Oops! Website is here: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/allegheny/history/local/kussart1-30.txt Linda Merle ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

Thomas H. Mullin, Aghadowey (Belfast, 1972) is an outstanding local history. It may be hard to find in the States. Aghadowey was mainly in the Ironmongers Company estate from the Plantation of Londonderry. It was leased to various parties in the 18th century. The Jackson family, who leased the Clothworkers estate as well, held some townlands in Aghadowey Parish on a long-term lease. There is a good collection of their leases to their tenants, rent rolls, etc. at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in D/668 (Jackson Papers). The Church of Ireland records for this parish prior to 1870 were among those sent to Dublin and destroyed when the four Courts burned. Records of Aghadowey Presbyterian congregation begin in 1845 and are apparently complete since then. If you check the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland website at _www.proni.gov.uk_ (http://www.proni.gov.uk) there is a geographical index that will tell you what records from Aghadowey Parish can be found in PRONI. You can call up individual townlands on their in-house computers and discover what is available, but I'm not sure that this can be done from the website. All the best, Richard MacMaster

Hi Folks, The following website has a history of a ward of Pittsburgh that gives a detailed picture of the area in the French and Indian War and afterwards. It details the WOODS family, including Indian captives, etc. Many of these people lived in Bedford till Pittsburgh was 'settleable'. Here's a bit: "The founder of the Woods family in America was George Woods, member of a family of Scotch origin, resident in Ireland. He married Rosanna Hall in Ireland, and emigrated with his family from Dungannon County, Ireland, to America, prior to 1733. He was probably accompanied by his brother, John Woods. In 1740, George Woods took the oath of allegiance in Philadelphia, and he settled in Tuscarora, prior to 1754. In religion he was a Presbyterian, and by occupation an Indian trader and packer, owning large trains of horses used in transporting merchandise of all kinds from Harris' Ferry (Harrisburg) to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) and the intervening settlements, and bringing on the return trip packs of furs and skins. By 1762, George Woods was living at Fort Bedford (Bedford) where his children and their families had preceded him. George Woods, founder of the Woods family in Pennsylvania, had four children, all born in Ireland. (1)." Linda Merle ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

Hi Richard, The PRONI catalog is not available over the Internet. The Linen Hall Library's used to be (www.google.com, folks: that's how I find it) and it would be likely to have more published parish histories than PRONI. Also Ryan "Irish Records" often identifies books on parishes. Also "Doing Irish Local History" by Gillespie. Also "Irish Towns: A Guide to Sources" Edited by WIlliam Nolan and Anngret Simms. Not all our ancestors lived in the country and hoed potatoes. Many were blacksmiths, merchants, and business owners. So its good to know the basics on researching town records. The catalog at www.familysearch.org often has local parish histories. Sometimes you can find copies at www.ulsterbooks.com, via abebooks on the Internet and British book sellers. "IRish Towns" has a great bibliography that lists items by town and includes articles. (The periodicals may be in FHL. I've ordered any number on fiche and film). We often remind people here that the ports used in the past are not the ones we use today as many smaller ships could use much smaller ports. For example "Portaferry, Co Down: an article by J Blaney "Portaferry shipping in two centuries" in the Upper Ards Historical Society Journal, xi (1989), pp. 100 -105. Very best! Linda Merle ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: RKMacmaster@aol.com Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2006 11:24:26 EST >Thomas H. Mullin, Aghadowey (Belfast, 1972) is an outstanding local history. > It may be hard to find in the States. > >Aghadowey was mainly in the Ironmongers Company estate from the Plantation >of Londonderry. It was leased to various parties in the 18th century. The >Jackson family, who leased the Clothworkers estate as well, held some townlands >in Aghadowey Parish on a long-term lease. There is a good collection of >their leases to their tenants, rent rolls, etc. at the Public Record Office of >Northern Ireland in D/668 (Jackson Papers). > >The Church of Ireland records for this parish prior to 1870 were among those >sent to Dublin and destroyed when the four Courts burned. > >Records of Aghadowey Presbyterian congregation begin in 1845 and are >apparently complete since then. > >If you check the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland website at >_www.proni.gov.uk_ (http://www.proni.gov.uk) >there is a geographical index that will tell you what records from Aghadowey >Parish can be found in PRONI. You can call up individual townlands on their >in-house computers and discover what is available, but I'm not sure that >this can be done from the website. > >All the best, >Richard MacMaster > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

