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(fawn of Mt HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH NEW BERN, N. C. 1715-1940 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/crownoflifehistoOOgert E. K. Bishop Nofth Csrolin. St«f Library Crown of Mt HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH NEW BERN, N.C. 1715-1940 BY Gertrude S. Carraway Authorized by the vestry of Christ Church protestant episcopal church the rev. charles e. williams, rector E. K. bishop, Senior warden NEW BERN OWEN G. DUNN, PUBLISHER 1940 NORTH LINA LIBRARY C0ft 3K N. C. I i - - ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTES 1940 In commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of Christ Church Parish in 1715 and the 200th anniversary of the Act of the General Assembly on August 21, 1740, authorizing erection of the first parish church here; and in honor of the Hon. Edward K. Bishop, for more than half a cen-tury a vestryman, first elected April 24, 1889, serv-ing as Secretary and Junior Warden at different times, and for the past eighteen years Senior Warden, first named to this high position of leader-ship and responsibility April 3, 1922—able, loyal, and true, a worthy successor of worthy predecessors. K.v DEDICATION For all Thy saints, Lord, Who strove in Thee to live, Who followed Thee, obeyed, adored, Our grateful hymn receive. For Thy dear saints, Lord, Who strove in Thee to die, Who counted Thee their great reward, Accept our thankful cry. Thine earthly members fit To join Thy saints above, In one communion ever knit, One fellowship of love. Jesus, Thy Name we bless And humbly pray that we May follow them in holiness, Who lived and died for Thee. —Bishop Richaed Mant, 1837. Hymn 293. TWO CENTURIES OF SERVICE For two centuries of service, progress and inspiration, Christ Episcopal Church has held an important place, literally and figuratively, in the heart of New Bern, second oldest town of North Carolina. Its spire, pointing skyward, higher than anything else in the city, is rimmed with a large crown, symbolic of everlasting life, not only for the Church triumphant but also for those stalwart Christians who try to further the Kingdom of God on earth. The twenty-six rectors, the assistant ministers and many members have exercised a vital influence on the history of the region. To a great extent the history of the local Church is a history of the community. These patriots of the Cross have bequeathed a priceless heritage for the Church and Church members of today and tomorrow—a tower of strength during the past, a beacon of light in the present, and a guiding star for the future. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the Crown of Life."—Revelation 2:10. RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH James Reed 1753-1777 Leonidas Cutting 1785-1792 Solomon Halling 1792-1795 Thomas P. Irving 1796-1813 George Strebeck 1813-1815 Jehu Curtis Clay 1817-1818 Richard S. Mason 1818-1828 John R. Goodman 1828-1834 John Burke 1835-1837 Cameron F. McRae 1838-1842 Fordyce M. Hubbard 1842-1847 William N. Hawks 1847-1853 Henry F. Greene 1854-1857 Thomas G. Haughton 1857-1858 Alfred A. Watson 1858-1862 Edward M. Forbes 1866-1877 Charles S. Hale 1877-1881 Van Winder Shields 1881-1889 T. M. N. George 1890-1905 L. G. H. Williams 1905-1907 John H. Brown 1908-1910 B. F. Huske 1910-1917 Daniel G. MacKinnon 1917-1925 Guy H. Madara 1926-1930 I. DEL. Brayshaw 1931-1934 Charles E. Williams 1934- CONTENTS Anniversary Tributes Dedication Two Centuries of Service... Rectors of Christ Church.. Table of Contents Chapter I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. Early Colonial Religion First Ministers in East Carolina Establishment of Church Craven County Settled Religious legislation..... Local Parish Designated Freedom of Worship Again Decreed. Union of Church and State New Church Acts First Local Church East Carolina Missionaries Gifts from King George Page 3 4 5 6 7 9 12 14 19 23 25 29 32 34 36 40 44 The Rev. James Reed, First Rector 47 Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs 50 Large Parish Territory 54 Numerous Church Bills 58 First Public School 61 Other Services of "Parson" Reed._ 64 Church and School 68 Royal Governor William Tryon 72 The Rev. James McCartney 76 Tryon Asks More Aid 79 Royal Governor Josiah Martin 82 Tomlinson Assists Rector..._ 85 The Revolutionary Period and Disestablishment of the Church 89 Death of Mr. Reed... 95 The Rev. Leonidas Cutting 98 Steps Toward Organization 102 The Rev. Solomon Halling 105 First Bishop Elected for North Carolina 109 The Rev. Thomas P. Irving _ 112 The Rev. George Strebeck and The Rev. John Phillips, Assistant Rector 119 The Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay and Organization of the Diocese.. 121 The Rev. Richard Sharpe Mason 124 8 CONTENTS Chapter Page XXXV. Other Local Denominations 129 XXXVI. Second Episcopal Church Building 136 XXXVII. The Rev. John R. Goodman 141 XXXVIII. The Rev. John Burke._„ 144 XXXIX. The Rev. Cameron F. McRae._ 147 XL. The Rev. Fordyce M. Hubbard 149 XLI. The Rev. William N. Hawks 151 XLII. The Rev. Henry F. Greene 158 XLIII. The Rev. Thomas G. Haughton.„ 162 XLIV. The Rev. A. A. Watson 166 XLV. The Rev. Edward M. Forbes 172 XLVI. Church Fire 177 XLVII. The Rev. Charles S. Hale 183 XLVIII. The Rev. Van Winder Shields. 185 XLIX. The Rev. T. M. N. George 188 L. The Rev. L. G. H. Williams 192 LI. The Rev. John H. Brown 195 LII. The Rev. B. F. Huske._ 197 LIII. The Rev. Daniel G. MacKinnon 200 LIV. The Rev. Guy H. Madara 204 LV. The Rev. I. deL. Brayshaw 207 LVI. The Rev. Charles E. Williams 210 LVII. The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Darst 216 Christ Church Vestrymen 219 Bibliography 223 Index 231 ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE E. K. Bishop Frontispiece First Local Church—1750 32 Communion Silver, Presented by King George II 48 Second Local Episcopal Church—1824 128 Present Episcopal Church—1875 __ 176 Christ Church Altar..._ 192 Showing Communion Silver and Memorial Cloth. The Rev. Charles E. Williams 208 The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Darst..._ 209 EARLY COLONIAL RELIGION That the early colonists in Eastern North Carolina had faith and religion is evidenced by many historical facts, and, although for a history of Christ Church, New Bern, it is manifestly impossible to go fully into an account of Christianity through the entire section, nevertheless it is important to mention a few outstanding events that transpired before the settling of this city. During Colonial days the church was usually the chief center of a settlement. Upon it our American fore-fathers depended often for educational and social privi-leges as well as religious inspiration. Christ Church played as vital a role along all these lines as any other factor in this community, and as material a part as prac-tically any other church in any other region. On August 13, 1587, Manteo, Indian friendly to the white colonists in Governor John White's English settle-ment on Roanoke Island, was baptised,1 this being believed to be the first Christian baptism by the English on terri-tory now comprising the United States. Some days later Virginia Dare, first white child of English parentage born in the New World, was also christened at old Fort Raleigh.2 In 1607, as English colonists started up the James River to found the first permanent English settlement at James-town, Va., they disembarked first at Cape Henry on April 26. With religious ritual they planted there a crude wooden cross, symbolic of faith in God and confidence in the future.3 Episcopal services are continued there an-nually in tribute to their piety and pioneer spirit. Religion was also made an integral part of the daily life of other later settlements in Virginia and Carolina. In-deed, many persons came to this continent mainly for freedom of worship. Others were stimulated to religious zeal in their new homes. In almost all colonies buildings were set apart for public worship, sometimes private 10 CROWN OF LIFE homes were thus used. For wide stretches where houses were scattered, however, religion had to be an individual or family devotion. The first charter granted March 24, 1663, by King Charles II of England to the original eight Lords Proprie-tors of Carolina stated that these leaders were "excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith, and the enlargement of our empire and dominion" by settling "in the parts of America not yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by some bar-barous people who have no knowledge of Almighty God."4 As today, one of His Majesty's titles was "Defender of the Faith." 5 Liberty of conscience and freedom of worship were al-lowed under both the first and second Carolina charters, although it was distinctly understood that the Church of England was to be the established church in the colony just as it was in the Mother Country.6 Under John Locke's "Fundamental Constitutions or the Grand Model of Government," accepted March 1, 1669,7 which had great ideals of liberty8 though failing to func-tion suitably for scattered inhabitants in Carolina,9 it was declared : "It shall belong to the Parliament to take care for the building of churches and the public maintenance of di-vines, to be employed in the exercise of religion, according to the Church of England ; which being the only true and orthodox, and the national religion of all the King's do-minions, is so also of Carolina, and therefore it alone shall be allowed to receive public maintenance by grant of Parliament." 10 No missionary societies were in the world during the 17th century, and there were no missionaries on this con-tinent except a few traveling Quaker preachers. But, at the close of that century the Bishop of London sent the Rev. Thomas Bray (1656-1730) to Maryland to settle some differences there and to study church conditions. 11 Dr. Bray visited various American colonies, and became intensely interested in their religious conditions. Upon EARLY COLONIAL RELIGION 11 his return to England, he reported in 1700 the immediate need of missionaries in the New World.12 i White, John, Account of Lost Colony. Published by Richard Hakluyt, Vol. Ill, p. 340. 2 Ibid. 3 "On the nine and twentieth day [of April] we returned to the mouth of the Bay of Chesiopic, set up a cross and called the place Cape Henry," wrote George Percy, son of Earl Percy, who was with the Virginia colonists in 1607. 4 The Colonial Records of North Carolina (hereafter cited as Col. Rec), I, 21. 5 Ibid., I, 20. Qlbid., I, pp. 32, 113-14. 7 Ibid., I, 187-205; The State Records of North Carolina (hereafter cited as St. Rec), Vol. XXV, pp. 123-136. 8 Col. Rec, I, 202-203. 9 Ibid., I, pp. xvii-xviii. io Ibid., I, 202. ii Ibid., I, 520, 571. New Standard Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, p. 156. Drane, Dr. Robert B., Colonial Parishes and Church Schools, in Sketches of Church History in North Carolina, edited by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire and published by Wm. L. De Rosset, Jr., p. 167. 12 Col. Rec, I, pp. 572-73. McConnell, Dr. S. D., History of the American Episcopal Church, pp. 96-98. Protestant Episcopal His-torical Society Collection, pp. 99-106. Hawks, Francis L., History of North Carolina, Vol. II, pp. 338-339. II FIRST MINISTERS IN EAST CAROLINA The first minister to preach in North Carolina is said to have been William Edmundson, a Quaker, native of Westmoreland, England, who came to Carolina during the Spring of 1672 and preached at the house of Henry Phil-lips, where the town of Hertford is now located. 1 George Fox, also a Quaker, was the second missionary to visit North Carolina. He went to the western part of what is now the county of Chowan, as well as to the Per-quimans and Pasquotank sections.2 The Quakers were thus the first to send missionaries into Carolina, and they infused their principles through northeastern parts of the province. Presbyterians and members of other denominations also moved to the region from Virginia and other colonies.3 Quaker influence was felt from 1694 to 1696 when John Archdale was Governor of the Carolinas. He was a Quaker, convert of George Fox. But when Henderson Walker became Governor, 1699-1703, he did much to help establish the Church of England and further its cause in North Carolina.4 The first Church of England missionary for the Albe-marle section, sent in 1700 at Dr. Bray's insistence, was the Rev. Daniel Brett. This was an unfortunate selec-tion, as were some of the later missionary choices. He remained only a few months.5 As early as 1669 there had been instituted in England a society "for the promotion of Christian knowledge." For various reasons it failed to function well. A second organization, to supply clergymen for the American colo-nies, was started by Dr. Bray, desirous to improve re-ligious conditions in the colonies. On June 16, 1701, his society, as a voluntary organiza-tion among churchmen in England, was chartered by King William III of England as the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." 6 FIRST MINISTERS IN EAST CAROLINA 13 This association did more towards the early Christian-izing of East Carolina than probably any other one factor. However, the group was greatly handicapped in its worthy efforts by the general indifference found on both sides of the ocean and the immense distances that had to be traveled. The first public library in Carolina was started at Bath, the oldest town, with books sent by Dr. Bray.7 Books were later sent to many other towns of the province. And the Rt. Rev. Henry Compton, Lord Bishop of London from 1675 to 1714, obtained from the Crown a promise of a bounty of 20 pounds for every minister or scholar who would agree to come to America.8 i Cheshire, J. B., Jr., Fragments of Colonial Church History, pp. 3-4. 2 Col. Rec, I, xviii, 226-27, 572. Journals of Edmundson and Fox. 3 Vass, the Rev. L. C, History of the Presbyterian Church in New Bern, N. C, pp. 18-21. 4 Battle, Kemp P., The Colonial Laymen of the Church of England in North Carolina, published in Cheshire's Sketches, pp. 95-96. 5 Col. Rec, I, 572. 6 Cheshire, The Church in the Province of North Carolina, op cit., pp. 51-52; New Standard Encyclopedia, IV, 156. McConnell, op cit., pp. 98-99. Hawks, op. cit., II, 340. 7 Col. Rec, I, 572. 8 Ibid., I, 600-1. Hawks, II, 339. Ill ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH In the Fall of 1701 Governor Henderson Walker had the "Assembly" pass an act making the Church of Eng-land the established church.1 Parishes were laid out in this province. Craven, named for William, Earl of Craven, one of the original Lords Proprietors, was a precinct in St. Thomas parish. Pro-vision was made for erection of churches and appointment of vestries. For payment of 30 pounds for each minister's salary, a poll tax was laid on every tithable person.2 Quakers, Presbyterians and other denomination mem-bers in the province objected strenuously to the bill, and appealed to England. They asserted that, though re-ligious toleration had been definitely promised, there could be no real religious freedom and liberty of con-science for all, if they were forced thus to help support the Church of England.3 The measure was later vetoed by the Lords Proprietors, not because of these objections filed by colonists but be-cause of the opinion that the bill was "inadequate," 30 pounds not being considered enough for preachers.4 On December 15, 1701, however, the vestry of Chowan precinct appointed under the act made arrangements for a church reader and a house of worship.5 This church, reported well under way October 13, 1702, near Edenton,6 was the first to be erected in North Carolina.7 It is said to have been located on land later included in the Hayes Plantation.8 An entry dated June 30, 1702, in the Vestry Book of St. Paul's parish, Chowan precinct, refers to a March act of the Assembly empowering each vestry to provide a standard of weights and measures and transact other business.9 That vestry also met on October 13 of that year and at other times.10 Governor Henderson wrote to the Bishop of London October 21, 1703, requesting that a "worthy good man" ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH 15 be sent to Carolina to regain the flock and establish it in the Christian profession.11 He severely criticized the be-havior of the Rev. Daniel Brett, said to be "the first minister sent to us." 12 The first missionary sent to North Carolina by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was the Rev. John Blair. 13 He left England late in 1703.14 His mission in this New World was destined to encounter many difficulties and handicaps, as did other early Colonial missionaries. In a letter to officials of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel he reported three chief precincts in this province, with three small churches and three glebes. 15 Craven was not counted as one of the main precincts. He said that a reader was engaged at a small salary in each of the three, for morning and evening prayers and two sermons every Sunday.16 Four "sorts of people" were described: Quakers, "powerful enemies to church government" ; those with no religion who would be Quakers if it did not compel them to live moral lives; a denomination something like Presby-terianism ; and those really zealous for the interest of the church. This fourth group was said to be fewest in num-ber but composed of the "better sort of people."17 Blair almost starved in the Carolina wildernesses. He worked hard and traveled far, but could accomplish little. While he was returning to England for aid after a few months, his vessel was captured and he was held a pris-oner of war in France for nine weeks.18 During late 1704 or early 1705 a Vestry Act was passed by the North Carolina Assembly, providing for twelve vestrymen in each precinct. These were given the power to build churches and raise money, displace and disap-prove ministers, for whom they were to pay 30 pounds per annum.19 This measure was evidently later repealed. Members of the House of Lords of the British Parlia-ment notified Queen Anne March 13, 1705, of a petition received from Joseph Boone, merchant, and other Caro-lina residents objecting to two Assembly acts: appoint-ment of a commission of twenty laymen to remove rectors 16 CROWN OF LIFE only by delivery of written notices and provision that no man might be chosen to the House of Commons of the Assembly if he had not received the Church of England sacrament within a year before his election unless he would swear he was of the Church of England profes-sion. 20 The Lords declared that such measures were not warranted by the charter granted to the Carolina Lords Proprietors.- 1 Accordingly, Queen Anne pronounced them null and void.- 2 At a council meeting held in Chowan December 3, 1705, Bath County, reported to be growing, was divided into three precincts: 23 Pampticough, north of the Pamlico river beginning at Moline's Creek and extending westerly to the head of the river; Wickham, from Moline's Creek to Matchepungo Bluif; and Archdale, the south side of the river, including Neuse. Each precinct was allowed two Assembly members. Pampticough soon passed out of existence. In 1712 Wickham became Hyde, and Arch-dale became Beaufort. The second and third missionaries sent to North Caro-lina for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts were the Rev. James Adams and the Rev. William Gordon. They arrived in April, 1708.24 Both were worthy Christian leaders. At that time there were four precincts in the Albemarle Sound section, 25 and both ministers went to that area: Gordon, to Chowan and Perquimans ; 26 Adams, to Pasquo-tank and Currituck.27 In 1709 Gordon wrote of his section: "The people, in-deed, are ignorant, there being few that can read, and fewer write, even of their Justices of Peace and vestry-men." 25 Bath was said to be the only town, with twelve houses but no church though land had been laid out for a glebe. 29 Gordon returned to England after a compara-tively short but satisfactory stay in America.30 Adams was called "exemplary" in a letter written August 25, 1710, by church wardens and vestrymen of "Caratuck" to the S. P. G. officials to thank them for sending the minister to that region. He was reported to have been there for two years and five months, and was ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH 17 then planning to return to England.31 A letter dated the next day was sent by the "Pascotank" vestry, asking for a continuance of Adams' work.32 Adams himself wrote, "I have suffered a world of misery and trouble, both in body and mind."33 He pre-pared to leave for England but died in 1710 just before his scheduled departure.34 The Rev. John Urmstone was fourth on the list of S. P. G. missionaries to North Carolina. In 1711 he came to Chowan. Colonial Records contain numerous letters from him to his superiors, complaining bitterly of the land, vestries and lack of money.35 The noted divine and historian, Dr. F. L. Hawks, wrote later that Urmstone, weak and vacillating, "did more to retard the spread of Christianity and the growth of the Church of England in Carolina than any and all other causes combined."36 Fifth came the Rev. Giles Rainsford,37 whose health failed after a few months. He is said to have been alarmed by Indian hostilities and to have moved soon to Virginia.38 i Col. Rec, I, 543, 572. 2 Ibid.. 598, 601. Cheshire, Sketches, p. 52. 3 Col. Rec, I, 527, 709, 802. Cheshire, p. 54. 4 Col. Rec, I, 601. Hawks, II, 343, 357. 5 Col. Rec, I, 543-545. eiMd., I, 558-61. 7 Cheshire, op. cit.. 119. 8 Graham, John Washington, History of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, p. 4. 9 Col. Rec, I, 558. io Col. Rec, I, 558, 560. 568, et als. iiZfeic?., pp. 572-73. lilbid., 572. 13 Ibid., 597, 600. nibirl., 600. lSIMd., 601. iGIbid. i~ Ibid., 601-2. izibid., 600-3. Hawks, II, 344. 19 Col. Rec, I, 680, 682, 689, 709. 20 Ibid., pp. 634-40. 21 Ibid., 636. 22 ibid.. 643, 673. 23 Ibid.. 629. 24J6kZ., 681. 25 Ibid. 26 Ibid.. 684-85, 689. 27 Ibid., 681. ftORTi LIBRARY CO*, N, C. 18 CROWN OF LIFE 2SiMd., 712. 29 Ibid., 715. soma., 684-85, 701. 31 I&uL, 728-29. S2 Ibid., 730. 33 Ibid., 734. 34/6irl., I, 884; II, 75. Hawks, II, 350-51. 35 Col. Rec, I, 763-64, 774, 849, 850, etc. 36 Hawks, II, 353. 37 Col. Rec, I, 858-60. 38 Hawks, II, 353. Col. Rec, II, 17, 128. IV CRAVEN COUNTY SETTLED The first white settlers in this section were from Vir-ginia, New Jersey and New England. Some were hun-ters. Others sought a living from the soil. Many desired religious freedom. There were Quakers, Calvinists, Puri-tans, French Huguenots and other "dissenters," who had come to America from religious persecutions abroad. Although there were a number of earlier smaller groups or individuals, the first organized settlement in Craven County dates back to 1707, when the Rev. Claude Phillippe de Richebourg brought Palatine Protestants to the Trent River. This is said to have been the first Presbyterian minister, as well as the first organized Presbyterian con-gregation, in North Carolina.1 Some of the colonists were Lutherans, others Calvinists, French Huguenots, or Re-formed Church members. These exceptionally fine citizens moved to this region from Virginia, where in search of religious liberty they had gone in 1690, with the encouragement of King Wil-liam of England, first locating at Manakin Town above the James River falls. Not satisfied with the land in Vir-ginia, they had decided to move farther south. Pious and zealous, talented and hard-working, these settlers were unusually worthy. They held religious ser-vices regularly. In an effort to promote silk culture, they had eggs shipped here, but the eggs hatched on the vessel and the silk worms died for lack of food. After the Indian massacres in 1711, the colonists moved still farther south, settling on the Santee River in South Carolina.2 First organized colony direct from Europe to North Carolina, Swiss and German Palatines settled on the site of this town in 1710. They were stout Protestants. The day before the first group sailed from Gravesend on the Thames River in England in January, 1710, religious services were held and an appropriate farewell sermon 20 CROWN OF LIFE was preached by the Rev. Mr. Cesar, a German Reformed minister of London.3 Baron Christopher deGraffenried, 49, Swiss nobleman, popular at European courts, who organized the colonists, was present for the farewell service.4 He followed later in the year with his Swiss settlers,3 changing the name of the Indian village, "Chattawka," on the Neuse and Trent Rivers in East Carolina, to honor his native Bern, Switzer-land. 6 Henry Hoeger, a Reformed minister, accompanied the local settlers. He was 75 years old, sober and honest. Jacob Christofle Zollikofer, of St. Gall, Switzerland, was instructed to go around Europe to try to get contributions for the building of a church and for the sending over here of a young German preacher as an assistant to Hoeger. He was requested to have the young minister ordained in England by the Bishop of London and to send a liturgy of the Church of England translated in high Dutch. The outcome of these assignments is not definitely known.7 The colonists had been able to bring little furniture to their new home, but they did probably bring their Bibles, hymn books and religious volumes. Religious services must have been held often, probably at private homes. As early as 1703, the Rev. Josuah Kocherthal, a Lutheran clergyman at Landau in the German Palatinate, driven to despair over the religious persecutions and hor-rible sufferings which his followers had endured after invasions of French armies, had gone to England to in-vestigate the expediency of an emigration across the Atlantic. Upon his return home, he published a book on the pro-vince of Carolina, giving glowing descriptions of its climate and fertility. Thousands of downtrodden persons envisioned a land of plenty and promise, with liberty and peace of soul.8 Encouraged by the English government, which was as eager to get foreign Protestant colonists for the New World as it was to keep its own people at home, the greatest migrations since the Crusades took place. In a few months between 10,000 and 15,000 persons flocked to CRAVEN COUNTY SETTLED 21 London, begging to be transported across the ocean. Among these were many of the future settlers of New Bern.9 For his colony, deGraffenried carefully chose young and able-bodied men, representing almost every trade and craft then prevalent.10 No colony in America had such a highly selective personnel. DeGraffenried was authorized by the Bishop of London to perform marriage ceremonies and baptisms. 11 Though most of the settlers were of the Calvinistic and Lutheran faiths, they signified a desire to be affiliated with the Church of England. On April 20, 1711, deGraffenried wrote the Bishop of London: "Humbly request your lordship to accept of me and my people, and receive us into your Church under your Lord-ship's patronage, and we shall esteem ourselves happy sons of a better stock ; and I hope we shall always behave ourselves as becomes members of the Church of England, and dutiful children of so pious and indulgent a father as your Lordship is to all under your care ; in all obedience, craving your lordship's blessing to me and my country-men here."12 The Bishop of London wrote the next January 12 to Secretary Fulham of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: "As to the letter of Baron deGraffenried, whereby you may perceive that they are all ready to con-form to the Church of England; if the Society will be pleased to allow a stipend for a chaplain to read Common Prayers in High Dutch, I will endeavor to provide so soon as I have their resolution, which I would willingly hear so soon as possible, that I may send him over with Mr. Rainsford."13 A colony of Welsh Quakers, including Thomas Lovick, John Lovick and other leaders who afterwards became prominent, settled in 1710 below New Bern on Clubfoot and Hancock Creeks on the south side of the Neuse River.14 German immigrants arrived in 1732, but moved up Trent River and settled in what is now Jones County, then part of Craven.15 22 CROWN OF LIFE Thus there were English, French, Germans, Swiss, Welsh, Scotch-Irish and other nationalities in this area early in the 18th century. Many religious faiths were represented—Church of England, Calvinists, Lutherans, Reformed, Quakers, Presbyterians, and a few Catholics. Methodists and Baptists also came early to the section. i Vass, op. cit., pp. 49-53. Ashe, Samuel A., History of North Carolina, Vol. I, p. 161. 2 Lawson, John, History of Carolina, pp. 28-30, 141, 187. Hawks, II, 85. 3 DeGraffenried, Baron Christopher, The Landgrave's Own Story, published in deGraffenried, Thomas P., History of the deGraffenried Family, p. 77. Vass, 57. 4 DeGraffenried, op. cit., pp. 76-77. 5 Ibid., 78. a Ibid., 77. 7 Dubbs, Prof. Joseph H., D. D., Historic Manual of the Reformed Church. Perry's Historic Collections. Vass, 60. s Todd, Vincent H., Ph.D., Christoph von Grafjenried's Account of the Founding of New Bern, pp. 13-14, 17, 22. 9 DeGraffenried, pp. 75-76. io Ibid., 76. ii Todd, op. cit., 377. 12 Col. Rec, I, 756. 13 Ibid., 831. 14 Vass, op. cit., 70. is Vass, 71. RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION Establishment of the Church of England in North Caro-lina was recognized by Act of the Assembly in 1711, with acceptance of the laws of England as "the laws of this government so far as they are compatible with our way of living." A fine of a hundred pounds was provided for vestrymen refusing to qualify under the English laws.1 The Rev. Mr. Urmstone wrote July 7 of that year that the Assembly Act provided for the worship of God and the establishment of the church. Vestries of twelve men in every precinct or parish were called to meet in six weeks to choose church wardens, to give them power to buy glebes, to build churches and to engage clergymen.2 But, it was difficult to get ministers. Miles Gale wrote in 1714 to the Secretary of the Society for the Propaga-tion of the Gospel : "Your letters received for his Excellency, the present Governor Eden, and my Eldest Son, Christopher Gale . . . I have made all the Enquiry in my power after some to go as missionaries, they like the terms but dread y voyage and the heat of the climate. I heartily wish & hope Re-ligion may be taken care for in that Heathenish Country."3 An Act for Observing the Lord's Day was passed in 1715 and remained in force until its repeal in April, 1741.4 Three holidays were again decreed: January 30, when King Charles I was "barberously murthered;" May 29, the Restoration anniversary; and September 22, the Indian massacre anniversary.5 This act forbade cursing, swearing and drunkenness on the Sabbath. Ministers were directed to read the law publicly twice a year, on the first Sundays in March and October. If no minister was in the section, the Clerk was ordered to read it at precinct court in April and October.6 Another 1715 law permitted Quakers to make a solemn affirmation rather than take an oath.7 This was again decreed Oct. 16, 1749.8 But, because of their failure to 24 CROWN OF LIFE take oaths, despite the fact that liberty of conscience was promised, Quakers were long considered ineligible to hold office and were not allowed to serve on juries or give evi-dence in criminal cases. Also passed in 1715 was an act to the effect that no minister of the Church of England should be obliged to enlist in the militia.9 Established Church clergymen were exempt from military duty during practically the entire Colonial period in North Carolina, but it was not until passage of a temporary six-months' act in 1760 and a more permanent act in 1764 that such provision was made for Presbyterian ministers, "regularly called to any con-gregation." 