Churches: Contributors to North East M. E. Church and Historical Sketch from The Cecil Whig, Elkton, 1882: Cecil Co., MD Transcribed and contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cyndie Enfinger < cyndiee@tampabay.rr.com > ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Cecil Whig Saturday, January 21, 1882 List of Contributors We give below a list of the names of the contributors to the fund for the repairs and rebuilding of the church. The M. E. Church being eminently the church of the people, a glance at this list will show the reader that the North East Church maintains this distinctive feature. The contributors come from a large number of persons, representing nearly every family in the neighborhood, constituting it really a church of the people, in which they all have a personal interest, and not the production of any one man or set of men. The names of the builders of this beautiful edifice are as follows: Anderson Miss E Little Minnie Anderson Arthur Lynch Wm H Angle Mary Lambert Mrs J A Arrison J W Lambert Ida Ashton Thomas Lambert Laura Arnet Joseph Little Charles Aldridge Sarah R Lamin Charles Abrams Theodore Lambert J A Anderson John B Lowe Emory Anderson Andrew Lammey Levi Armstrong Walter Lort Joseph Alexander William H Lort Mrs Joseph Alexander H S Lumm Jesse L Armstrong F H Lowe E G Bryan Frank Lowe H C Billings Miss Lytle John R Biddle Charles Lambert R C Burke Mrs Mary Lynch Professor Beatty Annie Little James Beatty Master Arthur Lort Isaac F Bryson Mrs C Lort Thomas Burke Henry Mauldin Mrs John Bennett Frank Mearns Mrs Bennett Amanda Murray Mrs Henry Bryan Annie E Meekins T Bayard E L Manly Mrs N F Bayard Mrs Charles McCracken J H Bayard Charles McCracken Ruth Bryson C McCracken L?la Biddle Isaiah McCracken Annie Brown Mrs Eliza Murry Belle Bryson -- Meekins Mary Benjamin I N and wife McDowell Wm K Boyd Charles Meekins Mrs John Brown Miss R Moore Mrs Geo Benjamin Georgie Montgomery John Browne Mrs N M Matlack Rev L C Blake F H Moore George Beatty William Murray Henry Barnes H W Mearns Mrs C Beatty C E Mearns Charles Bland J Morgan Dunbar Crouch John and wife Murray Rev W L S Campbell Jennie McCullough Iron Co Campbell Geo B Moke John Campbell James Moke Mary Cosden G W Mearns Sophia Crouch Mrs R L Mackinson Mary Chambers Mrs McCracken Bros Coslett Abram Merrey Wm Chambers Benjamin Murray Mrs W L S Chineworth Mrs McDaniel Delaplaine Coslett William McDaniel Mrs T C Clayton Mrs Harry Minker W H Campbell Jacob McCracken R J Clark William Moore J L Coslett J H Mauldin S B Clayton Harry C McDaniel J L Carpenter J M Mathews James H Cameron R N McGuirk G E Carroll A M Minker W T Campbell Nora Minker Geo W Choir of the Church Montgomery G L Cordes H B Mearns Stephen Deford I S Painter & Co Deford B Perkins John Deford George Po? Edgar Drummond Amos Reichler J Drummond L Roach Joseph Dick George H Rutter John A D?aves Charles Rose E Dunlap John Rose T V Drummond Matthew Roach J L Dean Israel Ricard M Drummond E S Rowe Henry Drummond F F Reed Joseph T Drummond John L Rambo Wm Davis Abel J Rutter Mrs A Dean William Reeder & Drummond Dean I R Russell Mrs M A Davis W W Roney W E Day S B Ricard R Deford Stuart Rutter J Alex Devinney John Roney James Ellis F A Reeder S J Ferguson Mary J Remmey J B Ferguson Eliza Reed Thomas Ford Miss N Reynolds Gilbert Ford R R Reedy Patrick Ford L V Reynolds Sylvester Ford James Sheppard Irvie Ford Mary E Sheppard Miriam Foster John Sheppard Bertie Foster Harry Sheppard Emma Ferguson J Scott Stranger Ford Charles Simpers Mrs J W Ford Charles F Simpers C R Ford Alfred Simcoe Elizabeth Ford Charles Squiers Mrs Washington D C Sturgeon A A Ford John Stover Frank Foster John I Stout Jos T Falls J W Stout Clara Foreacre James R Simcoe T McC Ford Sallie Simpers Ed Findlay H Simpers Jesse H George Jennie Simpers J F Gilbert Thomas M Sheppard Rev C F Gorrell Patrick Scotten R J Groves P W Scotten Samuel Gibney J W Simpers J W and wife Grant James J Sturgeon S Grant Summerfield Squier C Gilbert F M Scotten Wm Gardy George W Simcoe J S Gardy Henry Simpers C W and wife Hale? J B Simpers Allie Horad Fenton Simpers Jesse Haney W S Simcoe J B Hoffman W C Shallcross Hiram Hawley B Stackhouse W K Haley Charles Simcoe Geo Hammond Ruth Simpers Johnson Harkness W Simpers Chas Haines Reuben Simpers Jno Hammond W Thomas Tome Jacob Hammond Mrs W T Thomas Rev T Snowden