USA > New Jersey > Salem County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 81
USA > New Jersey > Gloucester County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 81
USA > New Jersey > Cumberland County > History of the counties of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland New Jersey, with biographical sketches of their prominent citizens, vol. 2 > Part 81
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About 1795, James Lee, of Irish descent, eame to this place from Chester County, Pa., and about 1799 his half brother, Thomas, also settled here. They were among the most enterprising citizens of the place. About 1801, James Lee, in connection with parties in Philadelphia, established works for the manufacture of window-glass, near where they still remain. After a few years Lee removed from the place, and was engaged in manufacturing glass at Millville, and afterwards in building the dam across the Cohansey, above Bridgeton, known as the Tum- bling dam. About 1814 he removed to the West, and died in New Orleans. The glass-works passed into the hands of Joshua Briek, and then to Samnel P. Wetherill, who at first rented them to a firm of which Joseph, John, and Christopher Getsinger, John Wel- ser, and Francis Langraff were members, and after-
wards sold them to those parties about 1816. Weber and Langratl' retired from the firm, and Christopher Getsinger died, and the works were carried on by Joseph and John Getsinger for about thirty year- from the time they first became interestedl in them. After the failure of the Getsingers the works were oh- tained by Charles Townsend and George Cooper, who ran them several years. After Cooper retired Town- send had several different partners, among them John Andrews and Francis Allen, all of which firms failed. Dr. Edmund L. B. Wales became possessed of them, about thirty years ago. They lay idle for a number of years, but a few years ago were started up by Mr. Townsend with John Focer as manager, who carried them on about two years. In May, 1881, William Johnson became manager for the present proprietors, the Whitney Brothers, of Glassboro. Since the start- ing up of these works Port Elizabeth has been more prosperous than for many years past.
The public school building, a two-story frame build- ing, was built in 1854, and a good school is main- tained. A Catholic Church, erceted by the efforts and means of James Ward and the Getsingers, has been taken down and removed to Cape May County, there being no adherents of that faith left. A Quaker meeting-house was erected about fifty years ago on the west side of the creek, but the society has ceased to exist, and the meeting-house is now much dilapi- dated and decayed.
The hotel at this place, built in 1803, was destroyed by fire May 14, 1883.
Port Elizabeth was made a post-town Jan. 1, 1803. J. Hlammet was the first postmaster. The present in- cumbent is Daniel Harris, who was appointed Aug. 26, 1851.
Dorchester .- This village is situated on the banks of Maurice River, about three and a half miles south of Port Elizabeth. Among the tracts of land sur- veyed by John Worledge and John Budd, in 1691, was a twenty-five hundred acre survey set off' as the town plat of Dorchester, which also covered the site of Leesburg. No town, however, was built until long afterward. About 1799, Peter Reeve purchased the land where Dorchester now is, and laid out a town and commenced selling lots in 1800. At that time there were only three houses in the vicinity. The original settlers in this vicinity were mostly Swedes.
The principal business here is ship building, which has been carried on for many years. One of the yards was managed by Blew & Carson, and then by Stiles & Davis, and afterwards by flezekiah Godfrey and Francis L. Godfrey, and then by Smith Godfrey, and since the fall of 1551 by Ellis Reeves, who has a marine railway, and is largely engaged in the re- pairing of oyster vessels. The other yard was com- menced by Baner & Champion nearly thirty years ago, by whom it was carried on until Mr. Champion's
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TOWNSHIP OF MAURICE RIVER.
death, in August. 1881, Mr. Baner having retired from the firm about a year previously. The yard was rented by Vanneman Brother-, of Mauricetown, in 18$2, and they are now building a large three-masted schooner of eight hundred and fifty tons capacity.
The town contains about seventy houses, and has a population of three hundred and twenty-nine. The post-office was established July 25, 1882, with Ellis Reeves as postmaster, who still holds the position.