10 No mention was then made of other de-nominations. In 1770 it was recorded that for five years Quakers had been released from attendance on general or private mus-ters, provided they were regularly listed and would serve in the regular militia in case of insurrection or invasion. On February 23, 1771, Perquimans County Quakers wrote to thank the Assembly for the act passed at the pre-ceding session exempting them from militia duty and military training.11 i Col. Rec, I, pp. 789-90. 2 Ibid., 769. 3IMd.. Vol. II, 133. 4 St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 3-6. 5 Ibid., 3. Glbid., pp. 4-6. ' Hid., 11. 8 Ibid. Col. Rec, II, 884. 9 St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 29-30. 10/MtZ.. 597. ii Col. Rec, IX, pp. 176-77. VI LOCAL PARISH DESIGNATED Craven parish was one of nine parishes provided for in 1715; accordingly, the history of Christ Church may be said to have been started in that year. The bill was entitled "An Act for establishing the church and appointing select vestrys," this "Province of North Carolina being a member of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Church of England being appointed by the charter from the Crown to be the only Established church to have Publick encouragement in it." 1 Under the act the province was divided into nine parishes, as follows: Chowan precinct, two; Pasquotank precinct, two; Perquimans, Currituck and Hyde, each constituting one parish; the remaining part of the Pamplico River and its branches in Beaufort precinct, St. Thomas parish ; and "Nuse river & the Branches thereof, by the name of Craven parish, to which all the Southern settlements shall be accounted a part until further Divisions." The twelve men named as vestrymen for Craven parish were Col. Wm. Brice, Maj. Wm. Hancock, Mr. Jno. Nelson, Mr. Jno. Slocumb, Capt. Rich'd Graves, Mr. Dan'l Mc- Farlin, Mr. Jno. Smith, Mr. Jno. Mackey, Mr. Thos. Smith, Mr. Jos. Bell, Mr. Martin Frank and Mr. Jaco(b) Sheets. Vestrymen named for the various parishes under this act were directed to meet at their respective churches, chapels or courthouses within forty days after publication of the law. Should any vestryman fail to meet as sum-moned by the marshal or deputy, if not "a known & Publick Dissenter from the Church of England," he was to be fined three pounds. Should any marshal fail to call the vestrymen, he was to be subject to fine of twenty shillings. All the vestrymen were ordered to qualify before the following Easter Monday. Others to be appointed later 26 CROWN OF LIFE were to qualify within a month. They were to take an oath and make the following declaration before a Justice of the Peace : "I, A. B., do declare that it is not lawfull upon any pretence whatever to take up Arms against the King & that I will not apugne the Liturgy of the Church of Eng-land as it is by Law established." After qualifying, the vestrymen were expected to choose two of their number to serve for one year as church wardens; then two other vestrymen were to be selected for this service the following year; and so on under this rotation in office until all vestrymen had served for a year as wardens. If a vestryman failed to serve as church warden, he was to forfeit thirty shillings. Should any vestryman be ab-sent from a regular meeting without "a lawful cause," he was to be taxed ten shillings. These vestries were empowered to purchase land for the erection of churches, raising money from a poll tax of not over five shillings a year. They were also to name ministers at not less than fifty pounds per year. The ministers were given the right to marry couples, but could not receive more than five shillings for each ceremony. Magistrates were allowed to marry persons "in such parishes where no minister shall be resident." A man and woman desiring to be married could take three or four neighbors or witnesses to the Governor or a Coun-cil member and obtain a marriage certificate. Previously, for lack of clergymen, marriage had been only a civil con-tract in the province. This extensive Vestry Act, signed by Gov. Charles Eden, N. Chevin, C. Gale, Fran. Foster, T. Knight and Speaker Edw. Moseley, remained in force until April, 1741, when it was superseded by another bill establishing the church and a special marriage act. It was substan-tially re-enacted in October, 1749.2 In 1720 it was reported that the persons appointed in 1715 to serve as vestrymen for the southwest parish of Chowan and Craven precinct had not qualified, so it was enacted by "His Excellency the Palatine and the rest of LOCAL PARISH DESIGNATED 27 the true and absolute Lords Proprietors of Carolina," with the consent of the General Assembly, that the mar-shal or deputy summon the vestrymen to qualify within forty days, with power to fill vacancies.3 Three years later, on November 23, 1723, when New Bern was incorporated and laid out in a township, there was a clause in the charter providing a site for a church.4 Despite the Indian wars and other difficulties, the town had by then grown considerably. Beaufort was also incorporated as a town about the same time, and St. John's parish was established there, being divided from Craven into Carteret precinct. Ves-trymen named were Christopher Gale, Esq., Joseph Bell, Jno. Shaw, Jno. Nelson, Richard Whitehurst, Richard Williamson, Richard Rustell, Jno. Shackleford, Thomas Merriday, Enoch Ward, Joseph Fulford and Charles Cog-dail. 5 No Episcopal minister was serving in any of the eleven parishes of North Carolina in 1727 or 1728, it was re-ported in the Journal of Proceedings for setting the boundaries between North Carolina and Virginia.6 On this Boundary Commission there was a Virginia chaplain, the Rev. Peter Fontaine, an Episcopal minister, appointed partly in order that people on the Carolina frontiers might get themselves and their children bap-tized. 7 Colonel William Byrd, a boundary commissioner, wrote that when the chaplain "rubbed us up with a seasonable sermon, this was quite a new thing to our brethren of North Carolina, who live in a climate where no clergyman can breathe, any more than spiders in Ireland."8 Transfer of the province from the control of the Lords Proprietors to the Crown in 1729 ended Proprietary gov-ernment but brought little change in conditions. Each parish had the right to elect its vestrymen. The Craven vestry and church wardens could raise money by a poll tax not exceeding five shillings in currency for the pur-pose of paying preachers and aiding the poor.9 i Col. Rec, II, pp. 207-13. St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 6-10. 2 St. Rec, XXIII, 6. 28 CROWN OF LIFE 3 Ibid., XXV, pp. 166-68. ilbid., 204-5. 5 Ibid., 206-9. 6 Col. Rec, II, pp. 750-57; 776-815. 7 Vass, op. cit., 15. 8 Byrd, William, Histories of Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina, edited by Dr. William K. Boyd, p. 72. 9 Col. Rec, V, 86. VII FREEDOM OF WORSHIP AGAIN DECREED Instructions drafted December 14, 1730, by King George II for Capt. George Burrington, named as Royal Governor of North Carolina, contained among the 117 different sections1 the order that there was to be "liberty of con-science to all persons (except papists)."2 These directions were repeated later for Royal Governor Gabriel Johnston,3 who did much to promote the power and influence of the church in the province. Burrington was told to "take especial care that God Almighty be devoutly and duly served throughout your Government, the Book of Common Prayer as by law es-tablished read each Sunday and Holiday and the blessed sacrament administered according to the rites of the Church of England."4 More churches and rectories should be built in North Carolina,5 the King admonished, calling attention to the rule that "ministers must have certificates from the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London of his being conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England."6 All schoolmasters also were to be licensed by the Bishop of London.7 Governor Burrington wrote July 2, 1731, to one of the Principal Secretaries of State: "This Country has no Orthodox Minister legally settled, those that formerly have been here generally proved so very bad that they gave people offence by their vicious Lives."8 The next March he wrote the Bishop of London: "I was not able to Prevail with the Last assembly to make necessary provision to subsist a convenient number of clergymen but have a very good expectation the ensuing one will come into the measures I proposed. Dr. Marsden continues in the South Part of this Province. He some-times Preaches, Baptizeth children and marrieth them when desired. 30 CROWN OF LIFE "The Rev. Mr. Bevil Granville, nephew to the Lord Lansdown, is also here. He was going to Maryland but we have hopes he will continue with us if your Lordship will procure the usual allowance from the Society. These are all the ministers of the Church of England now in this government : there is one Presbyterian minister who has a Mixed audience ; and there are four meeting houses of Quakers. "Mr. John Boyd (the gentleman who delivers this letter) was bred at the University of Glasgow ; has prac-tised Physic in the Colony of Virginia seven years, is now desirous to take orders, several Gentlemen of my acquain-tance in this Country give him the Charack of a worthy, conscientious man, well qualified for the ministry, they are desirous of having him for their Pastor, and earnestly requested me to recommend Mr. Boyd to my Lord Bishop for orders, a certificate, and an allowance from the Society, the Better to support him, if your Lordship thinks him deserving; as I believe Mr. Boyd's designs are purely to do good in takeing the ministry upon him and not out of any view of gain, I humbly recommend him to your Lordship for Orders and a certificate." 9 Boyd wrote that year to the Society for the Propaga-tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts as follows about North Carolina: "There is no minister residing of the Church of Eng-land in any part of that government, for want of which many of the people are drawn away by Presbyterian anabaptists or other Dissenting Teachers, many of their children unbaptised & the administration of the Sacra-ment of the Lord's Supper wholly neglected." 10 From Edenton Granville wrote May 6, 1732, that he had baptized 1,000 persons. 11 That month Governor Bur-rington also reported that "Richard Marsden officiates Gratis at a place called Onslow."12 Also in the Cape Fear region a French clergyman, the Rev. John LaPierre, was said to be engaged. 13 And, Governor Burrington re-ported, "a clergyman beneficed in Virginia preaches once a month in a precinct named Bertie." 14 FREEDOM OF WORSHIP AGAIN DECREED 31 A later report of the Royal Governor in 1733 to the Lords of Trade and Plantations stated : "There is not one clergyman of the Church of England regularly setled in this Government. The former missionarys were so little approved of, that the Inhabitants seem very indifferent, whither any more come to them. "Some Presbyterians, or rather Independent Ministers from New England, have got congregations . . . The Quakers in this Government are considerable for their numbers and substance; the regularity of their lives, hospitality to strangers, and kind offices to new settlers induceing many to be of their persuasion."15 The Rev. George Whitefield, (1714-1770), the famous Methodist divine, "unequalled prince of pulpit orators," arrived in New Bern on Christmas eve in 1739. On Christmas day he preached in the courthouse. An ac-count of his visit related that "Most of his congregation was melted to tears. Here he was grieved to see the minister encouraging dancing, and to find a dancing-master in every little town. 'Such sinful entertainments,' he said, 'enervate the minds of the people, and insensibly lead them into effeminacy and ruin'." 16 Mr. Whitefield re-turned to New Bern again in November, 1764,17 and later in 1765.18 i coi. : Rec, III, pp. 90-118, 2 Ibid.., 110. 3 Ibid.., 498. 4 Ibid.., 110. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. T Ibid.., 111. 8 Ibid.., 152. vibid.., 339-40. io Ibid., 394. ii Ibid., 341. 12 Ibid., 342. 13 ibid. 14 Ibid. 15 Ibid., 429-30. 16 Vass, op. cit., 79. it Col. :Rec, VI, 1060. is Ibid., VII, 97. VIII UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE Although it is impossible to get a complete story of religious history here during the Colonial era, court records prove the close union of church and state. In numerous instances may be found indications of a kindly Christian spirit towards the weak and unprotected. An entry dated March 20, 1740, in the minute book of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, reads : "Mr. Philip Trapnell appears and delivers up an infant boy named Joseph Waters to this court. Ordered that the constable next in that neighborhood take the said boy into his custody and bring him to the vestry next Easter morning."1 In the same month it was recorded : "An infant about nine years of age is brought into court. The court thought fit to bind her out to William Carlton till she come to the age of 16 years and the said Carlton gives securities for his good performance during the time she shall re-main with him as follows : that he is to do his endeavor to teach her or cause her to be taught to read the Bible." Care of orphans is also shown in a record of Septem-ber, 1742: "Ordered that every master or mistress of orphans within this County bring a certificate from a neighboring justice to satisfy the court of their welfare." Such quality of mercy is not always evident. On Sep-tember 19, 1740, there was made the entry : "Mary Magee appears in court. Ordered that she be stripped her clothes to her waste and receive 12 lashes on her bare back at the public whipping post." Measures taken against "dissenters" from the estab-lished church were based on the belief that those who re-fused to worship under the prescribed forms were wicked. A bill for liberty of conscience failed to pass in 1740.2 A local record of June 20, 1740, stated: "A motion and petition made by a sect of decenting people called Baptists that they may have the liberty to build a house First Local Church—1750 UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE 33 of worship and being duly examined by the court ac-knowledged to all the articles of the Church of England except part of the 27 and 36 they desiring to preach among themselves. Referred." Two words have a line drawn through them, but they seem to be, "but rejected." Later that year on September 22 the record shows: "The following dissenting Protestants appeared, viz.: John Brooks, John James, Robert Spring, Nicholas Pure-foy, and Thos. Fulcher came into court and took the oath of allegiance and supremacy and subscribed the test the 39 articles of Religion being distinctly read to them the following of which they dissented from to wit: the 26th and the latter part of the 27th." However, the Craven Court of Pleas and Quarter Ses-sions in December of the same year granted a "Petition of Palintines or High Germans praying that they may have Liberty to build a Chaple on Trent for a place of wor-ship." 3 Progress along many lines was made in New Bern dur-ing the next decade. In 1749 James Davis came from Virginia, through subsidy of the General Assembly,4 and set up here the first printing press in North Carolina, publishing the first newspaper, first pamphlet and first book of the province.5 The General Assembly met here in 17386 and later in twenty different years, and the Council even more fre-quently, until the town was chosen in 1765 as the logical place for the provincial capital. 7 The next year a bill was passed to erect Tryon's Palace here as the seat of govern-ment for the province.8 i Taken from minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in the vault of the Clerk of Craven County Superior Court, New Bern, this entry and others quoted in this chapter, unless otherwise credited, may be found also in an article, "The Early History of Craven County," by the late Congressman Samuel M. Brinson, in Volume X, The North Carolina Booklet, published by the North Carolina Society Daughters of the Revolution. 2 Col. Rec, IV, 514. 3 Vass, op. cit., pp. 60-61. 4 Col. Rec, IV, pp. 976-77, 984, 1023. o Weeks, Stephen B., The Press of North Carolina in the Eigh-teenth Century. 6 Col. Rec, IV, 355. T Ibid., VII, 2. 8 St. Rec, XXIII, 664-65. IX NEW CHURCH ACTS In 1741 another act was passed establishing the church in this province.1 Sixteen parishes were named, each privileged to levy a poll tax for support. Among the parishes is named, for possibly the first public time, Christ-Church Parish in Craven County. Inhabitants of each parish were authorized to meet on the first Monday after the act and on Easter Mondays thereafter every two years at the church or courthouse to elect twelve freeholders as vestrymen for two-year terms. These vestrymen were ordered to qualify, after being summoned by constables, and take this oath: "I, A. B., do declare I will not oppose the Liturgy of the Church of England, as it is by law established." Two church wardens were to be selected by the vestry. If they refused to serve, they had to pay forty shillings proclamation money. But they were not required to serve more than one year without their consent. The wardens were allowed three per cent of the church taxes. The vestry could engage a minister, buy land for a church and raise money for the poor. If a rector was believed to be immoral, he could be deprived of his salary' but he was permitted to bring suit for it in court. This act was later repealed, and another was passed for the clergy in December, 1758.2 A special marriage act was also passed in 1741.3 This limited the right to perform marriage ceremonies to min-isters of the Church of England. In the absence of the rector, the matrimonial ceremony might be performed by a magistrate. But whether or not the rector acted in this capacity, he was to receive the fee, "if he do not neglect or refuse to do the service."4 Presbyterians did not consider themselves bound by this act, so they joined couples in wedding ceremonies conducted by their ministers without license or publica- NEW CHURCH ACTS 35 tion. It was not until 1766 that these marriages were legalized. Then it was made lawful for a Presbyterian preacher to marry a couple by license, but even then the Church of England minister was to get the fee unless he declined to officiate.5 Much opposition was occasioned by these acts, and in January, 1771, the law was changed so that Presbyterian clergymen could marry couples by publication of banns or license without the payment of the fees to the Church of England rectors.6 But the Board of Trade had the King disallow this change.7 Hence, it was not until the Revolutionary War and the adoption of the State Constitution in December, 1776, that there was no Established Church in North Carolina and the ministers of other denominations were legally permitted to perform wedding ceremonies and receive fees for the rites. i St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 187-191. 2 Ibid., XXV, 364. Col. Rec, V, 1036. 3 St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 158-161. 4 Ibid., 160. 5 Ibid., 674. Col. Rec, VII, pp. 432-33. 6 Col. Rec, VIII, 384, 479. St. Rec, XXIII, 831. 7 Col. Rec, IX, 7. FIRST LOCAL CHURCH Places for religious services, probably at private homes, were undoubtedly designated by the earliest settlers in and around New Bern, since so many of them had moved to the section for religious reasons. As already men-tioned, a chapel had been authorized up Trent River. There may have been one or more in New Bern. Col. Thomas Pollock, a "stalwart churchman"1 and a Proprietary Governor of North Carolina, who held mort-gages on New Bern property for money he had advanced to deGraffenried,2 wrote his New Bern agent that he had given a lot here for a church.3 Title was confirmed by the Act for the Better Settling the Town of New Bern, passed by the General Assembly in 1723. That act speci-fically mentioned "proper allotments for a Church, Court-house, and Market-place."4 When Royal government of Carolina was initiated in 1729 there were two or three rude buildings used as churches, perhaps including one here, though there is no proof for this, and a few Quaker meeting houses in dif-ferent parts of the province. At that time there was no regular clergyman in the territory. About 1734 the Rev. John LaPierre held a few services in New Bern, and it may be that his work stirred senti-ment for a commodious church building here. The next year he moved here and resided here for probably twenty years. He preached at various places of the region.5 St. Thomas Church, still standing at Bath, oldest town in North Carolina, dates back to 1734, now the oldest church building in the State. This was antedated by a house of worship which disappeared years ago. The parish was organized there with a vestry in 1701.7 Started in 1736 was the present church of St. Paul's parish, Edenton, but it was not completed for many years. Service was held there in 1760, and the interior wood-work was finished in 1774.8 The parish of Chowan there FIRST LOCAL CHURCH 37 had been organized at a vestry meeting held Dec. 15, 1701,9 and since then has been known as St. Paul's parish in that third oldest town of North Carolina. The graves of three governors, Henderson Walker, Charles Eden and Thomas Pollock, are in that historic churchyard. Inspired very likely by these examples of church build-ing in Bath and Edenton, the Craven parish vestrymen in 1739 laid a tax on all tithables here for a new church. Commissioners were appointed for the purpose. 10 These commissioners are reported in Colonial Records to have made 100,000 bricks for the local house of wor-ship. 11 The brick are believed to have been made from clay in a hill near this town, where John Lawson, first surveyor-general of the colony, had camped years pre-viously. Mrs. Richard S. Mason, wife of a later rector of the church, used to relate how her mother had boasted about helping with this task of brick manufacture.12 The brick-making hole is said to have been long visible along New South Front Street towards the Pembroke road.13 Besides the cost of making these bricks, the vestry in-curred other expenses, so the legal tax of five shilling was found to be insufficient to carry on their work.14 An act passed by the Assembly on August 21, 1740, enabled the commissioners to proceed with their work on the church by permitting them to levy a special tax for the purpose. The act also provided "for the better regulation of the said town."15 The extra tax sanctioned for New Bern permitted col-lection of one shilling, six pence, proclamation money, for two years. It was to be paid yearly, such commodities being acceptable, as "Pork, good and merchantable, dry salted, per Barrel, 30 shillings proclamation money ; Beef, dry salted, per Barrel, good and merchantable, 20 shil-lings ; drest Deer Skins, two shillings and Six Pence per Pound ; Tallow, four pence per pound ; Bees Wax, Ten Pence Half Penny per Pound; Rice, per Hundred, Ten Shillings." Collections were to be made by "John Bryan, Gentle-man, he giving Security of 400 pounds, Proclamation money, to the County Court of Craven." He was to be 38 CROWN OF LIFE allowed four per cent of the amounts thus obtained. Each tithable resident not paying the tax was to forfeit four shillings and costs. George Roberts, William Wilson, George Bold, William Herritage and Adam Moore, "Gentlemen," were named as Commissioners to receive the levy from Bryan. In this act it was recorded that a lot had been "laid out" for the church in the 1723 charter, but this site was considered "insufficient and not so commodious" and "all the adjacent lots having been taken up," and the "vestry having taken up four lots, more convenient and com-modious, for erecting a church, and for a churchyard and other parish purposes," therefore, "as soon as the said church shall be fit to celebrate divine service in, the said four lots shall be saved to the parish." 10 The commissioners were directed to sell at public sale, after four days' notice, the less desirable property that had been set aside for the church by Colonel Pollock in 1723 and apply the money on their new church building at the larger site. 17 These four lots approved for the edifice were on the north side of Pollock Street between Middle and Craven, including the present site of Christ Church. Accordingly, for two centuries the parish has used the same site, cen-trally situated on one of the most valuable corners in the business heart of the city. Another act passed April 4, 1741, pointed out that the tax had not been enough to finish the New Bern church. The vestry had been empowered to lay a tax of fifteen shillings per poll for paying a minister for one year but the next vestry had not thought it advisable to employ a minister, so this tax was ordered converted towards the completion of the church.18 This act stated that the 100,000 bricks made by the commissioners for the church were too many for the pur-pose, so the commission was authorized to sell all the brick not needed and apply the money on the church structure.19 Due to the deaths of Wilson, Moore and Roberts, their places on the commission were taken in April, 1745, by John Fonveille, Edward Bryan and Christopher Gregory FIRST LOCAL CHURCH 39 Hobbs. Under the Assembly Act making these appoint-ments, the commissioners were authorized, if there was not enough money on hand to complete the church, to levy another tax "with as much Expedition as possibly may be."20 The act was amended in 1751. Bryan and Hobbs were then dead, and the appointment of commissioners was discontinued. The church wardens and vestrymen were given the power to call the commissioners to account for the money collected ; and, as some of the inhabitants of Craven and Johnston counties were said not to have paid the tax, the vestrymen and wardens were authorized to issue warrents on their possessions and chattels.21 It is believed that the church was finished about 1750,22 but for some time was without a regular rector. It stood at the corner of Pollock and Middle streets, and traces of its foundations and walls are still in the churchyard there. Some years afterwards it was torn down to make way for a larger structure. The two later churches have been located farther back on the property. i Cheshire, Sketches, 100. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid., 172. Colonel Thomas Pollock's Letter Book. 4 St. Rec, XXV, 204-5. 5 Cheshire, op. cit., 69. e Ibid., 209. T Ibid., 162, 255. 8 Graham, op. cit., 5-8. 9 Col. Rec, I, 543-45. io St. Rec, XXIII, 141. ii Ibid. 12 Whitford, Col. John D., Historical Notes, history of First Baptist Church and other parts of New Bern, in manuscript form, p. 291. 13 Ibid. 14 St. Rec, XXIII, 141. 15 Ibid., 141-43. Col. Rec, IV, 549, 572. 16 St. Rec, XXIII, 143. 17 Ibid. 18 Ibid., 181-82. 19 Ibid. 20 ibid., 231-32. 21 Ibid., 365-66. 22 Whitford, op. cit., 270. XI EAST CAROLINA MISSIONARIES Although impossible to mention all the missionaries that worked in Eastern North Carolina during the Colo-nial era, it is interesting to note that a number were di-rectly or indirectly connected with the history of New Bern or this immediate territory. The Rev. John Garzia acted for some time as a mis-sionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in the Chowan precinct, and "as occasion shall require to the North East side of River Nuse."1 In his annual report dated April 16, 1742, from Bath Town, he told of bap-tizing 623 children, nine adults and three Negroes in that section, where he listed 103 communicants and 2,000 "Heathen & Infidels."2 After Garzia died, the Rev. Clement Hall agreed to settle near Edenton in 1745.3 A native of Perquimans precinct, he had gone to England for ordination in the ministry.4 While the Edenton church was being built, he held services there in the courthouse, at an annual salary of forty-five pounds.5 For a time perhaps the only clergy-man in the province, he also conducted services at four chapels in the territory that now comprises Gates and Chowan counties and he visited many other parts of the eastern portion of North Carolina.6 On December 27, 1749, he reported that he had traveled 200 miles through the northern part of his area that Fall, baptizing 265 white and twenty black children and four black adults, besides preaching fourteen ser-mons. 7 Hall wrote May 19, 1752: "I have now thro' God's gracious assistance and blessing in about 7 or 8 years, tho' frequently visited with sickness, been enabled to per-form (for aught I know) as great ministerial duties as any minister in North America, viz., to journey about 14,000 miles, preach about 675 sermons, baptize about 5,783 white children and 243 black children, 57 white EAST CAROLINA MISSIONARIES 41 adults and 112 black adults, in all 6,195 persons & some-times administered the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper to two or three hundred communicants in one journey besides churching of women, visiting the sick, etc."8 In addition to being one of the most capable and devout ministers in early Carolina, Hall was the first native North Carolina author. The main writers in this province that preceded him were not natives, as John Lawson of Scotland, John Brickell and the Rev. John Thompson of Ireland. The first book known to have been compiled by a native North Carolinian was published for Hall in 1753 by James Davis at New Bern: "A Collection of many Christian Experiences, Sentences and several Places of Scripture Improved; Also some short and plain Directors and Prayers for sick Persons ; with serious Advice to Persons who have been Sick, to be by them perused and put in Practice as soon as they are recovered; and a Thanks-giving for Recovery. To which is added, Morning and Evening Prayers for Families and Children, Directors for the Lord's Day, and some Cautions against Indecencies in time of Divine Service, &c. Collected and Composed for the Spiritual Good of his Parishioners, and others. By Clement Hall, Missionary to the Honourable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and Rec-tor of St. Paul's Parish in North Carolina. Newbern: Printed by James Davis MDCCLIII."9 In 1755 Hall lost his house, books and personal property by fire. He died in 1759.10 Succeeding him was "Parson" Daniel Earl, youngest son of an Irish nobleman and a former officer in the British army, who had come to the Albemarle section in 1757 to act as curate for the Rev. Mr. Hall. Besides his religious and political activities, he taught his people how to cultivate and weave flax and he established at his home, "Bandon," named for his native town, the first classical school for boys in North Carolina.11 About the time that Hall went to Edenton, James Moir was at Brunswick.12 In 1748 Christopher Bevis asked the 42 CROWN OF LIFE . Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to appoint him as Moir's successor in the Cape Fear territory.13 Moir had moved to Edgecombe parish.14 The method of electing vestrymen being regarded as "inconvenient and detrimental," it was decreed in 1751 that vestrymen should be elected by ballot in the same manner as Assemblymen. Only citizens qualified as Assemblymen were considered eligible for vestries. 15 A bill to establish the church and erect schools offered in 1752 failed. 16 Two years later, however, North Caro-lina was divided into twenty-four parishes. Among these parishes were Christ Church parish, Craven County; St. Thomas in Beaufort County; St. Matthew's, Orange County; St. George, Hyde County; St. John's, Onslow; St. James, New Hanover; St. Patrick's, Johnston; St. John's, Carteret ; and St. Philip, Brunswick.17 The first minister for St. Philip's church at Brunswick had been the Rev. Mr. LaPierre, a French Huguenot,18 ordained in 1707, 1!) who had come to America the next year and to this province from Charleston in 1729.20 The first wooden chapel, 24 by 16 feet, was erected there the next year. The next church there was started in 1751 and was near enough completion for dedication in 1768. It is now in ruins. Colonial Dames of America make annual pilgrimages there.21 Obliged to sell his belongings, Mr. LaPierre is said to have moved from Brunswick to New Bern in 1735 and to have remained here until his death here in 1755.22 Although he is not listed as a regular rector of Christ Church, it is probable that he held services here and assisted with church and religious affairs in general. The General Assembly, in session here in 1749, voted him four pounds for preaching "several sermons" before that body.23 i Col. Rec, IV, 560. 2 Ibid., 604-5. 3 Ibid., 752-53. 4 Cheshire, Sketches, 70. Graham, op. cit., 8. 5 Col. Rec, IV, 753. 6 Ibid., 924. T Ibid., 925. 8 Ibid., 1315. EAST CAROLINA MISSIONARIES 43 9 Copied from old copy of the volume. 10 Cheshire, 71. il Ibid., 74-75, 168-69. Graham, 9-10. 12 Col. Rec, IV, 606. 13 Ibid., 876-77. 14 Ibid., 872. 15 St. Rec, XXIII, 369-70. 16 Col. Rec, IV, 1337. 17 St. Rec, XXV, 298. is Col. Rec, III, 342. 19 Ibid., 529. 20 Ibid., 391. 21 Ibid., IV, 754-56, 1299; VII, 789. St. Rec, XXIII, 368. 22 Cheshire, op. cit., 69. 23 Col. Rec, IV, 1024. XSI GIFTS FROM KING GEORGE After the church in New Bern had been completed about the year 1750, Christ Church vestrymen tried to get a rector. Their efforts along this line failed at first, as there were few ministers in the New World. So, in 1752, they wrote to England, probably to the Bishop of London, asking aid in their endeavor to obtain a regular rector. 1 Even before the arrival of the rector that this appeal drew here, it was perhaps in response to this letter, with its news of the new local church, that King George II had a special silver communion service made for the parish in 1752 and sent it to New Bern as a royal gift, presented through John Council Bryan, then a church warden. This service, still in use here and from time to time put on public display, bears the Royal Arms of Great Britain and four Hall Marks, in a shield : the initials, M. F., for the manufacturer, Mordecai Fox of England ; the letter "R" denoting "Rex" or King by whom the plate was evidently ordered ; a Lion, "passant gardant." guaran-teeing that the silver was of the standard required by law; and a leopard's head crowned, showing that the plate was hall marked at the London government office. A similar communion set, also made by Fox, was pre-sented to the Old South Church, Boston, in 1742, with books, vestments and linen for the church altar. An alms basin, made also by the same manufacturer in 1760, is owned by Trinity Church, New York. Royal Governor Josiah Martin is reported to have tried to take the local silver with him when he fled from New Bern in May, 1775, but was prevented from doing so. During the War Between the States the Rev. A. A. Wat-son, local rector, took the service to Wilmington for safe keeping. Afterwards it was moved to Fayetteville and placed in the care of Dr. Joseph Huske, grandfather of a later local rector. It is said to have been overlooked there GIFTS FROM KING GEORGE 45 by the Federal troops, because it was hidden among a great deal of worthless rubbish in a closet. As was the custom in such presentations, according to the late Graham Daves, secretary of this parish, who investigated the Royal gifts during a visit to London in 1896, the ancient Bible and Book of Common Prayer still in the possession of the local church were presented to the parish by King George II at the same time as the silver. 2 The Bible is 20 Y> inches long, 13 14 inches wide and 41/4 inches thick. The initials, "G. R. E.," are found three times on the back, under the crown, standing for "George, Rex, England." On the front is the Royal coat of arms, with the mottoes, "Dieu Et Mon Droit," (God and my right) and "Honi Soit Qui Mai Pense," (Evil be to him who evil thinks.) The volume is elaborately illustrated. On the first page is the following in large print: "The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and the New Newly Tranflated Out of the Original Tongues and with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revifed By His Majefty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in Churches." Under an ornamental engraving is the information that the book was printed at Oxford: "Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King's Moft Excellent Majefty, for Great Britain; and to the University. MDCCXVII." (1717.) As a heading for the scriptures is the following dedi-cation : "To the Moft High and Mighty Prince James, By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. The Transflations of the Bible, with Grace, Mercy and Peace through Jefus Chrift Our Lord." The large Prayer Book also contains on its covers, in gilt, the coat of arms of Great Britain. Upon the back, surmounted by a crown, are the monogram letters, "G. R. E." It was published at Cambridge in 1752 by Joseph Bentham, "Printer to the University." Its first page has this statement: "The Book of Com-mon Prayer and Adminiftration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church According to 46 CROWN OF LIFE the Ufe of The Church of England Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches ; and the Form or Manner of Making, Ordaining and Confecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons." This Prayer Book was presented to Dr. Richard S. Mason, later rector, by the vestry on his leaving this parish in 1828. It was returned a few months after his death by his wife, at his request. A note in Dr. Mason's handwriting pasted in the volume says it was to be re-turned to Christ Church ; and a letter on black-rimmed stationery, dated June 20, 1874, and signed by Mary Mason, also gives this information. Both the Bible and Prayer Book were lent to the Hall of History at Raleigh for some years, but are now here at the church. i St. Rec, XXIII, 420. 2 Much of the information in this chapter as to the history of the communion service and the Hall Marks are from an unpublished, typescript article by Graham Daves, pasted in one of the old church record books. XIII THE REV. JAMES REED FIRST RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH Two ministers, both exceptionally worthy men, came from England following the appeal of Christ Church vestrymen in 1752. The first was the Rev. James Reed, who became the first regular rector of the parish. Ar-riving shortly afterwards was the Rev. Alexander Stewart, who went to Bath. Evidently Reed had felt certain that he would be en-gaged here, for he is reported to have brought his family with him.1 They arrived late in the year 1753. After a year's trial as clergyman, Reed was formally installed by Act of the Assembly as the rector of Christ Church parish.2 Passed at the request of the Christ Church wardens and vestrymen, the act read in part that the "Rev. James Reed at great Charges and Expence, transported himself from England hither and hath performed Divine Services at the said church and at the several chappels within the said parish One year and upwards, to the approbation of the parish." The minister was promised an annual salary of 133 pounds, six shillings and eight pence, proclamation money, so must have been considered an exceptionally fine pastor. He was assured a good glebe house, with kitchen, the "lot to be well and sufficiently paled in."3 For his part of the contract, which was confirmed by Governor Arthur Dobbs, Reed agreed to hold services at Christ Church every Sunday except when he was on leave at the chapels in this vicinity. He was to visit each chapel three times a year.4 This Assembly Act, passed in January, 1755,5 confirmed the agreement that the church wardens and vestry had previously made with Reed. It was introduced by John Fonveille, Craven County's Representative, and Solomon 48 CROWN OF LIFE Rew,c Assemblyman from the Borough Town of New Bern, who died the next Fall.7 On December 18, 1754, the House of Commons, in session at New Bern, passed a resolution naming Samuel Swann and John Starkey, both of Onslow County, to wait on Reed and thank him for the sermon he had delivered before the House members on Sunday, December 15.8 That he made a favorable impression is evidenced by the fact that he served as Chaplain of the Assembly in January, 1755, being paid ten pounds for this service.9 He was specifically exempted from clergy acts. 10 Again the following October, at New Bern, Starkey and James Carter of Rowan County were requested to return the thanks of the House to Reed for the sermon he had preached to the Assemblymen on the preceding Wednes-day. 11 Many times he served as the Assembly Chaplain, so must have been a devout minister and eloquent speaker. In March, 1757,12 he was paid ten pounds for his services during the Assembly session, according to Colonial Records. He served also as House Chaplain in May, 1757 ; 13 and again in April, 1760, when the House met daily at nine o'clock in the morning for religious services. 14 Eight chapels at remote points, besides Christ Church in New Bern and St. John's parish church in Carteret County, were served by Mr. Reed. 1 '" 3 In 1758 he was en-rolled as a regular missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, but due to miscarriage of mail he did not learn definitely of his appointment until 1760.16 On March 5, 1760, he wrote the S. P. G. Secretary to thank him for the appointment and the organization's instructions, as well as for a "parcel of books" and "pious tracts." He promised to distribute the pamphlets and said that one had already brought good results in en-couraging church members to attend Holy Communion services here more regularly.17 Terming the S. P. G. aid "a great encouragement to perseverance in the faithful discharge of my ministerial Oo §cz oz GO r< £ WM CO KZ i-3 Ka dd sza OMO 23 a THE REV. JAMES REED 49 duty," the rector pledged himself to endeavor to answer their expectations "to the utmost of my abilities that the society may never have occasion to repent of their ap-pointment, nor our worthy Governor of his recommen-dation." 18 Other ministers also preached at the new church in New Bern. On December 27, 1755, the Rev. Michael Smith,19 of Johnston County, later of St. James, New Hanover County, delivered a sermon there for the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. At the request of members, his sermon was printed here in 1756 by James Davis. In October, 1756, a sermon Mr. Smith preached before the House during a General As-sembly session here was ordered printed.20 i Cheshire, Sketches, 74. 2 St. Rec, XXIII, 420-21. sibid. Ubid. 5 Col. Rec, V, 310. GIbid., 270. 'Ibid., 522. » Ibid., 241. 9 Ibid., 307. 10 Ibid., 1080. ii Ibid., 550. 12 Ibid., 688. IB ibid., 845. 14 Ibid., VI, 366. 15 Ibid., 230. 16 Ibid.. 231. nibid. IS Ibid. wibid., V, 961-62. 20 ibid., 665, 696. XIV ROYAL GOVERNOR ARTHUR DOBBS When Arthur Dobbs, of Castle Dobbs, Ireland, author of scientific and other books, High Sheriff of County Antrim, Surveyor General of Ireland, and Member of the Irish Parliament for Carrickfergus,1 was appointed Royal Governor of North Carolina, he was instructed June 17, 1754, by the Lords of Trade to the King to "take especial care God Almighty be . . . served . . . the Book of Com-mon Prayer as by law established read each Sunday and holiday," and Communion administered according to the Church of England.2 Churches were to be kept open, and more churches and rectories should be built, the new Governor was told. Ministers were to obtain certificates from the Bishop of London ; and every orthodox rector was to be a member of the vestry in his parish.3 No schoolmaster was to serve without a license from the Governor and the Bishop of London.4 Dobbs endeavored to carry out these directions, but that he was confronted by a difficult task is borne out by what the Rev. Mr. Fontaine wrote about North Carolina in 1754: "They have no established laws, and very little of the gospel, in that whole colony." 5 In January, 1755, after two months in his gubernatorial capacity, Dobbs wrote: "What I have chiefly observed since I came here as to the wants & Defects of this Province is first the want of a sufficient Number of Clergymen to instil good principals and Morality into the Inhabitants, & proper Schoolmasters to instruct their Youth, the want of which occasion an Indolence & want of attention to their own good."6 The Assembly appropriated 7,200 pounds for the pur-chase of glebes and 2,000 pounds for the purchase of public buildings, subject to the King's approval; but, ROYAL GOVERNOR ARTHUR DOBBS 51 though His Majesty later sanctioned the appropriations, the money was used instead for aiding the British during the French and Indian wars. Repeated requests were made for the return of these sums for their original purpose.7 A day of solemn fasting and war prayers was set aside by Governor Dobbs in April, 1757.8 By another proclama-tion, June 7, 1758, was designated as a time for fasting, supplication and thanksgiving.9 To celebrate victory, he issued another formal proclamation for a thanksgiving day during the Fall of 1759, he wrote William Pitt in Eng-land, and he even composed a special thanksgiving hymn to be sung through the province.10 During November, 1757, he again suggested amend-ments for the bill providing for an established clergy.11 Church laws had been evaded in some counties by citizens combining to elect vestrymen who they knew would not serve. To Dobbs it seemed better to put a general tax on all taxable persons in the entire province and pay the clergy directly out of that sum in the public treasury, using any surplus for the erection of church buildings.12 A year later, in November, 1758, his main recommenda-tion to the Assembly again was for a better law to main-tain the clergy. 13 He urged that ministers' salaries be fixed and vestries better regulated so that future vestry-men would not have the right to reduce the salaries and supplies of their rectors. It was also suggested that vestrymen be carefully chosen and then obliged to qualify and act. "I must also recommend to you the erecting proper schools in the Province for the education of youth, in the reformed Protestant Religion, and in moral religious principles," he wrote, "otherwise in the next age we shall have a succession of Infidels, Deists, Enthusiasts and Sectaries to the disgrace of our Holy Religion and destruction of Society." 14 Accordingly, measures for better provision of the clergy and selection of vestries were passed in 1758. 52 CROWN OF LIFE Every minister in the province was to be allowed an an-nual salary of 100 pounds, proclamation money, also a "glebe with a mansion house, outhouses and other con-veniences," or, if no house, twenty more pounds. It was set forth that this should not conflict with Mr. Reed's contract.15 Although later repealed and included in a more compre-hensive law of 1762, the new provisions were the best for the clergy in provincial history up to that time, the General Assembly reported to the King: "And more we should have gladly done; but alas, Sir, the Country is so impoverished in its circumstances through granting repeated Aids to your Majesty for making the same defensible and in carrying on Expe-ditions . . . against the French and their Indian Allies, that we cannot give sufficient encouragement to the Clergy, nor Erect proper Schools for the Education of our Youth. Permit us, therefore, most earnestly to intreat your Majesty to order and direct that the pro-portion of the said sum which shall be allotted to this Country be laid out ... in purchasing a Glebe for each parish in this province . . . and erecting and establishing a free School in every County."16 In a letter from New Bern, Governor Dobbs reported to the Board of Trade May 18, 1759, that he had approved bills for a lottery to finish churches at Wilmington and Brunswick, as similar bills had been passed in a number of provinces and it had seemed impossible to get the vestries to levy taxes to complete the two churches.17 A bill passed in December, 1760, applied proceeds from slaves and other effects taken from Spaniards at Cape Fear in 1748 towards finishing the two houses of wor-ship. 18 i Vass, op. cit., 22. 2 Col. Rec, V, 1136. 3 Ibid. i Ibid., 1137. ^ Ibid., V, v. 6 Ibid., 314. t Ibid., 527, 1095; VI, 988-89, 1036-37, 1154a-54b. St. Rec, XXIII, 422-24. 8 Col. Rec, V, 755. ROYAL GOVERNOR ARTHUR DOBBS 53 9 Ibid., 932. 10 ma., VI, 62-64, 65. ii Ibid., V, 870. 12 ibid., 870, 1014; VI, 5, 223. i3iMd., V, 1014. 14 Ibid. 15 Ibid., 1036; VI, 5. St. Rec, XXV, 364. 16 Col. Rec, V, 1095. n Ibid., VI, 32, 511. St. Rec, XXIII, 535-37. is St. Rec, XXIII, 535-37. XV LARGE PARISH TERRITORY An Assembly bill in January, 1760, proposing to divide Christ Church parish, was rejected by the Upper House,1 although "Parson" Reed reported to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts that his terri-tory was at least a hundred miles long.2 On June 26, 1760, he wrote the S. P. G. Secretary that he could not ascertain the number of active communicants of the Church of England, because the county was so large he was unable to administer Communion at the several chapels more than once a year.3 "There are too many that can hardly be said to be members of any particular Christian society," he com-mented, "and a great number of dissenters of all denominations from New England, particularly Anabap-tists, Methodists, Quakers and Presbyterians." About nine or ten were said to be "Papists." The "Infidels & Heathen" were said to total about a thousand.4 No Indians were reported, but a great many of the Negroes were said to be heathen. "I baptize all those whose masters become sureties for them," he added.5 Erection of a chapel in Carteret County was mentioned, "built a neat wooden chapel upon Newport River, where a small, regular congregation constantly attend divine service, performed by a layman every Sunday."6 Two bishops for the continent, one for the Northern district and the other for the Southern district, or two clergymen with Episcopal powers, as well as more regular rectors, were requested of the Society for the Propa-gation of the Gospel in a letter written January 22, 1760, by Governor Dobbs. The society was asked to increase its missionaries in this province, which was said to have 80,000 white residents besides Negroes,7 "Nor have we but eight resident Clergymen," the governor observed. "Having only strollers who set up LARGE PARISH TERRITORY 55 for teachers, without any regular instruction, and many of them immoral Livers."s That Mr. Reed had given satisfaction in his parish is proved by the following recommendation given him March 3, 1760, by the church vestry: "We, the subscribers, the church wardens and only vestrymen at present qualified of Christ Church parish, which is the whole extent of Craven County, in the pro-vince of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the Rev. James Reed hathe served the cure of the sd. parish for 6 years & upwards, that during the sd. time he hath diligently attended one Parish church & 8 chapels situate at very great distances from the town of Newbern, the place of his residence & centre of the Parish. "That he hath given great satisfaction to his parish-ioners by a regular and exemplary life and a faithful discharge of his duty & that there is a perfect harmony and good agreement subsisting between the sd. Rev. Jas. Reed & his Parishioners in general, witness our hands this 3rd. day of March, 1760."9 This recommendation is signed by John Fonvielle, Will'm. Jonas, church wardens ; James Shine, Thos. Graves, Lem'l. Hatch, Jacob Blount, vestrymen. Reed had a comfortable rectory here, as indicated in a letter written to the S. P. G. Secretary by the Rev. John MacDowell on April 16, 1761, that New Bern had had an Assembly Act passed allowing 100 pounds sterling a year to Reed and that Reed had a parsonage house and all conveniences.10 But, according to his own word, the local rector did not get the salary promised locally. Other difficulties are set forth in a letter he wrote to the S. P. G. on December 27, 1762, from New Bern : "The hardships we labor under in this Province are so great that were it not for the benevolences of the Society, we could not subsist with the least decency. Every clergyman that has attempted to settle in this Province for these 10 years past, upon the sole dependence of the legal stipend, have been obliged to leave it, and 'tis our misfortune at Present to have no legal Stipend at all; or 56 CROWN OF LIFE rather there is no law at present by which any stipend can be recovered. "At an Assembly held at New Bern in Nov'r. last a bill for the encouragement of an Orthodox Clergy and a bill for the establishment of Vestries were presented to his Excellency the Governor for his assent, the latter of which was rejected on account of some exceptional Clauses, and as the 2 bills depended on each other in such a manner, that the one cannot operate without the other, we are therefore at present without any legal encourage-ment. "Very probably something may be done in our favor at the next Assembly, especially if it should please God to prolong the life of our praiseworthy Gov'r. But we can-not expect his abode with us much longer, for he is far advanced in years and has lately had a slight stroke of the Palsy; so that I every day expect to hear the dis-agreeable news of his death, in whom the clergy will lose a faithful friend, and the Christian Religion an able advocate."11 The following June 26 Reed wrote the Secretary that the clergy were still destitute of any legal provision or encouragement and had nothing to live on but the benevolences of the Society. Evidently the local parish paid him very little, and for long periods of time must have paid him nothing. "I have not received any stipend at all from my Parish for upwards of 14 months," he wrote, "nor have I the least expectation of receiving one shilling till some Vestry Law be enacted, for as long as there is no vestry Law no tax can be levied for the clergy's Stipend & tho' the Sheriffs have now a whole year's collection in their hands yet as there is no vestry to call them to account they do not choose to part with the money on any terms or security whatsoever, the misfortune is they too often stand in need of it themselves. For the generality of the Sheriffs are very extravagant, to say no more . . . "The Assembly is to meet I believe about Oct'r. next when our Governor will endeavor if possible to get a better vestry Law enacted than any of the former ones, LARGE PARISH TERRITORY 57 that have been repealed. It would be much better for the Clergy, than it has been, if the Stipend were paid out of the public treasury as in So. Carolina . . . "The churchwardens used to send us to the Sheriffs, and the Sheriffs to send us back again to the church-wardens. It is not long ago since I had the misfortune to be sent backwards and forward & played off in this manner for 12 months successively."12 i Col. Rec, VI, 172. 2 Ibid., 595. 3 Ibid., 265. 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid., 265-66. 1 1bid., 222-23. 8 Ibid., 223. 9 Ibid., 230. io Ibid., VI, 554. ii Ibid., 745. 12 Ibid., 990. XVI NUMEROUS CHURCH BILLS So many church bills were introduced in the General Assembly during the Colonial period, many of them being passed but later repealed or vetoed, that it is extremely difficult to keep up with their provisions from time to time. Alex Stewart, missionary at Bath, reported May 20, 1760, that in the six years he had resided in the province four different acts had been passed by the Assembly for electing vestries and encouraging an orthodox clergy. The last one had met the fate of most of the others, he said, through repeal in England.1 Governor Dobbs, as Parson Reed said, worked dili-gently in behalf of the established church and its clergy-men ; but for various reasons, here and abroad, it seemed impossible to get definite action that would last permanently. The Assembly tried to re-enact the Vestry bill repealed by the King, taking the nomination of ministers from the Crown, the Governor reported January 22, 1760, but the assemblymen had been too busy with other matters, so established a Vestry law for one year to retain the tax for maintaining clergy pursuant to the last act, which settled 100 pounds per annum on clergy, with 20 pounds in lieu of glebe. At the next session, he remarked, it was hoped to establish a general fund to pay the rectors direct from the provincial treasury, as in South Carolina.2 Church wardens were instructed in 1760 to appear annually at the orphans' court to present the names of orphans without guardians or apprenticeships and to report abuses of guardians. Justices and wardens failing to do their duty along this line were liable to fines of ten pounds.3 Mr. Reed's contract exempted him from the act establishing vestries passed by the Assembly May 23, 1760. This permitted all parishes to elect their own NUMEROUS CHURCH BILLS 59 vestries, but since it depended on the general vestry act, it was not considered valid, and later was repealed by the King.4 This question as to whether the King or the colonists could select and remove rectors was one of the pre-Revolutionary controversies between Americans and their Mother Country.5 The Bishop of London explained that one primary ob-jection to the 1760 act was that it did not require vestrymen to say that they continued to be faithful to the Church of England. He recommended a stronger declaration that they would conform to the church liturgy. Objection was also raised to the bill's provision of punishing immoral ministers in temporal courts. The Bishop also declared that the clergy were not provided for properly, being made dependent on vestries. And again repeated was the 1759 declaration that the "whole right of patronage is undoubtedly in the Crown, but the Act takes away right and gives it to vestrymen."6 Still another of the many orthodox clergy bills was passed by the Assembly in 1762. Mention was also made therein that it was not to conflict with Reed's agreement. It was likely repealed by proclamation, because of pro-visions opposed by the Governor and other British authorities.7 Under this measure, ministers were to be engaged by vestries, at salaries of 133 pounds, six shillings and eight pence, the same amount as Mr. Reed's salary, besides their regular fees. If believed guilty of immorality or crime, they could be removed by the governor, with the consent of a majority of his council members. All had to have certificates from the Bishop of London, "ordained conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, and is of a good Life and Conversation." For marrying a couple by license, a clergyman was to be paid twenty shillings; for marrying by banns, five shillings. The remuneration for a funeral sermon was set at forty shillings. If these rites were conducted by other persons, the regular rectors were nevertheless per-mitted to demand and receive the fees. 60 CROWN OF LIFE Vestrymen were privileged to purchase glebe lands, and erect thereon a "convenient mansion-house, 38 x 18, with kitchen, barn, stable, dairy and meat house." If no house was provided for a rectory, the minister was to receive twenty additional pounds a year. The Bishop of London wrote May 3, 1762, referring to the general confusion of so many Assembly laws passed and repealed, to remind the colonists that, "All statutes made in England for the establishment of the Church shall be in force under the law in North Carolina."8 i Col. Rec, VI, 242. 2 Ibid., 223. 3 Ibid., 395. St. Rec, XXV, 415-22. 4 Col. Rec, VI, xxxi, 395. St. Rec, XXV, 430-32. 5 Col. Rec, VII, 152; IX, 81-84. 6 Ibid., VI, 714-16. 7 Ibid., V, pp. xxxi-xxxii. St. Rec, XXIII, 583-85. 8 Col. Rec, VI, 716. XVII FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL Despite the fact that Parson Reed was not paid regu-larly and encountered numerous handicaps in his local work, he undertook many more activities than called for in his contract. Chief among his outside interests were his efforts in behalf of education, resulting here impor-tantly in the opening of North Carolina's first incorporated school. As early as December, 1762, the House thanked him for the sermon at the beginning of the Assembly session, "Recommending the Establishing Public Schools for the Education of Youth." He was requested to furnish "the Printer with a copy thereof, that the same might be printed and dispersed in the several counties within this Province." 1 Only slight encouragement had previously been given to public education. Children of the privileged classes were taught by private tutors or at private schools. Some studied in Northern States or in England. But poorer boys and girls had to learn as best they could, or not at all. Trade apprentices were sometimes taught the three R's by their masters. Charles Griffin, Church of England lay reader, who opened a school in 1705 in Pasquotank County, is believed to have been the first teacher to come to North Carolina. 2 In 1749 John Starkey had introduced a bill for a free school.3 In 1754 the sum of 6,000 pounds was authorized for schools, but was diverted for military purposes. Other funds appropriated were disallowed in England.4 The Assembly in 1758 asked King George that part of the sum be provided by the Crown for schools and churches, in return for Colonial war aid, but objections were raised up to 1763. Merchants are reported to have opposed use of public money for such purposes.5 Governor Dobbs frequently urged the need of better schools and more schoolmasters in the province.6 On 62 CROWN OF LIFE ' March 30, 1762, he wrote the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel that the number of clergy had been dimin-ished and that the inhabitants were more "dissolute and idle for want of clergy and school, there being not even a Parish Clerk in the Province to serve as a Schoolmaster or Reader." 7 For almost 30 parishes in the province, he pointed out, there were only seven clergymen, including one who did little.8 Largely due to Mr. Reed's influence, a school was opened here January 1, 1764, with Thomas Tomlinson as school-master. 