USA > North Carolina > Sketches of North Carolina, historical and biographical : illustrative of the principles of a portion of her early settlers > Part 17
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Here he preached, Sabbath, the 15th, " in the A.M., to a large and splendid audience, but was surprised when I came again in the P.M., to see about a dozen met to hear me." This small number greatly depressed his spirits, and probably hastened his departure from the place on the Tuesday following. On that day he rode twenty-five miles, to Cowen's, up the Northeast Cape Fear, and on the next day to old Mr. Evans's, in the Welch Tract.
There he preached on Sabbath, 22d, designing to move on homeward, " but I was detained by the affection and entreaties of this people, who earnestly pressed upon me to tarry with them another Sabbath ; their design herein was that they might have time to get a subscription drawn up, that they might put in a call for me." On Sabbath, the 29th, he preached again to the same
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people, who expressed great desire for his return, and made out a call for him as their pastor.
On Tuesday, March 2d, he rode to Mr. Bowen's, about ten miles, on Black River ; and on the next day six miles further, and preached, then crossed the river and rode about five miles to South River, where he lodged with Mr. Anderson. On Thursday crossed Collie's Swamp, then in a bad condition-" lodged at old Mr. Grife Jones's ;" on the next day crossed the Northwest, and lodged at George Brown's, where he preached on Sabbath, March 7th. While in this neighborhood, he was grieved to find some, who had been brought up under the influence of the gospel in other parts, become dissolute and indulging infidel notions, since their abode in this region where the gospel was not regularly preached, and in fact scarcely heard.
On Monday, the 8th, crossed the Northwest, and being de- tained by the rain, and some other business, he rode but about ten miles, to Mr. Isaac Jones's, "a good honest Quaker, and an assemblyman." The next day, crossed Collie's Swamp again, which was now overflowed, and caused much trouble by swim- ming the horses-" and got to Mr. Anderson's again about 12 o'clock ;" that same day, he rode on to Mr. Lewis's, on Black River, about twenty-five miles. On Wednesday, he went fifteen miles, to John James's, and preached. By the high waters he was detained in the Welch Tract till after the second Sabbath of March. On Thursday, 18th, he rode to Jeremiah Holden's, about twenty miles ; and on the next morning, about three miles, to Mr. Dick- son's, the clerk of Duplin county, where he preached on Sab- bath, the 21st, to a considerable congregation, most of whom were Irish.
" The people here being very desirous to join with the Welch Tract, in putting in a call for me, and many of their best friends being abroad upon business, they insisted so strongly upon me, that I was forced to consent to stay with them another day. Tuesday, rode up to Goshen in company with Mr. Dickson, and several more. Came to Mr. Gaven's, twelve miles, where we tarried all night ; next day preached, and returned to Mr. Dickson's." On Sabbath, 28th, he preached at John Miller's, about two miles distant. The people seemed all very hearty in giving him a call, and making a proper support for him.
On Monday, the 29th, he set out from Mr. Dickson's home- ward ; tarried that night at Mr. Gaven's, twelve miles ; next day crossed Neuse, and tarried with Joshua Herring, about thirty
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miles. This man was out early in the morning, and assembled his neighbors, and detained him to preach to them at noon. In the evening, rode to Mr. Herring's, senior, about twelve miles. " The next morning, set out upon my journey for Pamlico, and rode about ten miles, to Major McWain's, where I had opportunity of seeing and conversing with Governor Dobbs, who is a very so- ciable gentleman." That night he lodged at Peter's Ferry, on Cuttentony, about twenty miles, it being too late to go farther. The next day, he rode about forty miles, to Salter's Ferry, on Pamlico. The next day, being Saturday, he came to Thomas Little's, where he remained over Sabbath, April 4th. This man had not heard a Presbyterian minister in the twenty-eight years he had lived in Carolina, and took the opportunity of sending round for his neighbors, and collected a congregation ; and kept Mr. McAden till Wednesday, to preach again. "I found some few amongst them, that I trust are God's dear children, who seemed much refreshed by my coming."
On the 7th day of April, Wednesday, after sermon, he rode to Mr. Barrow's, about five miles ; and the next day, about five or six miles, to the Red Banks, " where I preached to a pretty large company of various sorts of people, but fewer Presbyterians. In the evening, rode up the river, ten miles, to Mr. Mace's, who is a man of considerable note, and a Presbyterian." Here he remained till Sabbath, the 11th, and preached in the neighborhood.
