Rowan-Davie-Iredell County NcArchives News.....The Churches of Rowan January 6, 1881 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Glinda Edmonds GDVEdmonds@aol.com March 10, 2010, 2:50 pm The Carolina Watchman January 6, 1881 ROWAN COUNTY ____________ By J.R. ____________ THE CHURCHES OF ROWAN ____________ The early settlers of Rowan county were religious people, and in many instances the enjoyment of perfect liberty of conscience was the great object which they were seeking when they were making for themselves a home in the western world. The poor Palatines had endured much suffering in their home on the Rhine, and been driven forth to seek a shelter for their families in foreign lands. They, or their descendants, found a resting place in eastern Rowan. The Scotch Irish fled from the north of Ireland, in consequence of disabilities imposed on them for the sake of their religion. They found a home in the fertile lands of western Rowan. And with them they brought an intense love for their own peculiar doctrines and forms of worship. PRESBYTERIANISM IN ROWAN is older than the organization of the county, not only in the affections, and doctrines of the settlers, but in the form of organized Presbyterian Congregations. On pages of 46 and 47 of the first volume of deeds in the Register’s office, we find it recorded that, on the 17th of January, 1753, John Lynn and Naomi Lynn gave a deed for twelve acres of land, more or less, on Jas. Cathey’s line, in Anson county “to a congregation belonging to Ye Lower meeting house, between the Atking River and Ye Catabo-Do. adhering to a minister licensed from a Presbytery belonging to the old Synod of Philadelphia.” This deed was witnessed by Edward Cusick, John Gardiner and Wm. Brandon. On the 18th of January, 1753, a similar deed for twelve acres more, “on James Cathey’s north line,”was conveyed to the same congregation. From this we learn that there was an organized congregation of Presbyterians at this point, capable of purchasing land, and its popular name was the “Lower Meeting House.” The second name by which it was known was “Cathey’s Meeting House,” doubtless because in the neighborhood of the Catheys. Its third and presend name, was Thyatira. Whether it was an organized church, with its regularly ordained elders, at that early day, we have no means of determining. It is probable that some of the first settlers, the Catheys, Brandons, Burs, Andrews, Grahams or Nesbits were ordained elders before leaving Pennsylvania, and exercised their office in planting a church near their new houses. A second thought suggested by the name, “Lower Meeting House,” is that there was at that date an “Upper Meeting House,” or perhaps more than one. The “Upper” one would naturally be looked for higher up the principal streams - the Yadkin and Catawba - and was no doubt to be found in the settlement where Statesville was afterwards built, and which was afterwards divided into the three churches of Fourth Creek, (Statesville) Concord, and Bethany. These four churches of Rowan, with the seven churches of Mecklenburg, constituted the twelve historical churches of Western North Carolina, whose boundaries were defined, and whose organization was completed by the missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Spencer and McWhorter, in 1764. The latter is the date generally assigned as the time of their organization, but most of them are really a dozen, or perhaps twenty years old, or contemporaneous with earliest settlement. From the history of Fourth Creek church written by Rev. E.F. Rockwell, we learn that Fourth Creek was gathered into a congregation at least as early as 1751, and their place of worship was fixed upon as early as 1756. The Rev. John Thompson came into this region as early as 1751, and settled near Centre church. He preached at Fourth Creek, and various other stations in Rowan county for about two years, and it is said the people came 20 to 25 miles to his appointments. “From the Davidson settlement and the region of Beattie’s Ford, they came; from Rowan, the Brandons the Cowans, the Brawleys. Sometimes he baptised a score of infants at once.” He had one preaching station near where Third Creek church is, one at Morrison’s Mill, one near the present site of Davidson college. As Cathey’s Meeting House (Thyatira) was established about this time, or earlier, no doubt John Thompson preached at that place also. From a manuscript map of Fourth Creek