Harvey George Thomas Samuel Heisler Colonel Thomas Richard L Hitchcock J T Thomas Martha Housekeeper Dr P H Thomas Emma Jones Wm J Thomas Fannie L Jackson Mrs E Thomas Henrietta Jackson Edward Thomas Joseph M Jackson Wm T Taylor Geo Jamar Dr J R Tyre P P Johnson Frank Torbert H R Jefferis Budd White Mrs Elizabeth Jefferis Edward Whitaker Mrs Cecil Jefferis F S West Miss Mary Johnson James White Marchel Jefferis G S Whitaker Price Jefferis Granville West Harlan Jefferis Frank West Martha Kyle William and wife Woolley Benjamin Kyle Master West H M Kyle Pusey Williams L G Kline Victoria West M C Kemp Edward West M S Kline Jacob Wilson George Kyle C West Jesse Koller S S & Co Phila Wright Ex-Sheriff Lowman Mrs B Veasey Joseph Lammey Sarah Yeamans E Little M A Yost John E Little Ella HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE M. E. CHURCH AT NORTH EAST. That great revival of apostolic Christianity, popularly styled Methodism, which distinguished the eighteenth century, was inaugurated in the city of London, near the close of 1739, under the labors of Bros. John and Charles Wesley, Geo. Whitefield, and their associates, most of whom were accomplished graduates of Oxford University and ordained priests of the Established Church of England. Their preaching seemed like a new evangel, so generally had the clergy lost sight of the spiritual experimental truths of Revelation. Though denounced, ridiculed, and persecuted, they were persistent in zeal and indefatigable in labors. Their societies rapidly multiplied through England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The first Societies in America were gathered in the year 1766, in the city of New York, by Philip Embury, and in Frederick county, Md., by Robert Strawbridge, both Irish emigrants, and members of the Societies before leaving their country. The first visit of a Methodist preacher to North East, of which we have ever heard, was that of the Rev. George Whitefield, one of the most eloquent and overwhelming orators, as well as one of the most devoted, untiring, and successful evangelists the world has ever seen. His journal records “Dec. 3, 1739, I preached at North East; but little notice having been given, three were only about 1,500 persons present; but God was with us, and I observed many were deeply affected.” He was then a young man of twenty-eight, and was on his way on horseback from Philadelphia to Savannah, Ga., where in his previous visit, he had founded a Home for Orphans. In his ardent zeal to proclaim to all the world the Gospel, he had proved to be the power of God to his personal salvation, he crossed the stormy Atlantic nine times, when the best boats were sailing vessels, which usually required nearly three months in crossing, the last time to fall at his post, in Newburyport, Mass., Sept. 30, 1770. As North East has always been on the direct line of travel between the cities of Philadelphia and Baltimore, it is highly probable that the early itinerants frequently stopped to preach to the villages and thus prepared the way for forming a Society here. In the Spring of 1788, the name “Cecil Circuit” appears in the Conference Minutes on the roll of appointments for the time. The territory included in this charge was very extensive, extending from Turkey Point on the south to near Lancaster on the north, and from the Susquehanna on the west to some distance into Delaware on the east. The preachers first sent were John Smith and George Wells, with Richard Whatcoat as Presiding Elder. Mr. Smith was a native of Kent county, Md., in the 30th year of his age and the fourth of his ministry. After many years of faithful and efficient service as an itinerant and a few years of retirement, he died in Chestertown, Md., in 1812, in his 55th year. His dust sleeps at Hinson’s Chapel. His dying words were: “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly; take my enraptured soul away; I am not afraid to die; I long to be dissolved, and see my Saviour without a dimming veil between; Death has lost his sting” Of Mr. Wells, we have not been able to find any further information. At the close of their year’s labor on Cecil Circuit, they report to Conference a membership of 257 whites and 252 colored. The Presiding Elder, the Rev. Richard Whatcoat, a native of England, was one of the two elders ordained by Mr. Wesley for the