Leesburg is one mile below Dorebester, and is sit- nated on a fine site on the bank of the river. It was established by two brothers named Lee, about 1795. They were ship-carpenters, and came from Egg Har- bor. An old graveyard formerly existed along the bank of the river, which has been partly washed away, and was probably the burying-place of the early Swedish settlers of this vicinity. William Car- lisle, long one of the leading citizens of the place, went there in 1795, when there were only two or three houses there. It has been a place for building coast- ing vessels ever since the first settlement, and it is almost the only business at the present day. A ship- yard was established in 1795 by John Lee and his brother, shipwrights, after whom the town was named. The late James Ward, an influential and enterprising citizen, built a marine railway for the repair of ves- sels in 1850, which has been extensively patronized ever since. Mr. Ward died in 1863, when it passed into the possession of Enos Harker, and then to John Russell, the present proprietor, who moved to Leesburg in 1869. Mr. Russell employs about thirty men in the ship-yard, and launches at least one large vessel every year.
The population of the place is four hundred and seventy-three. The post-office was established, with James Ward as postmaster, Dec. 4, 1838. The pres- ent officer is D. G. Carlisle, appointed Oct. 19, 1870.
Heislerville is a small village, about three and one-half miles south of Leesburg, which was named after the Heisler family, long resident in the vicinity, and of which George Heisler, who kept a store here for many years, and was a leading citizen in the community, was a wember. Its residents are princi- hands of Hollinshead & Platt, merchants of Phila- pally engaged in the oyster industry. The popula- delphia, and afterwards became the property of Ed- ward Smith, of Philadelphia, by whom the business was carried on profitably until 1840, when the supply of wood for the manufacture of charcoal, with which the ore was smelted, being exhausted, the iron-works were abandoned, and soon decayed. tion of the village is about one hundred, beside whom the road leading to Leesburg is thickly settled, and for over a mile might be considered a part of the vil- lage. The post-office, established Jan. 4, 1875, with Ephraim P. Sharp as postmaster, is now under charge of Joel Sayre, appointed April 19, 1882.
Ewing's Neck is a post-village and country neigh- borhood, about two miles east of Heislerville, and near West Creek, the eastern boundary of the county. It contains a Methodi-t Church and a school-house. The population of the whole neighborhood is about three hundred. The post-office was established Jan. 9, 1851, with Joel S. Robinson as postmaster, and is now in charge of Horace P. Bickley, appointed Feb. 28, 1881.
Bricksboro .- This village was laid out by Joshua Brick, who commenced selling lots in 1807, but the place did not grow very fast, there being no business carried on to support it. It is about three-quarters of a mile south of Port Elizabeth, and contains about one hundred and twenty-five inhabitants. Its post- office is Port Elizabeth.
Belle Plain is a village on the West Jersey Rail- road, near the line of Cape May County. It has grown up within the last twenty years, since the open- ing of the railroad to Cape Island, and is a flourishing village. The population is over one hundred. The post-office was established Jan. 16, 1867, George W. Blinn being the first incumbent. The present occu- pant is Rettie M. Goff, appointed Oct. 8, 1878.
Manamuskin is a station on the West Jersey Rail- road, about one and one-half miles northeast of Port Elizabeth. It is the railroad station for that and the other villages along Maurice River, in the upper part of the township. The post-office was established June 30. 1864, Timothy Hoyt being the first postmaster. George W. Stevens, appointed Oct. 16, 1878, now fills the office.
Manamuskin Manor is about two miles north of the station of that name, on Manamuskin Creek, and is now a country neighborhood, lying around the church and the saw-mill; the water-power, formerly driving a thriving industry, being now only used to run the latter. The neighborhood contains a popu- lation of one hundred and sixty.
The country bordering on the Manamuskin and Menantico was originally covered with large timber, and saw-mills were put up on the streams at an early date, the one at Leaming's Mill being built as early as 1720. Eli Budd, of Burlington County, became a Methodist, and removed to Maurice River, and bought the property on the upper part of the Manamuskin, and put up a forge for the manufacture of iron. Ilis son Wesley, with one or two persons from Philadel- phia, built a blast-furnace at Cumberland Furnace, as Manamuskin Manor was then called, about 1810. They failed in 1818, and the property passed into the
During the carly part of this century the manufac- ture of iron in blast-furnaces was carried on to a con- siderable extent in this and adjoining counties. The ore used was bog ore, dug in the swamps of Downe and other townships, and in Gloucester and Burling- ton Counties. The quantity found in this county was not very large. It was also brought here from Dela- ware, and from Burlington County. The charcoal used to smelt the iron was the most bulky, and there- fore the furnaces were located near the fuel, and the
718
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
ore brought to them. These blast-furnaces have long since disappeared, and the manufacture of iron in that way has ceased.
