-----Original Message----- From: Lois Willand <loiswilland@gmail.com> To: ncrowan@rootsweb.com Sent: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 1:22 pm Subject: Re: [NCROWAN] Davis entries Davis, 13-14, After holding this pastorate for four years, he was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury, N. C., was installed as its pastor, November 24, 1860. There he found his life’s work. Taking up the burden of this church with a membership of ninety, he continued to be their faithful and beloved pastor for the remaining years of his life on earth, and forty-five years later he laid it down with a living membership of four hundred thirty-four souls, a glorious harvest for the Master. Eight young men have entered the Gospel ministry, and two-Rev. Dr. 14 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY John W. Davis, of China, and Rev. Robert Coit, of Korea -the foreign missionary field. 42-44, excerpts CHAPTER V THE FIRST COURT As stated on a former page, it is not certainly known where the first Court was held. But from the records in the office of the Superior Court Clerk, in Salisbury, it appears probable that it was held in June, 1753, only a few months after the county was established... These names of men and local 44 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY ities show the extent of the jurisdiction of the Rowan Court, stretching from the Orange line and Dan River to the King’s line, and as far west as the south fork of the Catawba, northwest of Lincolnton. The following were the officers of the c ounty, viz.: Richard Hilliar, Deputy Attorney-General; John Dunn, Court Clerk; James Carter, Esq., County Register; John Whitsett, County Treasurer; Francis Corbin, Esq., Colonel of Rowan Regiment of Foot; Scotton Davis, Captain in Corbin’s Regiment. 99 MOSES WINSLOW Benjamin Winslow or Winsley, as it was first written, obtained a grant of eight hundred and twenty-five acres of land, “on both sides of the South Fork of Davises Creek-waters of Catawba River,” under date of May 11, 1757. 168 The other daughter of Matthew Brandon, named Elvira, became the wife of the Rev. James Davidson Hall, then pastor of Thyatira Church, and left no children. Not far from Thyatira Church, many years ago, there lived two brothers named John Brandon and James Brandon. They were the sons of William Brandon, who settled there as early as 1752. Win. Brandon’s first wife was a Cathey, the mother of John and James. After her death he married a Widow Troy, of Salisbury, and moved to Kentucky. From William Brandon and his second wife there descended in the second generation a family of Davises. Two ladies of this name, granddaughters of William Brandon, lived for a while in Salisbury with Miss Catherine Troy, afterwards Mrs. Maxwell Chambers. One of these young ladies married George Gibson, and moved to Tennessee. The other died in Salisbury, after a short residence here. 217, BACK CREEK has had for ministers, Joseph D. Kilpatrick, A. Y. Lockridge, Thomas E. Davis, S. C. Alexander, W. B. Watts, Robert Bradley, A. E. Chandler, and J. A. Ramsay. PROSPECT CHURCH has enjoyed the ministerial labors of various ministers, among whom are Rev. Messrs. Walter S. Pharr, John LeRoy Davies, John F. McPherson, E. D. Junkin, W. B. Watts, Robert Bradley, Romulus M. Tuttle, William H. Davis, P. T. Penick, and F. P. Harrell. 221, (THE SALISBURY CHURCH) In closing this sketch there are two or three facts that may interest the reader. The first is, that from the beginning this church maintained a well conducted Sunday School, in which many of the most devoted members of the congregation were teachers. The principal superintendents of the Sunday School have been, Thomas L. Cowan, J. J. Blackwood, Colonel Samuel Lemly, D. A. Davis, Philip L. Sink, William Murdock, J. J. Bruner, Samuel H. Wiley, and J. D. McNeely. The ruling elders have been as follows: Albert Torrence, Thomas L. Cowan, Dr. Alexander Long, Michael Brown, Samuel Lemly, Philip L. Sink, D. A. Davis, J. J. Bruner, William Murdock, Thomas McNeely, Dr. J. J. Summerell, J. S. McCubbins, Julius D. McNeely, E. H. Marsh, H. A. Knox, and Orin D. Davis. The deacons have been Julius P. Ramsay, J. J. Summerell, M. D., Obadiah Woodson, John D. Brown, James S. McCubbins, J. A. Bradshaw, John A. Ramsay, John M. Horah, Julius D. McNeely E. H. Marsh, J. K. Burke, T. B. Beall, R A. Knox, Theodore F. Kluttz, Samuel H. Wiley, W. L. Kluttz, and Hugh M. Jones. Within the past ten years the following sons of this church have entered the ministry of the Presbyterian C hurch: Rev. William H. Davis, now laboring in Henderson County; Rev. John W. Davis, 222 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY missionary in Soochow, China; 257-258 The Rev. Robert Davis, whose history is unknown to the writer, officiated in this section of the State, cooperating with Mr. Miller, in the years of 1821-23.1 find his name included in the list of the 258 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY clergy for North Carolina, in Sword’s Almanac for the year 1822, the whole number of clergy being put down at nine, among whom were the Revs. Richard S. Mason (Newbern), and William Hooper, professor in the University of North Carolina. 