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Note: My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather from Edinburgh, Scotland**********1778--1853 My 4th Great-Grandfather came to this country from Edinburgh, Scotland in 1803, to start a new congregation, in Washington D.C., of which he, (Rev. Dr. Laurie), was installed as the pastor, in June of 1803. For several years he preached in the old Treasury building which burned by the British in 1814. In 1807 a brick edifice was opened for service which was the second Protestant Church in Washington. He had charge of this pastorate for 46 years, he was also employed in the Treasury, holding office till his death. Williams gave him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, in Autumn of 1815, from Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont. Sources; Frank Edgington- "History of the New York Ave. Presbyterian Church". Founding Pastor of the F Street Church (now The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church) near the White House in Washington D.C. This church ministered to many Presidents, and statesman. President Lincoln & wife, Mary Todd Lincoln attended this church. "Dr. Laurie's Church, the Old School Presbyterian, stood on the south side of F street, west of 14th street, and St. Patrick's, at 10th street, flanked the Ridge, while ground in the rear of the latter was used partly as a graveyard, with public vault. What has become Gonzaga College, then bearing the name of the Washington Seminary and regarded as one of the leading institutions of the District, was eastward. The seminary was a large three-story building, east of which was a yard ending over Sluice run, at the property on the corner of 9th street." Source:" Ancient Designation of F Street, Washington" By James Croggon, The Evening Star, May 5, 1906 [p. 11] Rev. Dr. Laurie took a clerkship in the Treasury Department, in addition to his pastoral duties. One of the founders, along with HENRY CLAY and FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, of the American Colonization Society. 1807 He was President of the public school board, established the first school for African American children, he was active in organizing the first society for the relief of the poor and destitute His first wife Elizabeth Scott, was a first cousin of SIR WALTER SCOTT. She was also from Scotland. His second wife, Elizabeth Bell Shepherd , was connected to PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON, through her mother's family. Her son, Dr. J.C. Hall was a prominent Washington D.C. doctor and noted philanthropist, and one of the reported 14 doctors present at the deathbed of PRESIDENT LINCOLN. Source, "BLOOD ON THE MOON THE ASSASSINATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN ", by EDWARD STEERS JR. page# 313 note #25. In the book, "Prince Among Slaves The True Story Of An African Prince Sold Into Slavery In The American South," by Terry Alford, the Rev. Laurie is referred to. Rev. Laurie helped bring freedom to Ibrahima, an African Prince enslaved here in the U.S. Rev. Laurie was an early abolitionist and a Mason. 1804-1806-CHAPLAIN of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CHAPLAIN TO CONGRESS DECEMBER 1, 1809 - HOUSE JOURNAL- Friday Dec. 1, 1809 One of the Directors of the NEW YORK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY while it was under Dr. Mason President of the Botannical Society of Washington D.C. Rev. Dr. Laurie wrote to Mrs. Dolley Madison 4-4-1837, as President of the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society. See Dolley Madison Papers, Library of Congress Manuscript Division
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