On Tuesday, April 13th, he set out homeward, and rode twenty miles, to Mr. Toole's, on Tar River ; this man he describes as unhappy in his notions of unbelief. On Wednesday, he rode thirty miles, to Edgecomb court-house ; the next day he reached Fishing Creek, about twenty-five miles ; and on Friday, he rode about ten miles up the creek, and was kindly received by the Baptist friends he made on his journey through the country the last fall. On Sabbath, 18th, he preached at their meeting-house. Here many came to converse with him about their experience. On the next day, he went home with Joseph Linsey, who had heard him preach.
" He insisted very hard upon me to stay at Nut Bush, and give them a sermon, as they were very destitute and out of the way. I went home with him, about twenty-two miles, it being pretty much in my way, and preached." He found them a cheerful people, without the regular preaching of the gospel, and in a situation as might be expected, with abundance of wealth, and full leisure for enjoyment.
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On Wednesday he reached Captain Hampton's, about 35 miles ; and on Thursday got to John Anderson's,-" who seemed very joyful to see me returned so far back again ; " tarried till Sab- bath, and preached. On Tuesday, 27th, he preached at Hawfields ; on Wednesday at Eno: on Thursday rode down to Aaron Van- hook's ; and next day to John McFarland's, on Hico; and there preached, Sabbath, the 2d of May.
" Got ready to take my journey from Carolina, Thursday, the 6th of May, 1756; that day rode in company with Solomon De- bow, who came to conduct me as far as John Baird's, on Dan River, twenty miles from Hico." From thence he set off alone. Passing through Amelia, we find him, on Sabbath, the 9th of May, at the house of Mr. Messaux, on James' River. Here the journal abruptly closes.
It is interesting to follow the track of this early missionary. Many of the neighborhoods he mentions have at this day regular preaching ; in some there are large congregations and flourishing churches ; and some few have passed from the list of Presbyte- rian congregations.
The time, and distances from place to place, have been given for the purpose of enabling those in the region of his route to trace his track. A comparison of the state of things as they appeared ninety years ago, with the present, may lead to profitable reflec- tions. These data are left with those who may feel interested in searching out the "beginning of things."
M'ADEN'S LABORS AS A PASTOR IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Mr. McAden returned to Carolina, and became the settled minis- ter of the congregations in Duplin and New Hanover. He was ordained by the Presbytery of New Castle, in 1757; and in 1759 was dismissed to join Hanover Presbytery, which then included a greater part of Virginia, and extended indefinitely south. He presented his credentials at a meeting of the Presbytery on Rock- fish, July 18th, 1759, having previously sat as a corresponding member.
With these people he remained about ten years ; when, believ- ing that the influence of the climate upon his health was too un- favorable to justify his remaining longer in the lower part of the State, he removed to Caswell county, and there finished his days. At a meeting of Hanover Presbytery, at Buffalo, March 2d, 1768, for the purpose of ordaining Messrs. David Caldwell and Joseph Alexander, "a call from the churches of Hico, Dan River, and
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County Line Creek," was put in for his pastoral services. At the same meeting he presided at the installation of the Rev. David Caldwell over the congregations of Buffalo and Alamance. This year, if not earlier, he became a resident of Caswell. An intima- cy had existed between him and this people for years, and he had laid their destitute condition before the Presbytery in 1759, " giving a moving representation of their difficulties." The names of these churches were changed ; and also the place of his labors in part. At the time of his death he was preaching at Red House (Middle Hyco), Greer's (Upper Hyco), and to a church in Pittsylvania, "about half a day's ride " from his dwelling, near the Red House.
Mr. McAden was united in marriage with a Miss Scott, of Lunenburg county, Virginia, whose family name was given to the neighborhood, formed by a company of emigrants from the North of Ireland, and called Scott's Settlement. A number of children were born to him in Duplin, the eldest of whom died in Caswell, in the year 1845.