261, The thirteenth annual convention met in St. Luke’s Church, Salisbury, on Saturday, May 23, 1829. The lay delegates from Christ Church were Charles Mills, Benjamin Harrison, David Cowan, and Dr. W. H. Trent. From St. Luke’s Parish were James Martin, Romulus M. Saunders, Edward Yarboro, and John Beard, Jr. Thomas F. Davis, Jr., afterwards rector of the parish and Bishop of South Carolina, was present as a lay delegate from St. James’ Church, Wilmington. 266-269 REV. THOMAS F. DAVIS, JR. He took charge in November, 1836. The congregations had been suffering from the want of regular religious services, and from the removals of some of the most valuable members of St. Luke’s. Mr. Davis, in his report to the convention of 1837, prayed to “Almighty God to pour upon. these congregations the abundance of his heavenly grace. Their pastor cannot but feel hi s own insufficiency, and deplore the small apparent fruit of his labors.” In 1838, the communicants at St. Luke’s were eighteen; at Christ Church, seventy-eight. One of the largest families connected with St. Luke’s Church had removed to the West during the previous year. Mr. Davis reported “the condition of the church in Salisbury as not encouraging.” “Christ Church was gradually gaining strength.” The delegates to the convention of 1839 from St. Luke’s, were John B. Lord, William Locke, and Charles K. Wheeler-the two former attended. Mr. Davis reported twenty-one communicants at St. Luke’s, and for Christ Church, ninety-one. Confirmations at the latter twenty-one (July 14 and 15, 1838). “There has been a much larger and more interested attendance upon divine ordinances than heretofore. An increased interest in the church then certainly is accompanied with an increased degree of attention to the Word of God. The people of St. Luke’s, entirely of their own accord, have almost doubled the pastor’s salary, and have in every respect exhibited towards him a kind and affectionate regard.” “The children of Christ Church are well acquainted with the Church catechism.” “At Mills’ Settlement, Iredell County, communicants, eighteen. The cause of the Church is on the advance in this part of the country.” The twenty-fourth convention of the Diocese met in St. Luke’s Church, Salisbury, Wednesday, May 13, 1840. St. Andrew’s 0A267 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY Church, Rowan County, was admitted into union with the convention. Vestrymen were Philip Rice, Jacob Correll, Samuel Turner, Joseph Turner, and John Watson. Delegates to convention, Joseph Owens, William Heathman, Samuel Turner, and John Watson. From St. Luke’s, A. Henderson, John B. Lord, Charles A. Beard, William Chambers. From Christ Church, J. E. Dobbin, William Chunn, Thomas Barber, Joseph Alexander. Among the names of many other lay delegates I find the following: Dr. John Beckwith, Raleigh; Thomas S. Ashe, Wadesboro. Convention sermon was preached by Rev. G. W. Freeman, D.D. The Bishop reported that he had visited Salisbury on the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh of July, 1839, preached five times, catechized the children, and confirmed four persons. He stated that it had been an object with him during the year to visit every communicant, and to cathechize every baptized person of suitable age in the Diocese, where there is no clergyman or established congregation; and this object he had nearly accomplished. Mr. Davis was chairman of the committee on the state of the Church and wrote a very eloquent and encouraging report-in which this sentence occurs: “Not captivated by the specious but seducing influences of the day, the Church has remembered always that to her the object of divine faith is her adorable Redeemer and Head; her only law a simple and entire submission to his will and acquiescence in his appointments. She has ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ .” Mr. Davis’ report to the convention shows the following as the condition of his charge: Communicants-St. Luke’s, twenty-five; Christ Church, one hundred; Iredell County, seventeen. The