I thought I had posted this photo of an old timey camp meeting under a tent, or a "Tent Revival", before, but upon searching, I could not find it.
This photo was in a collection of my grandmothers and from the dress of the people involved, I would guess it was taken maybe in the 1940's, possibly the late 1930's. Then again, I am no expert on vintage fashion. The hairstyle and plaid dress of the woman in the coat with her arms crossed on the front row beside the young boy looks very WWII fashion-wise to me.
The photo is I believe from the old Rehobeth Church in Southern Stanly County, North Carolina. It could possibly have been at Cottonville, too. Rehobeth was abandoned sometime in the late 1950's, early 1960's and several of its members joined Cottonville and several, who had moved to the town of Albemarle to work, in my family, joined Pilgrim Holiness, which would later change its name to Albemarle Wesleyn.
We see the back of two men's heads in the foreground. Were they performing music or was this two ministers taking turns ministering to the flock?
The place was full, that is for certain. A sea of faces goes back and back and extends beyond the shelter of the canvas. A row of little girls line the front, some quite assured that they are getting their picture made. They are flanked by a pious older man, probably a farmer in his Sunday best and to the other side a trio of young ladies just a bit older, perhaps the area's most eligible bachelorettes.
About 4 rows back, a stout older woman looks like she would rather be anywhere else but there. Perhaps because of the blurred faces of two youngsters right in front of her who obviously could not stay still.
I can't put a name to any of these folk, but they are the parents, grandparents and great grandparents of people who live in our county right now, and whose family can trace back to this county. Depending on the years, some of these faces, perhaps of the younger ones, might still be alive.
"Church Record Sunday" is a blogging prompt used by Geneabloggers.com, of which I am a member.
Concord Methodist Church is not located in Concord. You'll find it listed as being in "Ansonville", but it's not in Ansonville, either. In fact, the name "Concord" has nothing to do with the city of Concord in Cabbarus County, North Carolina, and everything to do with traditional church naming of the 19th century. Within a 40 mile radius of Concord Church, you'll find a Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, a long way from Philadelphia, PA and Miami Church, in Cabarrus County, NC, that in no way ties in to Miami, Florida.
The name "Concord", as in a word once used in the naming of churches, Means: Concord means "harmony." The word is derived from two Latin words and is translated literally as "with one heart."
There is a "Book of Concord" that is associated with Lutheran Churches, but this one is a Methodist Church. It's location is in the fertile area near the fork of the Rocky River and Yadkin/PeeDee river, and just happens to be on the Anson side of the county line.
Concord Methodist Church is located on part of what used to be the Winfield plantation, prior to 1805, and is one of those churches where several folks in my family tree were laid to rest.
This Map shows the "Boot" of the Rocky River, which I usually refer to as the "Davis Boot". At the top slightly left of center of the map you see "Boone-Caudle Road". This area is the location of the Benjamin Franklin Davis cemetery and was part of his section of the lands. He was the son of Henry Davis by first wife Sarah Kendall and was the grandson of Reuben Kendall and Job Davis. Bottom center of the map, you see a section of the "Old Winfield Road" which dead-ends now at the Rocky River. There is a section of the Winfield road still in use in Stanly County. It was once a very long and major thoroughfare, and crossed at the point where it now dead ends. There was a "Davis Ford" that was previously "Winfield Ford" around the 1790's -early 1800's. Winfield road formerly followed the northern route similar to Plank Road. Follow Plank Road across the river and you will see first Howell road, and then Kendall Road. Keep going and you will see on the left of the screen, Concord Church Road and Springer Road. Near this intersection is the current location of Concord Methodist Church. The cemetery is actually located around the corner from the church on Springer Road. Howell Road is the vicinity of the location of the land of Peter Howell, who inherited and repurchased portions of the property that had passed on from his grandfather Peter Winfield, to his father Richard Howell, through daughter Sarah Elizabeth Winfield Howell. The area furthest right, that the church occupies was also part of the Winfield plantation, as it had passed on to Griffin Nash, husband of Winfield daughter Jemima. On the Stanly side of the river, Sarah Winfield, once widowed, had retained that portion of her inheritance that she and her second husband, Job Davis, would farm and reside upon and the "boot" would become the Davis plantation. At one time, the area on both sides of the river, had belonged to Peter Winfield, and upon his death in 1802, had been divided among his four children, Edward Winfield, Sarah (Richard Howell and later Job Davis), Jemima (Griffin Nash) and Ancena (James Morrison and later Thomas Avett).