A saw- and grist-mill were also maintained at Cum- berland Furnace for many years, but the grist-mill went down about the same time as the furnace. The saw-mill is now run by Wilson, Cornelius, and Wes- ley Banks, and is owned, together with the tract of about twenty thousand acres adjacent to it, by the heirs of Richard D. Wood. Upon the death of Ed- ward Smith the property descended to his son, Thomas, and his daughter, the wife of Dr. J. T. Sharp, who bought out the share of Thomas Smith, and sold the property to the heirs of Richard D. Wood.
Schooner Landing, on the Menantico, about a mile below where the railroad now crosses, was at one time a place of some importance. In 1793 the property here was purchased by Fithian Stratton, who laid out a town in 1800, which he named after himself, "Stratton Burrough," the last part so spelled for "Borough." The road from Millville to Port Elizabeth passed through here, and was straightened and relaid in 1803. About a dozen houses were erected, and he endeavored to secure a direct road to Bridgeton, and a bridge over Maurice River west of the place, hoping thus to get ahead of Millville, but was unsuccessful. After the establishment of the straight road from Port Elizabeth to Millville the road through Schooner Landing was vacated, and the bridge over the stream removed. The place went to decay, the houses have been removed, and nothing is left of the projected borough.
FREEHOLDETS.
1718. Gabriel I-zard. John l'urple.
1742. Abraham Jones.
Thumuas Peterson.
1750-51. Gabriel lezard. William Jones. 1752. Thomas Petorson. Gabriel I-zard.
1753. Abraham Jones. Jobn Hoffman.
1751.
1753. Abraham Jones. John Hoffman.
1756. John Huffman. 1757 .- 1
1758. Abraham Jones. Willlam Willis.
1750-60. --- -
1761. Abraham Joues. David 1.ldredge. 1762.
1790. James Jess. Joshua Brick.
1791-93. James Jess. Willlara Peterson.
1791.
1795. llenry Peeves. Joho Erricheou.
1796. Jonathan Dullas. John Chance. 1797. Elemuel I'dwards. llency Reeves. 1798. Maurice Beesley. Daniel Heller.
1799. Daniel Helaler.
1759. Archibald Stewart.
1-34-36. William Arey.
150-1. Janus I.e. 1837. Jonathan Lare. Jonath in Doilas. Israel Stratton.
1802. James I.de. James Jolinson.
Joshua Brick.
1803. Jonathan Dollas. Kli Bud.
1804. Joshua Brick. Jouathan Dallas.
1843-45. Jonatlıau Lore. John Spenco. 1816-47. Jonathan Lore. Owen Jones. 1848-51. James Ward. Stephen Murphy.
1805. Henry Reeves. Jonathan Pollas.
1806-7. James Lee. Jonathan Dollas.
1855. Stephen Murphy. David Cullen.
ISOS.
1800. Jonathan Dollas.
T.evan Chatco.
1863. Stephen Murphy.
1810. Jonathan Dollas.
James Ward (part of year).
Dr. Benjamin Fisler.
1811-12. Jonathan Dollas. William Petersan.
Joel S. Robinson iremainder of year). 1864-66. Stephen Murphy.
1513-21. John Elkinton. Joel S. Robinson.
- Jonathan Pollas.
1867. Stephen Murphy.
1822. Jonathan Dollas. Dauiel Carrell.
Hezekiah W. Godfrey.
1823. Jonathan Dollas.
Jolın Elkinton.
1876-76. Francis L. Godfrey. Benjamin F. Shaw.
Jonathan Lore.
1927. Jonathan Lore. Owen Jones.
1877. Benjamin F. Shaw. Francis I. Godfrey (part of year).
1828-32. Jonathan Loro; Israel Sualtun.
Thomas S. Shaw (remainder of year).
1833. Jonathan Lora.
1578. Benjamin F. Shaw.
William Lore.
1834-36. Jonathan Lore.
Thomas S. Shaw. 1879-83. Thomas S. Shaw.
CHURCHES.