I have pinpointed my Semple ancestors to County Derry, Aghadowey Parish in the townlands of Killykergan and Garvagh. Do books such as Falley address research in specific counties or parishes, or are there books you could recommend that concentrate specifically on these areas? My time frame is roughly 1820-1880. Thanks Troy Semple

I am looking for information about the parents of William HOBSON of County Armagh. Here is the information that I have available. 1. William Hobson-[501] was born in Ireland and died before 1852 in Wilmot, Ontario. William married Mary Ann Compton-[502] [MRIN:175]. Known children from this marriage were: + 2 M i. Robert Hobson-[404] 1, 2, 3, 4 was born on 14 May 1818 in Armagh, Ireland3, 4, 5, died on 31 Jan 1910 in Stratford, ON and was buried in Stratford, ON. I kow this is not much to go on. William and Robert are relatives of Nick Anderson. I am the 6,7,8X great grandson of Francis HOBSON I, II, III. Nick and I are trying to find a connection between the two HOBSON families. Thank you for any help you can provide. Forrest Plumstead fplum1@gmail.com Researching the following Surnames: Bushouse, Plumstead, Risser, Schroeder, Senne, Thayer, Quaker Families: Coppock, Heald, Hobson, Hollingsworth, Potts, Ross, Watt Plumstead and Associated Families: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fplum/ Military Kool Lynx: http://geocities.com/fplum/ Ham Radio WB5HQO http://forrest.3h.com/main.html

I am hoping that someone on this list can be assistance as I seem to have hit a brick wall. I am seeking ancestral information on Margaret Hamilton, born around 1822 in Antrim NI, parents were John Hamilton and Eliza Martin. Margaret Hamilton married Hugh Shannon, my g.g.grandfather, in Glasgow on 12 October 1838. All avenues open to me so far have closed up so I am now appealing to this list for assistance. Andrew

I am hoping that this list will be able to assist me in finding information on my g.g.g.grandfather and grandmother as all avenues open to have failed. John Shannon (Land Factor) and Martha McLure (Domestic Servant) were, as far as I know, born in Northern Ireland. These two are listed as the parents of Hugh Shannon who married Margaret Hamilton and settled in Hawick, Roxburgh. I have not been able to find out if they married and had further children as Hugh Shannon was noted as being illegitimate. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Andrew

This is my first time to see the Scotch-Irish web and I have a question. The "brick wall' relative I am researching was a rock quarry-miner (not sure which one). I have read where rock workers and iron and coal miners were brought in to late 1700 colonies to deal with early mining. I have also read where sometimes these were "clandestine" immigrations as they didn't want government to know . Does anyone have knowledge, reference or notes on miners imported, clandestine or not? My family surnames: DUNMIRE, FAGAN, CARMICHAEL Ann agatha1@flash.net

Hi Ann, You probably need to do additional research in what ever place this person manifested to learn where they came from. I am puzzled by your reference to 'clandestine' immigrations! As the British gov had no laws restricting emigration or demanding that migrants to the colonies 'register', we know very little about who came to America in the colonial era. There was no need to 'hide' from a government that is not looking for you. For reference I urge you to read "The People of British North America: An Introduction" by Bernard Bailyn. He wrote a very large book that analyzes the very short period of the 1770s when the British gov did become concerned about emigration and attempted to gather the names and occupations of those leaving. This effort was only partially successful. After the revolution in the period leading to the War of 1812, laws were passed in Britain restricting emgration to unskilled laborers. Hence many people are very wrong about their ancestor's occupation, which he gave to get out of the country. Linda Merle ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Ann HeInz" <agatha1@flash.net> Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 16:12:15 -0600 >This is my first time to see the Scotch-Irish web and I have a question. >The "brick wall' relative I am researching was a rock quarry-miner (not sure >which one). I have read where rock workers and iron and coal miners were >brought in to late 1700 colonies to deal with early mining. I have also read >where sometimes these were "clandestine" immigrations as they didn't want >government to know . > Does anyone have knowledge, reference or notes on miners imported, >clandestine or not? >My family surnames: >DUNMIRE, FAGAN, CARMICHAEL >Ann >agatha1@flash.net > > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

Chris was born about 1700 in (probably) Scotland, came to Massachusetts in 1719. VR's often cite name as Askin, Arskine, etc. Has anybody anything about him before he landed here??