9 The General Assembly on March 9 ratified an "Act for building a schoolhouse and schoolmaster's residence in New Bern." 10 Reed, John Williams, Joseph Leech, Thomas Clifford Howe, Thomas Haslen, Richard Cogdell and Richard Fenner were named as the first trustees. 11 As "Missionary in Craven County," Mr. Reed reported on local church and school matters in general to the S. P. G. Secretary June 21. 12 First he told of the passage of a Vestry Act by the Assembly, with the aid and in-fluence of "our worthy Governor to whom the clergy in this Province can never sufficiently express their grati-tude." Under this act vestries could levy taxes of ten shillings for building churches, maintaining the poor, paying church readers and encouraging schools. Then he reported on the receipt of books and tracts on various occasions, commenting, "For tho' the heat of the Methodists be considerably abated, yet the distribution of such tracts will be of great service." About the school he wrote: "We have now a prospect of a very flourishing school in the town of New Bern & which indeed has been greatly wanting for several years past, in Dec'r. last Mr. Tomlinson, a young man, who had kept a school in the County of Cumberland in England, came here by the invitation of his brother, an inhabitant of the Parish. "On the 1st of Jan'y. he opened a school in this Town & immediately got as many scholars as he could instruct and many more have lately offered than he can possibly take to do them justice, he has therefore wrote to his FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL 63 friends in England to send him an assistant (Mr. Parrot) and a subscription for a school house has been lately carried on, with such success, that I have got notes on hand payable to myself for upwards of 200 pounds this currency (Equal to about 110 pounds Sterling) to build a large commodious School House in New Bern & which I shall endeavor to get completed as soon as possible, for during 11 years Residence in this Province I have not found any man so well qualified for the care of a school as Mr. Tomlinson. He is not only a good scholar, but a man of good conduct, has given satisfaction to the parents of such children as are under his care, and will be of infinite service to the rising generation . . . "I have rode my long circuit twice with great satisfac-tion. My congregations have been greatly crowded. My number of communicants increased and the return of my health made my duty not only easy but a real pleasure ! I have likewise taken care of St. John's Parish (in Carteret County) , which sickness would not permit me to do last autumn & have visited it twice—once at the court house where I baptised 24 children, again at a private house where I baptised 11 children; and again at the chapel upon Newport River where I baptised 14 chil-dren and administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 36 communicants."13 i Col. Rec, VI, 955. 2 Johnson, Guion Griffis, Ante-Bellum North Carolina, p. 18. 3 Col. Rec, IV, 977, 990, 994. ^ Ibid., V, xxv; VI, 5, 1006. 5 Ibid., V, xxv, 1095; VI, 3. GIbid., V, 1014; VI, 116, 219, 449-50, 473, 839, 841, 1026, 1091, 1219. 7 Ibid., VI, 709. sibid., 710. 9 Ibid., 1048. io Ibid., 1145. ii St. Rec, XXV, 484-85. 12 Col. Rec, VI, 1047-48. 13 Ibid. XVIII OTHER SERVICES OF "PARSON" REED A voluminous letter writer, particularly in reporting to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the Rev. Mr. Reed's missives furnish today much information about the church, school and other progress during his era. He played a prominent Colonial role in many fields of service. Reed was one of four clergymen in the province praised in 1764 by Governor Dobbs, who wrote the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel that there were only six clergy-men in the province, four of whom performed their duty diligently—those at Edenton, Bath, Halifax and New Bern.1 The North Carolina Magazine or Universal Intelli-gencer, published by James Davis at New Bern, carried an advertisement in August, 1764, in the form of a "Notice to the Freeholders of Chrift Church Parifh, Craven County."2 This notice stated that the subscriber, Richard Cogdell, sheriff, would open polls at the courthouse for election of vestrymen of the parish and there would be a fine of 20 shillings on every freeholder in the parish who failed to attend and vote. At that time and place, it was also stated, subscribers to the schoolhouse fund were requested to elect two com-missioners and a treasurer to direct and superintend the building of the school. All persons having bills against the parish and all owing money to the parish were asked to be at the church October 4 for settlement of accounts. Jacob Blount and James Davis, as church wardens, advertised in the latter's newspaper that on Thursday, January 3, 1765, pews in Christ Church would be rented to the highest bidders, for one year, by order of the vestry.3 OTHER SERVICES OF "PARSON" REED 65 Accounts of the visit of the Methodist divine, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, are contained in Mr. Reed's correspond-ence. The local rector wrote December 21, 1764, that the preacher had arrived here Saturday, November 17, while en route from the North to South Carolina and Georgia.4 At the request of local persons, Reed reported, White-field preached the next morning, Sunday, to a "very numerous Congregation. That afternoon he continued on his journey." At the time Reed said he was at a chapel 35 miles from New Bern. Whitefield complained here of asthma, though he was fat and looked well, the New Bernian wrote. But, because of the asthma, he was said to preach seldom and never to read prayers at the same time. New Bern was the only place in which he preached in this province, Reed added, or "probably anywhere south of New York." Reed then added his opinion, "I think his discourse has been of some real service here." Whitefield recommended infant baptism, he remarked, and declared himself to be a member and a minister of the Church of England. From New Brunswick Whitefield wrote, "At New Bern, last Sunday, good impressions were made. The desire of the people in the section to hear the gospel makes me almost determined to come back early in the Spring." He did return the next Spring, on his way back North stopping over in New Bern and preaching here on Thurs-day evening of Passion Week in 1765 and also on Easter Sunday at Christ Church.5 Mr. Reed cooperated not only with Governor Dobbs but also with the latter's successor, William Tryon. Due to Governor Dobbs' advancing age and failing health, King George III of England, who had ascended the throne in 1760 upon the death of his grandfather, King George II, commissioned Tryon as Lieutenant-Governor of North Carolina on April 26, 1764.6 Tryon was 35 years of age, a member of an English family of high standing. On October 10 he arrived in the colony, at Cape Fear.7 Three days after the death of Governor Dobbs, he assumed temporary control of the provincial government, on March 31, 1765.8 His com- 66 CROWN OF LIFE mission as governor arrived later and was officially opened before the Council on December 20.9 Not only loyal to the Crown but also zealous for the established church, Governor Tryon soon recommended passage of an Assembly bill for a better provision for an orthodox clergy.10 Passed in May, 1765,u this re-enacted the repealed 1762 bill, with omission of the former dis-approved features.12 The stipend for the clergy was fixed at 133.6.3, with shorter and easier methods provided for their recovery by law. Certain fees were set for marriage ceremonies and funeral sermons. Vestrymen retained the right to tax and pay salaries, and were supposed to supply their rectors with glebes of 200 acres of good land and a residence, or pay 20 pounds a year more if no rectory was provided. The right of presentation or selection of ministers of the established church was granted to the Crown, through the Governor, thus relieving rectors from the so-called "insolence and tyranny of vestries." 13 The Governor and his Council were given authority to suspend clergymen deemed guilty of gross crime or notorious immorality. Their suspension was revocable by the Bishop of London. Although confirmed and ratified by the King, on the advice of his Privy Council, this act was easier to pass this time than to enforce. In some counties residents refused to receive the clergymen sent by the governor. Some men elected vestrymen would not qualify or act.14 Later the measure was amended in 1766 so that the salary of a suspended minister, or part of it, might be paid to his substitute.15 Under the act, Tryon officially commissioned Reed as rector of Christ Church, where he had already been serving for almost 12 years. An original manuscript of this commission is now on file in the New York Historical Society Library in New York City, among the papers collected by the late Dr. Francis L. Hawks, whose grand-father, John Hawks, had signed the document as a wit-ness. It reads as follows : OTHER SERVICES OF "PARSON" REED 67 "To all, to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. "Know ye, that I, William Tryon, Esquire, Lieutenant- Governor and Commander in Chief in, and over, the Province of North Carolina, and by virtue of His Majesty's Commission true and undoubted patron of the Rectory, Benefice or Parish of Christ Church in the County of Craven, in the Province aforesaid, and Diocese of London ; for divers good Causes and Considerations, me thereunto moving, have empowered, and by these Presents do em-power, Thomas Clifford Howe, Esquire, of said Craven County and Province aforesaid, to induct The Reverend James Reed, Clerk, A. B., into the Rectory, Benefice or Parish, of Christ Church, in said County, Province and Diocese of London. "In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Caused the Great Seal of the said province to be affixed at Brunswick this second day of September in the year of our Lord 1765 and in the Fifth Year of His Majesty's Reign. "William Tryon. (Seal) "By His Honour's Command Fount'n Elwin, p. Sec. "Inducted September the 10th, 1765, by me. (Test) "Thomas. C. Howe." Jno. Rice John Hawks i Col. Rec, VI, 1039. 2 Photostat copies of this newspaper in the archives of the North Carolina Historical Commission, Raleigh, N, C. 3 Ibid. 4 Col. Rec, VI, 1060-61. 5 Col. Rec, VII, 97, 104. 6 Ibid., VI, 1043-44. 7 Ibid., 1053-54. 8 Ibid., 1320. 9 Ibid., VII, 159-160. 10 Ibid., 42. ii St. Rec, XXIII, 660-62. 12 Col. Rec, VII, 150-153, 158; VIII, xliii. 13 Ibid., VII, 97. 14 Ibid., VIII, xliii. is Ibid., VII, 891-92, 920; VIII, xliv. St. Rec, XXIII, 759. XIX CHURCH AND SCHOOL On May 16, 1765, James Reed and 39 other prominent residents of New Bern and the vicinity reported to Governor Tryon that the money subscribed for establish-ment of a school at New Bern had been partly spent for materials for a school building and that they desired Thomas Tomlinson, the instructor, to have more pupils and be able to procure an assistant.1 Governor Tryon was requested to ask the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to allow a yearly salary for Tomlinson. The schoolmaster, 31 years of age2 when he had arrived here in December, 1763, was said to be en-deavoring to teach the children "in such branches of use-ful learning as are necessary in several of the offices or stations in life, and imprint on their tender minds the principles of the Christian religion agreeable to the establishment of the Church of England."3 This petition was signed by the following men: James Reed, Missionary, Thomas Clifford Howe, Samuel Cornell, John Williams, Richard Cogdell, Richard Caswell, James Davis, Peter Conway, John Clitherall, Jacob Blount, Richd. Ellis, Francis Macilwean, Alexdr. Gaston, Phil. Ambrose, Jacob Sheppard, Jos. Jones, John Daly, Will. Euen, Timo. Cleary, Jno. Pindar, Pat. Gordon, John Franck, Tho. Pollock, Bernard Parkinson, Wm. Wilton, Christ. Neale, Thos. Sitgreaves, Corn. Groenendyke, Jno. Green, John Fonville, Longfield Cox, Jno. Smith, Cullen Pollock, Richd. Fenner, Amb. Cox Bayley, Andr. Scott, Andr. Stewart, Eliu Cotting, Jno. Moore, Alex. Eagles. Reed reported that collections of school pledges were slow.4 On July 10 there were 30 pupils, at 20 shillings proclamation money per quarter.5 But, much of this was not paid. And it was not sufficient to operate the school efficiently. Hence, aid was desired from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. CHURCH AND SCHOOL 69 Tryon wrote for this financial supplement,6 and it was pledged by the Society.7 He reported July 31 that there were only five clergymen then in the province, for 32 parishes. Four S. P. G. missionaries were listed: Reed, in Craven County; Earl, near Edenton in Chowan; Stewart, at Bath in Beaufort County; and Moir, an itinerant missionary.8 As to Reed, the Governor added he had seen "much of him at the General Assembly held at New Bern. I really esteem him a man of great worth9 . ... I pledged my endeavors to get decent clergymen,"10 and also to ask more aid from the Society.11 Referring to the condition of the churches, Tryon said that the church at New Bern was "in good repair;" at Wilmington there were "walls only ;" at Brunswick "only outside walls built and roofed." The Bath church was said to be "wanting considerable repairs," and Edenton, "wanting as much." Chapels were reported to have been established in every county, "served by a Reader where no clergyman can be procured."12 Only one complete glebe house, with full glebe lands, was said then to be in the colony, "at Bath and nowhere else." 13 That Summer Reed contracted a severe attack of yellow fever.14 During his illness Tomlinson likely acted as his substitute in holding services at Christ Church.15 Mr. Reed wrote the Society January 14, 1766: "We have suffered the most intense heat during the last sum-mer that ever was known in the memory of man and about the middle of August I was seized with the yellow fever," an "exceeding violent" attack, "but soon over," though it left him permanently deaf.16 The Rev. Mr. Stewart had been brought to New Bern in a horse litter during December, having lost the use of his limbs from rheumatism, and was under the care of a physician, Reed reported. He commented also, "though people here are peaceable and quiet, yet they seem very uneasy, discontented and dejected." 17 His illness over, Reed renewed his efforts for the local school, and on July 20 wrote to the S. P. G. : "Schoolhouse is at length enclosed . . . Large and decent Edifice for 70 CROWN OF LIFE such a Young Country—forty-five feet in length, thirty in breadth, and has already cost upwards of 300 pounds this currency."18 All subscriptions had been expended, he said : "I have preached and begged in its behalf, until the suppliant is entirely weary and charity cold." The floors had not been laid, and the chimneys had not been built. "I have therefore sent a Bill of Exchange for my last half year's salary to New York to purchase Bricks for the Chimneys and intend at the next session of Assembly . . . in November to recommend the undertaking from the pulpit . . . " 'Twould give me great satisfaction to see a little flourishing Academy in this place. I have this affair much at heart, and the difficulties I have met with have given me much uneasiness. Mr. Tomlinson received a small additional stipend last Easter Monday. The vestry then agreed to pay him twelve pounds per annum for attending the church in New Bern at such times as I am obliged to be absent and attend the several Chapels. I have fur-nished him with Tillotsons Sermons and the congregation attends very regularly."19 The minister kept his word, and on December 1, 1766, the General Assembly incorporated the local school,20 first to be so chartered in the province21 and second private secondary school in English America to receive a charter. Under this charter, the schoolmaster had to be a mem-ber of the Church of England.22 Upon recommendation of the trustees, he was required to obtain a license from the governor.23 The eleven trustees were given authority to elect other trustees in case of vacancies24 and to dis-miss schoolmasters without the consent of the Royal Governor,25 powers to which British representatives later objected. Thus both school and church furnished some of the controversies which arose between English rulers and colonists in those pre-Revolutionary days. The Rev. Mr. Reed, named one of the school trustees,26 reported that the school building was completed in 1768, though it was perhaps used even before being finished, on CHURCH AND SCHOOL 71 the corner site of the present school campus, on New and Hancock Streets.27 A tax of one penny per gallon levied for seven years on spirituous liquors imported through Neuse River helped support the new school, including the teacher's salary of twenty pounds, or about $100, a year, an assistant's salary of the same amount, and the tuition of ten poor children selected by the trustees.28 i Col. Rec, VII, 35-36. 2 Epitaph on his tombstone in Cedar Grove cemetery states that Tomlinson died September 24, 1802, at age of 70 years. 3 Col. Rec, VII, 35-36. * Ibid.. 98. 5 Ibid. eibid., 102-4. 7 Ibid., 458. siua., 102. 9 Ibid. io ibid., 103. ii Ibid. 12 Ibid. 13 Ibid., 99. i-± Ibid.. 154. 15 Ibid., 241; IX, 305. 16 Ibid., VII, 154. 17 Ibid. is Ibid., 241. 19 Ibid. 20 Ibid., 339, 420. St. Rec, XXIII, 678-80. 21 Col. Rec, VII, 432, 458. 22 ibid., 432. St. Rec, XXIII, 679. 23 St. Rec, XXIII, 679. 24 Ibid., 678-80. 25 Col. Rec, VII, 316; IX, 243. 26 Ibid., IX, 242. 27 Ibid., VII, 750. St. Rec, XXIII, 679-80; XXV, 516. 28 Col. Rec, IX, 239. St. Rec, XXIII, 680. XX ROYAL GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON As a "staunch churchman,"1 Royal Governor Tryon, as has been noted, did much to help the established church. The Rev. Andrew Morton referred to him as "that amiable and good man, who may be justly called the Nursing Father of the Church in this Province."2 The Rev. Mr. Moir wrote, "Governor Tryon, though a soldier, has done more for the settlement of a regular ministry in this province than both his learned Prede-cessors." 3 Another minister, the Rev. George Micklejohn, later declared : "We have a governor who rules a willing Peo-ple with the Indulgent Tenderness of a common parent, who desires rather to be beloved than feared . . . defender and friend, the Patron and nursing father of the Church established amongst us—he is a Religious Frequenter of its Worship and a steady adherent to its Interest."4 In February, 1766, Tryon became a member of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and gave it a handsome cash donation.5 He made a contribution of forty guineas towards the church being built at Brunswick.6 However, his religious interests were not confined to his own denomination. Other faiths also grew stronger under his rule. Dr. Hugh Williamson, Presbyterian historian, in his history of North Carolina, wrote, "It was fortunate for the dissenters that Governor Tryon was not a bigot."7 Bishop J. B. Cheshire wrote that Governors Johnston and Dobbs were both zealous churchmen but that Tryon did much more to advance religion in North Carolina.8 Thirteen Church of England ministers were in the province in 1767, a substantial increase over the five that were here when he arrived. They were listed April 30 of that year, as follows: 9 ROYAL GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON 73 Reed, Christ Church, Craven County; Micklejohn, St. Matthews, Orange County; Stewart, St. Thomas, Bath; Morton, St. George, Northampton; Samuel Fiske, St. John, Pasquotank; Thomas Floyd, Society, Bertie; these six established by letters of Presentation by the Governor. Daniel Earl, in charge in Chowan County, who was said never to have applied for Presentation ; Thomas Burgess, Edgecombe, Halifax, settled by Act of Assembly; John Barnett, St. Philip, Brunswick; John Wills, St. James, New Hanover; James Cosgreve; William Miller, St. Patrick, Dobbs; and Charles Cupples, St. John, Bute, "not yet established." 10 These ministers had no easy time. Even Reed, as already indicated, had dire difficulties. In 1767, when there were 1,378 white taxables in Craven County,11 the Rev. Mr. Stewart wrote the Society that Reed would have "been obliged to desert his parish" had not Mr. Dobbs induced the Society "to take him on their list . . . The parish of New Bern, known to be the most beneficial parish at that time in this province when money was plenty, on a better footing and punctually paid, was in-sufficient to support Mr. Reed (a parsimonious saving man and without children.") 12 Mr. Stewart informed the S. P. G. that the lack of a currency medium made it impossible for North Carolina churches to pay proper salaries and that a nominal salary of 100 pounds sterling was hardly equal to 40 pounds sterling in South Carolina, Virginia and Northern provinces.13 But the rectors and missionaries performed valiant service along many lines. Among the tracts and sermons published by James Davis at New Bern was one by Stewart in 1758, entitled, "The Validity of Infant Baptism."14 A number of additional church acts were passed by the Assembly during Tryon's administration. In 1766 the previous year's law concerning the orthodox clergy was amended so that if a minister was considered guilty of crime or immorality the governor and council might suspend him until the Bishop of London could review and 74 CROWN OF LIFE decide the case; and meanwhile the church wardens and vestry could allow any deserving minister to substitute, at full or part pay.15 During that same year another act continued for another five years the bill for vestries passed five years earlier, permitting freeholders to change vestrymen not then serving. Any person elected to the vestry and re-fusing to serve was liable to a fine of three pounds.16 In that year, too, it was made lawful for a Presbyterian minister to marry a couple by license. 17 But the Church of England minister was still to get the fee whether or not he officiated, provided he did not refuse to serve. Prior to that, no minister except one of the established church was legally allowed to celebrate the rite of matri-mony. However, this 1766 act was soon repealed.18 The Vestry Act of 176819 was the last one seeking to perpetuate the Church of England in North Carolina. It was limited to five years,20 but was then voted to be con-tinued for ten years,21 though nullified by the Revolution. Governor Tryon selected New Bern as the seat of his provincial government, following a tour of two months through North Carolina.22 As there was no suitable government house here, plans were made for the erection of one. The General Assembly in November, 1766, passed with a large majority a bill entitled: "An act for erecting a convenient building within the town of New Bern for the residence of the governor, or commander-in-chief for the time being."23 The Governor approved the measure December l. 24 Construction of "Tryon's Palace," costing about $80,000,25 followed, 1767-70, with John Hawks from Eng-land as the supervising architect.26 The Assembly met in 1768,27 176928 and 177029 in the new school building at New Bern, and even used the schoolhouse also in 1771,30 177331 and 1774.32 But, the new Palace was used chiefly then for Assembly meetings. The governor wrote June 7, 1770, that he had just moved into the edifice, sooner than he had expected;33 and the first meeting of the Assembly there was held the next December.34 ROYAL GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON 75 Regarded as the most beautiful building in North or South America,35 this Palace played an important role during Colonial, Revolutionary and early State history. i Col. Rec, VIII, xliv. 2 Ibid., VII, 424. 3 Ibid., 145. Ubid., 519-20. 5 Ibid., 158, 162, 260. Haywood, Marshall DeLancey, Governor William Tryon and His Administration, p. 28. 6 Col. Rec, VII, 164, 515. 7 Williamson, Hugh, History of North Carolina, Vol. II, p. 118. s Cheshire, Sketches, p. 75. 9 Col. Rec, VII, 457. 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid., 539. 12 Ibid., 493. l3/&i(Z., 496. 14 Ibid., VI, 316. Old copies of the pamphlet. 15 Ibid., VII, 224. St. Rec, XXIII, 759. 16 St. Rec, XXIII, 759-60. 17 Ibid., 674. Col. Rec, VII, 432-33. Haywood, op. cit., p. 18. is St. Rec, XXIII, 826. Col. Rec, VIII, xliv. 19 Col. Rec, VII, 920. 20 ibid., VIII, 4-5. 21 Ibid., IX, 1014-15. St. Rec, XXIII, 956. 22 Col. Rec, VII, 2. 23 Ibid.. 320. St. Rec, XXIII, 664-65. 24 Col. Rec, VII, 338. 25 Ibid., VIII, 626. 2d Ibid., VII, 431. 27 Ibid., 923, 984-85. 28 Ibid., IX, 272. 29 Ibid. so ibid., 224, 226, 272. 31 Ibid., 371, 590. 32 Ibid., 953. 33 ibid., VIII, 211. Mlbid., 282, 285. 35 Kimball, Fiske, Tryon' s Palace, published in Quarterly Bulletin of the New York Historical Society, for January, 1940, pp. 13-14. Lossing, Benson J., The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. II, p. 570. Col. Rec, VII, 695; VIII, 285. Don Francisco de Miranda, "the precursor of the Independence movement in Spanish America," who visited New Bern in 1783, is quoted by Francis Xavier Martin in The History of North Carolina from the Earliest Period, Vol. II, p. 265, as saying the Palace not only was the most beautiful in North America but had no superior in South America. XXI THE REV. JAMES MCCARTNEY At the beginning of the year 1767 James McCartney, a native of Ireland, was employed to assist Tomlinson with the New Bern school. 1 He continued in this capacity until May, 1768. when he left for England to become a candi-date for Holy Orders.- Very likely during this time he served as lay reader at Christ Church. Governor Tryon wrote the Bishop of London February 12. 176S, that McCartney ''waits on you for orders of ordination.*' Mr. McCartney, he said, had also acted ably as tutor to Speaker John Harvey's children. 3 The next May 14 the Rev. Mr. Reed wrote the S. P. G. recom-mending McCartney for priesthood. - In his letter Reed reported that the ''duty upon rum will amount to about 60 pounds per annum this currency and will be sufficient to discharge present debts, com-pletely finishing the school house, and pay Tomlinson 20 pounds per annum." He added. "T have baptized about 100 whites and blacks in my own parish from Midsummer to Christmas last and about 30 in St. John's parish. '"- Ordained as a minister of the Church of England, McCartney was licensed July 25 by the Bishop of London for service in North Carolina. During November he arrived back in New Bern, but was ill at home here for several weeks. Following his recovery, he reported later, he visited six extensive parishes, preached 49 sermons, and baptized 763 white persons and 27 Negroes between the middle of December and the latter part of May.6 "Though many of these parishes would have received me willingly, none would suit so weakly a Constitution as mine." he wrote. 7 During this period he undoubtedly held services here. Because of its climate, he decided the first of June. 1769. to settle in Granville County." For several years McCartney served the Granville parish faithfully. In 1771 he was one of those contract-ing with John Lvnch for erection of a church there. THE REV. JAMES M'CARTNEY 77 Because he had known of John Hawks' excellent work here, he was probably the one responsible for obtaining Hawks to draw plans for the church.9 A number of citizens signed a petition in 1771, praising McCartney as "a credit to his holy profession" and recom-mending that his bounty from the Society for the Propa-gation of the Gospel be continued. It had been given him temporarily when he returned to America after being ordained. Since the subscribers were nominally church members, many of them belonging to Christ Church here, the list is quoted: John Simpson, Aquila Sugg, William Cray, Richard Ward, Samuel Johnston, Robert Howe, Francis Mackil-wean, Ben. Hardy, Thomas Hines, Richard Evans, Edward Hare, William McKinne, Thomas Gray, James Green, Junr., Joseph Leech, Joseph Montfort, James Blount, William Davis, Philemon Hawkins, John Campbell, A. Nash, Hugh Waddell, Andrew Knox, Wm. Thomson, Joseph Hewes, Jacob Shepard, Jacob Blount, James Bonner, William Haywood, Moses Hare, James Hasell, John Rutherford, Lewis deRosset, John Sampson, Alexr. McCulloch, William Dry, Samuel Cornell, Marmaduke Jones, Nat. Dukenfield, M. Moore, John Ashe, J. Moore, Cornelius Harnett, Richard Caswell and John Harvey.10 Also recommended for ordination orders by Governor Tryon in the same year as McCartney was a talented young actor named W. Giffard, who had come to the province with a company of strolling players. In a letter to the Bishop of London June 11, 1768, Tryon wrote from Brunswick that Giffard was "Most wearied of the vague life of his present pro-fession, and fully persuaded he could employ his talent to more benefit to society by going into holy orders and superintending the education of the youth in this province ... I was not assured how far your lordship would choose to take a member of the theater into the church . . . His behaviour has been decent, regular, and commendable ... If your lordship grants Mr. Giffard his petition, you will take off the best player on the American stage."11 78 CROWN OF LIFE The sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Micklejohn, S. T. D., before "His Excellency Royal Governor Tryon and the troops raised to quell the late Insurrection at Hillsborough, on Sunday, Sept. 25, 1768," was printed by James Davis at New Bern.12 i Col. Rec, VII, 689. 2 Ibid., 750. 3 Ibid., 689. ilbid., 750. 5 Ibid. Qlbid., VIII, 85. 7 Ibid., 85-86. 8 Ibid., 86. 9 A copy of the original plans is filed in the collection of Dr. Francis L. Hawks, grandson of the architect, at the New York Historical Society Library, 170 Central Park West, New York City. io Col. Rec, IX, 61-62. ii Ibid., VII, 786-87. 12 Ibid., 939, 976, 983. Copies of the sermon are extant. Dr. R. D. W. Connor, then Secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission, edited one for The North Carolina Booklet, Vol. VIII, No. 1, July, 1908, pp. 57-58. XXII TRYON ASKS MORE AID Continuing his efforts to bolster the power of the Church of England in this province, Governor Tryon wrote Daniel Burton, S. P. G. Secretary, March 20, 1769, from Brunswick : "The infancy of the established religion in this province is undoubtedly the period and crisis for setting the Church of England here on a solid basis. We have laid a more firm and permanent foundation than any other colony can boast, she now stands in need of the utmost assistance of her friends to raise the superstructure ... I trust the Society will not withdraw the missions of 50 pounds per annum from those gentlemen who now enjoy them, but rather exert every other aid in their power to facilitate the propagation of the gospel here. "The bounty of the Society of 20 pounds per annum for two years to every minister coming out to this pro-vince is certainly of real se
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Title | Crown of life : history of Christ Church, New Bern, N.C., 1715-1940 |
Other Title | History of Christ Church, New Bern, N.C., 1715-1940 |
Creator | Carraway, Gertrude Sprague, 1896-1993. |
Date | 1940 |
Subjects |
Christ Episcopal Church (New Bern, N.C.)--History North Caroliniana |
Place |
New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, United States |
Time Period |