The Family of James Edward Howell and wife Sarah Frances "Fannie" Andrews Howell
Upon the death of Peter Howell, his portion of the land would be further divided, and as some of his descendants would migrate west, his youngest son Jim Howell, would purchase his siblings portions of the land, including that of his unmarried sisters. So Jim Howell became the steward of the Howell lands. A portion would remain in the hands of Florence Howell McSwain, grand-daughter of Peter Howell though his desceased son Richard II, as she and her brother Robert, who passed away young, would become wards of her grandparents, Peter Howell and Elizabeth Floyd Howell.
Concord Church is the final resting place for most members of the Howell family who remained in Anson and Stanly Counties.
Concord United Methodist Church as is appeared in 1906
This is a rendition of how the church looked in 1906. It is a photograph of a painting hanging in the entrance hall of the church taken by Jerry T. Kendall on April 16, 1994.
The Kendall family was a large part of the Concord Congregation as well as the Howells and there was intermarriage among the families.
Mr. Jerry T. Kendall has done extensive research on the origins of the church and the cemetery, which was a community cemetery in use prior to the building of the first church.
Concord is said to be one of the oldest churches in Anson County. As many churches did in those days, the church started at a site where old-timey "Camp Meetings" were held.
Concord Church was established in 1805, but it was not until 1810 that the first building was built, a log structure located conveniently near a spring. The congregation had the building moved in 1823, however, due to what was seen as 'the devil's work', as some local entrepreneurs had decided to use the spring as a source for a still in which to make alchohol. Although the building moved, the congregation still grew thirsty for more than the Word, and they retained the right to use the spring to quench their thirst for water.
On the same day, November 27, 1830, two deeds were recorded for the Church.
Deed Book X, Page 439, Anson County, North Carolina 10 and 1/4 acres Avert Verhine to The Trustees of Concord Church This Indenture.......between Avert Verkine of the State of North Carolina & County of Anson on one part & Richard Randles, Thomas Avitts, Freeman Winfield, Peter W. Nash & John Beard, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Concord Meeting House of the other part Witness the Said Avert Verhine....3 black oak pointers in Nashes line.. Avert Verhine doth further grant unto the said Church privlege to & use of the spring near where the old meeting house now stands & Avert Verhine doth warrant and forever defend the right and title of said land & premises unto the said trustees or their successors against the lawful claim, right or title or any person or persons whatsoever. Deed Book X, Page 507, Anson County, North Carolina 1 3/4 acres Griffin Nash to the Trustees of Concord Meetinghouse This Indenture made this 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1830, between Griffin Nash of the State of North Carolina and the County of Anson of the one part & Richard Randle, Thos. Avett, Freeman Winfield, Peter W. Nash, and John Beard Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Concord Meeting house on the other part.....runs with Verhines line....signed sealed and delivered in the presence of Griffin Nash (Seal) Witnesses Thomas Carpenter, William Dean.
The above documents list mostly persons in my family tree. I am a direct descendant of Thomas Carpenter.
Griffin Nash and Thomas Avett were both sons-in-law of ancestor Peter Winfield. Freeman Winfield was Arthur Freeman Winfield, who served in the War of 1812 and would migrate to Alabama. He was the son of Edward Winfield and grandson of Peter Winfield. Richard Randle was the brother of Martha Randall Howell, who had married Jordan Howell, the brother of Richard Howell. Peter Winfield. Nash was the son of Griffin Nash and was named for his grandfather, Peter Winfield. John Beard, son of Michael Beard, was a grandson-in-law of Peter Winfield. He married Anabelle Morrison, daughter of Ancena Winfield Morrison and her first husband, James Morrison. John Beards sister Eliza, was married to John Milton Winfield, grandson of Peter Winfield and brother of Freeman Winfield.