ladies of St. Luke’s had lately realized two hundred and forty dollars from a Fair. The first confirmation at St. Andrew’s Church was on August 30, 1840, when the Church was consecrated. Eleven persons were confirmed. Communicants reported to the convention of 1841: St. Andrew’s, 29; Christ Church, 92; St. Luke’s, 26; confirmations at the latter, 9. Lexington, Mocksville, and Huntsville, had been visited. Rev. C. B. Walker, deacon, had become an assistant minister to Mr. Davis. Bishop Ives, in his address to the convention of 1842, thus alludes to the field of labor under the charge of Mr. Davis. “The counties of Rowan, Davie, Iredell, Davidson, and Surry come under the charge of another faithful Presbyter, with his associate deacon. The missionaries here deserve great attention, and claim, although they have hitherto received comparatively nothing, a share of your bounty. They have been able to sustain themselves only by 268 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY limited private means.” The delegates elected to the convention of 1844, from St. Luke’s, were John W. Ellis, John B. Lord, William Locke, and Archibald H. Caldwell. Mr. Davis removed to Camden, S. C., the latter part of the year 1846, after a continuous residence in Salisbury of ten years. He was admired, respected, and beloved by all who knew him. The parish records of St. Luke’s Church before the rectorship of Mr. Davis are lost, and the records kept by him are incomplete. Mrs. Jane C. Mitchell (now Boyden) is the first name among the list of confirmations, September 9, 1837. The last name is Charles F. Fisher, September, 1846. Among the baptisms is this entry: “July 24, 1844, James Alexander Craige and George Kerr Craige, infants of Burton and Elizabeth Craige, Catawba County.” Among the burials are the following names: November, 1841, Mr. George Baker; August 22, 1843, Mrs. Mary N. Steele; January 24, 1844, W. D. Crawford.” Among the marriages are the following: 1843, Dr. George B. Douglas and Miss Mary Ellis; July, Mr. Charles F. Fisher and Elizabeth Caldwell; November, Mr. N. Boyden to Mrs. Jane Mitchell; Dr. R. Hill to Miss M. Fisher. The record of marriages before the year 1843 has not been preserved. Thomas Frederick Davis was born near Wilmington, February 8, 1840; was a brother of the Hon. George Davis, once a member of the Confederate Cabinet, as Attorney-General, and was educated at the University of North Carolina. Among his seniors were Bishops Green (of Mississippi), and Otey (of Tennessee) ; while among his classmates were also Bishop Polk of Tennessee, the Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, and Judge William H. Battle. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Wilmington and the neighboring counties for several years. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Fleming, of Wilmington, who died in the year 1828. He was shortly thereafter confirmed, and admitted to the Holy Communion. He immediately became a candidate for Holy Orders, and was ordained deacon by Bishop Ives, November 27, 1831. In 1832, he was ordained priest. The first years of his ministry were spent in hard missionary work. The towns of Wadesboro and Pittsboro were one hundred miles apart, and in each of these he gave services on the alternate Sunday, driving in a conveyance from one to the other during the week. He had now married again, his second wife being Ann Ive Moore, also of Wilmington. She was in the habit of accompanying him in his missionary drives; and when the question was once asked where they lived, the answer was truly given in these words: “On the road.” He afterwards became rector of St. James’ 269 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY Church, Wilmington, and remained so for about three years. But he was not long in working himself down. The city missionary work was constantly engaging his attention, and among the poor, the sailors, and the strangers, he was ever ready to do his Lord’s service. He then removed to Salisbury, and occupied during his residence there the house previously owned by Judge Martin, the same known now as the “Presbyterian manse,” where the Rev. J. Rumple resides. While Mr. Davis remained rector of St. Luke’s, a number of young theological students were guided by him in their studies, among others the Rev. Edwin Geer, who married Margaret Beckwi th, a daughter of Dr. John Beckwith and wife, Margaret Stanly, at one time residents of Salisbury, but then of Raleigh. Mrs. Geer was the sister of the present Bishop John W. Beckwith, of Georgia, and both she and her brother were children of Margaret Beckwith, one of the