles his son
disappeared and his parents, under the impression that he had dome to America,
determined if possible to ascertain his whereabouts, and came to Pennsylvania
about the year 1730. Failing in their search they decided to remain in this
country, and the following year we find a Rev. Mr. Bertram unanimously
received by the Donegal Presbytery, which he joined. At the same time George
Renick presented him an invitation to settle at Paxtang and Derry, which he
accepted. He was installed Nov. 17, 1732, at the meeting-house on the Swatara.
The congregation then appointed a representative to execute to Bertram the
right and title to the Indian town tract, situated in Hanover township, on the
north side of the Swatara, containing 350 acres. On the settlement of Rev. Mr.
Bertram the congregation in the Swatara took the name of Derry, and the upper
congregation on Spring creek was styled Paxtang. In 1735 Mr. Bertram
complained of the �intolerable burden� he was under with the two
congregations, and Sept. 13, 1736, he was released from the care of Paxtang.
Rev. William Bertram died on the 2d of may, 1746, aged seventy-two years, and
his remains are interred in the Derry Church graveyard, his wife dying prior
thereto. He was a faithful minister of the gospel. It may be stated that
through his marriage with Miss Gillespie his descendants became heirs to a
handsome estate in Edinburgh. Efforts were made to secure this, but the
difficulties inherent upon proving descent we presume have been the means of
keeping the rightful parities form enjoying this patrimony.Source: Pages 655, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Lisa Strobel for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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