Mount Gilead Methodist Church
John M. Smith, Jr. January 15 1825

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Contributed by: Shirley Holland 
Email: sdholland@mindspring.com 



Fulton County deed book 122,pg. 437,Oct 21 1896
Written:  January 15 1825
Recorded:  October 21 1896


DEED TO LAND ON WHICH MOUNT GILEAD CHURCH AND GRAVE YARD IS LOCATED

The following deed is recored in Deed Book 122, page 437 of Fulton County, GA  
records, Ocg. 21, 1896

Georgia-DeKalb County
This indenture made this fifteenth day of Januar in the year of our Lord One 
Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-five, between, John M. Smith of the state and 
count aforesaid, and Samuel Sewell, John Dorsey, John Holbrooks, Newton Randle 
and Daniel Childs, Trustees, in trust for the uses and purposes herinafter 
mentioned, all of the State and County above mentioned:
Witnesseth:  That the said John M. Smith , for and in consideration of the sum 
of Ten Dollars ($10.00) to him in hand paid, the receipt whereof is herby 
acknowledged, has given, granted, bargained, sold, released, confirmed and 
conveyed, and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, release, 
confirm and convey unto them, the said above named trustees, and their 
successors in trust, for the uses and purposes hereinafter mentioned, all of 
the estate, title, right,interest,property claim and demand whatsoever, either 
in law or in equity, which the said J. M. Smith hath, in, to or upon all and 
singular a certain lot or piece of land situate, lying and being in the county 
and State above named, bounded and butted as follows, to wit:
  Beginning at a lightwood stump, running from thence due east 14 rods to a 
post oak corner, thence north 14 rods due North to a point, thence west 14 rods 
to a post oak, thence south 14 rods to the beginning.  Being a part of lot #3 
in the fourteenth district of formerly Fayette, now DeKalb County, butted and b 
ounded south, east and north by said lot known and distinguishe by the above 
stated marks, and on the west by Lot No. 35 in the above named county and 
district, containing one and a half acres land more or less, together with all 
and singular, the houses, woods, ways,privileges and appurtenances thereunto 
belonging and any wise pertaining.  To have and to hold and singular the above 
named piece of land and its appurtenances unto them the said trustees before 
named, for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of 
America, according to the rites of that church, for a place of public worskip.  
And the said J. M. Smith doth by these presents warrant and forever defend all 
and singular the above mentioned and described lot or piece of land, with the 
appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto them the above named trustees and their 
successors in office, from tyhe claim or claims of him the said, J. M. Smith, 
his heirs and assigns, and from the claim or claims of all persons whatsoever.
  In testamony whereof the said John M. Smith has hterunto set his hand and 
seal the day and year above said.
                      JOHN M. SMITH (L.S.)
  Sealed and delivered in presence of us:
            Wm. J. Parks
            S. L. Wilson
  GEORGIA-DEKALB

    Personally appeared before me S. L. Wilson, who after being duly sworn, 
disposeth and saith that he saw John M. Smith sign, seal and deliver the within 
deed for the purposes therein mentioned and that he, deponent, subscribed the 
same as witness, and saw Wm. J. Parks likewise subscribe as a witness.

   Sworn and subscribed before me this 9th day of September, 1826.
                                           S. L. WILSON
    J. P. BLACKSTOCK, J. P. 

Additional Comments:
I will note that although this deed was originally made in DeKalb County this 
church is now in Fulton County, Fairburn Rd., Ben Hill, GA.  When these 
families came to the SW part of Atlanta, GA it was DeKalb County, and prior to 
that it was Fayette County, GA.


The above mention William J. Parks was the 1st minister
of Mt. Gilead Methodist church.  

Mt. Gilead History says:

Rev. William J. Parks, organiser of Mt. Gilead Church. 
and preached the first sermon in that section of Geogia
in the home of John M. Smith, 23 April 1824.  Born in
Franklin County, GA  in 1799 died at Oxford, GA  1873
and is buried there.  

The original name was Mt. Gilead Methodist Society.
The church was organized in the fall of 1824. It is
still a viable congregation today.  Preaching GODS word
in three centuries.  Is that not some history for you.
Some of the verbage used in this document may not be
spelled, however, I tried to type it as it was written.


Anyone that would like additional information please contact me
sdholland@mindspring.com