The following extract from a letter dictated by Dr. John Mc- Aden, the eldest son of the preacher, in his 82d year, contains all we know of the habits of this pioneer of Carolina. The letter bears date-" Hyco Hills, Caswell county, Jan. 5th, 1845. My father was a very systematic man,-and he always spent one or two days every week in private study,-and if he walked into the fields he always carried his Bible with him. He visited with his elders once a year, all the families within the bounds of his con- gregations,-and he would exhort and pray with them during his stay. He would collect all of his congregations once a year at his churches, and hold an examination of those present. He administered the sacrament at each of his churches twice every year. He spent his life in attempting to convince all of their sins, and in rendering happy those who were members of his congrega- tions,-respected and beloved by all who knew him. During the Revolution, the Lord God Almighty thought proper to remove this venerable man, whose influence will always be acknowledged with pleasure ; and he departed this life January 20th, 1781, leaving a wife and seven children. Two weeks after his death, the British encamped in the yard of the Red House church. They remained there some time, going about over the country, committing many depredations upon all the neighbors. And my father's long minis- terial services did not free him from their ravages, but they came to his house and searched it throughout, destroying many things, and also many of his most valuable papers, on account of which,
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the knowledge of my father is so limited, having been absent a greater part of my life at school in Guilford, N. C., under the late Dr. Caldwell, and having arrived at home a few days before the death of my father. During the encampment of the British in the yard of the Red House, they committed many depredations upon the church which were not repaired for many years."
The visit of the British referred to in this letter, took place, after Green had crossed the Dan, in the memorable retreat before Cornwallis, by which the march of Morgan into Virginia, with the prisoners taken at the Cowpens, was covered, and the American forces placed beyond the reach of the enemy, till reinforcements from Virginia came in, and Greene could venture to face the enemy and provoke the famous battle of Guilford. It is a well-known fact that Cornwallis's army ever showed a dislike to Presbyterian ministers, as the immediate cause of much of the stubborn resist- ance which met them at every step in Carolina. McAden had rested from his labors before his house was plundered, like Cald- well's ; and he was spared the trial of being witness of the miseries of his congregation, and flying, like a criminal, to the forests and the dens of the earth, like his brother, of Guilford.
Mr. McAden lies buried in the grave-yard, near the Red House, in Caswell county, about five miles from the flourishing town of Milton, the Pioneer in Duplin, New Hanover, Caswell, and Pittsylvania.
THE CHURCHES IN DUPLIN AND NEW HANOVER AFTER HIS DEPARTURE.
For a long period there was no successor to Mr. McAden in Duplin and New Hanover. The congregations were served only by the precarious and desultory labors of occasional missionaries, and were dwindling away. In 1793, John Robinson was licensed by Orange Presbytery, and directed to labor in Duplin. The mutual interest resulting from his first visit, led to his settlement ; and till the close of the century, his successful labors were devoted to the remains of the congregations served by McAden for about ten years. They revived under his ministry. In the year 1800 he removed to Fayetteville.
The Rev. Samuel Stanford became a member of Orange Pres- bytery in 1795, and visited the low country before Mr. Robinson left, and became his successor. He extended his labors over the greater part of Duplin as a minister, and conducted a classical chool with success. The Academy at the Grove has been kept
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in operation, with some intermissions, for a long series of years. The pastors that have succeeded Mr. Stanford have been patrons or teachers of a classical school either at the Grove, or near their own residence, and have kept alive the spirit of classical education, without which there is no permanent attention to polite literature, and sound philosophy, and true science. Mr. Stanford wore out his strength and days in the service of the people of Duplin, and finished his course in the year 1828.
For a few years the Rev. S. D. Hatch labored with great suc- cess in Duplin ; and left the county for a more southern residence much against the desires of an affectionate people.
Rev. Alexander McIver ran a short race in Duplin, being arrested by sudden death, in the midst of his days and his use- fulness.
Wilmington had no organized Presbyterian church till long after the Revolution, engaging occasionally the services of well- educated men, who acted in the capacity of classical teachers and ministers of the gospel. Rev. James Tate, a Presbyterian minis- ter, came from Ireland to Wilmington, about the year 1760 ; and for his support opened a classical school, the first ever taught in the place. He educated many of the young men of New Hanover, who took an active part in the Revolution. While residing in Wilmington, he was accustomed to take excursions for preaching through New Hanover and the adjoining counties, particularly up the Black and South Rivers. In the course of his visits he bap- tized the children of the Scotch and Irish families, that chose to present them, without any particular inquiry into the Christian experience of the parents, which would perhaps have been una- vailing of any good in the destitute condition of the country. It is supposed, however, that he practised upon the principle of ad- mitting to the ordinance the children of all those who had been themselves baptized, if not guilty of scandalous lives. He re- ceived a small fee for each baptism, either in money or in cotton yarn ; and this appears to have been all his salary and all the remuneration for his journeyings and services.
