A partian History of the Bethesda Methodist Church of Chesterfield County South Carolina was written in 1936 by Flarrie Boan Brooker. This is what was written: "Friends, I would like for you to center your thoughts around Bethesda Church and Cemetery. It is not the most wxpensive building I ever saw neither is it the prettiest to behold but please remember that it does have an interesting history as well as a wealth of spiritual value". "Located thirteen miles southwest of Cheraw and approximately seventy-eight northeast of Columbia, at the intersection of four good county roads. One from Cheraw, one from Patrick, one from Chesterfield, and the other from Sugarloaf and Horseshoe Mountians, which is only six miles away, is a four acre plot of ground on which Bethesda Church, one hundred fourteen years old, ( in 1936), with a membership of one hundred fifty public spirited, God fearing people, (1936), now stands. The Cemetery is also on this plot under the shadow of the valuable hugh longleaf pine trees". "Bethesda church was founded by Reverend John Stephens in 1824. The Stephens family came to South Carolina along with the first settlers. Since early childhood Mr. Stephens had lived in this community, seeing and realizing its many needs. It was so far to a place of worship for the people of now Bethesda District to go, that Rev. Stephens saw the need of a church in this particular community. He told the people of his new idea and they cooperated with him beautifully in constructing the old log church. Rev. Stephens gave land for the church but not in writing. When the land had gone through a number of hands Mr. John Hunt finally became the owner and gave the first deed for four acres". "The little one room church was constructed of logs with one window in the east end overstand. There were only two doors, one was on the north side and one on the west end of the church. They made about thirty benches of modern type. They secured four stools thatwere made by nailing one by two inch planks across eight by ten inch blocks of wood. The roof was made of four foot boards riven by the old fashioned way. The church was about ten feet from foundation to foof with low doors. They used for lights about fifty eight candles which were made by the people in the community from tallow and cotten strings". "Despite the fact that the weather was cold and they had no way of building a fire in the church, they met there every Sunday to worship their true and living God. They used a Christian Harmony Song Book, also the old hymn books with no notes. The preacher relined rhe songs and the people joined in the singing of old hymns such as 'Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound". "Some of the faithdul workers in this old church were John Stephens, Billy Cross, Percy Boan, and John Wadesworth. This church was also used as a school building". "As thisprosperous community became more thickly settled the old log church would not accommodate the people so the members of the church decided to construct a larger building. This was done in 1882. Some of the helpers in construction were: Elisha Boan, A.J. Crowley, Jake Davis, and Lewis Eadesworth. There were others too numerous to mention". They did not tear down the old log building to put the new one in its place but left the treasured remains standing and built the new one about seventy-five yards east of the old one. This was weather boarded structure, not sealed. It was about twenty by forty feet with three doors;, two on the east side and one on the west end near the stand. There were four windows on each side of the church and one little one, two by three feet at the east end over the stand. The roof was made of four by eightenn inch shingles. They used the benches of modern type from the old log church and about twenty more were built. They used 'Upward and Onward' song books. This church was also use d as a school house for some times". "In 1910 the members of Bethesda Church and their pastor, the Reverend Martin, decided to build a larger church. This was done in 1911. The work was directed ny Elisha Boan, Edgar Cross, and Mack D. Roscoe. The members of the church and neighboring friends gave time and money to the construction of this little church now erected in the midst of a long leaf pine thicket. The building is forty feet wide, fifty feet long, with two windows in the north end, five windows on wach side and two doors on the south end. The roof is of cypress singles four by eighteen inches. This building is about twelve feet from foundation to roof. There were more benches made at that time. Mr. Rily (sic) sawed the limber for the benches. Bethesda will now (1936) seat five hundred people comfortably". "There was not a musical instrument of any kind in the church so they borrowed one to use during a protracted meeting. It had to be returned, of course. The church members decided in 1913 that if they had an organ to use all the time they could have a more efficient song service. They bought one for the church wich