Matthew Lind (1731 - 1800)

Born 10 Aug 1731 in Corkermain, Carncastle Parish, County Antrim, Ireland

Descendants

Died 21 Apr 1800 at age 68 in Kauffman, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

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Biography

An important fact to know for genealogical research earlier than the 20th century is this. In the English-speaking world, the spelling of surnames was very inconsistent even into the 19th century; and it is not uncommon to trace a family through five or six census years and find them with two or more different spellings. This is particularly true for the Lynn family and is not limited to the census. In a will or deed, for example, "Lynn" might be written with any one of the spellings found in census records. Also, it is not uncommon to find one branch of a family settling finally on Lynn and another on Linn, etc. With all that in mind ...

Matthew Linn or Lind, son of Matthew Lind of County Antrim, Ireland, began his adult life as a farmer. In 1757, he was ordained a ruling elder of the Irish Presbyterian Church. In that same year, he entered the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland and studied theology. He matriculated in 1760, was licensed by the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland to preach the following year, and in two years more was ordained.

In 1769, Rev. Linn married Jennett Fulton, also of County Antrim and reportedly a cousin of Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.

In 1773, Rev. Matthew Linn or Lind was appointed to go as a missionary to America. With two others, he soon organized the Reformed Presbytery of America at Paxtang, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

In 1782, Rev. Linn joined the newly formed Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The next year, he became pastor of the united congregations of Greencastle, West Conococheague, and the Great Cove, making his home near Greencastle, which is in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

In 1797, at the age of 66, Rev. Linn was thrown from a horse and suffered injuries that forced him to retire in 1798. At his death in 1800, he was buried in the Browns Mill Presbyterian Cemetery at Kauffman.

Sources

• Addison, W. Innes, Registrar of the University of Glasgow, "Matriculation Albums of the University of Glasgow from 1728 to 1858", Glasgow (1913), p. 63.
• Glasgow, W. Melancthon, "History of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America", Baltimore, Maryland (1888), pp. 564-565.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #23565104