American work, and who accompanied Bishop Coke to his county on his first visit, in 1784. He was one of the saintliest of men and preached with wonderful displays of Devine fervor. Sixteen years later, in May, 1880, he was himself elected and consecrated Bishop. The precise date at which the first Society was formed in North East, we are unable to ascertain, but such was its strength in six years after the formation of the circuit, that an acre of ground was bought on which to erect their first church edifice. The deed, bearing date Oct. 25, 1794, was from Jacob Jones to Wm. Howell, John George, David Sweazey, Jacob Jones, John Ford, Robert Hart, and Samuel Aldridge, for the sum of £10, about $50, “in trust for the Society of religious people called Methodists and their successors forever.” Messrs. Howell, Hart, and George had been vestrymen of the old Parish Church, and with their associates were land-holders and doubtless leading men in the community. The preachers at this time were Benjamin Abbott and Frederick Carp. Mr. Abbott was one of the most remarkable men of early Methodism. “It is probable,” says Stevens, “that no Methodist laborer of his day reclaimed more men from abject vice. He seldom preached without visible results, and his prayers were overwhelming.” June 5, 1795, Bishop Asbury preached at North East, “in the frame of a house that is just begun, to a number of sinners, and twice on the following Monday.” In 1800, the original lot was vacated, and has ever since been used as a cemetery. The building was removed to the main road through the village and nearly opposite the Parish Church. The intervening five years had been very prosperous. From ’97 to 1800, Wm. Hunter had resided in the village and preached upon the circuit. (To Be Continued) ------------ Cecil Whig Saturday, February 4, 1882 Historical Sketch of the M. E. Church at North East Continued The preachers appointed to Cecil Circuit from 1789 to 1795 were as follows: George Moore and Benjamin Roberts, Emory Prior and Walter Fountain, Joseph Wyatt and John Beard, Robert Sparks and James Wilson, Benjamin Abbott and Frederick Carp. The district was called the Philadelphia District, and Richard Whatcoat and Joseph Everett were the Presiding Elders. A few items only have we been able to gather respecting these earnest, devoted, and successful heralds of salvation. George Moore was a Delawarean, converted under the preaching of the eminent Free-born Garrettson, in 1778. “He was useful in planting and building up Methodism on the Peninsula for some twelve years.” Emory Prior was a native of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and most strikingly illustrated the graces of the true Christian character. “His temper and spirit were a beautiful comment of the apostolic injunction-‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus our Lord.’” Joseph Wyatt, a native of Delaware, began to preach in 1780 and continued some seventeen years, when ill health obliged him to retire. “His sermons were short, but composed of the best materials, and delivered in the most pleasing manner.” Toward the close of his life, he resided in Annapolis, and was chaplain to the State Legislature. Benjamin Abbott, who was appointed to the circuit in 1793-95, was one of the most remarkable men of early Methodism. “Uneducated, rough, rude even in speech and manner, his fervid piety and his genial human sympathy made his weather-worn features glow as with a divine light and entuned his voice with a strange, a magnetic, an irresistible pathos and power. He led a divine life on earth, walking with God, like Enoch, from day to day; and the hardiest and most ruffian men, who came within his presence, the clamorous rabble that frequently crowded his congregations, fell back or sank prostrate before him, seeing his face as it had been the face of an angel; and if they attempted, as they often did, to escape by the doors or the windows, his voice would sometimes smite them down like lightning. His Preaching in Philadelphia. Having to preach in St. George’s Church, Philadelphia, the impression of his opening prayer was so extraordinary, that no preaching was possible after it. “The power of the Lord,” he writes, “descended on the people in such a manner that some fell to the floor under the operation thereof; the cry of mourners and other joyful acclamations