Session Minutes Milton Presbyterian Church
Transcribed and submitted by Martha Spencer

Transcriber’s notes: I have made no attempt to transcribe the entire body of the Session Minutes. Much of it is repetitive. I have attempted only to pull out information of a material nature—mainly names and dates of members, letters of dismission, and some disciplinary actions of the session.

Martha Spencer Dec. 15, 2000 

1820

Rev. Clopton moved to Charlotte Co., Virginia. He was succeeded by the Rev. Arch D. Montgomery, Presbyterian, who presided over the Academy and preached one Sunday in the month.

Plan to build a church. Female Fragment Society [sewing circle] formed. Money was raised by various means. Mr. Montgomery removed to the Red House in 1823.

By the fall, the Female Fragment Society had raised a sum of money and a contract was made with Mr. W. A. Royster to build a church. A subscription for a year’s support of a minister went around and anyone who contributed more that $4 had a vote to select the denomination. There were 38 votes for Presbyterian and 8 for Episcopal. The Rev. James W. Douglas was secured and arrived in Milton in March 1826.

First members listed: Martin P. Huntington, Mary A. Oliver, Mrs. Ann B. Owen, Mrs. Reny Carlson, Mrs. Sarah New, Miss Sally Patrick, Miss Margarette Smith—certificate number 1 from 5th Presbyterian Church of Baltimore.

John M. Warmoth baptized

9/30/1826

Mr. William F. Hayes received on profession of faith and examination. Sicily, a black woman, belonging to Col. A. Donoho received on profession of faith and examination.

Mrs. Sarah Jones and Mrs. Sarah Holder received on profession of faith and examination. Examined by Bro. Wm. S. Plumer [a Presbyterian minister from Danville].

 The session met at the church. Present: all the members. The pastor reported that he had conversed with Miss Delilah J. Walker, and with John A. Jones, a free man, and Nancy belonging to Mr. J. Oliver and Patience belonging to Mr. S. Dodson, who are candidates for church membership, and that he would recommend their reception which was agreed to.

Jas. W. Douglas, Clk.

Resolved that John A. Jones be appointed a stated reader and instructor to the black members of the church, under the direction of the session, and that the members be requested to concur in this resolution.

Resolved that Mr. Douglas converse with the masters and mistresses of our black members in reference to their opportunities for attending public worship; and that in future, before receiving them, a note be requested from those controlling their time, promising to them the privilege of hearing, at least, one sermon on the Sabbath.

 Miss Elizabeth Catherine Hayes received on profession of faith and examination of her experience of religion [“experimental religion”].

Mr. Douglas conversed with the member who has been absent from communion (member’s name not given) and that he appears to feel correctly on the subject.[T]hose members who have children to be baptized are all ready to comply.

 Mrs. Susan New departed this life about 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Her disease, a dropsy of the brain, rendered her quite deranged for several days previous to her death.

Rumor charges Cicily with habitual and intemperate use of ardent spirits. Amey, a colored servant of Mr. J. McGehee charged with fornication, having been delivered of a bastard child.

Cicily appeared before the session and the case was continued. Mrs. M. Donoho, Mr. Henderson’s George, Mr. Oliver’s John to be cited to appear before the session.

Cicily denied drinking ardent spirits to excess but said she drank sometimes so that she felt what she had drunk. She said she had received butter as a gift from George at the springhouse on a certain occasion. She did wish and endeavor to conceal the butter from her mistress and how she came by it. “…although she professed sorrow for her sins, she has not given satisfactory evidence that she had any proper sense of their heinous nature—and also that she was quite two [sic] confident of having obtained forgiveness.” She was suspended.

“Whereas, it is generally rumored and believed that Mr. George Kent, a member of this church did on Thursday last with a durk (corrected to dirk in the book) in his hand, horse-whip a Mr. John Daniel, as to authorize a civil process and an assessment of fines…”

Several members reported that Mr. John Alston Jones, a coloured member of the church, had become a member of the Baptist Church of Raleigh.

Request for certificate of dismission for Mr. W. L. Williams to Congregational Church, Amherst, Ma. and for Mr. N.B. Carrel to join Presbyterian Church of Sugar Creek, Mecklenburg Co. NC.