original thirteen members of the first organized Presbyterian congregation of Salisbury. From Salisbury Mr. Davis removed to Camden, S. C., and became rector of Grace Church. He labored there faithfully for nearly six years. In May, 1853, he was elected Bishop of South Carolina. He was consecrated in St. John’s Chapel, New York, October 17, 1853. Bishop Atkinson, of North Carolina, was consecrated at the same time and place. More than thirty Bishops were present. The Bishop-elect of South Carolina was presented by Bishop William M. Green, of Mississippi, and George W. Freeman, of Arkansas. Bishop Davis gradually became totally blind. In 1858, he visited England and the continent of Europe, and consulted the highest medical and surgical authorities. He could not be relived. He never murmured, but bore his trial meekly, patiently, and cheerfully. He died in Camden, December 2, 1871. He was a wise Bishop, a true Christian, a great divine, and a sincere, pure, good man. 269-270 The next pastor of the congregations in Rowan County was the REV. JOHN HAYWOOD PARKER The statistics of his first report, to the convention of 1847, are: Communicants St. Luke’s Church, 30; St. Andrew’s, 49; Christ Church, 89; Mocksville, 9; Lexington, 6; Mills’ Settlement, 17; Huntsville, 4. Mr. Parker endeavored to supply all the stations lately served by Mr. Davis and his assistant, Mr. Charles Bruce Walker. The removal of the Rev. Mr. Davis to South Carolina was a great shock to Bishop Ives. He thus alluded to the subject in his report to the convention: “That such priests as the Rev. Thomas F. Davis should 270 HISTORY OF ROWAN COUNTY be allowed, with the most heartfelt reluctance, to leave the Diocese, and for no other reason than the want of necessaries of life, is to my mind a problem on all Christian grounds beyond the possibility of solution. No circumstance during the fifteen years of my Episcopate has tended so much as this to fill me with sadness and apprehension.” The Diocesan Convention met in St. Luke’s Church, Salisbury, May 24, 1849, and again on May 27, 1857. The delegates elected to the last-named were William Murphy, Charles F. Fisher, Benjamin Sumner, and Luke Blackmer, from St. Luke’s Church; Thomas Barber, Thomas Barber, Jr., Jacob F. Barber, William Barber, Jonathan Barber, Matthew Barber, R. J. M. Barber, and William F. Barber, from Christ Church; George Mills, John A. Mills, Henry M. Mills, Franklin Mills, Andrew Mills, Israel Mills, George Mills, Jr., and Charles Mills, from St. James’ Church, Iredell County. In 1858, Mr. Parker reported the communicants at St. Luke’s to be 74. He departed this life, September 15, 1858, in his forty-sixth year, having been born January 21, 1813. He was baptized, November 7, 1841, by Rev. Thomas F. Davis, rector of St. Luke’s Church; was ordained deacon, May 31, 1846, and priest May 10, 1847, by Bishop Ives. He was married on the --------------day of -----------------------------18 ------ to Miss -------------------------------------who lived only a few months, On January 25, 1854, he was married to Mrs. Ann Lord, widow of the late John B. Lord, and daughter of the late Dr. Stephen L. Ferrand. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire, of Tarboro, who was a brother-in-law of Mr. Parker. Mr. Theophilus Parker is the only surviving child of this union. The Rev. John H. Parker was a faithful servant of Christ, and was greatly beloved by his flock. The parish paid him the honor to erect a handsome marble shaft over his remains, which were buried near the church where he officiated so constantly and acceptably for more than eleven years. His walk and conversation in this world was that of a humble obedient, patient, and God-fearing follower of Christ; and “he died the death of the righteous.” 272, The following statistics of St. Luke’s Parish may prove of interest to the curious. Under Mr. Davis, confirmations, 33; baptisms, 90. 294, Davis, L. M.; appointed Lt. in Company K, Fifth Regiment. 301, COMPANY K Officers Hamilton C. Jones, Capt.; en. May 16, 1861; a. 24; pr. to Lt.-Col. Fifty-seventh Regiment. J. M. Jones, 1st. Lt.; en. May 16, 1861; a. 27. L. M. Davis, 2d. Lt.; en. May 16, 1861; a. 22;=2 0pr. to Capt. 303, FIFTH REGIMENT INFANTRY COMPANY K Private Davis, Jackson; en. July 12, 1861; a. 44; pr. to 5th. Sgt. 324, THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT COMPANY D Private Davis, William; d. of d. at High Point, N. C. 329, FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT COMPANY D Private Davis, Martin; en. March 24, 1862; a. 41. 334, FORTY-SIXTH REGIMENT COMPANY A Privates Davis, James; en. April 23; 1863; a. 40.