USA > North Carolina > Gates County > Reynoldson > Pride of the past, hope for the future, 1827-1977 : a history of Reynoldson Baptist Church written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the church > Part 1
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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
LUX
LIBERTAS
THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA ENDOWED BY JOHN SPRUNT HILL CLASS OF 1889
C286.09 G25r
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 00043579822
FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from
Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of Cultural Resources.
http //archive.org/details/prideofpasthopef00seil
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D
INDING
(INTING INS"
A
PRIDE OF THE PAST - HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Piney Grove - Reynoldson
Baptist Church
1827 - 1977
PRIDE OF THE PAST HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 1827-1977
A history of Reynoldson Baptist Church written in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the church.
by
Edith H. Freeman Seiling
Aided by
Virginia E. Pittman Freeman
her mother
Edited by
Margaret Seiling Lefler
her daughter Cover design by
Michael D. Lefler
C 1977 Edith Freeman Seiling
Pierce Printing Co., Inc.
Ahoskie, N.C.
Dedicated to Piney Grove and Reynoldson members, past, present and future, who were, are and will be "Laborers Together With God" and in special tribute to my Mother and co-worker,
Virginia Elizabeth Pittman Freeman, who chose Christ as her Savior seventy years ago here at Reynoldson Baptist Church.
Virginia E. Pittman Freeman
Cal .. ): Gar
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
4-5
6-21
BUILDINGS 22-42
1827-1877 1877-1927 1927-1977
RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLIES
43-53
Union Meetings
Chowan Association
State Baptist Convention
Revival
54-92
EDUCATION
Classical
Reynoldson Institute
Religious
Sunday School
Baptist Training Union
Library
Music
FINANCES
93-99
COLORED MEMBERS
CHRISTIAN LIFE
Membership
Conference and Visiting Brethern
Conduct Unbecoming a Christian
CHURCH ORDINANCES
114-122
MISSIONS
123-158
Early Missions
Mission Churches
Mission Organizations
W.M.U.
Sunbeams
G.A. and R.A.'s
Y.W.A.
Brotherhood
CEMETERY
159-162
EPILOGUE
163-165
Twelve Down and Counting
APPENDIXES
166-199
Church Officers
Pastors
Deacons
Church Clerks
Treasurers
Sextons
Sunday School Superintendents
Organization Officers
Roster of Church Members
200-239
Early Death and Cemetery Records
240-243
Marriages
.244
Recorded Gifts
245-247
Biography of Julius Franklin Howell
248-249
Goodman and Lee Genealogical Charts
276-278
EARLY BEGINNINGS Land Gifts Founding Name
PAGE
Baptism Lord's Supper Ordination of Pastors
101-104
105-113
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to the present Reynoldson Church members for allowing me the opportunity to collect and write this history. This has been an educational and rewarding experience. I have learned much about the church, the people, their hardships and their achievements as I have endeavored to compile this history. As we move forward toward our second century as a church, it is befitting that we pause on this our one hundred and fiftieth birthday to briefly reflect upon our past and say thank you to God and our forefathers for having guided us this far.
This book would never have been completed without the help of many people, church members and others, both far and near. To all I say thank you.
I am deeply indebted to my Mother, Mrs. Joseph Ray Freeman, Sr., for her help with both information and pictures. For more than seventy years, she has been an active participant in the activities of the church, serving wherever the Lord called her.
To my daughter, Peggy Seiling Lefler, for attempting to correct my errors.
To my son-in-law, Mike Lefler, for the cover design.
To Mr. Timothy James Jessup, former deacon, who departed this life 1977, for the use of his book, Delke's History of the Chowan Baptist Association.
To Dr. Hargus Taylor and the staff of the Whitaker Library, Chowan College, Murfreesboro, N.C., for their untiring efforts to aid me.
To my grandparents, Edmund James and Edith Virginia Langston Freeman, and their daughter, Edith Armecia Freeman, for saving many of the early materials used in this history.