So you can see, the properties were adjacent. The spring was on the land of Verhine, no known relation, but the trustees, and Griffin Nash, were all Winfield relatives. This Church was attended and founded by my family.
In 1860, a new church was built, just before the advent of war in Anson County. The building committee consisted of David Carpenter, John A Tyson, B. I. Dunlap, and Jerry Ingram. The community had changed a little in 30 years.
Rocky River Baptist Church was 5 miles away from Concord. Several of Griffin Nash's family attended this church, including his daughter, Sarah Avett.
It is said that the Church was built on the land belonging to Verhine, and the cemetery was on the land belonging to Griffin Nash. The cemetery is divided into two parts, the old part and the new part. The old part is bound by a rock wall, similar to the stones used to build the above monument. The oldest readable marker is that of John Beard, trustee and grandson-in-law of Peter Winfield, with a date of 1837. There are older, unmarked stones or fieldstone or slate markers that are no longer legible. It may have been in use as early as 1805 to 1810. That is uncertain. It is also very likely that Peter Howell and his wife Elizabeth Floyd Howell are buried here, and also possible that Peter and Charlotte Winfield and even Richard Howell the first are buried here.
The entire cemetery is now on 5 and a quarter acres. The old section has a spooky, intense look and feel to it. The wall is made of stone with an intermix of colors of rock, known as iron rock, glacial stones that give this section its unique look.
In an interview with a reporter in 1936, a lady named Charlotte Frances Kendall Knight stated that her father, Dr. John S. Kendall, built the stone fence around the cemetery. Mrs. Knight was 99 years young at the time of the interview.
Charles A. Kendall, on the other hand, in a 1964 church bulletin, stated that the wall was built in cooperation between community citizens from miles around. The stones, of various weights, colors and sizes, show that they originated in multiple places, and were probably brought in by wagon. Slaves may have also taken part in the construction.
The view of the cemetery area from the driveway of the church.
The new section of the cemetery began in 1899 when Mr. and Mrs. W.E. and Charlotte Hendley donated 2 acres to the church. The predominance in this area of the name "Charlotte" only shows how the grand-daughters and great-grand-daughters of Charlotte Freeman Winfield, carried her name down the line.
The chronology of the church follows:
1785 Great Pee Dee Circuit formed. It extended from 10 miles south of Salisbury, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina. It was also around this time that Peter Winfield and family, along with many of his inlaws, the Freemans and their spouses, including Richard Meanly and Keziah Freeman Meanley, Drury Robertson, Sr. and sons James Roberson who married Martha Winfield, daughter of Peter's brother Joshua Winfield who married Charlotte Freeman Winfield's sister Jemima Freeman , Drury Robertson, Jr, who married Mary, the sister of Martha and also a double-niece of Peter and Charlotte Freeman Winfield, Henry Freeman, and Booth Robertson, and Robertson (or Robinson) Carloss, stepson of Joshua Winfield who married widow Rebecca Thrower Carloss, daughter of Hezekiah Thrower, when Jemima passed away.
1788 Anson Circuit formed
James Edward Howell and wfie Sarah Francis "Fannie" Howell, the son who stayed.
1805 Rocky River Circuit formed
1810 First actual building built near the spring, which is in the back of the location of the new part of the cemetery.
1813 Concord congregation first mentioned in the Circuit records as having a membership of 61 members of European descent and 17 members of African descent.
1823 The Church moved from the area of the spring to its current site, away from the still.
1830 The land finally deeded to the trustees of the Church, all members of or inlaws to the Peter Winfield family.
1834 The Circuit now referred to as the Wadesboro Circuit.
1859 Concord considered one of the nine churches in the Wadesboro circuit.
1860 A new building constructed.
1864 The last camp meeting held at Concord "meeting place".
1871 Area transferred from the South Carolina to the North Carolina Conference.
1891 Western North Carolina Conference formed.
1906 Another new Building constructed for the Church
1955 Present building dedicated
1960 Albemarle District formed.
Feb. 21, 1871
J. E. Howell, s. of Peter & E. Howell, and S. F. Andrews, d. of Seth & E. Andrews.
Rehobeth is an abandoned church with a sizable cemetary located near the communities of Aquadale and Cottonville in Southern Stanly County, North Carolina. Locales refer to this area as UCLA: Upper Cottonville, Lower Aquadale.