Hi folks, Today the March/April Everton's Genealogical Helper arrived. I was very happy indeed as I had missed it dreadfully (went into abeyance thar for a while and my subscription lapsed, etc. Then I joined their library, which gives you access to Proquest....). If you've not read it, check it out at a local Borders or other store with lots of mags. The website is http://www.everton.com/ . Anyway in it is an article on becoming a better genealogists. It also has an article on the migration of Canadians into the USA with a nice map showing 'where they went'. A third of our ancestors came that way, so you won't find them in post 1820 american ship lists. Forget border crossings -- we got those from about 1900. Anyway the map was very useful. Plus an article on solving dead ends. I am not sure you can read enough of these. However in the back of my aging brain I had pasted a note to myself to figure out what this ipod thing was. Clearly I have fallen off the tech wagon as I don't have one. I don't even want one. But I've started to see content I wanted to read appear in it. There's an article on ipods and how you can download free software (itunes) to listen to them on your computy and not have to fork out more money to Radio Shark or whoever. This was great news as my computy is now in good shape after $600s I spent on it last week. GH is a good place to learn about newly published cds, books, etc. I ain't that far in it yet! Linda Merle ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

Hi Andrew, Do you know how common the surname Shannon is? YOu don't provide any dates so we can find you a zillion. Search IGI (www.familysearch.org) for lots <grin>. In both your queries you say that this list is your last resort. That suggests to me that there is a lot more that you could do. You have run out of search strategies after apparently doing a lot of work, whatever that means. It might mean you have done a lot of internet surfing. Donno! IT's different for us all. However there is ONE SOLUTION to this! So no matter where it is we are stuck, here is the way to get unstuck: LEARN MORE. There are only two places that any of us doing genealogy should ever be stuck: we are stuck waiting to get access to a record we know exists and that we hope will be our big breakthrough or we are stuck because we need to LEARN MORE. Ie we don't know what to do next. To LEARN MORE we need to find sources that know more than we do already. Where do we go to do that? NOT an internet list. An Internet list is full of people who don't know what to do next and hoping to get lucky, like ourselves. To find people that know a lot more than ourselves, we take courses (many are free on the internet), read books and articles, and join genealogy societies (and attend their meetings and seminars). People who do KNOW MORE are recognised by their peers as being experts in an area or in teaching people like ourselves, do not hang out on these lists. They are busy writing books, preparing lectures, and .... learning more! They NEVER stop learning. Even people that have spend 10 years or more obtaining records for people from the Scottish Archives, for example, feel they know little. The more they do the more they realize they don't know much. On the other hand, people on Internet lists get insulted if you suggest that there might be more for them to learn. That's why they are on these lists instead of writing Vol 3 of their family history or giving talks. Exactly what has the info you need now is hard to say. When I get stuck, I always LEARN MORE and I have found the following: 1. Learn more about how to do genealogy in the areas you are trying to do it in. Have you read a couple books on Scottish genealogy this year? How about Irish? Or articles? have you attended a seminar? There are free daily genealogy newsletters you can sub to and learn a little more every day...on and on it goes. 2. Study the history of the place. OFten this'll result in breakthroughs, esp. in Ireland, as Irish genealogy is, as the truism goes, local history, local history, local history. You arent' there yet but a study of Irish history will help you. 3. Follow your intuition. Often that will lead yo to what you need to learn. Probably you need to study more Scottish genealogy. Irish records are not good. You must always, always, squeeze every bit out of Scottish records because the IRish are not good. esp. with common names, you absolutely must learn to use Scottish censuses, civil registration, and estate records. It's not possible to give you specific suggestions becauase you dont' give us dates or religion, so we can't say "try Irish civil registration' as we don't know when your ancestors were born -- before or after it began. However I will say that people didn't hire servants who didn't have references and who they didn't know. OFten their house servants came from their estates or the estates of their friends, relatives, and neighbors. Those all could have had estates in Ireland. A study of the employer's family records, OPRs, vital registration (whatever) will disclose the size of their estate and the names of their friends. I learned about this in a seminar on estate records....I forgot everything else in it so I better take it again <grin>. The trouble with looking for servants and townspeople in Ireland is that there are few records of them. They are not in several 19th century census substitutes because those are essentially land tax records (Tithe Applotments, etc). There are no surviving complete censues till 1901. We do get by, but you need to learn how to do Irish genealogy and you need family data. Perhaps you have heard (if not, you need to study up on Irish genealogy) that it's not psosible to research poor people in Ireland before about 1820. That's because of the lack of 19th century census records and then the loss of church records. However sometimes YOU CAN succeed if you learn a lot and are lucky with your ancestors. One really important strategy is to resaerch the estate records. You will need to begin to do that in Scotland and then look for connections to estates in Ireland. Luckily there is a HUGE amount of info on the PRONI website: www.proni.gov.uk . It often provides information linking to estates elsewhere in the UK. But I would personally read IRvine's "Your Scottish Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans". It focuses on records you can get if you are not in Edinburgh through LDS and other sources. If you own it, read it again. Everytime I reread my copy I learn more -- and get ideas on strategies to pursue on overcoming my brick walls. Best of luck! Linda Merle Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Andrew Murray Shannon" <ranamf@nex.net.au> Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:42:03 +1100 >I am hoping that this list will be able to assist me in finding information >on my g.g.g.grandfather and grandmother as all avenues open to have failed. > >John Shannon (Land Factor) and Martha McLure (Domestic Servant) were, as far >as I know, born in Northern Ireland. These two are listed as the parents of >Hugh Shannon who married Margaret Hamilton and settled in Hawick, Roxburgh. > >I have not been able to find out if they married and had further children as >Hugh Shannon was noted as being illegitimate. > >Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. > >Andrew > > ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the WebMail system at mail.fea.net

