Reverend David Youngs
| Charts | Ancestors of Edward Ambrose Cooke |
Reverend David Youngs, son of John Youngs and Ann Hallock, was born at Aquebogue, Suffolk Co., New York, 3 January 1719.1,2 He died at Brookhaven, Suffolk Co., New York, 18 April 1752.1,3,4
David married, as her 2nd husband, Bethia Parshall, daughter of David Parshall and Mary Gardiner, at Aquebogue 21 February 1743.5,6,1
The author of the Youngs Family does not offer any evidence for placing David as a son of John Youngs. Research into that aspect continues. His birth date is calculated from his age at marriage, indicated in his Bible record, below. Dexter's Biographical Sketches of Yale Graduates states his father was Judge Benjamin Youngs; The Combined Registers calls him son of Robert Young from Scotland who had settled in Newark in 1696 with sons David and John who both settled in Hanover.
Rev. David Youngs graduated from Yale in 1741. Dr. Samuel Hopkins of Newport states that the members appeared to be unusually awakened, and several of them visited every room in the college and discoursed freely. The most zealous of these were Samuel Buell, David Youngs, and David Brainard. Youngs excelled them in fervency of spirit and successful endeavors for the unconverted. Brainard later became the great missionary to the Indians, and Buell the patriotic minister of Easthampton, Long Island.
On 13 May 1742 he read a Latin thesis at a voluntary convention at Hartford, and he, "Mr. David Youngs of Long Island," was licensed to preach the gospel. Later that year, 12 Oct 1742, he was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Setauket, Brookhaven, Long Island. Setauket lay at the head of Setauket Harbor, and was the largest village in the township. It is on the north side of the island and named for the Scatalcott tribe of Indians that used to occupy the area. Originally settled by emigrants from Boston in 1655, the meeting house David used was built about 1715 on the east side of the "green" in the old burying ground. The interior was without "ceiling or plaster."
Many of the notes in the Youngs Family (1907) indicate the author (a 5th generation descendant of Rev. Youngs) had accumulated an extensive collection of letters and documents relating to Rev. Youngs, including his sermons. The whereabouts of this collection is unknown at present. Some of these documents are described below.
A paper in his handwriting contained the "Profession of Faith," "The Covenant," a list of 42 members before that date, and 44 additions while he was pastor.
He wrote quite full sketches of his sermons on "six leaves of paper 2 1/4 inches wide by 4 inches long, which made a little book of 12 pages. On the first page a margin was left, on which he noted the places where he preached them, and often the dates were given. From the dozen of these sermons which have been preserved we learn the character of his preaching:
"The wrath of God, the terrors of hell and the awful doom of the damned were prominent components of the preaching of the day," and it seems David was no stranger to the form, and indeed at least twice he preached from Luke 12:28, "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth," of which he wrote: that the damned in hell shall have such apprehension of the saints' happiness in heaven as shall dreadfully aggravate their own eternal misery."
However, it seems that the love of God that he most delighted in and spoke about. Psalm 73:28, "But as for me it is good to be near God;" 1 John 20:13, He that hath the Son hath Life;" 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also once suffered for sins the just for the unjust;" Matthew 17:5, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him;" 1 Corinthians 6:17, "But he that is joined unto the Lord, is one Spirit;" Proverbs 8:21, "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance," were his usual texts. His last sermon that we know of was from Psalm 73:28 in Nov 1751.
His funeral sermon from Hebrews 13 was given by Rev. Napthali Dagget, then pastor of Smithtown and later President of Yale College. In 1907, the original manuscript was on file at Yale College and has the date of death, April 18, 1752 inscribed on it.