 Miss Mary Williams received on profession of faith and examination.Mrs. Eliza Farley, a member of church at Carmell, received as a member in full standing.

 Misses Elizabeth G. Gatewood, Mary Ragland, Mary Ann Butler, Mr. Benjamin M. Hobson and Hannah, a servant of Mrs. Mary A. Donoho, received on profession of faith and examination.

Statement of Nancy who had been charged with failing to attend services of the church for a period of three years. She confessed that she had absented herself from the ordinances of the church, particularly from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for about three years and that she had vowed that she never would commune with the same church again, confessing that in these respects she had sinned—but stating at the same time that she was over-persuaded in the first instance to join the church and that she had been provoked to act the part which she had acted by very ill treatment from a certain member of this church whose character stands entirely fair.

Session made the following ruling and Nancy was suspended from membership until she came to the proper state of repentance.

“Nancy, having been fully heard—the Session were unanimously of the opinion that Nancy, tho [sic] she confessed the charges preferred against her at the last meeting, acknowledges her guilt, & professed repentance, gave no satisfactory evidence of being a true penitent—especially as she expresses herself as determined to persist in the same course and deals freely in unfounded charges against her brethren of the same church. Therefore Resolved unanimously that Nancy be & she hereby is suspended from the sacraments of the church until she shall give satisfactory evidence of repentance.---As Nancy was not present, it was expected that the moderator inform her in a suitable manner of the judicial proceeding.”

Mary Ann Butler accused of associating with lewd company and of having intercourse with men of the baser sort. Cited to appear 8/8.

(Sabbath) “The two new members, together with the following persons who had been received by the session of the Red House church viz. James W. Jeffreys, Robert Faukner, Lucy B. Brown, John Chiles, John Wilson and Mrs. Ann Wilson—presented themselves before a large congregation under the arbor in the grove and entered publickly [sic] into covenant relation with the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Carter, Mrs. Pugh, Mr. Faukner, Mrs. Brown, Mr. Chiles were baptized. The scene was peculiarly solemn and interesting.”

Mr. William D. Gatewood received on profession of faith and examination.

Miss Mary Finley requested certificate of dismission to Enoe [sic] church, Orange County.

Trial of Mr.Bullock, a member of the church and brother-in-law of Warner M. Lewis, who recused himself. The charges  had to do with his business dealings with others in the community. The Session believed that he had been dishonest in his transactions. Following a thorough examination of the facts with several witnesses, the verdict was that he had been caught in business failings and that promises that were made in good faith fell through.

8/1/1833

Mrs. Ann G. Bracken requests certificate of dismission

1/12/1834

Rachel, a servant of Mr. W.M. Lewis, being present requested admission. Received on profession of faith and examination.

William D. Gatewood charged “by common fame much to the dishonor of religion, with certain gross immoralities.” Cited to appear before session.

William Gatewood suspended for failing to appear after two citations “has treated this session with contumacy.”

Mr. and Mrs. Bullock requested certificate of dismission to join some Presbyterian Church in Alabama.

Mrs. Ann H. F. Farley having been received at her request two years ago into full communion with the church and has refused to make a publick [sic] profession of her faith, has never participated in celebrating the Lord’s Supper and rarely attends the ordinances of the sanctuary. Mr. Penick to meet with her and report back to the session.

3/1/1834

Misses N. P. Clark, Catharine Yuill, Lucy F Hines, Mary A. Harris (?) and Messrs. Richard E. Hines, and Fountain E. Pugh received on profession of faith and examination.

5/31/1834

Messrs. R. L. Downs and E. A. Howard received on profession of faith and examination.

9/8/1834

Mr. William W. Durham received on profession of faith and examination.

9/9/1834

Mr. W. M. Lewis presented certificate of dismission and recommendation on behalf of his wife Mrs. Pherebee Lewis from the Presbyterian Church in Raleigh.

11/8/1834

Request presented by Rev. Penick from Mr. G. Yuill, his wife and daughter for certificate of dismission to join Presbyterian Church in Mobile, Al.

1/19/1835

Mrs. Sarah Winstead granted certificate of dismission to Presbyterian Church of Athens, Ga.

4/24/1835

Fifty-four members; 10 added on profession of faith; 3 on certificate; 4 denied; 8 dismissed; 1 suspended.

