Robert Strawbridge

His championship of the doctrines and ways of Methodism aroused violent opposition from his neighbors, and he removed to Sligo, where he joined a Methodist society. During the next few years he seems to have lived in several different places, preaching and working as a house-builder. Sometime between 1759 and 1766, he emigrated to Maryland and settled on Sam's Creek, Frederick County. Upon the year of his arrival depends the answer to the long-debated question whether to him or to Philip Embury belongs the honor of having formed the first Methodist Society and built the first Methodist meeting house in America. The dates of Embury's achievements are not disputed, and the burden of proof rests upon Strawbridge's supporters. A review of the evidence leaves a disinterested person convinced that unless new facts are discovered, while there is a reasonable doubt of Embury's priority, that of Strawbridge cannot be established. It is certain, however, that he was the earliest apostle of Methodism in Maryland, and that his influence was a considerable factor in its establishment in America. Soon after his arrival he began to preach, meetings were held in his house, a small society was formed, and a log meeting house erected about a mile from his home. He lived on Sam's Creek for about sixteen years, ministering. When Wesley's missionaries came to America in the fall of 1769, Strawbridge began to cooperate with them. He visited Joseph Pilmore in Philadelphia not long after his arrival, and was there again the following year, when he preached in St. George's Chapel. In 1773 he and his Maryland associates deeded at least six meeting houses to trustees to hold for John and Charles Wesley and such persons as should be "appointed at the yearly conference of the people called Methodists in England. " Although he was not present at the first American Methodist Conference, held in Philadelphia, July 11, 1773, he was appointed to the Baltimore circuit along with Francis Asbury and two others, but his name does not appear on the Conference minutes after 1775. Probably the reason for this fact is to be found in his unyielding attitude on the question of administering the Sacraments. While on one of his itineraries in 1781 he became ill and died at the house of Joseph Wheeler, near Towson.

Robert Strawbridge Strawbridge

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clergyman

Background

Robert was born in Drummersnave (now Drumsna), near Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, Ireland. His father, a farmer in comfortable circumstances apparently, was also named Robert, and there was at least one other son, Gilbert.

Career

His championship of the doctrines and ways of Methodism aroused violent opposition from his neighbors, and he removed to Sligo, where he joined a Methodist society. During the next few years he seems to have lived in several different places, preaching and working as a house-builder. Sometime between 1759 and 1766, he emigrated to Maryland and settled on Sam's Creek, Frederick County. Upon the year of his arrival depends the answer to the long-debated question whether to him or to Philip Embury belongs the honor of having formed the first Methodist Society and built the first Methodist meeting house in America. The dates of Embury's achievements are not disputed, and the burden of proof rests upon Strawbridge's supporters.

A review of the evidence leaves a disinterested person convinced that unless new facts are discovered, while there is a reasonable doubt of Embury's priority, that of Strawbridge cannot be established. It is certain, however, that he was the earliest apostle of Methodism in Maryland, and that his influence was a considerable factor in its establishment in America.

Soon after his arrival he began to preach, meetings were held in his house, a small society was formed, and a log meeting house erected about a mile from his home. He lived on Sam's Creek for about sixteen years, ministering.

When Wesley's missionaries came to America in the fall of 1769, Strawbridge began to cooperate with them. He visited Joseph Pilmore in Philadelphia not long after his arrival, and was there again the following year, when he preached in St. George's Chapel.

In 1773 he and his Maryland associates deeded at least six meeting houses to trustees to hold for John and Charles Wesley and such persons as should be "appointed at the yearly conference of the people called Methodists in England. "

Although he was not present at the first American Methodist Conference, held in Philadelphia, July 11, 1773, he was appointed to the Baltimore circuit along with Francis Asbury and two others, but his name does not appear on the Conference minutes after 1775.

Probably the reason for this fact is to be found in his unyielding attitude on the question of administering the Sacraments.

While on one of his itineraries in 1781 he became ill and died at the house of Joseph Wheeler, near Towson.

Achievements

As a result of Robert Strawbridge's religious activities, many people were converted, some of whom later became preachers, and a number of societies were formed. He made preaching tours in eastern Maryland and across the borders into Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Strawbridge cooperated with Wesley's missionaries to conform the English forms of Methodist procedure.

Religion

The younger Robert came under Methodist influences and was converted.

Personality

He was agreeable company, full of interesting anecdotes. "

Quotes from others about the person

Henry Boehm, in his Reminiscences wroted: "I heard Strawbridge preach at my house in 1781. He was a stout, heavy man, and looked as if he was built for service. My father was much pleased with him and his preaching. He was agreeable company, full of interesting anecdotes. "

So great was Asbury's resentment of Strawbridge's behavior that his reference to the latter's death was neither fair nor kind: "He is now no more: upon the whole, I am inclined to think that the Lord took him away in judgment, because he was in a way to do hurt to his cause; and that he saved him in mercy, because from his death-bed conversation he appears to have had hope in his end. "

He is traditionally regarded as having been "generous, energetic, fiery, versatile, somewhat intractable to authority, and probably improvident".

Connections

He married a woman whose maiden name was Piper. He had six children, three of whom died early.

Father:: Robert Strawbridge
Brother:: Gilbert Strawbridge

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