Presbyterian Emigration from Monaghan: The Cahans Exodus
Considerable information has been accumulated regarding the EARLY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES in the county. . . . ..First Ballybay- John Arnold, 1782-1797; . . . Mr. Arnold emigrated to America, 1797. . . . Cahans-Thomas Clark, 1749-1764; John Rodgers, 1767-1814; - M'Kelvey, 1815-1829; Mathew M'Auley, 1829-1875; James Henry, 1876. At the time Cahans was established there appears to have been considerable dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the Synod Of Ulster. The original members who moderated the call to Mr. Clark were from the districts of Ballybay, Cootehill, and Monaghan. Hanna, in his "Scotch-Irish," states that Cahans seceded from First Ballybay, but this can only be accepted as partly correct. Mr. Clark, the first minister, was a Scotchman, and always wore the kilts, bonnets, and tartan of the Black Douglas. In 1764 he emigrated to America, accompanied by the greater part of his congregation. Mr. M'Auley resigned in 1875. THE CAHANS EXODUS. Mr. Clark is said to have laboured with great success in his charge, but amid many trials and persecutions. He refused to take an oath by kissing the Book, believing it to be unscriptual, and although in his youth he served in the army against the Pretender, yet he would not take the oath of abjuration, because it recognised the King as head of the Church. Taking advantage of these things some of his enemies had him arrested in 1754 and imprisoned in Monaghan Jail. From his place of confinement he preached every Sabbath to as many of his people as he could convene. He was finally released, as it was found that he had been imprisoned on a fraudulent charge. In 1763 he received an invitation to visit America. Wearied with his contendings, he regarded his call favourably, and his presbytery gave him leave of absence for one year. But when he came to sail from Newry, May 16, 1764, it was found that the greater part of his congregation, some 300 persons, were ready to sail with with him. They settled temporarily at Stillwater, New York, thence a portion removed to South Carolina, but the majority went with Mr. Clark to Salem, where he continued as the pastor of eight ruling elders and 150 communicants and their children who had come with him from County Monaghan. His pastoral relation had never been disturbed, his church had simply been transplanted .Close