6/7/1835

Mr. Augustus C. Finley received by letter from New Providence Church, Va.

Mr. Penick announced acceptance of call to Rocky River Church.

Letter from Mr. J. Thomson [Jacob Thompson] requesting letter of admission to where he might settle in Alabama. [I was able to verify from the baptismal records of the church by his parents’ names and his date of birth that this is the same Jacob Thompson who later became Secretary of the Interior in Buchanan’s cabinet. J. T. Bradsher, a member and elder of Milton Presbyterian Church, was named for this man’s nephew who was a doctor in Leasburg and Jacob Thompson Bradsher’s great-uncle.]

Miss E. Smith requested certificate of dismission to Danville church.

Mr. Penick stated that his wife requested certificate of dismission to join church at Rocky River, Cabarrus County.

“Application being made by Rachel for a certificate of recommendation to join the Presbyterian Church wherever in the providence of God her lot might be cast.”

Mrs. Lucy Ramsour requested certificate of dismission to join Presbyterian Church in Linconton [sic].

Miss Delila Walker req. certificate of dismission to join Presbyterian Church in Clarksville VA.

3/18/1836

Certificate of dismission requested for Mrs. Reny Carlson to Presbyterian Church, Raleigh.

12/3/1836

Mrs. Surry Allen received by certificate.

1/16/1837

Request by letter from Fountain E. Pugh for certificate of dismission to Presbyterian Church in Petersburgh [sic], Va.

Miss Margaret Smith requested certificate of dismission to Presbyterian Church, Lincolnton, NC. [I assume this to be the Miss Margarette Smith who joined the letter by certificate number 1.]

3/2/1837

Mr. Robert and Elizabeth Falkner were by certificate of dismission received from Harmony Church, Halifax, VA.

4/17/1837

Forty-six members:1 died; 1 dismissed.

No date Meeting 76. Mr. Harding to talk to Mr. E. Howard who seldom attends church and has neglected communion for two years.

4/18/1839

E. Howard suspended for failure to attend services.

Mr. William R. Hill received on certificate of dismission from Spring Garden [Guilford Co. NC].

Mrs. Mildred Jones requested certificate of dismission to Presbyterian Church in Sommerville, Fayette Co., TN.

Mr. Robert/Elizabeth Faulkner requested certificate of dismission to Harmony Church, Halifax, VA.

1/1/1839

John Wilson elected elder.

4/18/1839

Hannah, a servant of Mr. Seawell, requested a certificate of dismission to join the Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. Request granted

2/28/1840

Miss Sarah Patrick granted certificate of dismission at her request to join Presbyterian Church at Philadelphia.

5/26/1840

Mrs. Margaret Ann Wilson received on certificate of dismission from church in Raleigh.

Miss Ann Forbes received on certificate of dismission from Presbyterian Church in Richmond.

4/5/1841

Mrs. Wheeler received on profession of faith and examination.

4/7/1841

Letter from Mrs. Nancy Clarke requesting certificate of dismission to Presbyterian Church of Greensboro.

4/1/1842

Forty-four members: 5 added on profession of faith; 2 on certificate; 2 died.

4/2/1842

Mrs. Lucy M. Walker, Miss Mary Ann and Miss Jane Lewis, Mr. James R. Callum received on profession of faith and examination.

4/3/1842

James, a servant of Stephen Dodson, received on profession of faith and examination.

4/22/1842

*Note, p. 147 At a previous meeting which was omitted in its proper place…Mr. Thomas Day and his wife Aquilla offered themselves as candidates for church membership.

4/30/1842

Fielding Lewis received on profession of faith and examination.

Mrs. Sarah Ogilby wrote requesting a certificate of dismission to Presbyterian Church, Lynchburg, VA.

10/23/1842

Mr. Samuel Watkins and Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins received on profession of faith and examination.

11/5/1842

Session met at home of Mr. Hill. Mrs. Sarah Hill and Mrs. Synthy (?) Ball received on certificate of dismission from Methodist Church.

11/5/1842

Session met at home of Dr. Wilie [sic] Jones. Mrs. Priscilla Jones received on profession of faith and examination.

1/21/1843

Session met at home of Mr. George A. Smith. Mrs. Adeline Smith received on profession of faith and examination.

