Source:Hooker Genealogy (Rev. George Aeneas Ross)

Rev. George Aeneas Ross from David J. Hooker Genealogy

my very good son [John Ross -- dated 1752]

You have enclosed an answer, to your repeated request, wherein you may observe, the easy & regular steps, Providence conducted me to settle in the Country. You may trace your original, from a pure stream, to as pure a fountain. If my posterity contract any blemish, it must proceed from themselves. No original guilt can be imparted to them. Tis well, the rise of many familys in these parts, is like the head of the Nile unknown. Their glory consists in their obscurity. Tis your satisfaction, that it is otherwise with you, your escutcheon, is without blot, or stain. Contend then for the honor of your family, by a kind and generous behaviour, towards the several branches of it. Relieve them from contempt by your beneficence, and put them above the worst, by exercising that ability towards them, which God has blessed you with: which if you do, God will gather you in his good time, to your honest, and worthy progenitors. I have a quick sense of your filial favors, and you may be sure, that I am Dear son,

your most obliged affectionate father Geo. Ross

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The Life of the Reverend George Ross

George Ross Rector (as he is styled in his Presentation) of the Church of New Castle was the second son, that came to mans Estate, of David Ross of Balblair, a gentlemen of moderate fortune, but of great integrity, and Margaret his wife born in the north of Scotland, and in the Parish of Fern, in the Shire? of Ross, about 4 or 5 miles from the shire between two arms of the sea. The Firth f___tum of Murray (Moray), the other of Dornoch. The land laying between the two firths, terminates in a noted point, called Tarbat Ness.

He was put to school very early, and made progress in the Latin tongue, under the care of the schoolmaster in Tain, and being of a promising genius, his father asked him, as they were going to a farm, a little what he would be, to which the son answered a scholar, (young as he was into? inspiration) a scholar you shall be replied the father. When he was about fourteen years of age, his oldest brother, Andrew, requested his father to send him, to him, to Edinburgh. Accordingly he was sent, but for the first twelve months, little to his advantage, for instead of advancing him in his learning, he made him attend to his office, and write from morning till night, often without his dinner, to his great disappointment, not through want of affection to his brother, but through hurry of business and much company. The father being informed of this low, or no education, ordered him to be put to school, and fitted for the university. Andrew lost his slave, and George was once more, put in the way of being a scholar. He took his degree of Master of Arts at Edinburgh in the year 1700--- with this feather in his cap, he returned home, and soon after became Tutor to the Lord of May, his son, for which he was allowed ten pounds sterling per annum, great wages in that part of the world, and at that time of day. Having some ---- cash of his own, and some what to see Edinburgh again & taking leave of his father (the last time he ever saw him) not without some coolness on the sons side, for that the father didn't add weight enough to his blessing as the son expected; (and even at this time, he was not without thought, of seeing foreign countries.) I say taking leave of his father, he proceeds in his journey to Edinburgh, and there entered his name among the students of Divinity, the worthy Mr. Meldrum being Professor. There were great hopes of seeing Mr. George mount the Presbyterian Pulpit, but alas the closer he applied himself to reading, the stronger his aversion grew, to the party then uppermost in Scotland. He observed the leading men of that side to be sour, censorious & hypocritical. He could not digest, the ministers odd gestures, grimaces, dry mouths & screwed faces in their pulpits. He could not comply with their practices, even to save him from a want of bread. Their Horrible Decretum (as Mr. Calvin the author calls it) of Reprobation gave him a surfeit of their Principles, and as to their Church Government, he was satisfied that it was a spacious? Beast?, the genuine product of Core's? Rebellion, of proud Presbyterians against their Lawful Bishops. While he prayed among the students as an orthodox brother, he was diligent in informing himself, of the principles of the Church of England, which he approved of so well, that he was resolved as soon as he could find encouragement to set out for England. Mr. Aneas McKenzie, Chaplin to the Earl of Cromarty, Secretary of State for Scotland, was then at London to whom he opened himself upon that head; Mr. McKenzie being of the same way of thinking answered him that he might depend upon being employed as a Chaplin on board a man of war the least says he you can expect. Mr. McKenzie's letter he communicated to his brother, who upon mature deliberation, with some leading men of the Episcopal party, procured him a bill of exchange, for L18 11s 9d sterling thru straight away and provided & honoured with a recommendation from the Bishop of Edinburgh then outed by the Revolution, he bid adue to his native country, after suffering much in the flesh, by colledge diet, among a set of canting Pharisees, and went to London by sea, and upon his safe arrival waited upon the Bishop of London, who received him very kindly, and ordered him to attend the next ordination, at which his friend McKenzie with several other candidates were put into Deacons orders. This happened nine days after his arrival in London, which proved no small mortification to the winning part at Edinburgh, and a triumph to those of the contrary party. He was soon promoted to a Chaplainship of L80. Stealing on board a man of war, but the Chaplin being a haughty fellow, he grew sick of his station, & resolved to quit it, as soon as he could be otherwise provided for. Returning to London he found his friend McKenzie, making application to the society for the propagation of the Gospel (then newly Incorporated) for a mission. He was easily persuaded to engage with him in so commendable a design. Upon the societies being satisfied (after full trial) with their character & abilities they were both admitted missionaries. McKenzie for Staten Island and Ross for New Castle, who arrived there July 1705. And continued in the said societys service (save a few years he resided at whither he removed for his healths sake) ever since. He now being in his 73 year, how he behaved himself is best known, from the constant regard of his parishioners. Geo. Ross