KENNEDY Ellen on 13 August 1848 at Portwilliam to Moses Kennedy and Ellen Lindsay Hi passing I just saw the above birth in a post from WIGTOWNSHIRE. You probably got in yourself. You can subscribe to the line if you wish. It has a lot of Irish emigrants who came over as agricultural laborers in the 1800s. Portwilliam is where my Irish gggfrandfather Owen McQueen first called Quinn/Queen then McQueen. They have census for 1851 online. Give them a post if you want to get on their list. There might be lots of info on Kennedy family. Cheers, Pat ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Kennedy To: Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:37 AM Subject: [Sc-Ir] KENNEDY & Killyleagh area databases: rebuilding, refining, adding,extending Greetings All: After a period of extended distractions (computer problems, my own personal genealogy research, some minor illnesses, other interests, and yes, just plain laziness), I am finally getting back to working on my Kennedy and Killyleagh area databases. The computer problems caused some lose of data. (a BAD thing). This loss of data, in turn, caused the need to rebuild the databases. ( a GOOD thing because it showed flaws and discrepancies that I needed to correct, especially in providing sources for the information. I am therefore requesting anyone who has found connections ( during their own research ) with any of the following areas ( or others nearby) Killyleagh, Inch, Shrigley, Tullyveery, Saintfield, Crossgar, Kilmore, Killinchy, Ringdufferin, or even Saul or Downpatrick (or other spellings of these towns), to please contribute information to the database. I am looking for Names, dates, locations, events, connections between people, anything else you wish to contribute, the SOURCES of the information, and any contact information with yourself that you wish to provide, etc. I am NOT going to sell the information. I WILL provide the information FREE when I get it assembled. Occasionally while assembling it I may come across information at the same time someone is searching for the same thing. I will send what I can at that time. As I get big chunks of info I will offer to do searches. When I finish ( or finish BIG chunks) I will either set up my own web page for people to search for the information or send it to other FREE web pages already set up for searches. Right now my focus is assembling the information. Please send what you can. The same request goes for any KENNEDY information in Killyleagh areas County Down mentioned above, Kircudbrightshire, Scotland, and Kennedy' associated with Northbridge& Upton, MA, Smithfield & Providence RI, Watertown NY, Fort Leavenworth KS, Mike Kennedy