Port Elizabeth Methodist Episcopal Church,- During the year 1773, Benjamin Abbott, having been converted the year before and joined the Methodists, entered upon his work as an evangelist. Abbott at that time resided in Pittsgrove township, Salem Co. Mr. Abbott was, doubtless, the most remarkable man of early Methodism. Stevens, in speaking of him, says, "Religious biography hardly record- his fellow, except it be in the 'glorious dreamer' of Bedford jail. Ilis early life had been riotously wieked, and not- withstanding the spirit of God had often alarmed his guilty suul of its danger, he continued in sin until the fortieth year of his age. When, after the most des- perate resistance and a struggle with despair itself, he sought relief in the labors of the field, his troubled heart beat so lond that he could hear the strokes. Finally yielding, he threw down his scythe, and stood werping for his sin's, Such is the reclaiming, the sub- lime strength of conscience in the rudest soul, when once awakened." In 1778, Abbott attended a quar- terly meeting at Maurice River, very probably at Port Elizabeth. Doubtless about this time, a society was organized at this place. A Mr. Donnelly, who was a local preacher there, died in 1783, and is buried in the Methodist graveyard. Oct. 1, 1785, for the nominal sum of five shillings, Mrs. Elizabeth Bodely, who owned nearly all of the land in the neighborhood of Port Elizabeth, and after whom the town is named, gave a lot, containing one acre and twenty-seven- hundredths, " for the purpose of building a preaching-
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.
1771.
1772. Jonathan Sintth. Thon: 33 Daniels. 1773-74. Jonathan Becstoy. Jonathan Sin:th. 1775. Derick Peterson. Jonathan Beesley.
1776. Derick Peterson. Daviıl Lore.
1777. 1778-79. Gearge MeGlaughlin. 1780. Gearge McGloughlin. William Furnace. 1781. Flemuel Edwards. Henry Reeves.
1752 .-- 17:3-84. Elemuel Edwards. 17/5-89. Joshua Brick. Elemuel Edwards.
1703. liandolph Daniels. Abraham Joues.
1704. Andrew Godfrey, Joung Hoffman. 1705. Thomas Daulels. Elemnel Lolwards.
170G. Elemuel Edwarda. 1767-09.
1770. Abrabarn Jones. Richard Swain.
1838-42. Jonathan hore.
1856-02. Stephen Murphy. James Ward.
1868-74. J. Howard Willets. Francis L. Godfrey.
1-24-26. Daniel Carroll.
719
TOWNSHIP OF MAURICE RIVER.
house on and a burying-yard, and to build a school- house for the use of the neighborhood after the said meeting-house is built." The deed is given to " Philip Cressey, Esq., and Abraham Walton, of county of Cape May, Henry Firth, of county of Salein, James Sterling, Esq., of county of Burlington, John Cham- pion, Esq., of county of Gloucester, and William Furnis, Daniel Heisler, Eli Budd, and Martin Long, of Maurice River, in county of Cumberland, trustees chosen in behalf of the society of people called Meth- odists of the Episcopal Church." The church was probably crected the following year, 1786.
Dr. Benjamin Fisler, who entered the traveling connection, and continued as circuit rider for a few years, his health no longer permitting that, located there, and was a very prominent citizen, member of the church, and acceptable local preacher for tifty years. Ile was born in 1769, and was converted at Fislerville, now Clayton, Gloucester Co. Ile com- menced traveling as a preacher in 1791, in Nova Scotia, and in 1797 traveled on the Salem Cirenit, and located, in 1792, at Port Elizabeth, where he practiced medicine. He died July 4, 1854. Fithian Stratton, of Schooner Landing, on the Menautico, an eccentric man, was for a number of years a famous local preacher. He died in 1810.
About 1814, Bishop George, who was esteeined as a great and good man, remained at Port Elizabeth for a season, and preached there.
In IS27 the present brick church was built. Dr. Benjamin Fisler furnished the plan and superintended its erection.
The ministers who have served this church have always done so in connection with several other churches.
In 1781 the whole of South Jersey was included in the West Jersey Circuit, and the ministers of this circuit were as follows :
1781 .- Caleb Pedicord, Joseph Cromwell. In No- vember of this year they seem to have been changed, and James O. Cromwell and Joseph Everett were sent to labor in their stead.
1782 .- Joshua Dudley, Richard Ivy.
1783 .- Samuel Rowe, Francis Spry.
1784 .-- Samuel Rowe, William Partridge, Jolin Fidler.
1785 .- Thomas Ware, Robert Sparks, William Phoebus.
1786 .- Jacob Brush, Jolin Simmons, Jacob Lurton.
1787 .- Robert Cann, John McClaskey, John Mil- burn.
