SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF REV. PATRICK

RAFFERTY,

Missionary of the Diocese of Philadelphia.

1791-1821-1863.

BEING THE RESULT OF CERTAIN INTERVIEWS OF OLD PEOPLE AND REVIEWS OF OLD PUBLICATIONS.

BY FRANCIS X. REUSS.

Rev. Patrick Rafferty, so well known by the older Philadelphia Catholics, as "Old Father Rafferty," was born "two days before or two days after St. Patrick's day 1791", in County Armagh, about four miles from the city of that name, in Ireland. He is said to have been a messenger between Lord Edward Fitzgerald, and Robert Emmett, during the Irish patriotic struggle for freedom in the last century, in 1797-8†; and coming to America with his brothers Felix and John, in 1811, assisted while a young man in throwing up breast-works near New York Harbor as defence against the British in 1812. He determined to devote his life to the service of the Church in

* From MS. Memoir of Father Rafferty, by his niece Miss Rose Rafferty, 1886. This MS. is now in the Library of the Amer. Cath. Hist. Society, of Phila. Consulted by the writer through the kindness of Dr. Middleton, O.S.A.

The Phila. Press, of 1863, gives "1783" as the year of his birth; while Rev. "H. L. W." gives it as "1792."

Father Lambing's Researches, for October, 1885; also the Baltimore Mirror, 1863; Philada. Press, 1863; and Dr. Shea's Catholic Church in the U. S., vol. iv., p. 410.

Same authority as Note*.

America, and was received at Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Md., where he made a course of seven years. * Father Lambing says that he "stayed for a while at Philadelphia; then going to Pittsburg studied theology under the Pastor of St. Patrick's church in the latter city; thence returning East for ordination." † He was seven years at Pittsburg under Father Maguire, was ordained by Bishop Conwell in October, 1822, at Philadelphia; and was sent to Pittsburg. § He labored at Plattsburg and New York for a short time. It is certain that his first mission was as assistant to Rev. Charles Maguire; it is also stated (Researches, Jan., 1885, p. 159,) that he was for a short time with the Passionist Fathers, during his early ministry.

In 1824, he attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholics in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, Pa. In the summer of that year a widow, Mrs. Collins, donated a lot to the Catholics about Butler, on which he erected, in 1825, a neat church. These people had been attending the Sugar Creek mission and were delighted when Father Rafferty laid the foundation of their church. He also founded another church "on the Hill," near Brownsville, and completed one in Alexandria; then started another at Waynesborough.||

In 1830, he succeeded Father Curtis, at Washington, Pa.; and record is found of his saying Mass there in 1831. T

In 1832-33, he was at St. John's church, Trenton, N. J., as pastor, remaining there about a year. (This church was dedicated in 1814 by Bishop Egan.) It is recalled of Father Rafferty, that he had a kindly disposition,

* Memoir of Miss Rose Rafferty; Rev. "H. L. W."

† Lambing's Researches for January, 1885, p. 159.

§ Letter of Rev. "H. L. W." In his Researches, (Oct., 1885, p. 93,) Father Lambing gives the date of his ordination as " 1821."

Truth Teller, vol. ii.

¶ Missions in Western Penna., by Rev. A. A. Lambing.

and was greatly liked by all.

Yet after considerable search in records, and memoirs of old people, nothing of any note can be found.*

In the summer of 1834, he was placed in charge of St. Patrick's church at Buffalo Creek, in Armstrong Co., Pa., which he divided with the mission of "St. Peter's," at Butler, and at Freeport.† In 1836, he was stationed at Chambersburg, where his first baptism is entered on April 9th, 1837; while the last continuous entry is on February 25, 1838. The marriages solemnized before him are from May 6th, 1837, to January 18, 1838. There are four entries of baptisms, on June 20th, 1839, being visits made from York, Pa. From Chambersburg he visited Path Valley, Waynesburg, Red Bank, Cussewago Creek and Oil Creek. In 1839, he was at York, Pa., at St. Patrick's church, where he was assigned in 1838; in that church he put pews and an organ; in 1840, he built the spire; and when in 1842, he was assigned to St. Francis' church in Philadelphia, he took with him the organ. Father Martin, who visited York from Columbia replaced this loss in the church there by a new organ in 1846.

That he was at St. Francis' church early in 1842, is clear since on April 21st of that year, he preached a sermon, (on Thursday at 71⁄2 o'clock, P. M.,) on the occasion of the obsequies of the late Bishop England. He enlarged that church to double its original length, and was the means of bringing into and preparing for the priesthood, twelve young men, (though another account says "fourteen,") one of these being the late Bishop Gilmour, of Cleveland, to whom he took a great fancy, allowing him to practice on the old pipe organ, which he had, and through his instructing him in the Catholic Faith and eventually baptizing him therein made him a convert to

• Letter of John D. McCormack, historical writer, of Trenton, N. J.

+ Letter from Butler, Pa., to the author.

† Advertising notice Catholic Herald, Phila., 1842.