To the following who have provided pictures and bits of information: Rev. and Mrs. Billy P. Presley, Mr. and Mrs. B.E. Smith, Mrs. Phyllis Lee Patterson, John Carroll Ellis, Lucy Costen, Mrs. John Lee Smith, Rev. and Mrs. O.S. Edmonds, Mrs. Ethel Eason Taylor, Mrs. Jack Carroll, John Robert Langston, Walter Harrell, Lydia Griffin, Louise Lowe Sawyer, Glenn Smith Benthall, Horace Hayes, T. Beaurie Parker, Blanche Parker, Louise Parker Neble, Myra Pittman Dodd, Mary Lee Savage Harrell, Wallace Ray and Ruth Doughtie, Sidney Cobb, Jr., John R. Woodard, Curator of Baptist Collections, Wake Forest University, Ruth Hayes Eure,
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Vivian Powell, Elizabeth Byrum, Mary Edlar Wiggins Buck, Vivian Casper, Katy Pittman Owens, Jean Bracy Eason, Louise Pittman, Vernon McCall, Virginia White, Jennie Carroll Knight, and The Gates County Index.
To photographers, Sally Mathias and Joseph R. Freeman, Jr.
To typists, Sandra Parker, Becky Harrell Williams, Barbara Harrell Parker, Frances Ann Goodwin Langston, Joyce Cale, Elsie Tyler, Joan Lilley, and others.
To you, I offer my sincere gratitude and hope that you will find this history interesting, informative, and of greater value as time marches on.
In the northwestern section of Gates County, North Carolina, approximately one mile south of the North Carolina-Virginia dividing line, Reynoldson Baptist Church stands on a rise. Early members from Factory Hill, Wyanoke, Cleophus, Somerton and Pittmantown, in Virginia and Drum Hill, Gates, Sarem, Roduco, Ariel, Cool Spring and Reynoldson sections of North Carolina came here to worship. Many came and lingered but a short while. Others came and stayed to worship and labor for years. Many of our present members are descendents of earlier members. Some can even identify with the charter members. May this Pride of the Past, Hope of the Future - 150 years at Piney Grove- Reynoldson Baptist Church, enable us to better understand the past which has shaped our present as we plan and anticipate the future for God's work.
Psalms 126:3
"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad."
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EARLY BEGINNINGS
Land Gifts
Would you be surprised to learn that the Piney Grove Church land gifts paralleled the actual beginnings of Gates County itself? Several local family deeds and William Byrd's History of the Dividing Line substantiate this fact, as well as provide unusual and amusing facts about the original settlers of the area.
When Byrd surveyed the dividing line between North Carolina and Virginia in 1730, he was in territory that later became Gates County for more than a month and from his reports one is led to believe that there were a good many inhabitants at that time; he writes that the priest accompanying the expedition married a few people and baptized many children. The impresssion one gets from reading Byrd's History of the Dividing Line is that these early people of the section were very primitive and for the most part very idle. He records that they had adopted the Indian custom of letting the women do all the work in the fields while the men sat around and smoked. The people lived in log huts and showed no signs of being discontented with their lot. Their only ambition was not to live in Virginia; to live in North Carolina meant less, and often no tax.
When the first post route in North Carolina was established in 1758, the area which became Gates County was making much progress. This route gave the inhabitants of this area an opportunity to come in contact with the outside world. The stage coach route probably ran through Summerton, (Somerton) Sarum (Sarem) and by Pipkin's store. "Summerton was quite a trading place and there must have been several houses at Sarum'
The country was opening; things were progressing by leaps and bounds.
In fact all evidence leads to the belief that the period from 1740-1780 was the period in which the country that later became Gates made great progress. By 1790 the people of the county compared favorably with those that lived in wealthy counties of the state. It was during the period that the log hut was abandoned and a more comfortable structure erected; slavery was introduced; lands were opened up; roads were laid out; churches established, in short it was during this period that the country took on all of those things that go to make up southern culture of the eighteenth century. There were a number of substantial people who were recognized throughout the section, men had begun to build up considerable fortunes and from all evidences they were intensely interested in local and national issues.3
The first federal census taken in 1790 shows the county had a population of 5,372 people. Of this number 3,080 were free white, 73 free negroes, and 2,219 were slaves.4
Gates County came out of the Revolutionary War with as good prospects for development as could be desired. One can create his own mental picture of this area during this age from the following description.
The country for more than 60 miles from the coast is a low plain, with many swamps and inlets from the sea. The greater portion of this district, except along the water courses, is a vast forest of evergreens. The rich lands near the swamps and rivers are insalubrious .- The soil of North Carolina resembles that of Virginia, in the level parts it is generally poor, in the hilly country more fertile, and the productions are much the same as in the more northern states. Wheat, rye, barley, oats and flax are cultivated. Indian corn is abundant throughout the whole state, and cotton is raised in considerable quantities, tobacco, rice and sweet
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potatoes abound, and the soil and climate are favorable to the growth of the grape and mulberry. From their pines, the people extract tar, pitch and turpentine.5
In general the inhabitants of this state had a marked character for sobriety and morality and a sturdiness of independence. They endeavored to remedy past neglects of common schools, by fostering private seminaries and Sunday Schools.6
Located in the Piney Grove Community lived families who exhibited the general characteristics of the other inhabitants of the state. Isaac Pipkin, William Goodman, Henry Goodman and Henry Lee were a few of these sturdy, independent gentlemen. These men had by early 1800's accumulated large land holdings, served their county well and were very influential in affairs of their community.