1788 .- Nathaniel B. Mills, John Cooper.
1789 .- Samuel P'yle, Jethro Johnson, Sylvester wiek Rusling.
Hutchinson.
1790 .- Joseph Cromwell, William Dougherty.
1791 .- James Bell, Jobn Clark.
1792 .- Benjamin Abbott, David Bartine.
1793 .-- Willson Lee, Hugh Work.
1794 .- Richard Swain, Anthony Turek.
1795 .- Moses Crane. Jacob Egbert.
1790 .- Robert McCoy, Peter Vannest.
1797 .- William MeLenahan, Benjamin Fisler.
179S .- Jacob Egbert, Jesse Justice.
1799 .- Richard Swain, Wesley Budd ; Freeborn Garrettson, presiding elder.
1800 .- Richard Swain, Richard Lyon ; Solomou Sharp, presiding elder.
1801 .- Thomas Edwards, Asa Swain.
In 1802 Salem Circuit was divided into Salem and Cape May Circuits, and Jesse Justice and David Dunham were appointed to Salem Circuit, in which Port Elizabeth remained.
1803 .- John Walker, John Durbin.
Quarterly Meeting was held on March 5th, at Port Elizabeth.
180L-John Walker, John Durbin.
In 1805, Salem and Cape May were again made one cirenit under the former name, and John Walker and Nathan Swain were appointed preachers. Quarterly Meeting was held this year at Port Elizabeth.
1806 .- William Mills, Caleb Kendall.
In 1807 Cumberland Circuit was formed, including Port Elizabeth and all the southern and castern por- tion of Cumberland County, and the preachers ap- pointed to this circuit were David Bartine and Joseph Stephens.
ISOS .- William Smith, Charles Reed.
1809 .- Daniel Ireland. John Fox.
1810 .- Samuel Budd, Daniel Ireland.
1811 .- Michael Coates, presiding elder; Thomas Dunn, Joseph Bennett.
1812 .- William Smith, Joseph Bennett.
1813 .- William Swain, Daniel Fidler.
1814 .- Daniel . Fidler, Daniel Ireland.
1815 .- Solomon Sharp, Nathan Swain; James Smith, presiding elder.
1816 .- Solomon Sharp, Thomas Davis.
1817 .- Thomas Neal, Thomas Davis.
1818 .- Thomas Neal, John Creamer.
1819 .- Edward Stout, John Creamer; Lawrence McCombs, presiding elder.
1820 .- Edward Stout, Daniel Fidler.
1821 .- John Finley, John Collins.
1822 .- John Finley, James McLaurin.
1823 .- Edward Page, Eliphalet Reed; Jacob Moore, presiding elder.
1824 .- Edward Page, Eliphalet Reed.
1825 .- William Williams, William Lnumis.
1826. - William Williams, William Lummis ; Charles Pitman, presiding elder.
1827 .- John Woolson, Robert Gerry, and Sedge-
1828 .- John Woolson, Sedgewick Rusling, and Jo- seph Ashbrook.
1829-30 .- Watters Burroughs, James Ayars.
1831 .- William Folk, William Stevens.
1832 .- William Folk, Nathaniel Chew.
1833,-John Henry, Joseph Ashbrook.
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720
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
1834 .- Elward Stout. George Raybold.
1835 .- Nathaniel Chew, George Rayboll.
1836 .- William Williams, J. W. MeDougall. 1837-38 .- J. J. Sleeper, Thomas G. Stewart. 1839-10 .- J. F. Crouch, Thomas G. Stewart.
1841-12 .- J. Loudenslager, George Jennings. Dur- ing 1842 Mr. Jennings' health failed, and Dr. Perdew was supply.
1843 .- Abraham Gearhart, Levi Herr.
1844 .- D. Duffield, William Rogers. During this year Mr. Rogers failed, and Samuel Parker was sup- ply.
1845 .- D. Duffield, Joseph Gaskill.
1846 .- Thomas Christopher, Joseph Gaskill.
1847 .- N. Edwards, S. B. Beegle. Mr. Beegle left the circuit, and S. Parker was again supply.
1848 .- N. Edwards, James White.
1849-50 .- Joseph Atwood, J. T. Caufield.
In 1851 Cumberland Circuit, by that name, ceased to exist, and Port Elizabeth Circuit was created ; Mill- ville, Woodruff's, and Willow Grove being made MIill- ville charge.