Most of the folks who attended there and are buried there are relatives of mine, if not directly, they married into the families at some point, fought with them, lived next to them and were overall a part of their lives. My great-great grandparents, H. H.Davis and Julina Aldridge Davis are buried there, with a large number of the Aldridge Clan. Aldridge Patriarch, Caleb Aldridge is buried there, along with both of his wives.
The 1852 deed of to this land to Rehobeth Methodist Episcopal Church South occured 8 years after the separation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844 over the question of slavery. The church trustees specified the purpose, " To preach and expound God's Holy Word in the house new built or may be built according to the rules and discipline adopted by the ministers and preachers of the General Conferance."
Rehobeth observed the practice of Camp Meetings in which families would build tents or cabins surrounding the church and camp out for weeks at a time while having revival meetings. There is one such camp located not too many miles from Stanly, down around Mineral Springs in Union County below Monroe still in existance, Pleasant Grove Camp Ground.
Camp meeting arbor.
Rehobeth seems to be the one of the five oldest churchs in Stanly County. Randalls Church, not too far away on the PeeDee River near Norwood, NC claims to be the oldest. Kendall's church in the Kendall Valley Community north of Albemarle, and Ebenezer Baptist, now Badin Baptist, in the town of Badin, along with Pleasant Grove in Western Stanly , and Saint Martin's Lutheran are among the others.
Green Wesley Simpson was a member and a teacher at the church who kept journals and records of the times.
Also, the deeds give us a bit of information. A spring is refered to, and a brickyard on the east side of Winfield road. Winfield Road was named for my family, the father and brother of Sarah Winfield Davis. Much of the Davis plantation was originally Winfield property. The road came from Concord in Cabarrus county, passed Saint Martin Church in West Stanly, passed Rehobeth, went through Cottonville and the Davis lands, down through Anson to Wadesboro and on to Cheraw.
Cheraw in the early days was a trading center for those living up and down the PeeDee River. Parishoners and circuit preachers traveled by horse and buggy, if not by boat. One report is that they came "with their tar buckets hanging on the coupling poles under the wagons." Rehobeth is perhaps the only church in Stanly County that held camp meetings. The last one recorded was in 1885.
The old Harbor stood north of the church with the pulpit elevated on a stage in the middle of the room. The Harbor was later purchased by M. E. Blalock in 1896 and moved to Norwood to use as a barn. Before the church bought a bell, G. W. Simpson would blow a bugle to announce service. The bugle survives as a Simpson family heirloom.
The 1920 tornado took all but the floor and a bible. An old school building from Aquadale was bought to replace it.
Trustees:
John W Poplin (father of 2 children who married into my Murrays)
James M Davis (son of Job Davis, my g, g, g Uncle)
William Hendley (haven't discovered a relationship yet, but I've seen a Hendley marry into the family somewhere)
William H Randle (one of the Winfield granddaughters married John Randle Nash)
Caleb Aldridge (my great, great, great grandfather)
Their wives: Mary Ann Almond Poplin, Rowena Lee Davis (wife of Jim), Elizabeth Hendley, Mary Ann Parker Randle, Rebecca Cagle Aldridge (my great, great, great grandmother). Caleb would later marry a widow, Elizabeth Osbourne Bullard after Rebecca's death.
Bible Class: Eli Shankle, Elizabeth C Crump Shankle, Henry L Green, Elizabeth Wilhoit Green, William E Ross, John O. Ross, Mary D Ross, Richard Jackson Ross, Martha M. Ivey Ross, William Daniel Simpson, William F Shankle, Mathew F Davis, Mary Davis, George Ross, Mary Hill Ross, Charles M West, Eugenia Lowder West.
