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General History of the Methodist Denomination in Davie County - Binder 1General History of the Methodist Denomination in Davie County Binder 1 Compiled Information from the Collection of the Martin-Wall History Room of the Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina o Table of Contents Binder 1 History of Methodism in Davie County by Rev. W. L. Grissom 1890 5 -6 Methodism in Davie County by Rev. William L. Sherrill 8-12 Early Methodism in Davie County by Mary J. Heitman, 1934 14- 17 Lest We Forget by Louise Stahl 19-34 Yadkin Valley Methodist Preachers 1780 - 1805 Yadkin and Salisbury Circuits 36-58 Pastors and Presiding Elders Who Have Served Methodist Churches in Davie County 60 - 63 Deed Information 65-75 Mocksville Conference 77-84 Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina <L cL ul 2 o Table of Contents Binder 2 S. Milton Frost, W. M. Robey, H. T, Hudson, John Tillet, Local History, Schools, Moses Brock, Peter Doub Fourth Quarterly Conference, 1906 Bicentennial of the Yadkin Circuit, 1776 - 1976 Methodism for Two Centuries, Proclaiming Grace and Freedom Davie County United Methodist Churches, 1998 Table of Contents Binder 3 Miscellaneous Information ^ Newspaper Articles Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina History of Methodism in Davie County by Rev. W. L. Grissom 1890 I Pages 5-6 > O r' Y- o O T. ^ DavIe County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina a / HISTORY OF METHODISM IN DAVIE COUKTY\ By Rev» L, Grissom 1890 Whitaker Church claims to be among the first churches in this section, ^^^robably as early as 1780, This chiarch was located on the east side of Dutchman's Creek, Just above Brown's Mill* There is an old graveyard there now, but nothing remains of the church* This seems to have been a flourishing church for many years. Bishop Asbiiry preached at this church on second of April, 1794 on the subject of ^anctification, and again on Sunday October 13I 1799* He says he preached a short sermon at this place. Smith Grove is a successor of old V/hitaker's church. A noted camp ground was started here in 1826. 'We had a regular appointment here in the Academy for niany years, but in 1877 the present church was built at a cost of about ({il200.00. The first camp meeting was held at Smith Grove about 1826 while Peter Doub was P. E, There were between 150 and 200 tents. The crowd was immense. It was a meeting of great power, tony Christians were encouraged and strengthened and about 150 sinncers converted. Camp Meetings were kept up for many years at this place, the last one being about the year 1886 v/ith Rev. W. C. Wilson P. E. Many of the old members of the church in this county today were con«» verted in this beautiful grove. Rev. S. M. Frost, D, D., who was once a member of the North Carolina Conference, later of Pennsylvania, was con«* verted about lialf a mile from this camp ground fifty—four years ago |now 93) las September. He was at the altar all day and refused to eat any dinner or supper. He was also at the altar that night but found no peace. I—,Be retired at a late hour, but could not sleep* He rose lozig before day c /hile -it was yet dark and wnet about a half mile from the camp ground and ^ Kneeled down at the foot of a large white oak tree. S z S^ Thirty-nine years ago he wrote a poem entitled "That White Oak Tree"®. 9 ^ a few lines of which I quote: ^ "There is a place, a Hallowed spot, I long to see B ^ (v^ Where stands with out-spread limbs an ancient white oak tree § > 'Twas there I kiielt with aching heart, and v/ept and prayed, ^ ^ ^ And sought for pardon while God's answer long delayed. d g m Dark v^as the night, but darker still my soul in gloom ^ V Shuddered at thought of endless, dreadful, awful doom, ^ As thus I wept and prayed and made most solomn vov/s. g y' The shimmer of the sun came streaming through the boughs, o IVhon quick as thoiight my load was gone, my heart was light,My soul was filled with Holy peace, the world was bright, Rocks, hills, and trees joined \/ith me Hie Bear Name to praise. N-hile Angels in glory their grateful song did raise. Long years have passed out still that spot is ever dear^ Jesus is yet with me, my oavior ever near. My journey is most ended, the victory most won. boon shall I hear my captain say, 'Come homel Well donel As through the air i mount, I'll glance at that old tree, Where Jesus saved me from despair, and set my spirit free." "s Oavie Co. Public Liijiary u MocksvHIe, N. C. 5 ^ It may be of interest to some to know the origin of tliis noted camp ground♦ I learn that it originated from a dream by Rev, Koses Brock, Hewas a native of this county, and v/hile on a visit here, he dreamed of abeautiful grove in which was being conducted a glorious camp meeting. He said he wanted to realize the object of his dream, so he sent out a friend to find such a grove as iiad been presented to him in his vision. The manreturned without finding the desired spot, Brock accompanied him instill further search for the place, and while they were passing through thebeautiful forest where Smith Grove church nov/ stands, I'ir, Brock stopped andsaid, "There is the place and here we will have the camp meeting," Arthur Smith gave the land, A glorious camp meeting was held, and so Koses Brock's dream came to pass. u) % UJ 5 o h- <r> r o o X r" E. CJ c: X -CJ >- ir; S o L2 Lu -j ..jCQ ^ CL C/) 'XL 6 y0 22 1 GO. rboiio Lih/iaiy \f N* C, Methodism in Davie County by Rev, William L. Sherrill s a wu o y O t- v> l- Pages 8-12 o £^ Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina Ci ;3:1 "odavWe, N. C. MiiTHODISM IN DA VIE COUNTY Rev. William U Sherrill We see the hand of God in history. When Columbus put to sea with the idea of reaching the East Indies by the western route, he little dreamed of becoming one of earth's immortals by discovering the new world. God was then preparing the way for the great religious awakening that would finally revolutionize the world. The dark ages had developed despotic government and a corrupted church under the dimination of a crafty priesthood, that condemned the massed to slavery of body, mind and spirit. The Protestant Reformers, Luther, Melanchthen, Arminius, and their oo-labouers, waged the battle for epiritual freedom against powerful odds, but they were working together with God for a regenerated ^ humanity that would in the New World, which Columbus discovered, enjoy m g the blessings of religious and civil liberty» This plan was to be g lu DQ ~1 ZD ^ tried out in a new country, far removed from the influences that had a. lo d Q_ demoralized and discouraged men for so many centufies. The reformation o u aroused the Jiomanists to methods of persecution as heartless and brutal as those practiced by the enemies of Christianity in the first century. Columbus, by the discovery of America, made possible a new 9ountry in which the persecuted saints could worship God in their own way. The Pilgram fathers, the Eiiglish Cavalier, the French Huguenots, the Quakers, and the persecuted Palatines brought the church with them and planted the faith in the wilderness, and their numbers increased steadily. Some of more adventurous penetrated further into the wilderness, braved the perils ^ of wild beasts and the wilder natives, lost communication with the first 'J settlements and by their isolation lost also not only the power but even ■o X Q O . X C V \% i ts r cL 0 r </) f' 'S- 1 f- o o X t/> iJ ci itS the form of godliness. Many of these found their way into. Western , Carolina and were ignorant, wild and wicked, living in rude and primitive fashion. The earliest settlers in iSastem Carolina held to the English church in fact, until the period of the Revolution of 1776, it was the Established Church of the Province of North Carolina. While a large proportion of the people adhered to that faith, there was such a scarcity of preachers that in 1774 only six English clergymen could be found in the province, which had an estimated population of 200j000. In Rowan county, of which Davie was then a part, Lutheranism was planted in 1745, while the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches were established in. 1753- The Baptists first organized at Jersey in what is now Davidson county in 1755. and at Eaton church near Deal's church in Davie in 1772. g Thus it will be seen that the Protestants were settled in Western " Carolina and were in sane degree aggressive in planting the faith consid- | ^ erably less than 300 years after Columbus first came. The other denominations contested with the Episcopalians for religious ^ equality and had influential following in parts of the province long before ^ the Wesleyan movement began to asserts its power in ihgland, for according to the record Robert Btrawbridge was the first Methodist preacher to cross the Atlantic. He settled in Maryland in 1760. P hilip Embury, Captain Webb and Barbara Heck did not appear in New York until 1765. Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor, the first Wesleyan missionary to America, landed in Philadelphia in 1769 and it was not until 1771, Just I50 years ago, that Francis Asbury came to throw his whole life into the work of establishing Methodism on this side of the sea. That mighty man had no material resources but wonderful spiritual power. Gideon's 30O were a vast army compared to the limited few upon whan Asbury could depend in his earlier campaigns. But they made proclamation of a truth I 3 • I -J ••* f » i ^ ' which was a revelation to the pioneers. These new evangelists told the people that God was no respecter of persons; that Christ on the Cross died that all might live; that the will of man was free arad tjat jos faijiure to choose the right forced the responsibility of his doom on himself and not on the Creator. They taught the doctrine of the V/itness of the Spirit and warned the people of the danger of apostasy, because being free to choose the right, carried with it the ability, after such choice, to return to a life of sin, ending with eternal doom. They also proclaimed the doctrine of holiness, claiming and providing that if a lost sinner could cantix exercise saving faith and be freed from sin, he could then by the continual exercise of the same uality of faith, be kept continually free from the power of sin. These were the foundation truths which differentiated the people called Methodist from the prevailing sects of tVuit age. These truths) had..baenllongt fotgottBn but the Methodists resurrected and preached c fi' them with such marvelous spiritual fervor that the world accepts them today without question. g ^ « CD Q^ • Those early Methodist preachers led by 'Asbury were so completely on ^ ® ^ ^ ^405 ^ with the truth that every service was a Pentecost; the people were so cq 3 pS O o_ ^ ' CT overpowered by the mighty force of the new Gospel that they cried out for • o o g ^ mercy and deliverance, and daily there were added to the church such as wereio - "5 . ?c being saved. Congregations grew and further and further did the preachers ~ ft' ^ venture into the wilderness, seeking for lost souls in the cabins of the O » pioneers. "5 They were heroes of the faith, strangers to fear, veritable John the f ^ Baptists in plainness of speech and in virility of utterance. By the year ^ 1776 they had penetrated the wilds of Virginia to the edge of North Carolina ? and the conference held in May, 1776, Carolina circuit was formed and Edward ^ Dromgoole, Francis Poythress and Isham Tatum were appointed to it. This circuit was located altogether in Eastern Carolina. These preachers were superior men and at the end of the year reported 93^ members, and the nextO r-/C£- J 10 ^ I - , w H year John King, John Dickens, Uroy Cole and Edwavd Pride were sent to the same work. The West had not yet heard of Methodism. Not until 17ftC' (when the Pittsylvania, Va., circuit was divided) was a circuit organized in all Western North Carolina. In that year Yadkin circuit was fomed with Andrew Yeargan as preacher in charge -and there were only eleven members, i two of whom were John and Mary Spainhour Doub, the parents of Peter Doub, I and the circuit embraced not less than all the territory norr covered by our great conference, but the part of it which he was able to :each included ; the present counties of liowan, Stanly, Montgomery, Davidson, Randolph, Davie' and Xredell, besides all the territory north to the Virginia line, a mammoth I ^ circuit. We know not from whence Andrew Yeargan carae nor whither he went, after this year of s ervice. The brief minutes do not indicate that he was ever received on trial and the only place we find him mentioned outside the Appointments is under the Question: Who are Assistants? and the answer given was, Andrew Yeargan. But he was the first circuit rider to penetrate the wilds of Western Carolina, the pioneer preacher who braved the perils of the wilderness to bring the gospel to our fathers. I imagine that when he received his appointment'he started out like Abraham, hardly knowing whither he went, asking only which trail to follow g? in order to find the Yadkin. He had poor salary prospects and no missionary i ^ allowance. There was not a Methodist church in all this vast wilderness and * ^ P hardly a schoolhouse. He had no official board or ladies' aid to welcome him^ g In the absence of church buildings he f)reaohed in the groves, which were God' ^ first temples, under brush arvors and in the rude huts of the humble poor. ^ ^ [1 2 What a great debt we owe to this unknown man who in the face of such g g f difficulty waged a heroic fight for the fiaith and laid the foundations 8 § ® upon which,we are still building. He was the inan on horseback, one of that g great army of circuit riders who conquered the wilderness and made possible ji, the blessings of civilization which we now enjoy. 5 During that first year of labor in this new field Andrew Yeargan's ministry X ^ n n s o z T* ci O v c> o X to (V £ Q!, ar c/ r n • "■ was fruitful. He had not bten long on the mission until Deal's church was built some ten miles northwest of Mocksville in what is now West Davie circuit. We leam from Grissom's history that in 1780 Yeargan built the first Methodist church erected on this circuit and therefore within the bounds of our conference. It was called Deal's church. He built several otheri churches the same year 1780 in that sparsely settled field, it is said that at Deal's church where the people were rude, wild and ignorant, that Yeargan in a revival meeting asked one of the hearers if he wanted to go to heaven, and the rude pioneer replied: "Man, for goodness sake go off and let me alone. I don't live about here, for I come from way in the mountains." Among the notable men whom Davie Methodism has produced we would make special mention of Moses Drock, Peter Doub, S. Milton Frost, W. M. Robey and H. T. Hudson, all of whom possessed talent of high order and served the church faithfully and honorably. lD Cu) ~J >a. (/) f 'O I I Early Methodism in Davie County by Mary J. Heitman, 1934 A* 2 > o 1- ~X a •u ^ Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina X si X cJ Pages 14 - 17 ■■■) 'EARLT METHODISM IN DAVIE COUNTM. Qg_ pyj^jj^. y^^afy ( By Mary J.Heltman.) MOCkSVille, N. C. subject has Inspired three well- taiown Methodist ministers,Dr.Hllaiy T. Hudson,a native of Mocksvllle,ReVaW,L.a^rlssom and Rev^W.L.Sherrlll,to write valf uable historical articles that have saved the earljF annals of Methodism In Davle from oblivion. Dr.Hudson* 8 sketch traces the church history both In Row^ and Davle up to : the year lB^,and Is Included In Dr.Jethro Rumple's famous ** story of Rowan i Co'.mtv". Mr. Grlsaom*s history was written In 1889,and was delivered as. a lec- ture to the pupils of Auc^usta Academy,of which Prof Hodges was'principal* i The history by Mr.Sherrlll wag written in 1921, and was read! by? ^^^b^^re t^ i - f 'j ' "f . : Western North Carolina Conference Historical Society at the aiini^al cppferenoe In High Point In that year. . ■ ' ' Too much cannot be said in praise of their accurate,palnstja^lng workv^whlch has made the tasks of later atudei)t8 and writers much'easier, • ' / , ' , The first Methodist church In this section was Seal*s Meeting House,^near • Anderson's bridge in North- west Davle,and was established about 1780 by An- drew 7eargan,the first circuit rider of the Immense Tadkln Circuit.Here the great Bishop Francis Asbury and the noted Jesse Lee,first historian of Metho- dism in America,preached In Oct.1799.This old church site was abandoned years i ;2 ^ ago At the intersection of the Wlnston-Salem highway and the Farming ton road, yd In a tangle of trees and undergrowth^Is the site of another early Methodist O • ' f church called Whltaker's Meeting House.That It occupied an Important place on X ■j the circuit is shown by the fact that Bishop Asbury preached here twice, first &—*^ on Apri:^2,17^4, his subject being Sane fll float ion, and again In Oct.l3,1799 •Where o •the eloquent voice of the great religious leader once rang out may now be heard ^ the thundering noise of traffic on the highway,The stone wall surrounding the graveyard Is falling down,and close by a filling-station has recently been built.Some of the tombstones here have elaborate epltlsphs with Latin phrases. ^whlle other have sunken so deeply In the ground that their lettering Is hard 14 Davie Co. Public Lioisry ( UethodlBin In Davl®.) MOCkSVllle, N. C. ' to decipher .Among the families hurled here are the McMachans( now McMahan), • * ^^ylors^Sheeka^Sanders^Aufltlns^Harhlns and Hughes. One Inscription reads thus; " Here lies the hody of James McMachan,Dc.June the 5,1799,In the 85 year of his age.Dear people^think as you pass hy,Llke me In dust you soon must lie.Death hastens on,You* 11 not he spared; Men and Women,are you prepared!