Elder was minister at the Paxton Presbyterian church near Harrisburg.He exchanged numerous letters with Governor John Penn, Colonel Joseph Shippen, and other government officials, providing information on conditions in the backcountry. The author believes the letters show how the frontier residents struggled with their identity. They felt that they were viewed as renegades on the frontier, because of their actions against the Conestoga indians and they felt they were being disrespected when referred to as Scotch Irish. He suggests that further study of this identity issue would be worthwhile.