Hi Mike, I am trying to find Owen Quinn/Queen or McQueen I think there were 2 Owens in 1838 land valuation of Down. They might be my gggrandfather who lived in Mochrum as ag.lab in 1841, age 60, census Wigtown Burgh and his son Owen Quinn/Queen who lived in Portwilliam village, Mochrum, Wigtown,Scot. Mochrum census 1841 wife Margaret age 20, and two small children, Eliz.Peter later had 4 more children I tried to find the valuation again in vain, the area may be Ballynahatten, Kilkeel, Co.Down. I mean two Owens father and son, born Ireland maybe my line 1780s Owen(1) and Owen (2) born 1815 possibly Co.Down, N.I. This is as far back as I go. I have my direct line from this on....1841,1851, 186l and 1881 my James son of Owen (2) born 1848. Owen Queen/McQueen wife and 5 kids moved from Mochrum to Liverpool where my granddad and Dad lived. I was born Dublin, now in USA as grandad was a pioneer electrician there. About Killyleagh I found Osborne McQueen, wife Elizabeth born Killyleagh 1780+ moved to Renfrewshire, Scotland had 16 children I cant list them now. He was a mason and some moved to USA, one Elizabeth married an ORR and she is buried there in Salt Lake City. Parents went back to Scotland died there. I am wondering if he might be a relative of mine Could you check Killyleagh for any data. I can give you exact dates if you think yu can find someting on this family. I hope this doesnt confuse you, lots of data here sorry, regards, Patricia ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Kennedy To: Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 10:37 AM Subject: [Sc-Ir] KENNEDY & Killyleagh area databases: rebuilding, refining, adding,extending Greetings All: After a period of extended distractions (computer problems, my own personal genealogy research, some minor illnesses, other interests, and yes, just plain laziness), I am finally getting back to working on my Kennedy and Killyleagh area databases. The computer problems caused some lose of data. (a BAD thing). This loss of data, in turn, caused the need to rebuild the databases. ( a GOOD thing because it showed flaws and discrepancies that I needed to correct, especially in providing sources for the information. I am therefore requesting anyone who has found connections ( during their own research ) with any of the following areas ( or others nearby) Killyleagh, Inch, Shrigley, Tullyveery, Saintfield, Crossgar, Kilmore, Killinchy, Ringdufferin, or even Saul or Downpatrick (or other spellings of these towns), to please contribute information to the database. I am looking for Names, dates, locations, events, connections between people, anything else you wish to contribute, the SOURCES of the information, and any contact information with yourself that you wish to provide, etc. I am NOT going to sell the information. I WILL provide the information FREE when I get it assembled. Occasionally while assembling it I may come across information at the same time someone is searching for the same thing. I will send what I can at that time. As I get big chunks of info I will offer to do searches. When I finish ( or finish BIG chunks) I will either set up my own web page for people to search for the information or send it to other FREE web pages already set up for searches. Right now my focus is assembling the information. Please send what you can. The same request goes for any KENNEDY information in Killyleagh areas County Down mentioned above, Kircudbrightshire, Scotland, and Kennedy' associated with Northbridge& Upton, MA, Smithfield & Providence RI, Watertown NY, Fort Leavenworth KS, Mike Kennedy

Greetings All: After a period of extended distractions (computer problems, my own personal genealogy research, some minor illnesses, other interests, and yes, just plain laziness), I am finally getting back to working on my Kennedy and Killyleagh area databases. The computer problems caused some lose of data. (a BAD thing). This loss of data, in turn, caused the need to rebuild the databases. ( a GOOD thing because it showed flaws and discrepancies that I needed to correct, especially in providing sources for the information. I am therefore requesting anyone who has found connections ( during their own research ) with any of the following areas ( or others nearby) Killyleagh, Inch, Shrigley, Tullyveery, Saintfield, Crossgar, Kilmore, Killinchy, Ringdufferin, or even Saul or Downpatrick (or other spellings of these towns), to please contribute information to the database. I am looking for Names, dates, locations, events, connections between people, anything else you wish to contribute, the SOURCES of the information, and any contact information with yourself that you wish to provide, etc. I am NOT going to sell the information. I WILL provide the information FREE when I get it assembled. Occasionally while assembling it I may come across information at the same time someone is searching for the same thing. I will send what I can at that time. As I get big chunks of info I will offer to do searches. When I finish ( or finish BIG chunks) I will either set up my own web page for people to search for the information or send it to other FREE web pages already set up for searches. Right now my focus is assembling the information. Please send what you can. The same request goes for any KENNEDY information in Killyleagh areas County Down mentioned above, Kircudbrightshire, Scotland, and Kennedy' associated with Northbridge& Upton, MA, Smithfield & Providence RI, Watertown NY, Fort Leavenworth KS, Mike Kennedy