** A tall mar- hie slah has this epitaph: ** Susanah McGeehee Austin,Consort of Elk.D.Austin, Who pays this last testimony to her worth and piety.Ohllt 18th g.ebruary,l829# Nata 3? an.11 mo. 13 da. Tempus-Deo volento-Aeternitas. On Christ her Hope and Faith relied,Hence she a peaceful Christian died.She knew her deathless Spirit came From Ood and glorified His name.Laudato Deum.^ Another lengthy inscrip tion Is this one: ** Sacred to the memory of Anna Austin, Con sort of the Rev.Samu- el Austin,who deceased May the 7th,A.D.1809,In the 29th year of her age,The de ceased was amiable In her deportment,Pure In her motives,Firm In her purposes. Ardent In her pursuits,Sincere In her friendships,Faithful in her attachments, id Fervent In her devotions.** This was probably written by the Rev .Samuel Austin,who died in 1832 and Is burled at Olive Branch graveyard by the side of his second wlfe,Lydla,whom he also survived, ^ Services were held at Whltaker's as late as 1847,as some old quarterly con ference minutes show,but In 1849 when S.D.Bumpass was presiding elder,and Johm Tlllett was pastor of the Mocksvllle Circuit,the name of Whltaker's does not ap- ^ pear on the list of charges,which was composed of Mocksvllle,McCiamroch's,01lTe ^ Branch,Bethlehem,Concord,Liberty,South Rlver,Ward's.Smith Orove,Call'8 School c House,Shady Grove,Fulton and Salem. r" 4/t Olive Branch,another early Methodist camp-meeting place as far back as l8o5 was one of the most Influential churches in this section for a number of years. r. ^ It was the mother of Farmlngton Methodist church,which was formed In 1881. The til around the graveyard has recently been restored,and the Farmlngton wo&- have erected a handsome bronze marker in memory of the pioneer women of this 3 church. Here are found on the tombstones the names of John son, Lunn,Ellls,Nay lor cd 'TraTllllon,Rlch,Latham,Cuthrell,MoMahan,Brook,Eaton,Balty,3mlth,Ward,Clarlc,Brunt, M 15 ^ n ••• / PublicLibF.^Ty ^®^6® 5» ( Methodism in Davle.) M, » Sanders,Miller,Gk)wan,VanEaton,Douthlt,M\archlson,Teague,Brower,Call,Beauchamp a. . many others. Not long ago the rules of Ollv® Branch Sunday School,written in 1857,were found among some old quarterly conference reports.The modem Sunday School pupil would think most of these rules very hard to keep. They are as follows: **1.1 must always mind the Superintendent and all the Teachers of this School* 2. I must come every Sunday and he here when School goes in. 3*X must go to my seat as soon as I go in. 4.1 must not leave my seat till School goes out. 5» I must take good care of my hook. 6,1 must not lean on the one that sits next to me* 7.1 must walk softly in the School. B.I must not make a noise hy the Church door or School door,hut must go in as soon as I come there. 9»I must always go ta Church 10.1 must hehave well in the road in going to or from Church. 11.1 must walk soft ly in the Church. 12.1 must sit in. niy seat till Church goes out. 13.1 must go a- n way from the Church as soon as the Services are ended** j Where Bethlehem church now stands was first known as Timber Ridge.Here the I ; Baptists had a church in the early days,while the Methodists,who came later,held services in a school house in the vicinity .Both denominations shared the same grave - yard,which contains many quaint tombstone8*The Methodists built a church here in 1843,and a new one was eremted in 1884.Bethlehem is on Farmington Circuit^ One of the best- known ministers born in this section was the Rev .Moses S Brock,who was presiding elder of the Salisbury District in 1832- 33,and was one ^ of the founders of Greensboro Female College.He selected the location of Smith j Grove Camp Ground from a dream,in which he had a vision of a beautiful grove 5j; where a great meeting was in progress.Smith Grove Church,as well as Oak Grove / Church which came into existence years later,were offshoots of Whitaker's Meet- o ing House.The first campmeeting held at Smith Grove was in 1826",while the noted ^ eter Doub was presiding elder .Mr .Grissom states that there were between 150 and e vJ^ 250 tents,and the crowd was Immense, Rev,Samuel Milton Frost,another native min- . ^ ister of Davie,was converted under a big white oak tree at this time,and wrote ^ ^ ' Page 4, ( Methodism in Davle,) ,a poem about his experience,Ho later moved to Pennsylvania,but visited hla'sis- jr.Mra.Henry Call.a number of tlmea.One of hie hablta waa to alng the Long Meter Doxology as soon as he awoke. The noted Dr.Charles P.Deems was licensed to preach at a quarterly confer ence held at Smith Q-rove In 1841. He later became president of Greensboro Female College,and was a distinguished writer.He afterwards moved to New York City,and foimded the Church of the Strangers,having among his membership pornellus Vander* btlt and his wife. Through his wife's Influence and his friendship for Doctor DeemSjMr.Vanderbllt was moved to give a million dollars to the Methodist Uni versity In Nashvllle,T0nn.,now known as Vanderbllt University. Phoebe and Arllce Gary,talented sisters,were also among Dr.Deems; members and warm friends.In 1868 Phoebe Cary assisted him In editing " Hymns for All Christians".She Is especiallt remembered for her beautiful hymn," One Sweetly Solemn Thought". ^ Smith Grove Church Is on the Farmlngton Circuit, the present church being u-illt In 1877,with additions made In recent years,Jacob Sheek was an official li^ the early days, and the membership contained the names of Cash, Sheek,Klmbrough, Smlth,Wllliams,Nash,Naylor,Poster,Glbbs,Saunders,Clous0,McMahan,Atklnson,Brock, Barneycastle,Hblman,Etchlson,Beauchamp,Elll0, Harris,Osbome,Ifoward,Walker,HaneB ' and others. c The old campmeetlng arbor was removed some years ago,but many of the zmagnlflcant oaks,that were a part of Moses Brock's dream,still remaln,and the ftraditions of the great spiritual revivals held here are not forgotten. Gi O h- v> U-> Ci O X ui ^ \n Co. Public Lib.'sry , Mocksville, N. C. cJ n . 17 Lest We Forget by Louise Stahl Pages 19-34 2 o h* \r^ O i- ^ Davie County Public Library ^ Mocksvllle, North Carolina az <s; si r-« 1 ^ O ' " MlV'l■■,;^:,:v: ■. • ■••■••f. .; ■: ■;k' History.)LestWeForgetSketches of some Makersof Early Methodism inNorth CarolinaByLOUISE STAHLLibrarian and Archivistof the World MethodistBuilding at Lake Juna-luska; Treasurer of theAmerican Association ofMethodist Historical Societies.)C',Reprinted fromNORTH CAROLINA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATERev. S. J. Stahnes, EditorGreensboro, North Carolina CugOrv-.;^.^, /fjt ^ f>:1?%,-XWHO CAAdE FIRST?V '?!KEV. GEORGE WHITEFiELDWho were the first Methodists in North airo-Jina? That depends upon what we mean by theword "Methodists".Geoige Wliiteficid was a member of the originalOxford Holy Club group, who were called Methodists. He came seven times to America, and heand his converts ivcre called Methodists, thoughhe broke with Jolin Wesley over ]nedestinationand he was buried in a Presbyterian Churcli atNcwburyport, Massachusetts.Whiteficid passed through the colony of NorthCarolina several times. He was at Newbern as earlyas 1739, Avhich was twenty years before preachingbegan in Maryland or New York. He organized nosocieties, liowever.In 1760, says tiic historian of North CarolinaMethodism, Rev. James Reed wrote from Newbern, "Hie Methodists are ignorant, censorious,and uncharitable, ' and the following year he saidthat "the Methodists have- given me a good dealof trouble" hut he lielieved "the little ground theyhad gained" would soon "be totally lost."So there were people called Methodists in theStale long before any of John Wesley's preacliersarrived. They were "Whiteficid Methodists." Tlieyhad no churches or organized societies but whetheror not they were tlie genuine article they certainlypaved the way for the great Church we have today. ^ Ht C> 0\ST-HlSTCtlT -JOSEPH PILMOORThe first real Methodist sermon ever preachedin North Carolina was by Joseph Pilmoor. It wasat Currituck Court House in 1772.Pilmoor and Richard Boardman were the firstmissionaries sent from England by John Wesley.That was in 1769. Soon after arriving Pilmoorsecured St. George's Church in Philadelphia, nowthe oldest in America.On his southward trip he preached in an Anglican chapel at Coin jock, for the Methodists wereAnglicans then. In Currituck County he was entertained by Colonel Hallowell Williams, memberof the Congress held at Halifax in 1776 and anactive and devoted Methodist.Colonel Williams traveled with Pilmoor to theNarrows Chapel where on September 29, 1772, thelatter preached to "poor, ignorant people who weregreatly affected." One old man offered money andinsisted that it be accepted by the preacher, whohad at first declined the gift.Pilmoor went through that whole area and toNewbern, where he was entertained at Christmasby Mr. William Ward. There he stayed a week andwent to Wilmington and on to Charleston. Alongthe way he was entertained by a Mr. Collier nearWilmington, a Mr. Morgatroyed, a Mr. William Hill,and one or two others from the Methodist societyin Philadelphia.So there were Methodists in North Carolina atleast a year before a society was formed.January 17,1771.)ROBERT WILLIAMSThe first Methodist society in North Carolinawas organized by Robert Williams in 1773 or 1774in Halifax County.Williams came to America as an unofficial missionary in 1768, arriving before Pilmoor andBoardman. He was not actually appointed by JohnWesley but the Founder of Methodism gave himpermission to preach in America under the direction of the "regular preachers."He preached in New York and Maryland and in1772 he went to Norfolk, where he preached thefirst Methodist sermon in Virginia and created asensation. The following year he was at Petersburg, and he soon extended his circuit into NorthCarolina and formed the first circuit there. It wascalled Brunswick, and three preachers were assignedto it the following year.Williams was married in 1775, which meant thathe became a local preacher. He settled in Virginiabetween Portsmouth and Suffolk, where he died ina few months.Robert Williams is noted in Methodist historyfor two things. First, he was responsible for theconversion of Jesse Lee, who next to Asbury wasprobably the foremost Methodist of his day andthe author of the first Methodist history in America. Second, he was the first to publish a Methodistbook in the New World. He printed Wesley's sermons, for which he was gently rebuked at the firstconference in 1773.Francis Asbury said of Williams that "perhapsno man in America has ministered to awakeningso many souls." It was said that he was the firstto publish, the first to preach in Virginia, the firstto organize a circuit south of the Potomac, the firstto plan a circuit, the first to marry, the first to locate, and the first to die.)% \ TT^-"''^-i ', ,,,-.. /IJohn King proviching the first Methodist sermon inBaltimore, 1770JOHN KINGJolin King was the lliird Mellioclist preacher inNorth Carolina. Most unusual, he was a graduateof Oxford and held a degree from a Loiuion medical school. He was converted by John Wesley anddisinherited for that reason, whereupon he came toAmerica in 1769.He went to Philadelphia and preached in theOld Potter's Field, later Washington Square, because the society would not receive him withoutcredentials from Wesley. He preached the firstMethodist sermon in Baltimore from "a blacksmith's block at the corner of French and BroadStreets."He was a member of the first Conference inAmerica in 1773 and was sent to New Jersey. Thenext year he was appointed to Norfolk, Virginia,from which he seems to have extended his circuitinto North Carolina. During this year he marriedMiss Sallic Seawell of Brunswick County, Virginia.During the Revolutionary years it seems that helocated for awhile. In 1777 he was sent with JohnDickins, Lc Roy Cole, and Edward Pride, wellknown nuines, to the North Carolina circuit. It wasliic second year of a circuit in the State. At theclose of the year liicre were nine hundred andthirty members, a gain of two hundred and fortyseven.King purchased a home in Franklin County,North Carolina, near l...ouisburg. His ncigiibor wasthe Rev. Majoiy Gremi Hill. Revolutionary v^eran,and King was present when tiie first Con^-ericeafter the organization of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch met in the Hill home in 1785. It is saidthat when he entered the room Dr. Thomas Coke,who had perhaps never seen him before, asked himto pray and he laid aside his saddle bags and complied in an impressive manner.In 1789 or 1790 he moved to a farm near, Raleigh where he had secured large acreage. He diedin 1794' while on a visit to Newbern. Two of hissons and a grandson were Methodist preachers.When Green Hill moved to Tennessee in 1799his home was secured by one of John King's sons,and one of his greal-great-greal grandsons lives intlie house today. It has been oiricially designatedi)y the General Conference, as a shrine of AmericanMethodism.Francis Asbury regarded John King highly andlie is frequently mentioned in Asbury's Journal.He had a stentorian voice and John Wesley wrote[o him a famous letter of admonition: "Scream nomore at the peril of your soul. God now warns youliirough me whom he has set over you. Speak asearnestly as you can, but do not scream."-to tnua^H60lSt^o%-C■59 ^EDWARD DROMGOOLEEdw^ard Di:omgople was an Irishman, bom atSligo about 1751. He became a Methodist and reada public recantation in the Catholic church, whichcaused a commotion. He sailed for America in■1770.Settling in Baltimore he was led into the ministry by Robert Strawbridge, another Irish immigrant who introduced Methodism in Maryland,^ and probably in America, and who raised up moreearly Methodist preachers than any other man.Dromgoole began preaching in 1774 and was appointed to Baltimore by the second Conferenceheld on these shores. • -He was sent to the Carolina circuit in 1776 andhe added two hundred and fifty-seven membersthat year. He then went to Virginia but in 1782he returned to the. Edenton area of North Carolinato form a new circuit. The Rev. Mr. Petti^ew, anAnglican, received him kindly there and he soonvisited several points, about some of which wehave little information—Plank Bridge on the Pas-quotank River, Indian Town, River Bridge, YeopinChurch, and other places. In 1784 he was sent tothe Mecklenburg Circuit, and then to the Bertie.In the meantime he had inarried Miss Waltonof Virginia and this in due course necessitated hislocation. It also caused Bishop Asbury to write inhis JouTTwlf Edward Dromgoole is a good maU)but entangled with a family."Dromgoole was a member of the Christmas Conference which organized the Methodist EpiscopalChurch in 1784-1785 and he lived to see Methodism spread over half the continent. He. died in 1836in Brunswick County, Va. One of his sons was formany years a Congressman from that state and agrandson was a professor in Randolph-Macou and LaGrange Collies and the University of Alabama."10 ■iJOHN DICKINSJohn Dickins was probably the most noted earlyMethodist in North Carolina. He was bom in London on August 24, 1747, and was educated thereand at Eton College, which was a distinction indeed at the time. He came to America sometimebefore 1774, was converted in Virginia and became a traveling preacher in 1777.His first appointment was to the North Carolinacircuit. Then he went to the "imperial old Brunswick" and in 1780 to the Roanoke. Asbury visitedhim there md reported that "his voice is gone."There at Dickins' house on Fishing Creek inHalifax County the first plan for a Methodist schoolin America was prepared and the first money wasgiven for Methodist education. The donors wereGabriel Long and a Mr. Bustion. Asbury called it"a Kin^wood school in Anqierica." Presumably itwas to be in North Carolina, and a Cokesburvsctiool was establisned on tne l adkin River nearPhelps Feh-y in present JJavie County around 1793.Dickins locate at the end of 1780, perhaps be-cause of his lost voice and also because he hadmarried Miss Elizabeth Yancey. He settled in Halifax County, North Carolina. There Asbury visitedhim again on April 5, 1783, and persuaded him toreenter the itinerant ranks and go to New York.Wesley Chapel, or John Street Church, had beenbehind the British lines during the Revolution andhad disappeared from the,appointments, and Dickins was sent to revive it; Asbury wrote, "I prevailed with brother Dickins to go to New York,where I expect him to be far more useful than in)C€> vi viu^ '■ - r" Yv\c-t'^$1 -^ J\.Po:■^%%%4^. --c■inhis present station." Actually the church had functioned throughout the war under the care of itslaymen. It is said that in the city Mrs. Dickins became the first woman ever to live in a Methodistparsonage.John Dickins met Dr. Thomas Coke when hearrived in 1784, sent by John Wesley to- organizethe Methodists into an independent Church andconsecrate Francis Asbury as a superintendent.Coke spent his first night in America at the parsonage and to Dickins he first related the facts ofhis mission here, which the latter approved. Dickinsmust have unfolded his plan for a school, Cokewanted a college, and Cokesbury College was established in Maryland by the ensuing-Christmas Conference. So Dickins may be regarded as the fatherof Methodist education in America.He was a member of the Christmas Conferenceand by it was elected to Deacon's orders. Andwhen the new Church had been agreed upon it wasDickins who gave it the name of Methodist Episcopal Church.He may have been present at Green Hill's nearLouisburg, North Carolina, when Asbury and Cokeheld the first Annual Conference of the newly organized Church on March 19, 1785. At any ratehe returned to the State