1851 .-- A. K. Streets, W. A. Brooks.
1852 .- William A. Brooks, William Walton.
1853 .- E. Watters, J. B. Heward.
In 1854 another change was made, and the river made a dividing line ; Leesburg, Heislerville, and West Creek being taken from Cape May Circuit, and added to Port Elizabeth Circuit.
1854 .- E. Watters, B. O. Parvin.
1855 .- Furman Robbins, William MeCormac.
1856 .- Furman Robbins, M. H. Shimp.
1857 .- William Waltou, N. B. Todd.
1858 .- William Walton, Garner II. Tullis.
1850 .- John S. Beegle, Joseph G. Crate.
1860 .- John S. Beegle.
1861 .- James Vanzant.
1802 .- James Vanzant, J. L. Roc.
1863-64 .- David MeCurdy, Ananias Lawrence. 1865 .- Henry G. Williams, George White.
1866-68 .-- Henry G. Williams, William Moffatt.
1869 .- J. B. Turpin, John W. Morris.
1870 .-- J. B. Turpin, John W. Morris.
1871 .- J. B. Turpin, J. O. Downs.
Up to 1872 Port Elizabeth, Dorchester, Leesburg, Heislerville, West Creek, and Cumberland Furnace formed the circuit.
1872 .- Calvin C. Eastlack.
This year the circuit was divided into two part-, the lower one called West Creek Circuit. Port Eliza- beth, Dorchester, and Leesburg formed Port Elizabeth Circuit after 1872.
1873-74 .- C. C. Lasdack.
1875-76,-James Vanzant.
1877-78 .- Furman Robbins.
1879-81 .- Godfrey E. Hancock.
1882-S3 .- Charles W. Livezly.
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1800. Services were first held at a private hou-r in the vicinity. Permission was obtained to preach in a school-house, a little north of the present church, where services were continued until the house be- came too small and much impaired for school pur- poses, when a larger one was used until a church wa- erected.
Feb. 15, -1828, members met at George Hei-ler's and elected trustees, who were directed to buy a lot on which to build a church. The lot was bought and the house erected, and was occupied until the pre -- ent one was built. The old one being too small and somewhat dilapidated, they determined to build a new one.
In the spring of 1862, Noah Edwards and J. W. Hickman, preachers of Cape May Circuit, met at George Heisler's, and made arrangements to raise funds. The trustees of the church bought a lot, and during the following summer the neat and comfort- able church was erected, and completed free of debt. Revs. J. W. Hickman and J. Heisler officiated, as- sisted by Charles S. Downs and Henry Trombower, who traveled. Cape May Circuit that year.
After West Creek Circuit was created, in 1872. em- bracing West Creek, in Cape May County, Heisler- ville, and Ewing's Neck, the following have been the preachers on this circuit : 1872-744, John Hugg, (during the pastorate of Mr. Hugg the church was repaired at a cost of four hundred dollars) ; 1875-77, Joseph G. Reed ; 1878, James F. Morell ; 1879, Levi Herr; 1880-82, Albert Matthews; 1883, William A. Lilley.
Leesburg Methodist Episcopal Churcht .- Lees- burg society was formed, as near as can be ascertained, about 1806. The class met at George Heister's, who lived two and a half miles northeast of Leesburg. There was preaching at his residence several years. The society then moved to Joab Swain's, who lived on the bank of Maurice River. A subscription-list to build a church was opened Ang. 6, 1810. The so- ciety was incorporated July 7, 1811, and on Septem- ber }, following, a deed was given of one aere of land for the consideration of one hundred dollars, by Joab Swain and wife to Thomas Henderson, George Ileis- ler, Orrice Riggins, Thomas Shropshire, and James Worth, trustees of the Methodi-t Episcopal Church or meeting house, called and known by the name of "Cana of Leesburg." The house was completed and dedicated May 24, 1812.
Dec. 28, 1831, a meeting was held, and a new board of trustees elected ais successors of the first ones, viz., James L. Chambers, George Heisler, Philip Nicholson, William Rice, and Nathan Shaw, who were duly sworn in. Other boards of trustees have since been elected.
A meeting was held May 21, 1863, when the build- ing of a new house was considered. It was re- solved to build, and Benjamin F. MeKeag, John
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