Congregation, drawn up by Hon. William Sharpe in 1773, it appears that there were one hundred and ninety six heads of families, of one hundred and eleven different names residing within ten miles of Fourth Creek church, and belonging to the congregation. The number of persons at the usual estimate of five to a family, would be nearly one thousand. Out of these were formed in later days, the churches of Fourth Creek, Concord, Bethany, Shiloh, Bethesda, Third Creek, Fifth Creek, Tabor and Clio, or parts of them, now numbering 1097 members. But though these were in Old Rowan, they are now in Iredell county. Cathey’s or Thyatira is the Mother church of modern Rowan Presbyterians. In 1753, two missionaries were sent by the Synod of Philadelphia to visit Virginia and North Carolina with directions to show special regard to the vacancies between the Yadkin and Catawba. The names of these ministers were McMordie and Donaldson. In the fall of 1755 the Rev. Hugh McAden made a tour through North and South Carolina, preached at Cathey’s Meeting House and was solicited to remain, but declined. The same year the Rev. John Brainard and the Rev. Elihu Spencer were directed by the Synod of New York to supply vacant congregations in North Carolina, but there is no report of their visit. For ten years after this, there is no record of any laborer in this region, but the congregations still held together and awaited the arrival of a minister. In 1764 the Synod of Philadelphia sent the Rev. Messrs. Elihu Spencer and Alexander McWorther to form societies, adjust the boundaries of Congregations, ordain elders and dispense the Sacraments. It was at this period that the seven churches of Mecklenburg, and the two churches of Rowan - Fourth Creek and Thyatira - were definitely established. The next year, 1765, Fourth Creek and Thyatira united in a call for the services of the Rev. Elihu Spencer, and the congregation send wagons, accompanied by elderly men, all the way to New Jersey to move his family to Rowan. It is said that he declined to come because the messengers refused to pledge themselves to restore his wife to her friends in the event of his death at an early day. It was eight years more before Thyatira obtained a minister. In 1772 the Rev. Mr. Harris, of whom we know nothing further, took charge of the church and remained about two years. In 1778 the Rev. James Hall became pastor of Fourth Creek, Concord and Bethany churches, and in 1777 the Rev. Samuel Eusebius McCorkle was ordained and installed pastor of Thyatira church. Mr. McCorkle was born in Lancaster county, Pa., in 1746, and came with his parents to Rowan in 1756. He prepared for College under the Rev. David Caldwell of Guildford, and was graduated from Princeton in 1772. He was licensed by the Presbytery of New York in 1779, and then preached two years in Virginia. After preaching about eight years at Thyatira, he commenced a classical school, about a mile east of the church, which he called “Zion Peernassus Academy.” This school was eminently useful, and Dr. McCorkle’s students were thoroughly drilled, and six of the seven graduates of the first class from the University of North Carolina were Dr. McCorkle’s pupils. Forty-five of his students entered his ministry, and many of them became lawyers, judges and officers of State. The signal success of his pupils in achieving eminence arose from his faithfulness is discouraging young men who were destitute of respectable talents from following any of the learned professions. In 1795, the Trustees of the University of North Carolina elected Dr. McCorkle Professor of Moral and Political Philosophy and History, with the view of his acting as President. Gen. Davie, it seems, objected to this arrangement, and this caused Dr. McCorkle to necline the place. In 1796 the Rev. Joseph Caldwell was elected to the chair of Mathamatics, and presiding Professor, and for forty years guided the institution in its career of usefulness. But Dr. McCorkle did not cease to labor for the advancement of the infant University. He made many excursions to raise funds for its endowment, was present at the laying of the corner stone of the first building, and made an address upon that occasion. He did not cease to love the University to the end of his life. On the second of July, 1776, the Rev. Samuel E. McCorkle was married to Margaret Gillispie, of Salisbury, the daughter of the patriotic Mrs. Elizabeth Steele, who relieved the distress of