and travelled the BertieCircuit.While on this circuit he prepared, in 1786, thefirst DiscipZme in the present form.He then went back to New York for three years.When the Methodist Book Concern was formed in1789 he became its first agent or superintendent;he had sayed $600.00 and this he advanced to finance the business. He remained at this post inPhiladelphia until his death, also serving St.George's Church there much of the time. As BookSteward he published 14,000 copies of books andpamphlets,- / ■ 12 ■iJohn Dickins was the first author in AmericanMethodism. He prepared and published a ShortScriptural Catechism, which Nathan Bangs called"a body of divinity in a few words."The first periodical was the Arminian Magazine.This was also a North Carolina product, conceivedin 1789 at the conference held at McKnight'sChapel, near the present Clemmons in ForsythCounty. The preface of the first edition was signedby both Asbury and Coke at "North Carolina,April 10th, 1789." Two yolmnes were publishedin 1789 and 1790. It then disappeared and wasrevived as the Methodist Mcngazine in 1818.The first plan for a school, the first collectionfor education, the first Discipline, the first periodical—surely these were notable contributions. Andall in North Carolina! He was the first man inAmerica to learn of Wesley's epoch-making planfor the formation of the first Methodist Church inthe world and he was the man who gave it a name.John Dickins survived two scourges of yellowfever in Philadelphia. Although he seems to haveknown that he faced certain death he refused toabandon the post of duty. He wrote to his dearfriend Asbury, for whom he named his son, "I sitdown to write as in the jaws of death. WhetherProvidence may permit me to see your face againin the flesh, I know not; but if not, I hope, throughabundant mercy, we shall meet in the presence ofGod."He died in the third epidemic of the dread disease on September 27, 1798, and was succeeded asBook Steward by Ezekiel Cooper. "What I havegreatly feared for years hath now taken place,"said Asbury, "Dickins the generous, the just, thefaithful. skiUful Dickins is dead."13) iM- - -P" Y'^0\5T-- u t Ki ftLJESSE LEEJesse Lee was the Number Two man of earlyAmerican Methodism. He was horn on March 12,1758, in Prince George County, Virginia, sixteenmiles from Petersburg, but spent much time onNorth Carolina circuits. His father was convertedunder the noted Devereux Jarratt, an evangelicalAnglican who in the beginning days cooperatedwith Asbury and the Methodist movement. This ledto the conversion of Jesse Lee. His education waslimited but he attended a singing school and became a good singer.He joined the Society in 1774 under RobertWilliams, who was then serving the Brunswickcircuit, which included Halifax and Bute Countiesin North Carolina as well as fourteen counties inVirginia. Three years later he went to North Carolina to take temporary charge of the farm of awidowed relative, and there he became a classleader, exhorler, and local preacher. He preachedhis first sermon at a place called "the Old Barn"in the State on September 17, 1779.John Dickins was on the Roanoke Circuit and inorder to devote time to literary work he askedyoung Lee to take his place on the circuit for afew weeks, and thus began Lee's career as a travelling preacher.In July of 1780 Lee was drafted into the army.He had scruples against war and refused to takethe rifle that was offered him. Placed under guard,he prayed with his captors and was soon singing andpreaching to them. He was willing to perform anyunarmed duty and he was made a wagon driverand became a sergeant of pioneers and unofficialchaplain. He was honorably discharged after serving three months.Jesse Lee preaching on Boston Common, 1790In 1782 he rode a circuit in Norlii Carolina andVirginia and was admitted to the Conference ontrial the following year. He did not receive wordof the Christmas Conference, which he regrettedand attributed to the fact that Freeborn Garrett-son, the courier, preached too much along the way.His first appointment, in 1783, was to the Gas-well Circuit, after which he served five years inNorth Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland. In 1785he went from Salisbury, North Carolina, to meetAsbury at the home of Colonel Joseph Herndon,who lived on the Yadkin in Wilkes County. Asburyhad boon a Superintendent, later called Bishop, foronly a month, and he appeared in "black gown,cassock, and band," whereupon Lee objected tothe attire as unbecoming, to Methodist simplicity.The rebuke caused Asbury to lay aside the regaliaand so far as is known he never wore it again.Asbury took Lee with him on his southern lour.At Cheraw, South Carolina, a young man fromMassachusetts described the low state of religionin New England and Lee determined to go there.In 1790 he preached under "the Old Elm" on Bos-ton Common and gave the next ten years of his life d. nuftCHS ?llST OtV-i. /\LN>tRftUC'i'c^%\-%■V%yC4"cto New England, where he became the virtualfounder of Methodism.Jesse Lee weighed 250 pounds and on at leastone occasion he used two horses, leading onie andchanging from time to time. There is no picture ofhun in existence. He was elected to deacon's ordersin 1786 but declined ordination; however at theconference of 1790 in New York he was privatelyordained deacon by Asbury and publicly ordainedelder the following day.In 1797 Asbury called Lee to assist him in thearduous work of the episcopacy and at the General Conference he expected to be elected a Bishopand had some reason to think that Asbury encouraged the hope. But he was defeated by four voteson the third baUot by Richard Whatcoat. This heattributed to Asbury, to whom he later wrote ascathing letter of denunciation. He had previouslymade attempts to reduce Asbury's power and on,one occasion Dr. Thomas Coke objected to thepassage of Lee's character. But when on May 10,1816, the great funeral procession of Francis As-bury, including the whole General Conference andan immense throng of citizens, moved through thestreets of Baltun.ore among the leading marchersand mourners was Jesse Lee.In 1801 Lee returned to the South as PresidingElder in Virginia and except for a roving commission as far southward as Savannah he spent thenext fourteen years in his native State, where hebought a small farm near his father.In 1809 Lee was elected chaplain of the UnitedStates House of Representatives and was reelectedfour times. In 1814 he was elected chaplain of theSenate. The next year he was transferred to theBaltimore conference and sent to Fredericksburg,a move which he considered to be a political maneuver to prevent his election to the General Con-16)ference. He refused to go to the appointment because it >yas not in his conference.Jesse Lee in 1810 published his Short Historyof the Methodists in the United States of America,the first such history ever written. The Conferencewould not sponsor it and the author secured sub-, scfiptions for its publication. It seems that Asburywas not favorably inclined but when he had seenthe book he wrote, "It is better than I expected.He has not always presented me under the mostfavorable aspect; we are all liable to mistakes, andI am unmoved by his."Lee also wrote a life of Rev. John Lee, hisbrother, and he published two sermons. He kepta voluminous Journal, which was destroyed whenthe Publishing House in New York was burned in1836; Asbury's Journal was lost in the same fire.Fortunately much of Lee's work was preserved inthe biography written by his kinsman, Leroy Lee.Jesse Lee died on September 12, 1816, while attending a camp meeting near Hillsborough inMaryland. He was fifty-eight years old. He waslaid to rest in the old Methodist burying ground inBaltimore, but in 1873 his body was moved withothers to Mount Olivet Cemetery where it rests todayby that of Asbury, Bishops George, Emory, aiidWaugh, Robert Strawbridge and other stalwartsof early Methodism.Jesse Lee was not a perfect man. He was aggressive, contentious, and stubborn. "I told him," saidEzekiel Cooper, "that he showed stiff obstinacy.He wished everyone to bend to him, and wouldnot bend to anyone, or even to the Conference."He bitterly opposed a resolution to allow thepreachers to accept a fee for performing marriageceremonies and did many unpopular things. Butfor all that, he towered above all the other Methodists of his day and generation save Asbury only.17)% oOC-'/%A/%/<^WaThe circuit rider arriving at a frontier home.DANIEL ASBURYDaniel Asbury was one of the most noted earlypreachers in North Carolina. Ho was horn in iFair-fax County, Virginia, on February 18, 1762.Theugh not related to Bishop Francis Asbury heserved under the Bishop for many years and wasa close friend.Daniel went to Kentucky when he was aboutsixteen years old and was there captured by theIndians and carried to the Far West and then intoCanada. During the Revolution he was taken prisoner by the British and jailed in Detroit. He finally escaped and found his way back to Virginiaafter spending five years in captivity. So muchhad he suffered that it is said his own mother didnot recognize him when he returned.Soon after arriving safe in Virginia he was converted and, in 1786 was received into the Confer-18\ ence and sent to Amelia Circuit. Many importantappointments followed, including districts in (^or-I . §)ia and North Carolina. In the year following' hisI admission he was sent to North Carolina, wherehe spent most of his later life.I In 1789 he was sent to form the Lincoln Circuit, which covered three counties and parts oftwo others. Actually it was said to extend all theI way to the Tennessee line.il On the Lincoln Circuit were Methodists who hadI come from Virginia and who had been served by'i some of the most noted of the early preachers.Daniel Asbury measured up to the best of them.! There is a familiar story about his arrest at the! instigation of a band of ruflfians led by a Baptistj preacher. The magistrate asked whether Asbury: made people worse by his preaching and when hisI persecutors could not say that he did so the judgej said, "If he makes them no worse he probably; makes them better, so I will release him and letI hinr try again."j Daniel Asbury was known as a saintly man, aI good preacher, and a fervent revivalist, although,: as was usual in that day, his formal education waslimited. In the collected works of Bishop FrancisAsbury there are several letters to him and he inturn wrote many to the Bishop. There were fewj more influential Methodists in the State during theperiod.I n In 1794 he held the first camp meeting in themI:. region and William McKendree, Nicholas WattersI and other famous men were among the preachers.I It has been said, probably erroneously, that thiswas the first camp meeting ever held. At any ratej it was so successful that another was held the nextyear at Bethel in Lincoln County. The RockI Springs Capip Ground, near Denver, is the de-I scendant of the; first camp meeting at Rehoboth.i In 1824, from the Sugar Creek Circuit, he wrote19) V\\S^Ol^MO.%"^oS.\•1::^^<ra letter to the Conference in which he deplored hisinability to. be present because of infirmities andasked for the superannuated relation, which wasgranted. He settled near the present Terrell in Ga-tawba County, where he met and married NancyMorris. Here also he organized the famous Reho-both Church, the first west of the Catawba, in 1791.It was a log house with a shed on one side forNegroes. It flourishes to this day.He did not live long after his superannuation.On Sunday, April 15, 1825, while walking in hisyard he looked up to heaven, smiled and fell dead.He was born on Sunday, captured by the Indianson Sunday, returned on Sunday, was converted onSunday, and died on Sunday. 'In the Rehoboth churchyard, where he wasburied, is a marker with this inscription: "Rev.Daniel Asbury, the pioneer preacher of Methodismin Western N. C. was born Feb. 18, 1762, diedMay 5, 1825. He organized here the first circuitin 1789 and the same year organized the firstMethodist Church in the State, west of the CatawbaRiver. The first church building was erected in1791. The first camp meeting was held here in1794."There are numerous descendants of Daniel Asbury in North Carolina and they all rejoice in theirancestry. One of them has placed in the WorldMethodist Building at Lake Junaluska an oldhorse-hide covered trunk which belonged to Bishop Asbury and was given to Daniel Asbury on theBishop's death in 1816 and had been kept in thefamily for a century and a half. Other descendantslive at Denver, and they have given to the archivesof the World Methodist Building the manuscriptremains of their ancestor, including last wills andtestaments, autographs of Bishops McKendree,Soule, Capers and numerous others famousMethodist history.20in)GREEN HILLThe Rev. Major Green Hill, local preacher, soldier and chaplain in the Revolution, was one ofthe most colorful characters in North CarolinaMethodist history. He was born in the presentFranklin, then Granville and later Bute, Countyon November 3, 1741. He married a daughter ofCol. Benjamin Seaweli, who moved from Brunswick county, Virginia, in the early 1770s and became prominent as a judge in the North Carolinacourts. Dr. John King also married one of theSeaweli daughters.Green HiU became a prominent man, a memberof all the Provincial Congresses in North Carolina,State treasurer and a large sliave holder and landowner. He was a devout Methodist and a friend ofAsbury's. In July, 1780, Asbury wrote in hisfamous Journal, "I was kindly entertained andblessed with fellowship at Green Hill's," and onthe following Sunday, July 9th, the great circuitrider preached there.Hill lived near Louisburg, North Carolina, andJohn King was his neighbor. The house still standsand one of King's descendants lives there today.The fame of the house is due to the fact that inMarch, 1785, Coke and Asbury held there the firstAnnual Conference of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch, which had been.form^ only three weeksbefore. Because of this the Green Hill House hasbeen designated as a shrine of American Methodism by the General Conference. Three other Conferences met there later, two in 1792 and one in1793.We do not have the details of this first Conference. About twenty preachers were present fromVirginia and the Garolinas and they Were all en-21) X P c v', E S - 01 'V\ ^ ft.<X-tertained in the house, sleeping , in an upper room.We do not know all of them but such stalwarts asJohn King, Jesse Lee, Philip Bruce, Reuben Ellisand Beverly Allen were tliere. Probably John Dick-ins came from the Bertie Circuit and EdwardDromgoole from the Brunswick. Henry Willis, thefirst preacher ordained by Asbury after the Christmas Conference, was travelling with the bishop,but Asbury took him from his appointment as elderover the Yadkin and Holston Circuits and left himat Charleston before returning to North Carolina.Beverly Allen later killed a man and fled fromGeorgia to Kentucky and was expelled from theConference.As the Bishop's party rode southward Jesse Leewent from his Salisbury Circuit and joined thegroup at the home of Col. Joseph Herndon on theYadkin in Wilkes Coimty. As previously mentioned,Asbury appeared weiiring "black gown, cassok, andband" and Lee objected to this dress as unbecomingto Methodist simplicity, whereupon the Bishop laidit aside, and probably never wore it again.Dr. Coke met the party at Green Hill's and inhis sermon denounced slavery, as he did elsewhere.The Green Hill house near Louisburg, North CarolinaJesse Lee rebuked huu before the Conference andCoke objected to the passage of Lee's character,though he later repented and apologized.Jn 1799 Green Hill left North Carolina andmoved to I'ennessee. Colonel Seawell mnvpd ahfuitthe same time. It seems that land there had beengranted to Seawell and others who had served withdistinction in the Revolution. Seawell's name is in-scribeii on a monument in the Capitol grounds atNashville.IRll settled in Middle Tennessee about «miles south of Nashville, where he built a housecalled Liberty tim. almost dunlinaiimr his NorthC^olina home. There in October, 1808, he enter-tained the Western Conference, which was the firstConference presided over by William McKendreeas Bishop, although he had as an elder presidedover the Conference at Gerizim near Cynthiana,Kentucky, in 1804 because of the illness of Asbury."We put in at Green Hill's, Williamson County,"wrote Asbury on Tuesday, September 27, 1808.And on Saturday, October 1st, he continued, "Ibegan Conference. I preached twice on the Sabbath day, and again on Tuesday. Our Conferencewas a camp meeting, where the preachers slept intents. We sat six hours a day, stationed eighty-three preachers, and all was peace." He remark^that "the families of the Hills, Seawalls, and Cannon were greatly and affectionately attentive to us."Thus Green Hill had the distinction of entertaining five Methodist Conferences.He died at Liberty Hill on September 11, 1826,in his eighty-fifth year. He was buried a few hundred yards from the house, and "near his dust inthe rock-walled enclosure is the dust of wife, sons,daughters and grandchildren." He was a noble manwho served well his day and generation in bothChurch and Nation.23)% C. H Uf ct ^ OCvSl-€>.