of Christians were so great that I could not be heard. I left the pulpit without attempting to preach, and went among the mourners, praying for and admonishing them.” “Wherever he went, the whole community for miles around was stirred to its obscurest depths. Few, if any, however indifferent about matters of religion, could if within ten miles of his routes, remain undisturbed.” His favorite theme was sanctification, preaching it on all occasions and in all congregations, and what was best of all, living it.” He was an innocent, holy man, and was seldom heard to speak anything but about God and religion-a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Previous to his conversion he had been a hero in the service of the Devil, afterwards he became a veteran in the service of God. His health failed at the close of his term on Cecil Circuit, an in about a hear he passed from labor to reward, dying as he had lived, shouting glory, glory to the Lamb. Joseph Everett, Presiding Elder 1790-93, was a native of Queen Anne’s county, Md. “He was a man of unique character, exhaustless energy, profoundest piety, and extraordinary success. For thirty years he thundered the truth through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. He was rough-spoken, but direct, fearless and faithful in rebuking sin, while the rich promises of the Gospel to penitent sinners dropped from his lips like honey from the honey- comb.” A hearer describes him when seventy ears old, “as a venerable-looking man, of a noble and majestic appearance, the largest man I ever beheld. He preached with authority and power.” He died in 1809, in his 78th year, with shouts of glory on his lips. Such were some of the early preachers who preached the Gospel in North East during the first seven years after the organization of Cecil Circuit. They were men who had passed through the great spiritual change, which the divine Teacher terms the new birth. Deeply convicted of their condition as lost sinners and of their guilt as voluntary transgressors, they had sought by earnest prayer and sincere repentance and humble faith, the pardoning mercy and renewing grace, which was offered in the Gospel. The transition from a pungent sense of guilt and danger to a joyous assurance of the Divine favor and a consciousness of the renewal of the soul and righteousness, was great indeed, and his blessed experience they offered to all, believing that Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. The Growth of the Society. In the Spring of 1795 Isaac Robinson and James Moore were appointed to Cecil Circuit. In the preceding year, under the powerful ministrations of Benjamin Abbott, the Society in North East had been greatly strengthened; a lot of ground for building a church had been secured, and hthis year is was probably finished. Bishop Asbury preached at Heart’s meeting house, October 15, 1791, and “spent the evening with my dear son, Daniel Sheridin, at the North East forge.” In 1796 Christopher Spry was Presiding Elder, and William Hunter and Fredus Aldridge the preachers. Mr. Spry began his intinerant career in Somerset county, Md., in 1787. He spent two years in New England, aiding Jesse Lee in planting Methodism in that quarter. Here he was esteemed for his excellent Christian and ministerial character. “He was a tall, plain man; a sound and useful preacher.” Mr. Hunter was born in Ireland, 1755, and was converted and joined the Methodists in 1779. After preaching in his own country for some eleven years, he came to America, landing at Wilmington, Del., Aug 1, 1790, and was received into the Philadelphia Conference in 1793. He was a faithful man and successful in his work. In 1797-8 Mr. Hunter had for his colleague Zebulon Kankey. He, with Fredus Aldridge, had been to New England, but had now returned. He was a native of New York, and located in 1798, after itinerating six years. In 1798 Thomas Ware was Presiding Elder, and Wm. Hunter was returned for the third year. The next year the preachers were Thomas Jackson and Wm. P. Chandler. Mr. Ware was a native of New Jersey, and became one of the most distinguished of the preachers of that day, during a ministry of forty years. Soon after his appointment to the district, a great revival began, “embracing all classes, governor, judges, lawyers, statesman, old and young, rich and poor, including