During the Revolutionary War, Henry Lee had served as a private of the Cavalry,7 Isaac Pipkin as an ensign, Henry Goodman as Colonel,8 "under the command of Colonel Malmedy, a Frenchman, and Major John Nelson of the North Carolina line".9 After the Revolutionary War, these men returned to their home community, the Piney Grove area of Gates County, to continue their lives of service to God, country and fellowman.
Isaac Pipkin became a Justice of the Peace and sheriff of Gates County (1786).10 He rendered his resignation as Justice of the Peace to the session of Legislature which met at "Tarborough" on December 7, 1787. At this time the House and Senate read, endorsed and accepted his resignation. 11
The 1790 census reveals that Isaac Pipkin owned 34 slaves. Only two other persons in the county are listed as holding more slaves. Miles Benton of Wiggins X Roads held 40 and William Baker below Gatesville held 35.12
Isaac Pipkin in his will dated 9-24-1800 left to his beloved wife, Charity, all real and personal property for her use during her lifetime or until she remarried. After her death or remarriage, the property would be so divided:
Item 1. To Isaac Jr. all land with the exception of the former William King land.
Item 2. To my children John, Isaac, Elizabeth, wife of Henry Lee, Margaret, wife of Benjamin Barnes, Charity, wife of Richard Barnes, Mary Ann, wife of Joshua Freeman, Sarah, wife of Jacob Freeman, the remainder of my estate to share and share alike. 13
Henry Lee and Elizabeth Pipkin, daughter of Isaac had married November 14, 1779. The Lee's owned much property on both sides of the Virginia - North Carolina line, north of the Piney Grove community. Henry died intestate November 17, 1806. Gates County court ordered the following landowners in the Piney Grove community to make a division of the real property of Henry Lee: Joseph Freeman, Bryan Saunders, Jonathan Rogers, James Gatling, Henry Goodman, Esquire and County surveyor Pa Hagerty. Approximately 1050 acres of land was to be divided among his heirs.
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Division survey number nine sets apart all allots to his daughter, Charity Lee, the parcel which probably concerns Reynoldson Church. This property was to become her property. This survey contained 77 acres of land which began at a post oak in Joseph Freeman's line "thence to Pearces Branch up branch along "Long's Old Line". This survey in all probability includes the land upon which the schoolhouse stood and where Reynoldson Church was to stand in the future.14 After Charity's marriage to William of Henry Goodman in 1807, this property was to become part of his estate.
Mary Elizabeth Pipkin Lee, wife of Henry, died September 4, 1839, at the age of ninety-one leaving the following will:
In the Name of God, Amen.
I, Elizabeth Lee of the county and state aforesaid being in perfect health do hereby constitute, make and ordain this writing of my last will. Item 1. I give and bequeath of my daughter Mary Valentine, wife of Soloman K. Valentine, two Negro girls named Lucy and Rachel which she now has and one hundred dollars in cash. (These migrated to Tennessee) Item 2. I lend to my daughter, Elizabeth Eure, wife of Samuel Eure, one-tenth part of the residue of mv estate both real and personal which I may be posessed of at my death, during her natural life and after her death I give and bequeath the same estate to be equally divided between my grandsons and granddaughters here named. Henry L. Eure, Mills Eure, Emma L. Carter, wife of James Carter, Armecia Everette, wife of John Everette, Mary Ann Eure to them and their heirs forever. Item 3. The balance of my estate is to be equally divided among my sons and daughters. William Lee; Isaac Lee; Richard H. Lee; John R. Lee; Margaret Willimas, wife of Jonathan Williams; Sarah Cross, wife of John Cross; Charity Goodman, wife of William Goodman; Ann Vaughan, wife of Joseph Vaughan; Martha Vaughan, wife of John, to them and their heirs forever ---. And, lastly, I do hereby consitute and appoint my sons, William Lee and John R. Lee executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 1st day of December in the year of our Lord 1836.
Signed sealed and published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Elizabeth Lee in presence of us.