%%'.J> x>SAMUEL EDNEYSamuel Edney was the first Methodist preacherappointed west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. TheSwannanoa Circuit to which he was sent in 1793covered Western North Carolina to the Tennesseeline.Edney was born in Pasquotank County in 1768,licensed to preach in 1790, and ordained by BishopAsbury in 1813. Following his admission to theConference he served successively the New Hope,Bladen, Swannanoa and Yadkin Circuits. He thensettled in Henderson County where the community and church of Edneyville bear his n£une. Asa local preacher he was postmaster and served forforty years as a Justice of the Peace. In old agehe often said, "I have served God over fifty years,and have never seen a moment when I regrettedit." Asbury visited him several times and madehalf a dozen entries in the famous Journal concerning these occasions.He died on September 17, 1844, and was buriedat Edneyville. Other members of his family areburied there and numerous descendants still residein Henderson County.• Samuel Edney married Eleanor (Nellie) Mills,daughter of William Mills, an exhorter and a friendof Asbury's. He lived in Henderson County, wherehis name is perpetuated in Mills Chapel, MiUsRiver, Mills Gap, Mills Spring and other spots.He and his sons, John and Marvil, are mentioned inthe Bishop's Journal. "I preached at Mills Chapel,"the Bishop wrote on Sunday, December 2, 1812."After meeting we went home with John Mills,White Oak Creek. Ah, John, thy pious, prayingmother! I often think of her."WiUiam Mills was the son of Colonel AmbroseMills, who was born in England and during the24) Revolution lived on Green River in RutherfordCounty, North Carolina. William served as a majorunder his father in the war and both were captured at King's Mountain. The father was hangedas a Tory at BiggerstafFs Fields near Rutherford-ton in October, 1780, but the son was spared because his exhorter's license was found on his person and his captors would not execute "a priest."• Just where Samuel Edney preached on his far-flung circuit cannot be certainly determined, butas the first circuit rider in the area he must have, established all or most of the early preachingplaces and societies.One of these was at the home of Daniel Killiannear Buncombe Courthouse, the present Asheville.This was a favorite stopping place for Bishop Asbury and is mentioned ten times in his Journal.A full-fledged society was functioning there in 1800and must have been formed much earlier. It isstill in existence and appropriately called the Asbury Methodist Church. It treasures the pulpit chairand other articles used by the Bishop.Another society which must have been formedby Edney was in the home of Jacob Shook, calledVater Shuck by Asbury. He was the son of aDutch immigrant, George Shook, who came toAmerica in 1700. Jacob was born in Pennsylvaniain 1749 and went with his father to Burke County,North Carolina. After serving in the Revolution hesettled in 1786 on the Pigeon River at the present^ town of Clyde in Haywood County, where he is saidto have built the first frame house in the coimty.t The house still stands, considerably enlarged, and^ a road marker has been erected there. The attic room where the first Methodist society in thecounty met has been preserved with pulpit andchair.On November 30, 1810, Bishop Asbury, BishopMcKendree, John McGee, and Henry Boehm25) - . v>C.D'-ST nH ■: ) I Kf !-crossed liie aboriginal Cataloochee Trail from EastTennessee to Western North Carolina. This is As-bury's account: "Our troubles began at the foaming, roaring stream, which hid tlie rocks. At Cataloochee I walked over a log. But 0, the mountains—height after height, and five miles over? Aftercrossing other streams, and losing ourselves in thewoods, we came in about nine o'clock at night, toVater Shuck's. What an awful day!"To commemorate his trip road markers liavcbeen erected by the State at Lake Junahiska andCove Creek, the route has been designated andmarked as the Asbury 1 rail, and the Boy Scouts ofAmerica have established the Asbury Trail Awardand confer a medal on Explorer Scouts who hikethe rugged way followed by the great Bishop.The party stayed all night at Shook's and on thefollowing day, which was Saturday, they rode on toBuncombe Courthouse. On Sunday Asbury andBoehm preached at Newton's Academy, conductedby the Rev. George Newton, a Presbyterian whomAsbury loved, while McKondree and McGce proceeded to, and preached in, the home of SamuelEdney.Jacob Shook died about 1832 and bequeatheda tract of land at Clyde for a camp meeting site.The appointment was long called Camp Ground.It is now Louisa Chapel, named for Shook's unmarried granddaughter. It is the successor of thesociety organized by Samuel Edney in the Shookhome and bears the dale of 1798. There are numerous Shook descendants in the area today.Methodism flourishes today in what was theSwannonoa Circuit, now embraced in the Ashe-ville and Waynesville Districts of the WesternNorth Carolina Annual Conference. The nearly twohundred churches and thirty thousand membersof these Districts represent the continuing work ofSamuel Edney.Cokesbury School in North CarolinaCOKESBURYIt is an interesting fact that the names of Methodist leaders have been given to so many places.There are towns and postoffices called Asbury inMissouri, New Jersey, and West Virginia. AsburyPark iji New Jersey is a city and a resort ofgreat repute. There is an Asbury Grove in Massachusetts, a Coke in Virginia, a Cokesbury in Pennsylvania. and a Cokedale in Colorado.It is well known that the first Methodist collegein the world was Cokesbury College in Maryland,its name being a combination of Coke and Asbury.Cokesbury is the name of numerous book storesof the Methodist Publishing House. There wereCokesbury Schools in both North and South Carolina, a Coke's Chapel in Georgia, and a Cokes-bridge in South Carolina.John Wesley did not like all this and he didnot hesitate to say so in a stinging letter to Asbury on September 20, 1788: "I creep: you strutalong. I found a school: you a college I nay, andcall it after your own names!" He also denouncedAsbury for allowing himself to be called a Bishop.'O.% 'a. VI t ^fo^ c-/V-L. "C'Asbury rightly referred to this letter as "a bitterpiU."Cokesbury College near Baltimore was openedin 1787, burned in 1795, moved to Baltimore, andburned again in 1796, thus ending its career. TheCokesbury School in South Carolina was foundedin 1835 and was the successor of Mount BethelAcademy, Tabernacle Academy, and Mount ArielAcademy. The wreck of the old building remainstoday.The Cokesbury School in North Carolina waslocated near Phelps Ferry on the Yadkin River inthe lower end of the present Davie County, andwas doubtless the institution for which Mr. Longand Mr. Bustion gave money to Asbury and JohnDickins in 1780 but which was probably used forCokesbury College in Maryland. This North Caro-lina school has been called the first MethodistConference school in America. It was in existenceas early as April, 1794-, when Asbury wrote, "Icame to Cokesbury school, at Hardy Jones's: it istwenty feet square, two stories high, well set outwith doors and windows; this house is not toolarge, as some others are: it stands on a beautiful eminence, and overlooks the Lowlands, andriver Yadkin."The fact that the school had glazed windows wasworthy of Asbury's attention, for few churches hadthem. Cokesbury School in South Carolina, whichvvas founded much later and where the noted Dr.Stephen Olin taught, had no windows.Not much is known of this North Carolinaschool. It seems that in 1795 Asbury took JamesParks from a district and placed him in chargeof Cokesbury. It was of short duration and by1799 it was converted into a church. "I said butlittle at the Academical school house, now a housefor God," Asbury wrote on October 12, 1799. Onlya few stones remain today.28)RANDALL AND McKNIGHTOn February 15, 1785, Bishop Asbury, on hisway southward after having been consecrated Superintendent or Bishop at the Christmas Conferencea few weeks previously, wrote in his Journal, "Igave up my horse and borrowed one of Mr. Randall." This was the first mention of John Randall,a deaf and dumb man known as "Dumb John,"but by no means the last.He lived in the present Stanly County, NorthCarolina, a few miles north of Norwood. JesseLee preached in his home while traveling the Salisbury Circuit, and thus wrote of him: "The manof the house was always deaf and dumb, yet canpronounce the name of his wife and the name ofhis brother very distinctly; but I could not learnthat he ever uttered any other word. He is esteemeda pious man, and by signs will give a good experience of grace, both of his conviction and conversion, and of his progress in the service of theLord, of the pleasing hope he has of heaven whenhe leaves this world."The Randall community became a regularpreaching place and Asbury stopped there on numerous occasions. Services were first conductedin the home and then in a brush arbor. A churchwas erected before 1800 and Randall Church isnow the oldest in the county. It is a little westof the Yadkin at Tillery Lake. The property ofthree and one-half acres was deeded by JohnSnugg in 1813.One of the relatives of John Randall, Josias,went to Georgia and as early as 1806 was presiding elder of the Ogeechee District and later aprominent figure in public life.29)a 'LHaflC Hl5-r^LTh6tll5ThlSToR-t<J,%o%%u-yOV%On Christmas Day in 1805 Bishop Asburywrote: "George Dougherty informs me that thewife of John Randle, upon Pee Dee (known by thename of dumb John) died in great peace and joy,after a thirty years' profession of religion amongthe Baptists and Methodists: safe anchorage; cleargains!"Another interesting figure in early North Carolina Methodism was George McKnight who livedon the Yadkin near the present Clemmons in For-syth County, fifteen miles from the site of theCokesbury School. His home was one of the earliest preaching places and was visited by Asburyon half a dozen occasions. Conferences were heldthere in 1789, 1790, and 1791.The 1789 Conference was attended by the preachers from the Holston country of East Tennesseewho crossed the mountains by way of the FlowerGap. "We had weighty matters for considerationbefore us," wrote Asbury. The most importantsuch matter was the launching of the previously mentioned Arminian Magazine^ which the Book Steward, John Dickins, edited and published at Philadelphia. The preface to the first volume was signedby Asbury and Thomas Coke at "North Carolina,April 10, 1789." Only two volumes were publishedand copies of both are in the World MethodistBuilding at Lake Junaluska. It lapsed after 1790and was revived in 1818 as the Methodist Magazine.In 1790 Asbury was accompanied to McKnight'sChapel by Richard Whatcoat, who had been ordained by John Wesley and sent to America withDr. Thomas Coke in 1784; he was elected Bishopin 1800 but survived only six years. The two menwere late and found that the Conference had beenwaiting for them nearly two weeks. "We rejoiced30I together, and my brethren received me as one^ brought from the jaws of death," wrote Asbury.The Conference in 1791 was attended by bothAsbury and Coke and was held "in great peace.""Many of the preachers related their experiences,and it was a blessed season of grace. Several ofour brethren expressed something like the perfect love of God, but they had doubts about theirhaving retained it." Asbury's last visit, so far asis known, was on October 11, 1799, but no Conference was held on that occasion.; In the cemetery of Sharon Church near Lewis-ville is a tombstone with this inscription: "Thememory of George McKnight Senu (Senior), bornJuly 8, 1765. Departed this life March 22, 1847. Helived 81 years 8 months and 14 days. In youth hejoined the Methad (Methodists) then maryed gotsotfkt (sophisticated) joined the Morafens (Moravians) then moved to Stoks had preached in hisoan house."31)% Yadkin Valley Methodist Preachers 1780 -1805 Yadkin and Salisbury Circuits < I Page 36 - 58 O ) •> o \r 1/^ ) \r \r* O 0 C^ Davie County Public Library 2 Mocksvllle, North Carolina 1 o YADKIN VALLEY METHODIST PREACHERS 1780- 1805 YADKIN AND SALISBURY CIRCUITS NORTH CAROLINA .12 — 0 S) £ c <D <D 1 ' 0) ^ ^ o Source: unknown o w Weceurtry PuDK uQic.., ^ ^ Ivlocksviiie. o 34 THE YADKIN AND SALISBURY CIRCUITS 1780 -1805 Rockingham Dobson • 6 14 Forsyth Salem Davidson Statesville Salisbxtry Catawba Concord Cabamis Union Oavie County Puoiic uuiciiy Mocksville, NO CHURCHES IN THE YADKIN VALLEY 1. BEAL'S/ZION/NEW UNION (DAVDE) 2. BETHEL (CABARRUS) 3. CARTER'S/BETHEL (STANLY) 4. CENTER (YADKIN) 5. CONCORD (FORSYTH) 6. DOUBS (FORSYTH) 7. ELLSBURY/ALESBURY/ASBURY (YADKIN) 8. ESCHOL (WILKES) 9. HANCOCKS/MACEDONIA (MONTGOMERY) 10. JONES, HARDY/SHADY GROVE/ADVANCE (DAYIE) 11. JONES VILLE (YADKIN) 12. LIBERTY (ALEXANDER) 13. LITTLEJOHN'S (CALDWELL) 14. LOVE'S (FORSYTH) 15. McKNIGHTS/CLEMMONS (FORSYTH) 16. McMAHON'S/WESLEY CHAPEL (DAVIE) 17. MOSS CHAPEL (EREDELL) 18. MT. GILEAD (RANDOLPH) 19. OLIVE BRANCH/FARMINGTON (DAVIE) 20. PISGAH (IREDELL) 21. PRATHERS/MT. BETHEL (IREDELL) 22. RANDALL'S (STANLY) 23. REEVES/CENTER (MONTGOMERY) 24. ROGERS/MT. OLIVET (CABARRUS) 25. RUSSELLS/SALEM (RANDOLPH) S 26. SALISBURY (ROWAN) J 27. SNOW CREEK (IREDELL) ^ 28. STONY HILL (STANLY) ^ 29. TEMPLE HELL (WILKES) ^ 30. UNION (WILKES) ^ 31. WHITAKER'S (DAVIE) X 32. WILKESBORO (WILKES)pu 5 33. COJCESBURY SCHOOL Moctevi'ue, i'- Ci o £ vP cu X o X o YADKIN VALLEY PREACHERS -1780 -1805 YADKIN AND SALISBURY CIRCUITS JOHNAHAm (ca. 1766-1794) - Yadkin Assistant, 1792-1793 John Ahair was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit as an assistant in 1792. A native of North Carolina, he was bom ca. 1768. He was admitted on trial in February, 1971; admitted to full connection in November, 1972, and ordained a Deacon in October, 1793. After leaving the Yadkin Circuit, he served the Amelia Circuit from October, 1793 until his death in November, 1794. According to his obituary he was a •'meek-spirited, holy, zealous, man. Weak in body, strong in faith and love, diree years wholy given up to die work." He "sweetly slept in Jesus, after a short and happy life, aged about twenty six years." BEVERLY ALLEN - Salisbury, 1783 Beverly Allen was the ftrst preacher assigned to the Salisbury Circuit in 1783. He is known as the first apostate Methodist elder. He was bom ca. 1760 and died ca. 1810. He began preaching on the New Hope Circuit near his home in what is now the Durha^Chapel Hill area in North Carolina in 1778, workrng with James O'Kelly. In 1781 he was on trial and appointed to the Isle of Wright. After his work on the Salisbury Circuit in 1783 and 1784, he was appointed to Wilmington in 1784. At tlw Christmas Conference of 1784 that established the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1^ was ordained elder. In 1785 he was appointed to Georgia but did not go. In 1786 he was in South Carolina where 1» married. In 1786 and 1787 he served as a presiding elder in the Charleston area. In 1789 he was appointed to the Richard Ivy District, and in 1791 to Edisto Island. In 1791 he was expelled from the cormection because of a morals charge .i against him. He later moved to Augusta, Georgia and went into a business, which feiled. ^ About to be prosecuted fer debt, he shot and killed the officer sent to arrest him. He fted to Logan County, Kentucky where he practiced medicine. He became a Universalist. ^ Bishop McTyeire stated that Allen "turned out to be one of those popular preachers who find work everywhere else but where they are appointed; who promise much and come to nothing; he came to worse than nothing." (from McTyeire, Historv of Methodism, p.357 5 quoted by Grissom, p. 123. X' WELLLIAM AI.LfiOOD - Salisbury, 1805 ' William Allgood was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1805. He was admitted on ^ trial in 1799 and into full connection in 1801. He was ordained deacon in 1802 and elder o in 1803. He served the Morganton Circuit in Westem North Carolina in 1803 and several § circuits in the eastem part of North Carolina. He located in 1806. He might have gone to Tennessee. The Tennessee Conference has a record of a William Allgood who served from 1820 through 1824 and located in 1824. DaVle county Puoiic uoiary f/iocksvilie, HC cJ SAMUEL ANSLEY ( — 1837) - Salisbury Assistant, Nov. 1797 - AprU, 1798 Samuel Ansley was the assistant on the Sahsbiiry Circuit for several montha fix>m November, 1797 to April, 1798. He was admitt^ on trial in February of 1791 and admitted into lull connection in November, 1792. He was ordained a deacon in November, 1792 and an elder in January, 1800. His appointments were primarily in South Carolina, but he served as the Tar River Circuit assistant in 1794 and 1795 and the assistant on the Morganton and Swanino Circuit in 1800 and 1805. He located in 1809. He died in 1837 in Georgia having been readmitted to the Georgia Conference. HEZEKIAH ARNOLD - Yadkin, 1795 Hezekiah Arnold served the Yadkin Circuit from November, 1795 to November, 1796, when he located. He was admitted on trial in 1790 and into full connection in 1791. He was ordained a deacon in 1791 and elder in 1795. Before serving the Yadkin Circuit, he had been appointed to several circuits in South Carolina and Virginia. He disappeared from the records of the western North Carolina area. DANIEL ASBURY (1762-1825) - Yadkin 1789; 1801-1802 Daniel Asbury was ^pointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1789 and 1801-1802. He was bom in 1762 and died in 1825. He is buried at Rehobeth Church in Catawba County. He was admitted on trial in 1786 and into full connection in 1788. He was ordained deacon in 1789 ami elder in 1801. In 1789, while on the Yadkin Circuit, he established Rehobeth Church along the Catawba River. The next year the Lincoln Circuit was established covering the Catawba River area, and Asbury was ^pointed to it. He married in the area, located for a uMe, and used the Catawba River area as his base for the remainder of his life. He was involved in early camp meetings in the 1790s in the Rehobeth/Grassy Branch area of Catawba County. He began preaching in Virginia, but his later years ^ were spent in the South Carolina Conference. From 1805 through 1821, he