Tent Holders at Camp Meeting:
circa 1880 and prior
I H Underwood James Davis (son of Job) Eben Hearne W R McSwain Noah Pennington Armstead Lilly Linsey Hathcock Bob Carter GW Simpson Ben Snuggs Sam Lilly Pock Ross EO Lilly A Len Roxx WR Upchurch Tom Snuggs O H Upchurch M E Blalock Eli Shankle Tom Colson Frank Ivey Crowell Blalock Ned Davis (son of Job) Merritt Davis (son of Job) Tom Hathcock Martin Hathcock Whitson Mark Tom Frank Lilly Jordan Blalock Dr Bill Kendall Tom Nash GC Howell Arch Freeman George Efird Edmond Nash John W Lisk Frank Shankle Buck Lowder John O Ross Sid Smith Dr Shankle Eli Lentz Jake Efird John Bivens John McSwain George Sides Adam Hathcock Tom Lowder John Ivey Sid Carter Hat Turner John Atkins Doctor Tyson Bill Watkins Martin Shoffner Dick Harris Bob Will , Vol Mauney (Valentine Mauney, son-in-law of James M Davis) , Rich Ross Frank Kendall Hamilton Blalock Nelson Whitaker (husband of Sophia Murray, from my Murray tree), Jesse Murray (son of Ben Murray, migrated to and died in Arkansas) Boy Tyson Caleb Aldridge (gggg grandfather) Ben Murray (brother of ggg Grandmother Prussia Murray Aldridge and Sophia M Whitaker) Ludwell Carpenter (family much married into) Francis Talley Calvin Lee Morse Kendall Shab McSwain Dora McSwain
It would be a safe estimate to make that 90% or more of the people buried at the old Rehobeth Church cemetary in Southern Stanly County, North Carolina share DNA with me.
Rehobeth is an abandoned, but upkept property, with a substantial cemetary. Actually, the cemetaries are considered two different ones, the older and the younger. Some of the oldest graves were marked only with river rock or slate markers and can no longer be deciphered.
Reunions are still held at Rehobeth, grills and tables are ready still for 'dinner on the grounds'. Services have not been held at Rehobeth, however, for a very long time.
In a history of Green Memorial United Methodist Church, it states that Green Memorial was organized in 1924 as Aquadale Methodist Church when three smaller churches merged. These three were Cottonville Methodist Church, Aquadale and Rehobeth. Aquadale is a community north of Rehobeth built around the popularity of Rock River Springs, a nearby resort. The Davis family plantation abutted Rocky River Springs, the Aldridge and Floyd families, among others, had settled just northeast of there and the Murrays lived just south east of Aquadale. Today, Aquadale has a few businesses, a school, a fire station and a convenience store. Cottonville was located along the plank road heading into Anson County. Today, Cottonville only has an abandoned store in the forks of Plank Road and Gaddys Ferry road, with 2 churches and a handful of houses. It's ballfield and small playground at the Baptist Church remains well-used, however.
Tombstone of one of my Aldridge relatives.
Rehobeth began as a Lutheran Society around 1840 along the Cheraw-Salisbury Road and meant "broad places", the name of a well in the Bible, meaning there was room for everyone to draw water from. Genesis 6:22.
This southern section of the road would be known as Winfield Road, which only a small section remains today with that name, cutting between Aquadale and Norwood, but at the time, went down to the Winfield Ford, which would later be named the Davis Ford. The first Lot was bought from Ben Murray, son of Jesse and brother to Prussia Murray. It contained 9 acres and was purchased for $6.00. Records date back to 1852. Rev. E. M. Avett mentions camp meetings held there until 1885. Cabins and tents were erected and entire families would come every summer and spend a week to 10 days in revival, fellowship and worship. A cyclone took out the church in 1920 and it would be rebuilt in 1924, even after the merger. A small delegation would continue to meet there until their numbers dwindled away. The following article is from the October 5th, 1950 edition of the Stanly News and Press.
Mr. Tom Davis mentioned in the first paragraph was my great-grandfather Will Davis's brother and Mrs Mattie Holt, his sister Martha. Wesley Simpson who is mentioned played a big part in my family as well. He married Margaret the adopted sister of my great-great, great grandfather Garner Aldridge, he served as the administrator of Mariah Murrays estate, and he also recorded much of the history of area families in his bible, which gives us information other records never would have.
A history of the church was prepared by Martha E. Price in 1965 for an assignment for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
She states that in 1965 there were only 5 living members and that the church parsonage had burned in about 1928 and many records were lost.
