William Dean (clergyman)
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Rev. William Dean (1719 - July 9, 1748) was an Irish born Presbyterian clergyman and Evangelist Old Side minister who was best known as “the apostle of Virginia." In 1745 he became one of the first ministers to lead revivals to slaves, Native Americans and poor farmers in the Virginia Valley including at Rockbridge, Augusta County, and the James River.[1] Upon his death, Samuel Davies resumed his work in Virginia from 1748 - 1749.
Dean was born in Ballymena, Ireland to William Dean and Sarah Campbell, and the cousin of Joseph Deane who served Ireland as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, whose father-in-law was John Parker, was Archbishop of Dublin and Primacy of Ireland.
In 1739, Dean and his family, including his one-year-old son Joseph Dean, immigrated to Philadelphia where his father had received permission to receive them. Dean was trained at the Log College under William Tennent, who was ordained by the Church of Ireland before migrating to Philadelphia in 1718. Dean attended Log College and was their 6th alumnus, and was licensed by the New Brunswick Presbytery on October 13, 1742, and ordained at Brandywine Manor in Chester, Pennsylvania in May 1745.[2] He gave the sermon during Samuel Davies licensing ceremony as a clergyman, and was a close friend.
On January 22, 1747, Dean purchased 265 acres for £11 from Benjamin Borden. The transaction records Dean's name and address as, "Rev. William Dean, of Brandywine Manor and Chester County in Pennsylvania" which was part of 92,100 grant; and corner to Robert Huston and John Gray, on Mill Creek.[3] John Gray, also from Ireland, was a member of the Timber Ridge Church in Rockbridge where Rev. Dean preached.