served as ^ Presiding Elder of five districts including the Swanino and Catawba Districts in North 1 Carolina. In 1822 and 1823 he served the Lincoln Circuit and in 1824 the Sugar Creek Circuit in North Carolina. He died in 1825. O JOSIAH ASKEW - Salisbury Assistant, 1789; Presiding Eider, 1794- t 1795 Sis ^ Josiah Askew was appointed as an assistant in the Salisbury Circuit in 1789. He later was the Presiding Elder of a district that included both the Yadkin and Salisbury circuits H in 1794 and 1795. Bom in Burke County, North Carolina, he was admitted on trial in ^ 1788 and into full connection in 1790. He became an elder in 1791. In 1795 he was the o Presiding Elder of the district that included the Yadkin and Salisbury Circiuts. He served ^ in various places in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. In 1797 he was a ^ supernumerary, and in 1798 he located. ^ Offl/le coumy PuDiic uorao Klocksvilie, NC ci rr o MO ; r" o X iu X o c> rJ X nOTf.Y BAfRD - Salisbury Assistant, 1788 Doily Baird was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit Assistant inl788. He was admitted on trial in 1788. In 1789 he was appointed to the New Hope District. After that there is no record of him in the records of the area of the western North Carolina conference. JOHN BALDWm - Yadldn Assistant, 1784 John Baldwin was appointed as the Yadkin Circuit Assistant in 1784. In 1788 he served the Salisbury Circuit. He was admitted on trial in 1782, ordained a deacon in 1788 and elder in 1790. He served various circuits in North Carolina and Virginia including Wilmington, Guilford, and New Hope in North Carolina. From 1793 until 1798 he served as a Book Steward in North Carolina and Virginia. He located in 1798 *^ough weakness of body or femily concerns." HENRY BINGnAM ( - 1788) - Yadkin Assistant, 1785; Salisbury Aissistant, 1786 Bom in Virginia, Henry Bingham was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1785 and the Salisbury Assistant in 1786. He was admitted on trial in 1785 and admitted into full coni^ction in 1787. After leaving the Salisbury Circuit, be was appointed to the Edisto Circuit in South Carolina in 1788. He died in 1788 at the Cattle Creek Campground on the Edisto Circuit in Orange County, S.C., where he was buried. His obituary in 1789 described him as "serious, feithful, zealous, humble, and teachable; and during part of the last year more than commonly successful: ^^ent in exhortatiott during his sickness, and resigned in death." THOMAS BOWEN - Presiding Elder, 1790 Thomas Bowen was the Presiding Elder of the district that included the Yadkin and Salisbury Circuits in 1790. He was admitted on trial in 1783 and into full connection in ^ 1785. He was ordained a deacon in 1787 and an elder in 1790. Before 1790 he served 7 several appointments in Virginia and North Carolina including the Tar River Circuit in 1787. From 1790 until 1794 he was the Presiding Elder of various districts. In 1794 he d was listed as a Book Steward and then disappeared from the minutes. In 1789 and 1790 the Methodist Episcopal Church e:q>erimented with a council that would make temporal '0 decisions between conferences. Thomas Bowen was on the second council, which met in 1790. Bane coutny Mocksviiie. NC M i ST) O X K JAMES E« BOYP — Salisbury Assistant, 1804; Yadkin Assistant, 1807 James Boyd was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1804 and the Yadkin Assistant in 1807. He was admitted on trial in 1804 and into full connection in 1806. He was ordained deacon in 1807and elder in 1808. He served many circuits in Virginia and was Presiding Elder in several Virginia circuits and the New Bem District in North Carolina. He superannuated in 1836 and died in 1837. Pim.TPBRTTrE (1755-1826) - Yadkin, 1784; Presiding Elder 1803 Philip Bruce was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1784, and as Presiding Elder in 1803. Descended ftom French Protestants, he was bom in 1755, but there is dispute about his birthplace. An early tradition that was repeated in many later books was the he was bom near Kings Mountain in North Carolina. However, another source says he was bom in Virginia. A study of land records and deeds shows that his family own^ land in Wake County, North Carolina. As an exhorter, he was a chaplain at the battle of Kings Mountain and gained a reputation as a patriot in battles between Whigs and Tories. He was admitted to the Conference in 1781, ordained a deacon in 1785 and an elder in 1786. He served the New Hope Circuit in North Carolina and was a Presiding Elder in many districts bearing his name. One of the best known of early Methodist preachers, Bruce served on the experimental Council to make decisions between conferences in 1790 and on the Committee to write a Cotistitution of American Methodism in 1808. He superannuated in 1816 and died in Tennessee in 1826. He was described as 'tall, perfectly straight, very grave and delightful in his manner; his hair was black and wom long, his visage thin, his complexion dark, and his eyes bright and piercing; his countenance was open and e^ressive, his features well developed and indicative of a high degree of intellectual power. In the pulpit he was grace and impressive.'* wn J JAM TANNON - Yadldii Assistant, 1783 William Cannan, or Cannon, served as the Yadkin Assistant in 1783. He was admitted on trial in 1783 and became a deacon in 1786. He located in 1788. SEVION CARLISLE ~ Salisbury Assistant, 1791 Simon Carlisle was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1791, He was admitted on ^ trial in 1791 and into fiill connection in 1791. Carlisle was ordained a deacon in 1792. y He also served as the Lincoln Assistant in 1791, which was in the same district as the Salisbury Circuit. In 1793 he was expelled for improper conduct. Someone had placed a pistol in his saddlebag and he was charged with stealing it. Later the person who had put ^ the pistol there confessed, and Carlisle was reinstated. He later went to Tennessee where o he was admitted into the Conference there. Davie county Pudiic Liorarv ^ fvbcksville, NC 2: o c: r JESSE COE - Salisbury, 1801 Jesse Coe was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1801. He was admitted on trial in 1800 and into full connection in 1803. He was ordained deacon in 1803 and elder in 1804. He located in 1807. He served circuits in North Carolina and Virginia. He disappeared from JOSIAHCOLE - Salisbury Assistant, 1793 Josiah Cole was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1793. He was also the Swanino Curcuit Assistant in the same year. He was admitted on trial in 1793 and into full connection in 1798. He was elected deacon in 1798, but not ordained. He served a number of circuits in South Carolina and Virginia. In 1801 he located. JULnJS CONNOR - Salisbury Assistant, 1789 Julius Connor was appointed as an assistant on the Salisbury Circuit in 1789. He was admitted into full connection in 1790 and served the Holstein Circuit in that year. He disappeared from the Methodist records of circuits connected to western North Carolina. JOHN COOPER ~ YadkliL 1782 John Cooper was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1782. He was admitted to the Conference in 1775. He was listed as a deacon in 1788. Most of his appointments were in the northern part of the United States. He died in 1789. His obituary described him as "quiet, inoffensive, and blameless; a son of afOiction, subject to dejection, sorrow, and sufferings; often in want, but too modest to con^lain, till observed and relieved by his friemis. He died in peace." DANIEL DEAN - Yadkin Assistant, 1791 2 ... ua Daniel Dean was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant m 1791. He was admitted on trial in ^ 1790 and into frill connection in 1791. Dean was ordained as a deacon in 1791 and an elder in 1794. After serving several other circuits, he served the Guilford Ct. in 1794. 2 After that he disappeared from the Methodist records that covered the western North Carolina area. t- \r> JAMES DENTON - Salisbuiy Assistant, 1799 James Denton was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1799. He was admitted on trial o in 1799 and into frill cormection in 1801. He was ordained deacon in 1801 and elder in X K ui 1803. Most of the circuits he served were in Virginia. He located in 1804. Davie county Puniic LiDrary Mocksville, NC H'5 JAMES DOUTHET (1766-1831) Salisbury, 1799; Presiding Elder, 1801- 1802 James Douthet was appointed to Salisbury in 1799. He was also the Presiding Elder of the Salisbury District in 1801 and 1802. He was admitted on trial in 1792 and into full connection in 1794. He was ordained deacon in 1795 and elder in 1796. He served primarily in South Carolina. He located in 1803. JOHN ELLIS - Yadldn Assistant, 1800 John Ellis was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1800. Because there were several men named John Ellis who served at the san^ time, it is difficult to determine the correct information about the John Ellis who served as the Yadkin Assistant. He possibly was admitted on trial in 1799 and into hill connection in 1802. He was ordain^ deacon in 1802 and located in 1803. REUBEN ELUS ( -1796) - Presiding Eider, 1786-1787 Reuben Ellis served as the Presiding Elder of the district that included the Yadkin and Salisbury Circuits in 1786 and 1787. Admitted in 1777, he served in Virginia, Penni^lvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. He was ordained elder at the Christmas Conference of 1784 that established the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1796. He was described in his obituary as "a man of slow, but very sure and solid parts, both as a counselor and a guide. In his preaching weighty and powerful; a man of simplicity and godly sincerity. ... During twenty years' labour, to our knowledge, he never laid up twenty pounds by preaching; — his horse, his dothing, and immediate necessaries, were all he ^pea^ to want to this world he was always ready to fill any station to which he was appointed, althou^ he might go through the filre of ten^tation and waters of affliction." Ellis was coimected to Wilkes County. Andrew Yeargen deeded land to him in Wilkes County, but Ellis died before he could take the ^ land. The land was then deeded to Ellis' nephew, also named Reuben Ellis, a local ^ preacher. 2 C THOMAS FLETCHER - Yadkiii Assistant, 1802 -i •y ci.Thomas Flectcher was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1802. He was admitted on P trial in 1799 and into fiill connection in 1802. He served several circuits in Virginia. He located in 1803. o 0 % r 1 Kit ,*i X O Bawe coumy Pubnc Library Mocksville, NC Hi '•'x. r- £ r JOHN FORE - Yadkin, 1792 John Fore was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1792. He was admitted on trial in 1788 and into hill connection in 1790. He was ordained deacon in 1790 and elder in 1792. He served as a Presiding Elder in 1793-94. He served the New Hope Circuit in 1791 and several circuits in Virginia, He died around 1809. JAMES FOSTER - Salisbury^ 17S3; Presiding Elder, 17S6 James Foster served as the Salisbury Circuit assistant in 1783, the first year the circuit existed. He was admitted on trial in 1776. He served as a Presiding elder in 1786 and *'desisted firom traveling'' in 1786. He served several circuits in Maryland and Virginia. He impressed James Douthet as the first Methodist preacher Douthet ever saw. DANIEL GOSSAGE - Yadkin Assistant, 1797 Daniel Gossage was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1797. According to early records he was admitted on trial in 1799, served the Salt River - Shelby and then disappeared firom the records that applied to the western North Carolina area. LEMUEL GREEN (1751-1832) - Yadkin Assistant, 1783 Lemuel Green was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1783. He was admitted on trial in 1783. He was a deacon in 1787 and an elder in 1788. He located in 1800. He was a part of the e>q)erimental Council the Methodist Episcopal Church established in 1789 and 1790. He attended the interim council in 1789 and was a trustee of the chartered fimd. Ailer locating he settled in Philadelphia, and was readmitted to the Philadelphia Conference in 1822 and superannuated. He died in 1832. DAVID HAGGARD- Salisbury Assistant, 1792 ^ David Haggard was the Salisbury Assistant in 1792. He was admitted on trial in 1787 and into full connection in 1789. He was ordained deacon in 1789. He served in Virginia and Kentucky and disappeared firom records after 1792. Grissom says he became associated with the O'Kelly movement and died in communion with the ''New Lights". JOHN HARPER- Yadkin Assistant, 1796 John Harper was appointed as the Yadkin Circuit Assistant in 1796. He was bom in o Fnglflwi and had been ordained by John Wesley. He served in Massachusetts, Baltimore, ^ and South Carolina. He located in South Carolina in 1803. He was considered the ^ fi>under of the Methodist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. u> X o OL ^ I r- o M 5 Davie county Pudkc LiDrary Mocksville, NO J '■7 >' <i )r JOSHUA HARTLEY - Salisbury. 1785 Joshua Hartley was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1785. He was admitted on trial in 1785 and admitted on trial again in 1788 and into full coimection in 1789. He was not in North Carolina area records after 1789. ABNERHENLY - Salisbury, 1800 Abner Henly was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1800. He was admitted on trial in February of 1791 and into full connection in November of 1792. He was ordained a deacon in 1793. He served in Virginia and South Carolina and on the Swanino Circuit in Western North Carolina He located in 1795. COLLIER HHJ.- Salisbury Assistant, 1798 Collier Hill was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1798. He was admitted on trial in 1796. He served other circuits in North C^lina and was not in western North Carolina area records after 1798. HENRY HILL - Yadkin, 1794 Henry Hill was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1794. He was admitted on trial in 1791 and into ftiU coimection in 1792. He was ordained deacon in 1792 and elder in 1794. He served circuits in eastern North Carolina and South Carolina. He located in 1796. JAMES hintON - Salisbury Assistant, 1783 James Hinton served as the Salisbury Circuit Assistant in 1783, the first year of the circuit. He was admitted on trial in 1783 and into full connection in 1785. He "desisted firom traveling" in 1786. He was the son of early Methodist pioneers in North Carolina, u> Dempsey and Sarah Hintoa According to Grissom, he "early wore himselfout in the vineyard of his master." HOPE HULL (1763-1818) - Salisbury Assistant, 1785 Hope Hull was the Salisbury Assistant in 1785. He was admitted on trial in 1785 and ^ into full connection in 1787. He was ordained deacon in 1788 and elder in 1789. In the ' later years of his ministry he served in South Carolina and Georgia and is kimwn as "the Father of Methodism in Georgia". He located in October of 1794, but served again in ^ 1797. He moved to Athens, Georgia where he was active in establrshing the Methodist X Church there. He also supported the University of Georgia, and was a trustee of the University. X u d cj H 6 Dswie county Puonc uoratyMocksville, NC <L at 7" d. o h- tri I h- uJ 9 t w r—' DUKE W. HULLUM - Salisbury, 1796 Ehike W. HuUum was appointed to Salisbury in 1796. He was admitted on trial in 1794 and into full connection in 1796. He was ordained deacon in 1796 and located in 1799. He served in eastern North Carolina and Virginia, RICHARD IVY - ( -1795) - Presiding Elder, 1785 Richard Ivy was the Presiding Elder in 1785. He was admitted into the connection in 1781 when he agreed to preach *the old Methodist doctrine". He was ordained elder at the Christmas Conference of 1784 that established the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1785 he was Presiding Elder of the district that bore his name and included the Yadkin and Salisbury Circuits. He was appointed to circuits from New Jersey to North Carolina. In 1792 he was appointed as a Travelling Book Steward in the Reuben Ellis District. In 1794 he superannuated or ^'received money from the preacher's fund." He died between October, 1795 and October 1796. His obituary described him as man of quick and solid parts" — one of a group of men whose "great concern and business was to be rich in grace and useful to souls. Thus Ivy, a man of afQiction, lingered out his latter days, spending his all, with his life, in the work." JOHN N.JONES ( -1799) - Salisbury, 1796 John N. Jones was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1796. He was admitted on trial in 1790 and into full connection in 1791. He was ordained deacon in 1791 and elder in 1794. He preached in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Jones died in 1799 in Charleston, South Carolina. According to his obituary, he was *Vom out with pain and a variety of illnesses and afiOictions of the body." His obituary also described him as "a man of great zeal, not wanting in sound underst^ing, for his time and opportunities; a fervent preacher, and very plain in his address and maimers." WILEY JONES - Yadkin Assistant, 1801 ^ Wiley Jones was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1801. He was admitted on trial in ^ 1800 and served as the Gloucester assistant that year. After his appointment as the Yadkin assistant, he disappeared from the gener^ minutes that referred to the western North Carolina area. wn J J JAM KENYON- Sfllisburv Assistant, 1794; Yadkin, 1803 William Kenyon was appointed as the Salisbury assistant in 1794 and to the Yadkin ^ Circuit in 1803. He was admitted on trial in 1794 and into full coimection in 1976. He ? was ordained deacon in 1796 and