(1600-1763) Colonial period (1763-1789) American Revolution (1789-1820) North Carolina's early statehood (1820-1860) Antebellum (1860-1876) Civil War and Reconstruction (1876-1900) Gilded Age (1900-1929) North Carolina's industrial revolution and World War One (1929-1945) Depression and World War Two |
Description | Bibliography: p. [223]-228. "Other sources": p. [229] |
Publisher | NewBern,O. G. Dunn, 1940. |
Rights | Religion in North Carolina see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p249901coll37/id/23786 |
Physical Characteristics | 245 p. front., plates, ports. 24 cm. |
Collection |
General Collection. State Library of North Carolina |
Type | text |
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Full Text | (fawn of Mt HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH NEW BERN, N. C. 1715-1940 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/crownoflifehistoOOgert E. K. Bishop Nofth Csrolin. St«f Library Crown of Mt HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH NEW BERN, N.C. 1715-1940 BY Gertrude S. Carraway Authorized by the vestry of Christ Church protestant episcopal church the rev. charles e. williams, rector E. K. bishop, Senior warden NEW BERN OWEN G. DUNN, PUBLISHER 1940 NORTH LINA LIBRARY C0ft 3K N. C. I i - - ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTES 1940 In commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the establishment of Christ Church Parish in 1715 and the 200th anniversary of the Act of the General Assembly on August 21, 1740, authorizing erection of the first parish church here; and in honor of the Hon. Edward K. Bishop, for more than half a cen-tury a vestryman, first elected April 24, 1889, serv-ing as Secretary and Junior Warden at different times, and for the past eighteen years Senior Warden, first named to this high position of leader-ship and responsibility April 3, 1922—able, loyal, and true, a worthy successor of worthy predecessors. K.v DEDICATION For all Thy saints, Lord, Who strove in Thee to live, Who followed Thee, obeyed, adored, Our grateful hymn receive. For Thy dear saints, Lord, Who strove in Thee to die, Who counted Thee their great reward, Accept our thankful cry. Thine earthly members fit To join Thy saints above, In one communion ever knit, One fellowship of love. Jesus, Thy Name we bless And humbly pray that we May follow them in holiness, Who lived and died for Thee. —Bishop Richaed Mant, 1837. Hymn 293. TWO CENTURIES OF SERVICE For two centuries of service, progress and inspiration, Christ Episcopal Church has held an important place, literally and figuratively, in the heart of New Bern, second oldest town of North Carolina. Its spire, pointing skyward, higher than anything else in the city, is rimmed with a large crown, symbolic of everlasting life, not only for the Church triumphant but also for those stalwart Christians who try to further the Kingdom of God on earth. The twenty-six rectors, the assistant ministers and many members have exercised a vital influence on the history of the region. To a great extent the history of the local Church is a history of the community. These patriots of the Cross have bequeathed a priceless heritage for the Church and Church members of today and tomorrow—a tower of strength during the past, a beacon of light in the present, and a guiding star for the future. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the Crown of Life."—Revelation 2:10. RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH James Reed 1753-1777 Leonidas Cutting 1785-1792 Solomon Halling 1792-1795 Thomas P. Irving 1796-1813 George Strebeck 1813-1815 Jehu Curtis Clay 1817-1818 Richard S. Mason 1818-1828 John R. Goodman 1828-1834 John Burke 1835-1837 Cameron F. McRae 1838-1842 Fordyce M. Hubbard 1842-1847 William N. Hawks 1847-1853 Henry F. Greene 1854-1857 Thomas G. Haughton 1857-1858 Alfred A. Watson 1858-1862 Edward M. Forbes 1866-1877 Charles S. Hale 1877-1881 Van Winder Shields 1881-1889 T. M. N. George 1890-1905 L. G. H. Williams 1905-1907 John H. Brown 1908-1910 B. F. Huske 1910-1917 Daniel G. MacKinnon 1917-1925 Guy H. Madara 1926-1930 I. DEL. Brayshaw 1931-1934 Charles E. Williams 1934- CONTENTS Anniversary Tributes Dedication Two Centuries of Service... Rectors of Christ Church.. Table of Contents Chapter I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXI. XXXII. XXXIII. XXXIV. Early Colonial Religion First Ministers in East Carolina Establishment of Church Craven County Settled Religious legislation..... Local Parish Designated Freedom of Worship Again Decreed. Union of Church and State New Church Acts First Local Church East Carolina Missionaries Gifts from King George Page 3 4 5 6 7 9 12 14 19 23 25 29 32 34 36 40 44 The Rev. James Reed, First Rector 47 Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs 50 Large Parish Territory 54 Numerous Church Bills 58 First Public School 61 Other Services of "Parson" Reed._ 64 Church and School 68 Royal Governor William Tryon 72 The Rev. James McCartney 76 Tryon Asks More Aid 79 Royal Governor Josiah Martin 82 Tomlinson Assists Rector..._ 85 The Revolutionary Period and Disestablishment of the Church 89 Death of Mr. Reed... 95 The Rev. Leonidas Cutting 98 Steps Toward Organization 102 The Rev. Solomon Halling 105 First Bishop Elected for North Carolina 109 The Rev. Thomas P. Irving _ 112 The Rev. George Strebeck and The Rev. John Phillips, Assistant Rector 119 The Rev. Jehu Curtis Clay and Organization of the Diocese.. 121 The Rev. Richard Sharpe Mason 124 8 CONTENTS Chapter Page XXXV. Other Local Denominations 129 XXXVI. Second Episcopal Church Building 136 XXXVII. The Rev. John R. Goodman 141 XXXVIII. The Rev. John Burke._„ 144 XXXIX. The Rev. Cameron F. McRae._ 147 XL. The Rev. Fordyce M. Hubbard 149 XLI. The Rev. William N. Hawks 151 XLII. The Rev. Henry F. Greene 158 XLIII. The Rev. Thomas G. Haughton.„ 162 XLIV. The Rev. A. A. Watson 166 XLV. The Rev. Edward M. Forbes 172 XLVI. Church Fire 177 XLVII. The Rev. Charles S. Hale 183 XLVIII. The Rev. Van Winder Shields. 185 XLIX. The Rev. T. M. N. George 188 L. The Rev. L. G. H. Williams 192 LI. The Rev. John H. Brown 195 LII. The Rev. B. F. Huske._ 197 LIII. The Rev. Daniel G. MacKinnon 200 LIV. The Rev. Guy H. Madara 204 LV. The Rev. I. deL. Brayshaw 207 LVI. The Rev. Charles E. Williams 210 LVII. The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Darst 216 Christ Church Vestrymen 219 Bibliography 223 Index 231 ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE E. K. Bishop Frontispiece First Local Church—1750 32 Communion Silver, Presented by King George II 48 Second Local Episcopal Church—1824 128 Present Episcopal Church—1875 __ 176 Christ Church Altar..._ 192 Showing Communion Silver and Memorial Cloth. The Rev. Charles E. Williams 208 The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Darst..._ 209 EARLY COLONIAL RELIGION That the early colonists in Eastern North Carolina had faith and religion is evidenced by many historical facts, and, although for a history of Christ Church, New Bern, it is manifestly impossible to go fully into an account of Christianity through the entire section, nevertheless it is important to mention a few outstanding events that transpired before the settling of this city. During Colonial days the church was usually the chief center of a settlement. Upon it our American fore-fathers depended often for educational and social privi-leges as well as religious inspiration. Christ Church played as vital a role along all these lines as any other factor in this community, and as material a part as prac-tically any other church in any other region. On August 13, 1587, Manteo, Indian friendly to the white colonists in Governor John White's English settle-ment on Roanoke Island, was baptised,1 this being believed to be the first Christian baptism by the English on terri-tory now comprising the United States. Some days later Virginia Dare, first white child of English parentage born in the New World, was also christened at old Fort Raleigh.2 In 1607, as English colonists started up the James River to found the first permanent English settlement at James-town, Va., they disembarked first at Cape Henry on April 26. With religious ritual they planted there a crude wooden cross, symbolic of faith in God and confidence in the future.3 Episcopal services are continued there an-nually in tribute to their piety and pioneer spirit. Religion was also made an integral part of the daily life of other later settlements in Virginia and Carolina. In-deed, many persons came to this continent mainly for freedom of worship. Others were stimulated to religious zeal in their new homes. In almost all colonies buildings were set apart for public worship, sometimes private 10 CROWN OF LIFE homes were thus used. For wide stretches where houses were scattered, however, religion had to be an individual or family devotion. The first charter granted March 24, 1663, by King Charles II of England to the original eight Lords Proprie-tors of Carolina stated that these leaders were "excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith, and the enlargement of our empire and dominion" by settling "in the parts of America not yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by some bar-barous people who have no knowledge of Almighty God."4 As today, one of His Majesty's titles was "Defender of the Faith." 5 Liberty of conscience and freedom of worship were al-lowed under both the first and second Carolina charters, although it was distinctly understood that the Church of England was to be the established church in the colony just as it was in the Mother Country.6 Under John Locke's "Fundamental Constitutions or the Grand Model of Government," accepted March 1, 1669,7 which had great ideals of liberty8 though failing to func-tion suitably for scattered inhabitants in Carolina,9 it was declared : "It shall belong to the Parliament to take care for the building of churches and the public maintenance of di-vines, to be employed in the exercise of religion, according to the Church of England ; which being the only true and orthodox, and the national religion of all the King's do-minions, is so also of Carolina, and therefore it alone shall be allowed to receive public maintenance by grant of Parliament." 10 No missionary societies were in the world during the 17th century, and there were no missionaries on this con-tinent except a few traveling Quaker preachers. But, at the close of that century the Bishop of London sent the Rev. Thomas Bray (1656-1730) to Maryland to settle some differences there and to study church conditions. 11 Dr. Bray visited various American colonies, and became intensely interested in their religious conditions. Upon EARLY COLONIAL RELIGION 11 his return to England, he reported in 1700 the immediate need of missionaries in the New World.12 i White, John, Account of Lost Colony. Published by Richard Hakluyt, Vol. Ill, p. 340. 2 Ibid. 3 "On the nine and twentieth day [of April] we returned to the mouth of the Bay of Chesiopic, set up a cross and called the place Cape Henry," wrote George Percy, son of Earl Percy, who was with the Virginia colonists in 1607. 4 The Colonial Records of North Carolina (hereafter cited as Col. Rec), I, 21. 5 Ibid., I, 20. Qlbid., I, pp. 32, 113-14. 7 Ibid., I, 187-205; The State Records of North Carolina (hereafter cited as St. Rec), Vol. XXV, pp. 123-136. 8 Col. Rec, I, 202-203. 9 Ibid., I, pp. xvii-xviii. io Ibid., I, 202. ii Ibid., I, 520, 571. New Standard Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, p. 156. Drane, Dr. Robert B., Colonial Parishes and Church Schools, in Sketches of Church History in North Carolina, edited by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire and published by Wm. L. De Rosset, Jr., p. 167. 12 Col. Rec, I, pp. 572-73. McConnell, Dr. S. D., History of the American Episcopal Church, pp. 96-98. Protestant Episcopal His-torical Society Collection, pp. 99-106. Hawks, Francis L., History of North Carolina, Vol. II, pp. 338-339. II FIRST MINISTERS IN EAST CAROLINA The first minister to preach in North Carolina is said to have been William Edmundson, a Quaker, native of Westmoreland, England, who came to Carolina during the Spring of 1672 and preached at the house of Henry Phil-lips, where the town of Hertford is now located. 1 George Fox, also a Quaker, was the second missionary to visit North Carolina. He went to the western part of what is now the county of Chowan, as well as to the Per-quimans and Pasquotank sections.2 The Quakers were thus the first to send missionaries into Carolina, and they infused their principles through northeastern parts of the province. Presbyterians and members of other denominations also moved to the region from Virginia and other colonies.3 Quaker influence was felt from 1694 to 1696 when John Archdale was Governor of the Carolinas. He was a Quaker, convert of George Fox. But when Henderson Walker became Governor, 1699-1703, he did much to help establish the Church of England and further its cause in North Carolina.4 The first Church of England missionary for the Albe-marle section, sent in 1700 at Dr. Bray's insistence, was the Rev. Daniel Brett. This was an unfortunate selec-tion, as were some of the later missionary choices. He remained only a few months.5 As early as 1669 there had been instituted in England a society "for the promotion of Christian knowledge." For various reasons it failed to function well. A second organization, to supply clergymen for the American colo-nies, was started by Dr. Bray, desirous to improve re-ligious conditions in the colonies. On June 16, 1701, his society, as a voluntary organiza-tion among churchmen in England, was chartered by King William III of England as the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts." 6 FIRST MINISTERS IN EAST CAROLINA 13 This association did more towards the early Christian-izing of East Carolina than probably any other one factor. However, the group was greatly handicapped in its worthy efforts by the general indifference found on both sides of the ocean and the immense distances that had to be traveled. The first public library in Carolina was started at Bath, the oldest town, with books sent by Dr. Bray.7 Books were later sent to many other towns of the province. And the Rt. Rev. Henry Compton, Lord Bishop of London from 1675 to 1714, obtained from the Crown a promise of a bounty of 20 pounds for every minister or scholar who would agree to come to America.8 i Cheshire, J. B., Jr., Fragments of Colonial Church History, pp. 3-4. 2 Col. Rec, I, xviii, 226-27, 572. Journals of Edmundson and Fox. 3 Vass, the Rev. L. C, History of the Presbyterian Church in New Bern, N. C, pp. 18-21. 4 Battle, Kemp P., The Colonial Laymen of the Church of England in North Carolina, published in Cheshire's Sketches, pp. 95-96. 5 Col. Rec, I, 572. 6 Cheshire, The Church in the Province of North Carolina, op cit., pp. 51-52; New Standard Encyclopedia, IV, 156. McConnell, op cit., pp. 98-99. Hawks, op. cit., II, 340. 7 Col. Rec, I, 572. 8 Ibid., I, 600-1. Hawks, II, 339. Ill ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH In the Fall of 1701 Governor Henderson Walker had the "Assembly" pass an act making the Church of Eng-land the established church.1 Parishes were laid out in this province. Craven, named for William, Earl of Craven, one of the original Lords Proprietors, was a precinct in St. Thomas parish. Pro-vision was made for erection of churches and appointment of vestries. For payment of 30 pounds for each minister's salary, a poll tax was laid on every tithable person.2 Quakers, Presbyterians and other denomination mem-bers in the province objected strenuously to the bill, and appealed to England. They asserted that, though re-ligious toleration had been definitely promised, there could be no real religious freedom and liberty of con-science for all, if they were forced thus to help support the Church of England.3 The measure was later vetoed by the Lords Proprietors, not because of these objections filed by colonists but be-cause of the opinion that the bill was "inadequate," 30 pounds not being considered enough for preachers.4 On December 15, 1701, however, the vestry of Chowan precinct appointed under the act made arrangements for a church reader and a house of worship.5 This church, reported well under way October 13, 1702, near Edenton,6 was the first to be erected in North Carolina.7 It is said to have been located on land later included in the Hayes Plantation.8 An entry dated June 30, 1702, in the Vestry Book of St. Paul's parish, Chowan precinct, refers to a March act of the Assembly empowering each vestry to provide a standard of weights and measures and transact other business.9 That vestry also met on October 13 of that year and at other times.10 Governor Henderson wrote to the Bishop of London October 21, 1703, requesting that a "worthy good man" ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH 15 be sent to Carolina to regain the flock and establish it in the Christian profession.11 He severely criticized the be-havior of the Rev. Daniel Brett, said to be "the first minister sent to us." 12 The first missionary sent to North Carolina by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was the Rev. John Blair. 13 He left England late in 1703.14 His mission in this New World was destined to encounter many difficulties and handicaps, as did other early Colonial missionaries. In a letter to officials of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel he reported three chief precincts in this province, with three small churches and three glebes. 15 Craven was not counted as one of the main precincts. He said that a reader was engaged at a small salary in each of the three, for morning and evening prayers and two sermons every Sunday.16 Four "sorts of people" were described: Quakers, "powerful enemies to church government" ; those with no religion who would be Quakers if it did not compel them to live moral lives; a denomination something like Presby-terianism ; and those really zealous for the interest of the church. This fourth group was said to be fewest in num-ber but composed of the "better sort of people."17 Blair almost starved in the Carolina wildernesses. He worked hard and traveled far, but could accomplish little. While he was returning to England for aid after a few months, his vessel was captured and he was held a pris-oner of war in France for nine weeks.18 During late 1704 or early 1705 a Vestry Act was passed by the North Carolina Assembly, providing for twelve vestrymen in each precinct. These were given the power to build churches and raise money, displace and disap-prove ministers, for whom they were to pay 30 pounds per annum.19 This measure was evidently later repealed. Members of the House of Lords of the British Parlia-ment notified Queen Anne March 13, 1705, of a petition received from Joseph Boone, merchant, and other Caro-lina residents objecting to two Assembly acts: appoint-ment of a commission of twenty laymen to remove rectors 16 CROWN OF LIFE only by delivery of written notices and provision that no man might be chosen to the House of Commons of the Assembly if he had not received the Church of England sacrament within a year before his election unless he would swear he was of the Church of England profes-sion. 20 The Lords declared that such measures were not warranted by the charter granted to the Carolina Lords Proprietors.- 1 Accordingly, Queen Anne pronounced them null and void.- 2 At a council meeting held in Chowan December 3, 1705, Bath County, reported to be growing, was divided into three precincts: 23 Pampticough, north of the Pamlico river beginning at Moline's Creek and extending westerly to the head of the river; Wickham, from Moline's Creek to Matchepungo Bluif; and Archdale, the south side of the river, including Neuse. Each precinct was allowed two Assembly members. Pampticough soon passed out of existence. In 1712 Wickham became Hyde, and Arch-dale became Beaufort. The second and third missionaries sent to North Caro-lina for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts were the Rev. James Adams and the Rev. William Gordon. They arrived in April, 1708.24 Both were worthy Christian leaders. At that time there were four precincts in the Albemarle Sound section, 25 and both ministers went to that area: Gordon, to Chowan and Perquimans ; 26 Adams, to Pasquo-tank and Currituck.27 In 1709 Gordon wrote of his section: "The people, in-deed, are ignorant, there being few that can read, and fewer write, even of their Justices of Peace and vestry-men." 25 Bath was said to be the only town, with twelve houses but no church though land had been laid out for a glebe. 29 Gordon returned to England after a compara-tively short but satisfactory stay in America.30 Adams was called "exemplary" in a letter written August 25, 1710, by church wardens and vestrymen of "Caratuck" to the S. P. G. officials to thank them for sending the minister to that region. He was reported to have been there for two years and five months, and was ESTABLISHMENT OF CHURCH 17 then planning to return to England.31 A letter dated the next day was sent by the "Pascotank" vestry, asking for a continuance of Adams' work.32 Adams himself wrote, "I have suffered a world of misery and trouble, both in body and mind."33 He pre-pared to leave for England but died in 1710 just before his scheduled departure.34 The Rev. John Urmstone was fourth on the list of S. P. G. missionaries to North Carolina. In 1711 he came to Chowan. Colonial Records contain numerous letters from him to his superiors, complaining bitterly of the land, vestries and lack of money.35 The noted divine and historian, Dr. F. L. Hawks, wrote later that Urmstone, weak and vacillating, "did more to retard the spread of Christianity and the growth of the Church of England in Carolina than any and all other causes combined."36 Fifth came the Rev. Giles Rainsford,37 whose health failed after a few months. He is said to have been alarmed by Indian hostilities and to have moved soon to Virginia.38 i Col. Rec, I, 543, 572. 2 Ibid.. 598, 601. Cheshire, Sketches, p. 52. 3 Col. Rec, I, 527, 709, 802. Cheshire, p. 54. 4 Col. Rec, I, 601. Hawks, II, 343, 357. 5 Col. Rec, I, 543-545. eiMd., I, 558-61. 7 Cheshire, op. cit.. 119. 8 Graham, John Washington, History of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, p. 4. 9 Col. Rec, I, 558. io Col. Rec, I, 558, 560. 568, et als. iiZfeic?., pp. 572-73. lilbid., 572. 13 Ibid., 597, 600. nibirl., 600. lSIMd., 601. iGIbid. i~ Ibid., 601-2. izibid., 600-3. Hawks, II, 344. 19 Col. Rec, I, 680, 682, 689, 709. 20 Ibid., pp. 634-40. 21 Ibid., 636. 22 ibid.. 643, 673. 23 Ibid.. 629. 24J6kZ., 681. 25 Ibid. 26 Ibid.. 684-85, 689. 27 Ibid., 681. ftORTi LIBRARY CO*, N, C. 18 CROWN OF LIFE 2SiMd., 712. 29 Ibid., 715. soma., 684-85, 701. 31 I&uL, 728-29. S2 Ibid., 730. 33 Ibid., 734. 34/6irl., I, 884; II, 75. Hawks, II, 350-51. 35 Col. Rec, I, 763-64, 774, 849, 850, etc. 36 Hawks, II, 353. 37 Col. Rec, I, 858-60. 38 Hawks, II, 353. Col. Rec, II, 17, 128. IV CRAVEN COUNTY SETTLED The first white settlers in this section were from Vir-ginia, New Jersey and New England. Some were hun-ters. Others sought a living from the soil. Many desired religious freedom. There were Quakers, Calvinists, Puri-tans, French Huguenots and other "dissenters," who had come to America from religious persecutions abroad. Although there were a number of earlier smaller groups or individuals, the first organized settlement in Craven County dates back to 1707, when the Rev. Claude Phillippe de Richebourg brought Palatine Protestants to the Trent River. This is said to have been the first Presbyterian minister, as well as the first organized Presbyterian con-gregation, in North Carolina.1 Some of the colonists were Lutherans, others Calvinists, French Huguenots, or Re-formed Church members. These exceptionally fine citizens moved to this region from Virginia, where in search of religious liberty they had gone in 1690, with the encouragement of King Wil-liam of England, first locating at Manakin Town above the James River falls. Not satisfied with the land in Vir-ginia, they had decided to move farther south. Pious and zealous, talented and hard-working, these settlers were unusually worthy. They held religious ser-vices regularly. In an effort to promote silk culture, they had eggs shipped here, but the eggs hatched on the vessel and the silk worms died for lack of food. After the Indian massacres in 1711, the colonists moved still farther south, settling on the Santee River in South Carolina.2 First organized colony direct from Europe to North Carolina, Swiss and German Palatines settled on the site of this town in 1710. They were stout Protestants. The day before the first group sailed from Gravesend on the Thames River in England in January, 1710, religious services were held and an appropriate farewell sermon 20 CROWN OF LIFE was preached by the Rev. Mr. Cesar, a German Reformed minister of London.3 Baron Christopher deGraffenried, 49, Swiss nobleman, popular at European courts, who organized the colonists, was present for the farewell service.4 He followed later in the year with his Swiss settlers,3 changing the name of the Indian village, "Chattawka," on the Neuse and Trent Rivers in East Carolina, to honor his native Bern, Switzer-land. 6 Henry Hoeger, a Reformed minister, accompanied the local settlers. He was 75 years old, sober and honest. Jacob Christofle Zollikofer, of St. Gall, Switzerland, was instructed to go around Europe to try to get contributions for the building of a church and for the sending over here of a young German preacher as an assistant to Hoeger. He was requested to have the young minister ordained in England by the Bishop of London and to send a liturgy of the Church of England translated in high Dutch. The outcome of these assignments is not definitely known.7 The colonists had been able to bring little furniture to their new home, but they did probably bring their Bibles, hymn books and religious volumes. Religious services must have been held often, probably at private homes. As early as 1703, the Rev. Josuah Kocherthal, a Lutheran clergyman at Landau in the German Palatinate, driven to despair over the religious persecutions and hor-rible sufferings which his followers had endured after invasions of French armies, had gone to England to in-vestigate the expediency of an emigration across the Atlantic. Upon his return home, he published a book on the pro-vince of Carolina, giving glowing descriptions of its climate and fertility. Thousands of downtrodden persons envisioned a land of plenty and promise, with liberty and peace of soul.8 Encouraged by the English government, which was as eager to get foreign Protestant colonists for the New World as it was to keep its own people at home, the greatest migrations since the Crusades took place. In a few months between 10,000 and 15,000 persons flocked to CRAVEN COUNTY SETTLED 21 London, begging to be transported across the ocean. Among these were many of the future settlers of New Bern.9 For his colony, deGraffenried carefully chose young and able-bodied men, representing almost every trade and craft then prevalent.10 No colony in America had such a highly selective personnel. DeGraffenried was authorized by the Bishop of London to perform marriage ceremonies and baptisms. 11 Though most of the settlers were of the Calvinistic and Lutheran faiths, they signified a desire to be affiliated with the Church of England. On April 20, 1711, deGraffenried wrote the Bishop of London: "Humbly request your lordship to accept of me and my people, and receive us into your Church under your Lord-ship's patronage, and we shall esteem ourselves happy sons of a better stock ; and I hope we shall always behave ourselves as becomes members of the Church of England, and dutiful children of so pious and indulgent a father as your Lordship is to all under your care ; in all obedience, craving your lordship's blessing to me and my country-men here."12 The Bishop of London wrote the next January 12 to Secretary Fulham of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel: "As to the letter of Baron deGraffenried, whereby you may perceive that they are all ready to con-form to the Church of England; if the Society will be pleased to allow a stipend for a chaplain to read Common Prayers in High Dutch, I will endeavor to provide so soon as I have their resolution, which I would willingly hear so soon as possible, that I may send him over with Mr. Rainsford."13 A colony of Welsh Quakers, including Thomas Lovick, John Lovick and other leaders who afterwards became prominent, settled in 1710 below New Bern on Clubfoot and Hancock Creeks on the south side of the Neuse River.14 German immigrants arrived in 1732, but moved up Trent River and settled in what is now Jones County, then part of Craven.15 22 CROWN OF LIFE Thus there were English, French, Germans, Swiss, Welsh, Scotch-Irish and other nationalities in this area early in the 18th century. Many religious faiths were represented—Church of England, Calvinists, Lutherans, Reformed, Quakers, Presbyterians, and a few Catholics. Methodists and Baptists also came early to the section. i Vass, op. cit., pp. 49-53. Ashe, Samuel A., History of North Carolina, Vol. I, p. 161. 2 Lawson, John, History of Carolina, pp. 28-30, 141, 187. Hawks, II, 85. 3 DeGraffenried, Baron Christopher, The Landgrave's Own Story, published in deGraffenried, Thomas P., History of the deGraffenried Family, p. 77. Vass, 57. 4 DeGraffenried, op. cit., pp. 76-77. 5 Ibid., 78. a Ibid., 77. 7 Dubbs, Prof. Joseph H., D. D., Historic Manual of the Reformed Church. Perry's Historic Collections. Vass, 60. s Todd, Vincent H., Ph.D., Christoph von Grafjenried's Account of the Founding of New Bern, pp. 13-14, 17, 22. 9 DeGraffenried, pp. 75-76. io Ibid., 76. ii Todd, op. cit., 377. 12 Col. Rec, I, 756. 13 Ibid., 831. 14 Vass, op. cit., 70. is Vass, 71. RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION Establishment of the Church of England in North Caro-lina was recognized by Act of the Assembly in 1711, with acceptance of the laws of England as "the laws of this government so far as they are compatible with our way of living." A fine of a hundred pounds was provided for vestrymen refusing to qualify under the English laws.1 The Rev. Mr. Urmstone wrote July 7 of that year that the Assembly Act provided for the worship of God and the establishment of the church. Vestries of twelve men in every precinct or parish were called to meet in six weeks to choose church wardens, to give them power to buy glebes, to build churches and to engage clergymen.2 But, it was difficult to get ministers. Miles Gale wrote in 1714 to the Secretary of the Society for the Propaga-tion of the Gospel : "Your letters received for his Excellency, the present Governor Eden, and my Eldest Son, Christopher Gale . . . I have made all the Enquiry in my power after some to go as missionaries, they like the terms but dread y voyage and the heat of the climate. I heartily wish & hope Re-ligion may be taken care for in that Heathenish Country."3 An Act for Observing the Lord's Day was passed in 1715 and remained in force until its repeal in April, 1741.4 Three holidays were again decreed: January 30, when King Charles I was "barberously murthered;" May 29, the Restoration anniversary; and September 22, the Indian massacre anniversary.5 This act forbade cursing, swearing and drunkenness on the Sabbath. Ministers were directed to read the law publicly twice a year, on the first Sundays in March and October. If no minister was in the section, the Clerk was ordered to read it at precinct court in April and October.6 Another 1715 law permitted Quakers to make a solemn affirmation rather than take an oath.7 This was again decreed Oct. 16, 1749.8 But, because of their failure to 24 CROWN OF LIFE take oaths, despite the fact that liberty of conscience was promised, Quakers were long considered ineligible to hold office and were not allowed to serve on juries or give evi-dence in criminal cases. Also passed in 1715 was an act to the effect that no minister of the Church of England should be obliged to enlist in the militia.9 Established Church clergymen were exempt from military duty during practically the entire Colonial period in North Carolina, but it was not until passage of a temporary six-months' act in 1760 and a more permanent act in 1764 that such provision was made for Presbyterian ministers, "regularly called to any con-gregation." 