I forwarded the Methodist history to a friend who is a retired Methodist minister and very interested in church history. He sends along the comments below. Monya Fayette Co. AL list manager ASTON surname list manager MUSGROVE surname list manager THOMPSON surname list manager Researching: ANDERSON, ANDERSEN (Norway), ASTON, BISHOP, DODSON, FYLLINGSNES (Norway), GRANT, HARRIS, HOWELL, JORDAN, LESLIE, McDILL, McDONALD, MILLIGAN, MORTON, MUSGROVE, OWEN, PEDEN, SOUTH, STANFORD, THOMPSON, WEAVER and WEBSTER Begin forwarded message: > > Thanks! I enjoyed reading it. > > I have copied out a few sentences for additional comment. > From the article: > "In 1785, the first annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal > Church was > held in Franklin County, NC. This historical event took place 29-30 > April > 1785, at Green Hill Place, the home of Major Green Hill (1741-1826) in > central Franklin County, one mile east of Louisburg. >> At this conference, which established the founding of the Methodist > Episcopal Church, Joshua Hartley and Hope Hull were admitted on trial > and > appointed to the Salisbury circuit. The following year the first > Methodist > Annual Conference held in western North Carolina was held at > Salisbury, 1 > Feb 1786, with Thomas Williamson and Henry Bingham appointed to the > Salisbury circuit. In 1787, that year's first annual conference was > again > held at Salisbury, with Rev. Mark Moore appointed on May the 17th as > the > circuit's only minister." > > My comments.... if you care to read them. I didn't realize when I > started > that I would go on so long! > > The first Annual Conference may well have been held as mentioned, but > the > third sentence is not exactly accurate. The ME Church was founded at > Baltimore at Christmas, 1784, at what has been termed "The Christmas > Conference." It was tantamount to a General Conference. That was the > founding of the ME Church. North Carolina may have held the first > Annual > Conference in the new concept, but that conference did not "found the > denomination." The South Carolina Annual Conference was established in > 1785 > as well, but probably after the NC people organized. > > Sometime during the year 1784, John Wesley sent Thomas Coke from > England to > find Asbury to give him instruction concerning the administration of > the > work in the new United States (although we, the USA that is, were still > struggling with the Constitution). The Methodist Societies were > understood > as part of the Anglican Church (read Church of England), but after the > Revolution, there was no more Anglican Church in the US. Something new > would > have to be done. Asbury and Coke were to take charge and divide the > work, > north and south, and carry on. Asbury had other plans. He bought into > the > idea of democracy and decided to let the preachers share in the > decisions, > not simply do what Wesley said. When the preachers gathered at > Baltimore > for the "Christmas Conference," he asked for a vote on who would be > "superintendents" (Wesley's term). They elected him and Coke, as > Wesley had > intended, but then Asbury took the title "Bishop." Wesley was not > impressed. But there was nothing he could do about it. Other business > included what they thought necessary to establish the rules of the > denomination. I have forgotten what year laypeople started sharing the > decisions at General Conference, but it was not too many years down the > road. Now there is a fairly even balance between lay and clergy at all > levels of Conferences. > > The next sentence, concerning the first Annual Conference held in > western > North Carolina is purely a matter of geographical technicality. Some > confusion usually arises in discussions like that which follows, as > the term > "Annual Conference" refers both to an annual meeting and a > geographical/administrative sub-division of Methodism. There would > have > been only one Annual Conference in North Carolina at the time (other > than > the parts that were in the South Carolina Annual Conference). The > meetings > then, as now, are held at varying locations. Therefore the first AC in > western NC was simply a meeting, not another organization. The article > does > not say otherwise, but when I first read it, I thought it might mean > "the > first meeting of the Western NC Conference." NC has two Annual > Conferences > now, NC and Western NC, but back then there was only one. > > As far as I know, the rest of the article is accurate. I found it very > interesting! Thanks for thinking about me! > > > > > >

I am giving a talk in a small genealogy discussion group at our Family History Center on "Researching Your Ancestors in Northern Ireland". I plan on including information on the addresses, and protocol to research in the following facilities, as well as their major holdings: 1. General Register Office of Northern Ireland 2. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland 3. Linen Hall Library 4. Newspaper Library 5. Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland Library 6. Ulster American Folk Park Locally I thought I would suggest contacting/visiting the local historian, local libraries, post offices, churches, pubs, etc. Does anyone have any thoughts on this subject that helped them to have a successful trip? You may reply to me privately if you would like. Thanks Nancy

On 23 Feb, 2006, at 15:26, Diane Klopp wrote: > I have been made aware the links to congress do not work. I copied > them from the earlier post and do not have any information to correct > them. Sorry. The usual problem with cut and paste .... line wrap and extraneous information. > If you are concerned, here is a site that lists e-mail > addresses for your senators in D. C.: > www.senate.gov/general/ contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm - 101k > - This one should be: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm (no space after the "general/" and ends at ".cfm" > Here is a site with e-mail addresses of the congressmen: > www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html - 6k - Feb 20, > 2006 - And this one is: http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html T.T.F.N. William H. Magill magill@mcgillsociety.org magill@acm.org magill@mac.com whmagill@gmail.com