NOTES:
David Ross, Sr. died April 1710 in Scotland
David Ross, Sr. married Margaret STRONACH
George's letter and autobiography was written to his son John in 1752
Rev. George died 1753/54

Typed as the Rev. George wrote it, as best could

Related documents	• Letter, Rev. George Ross autobiography (Life and Correspondence) • Letter, Rev. George Ross autobiography (Rossiana) • Colonial Families (George Ross autobiography)

Timeline

Below is a list of events that are evidenced by this source. They should appear in the 'Timeline' section of articles about people and places involved in the events.

Discussion

David J. Hooker includes in his entry for Rev. George Ross a transcription of the autobiography given by George in a letter to his son.

This is not a an exact copy of the first transcription published in the Life and Correspondence of George Read in 1870. It is also not an exact copy of the version published in Rossiana in 1908.

The source cited here is an index to the Colonial Families of Philadelphia, which was published in 1911. This book did include an abridged version of the letter and autobiography, but it also is not an exact match to this one posted by David Hooker.

In the notes below the autobiography, Hooker adds 'Typed as the Rev. George wrote it, as best could'. This text does not appear in Colonial Families of Philadelphia. It's not clear, then, if there is another version somewhere published by the person who 'Typed as the Rev. George wrote it, as best could'.

A request was made for more information about this particular transcription, but the email did not receive a reply.

Source citation

Each of the timeline events displayed above is followed by the reference code for that particular timeline event. This code is not displayed when the timeline event is included in the 'Timeline' section of an article. If an event is discussed within the body of an article, this reference code can be used to cite the source of the timeline event.

This source also needs to be included in the 'Sources' section of an article by adding the following:
* {{cite web | url = http://www.djhooker.com/23/9518.htm | title = Rev. George Aeneas Ross | last = Hooker | first = David J. | date = 2 Jun 2020 | website = [[David J. Hooker Genealogy]] | ref = {{SfnRef|Rev. George Aeneas Ross|2020}} }}{{#set: Has source=}}

Sources

• Hooker, David J. (2 Jun 2020). "Rev. George Aeneas Ross". David J. Hooker Genealogy.
• Jordan, John Woolf, ed. (1911). Colonial Families of Philadelphia. 2. New York: Lewis Pub. Co.
• Read, William Thompson (1870). Life and correspondence of George Read, a signer of the Declaration of Independence : with notices of some of his contemporaries. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co. OCLC 423590240. OL 6566917M.
• Read, Harmon Pumpelly; Reid, Francis Nevile (1908). Rossiana; papers and documents relating to the history and genealogy of the ancient and noble house of Ross, of Ross-shire, Scotland, and its descent form the ancient earls of Ross, together with the descent of the ancient and historic family of Read, from Rede of Trough-end, Reade of Barton Court, Berks, and Read of Delaware. Albany, N.Y.: Press of the Argus co. OCLC 1084513032. OL 23719559M.