Elizabeth Lee
Edward Howell (Jurat) John B. March 15
William Goodman, son of Henry, married Charity Lee, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Pipkin Lee, September 22, 1807.16 No doubt included in William Goodman's land holdings was much of the land in the immediate Piney Grove community. The will of William Goodman probated May 26, 1841, bequeathed the following items to his heirs.
Item 1. To my wife Charity, I leave 2 horses, 12 head of cattle, 1 work steer, 12 head of sheep, 20 head of hogs, bacon, lard, soap, corn, fodder, peas and potatoes for one years support of herself and family. I also give two carts, their wheels and gear. The tract of land where I now live with the exception of 150 acres of land lying on the north side of Beaver Dam swamp where I formerly lived. Negroes: Elsey, Dave, Ned, Old Isaac, Pompey, Winsey, Rose, Pleasant and John. My household and kitchen furniture and my brandy still. Item 2. Jethro D. Goodman --- 150 acres, which I have not loaned my wife and upon which my said son now lives and the balance of the land called the Sand Banks for which I have never given him a deed, one tract of land in Rogers pocoson and fishery on the said land and after the death of my wife. I give to my said son the tract of land which I have devised to my wife for life, the brandy still and 1/2 of the negroes which I bequeathed my wife for life. Item 3. The executor is to sell for cash or credit all the lands I own in Hertford County and the land I own in Fort Island (1/2 of this estate will go to my wife Charity for use during her lifetime and after her death to son Jethro D. also one feather bed and bed stead, necessary furniture, 1
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bureau, 1 chest will go to the executor.) The remainder is to be used to set up a trust fund for daughter, Edith Creecy. Also to be held in trust are funds from the negroes and their increase and other property during the joint lives of said daughter, Edith Creecy and husband, Charles. Item 4. After settling the debts of my estate the reminder will be so divided, 1/3 to wife Charity, 1/3 to Jethro D. the remaining 1/3 to the executor to be held in trust for daughter, Edith Creecy. Item 5. Jethro D. Goodman was named executor recorded 10-4- 1839. Lawrence Baker, Clerk. Codicil added May 26, 1841 bequeaths to Edith and Charles Creecy the land lying in Chowan County which was purchased of Richard Paxton. This is the land on which they now live. 17
Herein is recorded a deed recorded July 1, 1836, made between William Goodman and his son, Jethro. This land is bounded by the Anna Speight (grandmother of Joseph Freeman) and the Joseph Freeman land. Deed -- William to Jethro.
This indenture made this first day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six between William Goodman of the State of North Carolina, Gates County of the one part, and Jethro D. Goodman of the County and State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said William Goodman for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars to me in hand paid by Jethro D. Goodman, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge myself fully satisfied and paid, and doth by these presents fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm unto him the said Jethro D. Goodman, and to his heirs. exons, admr. and assigns forever, a certain piece, parcel, or tract of land and plantation situate, lying and being in North Carolina, Gates County aforesaid, and is bounded as followeth. viz. Beginning at a white oak a corner of Exum Jenkins, thence running a line of marked trees south 25 E. 269 poles to a chinquapin oak. (now a holly) Anna Speight's corner, thence binding on said Speight & Joseph Freeman to Burwell Griffith corner, thence along said Griffith line south 38 W. 146 poles to a white oak a corner of Abram W. Parker thence along said Parker's line to an elm, thence binding on said Parker to a white oak a corner, thence binding on said Parker to a pine, thence binding on said Parker to a corner standing upon the sandbanks, thence running a line of marked trees to a pine, Willis Cross, James Russel's corner, thence binding on said to a white oak to the first station, containing by estimation 420 acres, more or less, together with all rights, members, privileges and profits thereunto appertaining or belonging; To have and to hold unto him the said Jethro D. Goodman, and to his heirs and asigns forever free and clear from all manner of incumbrance whatsoever, and 1 the said William Goodman doth warrant and defend the above said land and premises unto him the said Jethro D. Goodman, and his heirs and asigns forever free and clear from myself, all and every other person or persons whatsoever that shall lay any claim or demand to the above said land and premises; whereunto 1 the said William Goodman have hereunto set my hand and seal the year and date above written. 18
This deed was made nearly ten years after Piney Grove Church was constituted. No mention of a church located on Goodman property has been found in any records searched. Records do show that a school existed in the Piney Grove Community as early as March 23, 1809.19 A receipt signed by Luke Teeling on July 3, 1813, indicates he received payment in full for Mr. William Goodman in the amount of $6.34 for 3 months tuition for 2 scholars.20
A deed made March 11, 1882, between the heirs of Jethro D. Goodman and the Trustees of Piney Grove Church makes mention of a free schoolhouse being situated on the deeded land. One can then conclude that this is the one and same site where Reynoldson Church now stands. Like his father, William, Jethro never deeded the land on which the church stood to the church.