10 No mention was then made of other de-nominations. In 1770 it was recorded that for five years Quakers had been released from attendance on general or private mus-ters, provided they were regularly listed and would serve in the regular militia in case of insurrection or invasion. On February 23, 1771, Perquimans County Quakers wrote to thank the Assembly for the act passed at the pre-ceding session exempting them from militia duty and military training.11 i Col. Rec, I, pp. 789-90. 2 Ibid., 769. 3IMd.. Vol. II, 133. 4 St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 3-6. 5 Ibid., 3. Glbid., pp. 4-6. ' Hid., 11. 8 Ibid. Col. Rec, II, 884. 9 St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 29-30. 10/MtZ.. 597. ii Col. Rec, IX, pp. 176-77. VI LOCAL PARISH DESIGNATED Craven parish was one of nine parishes provided for in 1715; accordingly, the history of Christ Church may be said to have been started in that year. The bill was entitled "An Act for establishing the church and appointing select vestrys," this "Province of North Carolina being a member of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Church of England being appointed by the charter from the Crown to be the only Established church to have Publick encouragement in it." 1 Under the act the province was divided into nine parishes, as follows: Chowan precinct, two; Pasquotank precinct, two; Perquimans, Currituck and Hyde, each constituting one parish; the remaining part of the Pamplico River and its branches in Beaufort precinct, St. Thomas parish ; and "Nuse river & the Branches thereof, by the name of Craven parish, to which all the Southern settlements shall be accounted a part until further Divisions." The twelve men named as vestrymen for Craven parish were Col. Wm. Brice, Maj. Wm. Hancock, Mr. Jno. Nelson, Mr. Jno. Slocumb, Capt. Rich'd Graves, Mr. Dan'l Mc- Farlin, Mr. Jno. Smith, Mr. Jno. Mackey, Mr. Thos. Smith, Mr. Jos. Bell, Mr. Martin Frank and Mr. Jaco(b) Sheets. Vestrymen named for the various parishes under this act were directed to meet at their respective churches, chapels or courthouses within forty days after publication of the law. Should any vestryman fail to meet as sum-moned by the marshal or deputy, if not "a known & Publick Dissenter from the Church of England," he was to be fined three pounds. Should any marshal fail to call the vestrymen, he was to be subject to fine of twenty shillings. All the vestrymen were ordered to qualify before the following Easter Monday. Others to be appointed later 26 CROWN OF LIFE were to qualify within a month. They were to take an oath and make the following declaration before a Justice of the Peace : "I, A. B., do declare that it is not lawfull upon any pretence whatever to take up Arms against the King & that I will not apugne the Liturgy of the Church of Eng-land as it is by Law established." After qualifying, the vestrymen were expected to choose two of their number to serve for one year as church wardens; then two other vestrymen were to be selected for this service the following year; and so on under this rotation in office until all vestrymen had served for a year as wardens. If a vestryman failed to serve as church warden, he was to forfeit thirty shillings. Should any vestryman be ab-sent from a regular meeting without "a lawful cause," he was to be taxed ten shillings. These vestries were empowered to purchase land for the erection of churches, raising money from a poll tax of not over five shillings a year. They were also to name ministers at not less than fifty pounds per year. The ministers were given the right to marry couples, but could not receive more than five shillings for each ceremony. Magistrates were allowed to marry persons "in such parishes where no minister shall be resident." A man and woman desiring to be married could take three or four neighbors or witnesses to the Governor or a Coun-cil member and obtain a marriage certificate. Previously, for lack of clergymen, marriage had been only a civil con-tract in the province. This extensive Vestry Act, signed by Gov. Charles Eden, N. Chevin, C. Gale, Fran. Foster, T. Knight and Speaker Edw. Moseley, remained in force until April, 1741, when it was superseded by another bill establishing the church and a special marriage act. It was substan-tially re-enacted in October, 1749.2 In 1720 it was reported that the persons appointed in 1715 to serve as vestrymen for the southwest parish of Chowan and Craven precinct had not qualified, so it was enacted by "His Excellency the Palatine and the rest of LOCAL PARISH DESIGNATED 27 the true and absolute Lords Proprietors of Carolina," with the consent of the General Assembly, that the mar-shal or deputy summon the vestrymen to qualify within forty days, with power to fill vacancies.3 Three years later, on November 23, 1723, when New Bern was incorporated and laid out in a township, there was a clause in the charter providing a site for a church.4 Despite the Indian wars and other difficulties, the town had by then grown considerably. Beaufort was also incorporated as a town about the same time, and St. John's parish was established there, being divided from Craven into Carteret precinct. Ves-trymen named were Christopher Gale, Esq., Joseph Bell, Jno. Shaw, Jno. Nelson, Richard Whitehurst, Richard Williamson, Richard Rustell, Jno. Shackleford, Thomas Merriday, Enoch Ward, Joseph Fulford and Charles Cog-dail. 5 No Episcopal minister was serving in any of the eleven parishes of North Carolina in 1727 or 1728, it was re-ported in the Journal of Proceedings for setting the boundaries between North Carolina and Virginia.6 On this Boundary Commission there was a Virginia chaplain, the Rev. Peter Fontaine, an Episcopal minister, appointed partly in order that people on the Carolina frontiers might get themselves and their children bap-tized. 7 Colonel William Byrd, a boundary commissioner, wrote that when the chaplain "rubbed us up with a seasonable sermon, this was quite a new thing to our brethren of North Carolina, who live in a climate where no clergyman can breathe, any more than spiders in Ireland."8 Transfer of the province from the control of the Lords Proprietors to the Crown in 1729 ended Proprietary gov-ernment but brought little change in conditions. Each parish had the right to elect its vestrymen. The Craven vestry and church wardens could raise money by a poll tax not exceeding five shillings in currency for the pur-pose of paying preachers and aiding the poor.9 i Col. Rec, II, pp. 207-13. St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 6-10. 2 St. Rec, XXIII, 6. 28 CROWN OF LIFE 3 Ibid., XXV, pp. 166-68. ilbid., 204-5. 5 Ibid., 206-9. 6 Col. Rec, II, pp. 750-57; 776-815. 7 Vass, op. cit., 15. 8 Byrd, William, Histories of Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina, edited by Dr. William K. Boyd, p. 72. 9 Col. Rec, V, 86. VII FREEDOM OF WORSHIP AGAIN DECREED Instructions drafted December 14, 1730, by King George II for Capt. George Burrington, named as Royal Governor of North Carolina, contained among the 117 different sections1 the order that there was to be "liberty of con-science to all persons (except papists)."2 These directions were repeated later for Royal Governor Gabriel Johnston,3 who did much to promote the power and influence of the church in the province. Burrington was told to "take especial care that God Almighty be devoutly and duly served throughout your Government, the Book of Common Prayer as by law es-tablished read each Sunday and Holiday and the blessed sacrament administered according to the rites of the Church of England."4 More churches and rectories should be built in North Carolina,5 the King admonished, calling attention to the rule that "ministers must have certificates from the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London of his being conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England."6 All schoolmasters also were to be licensed by the Bishop of London.7 Governor Burrington wrote July 2, 1731, to one of the Principal Secretaries of State: "This Country has no Orthodox Minister legally settled, those that formerly have been here generally proved so very bad that they gave people offence by their vicious Lives."8 The next March he wrote the Bishop of London: "I was not able to Prevail with the Last assembly to make necessary provision to subsist a convenient number of clergymen but have a very good expectation the ensuing one will come into the measures I proposed. Dr. Marsden continues in the South Part of this Province. He some-times Preaches, Baptizeth children and marrieth them when desired. 30 CROWN OF LIFE "The Rev. Mr. Bevil Granville, nephew to the Lord Lansdown, is also here. He was going to Maryland but we have hopes he will continue with us if your Lordship will procure the usual allowance from the Society. These are all the ministers of the Church of England now in this government : there is one Presbyterian minister who has a Mixed audience ; and there are four meeting houses of Quakers. "Mr. John Boyd (the gentleman who delivers this letter) was bred at the University of Glasgow ; has prac-tised Physic in the Colony of Virginia seven years, is now desirous to take orders, several Gentlemen of my acquain-tance in this Country give him the Charack of a worthy, conscientious man, well qualified for the ministry, they are desirous of having him for their Pastor, and earnestly requested me to recommend Mr. Boyd to my Lord Bishop for orders, a certificate, and an allowance from the Society, the Better to support him, if your Lordship thinks him deserving; as I believe Mr. Boyd's designs are purely to do good in takeing the ministry upon him and not out of any view of gain, I humbly recommend him to your Lordship for Orders and a certificate." 9 Boyd wrote that year to the Society for the Propaga-tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts as follows about North Carolina: "There is no minister residing of the Church of Eng-land in any part of that government, for want of which many of the people are drawn away by Presbyterian anabaptists or other Dissenting Teachers, many of their children unbaptised & the administration of the Sacra-ment of the Lord's Supper wholly neglected." 10 From Edenton Granville wrote May 6, 1732, that he had baptized 1,000 persons. 11 That month Governor Bur-rington also reported that "Richard Marsden officiates Gratis at a place called Onslow."12 Also in the Cape Fear region a French clergyman, the Rev. John LaPierre, was said to be engaged. 13 And, Governor Burrington re-ported, "a clergyman beneficed in Virginia preaches once a month in a precinct named Bertie." 14 FREEDOM OF WORSHIP AGAIN DECREED 31 A later report of the Royal Governor in 1733 to the Lords of Trade and Plantations stated : "There is not one clergyman of the Church of England regularly setled in this Government. The former missionarys were so little approved of, that the Inhabitants seem very indifferent, whither any more come to them. "Some Presbyterians, or rather Independent Ministers from New England, have got congregations . . . The Quakers in this Government are considerable for their numbers and substance; the regularity of their lives, hospitality to strangers, and kind offices to new settlers induceing many to be of their persuasion."15 The Rev. George Whitefield, (1714-1770), the famous Methodist divine, "unequalled prince of pulpit orators," arrived in New Bern on Christmas eve in 1739. On Christmas day he preached in the courthouse. An ac-count of his visit related that "Most of his congregation was melted to tears. Here he was grieved to see the minister encouraging dancing, and to find a dancing-master in every little town. 'Such sinful entertainments,' he said, 'enervate the minds of the people, and insensibly lead them into effeminacy and ruin'." 16 Mr. Whitefield re-turned to New Bern again in November, 1764,17 and later in 1765.18 i coi. : Rec, III, pp. 90-118, 2 Ibid.., 110. 3 Ibid.., 498. 4 Ibid.., 110. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. T Ibid.., 111. 8 Ibid.., 152. vibid.., 339-40. io Ibid., 394. ii Ibid., 341. 12 Ibid., 342. 13 ibid. 14 Ibid. 15 Ibid., 429-30. 16 Vass, op. cit., 79. it Col. :Rec, VI, 1060. is Ibid., VII, 97. VIII UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE Although it is impossible to get a complete story of religious history here during the Colonial era, court records prove the close union of church and state. In numerous instances may be found indications of a kindly Christian spirit towards the weak and unprotected. An entry dated March 20, 1740, in the minute book of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, reads : "Mr. Philip Trapnell appears and delivers up an infant boy named Joseph Waters to this court. Ordered that the constable next in that neighborhood take the said boy into his custody and bring him to the vestry next Easter morning."1 In the same month it was recorded : "An infant about nine years of age is brought into court. The court thought fit to bind her out to William Carlton till she come to the age of 16 years and the said Carlton gives securities for his good performance during the time she shall re-main with him as follows : that he is to do his endeavor to teach her or cause her to be taught to read the Bible." Care of orphans is also shown in a record of Septem-ber, 1742: "Ordered that every master or mistress of orphans within this County bring a certificate from a neighboring justice to satisfy the court of their welfare." Such quality of mercy is not always evident. On Sep-tember 19, 1740, there was made the entry : "Mary Magee appears in court. Ordered that she be stripped her clothes to her waste and receive 12 lashes on her bare back at the public whipping post." Measures taken against "dissenters" from the estab-lished church were based on the belief that those who re-fused to worship under the prescribed forms were wicked. A bill for liberty of conscience failed to pass in 1740.2 A local record of June 20, 1740, stated: "A motion and petition made by a sect of decenting people called Baptists that they may have the liberty to build a house First Local Church—1750 UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE 33 of worship and being duly examined by the court ac-knowledged to all the articles of the Church of England except part of the 27 and 36 they desiring to preach among themselves. Referred." Two words have a line drawn through them, but they seem to be, "but rejected." Later that year on September 22 the record shows: "The following dissenting Protestants appeared, viz.: John Brooks, John James, Robert Spring, Nicholas Pure-foy, and Thos. Fulcher came into court and took the oath of allegiance and supremacy and subscribed the test the 39 articles of Religion being distinctly read to them the following of which they dissented from to wit: the 26th and the latter part of the 27th." However, the Craven Court of Pleas and Quarter Ses-sions in December of the same year granted a "Petition of Palintines or High Germans praying that they may have Liberty to build a Chaple on Trent for a place of wor-ship." 3 Progress along many lines was made in New Bern dur-ing the next decade. In 1749 James Davis came from Virginia, through subsidy of the General Assembly,4 and set up here the first printing press in North Carolina, publishing the first newspaper, first pamphlet and first book of the province.5 The General Assembly met here in 17386 and later in twenty different years, and the Council even more fre-quently, until the town was chosen in 1765 as the logical place for the provincial capital. 7 The next year a bill was passed to erect Tryon's Palace here as the seat of govern-ment for the province.8 i Taken from minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in the vault of the Clerk of Craven County Superior Court, New Bern, this entry and others quoted in this chapter, unless otherwise credited, may be found also in an article, "The Early History of Craven County," by the late Congressman Samuel M. Brinson, in Volume X, The North Carolina Booklet, published by the North Carolina Society Daughters of the Revolution. 2 Col. Rec, IV, 514. 3 Vass, op. cit., pp. 60-61. 4 Col. Rec, IV, pp. 976-77, 984, 1023. o Weeks, Stephen B., The Press of North Carolina in the Eigh-teenth Century. 6 Col. Rec, IV, 355. T Ibid., VII, 2. 8 St. Rec, XXIII, 664-65. IX NEW CHURCH ACTS In 1741 another act was passed establishing the church in this province.1 Sixteen parishes were named, each privileged to levy a poll tax for support. Among the parishes is named, for possibly the first public time, Christ-Church Parish in Craven County. Inhabitants of each parish were authorized to meet on the first Monday after the act and on Easter Mondays thereafter every two years at the church or courthouse to elect twelve freeholders as vestrymen for two-year terms. These vestrymen were ordered to qualify, after being summoned by constables, and take this oath: "I, A. B., do declare I will not oppose the Liturgy of the Church of England, as it is by law established." Two church wardens were to be selected by the vestry. If they refused to serve, they had to pay forty shillings proclamation money. But they were not required to serve more than one year without their consent. The wardens were allowed three per cent of the church taxes. The vestry could engage a minister, buy land for a church and raise money for the poor. If a rector was believed to be immoral, he could be deprived of his salary' but he was permitted to bring suit for it in court. This act was later repealed, and another was passed for the clergy in December, 1758.2 A special marriage act was also passed in 1741.3 This limited the right to perform marriage ceremonies to min-isters of the Church of England. In the absence of the rector, the matrimonial ceremony might be performed by a magistrate. But whether or not the rector acted in this capacity, he was to receive the fee, "if he do not neglect or refuse to do the service."4 Presbyterians did not consider themselves bound by this act, so they joined couples in wedding ceremonies conducted by their ministers without license or publica- NEW CHURCH ACTS 35 tion. It was not until 1766 that these marriages were legalized. Then it was made lawful for a Presbyterian preacher to marry a couple by license, but even then the Church of England minister was to get the fee unless he declined to officiate.5 Much opposition was occasioned by these acts, and in January, 1771, the law was changed so that Presbyterian clergymen could marry couples by publication of banns or license without the payment of the fees to the Church of England rectors.6 But the Board of Trade had the King disallow this change.7 Hence, it was not until the Revolutionary War and the adoption of the State Constitution in December, 1776, that there was no Established Church in North Carolina and the ministers of other denominations were legally permitted to perform wedding ceremonies and receive fees for the rites. i St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 187-191. 2 Ibid., XXV, 364. Col. Rec, V, 1036. 3 St. Rec, XXIII, pp. 158-161. 4 Ibid., 160. 5 Ibid., 674. Col. Rec, VII, pp. 432-33. 6 Col. Rec, VIII, 384, 479. St. Rec, XXIII, 831. 7 Col. Rec, IX, 7. FIRST LOCAL CHURCH Places for religious services, probably at private homes, were undoubtedly designated by the earliest settlers in and around New Bern, since so many of them had moved to the section for religious reasons. As already men-tioned, a chapel had been authorized up Trent River. There may have been one or more in New Bern. Col. Thomas Pollock, a "stalwart churchman"1 and a Proprietary Governor of North Carolina, who held mort-gages on New Bern property for money he had advanced to deGraffenried,2 wrote his New Bern agent that he had given a lot here for a church.3 Title was confirmed by the Act for the Better Settling the Town of New Bern, passed by the General Assembly in 1723. That act speci-fically mentioned "proper allotments for a Church, Court-house, and Market-place."4 When Royal government of Carolina was initiated in 1729 there were two or three rude buildings used as churches, perhaps including one here, though there is no proof for this, and a few Quaker meeting houses in dif-ferent parts of the province. At that time there was no regular clergyman in the territory. About 1734 the Rev. John LaPierre held a few services in New Bern, and it may be that his work stirred senti-ment for a commodious church building here. The next year he moved here and resided here for probably twenty years. He preached at various places of the region.5 St. Thomas Church, still standing at Bath, oldest town in North Carolina, dates back to 1734, now the oldest church building in the State. This was antedated by a house of worship which disappeared years ago. The parish was organized there with a vestry in 1701.7 Started in 1736 was the present church of St. Paul's parish, Edenton, but it was not completed for many years. Service was held there in 1760, and the interior wood-work was finished in 1774.8 The parish of Chowan there FIRST LOCAL CHURCH 37 had been organized at a vestry meeting held Dec. 15, 1701,9 and since then has been known as St. Paul's parish in that third oldest town of North Carolina. The graves of three governors, Henderson Walker, Charles Eden and Thomas Pollock, are in that historic churchyard. Inspired very likely by these examples of church build-ing in Bath and Edenton, the Craven parish vestrymen in 1739 laid a tax on all tithables here for a new church. Commissioners were appointed for the purpose. 10 These commissioners are reported in Colonial Records to have made 100,000 bricks for the local house of wor-ship. 11 The brick are believed to have been made from clay in a hill near this town, where John Lawson, first surveyor-general of the colony, had camped years pre-viously. Mrs. Richard S. Mason, wife of a later rector of the church, used to relate how her mother had boasted about helping with this task of brick manufacture.12 The brick-making hole is said to have been long visible along New South Front Street towards the Pembroke road.13 Besides the cost of making these bricks, the vestry in-curred other expenses, so the legal tax of five shilling was found to be insufficient to carry on their work.14 An act passed by the Assembly on August 21, 1740, enabled the commissioners to proceed with their work on the church by permitting them to levy a special tax for the purpose. The act also provided "for the better regulation of the said town."15 The extra tax sanctioned for New Bern permitted col-lection of one shilling, six pence, proclamation money, for two years. It was to be paid yearly, such commodities being acceptable, as "Pork, good and merchantable, dry salted, per Barrel, 30 shillings proclamation money ; Beef, dry salted, per Barrel, good and merchantable, 20 shil-lings ; drest Deer Skins, two shillings and Six Pence per Pound ; Tallow, four pence per pound ; Bees Wax, Ten Pence Half Penny per Pound; Rice, per Hundred, Ten Shillings." Collections were to be made by "John Bryan, Gentle-man, he giving Security of 400 pounds, Proclamation money, to the County Court of Craven." He was to be 38 CROWN OF LIFE allowed four per cent of the amounts thus obtained. Each tithable resident not paying the tax was to forfeit four shillings and costs. George Roberts, William Wilson, George Bold, William Herritage and Adam Moore, "Gentlemen," were named as Commissioners to receive the levy from Bryan. In this act it was recorded that a lot had been "laid out" for the church in the 1723 charter, but this site was considered "insufficient and not so commodious" and "all the adjacent lots having been taken up," and the "vestry having taken up four lots, more convenient and com-modious, for erecting a church, and for a churchyard and other parish purposes," therefore, "as soon as the said church shall be fit to celebrate divine service in, the said four lots shall be saved to the parish." 10 The commissioners were directed to sell at public sale, after four days' notice, the less desirable property that had been set aside for the church by Colonel Pollock in 1723 and apply the money on their new church building at the larger site. 17 These four lots approved for the edifice were on the north side of Pollock Street between Middle and Craven, including the present site of Christ Church. Accordingly, for two centuries the parish has used the same site, cen-trally situated on one of the most valuable corners in the business heart of the city. Another act passed April 4, 1741, pointed out that the tax had not been enough to finish the New Bern church. The vestry had been empowered to lay a tax of fifteen shillings per poll for paying a minister for one year but the next vestry had not thought it advisable to employ a minister, so this tax was ordered converted towards the completion of the church.18 This act stated that the 100,000 bricks made by the commissioners for the church were too many for the pur-pose, so the commission was authorized to sell all the brick not needed and apply the money on the church structure.19 Due to the deaths of Wilson, Moore and Roberts, their places on the commission were taken in April, 1745, by John Fonveille, Edward Bryan and Christopher Gregory FIRST LOCAL CHURCH 39 Hobbs. Under the Assembly Act making these appoint-ments, the commissioners were authorized, if there was not enough money on hand to complete the church, to levy another tax "with as much Expedition as possibly may be."20 The act was amended in 1751. Bryan and Hobbs were then dead, and the appointment of commissioners was discontinued. The church wardens and vestrymen were given the power to call the commissioners to account for the money collected ; and, as some of the inhabitants of Craven and Johnston counties were said not to have paid the tax, the vestrymen and wardens were authorized to issue warrents on their possessions and chattels.21 It is believed that the church was finished about 1750,22 but for some time was without a regular rector. It stood at the corner of Pollock and Middle streets, and traces of its foundations and walls are still in the churchyard there. Some years afterwards it was torn down to make way for a larger structure. The two later churches have been located farther back on the property. i Cheshire, Sketches, 100. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid., 172. Colonel Thomas Pollock's Letter Book. 4 St. Rec, XXV, 204-5. 5 Cheshire, op. cit., 69. e Ibid., 209. T Ibid., 162, 255. 8 Graham, op. cit., 5-8. 9 Col. Rec, I, 543-45. io St. Rec, XXIII, 141. ii Ibid. 12 Whitford, Col. John D., Historical Notes, history of First Baptist Church and other parts of New Bern, in manuscript form, p. 291. 13 Ibid. 14 St. Rec, XXIII, 141. 15 Ibid., 141-43. Col. Rec, IV, 549, 572. 16 St. Rec, XXIII, 143. 17 Ibid. 18 Ibid., 181-82. 19 Ibid. 20 ibid., 231-32. 21 Ibid., 365-66. 22 Whitford, op. cit., 270. XI EAST CAROLINA MISSIONARIES Although impossible to mention all the missionaries that worked in Eastern North Carolina during the Colo-nial era, it is interesting to note that a number were di-rectly or indirectly connected with the history of New Bern or this immediate territory. The Rev. John Garzia acted for some time as a mis-sionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in the Chowan precinct, and "as occasion shall require to the North East side of River Nuse."1 In his annual report dated April 16, 1742, from Bath Town, he told of bap-tizing 623 children, nine adults and three Negroes in that section, where he listed 103 communicants and 2,000 "Heathen & Infidels."2 After Garzia died, the Rev. Clement Hall agreed to settle near Edenton in 1745.3 A native of Perquimans precinct, he had gone to England for ordination in the ministry.4 While the Edenton church was being built, he held services there in the courthouse, at an annual salary of forty-five pounds.5 For a time perhaps the only clergy-man in the province, he also conducted services at four chapels in the territory that now comprises Gates and Chowan counties and he visited many other parts of the eastern portion of North Carolina.6 On December 27, 1749, he reported that he had traveled 200 miles through the northern part of his area that Fall, baptizing 265 white and twenty black children and four black adults, besides preaching fourteen ser-mons. 7 Hall wrote May 19, 1752: "I have now thro' God's gracious assistance and blessing in about 7 or 8 years, tho' frequently visited with sickness, been enabled to per-form (for aught I know) as great ministerial duties as any minister in North America, viz., to journey about 14,000 miles, preach about 675 sermons, baptize about 5,783 white children and 243 black children, 57 white EAST CAROLINA MISSIONARIES 41 adults and 112 black adults, in all 6,195 persons & some-times administered the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper to two or three hundred communicants in one journey besides churching of women, visiting the sick, etc."8 In addition to being one of the most capable and devout ministers in early Carolina, Hall was the first native North Carolina author. The main writers in this province that preceded him were not natives, as John Lawson of Scotland, John Brickell and the Rev. John Thompson of Ireland. The first book known to have been compiled by a native North Carolinian was published for Hall in 1753 by James Davis at New Bern: "A Collection of many Christian Experiences, Sentences and several Places of Scripture Improved; Also some short and plain Directors and Prayers for sick Persons ; with serious Advice to Persons who have been Sick, to be by them perused and put in Practice as soon as they are recovered; and a Thanks-giving for Recovery. To which is added, Morning and Evening Prayers for Families and Children, Directors for the Lord's Day, and some Cautions against Indecencies in time of Divine Service, &c. Collected and Composed for the Spiritual Good of his Parishioners, and others. By Clement Hall, Missionary to the Honourable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and Rec-tor of St. Paul's Parish in North Carolina. Newbern: Printed by James Davis MDCCLIII."9 In 1755 Hall lost his house, books and personal property by fire. He died in 1759.10 Succeeding him was "Parson" Daniel Earl, youngest son of an Irish nobleman and a former officer in the British army, who had come to the Albemarle section in 1757 to act as curate for the Rev. Mr. Hall. Besides his religious and political activities, he taught his people how to cultivate and weave flax and he established at his home, "Bandon," named for his native town, the first classical school for boys in North Carolina.11 About the time that Hall went to Edenton, James Moir was at Brunswick.12 In 1748 Christopher Bevis asked the 42 CROWN OF LIFE . Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to appoint him as Moir's successor in the Cape Fear territory.13 Moir had moved to Edgecombe parish.14 The method of electing vestrymen being regarded as "inconvenient and detrimental," it was decreed in 1751 that vestrymen should be elected by ballot in the same manner as Assemblymen. Only citizens qualified as Assemblymen were considered eligible for vestries. 15 A bill to establish the church and erect schools offered in 1752 failed. 16 Two years later, however, North Caro-lina was divided into twenty-four parishes. Among these parishes were Christ Church parish, Craven County; St. Thomas in Beaufort County; St. Matthew's, Orange County; St. George, Hyde County; St. John's, Onslow; St. James, New Hanover; St. Patrick's, Johnston; St. John's, Carteret ; and St. Philip, Brunswick.17 The first minister for St. Philip's church at Brunswick had been the Rev. Mr. LaPierre, a French Huguenot,18 ordained in 1707, 1!) who had come to America the next year and to this province from Charleston in 1729.20 The first wooden chapel, 24 by 16 feet, was erected there the next year. The next church there was started in 1751 and was near enough completion for dedication in 1768. It is now in ruins. Colonial Dames of America make annual pilgrimages there.21 Obliged to sell his belongings, Mr. LaPierre is said to have moved from Brunswick to New Bern in 1735 and to have remained here until his death here in 1755.22 Although he is not listed as a regular rector of Christ Church, it is probable that he held services here and assisted with church and religious affairs in general. The General Assembly, in session here in 1749, voted him four pounds for preaching "several sermons" before that body.23 i Col. Rec, IV, 560. 2 Ibid., 604-5. 3 Ibid., 752-53. 4 Cheshire, Sketches, 70. Graham, op. cit., 8. 5 Col. Rec, IV, 753. 6 Ibid., 924. T Ibid., 925. 8 Ibid., 1315. EAST CAROLINA MISSIONARIES 43 9 Copied from old copy of the volume. 10 Cheshire, 71. il Ibid., 74-75, 168-69. Graham, 9-10. 12 Col. Rec, IV, 606. 13 Ibid., 876-77. 14 Ibid., 872. 15 St. Rec, XXIII, 369-70. 16 Col. Rec, IV, 1337. 17 St. Rec, XXV, 298. is Col. Rec, III, 342. 19 Ibid., 529. 20 Ibid., 391. 21 Ibid., IV, 754-56, 1299; VII, 789. St. Rec, XXIII, 368. 22 Cheshire, op. cit., 69. 23 Col. Rec, IV, 1024. XSI GIFTS FROM KING GEORGE After the church in New Bern had been completed about the year 1750, Christ Church vestrymen tried to get a rector. Their efforts along this line failed at first, as there were few ministers in the New World. So, in 1752, they wrote to England, probably to the Bishop of London, asking aid in their endeavor to obtain a regular rector. 1 Even before the arrival of the rector that this appeal drew here, it was perhaps in response to this letter, with its news of the new local church, that King George II had a special silver communion service made for the parish in 1752 and sent it to New Bern as a royal gift, presented through John Council Bryan, then a church warden. This service, still in use here and from time to time put on public display, bears the Royal Arms of Great Britain and four Hall Marks, in a shield : the initials, M. F., for the manufacturer, Mordecai Fox of England ; the letter "R" denoting "Rex" or King by whom the plate was evidently ordered ; a Lion, "passant gardant." guaran-teeing that the silver was of the standard required by law; and a leopard's head crowned, showing that the plate was hall marked at the London government office. A similar communion set, also made by Fox, was pre-sented to the Old South Church, Boston, in 1742, with books, vestments and linen for the church altar. An alms basin, made also by the same manufacturer in 1760, is owned by Trinity Church, New York. Royal Governor Josiah Martin is reported to have tried to take the local silver with him when he fled from New Bern in May, 1775, but was prevented from doing so. During the War Between the States the Rev. A. A. Wat-son, local rector, took the service to Wilmington for safe keeping. Afterwards it was moved to Fayetteville and placed in the care of Dr. Joseph Huske, grandfather of a later local rector. It is said to have been overlooked there GIFTS FROM KING GEORGE 45 by the Federal troops, because it was hidden among a great deal of worthless rubbish in a closet. As was the custom in such presentations, according to the late Graham Daves, secretary of this parish, who investigated the Royal gifts during a visit to London in 1896, the ancient Bible and Book of Common Prayer still in the possession of the local church were presented to the parish by King George II at the same time as the silver. 2 The Bible is 20 Y> inches long, 13 14 inches wide and 41/4 inches thick. The initials, "G. R. E.," are found three times on the back, under the crown, standing for "George, Rex, England." On the front is the Royal coat of arms, with the mottoes, "Dieu Et Mon Droit," (God and my right) and "Honi Soit Qui Mai Pense," (Evil be to him who evil thinks.) The volume is elaborately illustrated. On the first page is the following in large print: "The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and the New Newly Tranflated Out of the Original Tongues and with the former Translations Diligently Compared and Revifed By His Majefty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in Churches." Under an ornamental engraving is the information that the book was printed at Oxford: "Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the King's Moft Excellent Majefty, for Great Britain; and to the University. MDCCXVII." (1717.) As a heading for the scriptures is the following dedi-cation : "To the Moft High and Mighty Prince James, By the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. The Transflations of the Bible, with Grace, Mercy and Peace through Jefus Chrift Our Lord." The large Prayer Book also contains on its covers, in gilt, the coat of arms of Great Britain. Upon the back, surmounted by a crown, are the monogram letters, "G. R. E." It was published at Cambridge in 1752 by Joseph Bentham, "Printer to the University." Its first page has this statement: "The Book of Com-mon Prayer and Adminiftration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church According to 46 CROWN OF LIFE the Ufe of The Church of England Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches ; and the Form or Manner of Making, Ordaining and Confecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons." This Prayer Book was presented to Dr. Richard S. Mason, later rector, by the vestry on his leaving this parish in 1828. It was returned a few months after his death by his wife, at his request. A note in Dr. Mason's handwriting pasted in the volume says it was to be re-turned to Christ Church ; and a letter on black-rimmed stationery, dated June 20, 1874, and signed by Mary Mason, also gives this information. Both the Bible and Prayer Book were lent to the Hall of History at Raleigh for some years, but are now here at the church. i St. Rec, XXIII, 420. 2 Much of the information in this chapter as to the history of the communion service and the Hall Marks are from an unpublished, typescript article by Graham Daves, pasted in one of the old church record books. XIII THE REV. JAMES REED FIRST RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH Two ministers, both exceptionally worthy men, came from England following the appeal of Christ Church vestrymen in 1752. The first was the Rev. James Reed, who became the first regular rector of the parish. Ar-riving shortly afterwards was the Rev. Alexander Stewart, who went to Bath. Evidently Reed had felt certain that he would be en-gaged here, for he is reported to have brought his family with him.1 They arrived late in the year 1753. After a year's trial as clergyman, Reed was formally installed by Act of the Assembly as the rector of Christ Church parish.2 Passed at the request of the Christ Church wardens and vestrymen, the act read in part that the "Rev. James Reed at great Charges and Expence, transported himself from England hither and hath performed Divine Services at the said church and at the several chappels within the said parish One year and upwards, to the approbation of the parish." The minister was promised an annual salary of 133 pounds, six shillings and eight pence, proclamation money, so must have been considered an exceptionally fine pastor. He was assured a good glebe house, with kitchen, the "lot to be well and sufficiently paled in."3 For his part of the contract, which was confirmed by Governor Arthur Dobbs, Reed agreed to hold services at Christ Church every Sunday except when he was on leave at the chapels in this vicinity. He was to visit each chapel three times a year.4 This Assembly Act, passed in January, 1755,5 confirmed the agreement that the church wardens and vestry had previously made with Reed. It was introduced by John Fonveille, Craven County's Representative, and Solomon 48 CROWN OF LIFE Rew,c Assemblyman from the Borough Town of New Bern, who died the next Fall.7 On December 18, 1754, the House of Commons, in session at New Bern, passed a resolution naming Samuel Swann and John Starkey, both of Onslow County, to wait on Reed and thank him for the sermon he had delivered before the House members on Sunday, December 15.8 That he made a favorable impression is evidenced by the fact that he served as Chaplain of the Assembly in January, 1755, being paid ten pounds for this service.9 He was specifically exempted from clergy acts. 10 Again the following October, at New Bern, Starkey and James Carter of Rowan County were requested to return the thanks of the House to Reed for the sermon he had preached to the Assemblymen on the preceding Wednes-day. 11 Many times he served as the Assembly Chaplain, so must have been a devout minister and eloquent speaker. In March, 1757,12 he was paid ten pounds for his services during the Assembly session, according to Colonial Records. He served also as House Chaplain in May, 1757 ; 13 and again in April, 1760, when the House met daily at nine o'clock in the morning for religious services. 14 Eight chapels at remote points, besides Christ Church in New Bern and St. John's parish church in Carteret County, were served by Mr. Reed. 1 '" 3 In 1758 he was en-rolled as a regular missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, but due to miscarriage of mail he did not learn definitely of his appointment until 1760.16 On March 5, 1760, he wrote the S. P. G. Secretary to thank him for the appointment and the organization's instructions, as well as for a "parcel of books" and "pious tracts." He promised to distribute the pamphlets and said that one had already brought good results in en-couraging church members to attend Holy Communion services here more regularly.17 Terming the S. P. G. aid "a great encouragement to perseverance in the faithful discharge of my ministerial Oo §cz oz GO r< £ WM CO KZ i-3 Ka dd sza OMO 23 a THE REV. JAMES REED 49 duty," the rector pledged himself to endeavor to answer their expectations "to the utmost of my abilities that the society may never have occasion to repent of their ap-pointment, nor our worthy Governor of his recommen-dation." 18 Other ministers also preached at the new church in New Bern. On December 27, 1755, the Rev. Michael Smith,19 of Johnston County, later of St. James, New Hanover County, delivered a sermon there for the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. At the request of members, his sermon was printed here in 1756 by James Davis. In October, 1756, a sermon Mr. Smith preached before the House during a General As-sembly session here was ordered printed.20 i Cheshire, Sketches, 74. 2 St. Rec, XXIII, 420-21. sibid. Ubid. 5 Col. Rec, V, 310. GIbid., 270. 'Ibid., 522. » Ibid., 241. 9 Ibid., 307. 10 Ibid., 1080. ii Ibid., 550. 12 Ibid., 688. IB ibid., 845. 14 Ibid., VI, 366. 15 Ibid., 230. 16 Ibid.. 231. nibid. IS Ibid. wibid., V, 961-62. 20 ibid., 665, 696. XIV ROYAL GOVERNOR ARTHUR DOBBS When Arthur Dobbs, of Castle Dobbs, Ireland, author of scientific and other books, High Sheriff of County Antrim, Surveyor General of Ireland, and Member of the Irish Parliament for Carrickfergus,1 was appointed Royal Governor of North Carolina, he was instructed June 17, 1754, by the Lords of Trade to the King to "take especial care God Almighty be . . . served . . . the Book of Com-mon Prayer as by law established read each Sunday and holiday," and Communion administered according to the Church of England.2 Churches were to be kept open, and more churches and rectories should be built, the new Governor was told. Ministers were to obtain certificates from the Bishop of London ; and every orthodox rector was to be a member of the vestry in his parish.3 No schoolmaster was to serve without a license from the Governor and the Bishop of London.4 Dobbs endeavored to carry out these directions, but that he was confronted by a difficult task is borne out by what the Rev. Mr. Fontaine wrote about North Carolina in 1754: "They have no established laws, and very little of the gospel, in that whole colony." 5 In January, 1755, after two months in his gubernatorial capacity, Dobbs wrote: "What I have chiefly observed since I came here as to the wants & Defects of this Province is first the want of a sufficient Number of Clergymen to instil good principals and Morality into the Inhabitants, & proper Schoolmasters to instruct their Youth, the want of which occasion an Indolence & want of attention to their own good."6 The Assembly appropriated 7,200 pounds for the pur-chase of glebes and 2,000 pounds for the purchase of public buildings, subject to the King's approval; but, ROYAL GOVERNOR ARTHUR DOBBS 51 though His Majesty later sanctioned the appropriations, the money was used instead for aiding the British during the French and Indian wars. Repeated requests were made for the return of these sums for their original purpose.7 A day of solemn fasting and war prayers was set aside by Governor Dobbs in April, 1757.8 By another proclama-tion, June 7, 1758, was designated as a time for fasting, supplication and thanksgiving.9 To celebrate victory, he issued another formal proclamation for a thanksgiving day during the Fall of 1759, he wrote William Pitt in Eng-land, and he even composed a special thanksgiving hymn to be sung through the province.10 During November, 1757, he again suggested amend-ments for the bill providing for an established clergy.11 Church laws had been evaded in some counties by citizens combining to elect vestrymen who they knew would not serve. To Dobbs it seemed better to put a general tax on all taxable persons in the entire province and pay the clergy directly out of that sum in the public treasury, using any surplus for the erection of church buildings.12 A year later, in November, 1758, his main recommenda-tion to the Assembly again was for a better law to main-tain the clergy. 13 He urged that ministers' salaries be fixed and vestries better regulated so that future vestry-men would not have the right to reduce the salaries and supplies of their rectors. It was also suggested that vestrymen be carefully chosen and then obliged to qualify and act. "I must also recommend to you the erecting proper schools in the Province for the education of youth, in the reformed Protestant Religion, and in moral religious principles," he wrote, "otherwise in the next age we shall have a succession of Infidels, Deists, Enthusiasts and Sectaries to the disgrace of our Holy Religion and destruction of Society." 14 Accordingly, measures for better provision of the clergy and selection of vestries were passed in 1758. 52 CROWN OF LIFE Every minister in the province was to be allowed an an-nual salary of 100 pounds, proclamation money, also a "glebe with a mansion house, outhouses and other con-veniences," or, if no house, twenty more pounds. It was set forth that this should not conflict with Mr. Reed's contract.15 Although later repealed and included in a more compre-hensive law of 1762, the new provisions were the best for the clergy in provincial history up to that time, the General Assembly reported to the King: "And more we should have gladly done; but alas, Sir, the Country is so impoverished in its circumstances through granting repeated Aids to your Majesty for making the same defensible and in carrying on Expe-ditions . . . against the French and their Indian Allies, that we cannot give sufficient encouragement to the Clergy, nor Erect proper Schools for the Education of our Youth. Permit us, therefore, most earnestly to intreat your Majesty to order and direct that the pro-portion of the said sum which shall be allotted to this Country be laid out ... in purchasing a Glebe for each parish in this province . . . and erecting and establishing a free School in every County."16 In a letter from New Bern, Governor Dobbs reported to the Board of Trade May 18, 1759, that he had approved bills for a lottery to finish churches at Wilmington and Brunswick, as similar bills had been passed in a number of provinces and it had seemed impossible to get the vestries to levy taxes to complete the two churches.17 A bill passed in December, 1760, applied proceeds from slaves and other effects taken from Spaniards at Cape Fear in 1748 towards finishing the two houses of wor-ship. 18 i Vass, op. cit., 22. 2 Col. Rec, V, 1136. 3 Ibid. i Ibid., 1137. ^ Ibid., V, v. 6 Ibid., 314. t Ibid., 527, 1095; VI, 988-89, 1036-37, 1154a-54b. St. Rec, XXIII, 422-24. 8 Col. Rec, V, 755. ROYAL GOVERNOR ARTHUR DOBBS 53 9 Ibid., 932. 10 ma., VI, 62-64, 65. ii Ibid., V, 870. 12 ibid., 870, 1014; VI, 5, 223. i3iMd., V, 1014. 14 Ibid. 15 Ibid., 1036; VI, 5. St. Rec, XXV, 364. 16 Col. Rec, V, 1095. n Ibid., VI, 32, 511. St. Rec, XXIII, 535-37. is St. Rec, XXIII, 535-37. XV LARGE PARISH TERRITORY An Assembly bill in January, 1760, proposing to divide Christ Church parish, was rejected by the Upper House,1 although "Parson" Reed reported to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts that his terri-tory was at least a hundred miles long.2 On June 26, 1760, he wrote the S. P. G. Secretary that he could not ascertain the number of active communicants of the Church of England, because the county was so large he was unable to administer Communion at the several chapels more than once a year.3 "There are too many that can hardly be said to be members of any particular Christian society," he com-mented, "and a great number of dissenters of all denominations from New England, particularly Anabap-tists, Methodists, Quakers and Presbyterians." About nine or ten were said to be "Papists." The "Infidels & Heathen" were said to total about a thousand.4 No Indians were reported, but a great many of the Negroes were said to be heathen. "I baptize all those whose masters become sureties for them," he added.5 Erection of a chapel in Carteret County was mentioned, "built a neat wooden chapel upon Newport River, where a small, regular congregation constantly attend divine service, performed by a layman every Sunday."6 Two bishops for the continent, one for the Northern district and the other for the Southern district, or two clergymen with Episcopal powers, as well as more regular rectors, were requested of the Society for the Propa-gation of the Gospel in a letter written January 22, 1760, by Governor Dobbs. The society was asked to increase its missionaries in this province, which was said to have 80,000 white residents besides Negroes,7 "Nor have we but eight resident Clergymen," the governor observed. "Having only strollers who set up LARGE PARISH TERRITORY 55 for teachers, without any regular instruction, and many of them immoral Livers."s That Mr. Reed had given satisfaction in his parish is proved by the following recommendation given him March 3, 1760, by the church vestry: "We, the subscribers, the church wardens and only vestrymen at present qualified of Christ Church parish, which is the whole extent of Craven County, in the pro-vince of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the Rev. James Reed hathe served the cure of the sd. parish for 6 years & upwards, that during the sd. time he hath diligently attended one Parish church & 8 chapels situate at very great distances from the town of Newbern, the place of his residence & centre of the Parish. "That he hath given great satisfaction to his parish-ioners by a regular and exemplary life and a faithful discharge of his duty & that there is a perfect harmony and good agreement subsisting between the sd. Rev. Jas. Reed & his Parishioners in general, witness our hands this 3rd. day of March, 1760."9 This recommendation is signed by John Fonvielle, Will'm. Jonas, church wardens ; James Shine, Thos. Graves, Lem'l. Hatch, Jacob Blount, vestrymen. Reed had a comfortable rectory here, as indicated in a letter written to the S. P. G. Secretary by the Rev. John MacDowell on April 16, 1761, that New Bern had had an Assembly Act passed allowing 100 pounds sterling a year to Reed and that Reed had a parsonage house and all conveniences.10 But, according to his own word, the local rector did not get the salary promised locally. Other difficulties are set forth in a letter he wrote to the S. P. G. on December 27, 1762, from New Bern : "The hardships we labor under in this Province are so great that were it not for the benevolences of the Society, we could not subsist with the least decency. Every clergyman that has attempted to settle in this Province for these 10 years past, upon the sole dependence of the legal stipend, have been obliged to leave it, and 'tis our misfortune at Present to have no legal Stipend at all; or 56 CROWN OF LIFE rather there is no law at present by which any stipend can be recovered. "At an Assembly held at New Bern in Nov'r. last a bill for the encouragement of an Orthodox Clergy and a bill for the establishment of Vestries were presented to his Excellency the Governor for his assent, the latter of which was rejected on account of some exceptional Clauses, and as the 2 bills depended on each other in such a manner, that the one cannot operate without the other, we are therefore at present without any legal encourage-ment. "Very probably something may be done in our favor at the next Assembly, especially if it should please God to prolong the life of our praiseworthy Gov'r. But we can-not expect his abode with us much longer, for he is far advanced in years and has lately had a slight stroke of the Palsy; so that I every day expect to hear the dis-agreeable news of his death, in whom the clergy will lose a faithful friend, and the Christian Religion an able advocate."11 The following June 26 Reed wrote the Secretary that the clergy were still destitute of any legal provision or encouragement and had nothing to live on but the benevolences of the Society. Evidently the local parish paid him very little, and for long periods of time must have paid him nothing. "I have not received any stipend at all from my Parish for upwards of 14 months," he wrote, "nor have I the least expectation of receiving one shilling till some Vestry Law be enacted, for as long as there is no vestry Law no tax can be levied for the clergy's Stipend & tho' the Sheriffs have now a whole year's collection in their hands yet as there is no vestry to call them to account they do not choose to part with the money on any terms or security whatsoever, the misfortune is they too often stand in need of it themselves. For the generality of the Sheriffs are very extravagant, to say no more . . . "The Assembly is to meet I believe about Oct'r. next when our Governor will endeavor if possible to get a better vestry Law enacted than any of the former ones, LARGE PARISH TERRITORY 57 that have been repealed. It would be much better for the Clergy, than it has been, if the Stipend were paid out of the public treasury as in So. Carolina . . . "The churchwardens used to send us to the Sheriffs, and the Sheriffs to send us back again to the church-wardens. It is not long ago since I had the misfortune to be sent backwards and forward & played off in this manner for 12 months successively."12 i Col. Rec, VI, 172. 2 Ibid., 595. 3 Ibid., 265. 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid., 265-66. 1 1bid., 222-23. 8 Ibid., 223. 9 Ibid., 230. io Ibid., VI, 554. ii Ibid., 745. 12 Ibid., 990. XVI NUMEROUS CHURCH BILLS So many church bills were introduced in the General Assembly during the Colonial period, many of them being passed but later repealed or vetoed, that it is extremely difficult to keep up with their provisions from time to time. Alex Stewart, missionary at Bath, reported May 20, 1760, that in the six years he had resided in the province four different acts had been passed by the Assembly for electing vestries and encouraging an orthodox clergy. The last one had met the fate of most of the others, he said, through repeal in England.1 Governor Dobbs, as Parson Reed said, worked dili-gently in behalf of the established church and its clergy-men ; but for various reasons, here and abroad, it seemed impossible to get definite action that would last permanently. The Assembly tried to re-enact the Vestry bill repealed by the King, taking the nomination of ministers from the Crown, the Governor reported January 22, 1760, but the assemblymen had been too busy with other matters, so established a Vestry law for one year to retain the tax for maintaining clergy pursuant to the last act, which settled 100 pounds per annum on clergy, with 20 pounds in lieu of glebe. At the next session, he remarked, it was hoped to establish a general fund to pay the rectors direct from the provincial treasury, as in South Carolina.2 Church wardens were instructed in 1760 to appear annually at the orphans' court to present the names of orphans without guardians or apprenticeships and to report abuses of guardians. Justices and wardens failing to do their duty along this line were liable to fines of ten pounds.3 Mr. Reed's contract exempted him from the act establishing vestries passed by the Assembly May 23, 1760. This permitted all parishes to elect their own NUMEROUS CHURCH BILLS 59 vestries, but since it depended on the general vestry act, it was not considered valid, and later was repealed by the King.4 This question as to whether the King or the colonists could select and remove rectors was one of the pre-Revolutionary controversies between Americans and their Mother Country.5 The Bishop of London explained that one primary ob-jection to the 1760 act was that it did not require vestrymen to say that they continued to be faithful to the Church of England. He recommended a stronger declaration that they would conform to the church liturgy. Objection was also raised to the bill's provision of punishing immoral ministers in temporal courts. The Bishop also declared that the clergy were not provided for properly, being made dependent on vestries. And again repeated was the 1759 declaration that the "whole right of patronage is undoubtedly in the Crown, but the Act takes away right and gives it to vestrymen."6 Still another of the many orthodox clergy bills was passed by the Assembly in 1762. Mention was also made therein that it was not to conflict with Reed's agreement. It was likely repealed by proclamation, because of pro-visions opposed by the Governor and other British authorities.7 Under this measure, ministers were to be engaged by vestries, at salaries of 133 pounds, six shillings and eight pence, the same amount as Mr. Reed's salary, besides their regular fees. If believed guilty of immorality or crime, they could be removed by the governor, with the consent of a majority of his council members. All had to have certificates from the Bishop of London, "ordained conformable to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, and is of a good Life and Conversation." For marrying a couple by license, a clergyman was to be paid twenty shillings; for marrying by banns, five shillings. The remuneration for a funeral sermon was set at forty shillings. If these rites were conducted by other persons, the regular rectors were nevertheless per-mitted to demand and receive the fees. 60 CROWN OF LIFE Vestrymen were privileged to purchase glebe lands, and erect thereon a "convenient mansion-house, 38 x 18, with kitchen, barn, stable, dairy and meat house." If no house was provided for a rectory, the minister was to receive twenty additional pounds a year. The Bishop of London wrote May 3, 1762, referring to the general confusion of so many Assembly laws passed and repealed, to remind the colonists that, "All statutes made in England for the establishment of the Church shall be in force under the law in North Carolina."8 i Col. Rec, VI, 242. 2 Ibid., 223. 3 Ibid., 395. St. Rec, XXV, 415-22. 4 Col. Rec, VI, xxxi, 395. St. Rec, XXV, 430-32. 5 Col. Rec, VII, 152; IX, 81-84. 6 Ibid., VI, 714-16. 7 Ibid., V, pp. xxxi-xxxii. St. Rec, XXIII, 583-85. 8 Col. Rec, VI, 716. XVII FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL Despite the fact that Parson Reed was not paid regu-larly and encountered numerous handicaps in his local work, he undertook many more activities than called for in his contract. Chief among his outside interests were his efforts in behalf of education, resulting here impor-tantly in the opening of North Carolina's first incorporated school. As early as December, 1762, the House thanked him for the sermon at the beginning of the Assembly session, "Recommending the Establishing Public Schools for the Education of Youth." He was requested to furnish "the Printer with a copy thereof, that the same might be printed and dispersed in the several counties within this Province." 1 Only slight encouragement had previously been given to public education. Children of the privileged classes were taught by private tutors or at private schools. Some studied in Northern States or in England. But poorer boys and girls had to learn as best they could, or not at all. Trade apprentices were sometimes taught the three R's by their masters. Charles Griffin, Church of England lay reader, who opened a school in 1705 in Pasquotank County, is believed to have been the first teacher to come to North Carolina. 2 In 1749 John Starkey had introduced a bill for a free school.3 In 1754 the sum of 6,000 pounds was authorized for schools, but was diverted for military purposes. Other funds appropriated were disallowed in England.4 The Assembly in 1758 asked King George that part of the sum be provided by the Crown for schools and churches, in return for Colonial war aid, but objections were raised up to 1763. Merchants are reported to have opposed use of public money for such purposes.5 Governor Dobbs frequently urged the need of better schools and more schoolmasters in the province.6 On 62 CROWN OF LIFE ' March 30, 1762, he wrote the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel that the number of clergy had been dimin-ished and that the inhabitants were more "dissolute and idle for want of clergy and school, there being not even a Parish Clerk in the Province to serve as a Schoolmaster or Reader." 