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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
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.
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| The view of the cemetery area from the driveway of the church. |
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
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| James Edward Howell and wfie Sarah Francis "Fannie" Howell, the son who stayed. |
1805 Rocky River Circuit formed
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. |
grandfather, died in 1802, before his grandson Peter was ever born.
The Rivers connected the early families of North Carolina and the rivers were also the cause of death as many people attempted crossing or in transporting goods and animals up or down them. Rivers became common county boundaries to prevent death while attempting to get to the county courthouse, as in the case of the split between Montgomery and Stanly County, NC in 1841.