The following is a short historical sketch I conducted several years ago on the development of early Methodism in America. It is a non-published item and is presented to the list for its historical value and interest, showing the development of Methodism following the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road to the Scotch-Irish and other isolated settlements, primarily in NC and VA. There were a few circuit riders who would take the trails into early KY and what is now east and middle TN, but this sketch covers the onset of Methodism and its development in NC and VA. (Lee Ramsey) Methodist were the last major Protestant sect to appear in colonial North Carolina, with the first North Carolina circuit established in 1776. On the 20 May 1777, at the Preaching House near Deer Creek, Harford County, Maryland, four Methodist ministers were appointed as the first to be stationed to the North Carolina circuit. These traveling itinerate preachers were John King, as the acting assistant, with John Dickens, Lee Roy Cole and Edward Pride being admitted on trial. After a minister was received into full connection he was "to have the use and property of his horse, which any of the circuits may furnish him." Every preacher was allowed 6 pounds of currency per quarter, and "his traveling charges besides." Armed only with their Bibles and an extra change of clothes tucked in their saddlebags, they rode the circuits, where they conducted their services in the open or in homes, receiving their meals and lodging from members of the societies. The 1777 Meeting Minutes at Deer Creek, Maryland reported that the Methodist Society in North Carolina totaled 930 members. During the Revolutionary War, Rev. John Dickens traveled extensively in North Carolina and Virginia. Rev. Dickens was born and educated in London, England. In 1774, he joined the Methodist Society in America, and became a traveling preacher in 1777. Following the war, he was stationed for several years at New York City, and in 1789, he was stationed in Philadelphia, PA, where he died 27 Sept 1793, at the age of fifty-two. After the conclusion of the Revolution, there was an expansion and growth of Methodist societies in North Carolina. At the 1783, general meeting at Baltimore, Maryland, the Salisbury, North Carolina circuit was established, with Beverly Allen, James Forster and James Hinton appointed as the circuit's first ministers. The 1783 conference minutes reported 30 members that year for the Salisbury circuit, which encompassed the Rowan, Lincoln and Mecklenburg County areas. The circuit's 1784 membership report numbered 375, with Jesse Lee and Isaac Smith appointed to serve for the ensuing year. Rev. Lee was an itinerant minister from the British Province of Florida, and served as a presiding elder for thirty-five years. He served as a chaplain to the Congress, and was the first Methodist American historian. Rev. Jesse Lee and Rev. Hope Hull (1785) are credited with laying the foundation for Methodism in this region of North Carolina. Rev. Jesse Lee died in the year 1816, and was buried in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. In 1785, the first annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held in Franklin County, NC. This historical event took place 29-30 April 1785, at Green Hill Place, the home of Major Green Hill (1741-1826) in central Franklin County, one mile east of Louisburg. At this conference, which established the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Joshua Hartley and Hope Hull were admitted on trial and appointed to the Salisbury circuit. The following year the first Methodist Annual Conference held in western North Carolina was held at Salisbury, 1 Feb 1786, with Thomas Williamson and Henry Bingham appointed to the Salisbury circuit. In 1787, that year's first annual conference was again held at Salisbury, with Rev. Mark Moore appointed on May the 17th as the circuit's only minister. The 1787 membership report stated "391 Whites" and "24 Col.", reflecting the promotion of the spiritual welfare and religious outreach to the communities wherein these pioneer ministers traveled. In 1801, the Salisbury circuit became part of the new "Salisbury District", and in 1802 this district was included in the newly formed Virginia Conference, which also included the circuits of Caswell, Guilford, Franklin, Morganton, Swanino,Yadkin and Haw-River. Rev. Jesse Coe had served the Salisbury circuit in 1801, and was followed in 1802 by William Ormond. Rev. William Ormond is the first known native of North Carolina to served the Salisbury circuit. He was born 22 Dec 1769, in Dobbs County, NC, and became a traveling preacher in 1791. During his ministry he traveled circuits in Maryland, various circuits in Virginia, North and South Carolina and to parts of Georgia. While stationed at Norfolk, VA, he contracted a "malignant fever" and died 30 Oct 1803, in Brunswick Co., VA. As the early Methodist societies were being established in Mecklenburg County, other Salisbury circuit ministers continued to make their appointed rounds. These ministers included James Boyd and John Moore in 1804; William Algood and John Weaver, 1805; Josiah Philips, 1806; John Owen and R. Owen, 1807; John