4/5/1843

Mrs. Sarah Lea requested certificate of dismission to Griers Presbyterian Church.

4/1/1843

Fifty-six members: 6 added on profession of faith; 1 on certificate. Baptisms: 5 adult, 0 infant.

9/29/1843

Mrs. Elizabeth Shelton received on profession of faith and examination.

4/1/1844

Fifty+nine members: 1 added on certificate. Baptisms: 1 adult; 1 infant.

4/6/1844

Mrs. Penelope Wilson received on certificate of dismission from 10th Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia.

4/7/1844

Mary, a servant of Dr. Harding, received on profession of faith and examination.

10/5/1844

Met at home of Mrs. E. Robertson. She was received on profession of faith and examination.

Philip, servant of N.J. Palmer, member of Presbyterian Church at Griers and Henry, servant of W. M. Lewis, member of Red House received into full communion.

11/18/1844

Mr. John Thompson received on profession of faith and examination.

11/27/1844

Mr. Fielding Lewis’s name stricken from roll at his request.

12/23/1844

Met at home of Alexander Kearsey. Mrs. Elizabeth Kearsey received on profession of faith and examination.

1/4/1845 

Miss Sarah Shelton received on profession of faith and examination.

Hamton, servant of J. Walker, Billy, servant of Thomas Allen and Abraham and Frances, servants of Jarvis Friou received on profession of faith and examination.

4/6/1845 

Miss Elizabeth Shelton received on profession of faith and examination.

“Session met the same day at the house of Mr. Thomas Day. The meeting opened with prayer. Present, Rev. Dr. Harding, John Wilson, Nicholas M. Lewis. Cory, servant of Mr. Day’s presented herself as a candidate for church membership and after careful examination on experimental religion she was received into the Church. The meeting was concluded with prayer. ”M.P. Huntington, Clk.

4/1845

7/6/1845 

Creacy, servant of S. Dodson, Lucinda, servant of G. A. Smith, and Eliza, servant of N. J. Palmer were received into full communion on profession of faith and examination.

10/4/1845 

Met at house of Mrs. Robertson. Miss Ann Burnette received on profession of faith and examination.

Met a home of Mr. John Thompson. Mrs. E. Thompson received on profession of faith and examination.

2/2/1846 

Dr. Thos. Atkinson & his lady, same as 4/4/1846.

3/4/1846 

Mr. John Merrit [sic] received on profession of faith and examination.

4/4/1846 

Dr. Thomas P. Atkinson presented certificate for himself and his wife Mrs. Mary Atkinson from the Presbyterian Church, Danville.

4/1846 

Fifty-eight members: 6 received on profession of faith; 2 on certificate. Baptisms: 3 adults, 5 infants.

10/1/1846

Misses Mary Covington, Rebecca Westbrook, and Ann Thompson received on profession of faith and examination.

4/1847

59 members, 3 received on profession of faith, 2 on cert. One adult baptism.

1/3/1848

Certificate from Mr. E. G. Wilkerson from Eno Church.

4/1848

Fifty-one members.

12/1/1848

Miss Ann Thompson requested certificate of dismission to New Hope Church.

Note: The Rev. Jacob Doll arrived in Milton on the 5th of January 1849. [No explanation of departure of Dr. Harding given. He died 2/17/1849.]

5/5/1849

Certificate of Mrs. Susan Doll from Presbyterian Church of Oxford. *Entry misplaced in book.

4/25/1849 

Mr. Willoughby Shelton received on profession of faith and examination.

10/9/1849 

Miss E. Hunt and Miss Mary Richmond received on letter from Presbyterian Church, Greensboro.

4/1850 

Fifty-our members: 1 added on profession of faith; 3 on certificate. Twelve colored members. Baptisms: 1 adult; 1 infant.

4/20/1850

Mr. E. S. Wilkinson requested certificate of dismission to Red House.

#132 Undated, but sometime in April 1850.“Rev. Mr. Doll presented the certificate of Miss S. R. Jones, member of the 5th Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, wishing to connect herself to the Church, the certificate being found in order. She was on motion received into full communion.”

#133 Undated. Miss Isabella Garland and Miss Elizabeth Walton received “on examination of their Christian knowledge and experience of Christianity.”

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