7 For almost 30 parishes in the province, he pointed out, there were only seven clergymen, including one who did little.8 Largely due to Mr. Reed's influence, a school was opened here January 1, 1764, with Thomas Tomlinson as school-master. 9 The General Assembly on March 9 ratified an "Act for building a schoolhouse and schoolmaster's residence in New Bern." 10 Reed, John Williams, Joseph Leech, Thomas Clifford Howe, Thomas Haslen, Richard Cogdell and Richard Fenner were named as the first trustees. 11 As "Missionary in Craven County," Mr. Reed reported on local church and school matters in general to the S. P. G. Secretary June 21. 12 First he told of the passage of a Vestry Act by the Assembly, with the aid and in-fluence of "our worthy Governor to whom the clergy in this Province can never sufficiently express their grati-tude." Under this act vestries could levy taxes of ten shillings for building churches, maintaining the poor, paying church readers and encouraging schools. Then he reported on the receipt of books and tracts on various occasions, commenting, "For tho' the heat of the Methodists be considerably abated, yet the distribution of such tracts will be of great service." About the school he wrote: "We have now a prospect of a very flourishing school in the town of New Bern & which indeed has been greatly wanting for several years past, in Dec'r. last Mr. Tomlinson, a young man, who had kept a school in the County of Cumberland in England, came here by the invitation of his brother, an inhabitant of the Parish. "On the 1st of Jan'y. he opened a school in this Town & immediately got as many scholars as he could instruct and many more have lately offered than he can possibly take to do them justice, he has therefore wrote to his FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL 63 friends in England to send him an assistant (Mr. Parrot) and a subscription for a school house has been lately carried on, with such success, that I have got notes on hand payable to myself for upwards of 200 pounds this currency (Equal to about 110 pounds Sterling) to build a large commodious School House in New Bern & which I shall endeavor to get completed as soon as possible, for during 11 years Residence in this Province I have not found any man so well qualified for the care of a school as Mr. Tomlinson. He is not only a good scholar, but a man of good conduct, has given satisfaction to the parents of such children as are under his care, and will be of infinite service to the rising generation . . . "I have rode my long circuit twice with great satisfac-tion. My congregations have been greatly crowded. My number of communicants increased and the return of my health made my duty not only easy but a real pleasure ! I have likewise taken care of St. John's Parish (in Carteret County) , which sickness would not permit me to do last autumn & have visited it twice—once at the court house where I baptised 24 children, again at a private house where I baptised 11 children; and again at the chapel upon Newport River where I baptised 14 chil-dren and administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to 36 communicants."13 i Col. Rec, VI, 955. 2 Johnson, Guion Griffis, Ante-Bellum North Carolina, p. 18. 3 Col. Rec, IV, 977, 990, 994. ^ Ibid., V, xxv; VI, 5, 1006. 5 Ibid., V, xxv, 1095; VI, 3. GIbid., V, 1014; VI, 116, 219, 449-50, 473, 839, 841, 1026, 1091, 1219. 7 Ibid., VI, 709. sibid., 710. 9 Ibid., 1048. io Ibid., 1145. ii St. Rec, XXV, 484-85. 12 Col. Rec, VI, 1047-48. 13 Ibid. XVIII OTHER SERVICES OF "PARSON" REED A voluminous letter writer, particularly in reporting to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the Rev. Mr. Reed's missives furnish today much information about the church, school and other progress during his era. He played a prominent Colonial role in many fields of service. Reed was one of four clergymen in the province praised in 1764 by Governor Dobbs, who wrote the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel that there were only six clergy-men in the province, four of whom performed their duty diligently—those at Edenton, Bath, Halifax and New Bern.1 The North Carolina Magazine or Universal Intelli-gencer, published by James Davis at New Bern, carried an advertisement in August, 1764, in the form of a "Notice to the Freeholders of Chrift Church Parifh, Craven County."2 This notice stated that the subscriber, Richard Cogdell, sheriff, would open polls at the courthouse for election of vestrymen of the parish and there would be a fine of 20 shillings on every freeholder in the parish who failed to attend and vote. At that time and place, it was also stated, subscribers to the schoolhouse fund were requested to elect two com-missioners and a treasurer to direct and superintend the building of the school. All persons having bills against the parish and all owing money to the parish were asked to be at the church October 4 for settlement of accounts. Jacob Blount and James Davis, as church wardens, advertised in the latter's newspaper that on Thursday, January 3, 1765, pews in Christ Church would be rented to the highest bidders, for one year, by order of the vestry.3 OTHER SERVICES OF "PARSON" REED 65 Accounts of the visit of the Methodist divine, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, are contained in Mr. Reed's correspond-ence. The local rector wrote December 21, 1764, that the preacher had arrived here Saturday, November 17, while en route from the North to South Carolina and Georgia.4 At the request of local persons, Reed reported, White-field preached the next morning, Sunday, to a "very numerous Congregation. That afternoon he continued on his journey." At the time Reed said he was at a chapel 35 miles from New Bern. Whitefield complained here of asthma, though he was fat and looked well, the New Bernian wrote. But, because of the asthma, he was said to preach seldom and never to read prayers at the same time. New Bern was the only place in which he preached in this province, Reed added, or "probably anywhere south of New York." Reed then added his opinion, "I think his discourse has been of some real service here." Whitefield recommended infant baptism, he remarked, and declared himself to be a member and a minister of the Church of England. From New Brunswick Whitefield wrote, "At New Bern, last Sunday, good impressions were made. The desire of the people in the section to hear the gospel makes me almost determined to come back early in the Spring." He did return the next Spring, on his way back North stopping over in New Bern and preaching here on Thurs-day evening of Passion Week in 1765 and also on Easter Sunday at Christ Church.5 Mr. Reed cooperated not only with Governor Dobbs but also with the latter's successor, William Tryon. Due to Governor Dobbs' advancing age and failing health, King George III of England, who had ascended the throne in 1760 upon the death of his grandfather, King George II, commissioned Tryon as Lieutenant-Governor of North Carolina on April 26, 1764.6 Tryon was 35 years of age, a member of an English family of high standing. On October 10 he arrived in the colony, at Cape Fear.7 Three days after the death of Governor Dobbs, he assumed temporary control of the provincial government, on March 31, 1765.8 His com- 66 CROWN OF LIFE mission as governor arrived later and was officially opened before the Council on December 20.9 Not only loyal to the Crown but also zealous for the established church, Governor Tryon soon recommended passage of an Assembly bill for a better provision for an orthodox clergy.10 Passed in May, 1765,u this re-enacted the repealed 1762 bill, with omission of the former dis-approved features.12 The stipend for the clergy was fixed at 133.6.3, with shorter and easier methods provided for their recovery by law. Certain fees were set for marriage ceremonies and funeral sermons. Vestrymen retained the right to tax and pay salaries, and were supposed to supply their rectors with glebes of 200 acres of good land and a residence, or pay 20 pounds a year more if no rectory was provided. The right of presentation or selection of ministers of the established church was granted to the Crown, through the Governor, thus relieving rectors from the so-called "insolence and tyranny of vestries." 13 The Governor and his Council were given authority to suspend clergymen deemed guilty of gross crime or notorious immorality. Their suspension was revocable by the Bishop of London. Although confirmed and ratified by the King, on the advice of his Privy Council, this act was easier to pass this time than to enforce. In some counties residents refused to receive the clergymen sent by the governor. Some men elected vestrymen would not qualify or act.14 Later the measure was amended in 1766 so that the salary of a suspended minister, or part of it, might be paid to his substitute.15 Under the act, Tryon officially commissioned Reed as rector of Christ Church, where he had already been serving for almost 12 years. An original manuscript of this commission is now on file in the New York Historical Society Library in New York City, among the papers collected by the late Dr. Francis L. Hawks, whose grand-father, John Hawks, had signed the document as a wit-ness. It reads as follows : OTHER SERVICES OF "PARSON" REED 67 "To all, to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. "Know ye, that I, William Tryon, Esquire, Lieutenant- Governor and Commander in Chief in, and over, the Province of North Carolina, and by virtue of His Majesty's Commission true and undoubted patron of the Rectory, Benefice or Parish of Christ Church in the County of Craven, in the Province aforesaid, and Diocese of London ; for divers good Causes and Considerations, me thereunto moving, have empowered, and by these Presents do em-power, Thomas Clifford Howe, Esquire, of said Craven County and Province aforesaid, to induct The Reverend James Reed, Clerk, A. B., into the Rectory, Benefice or Parish, of Christ Church, in said County, Province and Diocese of London. "In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Caused the Great Seal of the said province to be affixed at Brunswick this second day of September in the year of our Lord 1765 and in the Fifth Year of His Majesty's Reign. "William Tryon. (Seal) "By His Honour's Command Fount'n Elwin, p. Sec. "Inducted September the 10th, 1765, by me. (Test) "Thomas. C. Howe." Jno. Rice John Hawks i Col. Rec, VI, 1039. 2 Photostat copies of this newspaper in the archives of the North Carolina Historical Commission, Raleigh, N, C. 3 Ibid. 4 Col. Rec, VI, 1060-61. 5 Col. Rec, VII, 97, 104. 6 Ibid., VI, 1043-44. 7 Ibid., 1053-54. 8 Ibid., 1320. 9 Ibid., VII, 159-160. 10 Ibid., 42. ii St. Rec, XXIII, 660-62. 12 Col. Rec, VII, 150-153, 158; VIII, xliii. 13 Ibid., VII, 97. 14 Ibid., VIII, xliii. is Ibid., VII, 891-92, 920; VIII, xliv. St. Rec, XXIII, 759. XIX CHURCH AND SCHOOL On May 16, 1765, James Reed and 39 other prominent residents of New Bern and the vicinity reported to Governor Tryon that the money subscribed for establish-ment of a school at New Bern had been partly spent for materials for a school building and that they desired Thomas Tomlinson, the instructor, to have more pupils and be able to procure an assistant.1 Governor Tryon was requested to ask the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to allow a yearly salary for Tomlinson. The schoolmaster, 31 years of age2 when he had arrived here in December, 1763, was said to be en-deavoring to teach the children "in such branches of use-ful learning as are necessary in several of the offices or stations in life, and imprint on their tender minds the principles of the Christian religion agreeable to the establishment of the Church of England."3 This petition was signed by the following men: James Reed, Missionary, Thomas Clifford Howe, Samuel Cornell, John Williams, Richard Cogdell, Richard Caswell, James Davis, Peter Conway, John Clitherall, Jacob Blount, Richd. Ellis, Francis Macilwean, Alexdr. Gaston, Phil. Ambrose, Jacob Sheppard, Jos. Jones, John Daly, Will. Euen, Timo. Cleary, Jno. Pindar, Pat. Gordon, John Franck, Tho. Pollock, Bernard Parkinson, Wm. Wilton, Christ. Neale, Thos. Sitgreaves, Corn. Groenendyke, Jno. Green, John Fonville, Longfield Cox, Jno. Smith, Cullen Pollock, Richd. Fenner, Amb. Cox Bayley, Andr. Scott, Andr. Stewart, Eliu Cotting, Jno. Moore, Alex. Eagles. Reed reported that collections of school pledges were slow.4 On July 10 there were 30 pupils, at 20 shillings proclamation money per quarter.5 But, much of this was not paid. And it was not sufficient to operate the school efficiently. Hence, aid was desired from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. CHURCH AND SCHOOL 69 Tryon wrote for this financial supplement,6 and it was pledged by the Society.7 He reported July 31 that there were only five clergymen then in the province, for 32 parishes. Four S. P. G. missionaries were listed: Reed, in Craven County; Earl, near Edenton in Chowan; Stewart, at Bath in Beaufort County; and Moir, an itinerant missionary.8 As to Reed, the Governor added he had seen "much of him at the General Assembly held at New Bern. I really esteem him a man of great worth9 . ... I pledged my endeavors to get decent clergymen,"10 and also to ask more aid from the Society.11 Referring to the condition of the churches, Tryon said that the church at New Bern was "in good repair;" at Wilmington there were "walls only ;" at Brunswick "only outside walls built and roofed." The Bath church was said to be "wanting considerable repairs," and Edenton, "wanting as much." Chapels were reported to have been established in every county, "served by a Reader where no clergyman can be procured."12 Only one complete glebe house, with full glebe lands, was said then to be in the colony, "at Bath and nowhere else." 13 That Summer Reed contracted a severe attack of yellow fever.14 During his illness Tomlinson likely acted as his substitute in holding services at Christ Church.15 Mr. Reed wrote the Society January 14, 1766: "We have suffered the most intense heat during the last sum-mer that ever was known in the memory of man and about the middle of August I was seized with the yellow fever," an "exceeding violent" attack, "but soon over," though it left him permanently deaf.16 The Rev. Mr. Stewart had been brought to New Bern in a horse litter during December, having lost the use of his limbs from rheumatism, and was under the care of a physician, Reed reported. He commented also, "though people here are peaceable and quiet, yet they seem very uneasy, discontented and dejected." 17 His illness over, Reed renewed his efforts for the local school, and on July 20 wrote to the S. P. G. : "Schoolhouse is at length enclosed . . . Large and decent Edifice for 70 CROWN OF LIFE such a Young Country—forty-five feet in length, thirty in breadth, and has already cost upwards of 300 pounds this currency."18 All subscriptions had been expended, he said : "I have preached and begged in its behalf, until the suppliant is entirely weary and charity cold." The floors had not been laid, and the chimneys had not been built. "I have therefore sent a Bill of Exchange for my last half year's salary to New York to purchase Bricks for the Chimneys and intend at the next session of Assembly . . . in November to recommend the undertaking from the pulpit . . . " 'Twould give me great satisfaction to see a little flourishing Academy in this place. I have this affair much at heart, and the difficulties I have met with have given me much uneasiness. Mr. Tomlinson received a small additional stipend last Easter Monday. The vestry then agreed to pay him twelve pounds per annum for attending the church in New Bern at such times as I am obliged to be absent and attend the several Chapels. I have fur-nished him with Tillotsons Sermons and the congregation attends very regularly."19 The minister kept his word, and on December 1, 1766, the General Assembly incorporated the local school,20 first to be so chartered in the province21 and second private secondary school in English America to receive a charter. Under this charter, the schoolmaster had to be a mem-ber of the Church of England.22 Upon recommendation of the trustees, he was required to obtain a license from the governor.23 The eleven trustees were given authority to elect other trustees in case of vacancies24 and to dis-miss schoolmasters without the consent of the Royal Governor,25 powers to which British representatives later objected. Thus both school and church furnished some of the controversies which arose between English rulers and colonists in those pre-Revolutionary days. The Rev. Mr. Reed, named one of the school trustees,26 reported that the school building was completed in 1768, though it was perhaps used even before being finished, on CHURCH AND SCHOOL 71 the corner site of the present school campus, on New and Hancock Streets.27 A tax of one penny per gallon levied for seven years on spirituous liquors imported through Neuse River helped support the new school, including the teacher's salary of twenty pounds, or about $100, a year, an assistant's salary of the same amount, and the tuition of ten poor children selected by the trustees.28 i Col. Rec, VII, 35-36. 2 Epitaph on his tombstone in Cedar Grove cemetery states that Tomlinson died September 24, 1802, at age of 70 years. 3 Col. Rec, VII, 35-36. * Ibid.. 98. 5 Ibid. eibid., 102-4. 7 Ibid., 458. siua., 102. 9 Ibid. io ibid., 103. ii Ibid. 12 Ibid. 13 Ibid., 99. i-± Ibid.. 154. 15 Ibid., 241; IX, 305. 16 Ibid., VII, 154. 17 Ibid. is Ibid., 241. 19 Ibid. 20 Ibid., 339, 420. St. Rec, XXIII, 678-80. 21 Col. Rec, VII, 432, 458. 22 ibid., 432. St. Rec, XXIII, 679. 23 St. Rec, XXIII, 679. 24 Ibid., 678-80. 25 Col. Rec, VII, 316; IX, 243. 26 Ibid., IX, 242. 27 Ibid., VII, 750. St. Rec, XXIII, 679-80; XXV, 516. 28 Col. Rec, IX, 239. St. Rec, XXIII, 680. XX ROYAL GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON As a "staunch churchman,"1 Royal Governor Tryon, as has been noted, did much to help the established church. The Rev. Andrew Morton referred to him as "that amiable and good man, who may be justly called the Nursing Father of the Church in this Province."2 The Rev. Mr. Moir wrote, "Governor Tryon, though a soldier, has done more for the settlement of a regular ministry in this province than both his learned Prede-cessors." 3 Another minister, the Rev. George Micklejohn, later declared : "We have a governor who rules a willing Peo-ple with the Indulgent Tenderness of a common parent, who desires rather to be beloved than feared . . . defender and friend, the Patron and nursing father of the Church established amongst us—he is a Religious Frequenter of its Worship and a steady adherent to its Interest."4 In February, 1766, Tryon became a member of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and gave it a handsome cash donation.5 He made a contribution of forty guineas towards the church being built at Brunswick.6 However, his religious interests were not confined to his own denomination. Other faiths also grew stronger under his rule. Dr. Hugh Williamson, Presbyterian historian, in his history of North Carolina, wrote, "It was fortunate for the dissenters that Governor Tryon was not a bigot."7 Bishop J. B. Cheshire wrote that Governors Johnston and Dobbs were both zealous churchmen but that Tryon did much more to advance religion in North Carolina.8 Thirteen Church of England ministers were in the province in 1767, a substantial increase over the five that were here when he arrived. They were listed April 30 of that year, as follows: 9 ROYAL GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON 73 Reed, Christ Church, Craven County; Micklejohn, St. Matthews, Orange County; Stewart, St. Thomas, Bath; Morton, St. George, Northampton; Samuel Fiske, St. John, Pasquotank; Thomas Floyd, Society, Bertie; these six established by letters of Presentation by the Governor. Daniel Earl, in charge in Chowan County, who was said never to have applied for Presentation ; Thomas Burgess, Edgecombe, Halifax, settled by Act of Assembly; John Barnett, St. Philip, Brunswick; John Wills, St. James, New Hanover; James Cosgreve; William Miller, St. Patrick, Dobbs; and Charles Cupples, St. John, Bute, "not yet established." 10 These ministers had no easy time. Even Reed, as already indicated, had dire difficulties. In 1767, when there were 1,378 white taxables in Craven County,11 the Rev. Mr. Stewart wrote the Society that Reed would have "been obliged to desert his parish" had not Mr. Dobbs induced the Society "to take him on their list . . . The parish of New Bern, known to be the most beneficial parish at that time in this province when money was plenty, on a better footing and punctually paid, was in-sufficient to support Mr. Reed (a parsimonious saving man and without children.") 12 Mr. Stewart informed the S. P. G. that the lack of a currency medium made it impossible for North Carolina churches to pay proper salaries and that a nominal salary of 100 pounds sterling was hardly equal to 40 pounds sterling in South Carolina, Virginia and Northern provinces.13 But the rectors and missionaries performed valiant service along many lines. Among the tracts and sermons published by James Davis at New Bern was one by Stewart in 1758, entitled, "The Validity of Infant Baptism."14 A number of additional church acts were passed by the Assembly during Tryon's administration. In 1766 the previous year's law concerning the orthodox clergy was amended so that if a minister was considered guilty of crime or immorality the governor and council might suspend him until the Bishop of London could review and 74 CROWN OF LIFE decide the case; and meanwhile the church wardens and vestry could allow any deserving minister to substitute, at full or part pay.15 During that same year another act continued for another five years the bill for vestries passed five years earlier, permitting freeholders to change vestrymen not then serving. Any person elected to the vestry and re-fusing to serve was liable to a fine of three pounds.16 In that year, too, it was made lawful for a Presbyterian minister to marry a couple by license. 17 But the Church of England minister was still to get the fee whether or not he officiated, provided he did not refuse to serve. Prior to that, no minister except one of the established church was legally allowed to celebrate the rite of matri-mony. However, this 1766 act was soon repealed.18 The Vestry Act of 176819 was the last one seeking to perpetuate the Church of England in North Carolina. It was limited to five years,20 but was then voted to be con-tinued for ten years,21 though nullified by the Revolution. Governor Tryon selected New Bern as the seat of his provincial government, following a tour of two months through North Carolina.22 As there was no suitable government house here, plans were made for the erection of one. The General Assembly in November, 1766, passed with a large majority a bill entitled: "An act for erecting a convenient building within the town of New Bern for the residence of the governor, or commander-in-chief for the time being."23 The Governor approved the measure December l. 24 Construction of "Tryon's Palace," costing about $80,000,25 followed, 1767-70, with John Hawks from Eng-land as the supervising architect.26 The Assembly met in 1768,27 176928 and 177029 in the new school building at New Bern, and even used the schoolhouse also in 1771,30 177331 and 1774.32 But, the new Palace was used chiefly then for Assembly meetings. The governor wrote June 7, 1770, that he had just moved into the edifice, sooner than he had expected;33 and the first meeting of the Assembly there was held the next December.34 ROYAL GOVERNOR WILLIAM TRYON 75 Regarded as the most beautiful building in North or South America,35 this Palace played an important role during Colonial, Revolutionary and early State history. i Col. Rec, VIII, xliv. 2 Ibid., VII, 424. 3 Ibid., 145. Ubid., 519-20. 5 Ibid., 158, 162, 260. Haywood, Marshall DeLancey, Governor William Tryon and His Administration, p. 28. 6 Col. Rec, VII, 164, 515. 7 Williamson, Hugh, History of North Carolina, Vol. II, p. 118. s Cheshire, Sketches, p. 75. 9 Col. Rec, VII, 457. 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid., 539. 12 Ibid., 493. l3/&i(Z., 496. 14 Ibid., VI, 316. Old copies of the pamphlet. 15 Ibid., VII, 224. St. Rec, XXIII, 759. 16 St. Rec, XXIII, 759-60. 17 Ibid., 674. Col. Rec, VII, 432-33. Haywood, op. cit., p. 18. is St. Rec, XXIII, 826. Col. Rec, VIII, xliv. 19 Col. Rec, VII, 920. 20 ibid., VIII, 4-5. 21 Ibid., IX, 1014-15. St. Rec, XXIII, 956. 22 Col. Rec, VII, 2. 23 Ibid.. 320. St. Rec, XXIII, 664-65. 24 Col. Rec, VII, 338. 25 Ibid., VIII, 626. 2d Ibid., VII, 431. 27 Ibid., 923, 984-85. 28 Ibid., IX, 272. 29 Ibid. so ibid., 224, 226, 272. 31 Ibid., 371, 590. 32 Ibid., 953. 33 ibid., VIII, 211. Mlbid., 282, 285. 35 Kimball, Fiske, Tryon' s Palace, published in Quarterly Bulletin of the New York Historical Society, for January, 1940, pp. 13-14. Lossing, Benson J., The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. II, p. 570. Col. Rec, VII, 695; VIII, 285. Don Francisco de Miranda, "the precursor of the Independence movement in Spanish America," who visited New Bern in 1783, is quoted by Francis Xavier Martin in The History of North Carolina from the Earliest Period, Vol. II, p. 265, as saying the Palace not only was the most beautiful in North America but had no superior in South America. XXI THE REV. JAMES MCCARTNEY At the beginning of the year 1767 James McCartney, a native of Ireland, was employed to assist Tomlinson with the New Bern school. 1 He continued in this capacity until May, 1768. when he left for England to become a candi-date for Holy Orders.- Very likely during this time he served as lay reader at Christ Church. Governor Tryon wrote the Bishop of London February 12. 176S, that McCartney ''waits on you for orders of ordination.*' Mr. McCartney, he said, had also acted ably as tutor to Speaker John Harvey's children. 3 The next May 14 the Rev. Mr. Reed wrote the S. P. G. recom-mending McCartney for priesthood. - In his letter Reed reported that the ''duty upon rum will amount to about 60 pounds per annum this currency and will be sufficient to discharge present debts, com-pletely finishing the school house, and pay Tomlinson 20 pounds per annum." He added. "T have baptized about 100 whites and blacks in my own parish from Midsummer to Christmas last and about 30 in St. John's parish. '"- Ordained as a minister of the Church of England, McCartney was licensed July 25 by the Bishop of London for service in North Carolina. During November he arrived back in New Bern, but was ill at home here for several weeks. Following his recovery, he reported later, he visited six extensive parishes, preached 49 sermons, and baptized 763 white persons and 27 Negroes between the middle of December and the latter part of May.6 "Though many of these parishes would have received me willingly, none would suit so weakly a Constitution as mine." he wrote. 7 During this period he undoubtedly held services here. Because of its climate, he decided the first of June. 1769. to settle in Granville County." For several years McCartney served the Granville parish faithfully. In 1771 he was one of those contract-ing with John Lvnch for erection of a church there. THE REV. JAMES M'CARTNEY 77 Because he had known of John Hawks' excellent work here, he was probably the one responsible for obtaining Hawks to draw plans for the church.9 A number of citizens signed a petition in 1771, praising McCartney as "a credit to his holy profession" and recom-mending that his bounty from the Society for the Propa-gation of the Gospel be continued. It had been given him temporarily when he returned to America after being ordained. Since the subscribers were nominally church members, many of them belonging to Christ Church here, the list is quoted: John Simpson, Aquila Sugg, William Cray, Richard Ward, Samuel Johnston, Robert Howe, Francis Mackil-wean, Ben. Hardy, Thomas Hines, Richard Evans, Edward Hare, William McKinne, Thomas Gray, James Green, Junr., Joseph Leech, Joseph Montfort, James Blount, William Davis, Philemon Hawkins, John Campbell, A. Nash, Hugh Waddell, Andrew Knox, Wm. Thomson, Joseph Hewes, Jacob Shepard, Jacob Blount, James Bonner, William Haywood, Moses Hare, James Hasell, John Rutherford, Lewis deRosset, John Sampson, Alexr. McCulloch, William Dry, Samuel Cornell, Marmaduke Jones, Nat. Dukenfield, M. Moore, John Ashe, J. Moore, Cornelius Harnett, Richard Caswell and John Harvey.10 Also recommended for ordination orders by Governor Tryon in the same year as McCartney was a talented young actor named W. Giffard, who had come to the province with a company of strolling players. In a letter to the Bishop of London June 11, 1768, Tryon wrote from Brunswick that Giffard was "Most wearied of the vague life of his present pro-fession, and fully persuaded he could employ his talent to more benefit to society by going into holy orders and superintending the education of the youth in this province ... I was not assured how far your lordship would choose to take a member of the theater into the church . . . His behaviour has been decent, regular, and commendable ... If your lordship grants Mr. Giffard his petition, you will take off the best player on the American stage."11 78 CROWN OF LIFE The sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Micklejohn, S. T. D., before "His Excellency Royal Governor Tryon and the troops raised to quell the late Insurrection at Hillsborough, on Sunday, Sept. 25, 1768," was printed by James Davis at New Bern.12 i Col. Rec, VII, 689. 2 Ibid., 750. 3 Ibid., 689. ilbid., 750. 5 Ibid. Qlbid., VIII, 85. 7 Ibid., 85-86. 8 Ibid., 86. 9 A copy of the original plans is filed in the collection of Dr. Francis L. Hawks, grandson of the architect, at the New York Historical Society Library, 170 Central Park West, New York City. io Col. Rec, IX, 61-62. ii Ibid., VII, 786-87. 12 Ibid., 939, 976, 983. Copies of the sermon are extant. Dr. R. D. W. Connor, then Secretary of the North Carolina Historical Commission, edited one for The North Carolina Booklet, Vol. VIII, No. 1, July, 1908, pp. 57-58. XXII TRYON ASKS MORE AID Continuing his efforts to bolster the power of the Church of England in this province, Governor Tryon wrote Daniel Burton, S. P. G. Secretary, March 20, 1769, from Brunswick : "The infancy of the established religion in this province is undoubtedly the period and crisis for setting the Church of England here on a solid basis. We have laid a more firm and permanent foundation than any other colony can boast, she now stands in need of the utmost assistance of her friends to raise the superstructure ... I trust the Society will not withdraw the missions of 50 pounds per annum from those gentlemen who now enjoy them, but rather exert every other aid in their power to facilitate the propagation of the gospel here. "The bounty of the Society of 20 pounds per annum for two years to every minister coming out to this pro-vince is certainly of real se |
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