Parkesburg, Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church

According to The Octorara Family of Churches by Wayne Morris (Honey Brook, PA: Herald Publishing Co., 1960), Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, was organized in 1720. Records from this congregation deposited with the society include:

Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, Parkesburg, PA

• Session minutes and records, 1810–1944, 6 vols. (Call number: Vault BX9211.P49365 U61)
  • v.1. Membership, 1813–1841; Baptisms, 1811–1840; Marriages, 1811–1860.
  • v.2. Membership, 1842–1851; Baptisms, 1842–1851; Marriages, 1842–1851.
  • v.3. Membership, 1850–1886; Baptisms, 1850–1859.
  • v.4. Membership, 1887–1905; Baptisms, 1887–1906; Marriages, 1888–1904.

• Roll of communicants, 1724–1915 (Call number: Vault Folio BX9211.P49365 U622)
   
• Registers, 1859–1886; 1906–1924, 3 vols. (Call number: Vault BX9211.P49365 U62)
   
• Pastoral register of Thomas McDowell, 1883–1905, 2 vols. (Call number: Vault BX 9225 .M148 A31)
  • v.1. Membership, 1884–1896; Baptisms, 1884–1892; Marriages, 1883–1899.
  • v.2. Membership, 1896–1905; Baptisms, 1893–1905; Marriages, 1899–1906.

• Dismission certificate stubs, 1905–1929, 2 vols. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49365 U621)
   
• List of Members, 1937 (Call number: MS P221um)
   
• Sexton’s cemetery records, 1866–1933, 2 vols. (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49365 U625)
   
• Cemetery Association Treasurer's records, 1943–1968 (Call number: Vault BX 9211 .P49365 U6931)
   
• Record of lots in the old part of cemetery Upper Octorara Church, 1901, (Call number: Vault Folio BX 9211 .P49365 U625)
   
• “Annex to cemetery belonging to the Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, Chester County, Penna.,” (Call number: Map Case 58.3)
   
• “Annex to cemetery belonging to the Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, Chester County, Pennsylvania, John W. Martin,” (Call number: Map Case 58.2)
   
• “Inscriptions on stones in Upper Octorara Cemetery,” (Call number: MS P229um (8))
   
• Pew rent plans (Call number: Map Case 25.13; 25.14)
   
• Pastoral register, 1883-1905. T.R. McDowell. Manuscript. Includes sermon texts and register information of pastorates at Upper Octorara and Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Churches. (Call number: VAULT BX 9225 .M148 A31)

The records also include deeds, charters, correspondence, notes on congregational history, subscription lists (card catalog), bylaws, charter, trustee minutes and records, deacons minutes and records, women’s group minutes and records, missionary association records, congregation annual reports, a property survey, and scrapbooks (CALVIN).