The following is from the Session Minutes of the Lewes, Coolspring, &I ndian River Congregations of the Presbyterian Church, Sussex County,De laware, 1756-1848, pages 3 & 4, dated February 19, 1759:
A Judicial Trial Viz. At Coolspring the Session Met pro re-ratu "UponC omplaint of Mrs. Francis McIlvaine against Mr. Gil Belcher Parkerone o f our members" for "slandering her family." U.P.P.S. Mr. WilsonMiniste r, Josias Martin, Jno. Mustard, Jno. Coulter, Jno. Harmonson,Elders.
The Session (after a caution given to both parties against wrath &Bitt erness & C.) proceeded to hear Mrs. McIlvaines Complaint whichwas "Tha t Mr. Parker told one Mrs. Turner that He was informed thatMrs. McIlva ine's 2 daughters had been married had liveddiscontentedly with their h usbands and that he feared her youngestwould be no better."
Mrs. Turner being called evidenced "She only heard from him inPleasant ry say Fanny her youngest Daughter was one of the HandsomestPresbyteri an Girls but he supposed would not early get a husband overthe Indian R iver for her sister Molly Aidelotte there (he wasinformed) had made he rself mean at a Frolic refusing the Laborerstheir Dinner thro' ill-Tem per."
Mr. Parker being called acknowledged He had Sd. so & heard it by many& a ppealed to the Session whether they had not heard the same thing &part iculars mentioned Parker Alish, Author.
Parker Alish called answered He Had heard it Commonly among hisneighbo rs but had it particularly from one Wm. Merser Who lives nearSd. Aidel ottes.
Whereupon Mrs. McIlvaine produced a Certificate signed by nine personsS ome relations of Sd. Molly Aidelottes Husband some of who had livedin t he House and some with neighbors asserting that Sd. Mr. Aidelotteand h is wife have & do live comfortably together.
Where both parties removed, the Session considering and conversingover t he Matter, think it irrelevant & not worth a Session Meeting;And there fore charge all Members of this Congregation never to callupon nor tro uble Session with Trivial Matters, for the Future nottill Christian Me thods have been first used to compromise Differences& Missunderstandin gs among thereselves & therefore enact thatRelavency of Disputes be fi rst considered before any Sessions behereafter called. but with Regard t o this Affair since we have beencalled & have considered it; our unani mous Determination is, That incharity to the Persons certifying Mr. Ai delottes and his wifescomfortable living together, We must think the R eport spread wasSlanderous and unjust. And yet on the other Hand that a s Gil BelcherParker only related a Report He had from so many and was s o commonlybelieved and related in the Hall, He therefore cannot be acc used ofSlander nor justly blamed in the Affair. But as these Reports s een tohave too much raucled both Families, the Session earnestly recco mendit to both to make up all Differences as quickly as possible and t hatthey study the Things that make for Peace as becomes the Followers o fHim, who was harmless and undefiled and Who when He was reviled, reviled not again, Then after an Exhortation with respect to the way ofpre venting and healing Differences, Concluded with Prayer