elder in 1799. He served circuits in Virginia, eastern 0aV!e county Puoiic uDrar* fiilocksviile, NC cJ Hi North Carolina, and in the western area. In 1804, the year after he served the Yadkin Circuit, he was expelled. FREEMAN KILLLINSWORTH - Salisbury Assistant, 1791 Freeman Killinsworth was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1791. He was admitted on trial in 1791 and into fiill connection in 1792. He was ordained a deacon in 1793 and located in 1794. GEORGE MMBLE - Yadkin Assistant, 1782 George Kimble was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1782. He was admitted on trial in 1782. In 1783 he was assigned to £k>yer. After that he disappears from the North Carolina area records. JEREMIAH KING ~ Salisbury Assistant, 1800; Yadkin, 1804 Jeremiah King served both the Salisbury and Yadkin Circuits. He was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1800 and to the Yadkin Circuit in 1804. He was adinitted on trial in 1799 and into full connection in 1801. He was ordained deacon in 1801, elder in 1804, and located in 1805. He served primarily in Virginia and North Carolina. JOHN KING - Salisbury Assistant, 1796 John King was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1796. Early American Methodist records show two John Kings. One came from England and knew John Wesley. His name appears in the records between 1773 and 1777 when he was assigned to the North Carolina Circuit. This John King apparently located and married. He disappeared from the records after 1777. Apparently another John King was admitted on trial in 1796 and w into full connection in 1799. This John King was ordained deacon in 1799 and elder in ^ 1801. He located in 1803. He served circuits in from New Jersey to North Carolina. C> This latter John King was probably the one who served the Salisbury Circuit. (3.. o Ct V u.t d d WH J JAM LAMBETH/LAMBUTH (1765 -1837) - Salisbury Assistant, 1795 William Lambeth (sometimes spelled Lambuth) was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1795. In 1800 he was on the Cumberland Circuit in Tennessee, where he married. He located near Hartsville, Tennessee and died in Sumner County, Tennessee in 1837. His son, John W. Lambuth was the first missionary to China and Js^an from the Methodist o Episcopal Church, South. His grandson Walter W. Lambuth, was Secretary of the f Methodist Episcopal Church, South Board of Missions for many years and was elected bishop. Davie County Pudiic Liorary Mocksviile, NC CHARLES LEDBETTER - Yadldn Assistant, 1794 Charles Ledbetter was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1794, He was admitted on trial in 1793 and into fiill connection in 1795. He was ordained deacon in 1794 and elder in 1796. After serving circuits in Virginia and South Carolina, he located in 1799. JESSE LEE (1758 -1816) - Salisbury, 1783 Jesse Lee was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1783. He was admitted on trial in 1783 and into full connection in 1785. During the American Revolution he was in the colonial army, but refused to bear arms. Lee was one of the best-known of the early American Methodist preachers. His early preaching was in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. He was tte founder of Methodism in the New England area, and served as Presiding Elder of many districts. He traveled with Francis Asbury fi'om 1797-1799. He was elected Chaplain of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Lee was the first Methodist historian. Tn 1807 he publish^ A Short Historv of Methodism. He died in 1816. ISAAC LOWE - Presiding Elder, 1792 Isaac Lowe was appointed as the Presiding Elder in 1792. He was admitted on trial in 1787 and into full connection in 1789. He was ordained deacon in 1789 and became an elder in 1790. Most of his service was in the central part of North Carolina on the Caswell, Guilford, and New Hope circuits. From 1791 through 1794, he was appointed Presiding Elder of districts bearing his name. He located in 1795. ATEXANDER McCAINE - Presiding Elder, 1804 Alexander was appointed as the Presiding Elder in 1804. He was admitted on trial in ^ 1797 and into full connection in 1799. He was ordained deacon in 1799 and elder in 1801. He then disappeared from the records ofthose conferences that covered the 5 western North Carolina area. z■ tiJf wn J.TAM McDowell - YadMn. 1790 •y§ WilliamMcDowellwasappointedtothe Yadkin Circuit in 1790. He was admitted on trial in 1789 and into full connection in 1791. He was ordained deacon in 1791 and elder in 1793. He located in 1794. > <r> o JOHNMcGEE - Yadldn Assistant, 1789; Salisbury, 1791 ^ John McGee was admitted on trial in 1788 and into full connection in 1790. He was w ordained deacon in 1790 and elder in December of 1791. He served as a Presiding Elder in Tennessee. McGee, and his brother William, a Presbyterian minister, were involved in I iii t: o ci <5 Ml 0av1e county Punlic uuraiyMocksvilie, NC early local camp meetings along the Catawba River. After 1800 they had settled across the Appalachian mountains and were leaders in the Kentucky sacramental camp meetings at Gas^ River and Cane Ridge. BARNABUS McHENRY (1767 -1833) - Yadkin Assistant, 1787 Bamabus McHenry was assigned as the Yadkin Assistant in 1787. He was admitted on trial in 1787 and into full connection in 1789. He was ordained a deacon in 1789 and elder in 1790. His service was mostly west of the moimtains. He located in 1794 and again in 1797 because of his health. In 1819 he was readmitted into the Kentucky Conference and superannuated in 1821. He died of cholera in 1833. According to his obituary he 'Vas fond of the doctrines of this church and took delight in teaching them to others. He lived in the enjoyment of the blessing of sanctification and died in peace, taking his transfer from the church militant to the church triumphant." GEORGE McKlNNEY - Yadkin, December 1791 thru August 1792; Salisbury, 1797 and 1798 George McKinney was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit ftom December 1791 through August 1792 and to the Salisbury Circuit in 1797 and 1798. He was admitted on trial in 1790 and into full connection in 1791. He was ordained deacon in 1791 and elder in 1972. He also served the Guilford, Lincoln, and Caswell Circuits. He located in 1793 and again in 1800. In later life he changed. In 1811 his wife, Nancy, petitioned in Guilferd County to obtain a divorce, claiming that he had changed ftom "an affectionate husband, taking all necessary fer the Si^port of his femily [and at] the same time was respected as a usefiil preacher in the said Church" to a man who "has taken to gambling and intoxication and has destroyed almost all they had for subsistence and has often absconded ftom the bed and board of your petitioner." i mr-ZF-KIAH McLELLAND ( -1834 )-Yadkin Assistant, 1805 j/ ... >1 ■2 Hezekiah McLelland was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1805. He was admitted ^ on trial in 1805 and into full connection in 1807. He was ordained deacon in 1807 and^ elder in 1809. He located in 1814, returned to appointments in 1818 and 1819, superannuated in 1820, and located again in 1823. He served in North Carolina and Virginia. X. P o a THOMAS MANN- (1769-1830) Presiding Elder, 1805 $ Thomas Mann was appointed Presiding Elder in 1805. He was admitted on trial in 1791 ^ and into fiill connection in 1793. He was ordained deacon in 1793 and elder in 1795. His other service in western North Carolms xiwluded the Swanino, Salisbury and Guilferd Oavle County Puoiic LiDiar>yocksville, NC 50 t. o c. J-" \jy "%■ o c: M circuits. Mostofhisotherservice was in eastern North Carolina and Virginia, He superannuated in 1825 and died in 1830. His obituary noted," As a minister, he was sound in doctrine; plain, e^qperimental, and {n'actical in preaching, and generally useful and well received where he laboured." LAWRENCE MANSFIELD - Presiding Elder, 1797-1798 Lawrence Mansfield was appointed Presiding Elder in 1797 and 1798. He was admitted on trial in 1791 and into full connection in 1783. He was ordained deacon in 1793 and elder in 1795. Most of his service was in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. He served as Presiding Elder of several agencies bearing his name. He located in 1803 JOHN MASON-Yadkin Assistant, 1786 John Mason was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1786. He was admitted on trial in 1787. After serving the Broad River circuit the following year, he disappeared from the North Carolina area records. Georgia records, however, claim that he was in Georgia in 1788. ENOCH MATSON - Yadkin Assistant, 1782 Enoch Matson was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1782. He served the Roanoke Circuit in 1781 and was listed as **remains" on trial in 1782 when he was pointed to Yadkin. In 1783 he was "admitted." He became Presiding Elder or several districts bearing his name. He "desists from traveling" in 1788. RORFRT .L M H J.ER - Yndldn. 1786 Robert J. Miller was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1786. He was admitted on trial the same year. After that he dis^peared from the Methodist records of the western North Carolina area. According to Grissom, he sent to the Lincoln County area to form a circuit, but did not. He became involved with the German Lutherans in the area and later joined the Protestant Episcopal Church. Lutheran history claims that he was a reader for the Episcopal congregation in White Haven, which desired his ordination. Since there were no Episcopalian bishops to ordain him, he was ordained by the Lutherans. JOHN MOORE - Salisbury, 1804 John Moore was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1804. He was admitted on trial in 1799 and into fiiU connection in 1801. He was ordained deacon in 1801 and elder in 1803. He located in 1805. He served the Morganton Circuit and the Guilford Circuit in westem North Carolina and other circuits in eastern North Carolina and Virginia. Oavie coumy Pudhc uDia. )Viocksville, NC 51 /I r- S xJ JOSEPH MOORE ~ Yadldn. December 1791 thru August, 1792 Joseph Moore was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit from December 1791 through August, 1792. He was admitted on trial in 1791 and into full connection in 1792. He was ordained deacon in 1792 and elder in 1794. In 1800 he was elected and ordained elder again as the Virginia Conference was established. He located from the Virginia Conference in 1806. After twenty years, in 1826, he rejoined the South Carolina Conference and was appointed to the Lincoln Circuit. He continued to serve on the Pee Dee Circuit and the Rocky River Circuit in North Carolina and or circuits in South Carolina. In 1834, he was supernumerary, and in 1836 he superannuated. He died in 1851. MARKMOORE - Salisbury, 1787 Mark Moore was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit from May through July of 1787. He was admitted on trial in 1786 and into ftiU connection in 1788. He was ordained deacon in 1789 and located in 1799. He served in North Carolina, South Carolina, and the Holston Circuit. He appeared again in New Orleans in 1819. CHRISTOPHER MOORING (1767 -1825) Yadkin, 1793 Christopher Mooring (Moring) was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1793. He was admitted on trial in 1789 and into full connection in 1791. He was ordained deacon in 1791 and elder in 1794. In 1800, at the establishment of the Virginia Conference he was again elected and ordained elder. He served primarily in Virginia and North Caiolina. In 1819 and in 1825, he superannuated, but had service between those years. He died in 1825. As his obiUiary described him, '*Our departed brother was distinguished for his meekness and quietness of spirit, ft>r his gravity and fidelity in his Master*s service, and for his readiness on all occasions to instruct other in the great truths of Christianity.*' EDWARD MORRIS ~ Presiding Elder, 1789 Edward Morris was ^pointed as Presiding Elder in 1789. He was admitted in 1781 and admitted into the connection in 1782. He was a deacon in 1787 and elder in 1788. In 1789 he was a member of the Council that met to make decisions between conferences. He located in 1790. WHLLIAMMOSS - Yadkin, 1797-1798 o William Moss was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1797 and 1798. He was admitted S on trial in 1788 and into foil connection in 1790. He was ordained deacon in 1790 and elder in 1793. He served Anson Circuit in westem North Carolina in 1794 and other circufts in eastern North Carolina and Virginia. He located in 1799. He moved to the Mocksville, 51 northern part of Iredell County and was connected with the establishment of Moss Ch^l. HENRY OGBURN - Yadldii, 1783 Henry Ogbum was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1783. He was admitted on trial in 1779 and into full connection in 1782. He was listed as a deacon in 1788 and 1789. He preached from Philadelphia to North Carolina. WD^LIAMORMONP (1769 -1803) - Salisbury, 1802 William Ormond was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1802. He was admitted on trial in 1791 and into full connection in 1792. In 1800 at the establishment of the Virginia ConfereiKse, he was elected and ordained elder. He was listed as a deacon in 1792 and elder in 1796. He preached primarily in Virginia and North Carolina. He died in 1803. His obituary observed that died happy in God, declaring with his latest breath, his soul enjoyed peace, peace, victory, victory, con^lete victory." WILLIAM OWEN - Yadkin, 1804 William Owen was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1804. He was admitted on trial in 1804 and into frill connection in 1807. He was ordained deacon in 1807 aiKl elder in 1809. He located in 1810. JAMES PARKS - Salisbury, 1790; Presiding Elder, 1792; Cokesbury School, 1793 James Parks was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1790. In 1792, he was the Presiding Elder. In 1793, he was appointed to the Cokesbury School. He was admitted ^ on trial in 1788 and into frill connection in 1790. In 1790 he was listed as a deacon and as an elder in 1791. He served in the west beyond the moimtains, in eastern North Carolina, and in South Carolina. He located in 1794. The son-in-law of prominent j.Methodist, Hardy Jones, he not only served as the first principal of the Cokesbury School, he also began another school in the Jonesville area. WILLIAM PARTRIDGE (1754-1817) -Yadldn, 1787 V^lliam Partridge was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1787. In 1781 he agreed to I^each old Methodist doctrine." He was admitted into connection in 1782. In 1787 he was listed as a deacon. He served from New Jersey to South Carolina. In 1789 he ^ partially located "on account of family". However he reappeared in the South Carolina ; h- t/^ o o Conference in 1814, when he was listed as a deacon In 1815 he was elected elder but not ordained. He died in 1817 while serving in Georgia. Oavie coumv Puduc uotaivWocksvWe, NC 53 -i d. 2 U> \r) u» j: ci cJ JAMES PATTERSON (1773 -1858) - Salisbury, 1803 James Patterson was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1803. He began to travel as an itinerant in 1793, was admitted to full connection in 1795. According to an interview with the North Carolina Christian Advocate in 1856, he was ordained deacon in 1797 and elder in 1799. The conference records list him as a deacon in November of 1796. He was listed as an elder in 1799. In addition to the Salisbury Circuit his other service in the western North Carolina are included the Anson and Little Pee Dee assistant and as Presiding Elder of the Yadkin District from 1818 through 1821. Additionally he served in Virginia and eastern North Carolina. He located in 1804 and returned in 1815. He located again in 1823, and appears on Iredell Circuit as a local preacher. He later had a siq)erannuated relationship with the Virginia and North Carolina Conferences until his death in 1858 as the oldest member of the North Carolina con&rence. FRANCIS PQYTHRESS (1732-1818) - Presiding Eider, 1800 Francis Poythress was appointed as Presiding Elder in 1800. One of the best known of the early preachers, he was admitted on trial in 1776. In 1781, he agreed to preach *the old Me^dlst doctrine"^. He served as the assistant for the Carolina Circuit, the first North Carolina circuit, in 1775. He was ordained elder at the Christmas Conference of 1784 that established ^e Methodist Episcopal Church. In addition in 1800 at the establishment of the Virginia Conference, he was elected and ordained elder. From 1786 through 1800 he was the Presiding Elder of several districts that bore his name. In 1801 and 1802 he was on the roll of the Western Conference, but listed as "left on roll but in deranged mental state", and in 1802 he was listed as superannuate, "on Con&rence roll only due to deranged mental state." According to Grissom his service as Presiding Elder of a large district in North Carolina in 1800 proved to be too much for him, and he suffered from depression of spirits and a total prostration of the nervous system. .TF.SSE RlQgARDSGN (1765-1837) - Yadkin, February thru August, 1791 Jesse Richardson was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in February through August in 1791. He was admitted on trial in 1788 and into full connection in 1790. He was listed ^ as a deacon in 1790 and elder in 1791. He served several circuits in the area of the western North Carolina ConfCTence including Lincoln, Morganton, Buncombe, and Union. In 1821 he was the Presiding Elder of the Catawba District of the South Carolina Conference. In 1805 he located and reappeared in the South Carolina Conference in 1810. In 1823 he superannuated. In 1830 he transferred to the new Georgia Conference. He died in 1837. naMie coumv St SAMUEL