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Hopewell Presbyterian Church & Cemetery - New Bedford PA

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In 1800 a small group of Presbyterians began meeting in an area that later became the village of New Bedford (laid out in 1818). The congregation, served by the Reverend William Wick until 1815, was soon named as the Hopewell Presbyterian Church. Before too long a log cabin church was built and a cemetery was started behind the church in 1810. A wooden frame building was erected in 1848. In 1844, over a dispute involving the issue of slavery, a segment of the congregation broke away to form the Free Presbyterian Church but later rejoined the Hopewell Church in 1871. A large wooden frame church (shown above) was built at the same location and dedicated in 1893. (c1920) Full Size


The Hopewell Presbyterian Church, located at the east end of the village, was built in 1892-1893. The bell tower was struck by lightning during a severe storm on Saturday, July 10, 1937. A fire erupted but the heroic efforts of the community helped contain the spread of the flames until local firefighters arrived. The original bell was severely damaged and had to be replaced. In October 1964 the church merged with the nearby New Bedford United Presbyterian Church and the new congregation became known as the United Presbyterian Church of New Bedford. The last service was held in the Hopewell Church on Sunday, January 28, 1968, as the congregation moved to a new site a half mile away on Marr Road. The old Hopewell Church was razed soon after but the cemetery is still in active use today. (c1950) Full Size


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Comments

  1. Hi there – I am looking for a gravestone photo of an ancestor – Alexander Clendenning that I’ve read is buried in the Hopewell Presbyterian Cemetery – also any Leyde’s nearby would be of interest too…

  2. Looking for gravestone

  3. I’m looking for an ancestor Nancy Leggett Tannehill whom I have been told is buried in the Hopewell Presbyterian Cemetery there. Can you find her? Thank you.

  4. (EDITOR’S NOTE) Dave, I searched the cemetery yesterday with no luck. However, I now know that a “Alexander Clindinin” (1733-1815) is buried somewhere in the cemetery. I believe along the tree line – on the eastern edge of the cemetery. I see no reference to the name “Leyde” for this cemetery. I’ll get a photo of the Clindinin stone on my next trip. Jeff

  5. (EDITOR’S NOTE) Rose, there is a “Nancy Anne Tannehill” (died 1835) buried in the cemetery. She was the wife of William Tannehill – but I’m not sure if he is buried there though. I’ll try to get a photo on my next trip. Jeff

  6. I was wondering if you had any information in your archives regarding Alexander Wright. I have come into a family history showing him as my great, great, great, great,grand father. The history says that he was involved with the organization of Hopewell Church in New Hope, PA and was an Elder until his death in 1838.

  7. Hi Jeff,

    I am searching for the grave of my great great great great grandfather John Hanna or Hannah. I have located information that he was possibly buried in Hopewell Cemetery. His lifespan was 1789 and died in 1862. His spouse was Jane Clark.

    I would appreciate any information on his grave.

    Thank you in advance.

  8. During a trip there last year, I found the grave markers of my 4th great grandfather, Samuel Rogers (1783-1872) and his wife Sarah Waugh adjacent to Samuel. I found two other Rogers, but not their son, Alexander W. Rogers, Esq. who died in New Bedford in 1859; I found his obit in the New Castle library, also last year, but I couldn’t find his grave. He should be buried at this Hopewell Cemetery. Also, one of your pics of Rural House refers to John N Rogers being buried in Evergreen Cemetery, but there is no listing of his grave, either. The New Castle library has a compilation of Pulaski Township cemeteries in their genealogy room, but Alexander is not listed. Can you help?
    thanks
    Darius

  9. I am trying to determine where William Steen is buried in Lawrence County. Information I have is that he was born in Lawrence County in 1810 and died in 1852. His post office at the time of his death was New Bedford. His wife was Eleanor Gailey Steen who died in 1849 or 1850. I am wondering if either one of them is buried in Hopewell Cemetery.

    Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

  10. (EDITOR’S NOTE) Darius, I’m looking over a few sources for Hopewell Cemetery and I found the Rogers family members you mention – but nothing for Alexander Rogers. I’ll keep checking. Jeff

  11. (EDITOR’S NOTE) Dino, I checked in Dwight Copper’s great reference book on Hopewell Cemetery and there is no mention of William and Eleanor Steen. There are no burials listed as “Steen” at all that I can find. Perhaps its an unmarked grave? Jeff

  12. Hi there,
    I am looking for a grave photo for my 3x great grandfather Joseph Carnahan 1801-1847 or 1848 whom it is reputed that he is buried in Hopewell Cemetery. Any information or photo you may be able to provide would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Barbara Black

  13. I’m told my great grand parents are buried in this cemetery. Where is it located?

  14. For the person seeing info on Alexander Wright: He, his wife, his son and his son’s wives and other relatives are buried there in New Bedford. His wife, Esther, has an original stone with a wonderful inscription! My tree at Ancestry.com and others there have lots of info on Alex Wright. He is a pretty interesting guy.

  15. I am looking for the grave of my 5th great grandmother. Undocumented internet sources say she is buried here. I have nothing to support this. Her tombstone should read Elizabeth Morrison. Undocumented internet sources claim she died 13 Feb 1865. Her son, Francis Morrison, is, in fact, buried here. He married an Elizabeth, not to be confused with the Elizabeth for whom I am searching. My Elizabeth’s maiden name was Leonard. She was thrice married – to George Burnworth; a man named Clay; and, finally, James Morrison. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

  16. My 3x Great-grandfather was John Piper. He and his wife Catherine Nicely Piper are buried in the Hopewell Cem. I am trying to confirm the identity of his parents. Is there any information on the people buried there. He was born 22 Sept. 1771 and died 8 Dec. 1862. Any information would be appreciated.

  17. I have been researching several families who are buried in the cemetery in doing a genealogy of the James Watson family. Some of them are buried here, and I suspect that there are other family members who are but have no stone. What I am really looking for is a list of early members of the Hopewell church. Do you know where Copper got his information on who was a member? I also found some photocopies of several pages of the early registers of the Hopewell church in some Porter family files at the Mercer county Historical Society. Do you have any idea where this book might be located?

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