• "A Session-book of the Congregation of Middle Spring" (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/14516/).

• Category: Abstract

• 

Ancestry.com. A Session-book for the use of the Session of the Congregation of Middle Spring [Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County, Pa.] [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.
Original data: A Session-book for the use of the Session of the Congregation of Middle Spring [Presbyterian Church, Cumberland County, Pa.]. unknown: unknown, 1742.

• Text:
  
  April 23 -1744. The session of Middle Spring met according to appointment. Begun with prayer.
  Ordered that the Minutes of the last session be read.
  ...
  Upon a report that there has been something immodest between James Mountgomery and Mary Layson, order that John McKee cite them to attend next session day, and also to cite Isabell McKee, John and Elizabeth Mountgomery, and that Allen Killough cite Mary Stuart to attend the evidence about the affair.
  ..
  Concluded with prayer.
  
  May 11 - - The session met according to appointment of last sesisn.
  ...
  James Mountgomery and Mary Layson appeared, as also the other persons that were cited for evidences.
  Isabel McKee being called, solemnly declar'd that she had been informed by Mary Stuart that Mary Stuart, Mary Layson had said that she was with child.
  Mary Stuart being called, solemnly declar'd, that being informed by Elenor Finly, that it was reported that Mary Layson was with child, she went to said Layson and asked her whether James Mountgomery had been guilty with her; and that said Mary Layson tolder her she couldn't say fully that he had; but that she believed the devil was busie driving temptations into her head.
  Elizabeth Mountgomery, being called, solemnly declar'd that she was informed by her son, John Mountgomery, that he heard it was reported that Mary Layson was with child to James Mountgomery; upon which the Deponent went to Mary Layson and asked her if it was true, telling her, if it was so, not to wrong herself; said Mary Layson told her there was nothing of it.
  John Mountgomery, being called, solemnly declar'd, that he had his information from Mary Stuart; and that what she had before declared was the substance of what she told him.
  The session were informed that Daniel Smith had said if the session didn't look to themselves about his affir, he would look to them; also that John Henry and his wife were the fittest to be called as evidence about the affair.
  Whereupon the matter was further deferred.
  Ordered that Daniel Smith, John and Elizabeth Henry be cited to the session. Also ordered that members of the session cite any persons who may be given in to them as evidences.
  Concluded with prayer.
  
  June 25, - 1744. The session of Middle Spring met according to their stated course, begun with prayer.
  ...
  The affair concerning James Mountgomery and Mary Layson resum'd.
  The evidences order'd, last session, to be cited, appear'd.
  John Henry being call'd, solemnly declar'd, that all the knowledge that he had of the affair respecting James Mountgomery and Mary Layson, was only an information he had from his son William, viz: that John Breaddy had intimated to him, that John Beatty had told his family, he doubted all was not well with some of them; and hinted a suspicion that Mary Layson was with child.
  
  Elizabeth Henry being call'd, solemnly declar'd, that being at Hugh Breaddy's on the day last winter, she enquired at Hannah Breaddy how Mary Layson was, and particularly spoke of the trouble she was under: Hannah Breaddy told her, that said Mary's trouble was a great trouble to her, and further said, if anything should befall her, it would be a disgrace to the family: intimating that her fears arose from some expressions said Layson had used; but also she said Layson was as woman should be.
  Hannah Breaddy being call'd solemnly declar'd, that she knew not any signs of Mary Layson's being with child, nor ever saw any immodest actions with her; but that her fears, which she expressed to Elizabeth Henry, arose from some foolish expressions that Mary Layson used once, when she appear'd to the deponent not to be in the due excersise of her reason; which words the deponent couldn't now remember so as to relate them, and further saith, said Mary Layson said she didn't remember, nor think she had said such words, who she came better to herself again
  Nathaniel Peebles being call'd, solemnly declar'd, that John Henry, in conversation with him, told him that when Robt. Henry went to speak to Mary Layson about her trouble, he got no satisfaction: but instead of trouble, she was lying up with James Mountgomery in the time of the fight about the Indians: and that said Mountgomery had offer'd something indescent to Hannah Layson, alias Woods, who defended herself with churn-dash. Upon further enquiry, he found that said Henry's information was from the boys above mention'd.
  As to Mary Layson's being sometimes without the due excercise of her reason; Isabell McKee, being call'd, solemnly declar'd that conversing with Mary Layson some hours one day, she observ'd, that she spoke confus'dly and inconnectedly about her apprehensions of her dying soon: and deponent further saith that John Layson told her before this report concerning said Mary and James Mountgomery came abroad, that his mother Mary Layson would sometimes speak to him to make a coffin for her, as filthy as he could.
  James Mountgomery complained of Daniel Smith, that he had used his character ill in some expressions he used at Saml Mountgomery's after the raising of his house. Upon which, James Dysert being call'd, solenmly declar'd that, upon telling Daniel Smith he should reproved his son, whom he had observed to scare James Mountgomery's horse very much as he was going away from Sam; Mountgomery's, said Daniel reply'd, if you know as much of him as I do, you wouldn't speak in his behalf: if he had an old woman at the back of a ditch, he would make a fool of her as fast as any of you; and that he wasn't fit to live among men or Christians, he wasn't possitive which.
  The session, after serious consideration, judge, that this report concerning James Mountgomery and Mary Layson arose partly from the discourse of the boys, viz: William Henry and John Breaddy, who can't be evidences because of their youth; and partly from some expresisons drop'd by Mary Layson herself, owing only, as appears from Hannah Breaddy's evidence, to the irrational influence of melancholy, which further appears probable from Isabell McKee's eveidence,
  
  (Here it appears that a sheet has been torn from the book, as the pages are numbered, and Pages 18 and 19 are missing.)