During the Revolutionary war, being a staunch whig in his principles, he found it prudent to leave Wilmington and seek a residence in the upper country. He declined all offers to be con- nected with a congregation ; engaged in frequent preachings in destitute neighborhoods desirous of hearing the gospel. He made his home in the Hawfields, in Orange. Courteous in his manners, especially to females, he was never married. Particularly neat in
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his dress, and winning in his conversation, his company was prized by young people ; and his influence over them was highly improv- ing to their manners, morals, and mental culture.
About the year 1770, the first church building was 'put up on Black River, near where the Black River Chapel now stands.
About the year 1785, Rev. William Bingham, from Ireland, commenced preaching in Wilmington and the surrounding country. He sustained himself by a classical school, in the management of which he attained great excellence and éclat. He removed to the upper country, and taught with great success in Chatham and in Orange. His mantle, as teacher, fell upon his sons.
About the year 1790, the Rev. Colin Lindsey, a man of exten- sive education, fine appearance, and superior talents as a speaker, came over from Scotland on invitation, and settled on Black River, on the place now owned by Mr. Sellars. His stay was short. Difficulties of a moral nature arose; and in about two years he removed to Robeson. Having bought a yoke of oxen on a Satur- day, at a sale, he permitted them to be driven home on the Sab- bath, alleging as a reason, want of food at the place of sale; a member of his church remonstrating, he expressed strong dissatis- faction at the liberty taken by a private member to reprove the minister. Hard words and hard feelings succeeded ; the congre- gation enlisted, and divided. To this grievance was added a charge of too free use of spirituous liquors, the distinction of a moderate use being admitted ; in consequence he removed first to Raft Marsh congregation, and from thence to Bethel. About the year 1802 he was deprived by Presbytery of his authority to preach, and was excommunicated. He continued, however, to preach and baptize whenever opportunity occurred; and further rendered himself obnoxious to the Presbytery of Orange, and the Synod of the Carolinas, by opposing the great revival of 1802. Seizing upon the irregularities that accompanied that extensive work, he denounced the whole as a delusion, and charged his former brethren with fanaticism, and unkind and unrighteous disci- pline. By his talents and address he obtained many adherents, and greatly resisted the spread of religion, as taught by zealous ministers of the day. A notice of this man appears in the extracts from the records of the Synod of North Carolina for the year 1810. His latter days were unhappy, and in 1832 he died unreconciled to the Presbytery. Little is known of his religious exercises in his last days.
His wife was of the Hamilton family, so famous in Scotland and
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Ireland. After the difficulties with her husband commenced, she was urged to return to Scotland, but refused. She survived her husband some years ; her last days were cheered by the family with whom she resided, by the name of McGlaughlin, whose par- tiality for the name and race of the Hamiltons was expressed in unremitting attentions to her in her infirmities.
Early in the year 1798, the Rev. Robert Tate, a licentiate of Orange Presbytery, reared in the Hawfields, about two miles east of the place of worship, visited New Hanover and Duplin, and became a resident minister. He was ordained in 1799. His preaching-places have been mostly in New Hanover. His first communion was on Rockfish, near where the church now stands. Four persons united with him and his wife, viz. : Timothy Blood- worth and his wife, and Timothy Wilson and his wife. Mr. Blood- worth was much in public life,-collector of the port of Wilming- ton, and member of Congress from that district. In his old age, he prepared for the ministry, but some pecuniary misfortunes pre- vented his entrance upon the duties of the office.
Under Mr. Tate, Rockfish, Keith, and Hopewell sprang up and opened the doors of the sanctuary to a large region of coun- try. The scene of McAden's labors had become a desolation ; but the church still lives in New Hanover, and has hope of con- tinuance. Black River congregation was for a long time a sharer of Mr. Tate's ministerial labors. Besides the refreshing influence enjoyed in common with his brethren, in 1802, and for some suc- ceeding years, and various more limited manifestations of divine presence, the congregations generally in New Hanover, were vi- sited, in 1832, with a refreshing influence, which added many to the visible church of Christ, and promoted piety and the life of godliness.