MSHER - Salisbury, 1791 Samuel Rlsher was appointed to the Salisbuiy Circuit in 1791. He was admitted on trial in 1792 and into full connection in 1794. He was listed as a deacon in 1794 and elder in 1796. In 1800 at the establishment of the Virginia Conference he was elected and ordained elder. He served circuits in Virginia and North Carolina. In 1805 he located. JAMES ROGERS-Presiding Elder, 1799 James Rogers was appointed Presiding Elder in 1799. He was admitted on trial in 1791 and into fUll connection in 1792. He was listed as a deacon in 1791 and as an elder in 1794. At the establishment of the Virginia Conference in 1800 he was elected and ordained elder. He preached in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He located in 1801. SAMUEL RUDDER- Yadktn Assistant, 1795 Samuel Rudder was appointed as the Yadkin Assistant in 1795. He was admitted on trial in 1790. In 1791 he was listed as a deacon and assigned to the West Indies. In 1795 he was listed as an elder. His other service was in Virginia and in the western areas. He located in 1796. ISAAC SMITH (1758 -1834) - Salisbury Assistant, 1784; Presiding Elder, 1795 Isaac Smith was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1784 and as the Presiding Elder in 1795. He was received on trial in 1784 and into fiill connection in 1786. He was listed as a deacon in 1786 and elder in 1789. Most of his service was in South Carolina and Georgia, and he was known as "the fether of Methodism" in South Carolina. He located ^ in 1795 and rejoined the South Carolina Conference in 1820. From 1823 until 1826 ' Smith was assigned to the Asbury Mission to the Creek Indians. He superannuated in 2 1827 and died in 1834. As his obituary described him, **Believing every word of God, ^ meek above the reach of provocation, and thoroughly imbued with a spirit of love and ^ devotion, he was a saint indeed." > S PEMBERTON SMITH - Yadkin, 1793 o ur> i ir- xT) <£3 O X f vr» X■ Pemberton Smith was ^jpointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1793. He was admitted on trial in 1789 and into fiill connection in 1791. He was listed as a deacon in 1791 and elder in 1794. He preached from Pittsburgh to Virginia to North Carolina and into Tennessee. He located in 1801. MocksviSle, NC SfflON SMITH ~ Yadkin, 1788; Salisbury, 1789 Sihon Smith was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1788 and the Salisbury Circuit in 1789. He was admitted on trial in 1786. In 1789 he was listed as a deacon and an elder in 1792. He located in 1791 and again in 1793. WILLIAM SPENCER - Salisbury, 1793; Presiding Elder, 1793 -1794 William Spencer was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in 1793 and Presiding Elder in 1793 and 1794. He was admitted on trial in 1789 and into foil connection in 1791, He was listed as a deacon in 1791 and elder in 1793. He was Presiding Elder of several districts. He served in Virginia and Tennessee. He located in 1796. JOHN SPROUL ( — 1793) - Salisbury Assistant, 1790 John Sproul was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1790. He was admitted on trial in 1790. He served Salisbury in western North Carolina and the Pamlico and Caswell Circuits in the eastern part of the state. He died in 1793. According to his obituary he was "a simple, honest man, who gave himself wholly to God and his work." N AOIULA SUGG - Salisbury* December, 1791 thru August, 1792 Aquila Sugg was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit from December 1791 through August 1792. He was admitted on trial in 1788 and into foil connection in 1790. He was listed as a deacon in 1791 and elder in 1792. He served in North Carolina, South Carolina, and KentuclQ^. He located in 1797. In Kentucky records he was described as '^about the medium size; of a feeble constitution; plain and neat in his dress; courteous in his mannas, and instructive in his conversation with others." LEWIS TAYLOR - Yadldm 1805 d 2 Lewis Taytor was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1805. He was admitted on trial in ^ 1801 and into foil connection in 1803. He was ordained a deacon in 1803 and elder in 1805. He located in 1807. V \r> DAVID THOMPSON - Salisbury, 1794; Yadkin, 1795 David Thonq)Son was appointed to the Salisbury Circuit in November of 1794 and to the T Yadkin Circuit in January of 1795. He was admitted on trial in 1793 and into foil ^ connection in 1795. In 1794 he was listed as a deacon and elder in 1795. In 1796 he ^ bcated. O VI ui X VJ xJ MICAIJAH TRACY - Yadkin Assistant, 1788 Micaijah Tracy was appointed as an assistant on the Yadkin Circuit in 1788. He was admitted on trial in 1786 and into fiill connectbn in 1789. He served other circuits in North Carolina as well as a circuit in the west. He located in 1791. JOHNTUNIVELL ( - 1790) - Presiding Elder, 1788 John Tunnell was appointed Presiding Elder in 1788. He was admitted on trial in 1777 and admitted in 1778. In 1781 He agreed to **preach the old Methodist doctrine." He was one of the elders ordained at the Christmas Conference in Baltimore that established the Methodist Episcopal Church. He preached in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. He died of consumption in 1790. His obituary called him a **0^ of solid piety, great simplicity, and godly sincerity." NATHANIEL WALKER - Yadkin, 1800 Nathaniel Walker was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1800. He was admitted on trial in 1796 and into full connection in 1799. He was listed as a deacon in 1799 and ordained elder in 1801. He located in 1805 as a member of the Virginia Conference. JOHN WEAVER Salisbury. 1805 John Weaver was appointed as the Salisbury Assistant in 1805. He was admitted on trial in 1805 and into &11 connection in 1807. He was ordained deacon in 1807 and elder in 1809. He served several circuits in Virginia and North Carolina and as Presiding Elder for several circuits. He located in 1821. ^ THOMAS WILKERSON (1772-1856) - Yadkin, 1799 2 Thomas Wilkerson was appointed to tte Yadkin Circuit in 1799. He was admitted on trial in 1792 and into fiill connection in 1794. He was listed as a deacon in 1794 and t ir- \n S o -3? H- \j elected elder but not ordained 1798. By 1799 he was listed as an elder. Most of his service was in the Western Conference, the Holston Conference, and the Tennessee Conference. In 1807 he located from the Western Conference and rejoined the Holston r Conference in 1827. After several years he took supernumerary relationships, occasionally taking an appointment. He superannuated in 1831, but took an appointment in Abingdon, Virginia in 1840. He died in 1856. 5") i O l- tr> I ir- vy W % o a. si THOMAS WILLIAMSON - Yadkin, 1785; Salisbury, 1786 Thomas Williamson was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1785 and the Salisbury Circuit in 1786. He was admitted on trial in 1785 and into hill connection in 1787. He was listed as deacon in 1787 and as elder in 1790. He located in 1791. HUMPHREY WOOD - Yadkin, 1796 Hunqihrey Wood was appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1796. He was admitted on trial in 1794 and into fiill connection in 1796. He was listed as a deacon in 1796 and as an elder 1799. In 1800 in connection with the establishment of the Virginia Conference, he was elected and ordained elder. He located in 1815. ANDREW YEARGEN - Yadkin, 1780 Andrew Yeargen was the first preacher appointed to the Yadkin Circuit in 1780. He was listed as an assistant in 1779 appointed to the Tar River Circuit. He disappeared fiom the North Carolina area records after 1780. Yeargen, an older man, along with his sons, purchased land in Wilkes County in 1782. In 1785 Andrew Yeargen, who then lived in South Carolina, sold the land to Reubin Ellis, anotl^r well-known Methodist circuit rider. Ellis died the next year and willed the land to his nephew, Reubin Ellis. Yeargen apparently supported those preachers who tried to ordain each other at the Fluvanna Conference of 1780 so they could administer the sacaraments. Francis Asbury, who preferred to allow Wesley to make plans for American Methodist independence, recorded some "fiiendly contention" with Andrew Yeargen about the ordinances", vdiich he recorded as a "loss of precious time." (September 17, 1880) Yeargen died in 1808 in South Carolina not connected with the Methodist conference. rmmW 58 Pastors and Presiding Elders Who Have Served Methodist Churches in Davie County Pages 60 - 63 c lU 2. w 0 i > d o h- X 4 I— vo o •o r ^ Davie County Public Library ^ Mocksville, North Carolina 3r 1 P.istops and Presiding Elders Vho Have Served Methodist Cliui'ches in Davie County 1730 c oi •»' ' f, y Cj o X n 17!^2 1733 173lt 1735 1786-3? 1733 1739 1790 1791-92 1793 179J4,-95 1796 1797 1793 1799 1300 Andrew Yeargln was appointed to Yadkin Itission which embraced all territory now coverod by iostem N. C, Conference. John Cooper> Enoch 'T^atson* George Kimble Henry Ogburn, William Carson, Lomuel Green Philip ]^rucs, John Baldwin, Jeasie Lee Presiding Elders Salisbury Clrcvilt was then organized of vjhich Davie County was a part Richard Ivcy Reuben Eilis James Tunnell Edwar-d Morris Thomas Bowen Isaac Love James Parks William Spencer Josiah Aokew Honry Hlil Lavirence Mansfiold Jamos Rogers Francis Poythrose PUBl-K": LIBRARY NO Davie County Public Library Mocksville, N. C. Presented by G6 1 <5 r <3 o j; i- iU €1 o :S X XJ X801«02 Jams8 Doutbit i803 Pbllip Bmoo l8Qlt.AlsKandsr ncCaio 1805 Tbomoa Mann X306 John Burton X807-08 Thonae L> Douglas X309>XX John aaFrai>d X3X2-X3 fefllXlam Jean X8xit.«X7 Kduard Cannon X3X3.2X Janes Pattspson X322«25 Lewis S<~:idiiioPe 1326^9 Peter Ooub 1830-32 Moses Brook X33>3U John tJesley Chllds 1835-36 Abram Penn 1337-1^0 Janss Bold l3Ul>t;U Peter Doub 18U5-U6 Josepb Ooodraan l3U7-it8 3* D. Bung>ass l%9-50 3. 0* Bunpass 1851-53 Milllam Carter 1351^55 Peter Doub 1356-57 N. H. D. Mllson 1853-59 Muna P. Bold 1360-62 tfiUloiB H. Bobbitt awif: CO. PUBLIC UBRASy MOCKSVtLLEa csL 2 o V" V> i- O a: h » 4/^ or o 3: X) X363^Ifa To ^ehQ 1867-69 WlXXiaia CX0S8 1870 Bo To Hudson X871-7I4.Ho L# Hood X875-70 Do Ro Bruton 1379-X380 Ro Go Baz^rott l83X-%Ho So BXook X385-38 HlXXioxQ Ho Bobbitt X389 Jo To Glbbs X890-93 Jo Jo Bonn X89l|.Jo Ro SoFOggS 1395^98 FFQS^ Ho Wood X899-X900 Po Jo CaFpaiiray 190a«(%Do^ Atkins X90l^07 Jo Ho Sci^oggo X906»XX To Po H&FF I9I2-X3 Plato Dia^iaza 19IU-X7 Ho Ko BoyoF X9X8-2X FFsnk SlloF 1922-26 Wo Ao HohoXX Wiiistos2^SaX®m Dlatpiot X927 W. A. Hew@lX X927«*29 Jo Ho Bamhardt X929«*33 t«o !>• Thoz^soa QAVie CO. PUBuc tmm MOCKSVIt J USif ta <c ui 2 ui cj) i s o K 1933«»36 C» Plolsons Sali8bua?y Dletzplot^ 1936«3d C« CXap]^ Elkia Distrlo^ X93d«^0 Jo@ S« Hiatt 19l^CM|2 A. Co Gibbo Zn 1939 th® Mebhedisb %i3eop©l Chixpch Sou^t the Methcxllst l^lsoopal Chureh and th® ^tho* dist Protestant Chu!*oh unitodo Thomas! llo Diatrlot 1^3*US So Taylor 19U5«1|^ Co Exooll Hoeollo 19^6*52 George Bo Clonssor 1952-59 Mo T. iUpps 1959-63 John Ho Carpor 1963-66 Ho Hox^osn Hicholson 1966- Cbarlea Bearoaii t- (/> 'ft r P »3J_ iiJ X vj Ci 3 X ^3 OAVIE CO. PUBUC PHIMW MOCKSVia^ NO Deed Information <4> 2 o >- o V- vr> I Ir- WO o 0 1 r- Page 65-75 , Davie County Public Library Mocksville, North Carolina n o ci X V '*■ '''" |i Pk«.J- M^rcL 9-^ "/7?Y ^ sf 0rnl^;Qc«X 5a^i C^oin/i //i^S-L. />(i,C.€»/70KAVU C.crv\.^^^J.. U., /79y XitJL jAjUUtJ!*^ C^V^SUMAM. y^yuwirj^ij^f^ rvL f'^SL ^ ^Pl c£^ cL ui cd o t- vn It- *£? C5 o 3: w> u> a: \J Ci- 3: ■o \oo r ... r ^ 1^ 1 -O-Vl vi \5'P~ tS A'.-lbTRACT (jF title to ihc in-oi'crlv (;i' . Ccr.inty of - - Tnwnshii) L . - Cl-'J li-- To Description; ^'..L 1 • . . .. ...... - — K ;!:"i lit' .... Di'O- ..... i'\ '.Il'ilil! 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O- Q e^rdAyAi^ A\r //tx lA/J 11 <) ^ <• • \,jtn-a-cJx£<it-~A doAiAoJ Ac). u.^Ao^-AAj^h-f^Hid^ik!) ^ JJx J^iXfy-uAxsAM/^xH eJiti i/j^/Ai Jin« idiurcL" \{UlAu^{yY^{4\{/^^d A^x^^iA^-ie-td-^xxP \vxdJj-rJyxi6l iKix^dAKftXAti-p^JlJinA ezt cUi Ai^'x^xj \^\yx -xtAC Ml ejt. d)n^yuAd^y^7 '(f< d*»-xa lo And), i; s4i & ^ittn-vA Ayxdti iWAkfLtAMh'f Ini kX oUd^ 0tiiM\-h-f<xA TAx i^X\.lvx^{lv>sCt'6'gd//tXs-A^Vi-i^-tAAyyfJijv)'<{fJl\/- Xs69 Jk i/J'^i XxdxdA ig (iJi t '^ y e Ji Ajf/ n /jK 0 / / I• OA\ji_^4y\Ay*s.afJL 2fx K.Jjll^y^kyi^ZX. $4x-i^ dX^a^^U . /.Q a g/A.n^i '{)'{tAJ di/P^iAyyd.j di/P'^iAyyd. ZMx^ ^ AttA^SGUi) d HUift^n*:5-hrTnoOiST- H 15T0P-V ' G)))-JK3aKoS.'Ste' r " V? ^fv s OS" ^ » i ^ rP ^ > IT ^f cD e r ^ ' ^it. ? - ' I ^^ ^ S, ^Ri^ ^ tM v-f i ^v5i ^ ^ ^ : 'v^ r v;: \. \ x ^^ ' V k ^ ^f ^ v.. : ^ - > «■I ^ ^ i^- i t ■^a^" l(a.,^HFT<#1. '* *<^ t:? Uj > ThU Indenture, «ade this tha Sixteenth day of October la the ye,r of our i.ord, one thousand eiehr hundred and forty, Between ArchiboU G. Garter of Da.ie County d State North Oarolina. of the one part and Rtclmond M. Pearson, Jesse A. ■^icsent, John KcRovle, Thomas Foster, Tennlson Cheshire, Mark D. Armfleld, WUllan G. Henderson, Giles «. Pearison, Arthur Neely, Nathan Ohaffin, Thomas Miller, John Clement, Daniel Duigsins, he».el Binghsm, James Reid, the presiding rider of this District, Thomas Jones, of Mocksvills Circuit, Hilary H. Tipplt, ^ or stokes Circuit, Joshua Bethel, Davidson Circuit, William W. Albea, of Rouan gCircuit ,nd William K. Jordan of'^Iredell Circuit, Trustees, J. Reid, T. Jones, - - H. H. Tic,it.J. Bethel, W. W. Albea end W. H. Jord„n to ,ct es Trustees, only so | g long as the,, shall have cherre of the cohgregaliohs ulthih eald DUtrlct nhd Clr- g y ruits .,s named above and whenever by the cmetituted authority of the Methodist Eciscopal Church, clothed with the proper powers to remove end ehall be removed! then and in that event, Reid Jones, Tipplt,Bethel, Albee and Jordan, aa aforaasld, ahall cease to act aa Truatsss, and the Praachera th,t may be, by, the nrccar authority of arid Church Directed to the charge of said congregations, and by1 Virtue of their appointment shell ect as Trueteee, while they may be in char-e .of 5 eald congregation, and to like manner, these Preachere, that may be in ccarge of said congregation, from time to time, shall aCt aa Truateea, so long only as they u .. the above named ch,.rnee, this defined. N. »• fcrson, J. A. Clcm-iot, ^ J. McRovle, T. Foeter, T. Oheehire, K. D. Armfleld. W. D. Henderson, G. W. Fear- sen, A. Heely, N. C-sffin, T. Miller, J. Ol-munt, D. Dwig-lns, L. Bingham, J. Reid, T. Jones, H. H. Tipplt. J. Bethel, W. J. Albea, and W. M. d'ordan. Trustees, aa aforeeald, in trust for the use and purpcae, hereinafter manticnad ell of the Oounlivs of Davic. Stokes, Dsvldann, Howun and frcdoll , in the State ,.rore...i<i of the other psrt, Wltnesaeth: That the ssld A. G. Carter, for and in oonaideration of the sum of One U Dollar in apeoial paid to aald Carter, at and upon the sealing and delivering of ^ tl:e38 ...resents, the receipt whereof is , ereby acknowledged, both given graneod, 2 bargained, eold.releesed, confirmed end conveyed and by thaaa presanta doth give,f grant, bargain, sell release, confirm end convey unto them the said Trustees and > their a.uccaBaora aa before defined and heretnafterward to bo defined in trust for ? the use and purposes to be mentioned and declared - all tha Eatate, right, title, E intereat, property, claim and demand whatsoever either in law or equity which he^ the aeid A. G. Garter, hath in to or upon all singular a oartaln certain Ut or 3 piece of band situated lying, and being In the County .nd State aforesaid, b.T.r.dad o r and batted as follows! to wit! 73 Pgge 2 BEGIIINIKG at a stone, running thence Korth two &, half chains to a stone, thence East five chains thirty-five linka to a stone in John Clements line, near a Read Oak, thence South with eaid Clements line two & a half chains to stone, thence West five ^ c; chains & thirty five links, to the beeininr?, containioir one Acre ^ ^ •t- Fifty F ur tiolcs. cn together with all and singular the House, Woods, Waters, Ways, privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging or in anywise pertaining to have and to hold Ju 5sll singular the above mentioned and directed Lot or fiece of Land unto them the S saia Trustees and their successors in office forever in trust that they the a,id trustees shall erect or cause to be erected and built thereon a suitable Brick Building to be known by the name of the Mocksville M^le Academy for the use of the Citizens of Mocksville and its vicinity. To be used for Littray pnd Religious rur- posea and in further trust and confidence :ind that they shall at nil times for ever hereafter elect out of their ovm body a President, Treasurer, and Secretary, the Secretary not to be of their number, if they think proper. Seven Trustees be ing present shall be a Quoram for the transaction of any business, the President, Treasurer or Secretary either or all being absent the number of the Board i.reaent ahull ui.puint officvrs pro term, .b.o to ,..lnr.t by - lows for the Board and School governing the same and in further trust and confidence they shall employ at all tines such Tutors and Teachers where moral character nnd Literacy abilities will .e sufficient to give character to the Institution. Also, to make an annual report to the North Carolina annual Confergnce of the Methodist Episcopal Church, when by said Conference they ^re requested so to do, snould the period ever roll around when there shall be no schools gnd said pre- ^ mises the Board of Trustees declining to act, then and in that event the nearest ^ Bogrd of Trustees having the charge of the nearest Methodist Church according to Z her Deed of Settlement shall take charge of said pre.nioes and keep the same for the s-p use and purposes before named so that no act of any Board of Trustees or their successors shall be sufficient to convey or take away the title that the Metho dist Episcopal Church holds in said property