lasted to 1935 when they bought another one. Now we have a piano, bought about three months ago, (1936)". "The building that now stands is sealed with lumber for which Mr. P.M. Quick paid to have dressed, he being a member of this church. It is painted on the outside, white; and the inside, sky blue". "There is a large cemetery in the church yard. Begun in 1854, the first grave was that of little Freeman of (sic) Mr. Louis Freeman. Mr. William Eddings was the second person laid in the shade of the beautiful long leaf pines, to rest in their shadows for the last eighty four years. Since 1854 this cemetery has grown to a large place, with about two hundred fifty graves. The cemetery was three quarters miles southwest of the church until 1854, then it was moved to the church site. Many worthwhile people in the history of Bethesda Church are resting in the shade of the huge oaks and pines". "The offspring of Mr. John Wadesworth up to the fifth generation are buried here, Mr. Wadesworth was a great help to the first church construction and is buried in the church yard. His son, Louis Wadesworth was a class leader of the church for sixteen years and was later steward. He, too, rest over there where his father is laid. Mr. Billy Cross, Sr., lies waiting his reward in the old churchyard. He helped in building of the first church. His son, Billy Cross, helped to build the second church and was superintendent for a number of years. Billy Cross Jr's son, Edgar, help in the construction of the building which now stands. He has children buried in the cemetery. Percy Boan helped to build the old log church and was trustee for a number of years. He is sleeping peacefully in this old cemetery where he built a mansion on high with his prayers. His son, Elisha Boan, was a great help in the construction of the second church, and was superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty years or more. He was also secretary of the South Carolina Conference for over twenty one years and now he is resting from the service he rendered here on earth in the same old cemetery as his father. Elisha Boan's son, G. W. (George Washington) Boan helped in the building of the third church, the structure that now stands, and has served as a Sunday school superintendent for a number of years. He has both children and grandchildren resting beneath the shadows of the same old pines where their grandfather lies. He too rest over there now". "Mr. Emanuel Grooms help to build the second church, was a cless leader for a number of years, also was superintendant for some time. He finally became a preacher. He has children and grandchildren resting in this cemetery. There are a number of other people who have important places in the history of this old church and wait in this church yard for the great millennial day when our Lord shall come back to earth again". End of Brief History. There are a number of Roscoe family member buried in the Bethesda Church Cemetery. Some of the graves are marked, many are probably not. The following is a list taken from Chesterfield County, South Carolina Cemetery Survey by Mr. James C. Pigg: Foster Elie Roscoe May 22, 1911 July 16, 1982 Chester M. Roscoe 1902 1982 Kirby Roscoe Feb. 21, 1900 Mar 23, 1917 M. D. Roscoe Apr 17, 1871 June 2, 1956 Jenetta Grooms Roscoe Mar 11, 1972 August 1, 1956 Melvin R. Roscoe Mar 1, 1930 August 25, 1949 Winston D. Roscoe May 9, 1895 Sept. 3, 1958 Nancy C. Roscoe Oct 19, 1901 Feb 7, 1939 Katherine Roscoe Feb 13, 1928 Dec 21, 1928 Sarah Frances Roscoe Jun 13, 1927 Jul 29, 1927 Lucas Leggette Roscoe June 6, 1905 Nov 14, 1971 Ethel L. Roscoe Oct 27, 1909 July 14, 1934 Infant son of Mr. & Mrs. T. B. Roscoe June 10, 1939 Infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. T. B. Rosco July 29, 1942 Paul P. Roscoe Nov 8, 1915 Dec 14, 1952 Rachell B. Roscoe August 15, 1878 Jan 26, 1943 Dock R. Roscoe Aug 8, 1864 Dec 1, 1928 Alvenie Roscoe Feb 20, 1912 Apr 6, 1912 Clyde Roscoe Sep 21, 1908 Nov 21, 1941 Tommy Roscoe Nov 22, 1942 May 26, 1955 Mildred Burr Roscoe Jul 29, 1909 Aug 24, 1984 Bogan Roscoe Jan 25, 1896 Dec 4, 1958 Joel Douglas Roscoe Sep 6, 1945 Apr 20, 1992 Can anyone tell me if there are existent records for the Bethesda Methodist Church, especilly the older records, and where they are located (address). The records I am speaking of should contain the names of the church members, dates of birth, Christenings (baptizmals), marriages, dismissals or excommunications, deaths, and burials. I am especilly intersted in the Roscoe and connected families from Chesterfield County. Have done quite a bit of research on these families over the past 30 years but still need to fill in some gaps in the records. Some of the descendant still live in Chesterfield and surrounding counties and many have moved to other states, especially North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. I am in contact with many of these families across the country. Would like to correspond with other for the purpose of exchanging genealogical data. James R. Rasco