many of the African race, who adorned their profession by a well- ordered life and some by a triumphant death.” At a quarterly meeting for Cecil Circuit some twenty or thirty professed conversion and joined the church. From this the fire spread to the south, and soon the whole Peninsula was in a flame of revival,” “Thousands, of all ranks, were drawn to the meetings and spent days together in acts of devotion, apparently forgetful of their temporal concerns.” More than ever, the whole night was employed, both in the church and private houses, in prayer for penitents and in rejoicing with those who had obtained an evidence of pardon, or were reclaimed from their backslidings. Mr. Chandler was a most efficient colaborer in this great work. (To Be Continued.) Cecil Whig Saturday, February 25, 1882 (continued.) Number IV. In 1800, the Presiding Elder was J. Everett; the preachers, Daniel Crouch and David James. The General Conference met in Baltimore in May of this year and divided the entire field in to seven Annual Conferences, one of which was the Philadelphia conference, whose territory included the States of New Jersey and Delaware, with nearly all of Pennsylvania east of the Susquehanna river, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. The Philadelphia District included Cecil Circuit. In the following list of Cecil Circuit preachers, the Presiding Elders are only names as a change is made, and the preachers as their successive terms occur: 1801 – James Lattomus and Lonther Taylor. 1802 – Thomas Ware, Presiding Elder; A. Foster, G. Moore, and John Wiltbank. 1803 – Chesapeake District, Christopher Sprye, Presiding Elder; Ed. Larkius, T. Everard, and D. Best. 1804 – Wm. Colbert, Presiding Elder; R. Sneath and Daniel Ireland. 1805 – Soloman Sharp, Presiding Elder; R. Sneath and William Early. 1806 – Joseph Aydelotte and Wm. Fox. 1807 – Asa Smith and Thomas Walker. 1808 – Wm. P. Chandler, Presiding Elder; Wm. McLenahan and Thomas Baring. 1809 – Richard Sneath, Presiding Elder; Asa Smith and George Sheets. This year the circuit is called Bohemia Circuit. 1810 – Jas. Smith, Presiding Elder; Thos. Smith and G. Sheets. 1811 – James Aikens and Wm. Torbert. 1812 – John McCloskey, Presiding; James Aikens and Thomas Miller. 1813 – James Moore and Thomas Miller. 1814 – Thomas Miller and John Price. 1815 – Henry Boehm, Presiding Elder; J. Goforth and Samuel P. Levis. 1816 – John Sharpley and Edward Stout. 1817 – John Sharpley and Daniel Ireland. 1818 – William Torbert and John Woolson. 1819 – Willaim Bishop, Presiding Elder; the same circuit preachers. This year Rock Run first appears in the Minutes as a separate charge, with 86 white and 6 colored members, and John Goforth as the preacher. 1820 – Samuel J. Griffith and Thomas Miller. 1821 – S. J. Griffith and Daniel Fidler. 1822 – John Smith and William Lummus. 1823 – T. Ware, Presiding Elder; William Rider and Jesse Thompson. 1824 – William Rider and James Long. 1825 – Joseph Lybrand, Presiding Elder; T. Miller and John Tally. In 1826, North East was transferred to Strasburg Circuit, with H. Boehm and W. W. Wallner as preachers. Cecil Whig Saturday, May 20, 1882 Preachers Appointed to North East from April, 1835, to March 1870. At the Conference held in April, 1835, the circuit was named north East, as Port Deposit was set apart as a station, with J. V. Potts in charge. North East circuit was supplied by Pennel Coombs and Christopher J. Crouch,* with Matthew Sorin,* Presiding Elder. 1836-7 – Pennel Coombs; David Dailey, Presiding Elder. 1837-9 – Edward Kennard.* 1839-40- Wilmington district, J. W. Pierson*; Henry White,* Presiding Elder. 1840-42- John Henry* 1842-44- William K G??ntner. 1844-46- J. Humphries,*; D. Lamdin,* Presiding Elder. 1846-48- P. J. Cox; J. Smith, Presiding Elder. 1848-50- J. W. Arthur.* 1850-51- W. W. McMichael and J. F. Boone. 1851-52- J. F. Boone and J. M. King. 1852-54- Levi Storks;* A. Atwood, Presiding Elder. 1854-55- J. Shields and T. B. Miller; T. J. Thompson,* Presiding Elder. 1855-57- T. Sumption* and R. L. Collier. 1857-58- E. Gilroy, E. T. Kenney; Wm. Urie,* Presiding Elder. 1858-60- S. M. Cooper and J. M. Hinson. 1860-61- J. A. Brindle. 1861-63- John Allen; J. Mason, Presiding Elder. 1863-65- W. E. England. 1865-66- J. L. Houston; J. Cunningham, Presiding Elder. 1866-68- J. O’Neill. 1868-70- T. L. Poulson. * Deceased.