unless it be by the joint action first, the Board recommending and the quarterly meeting Conference of Mocksville Circuit - concurring in their recommendations, then and in that case the proceeds of said sale if sale tt.ere sliould be shall be a plied to the purposes of education, for tr.e benefit of the Citizens of Mocksville and its vicinity. And Now in Further Trust and confidence as often as anyone of the Trustees shall die or move away or refuse to actiue a Trustee so expressing himself by words ? ) Ci O i" VJ t >0- c/> Ui X o J 7 V Thia 2Ath day of November, 1884, 7" <J T, Grant ^0. S. C, Reeristered Nov. 25th, 1684 X' ^ 11' I ■' 'Uy, • -y^J t. XT ^ . ^ ' VU/^^ ' c V Ui S_! Z S !ii £2 _J ? >O. CO « 9 IjJ Pfl.ie 5 nnd actions as hereinbefore mentioned then and in that caae by a majority of the number present voting according to the item clothing the Board, with power to ,ct they may declare the seat or seats of said delinquents vacant. In filling all vecsnicea, the iresident or some one or more numbers of the Board sh^ll nominate some one for every said vacancy and the Board shall proceed by ballot, or other wise to fill the Vacancy or vacancies in the Bor,rd, conferring the selection v/ithin the limits of said noralnr,tiona so as forever to keep up the number of nine Trustees, and in ell cases of an equal division in voting, the President shall eive the casting vote. Provided nevertheless that whenever the Trustees shall as O ^ Trustees, edvcncing any sum or sums of money or becoming responsible for money on account of sold premises thereof their successors may raise said sum or sums of ^ iponey by mortgage or selling said pre iaes and in event of said sale they pre empowered to convey the Purchaser 9 fee simple Estate. In the event of a sale notice shall be given of said intended sale at least sixty days before said said sale shall take plgce and after the sale the Trustees shall pay the debt or debts they owe as Trustees the remainder shall be deposited in the hands of the record ing Stewnrt of iMocksville Circuit to be applied as before expressed. A. j. Cflrter, doth by these presents warr-nt and forever defend all and the before mentioned and described Lot or Piece of Land with all the appurtenances thereto belonging unto them the said Truste-s ond their successors chosen and appointed as aforesaid from the claim or claims of him the said Carter his heirs and assi'ns forever. In Testimony Whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the day and ye->r afore said, A. G. Garter (SEAL) Nuiirij CAROLINA, DAVIE OCHJNTI « B, Bailey being duly sworn says that he knows the handwritlne of A. P. Certertrie Maker of the within instrument having often seen nim write and that hi.^signature to the said instrument is in his own proper handwritinsr. The'ofore letthia s.vid inotrumynt be reglsLcred & also this certlflcute. «w/ qL 23 3:. cl) Mocksville Conference « M 2 u» O t o; o X »- o o i: w £ ) ^ Mocksville, North Carolina£ ' \j =4 Davie County Public Librar Pages 77-84 y pp' A.. k- vr>The presiding elders were Bennett T, Blake, R. J. Caraon, H. C. Leigh, ji- Feter Joub, Moses Brock and James Heid. The conference host was T. H. o Sharp- It has been 61 years since that m^orable meeting and no person now u> living can remember any details of the session- o Davie Co. Public ^ Wocksville, N. U mock?vil:.e conference Cuu^-f^«(Z ] The North Carolina Conference met in the court house at Mocksville, December 23rd and adjourned December 29th, 1840. Bishop Thomas A. Morris presided and S. S. Biyant was secretary. It was indeed a Christmas conference and the preachers were cavalrymen in the Lord's army, for there were no railroads and very poor dirt roads in those days, so the circuit riders came on horseback. The report shows that there were six districts , ^9 chf^rges and cmly two parsonages. The missionary reports totaled if445. The schools under conference control were the Academy of Mocksville, Glemmonsville, Sand Leasburg, and a female academy in Greensboro. The total membership was ^ ^ ^0,579, but 4»480 of these were colored. There were 116 local preachers, 60 traveling preachers, 46 of whom were married, it was said the single preachers were more popular th^n the married ones, as is even the case in 9 ^ some quarters in these times. Among the prominent preachers who attended were Moses Brock, Peter Doub, James Reid, D. fi. Nicholson, W. E. Pell, S. D. Bumpass, John E. Edwards, John W. Lewis, Bennett T. Blake, Ira T. Wyche and Robert P. Bibb. ^ James Reid, Peter Doub and Moses Brock, all of whom were presiding ^ elders, were the outstanding leaders of the conference. The minutes report ^ that "John T. Brame, John Tillett, Gaston E. Brown, Wilbur H. Barnes. O ^ I"^haffin and John Rial^ere severly examined before being received into oiO the conference and elected deacons." S. 0. B\mipas5was elected elder. 3 ^ U o ^ ui I 11 ■«: 2 O h- V"V 43 o ? 5: «J ai XJ The conference again met with the Mocksville Methodist Church, December 7 and adjourned December 12, 1864, during the darkest days of the Civil War. Mocksville had hardly more than 300 inhabitants and was twenty miles from Salisbury, the nearest railroad point* '"iany of the preachers arrived on horseback, and those who came by rail to Salisbury were met there with vehicles, mostly wagons, and brought over the rough roads to Mocksvi].Je. Bishop Early was unable to attend and David B, Nicholson was elected president and ^'^r, Braxton Bailey, one of the local church pillars, said he presided with the grace and dxgnity of the vice-president at Washington. The presiding elders were Chas. F. Deems, Feter Joub, Numa F. rteid, William Barringer, -^ra, T. W^che, L. L. Hendren, William H. Bobbitt and David B. Micholson. R. G. Barrett was the Mocksville pastor and conference host. C. C. Dodson, V. Sherrill and W. C. Willson were continued on : trial. Calvin Plyler and J. D. Buie were admitted into full connection. % T. J. Gattis, T. L. Troy and A. R. Haven were ordained deacons; E. A. '"J fates, W. M. Rob^, V?. H. Moore were ordained elders. 5- r. OSome of the appointments may new be interesting: Mocksville, Carson ^ Parker; Greensboro, J. W. Tucker ; Forsjrth, C. C. Dodson; Trinity and o High Point, J. R. Brooks; South Guilford, N. H. V^ilson; iSalisbur-y, A. W. Mangum; Iredell, John Tillett; Warre® T. B. Kingsbury; Raleigh, B. Craven; >- Person, P. J. Carraway; Wilmington, i*. S. Burkhead; Sampson, W. M. Hobe^; or' Montgomery, F. A. Wood. Eleven preachers were appointed chaplains in the w X army, among whom were J. Q. Buie, A. D. Betts, R. S. Webb, C. Plyler, C. M. Pepper and W. H. Moore, the latter then a young man sent by Davie to mininter to her boys at the front. The total membership wars 37,986, of which 11,142 were colored. 7? KTt <=» O X i" I o> ai X o ct X dJ Among the interesting characters at this session was rtev* Dr» it. S* Moran> one of the high-steeple preachers of the conference. He was an Irishman, a bachelor, a scholar and an orator of wonderful power; but lacking plain tact and worldly wisdon, he was unable to adapt himself to plain surroundings, was always immaculately dressed in contrast with most of the preachers. It is an old conference story, the remark which Koran made once to Dr. Gloss, that he changed his linen daily and the quick retort of Gloss, that he " was thankful that he was not so filthy." ')r. Koran was not .generally popular with his brethem, though he commanded their high respect. V/hen the Mocksville fo]ks with magons met the preachers at Salijbury, Mo^an saidr "J- will not ride in a wagon if i have to pay ®100 for a carriage," while Gloss took a sea.t in the wagon as a matter of course. During the session Dr. Numa F. Reid referred to the conference trunk and Dr. Koran asked "V/hy don't you call it bureau?" Reid replied, "That ^ ct would do for the North, but we of the South have had sufficient experience with bureaus." ^ ^ si A young "sky scraping" preacher from the iast was put up to preach c- ^ 8 oone night and he used flowery language and muc: poetry. Dr. Gloss was ^ S ui I o -i to conclude the service. He was so displeased with the mannerisms and 5 CL^ affected style of the preacher that he whipsered to Brother Barrett, the ^ conference host, "Get Moran to close, that it all maybe of a piece." 2 Sunday night Moran preached a labored sermon to prove the divinity of o Ghrist to a congregation that never doubted that Christ was the Son of God. Dr. Moran l^ter went to New Tork and became a Congregationalist, I think, and died many years later. Dr. Numa F. Reid was perhaps the most ixjpular and influential member of the conference at that time. Ti it was hard times in the South in 1864* The people had learned the lessons of self-denial. The church was lighted with tallow candles. Rufus Clement, the colored sexton of the church, was an uncle of the present Bishop Gee. C. Clement of the a. M. ii. Zion Church, who it will be recalled was fraternal delegate from his dencxnination ot our General Conference at Asheville in 1910. TEMPERANCE Methodism has always been a foe of the liquor traffic, for in the early- days when the drink evil had strong defenders in respectable circles our leaders occupied the front line of opposition. The advanced position taken by them was not popular, but it was right and they stood for the right, until it was so populat thst the American nation gave its approval by writing into the organic Inv of the land prohibition in all territory over which floats the Stars and Stripes. ^ The following resolutions were passed by a Salisbury circuit quarterly- conference held by Peter Doub ninety-two years ago and make interesting reading now: %"Resolved that inasmuch as it is the duty of those who labor among ue ^ o in the ministry, whether traveling or local, to warn their congregations ^ i4 ^ against the debasing t.nd sinful practice of intoxication; therefore we, ^ 6 S o the manbers of this quart rly conference, pledge to use our influence to o ^ O banish the use of distilled spirits, except in case of necessity or when ^ » o -y prescribed by a physician of skill and probity. We deem it also proper i- ^ and therefore recommend to our brethren that they should as a body, one k and all, refuse to partake of any treat given by candidates for the ^ General Assembly, for Congress or for any other appointment, whether such o ac V' treat be given on the ground at the time of the election or afterwards. iU> X u "We further pledge ourselves, thai afl other tilings be:ng eoual, we will support, and severally recommend it to others to support, those for ^ public office, who entirely abandon the practice of t'-eating, in preference ■cJ -26 to those who continue the prHctice." This protest against the monster evil was seiUningly ^inheeded for many years, but the preachers in their effort to ovei-come the evil went forward step by step until legislation was stronger and more rigid was enacted, until finally the worm of the still was flattened and the miserable traffic and use of alcohol completely outlawed by the nation* But it was a long and bitter strugle in which men who possessed the martyr spirit, men of the type of Peter Doub, Koses Brock and John Tillett, by courage and faith when the way was dark, fought on until the breaking of the day, and while they did not live to see the final triumph,it was because they and men like them lived and preached and helped to arouse a public conscience, which at last repudiated the whole business. <^UNDAY SCHOOLS ^%ny parents in these times are afraid the children will turn against the church if they are required to spend more than forty minutes a week in the sanctuary. They used to keep them at it all day Sunday, and at ^ the -uarterly conference held in IS/.S the brethren protested against g ^ such long sessions of the Sunday School on the ground that it was really ^ -1 —j too wearisome to the children. The conference delivered itself in the » ^ "2 o ofollowing words: ^ o "On ordinary occasions the Sunday School shall not r»ii.n in session ^ i above three hours, for we are fully convinced that where weariness commences instruction ceases and many of our schools have been injured by being kept in session from morning uptil evening. We are also satisfied that the most successful way of communicating religious instru ction is catechetically; and that the time specified, three haurs, is ^ simply sufficient for that purpose." In these days the Sunday School children must have been glad when preaching day came, because of the variety it ga.e to their worship, for a ttif- O i- m X <9 O £ v> UD X cs: X % r- you may be sure their stem parents made thesn stay for church# But, alas, it is different now, when two million Methodist adults on their way to church meet two million Methodist children on the way home from Sunday School QUARTERAGE Those who have rendered the greatest service to mankind have been least appreciated in their day. Preachers and teachers have generally been forced to struggle against poverty, while those who profit by their seinrice often enjoy great material pi'osperity. V/e pree.chers sometimes think we have a hard time when support is meagre, but the poorest paid missionary in the conference today enjoy comforts that the early circuit riders would have counted it a great privilege to possess# As late as 1840 there were but two parsonages in the old North Carolina Conference. The early preachers received hardly any cash; most of their pay was in kind: socks, bacon, corn, molasses, jeans, etc. Think of Chas. l-edhetter in 1795 at Seal's church, ten miles from the present town of Mocksville, in answer to the question, What has been paid for the suprort of the ministry? reporting "one pair socks is the total due to dattf.;'* & On Mocksville circuit at the quarterly conference held in June, 1865,ai o just after the Civil War when all of Davie county was embraced in one pastoral charge, the i^estion was called. What has been collected to defray the expenses a: 2 . O of the circuit and how distributed? and the answer was: 11* bushels of com, - 2 11 bushels wheat, 7^ bushels rye, 109 pounds bacon, 6^^ po'onds flour, one gallon o in molasses, paid to the preacher in charge. But that was at a time when the South was prostrated just after the con clusion of the war. The people were poor and jj^gjouraged, without money and & o ^ with only limited food which they shared with the preacher. "Such as they had gave they unto him." At Olive Branch near Farmington, at the .quarterly c nference held March r £ o 16, 1816, the total aunount reported from 20 preachintj appointments on Salisbury circuit was ■37-9i+ and it was applied as follows; $6.1? to Edward Cannon, presiding elder, for salary and travel expenses, and $20 to Bowen Reynolds, the preacher in charge, while the balance of fll.81 was turned into the surplus fund. They were certainly ski]led in the art of finance. The laymen knew how to run the church economically and the preachers had of necessity to practice the most rigid self-denial to avoid being in debt to the point of embarrassment to themselves or to others. At the first quarterly confernnce in Salisbury in I846, William Rowzer, John J. Bell and William Overman, the committee appointed to confer with the preacher in charge as to his family needs, reported $16.00 a month as the amount necessary. Bishop Asbury, great man that he was, never stressed the grace of liberality, but rather encouraged the idea of poor pay on the grounds, as he thoroughly believed, that it would attract to the ministry those only who were genuninely calleo to preach and poor pay to the preachers would aid in developing the beautiful grace of humanity. Then, too, the people < ccwould have no ground for saying they were prenching for money. But he § z was willing and did endure as great hardships as he asked his preachers ^ ^ _j " CO1 ■ . 0 >to endure. No man ever endured more of hardships for the good of his ^ ^ ^ o g2 fellows than did Francis Asbury. But in preaching the doctrine of poor ^ g; lit ll) >^ pay for the preachers he strangled the benevolent spirit among the people g U and the church has ever since been forced to magnify the call for money o ^ for missions, for schools, for churches and a better paid ministry. This "C cC task would have been easier if Asbury (conscientious saint that he was; o had not used his influence for too rigid economy. But the people have o y grown wonderfully in ability to pay since his time and have grown likewise in the grace of liberality. Great changes have come since those early days. Those old preaching ^ places. Seal's, ^taker's, and Olive Branch, have long since been abandoned and Farmington, Wesley Chapel, Smith Grove, Center, Liberty, Concord, Bethlehem, and Advance with various other churches more recently built afford opportunity for present day worship- The vast circuit once supplied by Andrew Yeargan is now cohered by \ six presiding elder districts and the small f^rt of it which is now confined to Davie county includes six pastoral charges—Advance, Cooleemee, Famington. Davie, W-.st Davie, and Mocksville, with a combined membership of 3!,000 with twenty-one church buildings valued at dl20,0Cl, and while we have not grown in liberality as much as we should, these charges last year paid for all purposes about 422,000, which is a vast growth over the amount Andrew Yeargan reported. What would he think if he could come 'back and see the wonderous growth of a great church of nearly 120,000 members, church property worth six and a half millions, with annual contributions amounting to one and three-quarter million dollars, all in territory which was once his circuit? ^ o uJ Davie Co, Public Libiar) o v ir> Ca O ■r f ■.\j ■ tjj X. is:. a «Mocksvilie, N. C. w 1-3