The laborers in that part of the Lord's vineyard embraced by New Hanover, and Duplin, and Sampson, have great reason to be encouraged, while they labor in the field trod by the first Pres- byterian missionaries to Carolina, and hallowed by the sepulchres of the ancient dead. When another century shall have passed, may there be found worthy successors in the ministry, and flour- ishing churches in the vast Turpentine Region; and may the blessings of grace be as ceaseless to the inhabitants as the flow of their annual temporal wealth.
M'ADEN'S PLACES OF PREACHING WHILE RESIDING IN CASWELL COUNTY.
Colonel James Smith, of Tennessee, an emigrant from North
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Carolina, and son of Colonel Samuel Smith, one of the founders of Grassy Creek church, in Granville county, in a letter to Dr. Alexander Wilson, of Caldwell Institute, says, " some time be- tween 1755 and 1760, Samuel Bell, with his brothers and son-in- law, Donnell, removed from Pennsylvania, and settled in the forks of Hico. They were strict Presbyterians, and were soon sup- plied with preaching by a Mr. Black, afterwards by Mr. McAden, from the lower part of the State." It appears that this gentleman was not aware that McAden had previously visited Hico, and found a few families of Presbyterians already there, and that Mr. Pattillo had been invited there in 1758. The emigrants he men- tions formed the congregation of Upper Hico (now Greers) ; from other families Mr. McAden organized Middle Hico (Red House) ; and from the emigration of the Barnet family and their friends, he gathered Barnet's, or Lower Hico.
Mr. Smith states that about the time the Bells settled in the forks, Hugh Barnet, his brother, and their friends, seated them- selves some fifteen or twenty miles southeast of that settlement, and planted a church, which was frequently called Barnet's, sometimes Criswell's, from their first minister, James Criswell, who was licensed by Hanover Presbytery. This church was sometimes also called Lower Hico, and though it has ceased to have a place in the records of the church, it at one time contained more members than any of the sister churches in the State.
There was another church in Caswell of long standing, called Bethany, or Rattlesnake, situated on the road from Milton to Yanceyville, near the residence of Mr. George Williamson. It was never under the care of Mr. McAden. For a long time it was a flourishing church, and for a series of years enjoyed the labors of Rev. Ebenezer B. Currie, now (1846) the oldest mi- nister in Orange Presbytery. This church has been divided, and the old place of preaching abandoned; one part of the church and congregation worshipping in Yanceyville, and the other form - ing the church of Gilead, some five miles southwest of Milton.
Mr. McAden had another place of preaching, and a church or- ganized near Pittsylvania court-house, in Virginia, on which he regularly attended during his life. May the church now rising in Pittsylvania come up like a phoenix from the ashes of the more ancient and almost forgotten, though once flourishing, congrega- tions.
The Bell family, says Mr. Smith, early removed from this to Guilford, carrying their attachment to religion and to Presby-
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terianism along with them, and their descendants are to be found there to this day. Two of the sons of Samuel Bell, and the daughter, Donnell, removed to the west, still carrying their at- tachment to religion and Presbyterianism along with them. The two sons lived to an advanced age. One of them, while on his knees at family prayer, faltered in his voice, and said, " What is this ?"-and ceased to breathe. But of this family, says Mr. Smith (many years since), sprung four preachers of strong com- mon sense, full of zeal, and eminent for piety. By this family much has been done for propagating the gospel in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and the Cherokee nation.
The Covenant of God stands sure. "I will be a God to thee and thy children after thee."
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHURCH OF SUGAR CREEK-ITS FIRST MINISTER, ALEXANDER CRAIGHEAD.
THE first Presbyterian minister that took his residence in Western Carolina, and the third in the State, was Alexander Craighead. In what part of Ireland he was born, or in what year he emigrated to America, is not a matter of record. The name of Craighead is of frequent occurrence in the history of the Church of Scotland and of Ireland, and holds an honorable place among the ministry. The tradition in the family of Mr. Craighead, as related by Mr. Caruthers, was, that his father and grandfather, and perhaps his an- cestors further back, were ministers of the gospel, strongly attached to the church, and reputed as truly pious. A Mr. Thomas Craig- head was among the first ministers of Donegal Presbytery,-a native of Scotland, ordained in Ireland,-emigrating to New Eng- land, and there remaining from 1715 to 1721,-uniting with the Presbytery of New Castle in 1724,-he finished his course in 1738.
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