Mackie, Josias one of the earliest Presbyterian ministers who came to America, was born in Donegal County, Ireland. The year of his arrival in this country is uncertain, but the first notice hitherto found of him bears date June 22, 1692. His first settlement appears to have been on the Elizabeth River, Va., where in all probability he became the successor of Francis Mackemie, the first regular Presbyterian minister in America. After a formal oath in 1692, made publicly, and in confirmation of his belief in the Articles of Religion, as allowed in the case of Dissenters, he was licensed. He selected three different places for public worship, many miles apart, on Elizabeth River. These were in the Eastern Branch, in Tanner's Creek precincts, and in the Western Branch, to which was added, in 1696, the Southern Branch. Here, with the care of a farm and a store, he found time to preach, but the record of his labors has not as yet been discovered. — Sprague, Annals, 3:5.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More