Gen. Greene, in Salisbury, by the timely supply of money. She bore him ten children, six of whom survived him, and some of their descendants are still living in Thyatira. Dr. McCorkle received his death warrant in the pulpit, being stricken with palsy while conducting the services of the sanctuary. He lingered on for a number of years, unable to fulfill the duties of the ministry, except by patient suffering for the Master’s sake. On the 21st of June, 1811, he was called to his reward, and his body was laid in the Thyatira grave yard. In 1792, Third Creek and Unity churches in Rowan were organized, and about the same period, Joppa, now Mocksville church, in Davie county. The Rev. Jas. D. Kilpatrick, from the Waxhaws in South Carolina was the first Pastor of these churches that were cut off from Thyatira, Fourth Creek and Bethany churches. In the revivals of 1802-03, Mr. Kilpatrick was an active participant, and warm sympathizer. He labored in this field till March, 1829, when he was called to his rest. His remains are interred in the grave yard of Third Creek church. Two of his sons, Abner and Josiah, became ministers, and two of his daughters married ministers - one the Rev. Mr. Kerr, and the other the Rev. Mr. Porter. Four or five of Mr. Porter’s sons became ministers. The revival of 1802-03 had great effect upon the western neighborhoods of Thyatira, and they began to desire a separate church. Dr. McCorkle did not sympathize with the camp meeting movement, but only tolerated it. On the other hand a part of his congregation was fully under its influence. In 1805, Back Creek was erected into a separate church. At its organization it possessed an eldership of peculiar excellence, and it has sent out some ministers of the gospel whose labors have been greatly blessed. In 1824, Prospect church, in the southwestern corner of Rowan was organized, mainly from Centre congregation, but partly from Back Creek. In 1829, Franklin church, four miles north of Salisbury, was organized in vacant ground adjoining Thyatira, Third Creek and Unity. All these churches have been served by a succession of devoted ministers. The ministers of THYATIRA after Dr. McCorkle, were the Rev. Messrs. Bowman - a son-in-law of Dr. McCorkle - John Carrigan, James Stafford, James D. Hall, A.Y. Lockridge, S.C. Alexander, B.S. Krider, S.C. Pharr and S.A. Ramsay. BACK CREEK has had for ministers, Jas. D. Kilpatrick, A.Y. Lockridge, Thos. E. Davis, S.C. Alexander, W.B. Watts, Robert Bradley, A.E. Chandler, and J.A. Ramsay. BETHPAGE CHURCH, was originally in Rowan, midway between Thyatira and Poplar Tent, was organized in 1795, had and for its ministers the Rev. John Carrigan, the Rev. James Stafford, Rev. James E. Morrison, Rev. Walter W. Pharr and Rev. Wm. W. Pharr, all natives of Rocky River Congregation. THIRD CREEK was served by the following Ministers: Rev. Messrs. James D. Kilpatrick, Josiah Kilpatrick, A.Y. Lockridge, J.M.H. Adams, S.B.O. Wilson, G.D. Parks, G.R. Brackett, Wm. A. Woods, R.W. Boyd, and L.A. Crawford. UNITY CHURCH, was served by Rev. Messrs. Jas. D. Kilpatrick, Franklin Watts, Wm. A. Hall, Jesse Rankin, B.S. Krider, G.R. Brackett, Wm. A. Wood, E.F. Rockwell, and R. W. Boyd. PROSPECT CHURCH, has enjoyed the ministerial labors, of various ministers, among whom are Rev. Messrs. Walter S. Pharr, John LeeRoy Davies, John E. McPherson, E.D. Junkin, W.B. Watts, Robert Bradley, Romulus M. Tuttle, Wm. H. Davis, P.T. Penick, and F.P. Harrell. JOPPA (or MOCKVILLE CHURCH), formerly in Rowan, was founded by the Rev. Jas. D. Kilpatrick. After him came the Rev. Franklin Watts, Wm. A. Hall, Jesse Rankin, B.S. Krider, R.B. Anderson, B.L. Beall, Wm. M. Kilpatrick, S.S. Murkland, G.M. Gibbs and A.L. Crawford. FRANKLIN CHURCH, founded by the Rev. Franklin Watts in 1829, has for its ministers the Rev. Messrs. Wm. A. Hall, Jesse Rankin, B.S. Krider, Jas. D. Hall, B.L. Beall, S.C. Pharr, A.L. Crawford and R.W. Boyd. These churches at the present time have for their pastors the ministers last named in the above rolls, and embrace a membership of 940, with children in the Sabbath schools, numbering 746. The estimate includes the Salisbury church, but excludes Bethpage and Mocksville as lying outside of Rowan county. ================================== The Carolina Watchman - Salisbury N.C. - January 6, 1881 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/rowan/newspapers/thechurc643gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 14.0 Kb