Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: October 1959 Volume 10 Number 4, Pages 86–87

Rev. David Jones

Mildred F. Fisher

Page 86

In speaking of the Sachse property it is mentioned that the original stone part of the house was the home of Rev. David Jones who was pastor of the Great Valley Baptist Church at the time of the Revolution. The story goes that the British at the same time they were trying to destroy the Great Valley Baptist Church, came to the Leopard, or Evansville as it was then known.

Rev. David Jones was the son of Morgan and Eleanor Evans Jones. He was born May l2th, 1736, in Newcastle County, Delaware. His grandparents were natives of Wales. He was licensed to preach in 1761 and soon became eminent among the Baptists. He was a fair Latin and Greek scholar. He served as a missionary among the Indians of Ohio during 1772 and 1773, and came to the Valley Baptist Church in 1775. He was appointed Chaplain in the

Page 87

Army in 1776, serving with Gates and St Clair and with Wayne from 1777 to 1783. He bore a conspicuous part in the discussions which led to the war. He was present at Brandywine, Paoli and Germantown. He endured the camp at Valley Forge where his addresses served many times to inspire the soldiers. At the close of the war he came back to his home at the Leopard and again took up his charge at the Great Valley Baptist Church, where he continued until 1793. When he was again appointed a Chaplain under Wayne who was sent to the western borders to subdue the Indian insurrection. Upon settlement of this trouble he again returned to the Leopard and occupied his time in farming and preaching until 1812 when he was appointed a Chaplain in the Northern army, continuing until the end of that conflict. We then find him making the address at the dedication of the first monument at Paoli, Sept. 20th, 1817. He died February 5th, 1820, and was buried in the Great Valley Baptist Cemetery.