Winchester Presbyterian Church Separation Letter *********************************************************** Submitted by: Charolette "Chocy" Brown Date: 31 Dec 2006 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Images of document are in the Archives at http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/frederick/documents/presby/pres1.jpg http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/frederick/documents/presby/pres2.jpg http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/frederick/documents/presby/pres3.jpg http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/frederick/documents/presby/pres4.jpg NOTE: This letter is written on both sides of one sheet of paper which also included the check for $50 and the addressed/posted section. The letter was folded with only the address section showing on the outside with the postmark. In the pictures, the different sections show the marks where the different folds were made for mailing. The paper is light brown and the ink is a darker brown with the Winchester postage stamp being red. The portion where the check was is gone. Robert S. BELL must have gotten his check. One side of the document has a small part missing running top to bottom. The images are available if you click on the link under each section header. Winchester Presbyterian Church Separation Letter June 25, 1839 PAGE 1; PART 1 Postal Stamp: WINCHESTER Va. JUN 28 Addressed to: Mr. Robert S. BELL Prince Edward CH Virginia 183 Does not appear to have been written at the time the letter was composed. The “183” is written in blue ink and is not faded or brown as in the rest of the document. Send back Bib. Registry 1939 Does not appear to have been written at the time the letter was composed. Both the “Send back Bib Registry and “1939” are written in pencil. There is a small hole in the document about two inches below “1939” and about two and a half inches below the “P” in “Prince Edward CH” in the “Addressed to:” area of the document. The 7 ˝” x 3” missing part of the document located above the beginning of the letter is where the $50 check was detached from the document. PAGE 1; PART 2 Winchester June 25. 1839 De. Brother Above you have a check for $50 which I hope will reach you in safety. You appear to think it hard that you cannot get what money You want, & at the time you need it, when I recd your letter comp laining, I concluded to examine my book, to see how much I had given you & to as certain whether the Amt was too little to defray all necessary expenses, you have below a statement of money’s paid you at different times, as you many not Perhaps, ^ have kept a strict account, you will no doubt, see that your allo wance has been sufficient to pay all the expenses of a prudent & economical Student. 1838 March 14 To Cash $50. ~ Dec 11 Cash $50 beside, between & the worth of April 17 “ Cash $50 April 5 Cash $50 clothing & C H all within May 26 “ Cash $50 May 22 Cash $50 15 months June 14 “ Cash $50 June 25 Cash $50 Octr 30 “ Cash $50 $450 ~ (Top 7 ˝” x 3” missing piece over the following “Had I the command-” is where the other side of the $50 check was detached from the document.) PAGE 2; PART 1 Had I the command of funds whenever I needed them you should not ask me the Second time for money, even if your demands were much larger than any I had a right to pay but situated as I am having heavy debts to pay. I think it proper & right that you should spend as little as will possibly pay your necessary expenses. I do not complain of any thing. I have done for you If you will compare the statement annexed you will find the Amt much larger than you ever recd in the Same time from your father. Our N. S. bretheren have left us they handed in a letter to Mr. ATKINS son a few days Since making Several propositions stating that the time had arrived for a separation, a division must take place, that they (these ?) could not contain the sch of the Ass of 37 & 8, & could no longer worship together as a religious congregation. Signed by the following persons. Henry BEATTY ~Written John SHERRY Sideways with brackets Jno. L TOMAS beside these four men~ Wm HENNING C L E R G Y Geo. KELLER Geo B GRAGER Sol HEISTER Thos PHILLIPS Jesse CURRY R C WINDLE Matilda THOMAS Maria HENNING Mary KELLER Eliza B GRIMES (?) Elizabeth MERIDITH C H PHILLIPS Jane TAYLOR Catharine CURRY Elizb. COPEAHANON Mary A BAKER Harrie H RUSSELL Mary SEAL Susan WALL Sarah CHINOWITH Elizabeth ALBERT Harriett DEFFENDERFER Hannah CHAPMAN Jane R ANNIN Margaret HERRICK PAGE TWO; PART TWO (Top to bottom of the right side of this part is torn off.) Jane ROBERTSEN . Sarah BAKER . Susan BEEMER . Mary A SPERRY, M---- Rebecca A BAKER . Elizabeth MARCH . Rebecca BEESORE. Abr--- Francis KLIPSTINE . S E KLIPSTINE . S A RICHARDS . Ellenor RUTTER--- Margaret RANSDELL. Mr. ATKIN son read this letter to the Congregation yesterday, with --- annexed and made Some very appropriate remarks, which co --- offence to no one stating that those who Signed that paper--- their own Act Seperated themselves from the Prest Church --- not expect Such a thing and most of them were in the --- consternation. Mr. ATKIN son States that if any of those – that Paper had done it without due reflection, they --- him to strike their name from the list & would then --- into the church. Many of the Persons & Perhaps all --- the meaning of the letter or at least had no idea of --- mistake. Mrs. TAYLOR . Mrs. ANNIN & Mr. BEESORE h --- (hole in document) taken off Mrs. TAYLOR will continue with us. It --- fortunate thing for the Church that Such a Sett hav --- now have a united & respectable Church. Some of th --- the in Paper have not been in our Church for 3 or 4 ye --- not within that time considered themselves a member & --- been a disgrace to any Christian Church. Mr. ATKINS --- health & Spirit, Robt BRECKENBRIDGE preached twice for us --- large Congregations he will preach for us probably as a ----- night he was on his way with his mother to Abingdon Va ----- here by the Sickness of Some of his children when --- him. He will return to Balt in a day or two. ---- been confined, has a Son, is now better. We have --- Friday for the election of Clergy. I neglected, to State --- Of them who have left as They are as follows. ----- (Turn back to the addressed side. The left side, top to bottom of this section is the same torn off part of the document on the opposite side of the paper PAGE 1; PART 1 {click here for image} --- them the money for which the Old Stone Church was Sold --- wants release all claims to the Kent St. Church --- Alternate use of the Church. --- the 2 first Prop failed) Then the matter left with the Trustees perhaps, that HENNING & THOMAS are two of the Trustees, the most propositions ever made by Sensible Men- & thought so by --- member of our community who has thoughts of Ch. Your Brother John BELL