Among his papers was a receipt given at New York 15 July 1746, "Received from the Revd. David Youngs by the hands of Mr. Edward King Two pounds, Ten shillings in full of all Demand £2 10s. --(Signed) Theod Van Wyck
His Bible was preserved for about a hundred years, and fortunately, the last known owner transcribed it for a cousin in 1858. Whether it still exists is unknown, but in 1907, Selah Youngs wrote that "all trace of it has been lost." The transcription reads:
He died intestate and letters of administration were granted to his widow Bethiah, 25 June 1752. There is no grave stone because during the Revolution, a company of British soldiers made earthworks in the graveyard and all the headstones were destroyed.1,7,8
Administration of David's estate was granted to "Mrs. Bethya Youngs," 25 June 1752.4
David married, as her 2nd husband, Bethia Parshall, daughter of David Parshall and Mary Gardiner, at Aquebogue 21 February 1743.5,6,1
The author of the Youngs Family does not offer any evidence for placing David as a son of John Youngs. Research into that aspect continues. His birth date is calculated from his age at marriage, indicated in his Bible record, below. Dexter's Biographical Sketches of Yale Graduates states his father was Judge Benjamin Youngs; The Combined Registers calls him son of Robert Young from Scotland who had settled in Newark in 1696 with sons David and John who both settled in Hanover.
Rev. David Youngs graduated from Yale in 1741. Dr. Samuel Hopkins of Newport states that the members appeared to be unusually awakened, and several of them visited every room in the college and discoursed freely. The most zealous of these were Samuel Buell, David Youngs, and David Brainard. Youngs excelled them in fervency of spirit and successful endeavors for the unconverted. Brainard later became the great missionary to the Indians, and Buell the patriotic minister of Easthampton, Long Island.
On 13 May 1742 he read a Latin thesis at a voluntary convention at Hartford, and he, "Mr. David Youngs of Long Island," was licensed to preach the gospel. Later that year, 12 Oct 1742, he was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Setauket, Brookhaven, Long Island. Setauket lay at the head of Setauket Harbor, and was the largest village in the township. It is on the north side of the island and named for the Scatalcott tribe of Indians that used to occupy the area. Originally settled by emigrants from Boston in 1655, the meeting house David used was built about 1715 on the east side of the "green" in the old burying ground. The interior was without "ceiling or plaster."
Many of the notes in the Youngs Family (1907) indicate the author (a 5th generation descendant of Rev. Youngs) had accumulated an extensive collection of letters and documents relating to Rev. Youngs, including his sermons. The whereabouts of this collection is unknown at present. Some of these documents are described below.
A paper in his handwriting contained the "Profession of Faith," "The Covenant," a list of 42 members before that date, and 44 additions while he was pastor.
He wrote quite full sketches of his sermons on "six leaves of paper 2 1/4 inches wide by 4 inches long, which made a little book of 12 pages. On the first page a margin was left, on which he noted the places where he preached them, and often the dates were given. From the dozen of these sermons which have been preserved we learn the character of his preaching:
"The wrath of God, the terrors of hell and the awful doom of the damned were prominent components of the preaching of the day," and it seems David was no stranger to the form, and indeed at least twice he preached from Luke 12:28, "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth," of which he wrote: that the damned in hell shall have such apprehension of the saints' happiness in heaven as shall dreadfully aggravate their own eternal misery."
However, it seems that the love of God that he most delighted in and spoke about. Psalm 73:28, "But as for me it is good to be near God;" 1 John 20:13, He that hath the Son hath Life;" 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also once suffered for sins the just for the unjust;" Matthew 17:5, "This is my beloved Son, hear ye him;" 1 Corinthians 6:17, "But he that is joined unto the Lord, is one Spirit;" Proverbs 8:21, "That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance," were his usual texts. His last sermon that we know of was from Psalm 73:28 in Nov 1751.
His funeral sermon from Hebrews 13 was given by Rev. Napthali Dagget, then pastor of Smithtown and later President of Yale College. In 1907, the original manuscript was on file at Yale College and has the date of death, April 18, 1752 inscribed on it.
Among his papers was a receipt given at New York 15 July 1746, "Received from the Revd. David Youngs by the hands of Mr. Edward King Two pounds, Ten shillings in full of all Demand £2 10s. --(Signed) Theod Van Wyck
His Bible was preserved for about a hundred years, and fortunately, the last known owner transcribed it for a cousin in 1858. Whether it still exists is unknown, but in 1907, Selah Youngs wrote that "all trace of it has been lost." The transcription reads:
David Youngs was born in January the 3rd in the year of our Lord, 1719
And in February the 21, 1743, was married to Bethiah Piershal, who was born in February the 19th in the year of our Lord 1724.
David Youngs being 23 years and 1 month and 18 days old and my wife Bethiah Youngs being 19 years and 2 days old when we were married by James Davenport
Lord help us to keep our marriage vows.