The following is from this recollection of Rehobeth.
"The twentieth century has not changed Rehobeth Church from its historical course. There it stands painted white with a tin roof and a hand pump in front. Inside the church, right in the middle of the aisel there is an old black stove which provided heat for the congregation yesterday and today. On the walls between the windows there are crude handmade sconces for the candle that lit the church until 1964. In the front of the church stands a piano, the pulpit and three chairs. So simple yet so meaningful of the past and their Christian Faith. Sunrays shine through windows that reach almost to the ceiling thus adding their beauty to this historical sight. On the pulpit is the most remarkable thing to me, an old Bible which has an Apocrypha. Here are books of the Bible which filled the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Here are Esdras I and Ii, Tabit, Judith, the rest of the chapter of the book of Esther which are found neither in the Hebrew nor in the Chaldee, The Wisdom of Solomon, The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, Baruch, The Song of the Three Holy Children, The History of Suzanna, The History of the Destruction of Bel, and The Dragon, cut off from the end of Daniel, the first and second books of the Maccabees.
In the back yard of the Church silently rest the forefathers of this church. I saw hand carved gravestones carved out of the river rocks. G. W. Simpson, Caleb Simpson and John W. Puett were some of the names that I remember."
Further history of the church revels that worshippers were called with the sound of a trumpet to come to worship. At camp meetings, families would bring whatever they may need, including milk cows. They would build fireplaces to cook, meals would be shared by all and fresh water could be drawn from a spring just below the church.
The church sat very near the Winfield road, one of the oldest in the area. Early ministers were often itinerant, and were paid in produce and livestock by the members, he and his horse cared for by the local families during his stay.
Green Wesley Simpson records that the church began as a German Lutheran Society. My family members were from long lines of Welsh Methodists, and they are the ones who surrounded the church, so this did not last long and soon Rehobeths name was changed to Rehobeth Methodist Church South and was in the Norwood circuit. The Rehobeth Society became a church from that day forth.
A local Tornado in April of 1920 destroyed the church building and dissention entered on the rebuilding plans. The Norfolk-Southern railway had built through the community prior and the nearest station was at the young community of Aquadale. Some members wanted to rebuild at Aquadale, others wanted it to be rebuilt in its original spot near the cemetary.
A deed of 1852 implied that the original church building had been built in that year and that early deeds were for the ground on which it stood. Some believe it began as a brush arbor. So large were the crowds that no small building could hold them. Estimates would be between 400 to 500 people. In order to accomodate this many, a shelter was built to the side of the church with logs and seats made of pine slabs. The seats were arranged in rows and straw piled in between the seats for the children who would inevitably nod out during the long services. Older children were expected to sit quietly and reverently next to their parents. In the center would be built a platform to elevate the pulpit, so all around could see and hear the speaker. They had no PA systems in those days.
In the Register of Deeds Office, two deeds exist dated 1852 and 1854 which states that Benjamin Murry sold to John Poplin, James M. Davis, William Hendley, William R Randle and Caleb Aldridge as Trustees of Rehobeth Episcopal Church South, for the sum of 6 dollars, a tract of land containing by estimation nine acres in one deed and six and 3/4ths in the second deeded to the same men but witnesses by A. J. Green and G. W. Simpson.
This list of names is significant to me in many ways. First, I am a direct descendant of Caleb Aldridge. His son Henry Garner Aldridge would marry Priscilla 'Prussia' Murray, sister of the mentioned Benjamin Murray. Their daughter Julina Aldridge was my great-grandfather Will Davis's mother. The above mentioned James M. Davis was one of the 4 sons of Job Davis, whom this blog is named for and the Uncle of Julina's husband Horton Hampton Davis. John Poplin's daughter Mary Ann would marry Ben Murrays son Jesse Murray II, named for patriarch Jesse Murray. His son Thomas Poplin would marry Judith Wilmartha Murray, daughter of Ben and Priscilla's oldest sister Jane Murray and his brother Richard Poplin had married Rebecca Murray, another sister. Ben Murray himself, would marry Martha Puett, one of the daughters of a long standing minister at Rehobeth.
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