Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Reminiscences of Miss Willie Lea

Lea, Wilhelmina. Reminiscences of Miss Willie Lea. Copied from Manuscript in Possession of Mrs. M. H. Moore (Weaverville, North Carolina). Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, North Carolina). June 1943. Mostly a narrative account of her family, with biographical data, dates, and relationships, written in the 1930s. Typescript was made in 1943 from a manuscript lent by Mrs. W. S. Dixon.
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"There have been numerous traditions about the Lea family. One was -- which has been believed by some Leas, but not by me -- that there were 3 brothers, who came from England -- that one of them changed his name to Lee and became the head of the noted Virginia Lees; another changed his to Leigh, while our family retained the original name.

"A document in my possession that professes to athentiic [authenticity], says that the ancestral home of the Lea family was Lea Hall on Lea River in Cheshire Co., England, (There is certainly a river of that name.), and that the family was descended from the nobility.

"All of which might have been verified or not, if we had thought to ask our grandfather, William Lea, who knew is grandfather, James Lea, Sr., and also his wife's grandfather, William Lea.

"However, we do know that the Lea family is noted for longevity and integrity.

"We have been thwarted in our efforts to trace the family back to England and when they came to the U.S., as the records of King and Queen Co., Va. where they first located were destroyed by the burning of the Court house by the Federals during the Civil war.

Monday, July 23, 2012

John Joshua James (1814-1892)

Reverend John Joshua James (1814-1892)

Rev. J. J. James (1814-1892)

(for larger image, click on photograph, then click "Actions/View all Sizes")
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John Joshua James (1814-1892), buried at the First Baptist Church of Yanceyville. Believed called as pastor in 1842. Possibly the first official pastor. However, what role did Elder John Kerr play? Also, John Joshua James died in 1892 and is buried at the First Baptist Church of Yanceyville. Why did he return to Yanceyville? Did he serve as pastor more than once at this church?

Trinity Baptist Church historical sketch from Caswell County Historical Association (CCHA):

In 1840, some residents of southwestern Caswell County left the Yanceyville Baptist Church (Yanceyville, North Carolina) to from the Trinity Baptist Church, which was nearer their homes. Members also came from Wolf Island, Lick Fork, Dan River, Pleasant Grove, and other churches. William Pleasants was the first pastor; Calvin Graves, the first clerk; and Alexis Howard, the first treasurer. Alexis Howard, William Dupree, and John Stamps were elected deacons. Azariah Graves, Alexis Howard, and William Slade were trustees of the church property. Calvin Graves, William Dupree, and Alexis Howard were delegates to the Association held 1840 in Yanceyville. R. W. Lawson offered a site for church and school. In 1842, Zachariah Neal from Bethesda Presbyterian Church joined Trinity Baptist Church and applied for a license to preach, which he received in the fall of 1842.

Robert Ward Prevost (1890-1980)

Robert Ward Prevost (1890-1980)

1. Robert Ward Prevost (1922-1925)

Robert Ward Prevost (1922-1925)

(for larger image, click on photograph)
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Served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Yanceyville (Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina) 1922-1925.
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North Carolina, Birth and Death Indexes, 1800-2000
Name: Robert Ward Prevost
Event Type: delayedbirth
Birth Date: 20 Nov 1890
Birth County: Davidson
Roll Number: NCVR_BD_C032_68001
Volume: 7
Page: 64