Our first son David was born the 29th of August, about one of the clock on Thursday morning in the year of our Lord 1745, and was baptized the 10th day after birth.
Our daughter Hannah was born the 13th of June, 1747 about three of the clock in the afternoon on Saturday and was baptized the 27th of the same month.
Our son Ephraim was born October 26th, 1749 about ten of the clock at night Thursday and was baptized the 10th day after birth.
Our son James was born January 22nd, 1753 about six of the clock in the morning on Wednesday and was baptized by Mr. James Brown the 18th day after birth.
Benjamin Halsey married to Bethiah Youngs, Benjamin Halsey son of Benjamin and Bethiah Youngs born April 20th 1764.
Bethiah Halsey deceased Sunday morning Jan. 23rd, 1785 in the 62nd year of her age. Funeral sermon preached from Prov. 14, Chapter 32, Verse by the Rev. Timothy Johns.
And in February the 21, 1743, was married to Bethiah Piershal, who was born in February the 19th in the year of our Lord 1724.
David Youngs being 23 years and 1 month and 18 days old and my wife Bethiah Youngs being 19 years and 2 days old when we were married by James Davenport
Lord help us to keep our marriage vows.
Our first son David was born the 29th of August, about one of the clock on Thursday morning in the year of our Lord 1745, and was baptized the 10th day after birth.
Our daughter Hannah was born the 13th of June, 1747 about three of the clock in the afternoon on Saturday and was baptized the 27th of the same month.
Our son Ephraim was born October 26th, 1749 about ten of the clock at night Thursday and was baptized the 10th day after birth.
Our son James was born January 22nd, 1753 about six of the clock in the morning on Wednesday and was baptized by Mr. James Brown the 18th day after birth.
Benjamin Halsey married to Bethiah Youngs, Benjamin Halsey son of Benjamin and Bethiah Youngs born April 20th 1764.
Bethiah Halsey deceased Sunday morning Jan. 23rd, 1785 in the 62nd year of her age. Funeral sermon preached from Prov. 14, Chapter 32, Verse by the Rev. Timothy Johns.
He died intestate and letters of administration were granted to his widow Bethiah, 25 June 1752. There is no grave stone because during the Revolution, a company of British soldiers made earthworks in the graveyard and all the headstones were destroyed.1,7,8
Administration of David's estate was granted to "Mrs. Bethya Youngs," 25 June 1752.4
Family | Bethia Parshall b. 19 Feb 1724/25, d. 23 Jan 1783 |
| Children |
| This person was last edited on | 22 Dec 2017 |
Citations
- [S318] Selah Younges Jr., Youngs Family: Vicar Christopher Younges: His Ancestors in England and His Descendants in America: A History and Genealogy (New York: p.p., 1907), further cited as Younges, Youngs Family.
- [S56] First Presbyterian Church, History of the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N. J. Part II: The Combined Registers, from 1742 to 1885 (Morristown, New Jersey: Banner Steam Print, 1931), 253, further cited as First Presb. Ch., The Combined Registers.
- [S221] Daughters of Founders & Patriots--GMB, "Youngs, James (N. J. Militia) and Thomas Youngs, (N. Y. patriotic service) and Rev. John Youngs (1598 or 1602-1671/2)," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 22 (March 1924): 24-25, further cited as Daughters of Founders & Patriots, "James Youngs Lineage."
- [S1817] Kenneth Scott, Genealogical Data from Administration Papers from the New York State Court of Appeals in Albany (New York: The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of New York, 1972), 375, further cited as Scott, Genealogical Data from Administration Papers.
- [S331] Frank Nellis Parshall and Homer Leroy Parshall, To and From James and Catharine Parshall (Manhattan, Kansas: s.p., 1968), 45, further cited as Parshall and Parshall, Parshall Family.
- [S56] First Presb. Ch., The Combined Registers, 269.
- [S1812] Franklin Bowditch Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College with Annals of the College History October, 1701--May, 1745 (title varies by coverage date) (Six vols., New York: Henry Holt, 1885-1912), 1:696-7, further cited as Dexter, Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Yale.
- [S56] First Presb. Ch., The Combined Registers, 269-71.