Jethro Goodman died intestate leaving the burden of dividing his
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property to his four children (W.H.L. Goodman of Southampton County, Virginia; I.M.O. Rawls of Nansemond County, Virginia; Elizabeth (Betty) Charity Edwards and Margaret Penniah Long of Gates County, North Carolina). They decided that since Piney Grove Church had been in existence for 55 years and an unwritten agreement had existed between grandparents (Charity Lee and William Goodman), parents (Penniah Willey and Jethro D. Goodman), and the church that it was time for this land now to become church property.
Brother Goodman also held a note in the amount of $50 against the church. A committee had been appointed to look after this note soon after Brother Goodman's death. Three months later in March, 1882, the conference moved to tender thanks to the heirs of J.D. Goodman for the note of $50 and a committee appointed to procure a deed for the land of Piney Grove Church.21
This eventful day was March 11, 1882, when the trustees of the church and deacons (John R. Cross, Mike C. Lawrence, Andrew Carter, Jesse Eure, Gilbert Fanney, M.J. Lawrence and John R. Jones) met with the heirs of Jethro D. Goodman to execute and register the deed for the land as church property. This day the church for the first time became rightful property owners.22
This indenture, made this the 11th day of March A.D. eighteen hundred and eighty-two by and between W.H.L. Goodman and wife Josephine Goodman of Southampton County Virginia, A.J. Rawls and wife, I.M.O. Rawls of Nansemond County Virginia, John A. Edwards and wife Elizabeth C. Edwards, Joseph S. Long and wife Margaret P. Long of Gates County, North Carolina heirs and in-laws of the late J.D. Goodman of the first part and Piney Grove Baptist Church of Gates County, North Carolina as represented by its Trustees-Viz. John R. Cross, Mike C. Lawrence, Andrew Carter, Jesse Eure, Gilbert Fanny, M. J. Lawrence, John R. Jones and their successors in office of the second part. Witnesseth: That for and in consideration of the sum of five dollars to them in hand paid, the receipt whereof they hereby acknowledged and themselves satisfied contended and paid the parties of the first part have given, granted, bargained, sold, donated and released unto the aforesaid Deacons for the benefit of "Piney Grove Baptist Church" the following parcel of land (except the free schoolhouse thereon) lying and being in Reynoldson Gates County- bounded as follows to wit: Beginning at an oak on the Franklin & Gatesville road and running thence North 280 W. 12 poles to a sycamore, thence N. 26º E. 17 poles to a small oak thence S 42º E. 12 1/4 poles thence S. 73/4º W. 9 poles thence S. 49° W. 11 poles to the starting point containing 1 1/2 acres being the lot of land whereon the aforesaid Church is situated to have and to hold same a Church property to themselves the aforesaid Deacons and their successors in office forever, and the parties of the first part, agree to warrant and defend the hereby conveyed title against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever.
In witness whereof we the parties of the first part, hereunto set our hands and affix our seals this the day and date first above written, signed, sealed and delivered in presence of John J. Gatling.
W.H.L. Goodman Josephine Goodman A.J. Rawls I.M.O. Rawls John A. Edwards E.C. Edwards J.S. Long M.P. Long2
The Jethro Goodman home has for many years been the home of Mr. and Mrs. B.E. Smith (Mary Evans and Buck Ed). Mr. and Mrs. Smith
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--
1
moved here soon after they married, and have resided here ever since.
Many members of the Lee Family were church members in 1828 (Elizabeth Pipkin Lee, mother, daughters, Charity Lee Goodman, Elizabeth Eure, Sally Cross and son, William H.), but son-in-law, William Goodman, was not a member. Hence, one can conclude that since William Goodman was never a member of Piney Grove, that the land which was later to become Reynoldson Church property was formerly the property which wife, Charity, inherited from her father, Henry Lee. The hands that rocked the cradle in this community were with God's guidance molding the future.
From the genealogical chart included in this chapter, one can better trace the families of the chapter and readily see that the roots of Piney Grove-Reynoldson Church and community penetrate to the very beginning of Gates County.
Jethro D. Goodman home in the early 1900's.
B.E. Smith (J.D. Goodman) home in the 1960's.
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