French and Joshua W. Kilpatrick, 1808, (the year in which Salisbury District became the Yadkin District of the Virginia Conference); Gary Williams and Thomas Burge, 1809; John Lattimore and Thomas M. Bacon, 1810; and Joel Burgess with Nathan Weedon in 1811. Rev. Nathan Weedon was a native of the Northern Neck of Virginia, and in 1805, he was recommended and received on trial at the annual conference held at "Edmund Taylor's, North Carolina", and was appointed first to the Guilford circuit. Prior to his appointment to the Salisbury circuit, he served the Mattamuskeet and Banks circuits in 1806, the Yadkin circuit in 1807, the Trent circuit in 1809, and the Franklin circuit in 1810. In 1811, after making two rounds of the Salisbury circuit, Rev. Nathan Weedon developed severe headaches accompanied by bouts of delirium. He was never able to make a recovery from his infirmity, and in November he suffered the lost of his sight. Two weeks before his death, Rev. Weedon went to the home of William Shepperd in Surry County, NC, where he died on 26 Dec 1811 Another pioneer Methodist minister, who contributed much to Methodism within this region of North and South Carolina, was Rev. Daniel Asbury. Rev. Asbury served in Mecklenburg County as pastor of the Tryon Street Methodist Church in Charlotte from 1824-1825. He was a native of Fairfax Co., Virginia, where he was born in 1762. While serving the Salisbury circuit Rev. Asbury established the Rehoboth Campground in Lincoln County, which became the first Methodist Church built west of the Catawba. As early as 1812, he is found serving as the presiding elder for the Camden District in the South Carolina Conference The earliest known Methodist society in Mecklenburg County was formed in the southern part of the county in 1785. This congregation was established as the Harrison Methodist Church in 1819, south of Pineville. A deed dated 15 July 1824, shows the church property as located on Twelve Mile Creek, adjacent to the lands of Reuben Bozwell or Bozzell, who deeded four acres of his own land to the Methodist Church Trustees for the purpose of building a meetinghouse. These early church trustees were Wm. McRee, Abner Houston, John Fullwood, John Osborn and James H. Morrison. In 1815, the Buck's Hill Methodist society was organized 7 miles northwest of Charlotte on the Beatty's Ford road. This congregation was the origin of the Tryon Street Methodist Episcopal Church, with the first church being erected on Seventh Street in 1834. It was relocated to its present site in 1859. Mecklenburg County local history states that the first Methodist Church to be established between the Yadkin and Catawba Rivers was the "Bethesda Church" ca1810, with its' founder as Andrew Moore, a local chair-maker. This church name may have been confused with the Bethesda congregation in former Mecklenburg/Tryon County, NC, west of the Catawba, which was established there in 1769, and which became the Bethesda Presbyterian Church of York County, SC. Mecklenburg County land deeds show that in 1818, Andrew Moore was one of the trustees for the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States located on Barren Creek, which was a branch of the Rocky River in northern Mecklenburg County near present day Cornelius, NC. This deed for three and one half acres was adjacent to the "existing meetinghouse and graveyard." Other trustees identified by the deed are Moses Christenbury and William Ford. A Mecklenburg County deed dated 24 Mar 1828 also list Andrew Moore among the trustees and identifies the church as the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, with other trustees from Mecklenburg County as John Cannon and John Kerr, and with trustees from Iredell County as David George and Osborn Jetton. Probably the earliest Methodist Church in Mecklenburg County was the Bethel Methodist Church, which was established in 1790, but was taken into the newly created Cabarrus County, NC in 1792. . References Ferguson, Herman W., "Abstracts of Deed Books 15-23, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina 1794-1830, Rocky Mount, NC, 2001. Hitt, Daniel and Thomas Ware, publishers, "Minutes Of The Methodist Conferences, Annually Held In America; From 1773 To 1813", Volume The First, John C. Totten, printer, New York, 1813, reprint edition by Magnolia Press, Swainsboro, GA, 1983. Leary, Helen F. and Maurice R. Stirewalt, Eds., "North Carolina Research Genealogy And Local History, Raleigh, NC, The North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1980. Powell, William S., "The North Carolina Gazetteer", reprint by The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1987. Ray, Worth S., "The Mecklenburg Signers And Their Neighbors", Reprint for Clearfield Company, Inc. by Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1993. Rumple, Rev. Jethro, "A History Of Rowan County, North Carolina, Containing Sketches of Prominent Families and Distinguished Men", Reprint Bicentennial Edition, With A New Index By Edith M. Clark for Regional Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD, 1978. Tompkins, D.A., "History Of Mecklenburg County North Carolina And The City Of Charlotte From 1740 to 1903", Volume One, Narrative, Charlotte, NC, 1903.