Minutes of the One Hundred and Seventy-Third Session of Orange Presbytery, Held at Bethesda Church, Caswell County, North Carolina, 1856
For the complete text go to Minutes.
November 5, 1856 through November 8, 1856
J. [Jacob] Doll, Stated Clerk
Names Mentioned:
Ministers
J. H. Pickard
Thomas Lynch
Edward Hines
A. G. Hughes
C. K. Caldwell
T. U. Faucette
J. J. Smyth (from Philadelphia)
J. [John] W. Montgomery
Thomas R. Owen (not present)
S. A. [Steven Addison] Stanfield
J. [Jacob] Doll
William N. Mebane
William P. Wharton (deceased)
Alexander Wilson, D.D.
J. Phillips, D.D.
E. Mitchell, D.D.
E. W. Caruthers, D.D.
John S. Grasty
J. M. Kirkpatrick
C. H. Wiley
Archibald Currie
J. M. Sherwood
J. M. Atkinson
Joseph M. Atkinson
N. Z. Graves
F. N. Whaley
R. Burwell
J. I. Boozer
Ruling Elders
Thomas Moore
H. T. Watkins
E. C. Forest
Dr. Robert H. Scales
D. Craig
E. Donnell
William H. Cummings
W. L. Owen
Jesse H. Lindsay
Alfred M. Scales
William K. Mebane
Dr. Payne
William L. Owen
J. H. Lindsay
Others
N. M. Lewis
Daniel McGilvary
James Mebane
T. R. Owen (probably a minister)
T. G. Wall (probably a minister)
G. W. Farrill (probably a minister)
John C. Denny
Mr. Harding
Mr. Neal
Mr. Morrow
Mr. Woodburn
Mr. Phillips
Mr. Denny
Mr. Wiggins
Mr. J. C. Denny
Mr. Henry Hardie
Mr. Forest
Alphabetical
J. M. Atkinson
Joseph M. Atkinson
J. I. Boozer
R. Burwell
C. K. Caldwell
E. W. Caruthers, D.D.
D. Craig
William H. Cummings
A. Currie
Mr. J. C. Denny
John C. Denny
Mr. Denny
J. [Jacob] Doll
E. Donnell
G. W. Farrill
T. U. Faucette
E. C. Forest
Mr. Forest
John S. Grasty
N. Z. Graves
Mr. Henry Hardie
Mr. Harding
Edward Hines
A. G. Hughes
J. M. Kirkpatrick
N. M. Lewis
J. H. Lindsay
Jesse H. Lindsay
Thomas Lynch
Daniel McGilvary
James Mebane
William K. Mebane
William N. Mebane
E. Mitchell, D.D.
J. [John] W. Montgomery
Thomas Moore
Mr. Morrow
Mr. Neal
T. R. Owen
Thomas R. Owen
W. L. Owen
William L. Owen
Dr. Payne
J. Phillips, D.D.
Mr. Phillips
J. H. Pickard
Alfred M. Scales
Dr. Robert H. Scales
J. M. Sherwood
J. J. Smyth
S. A. [Steven Addison] Stanfield
T. G. Wall
H. T. Watkins
F. N. Whaley
William P. Wharton
Mr. Wiggins
C. H. Wiley
Alexander Wilson, D.D.
Mr. Woodburn
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Jacob Doll (1812-1878)
Jacob Doll Diaries (1848-1876 and Undated)
Jacob Doll was born in North Carolina in 1812, and died 27 April 1878. Doll was installed at Bethesda Church in Caswell County, N.C., 1 November 1866, and organized the First Presbyterian Church in Reidsville in 1875. The collection consists of eight diaries belonging to Jacob Doll and several enclosures. The diaries date from 1848 to 1876 and document daily events in 19th-century Caswell County, N.C., including marriages, deaths, sermons preached, social events and holidays, weather, church events, and anniversaries. They also include lists of letters written and visits made on church business. National events are occasionally noted, most prominent among them the Civil War. Doll recorded the dates of major battles and the wounding or deaths of soldiers from the community. One diary entry discusses the murder of Republican North Carolina state senator John Walter Stephens by the Ku Klux Klan in the Caswell County courthouse on 21 May 1870. The enclosures consist of several undated notes written by Doll's granddaughter, Mrs. J. M. McCord. The notes point out events in the diaries that McCord found of particular interest.
Source: Southern Historical Collection (Wilson Library, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
Note the following from When the Past Refused to Die, A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977, William S. Powell (1977) at 436:
"The third oldest Presbyterian church [in Caswell County], Bethesda Church, was organized about 1765 as Hart's Chapel, probably named for the donor of the site. It is located in the western part of the county near Locust Hill and at one time was also known as Cobb's Chapel. An early missionary society, perhaps the first in Orange Presbytery, was organized here. The Rev. Jacob Doll, Bethesda pastor, organized the First Presbyterian Church in Reidsville in 1875. Other Bethesda pastors are said to have organized churches at Wentworth and at Leaksville. The old wooden church at Bethesda, which may have been built in 1815, burned in 1943, and it was replaced by a large brick church of impressive design, with stained glass windows and an organ."
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Caswell County, North Carolina Churches
Upper Hyco/Griers Presbyterian Church
National Register of Historic Places
Upper Hyco Church, the first organized church still in existence in Caswell County was organized in 1753 near the headwaters of North Hyco Creek. Samuel Bell, and his brothers removed from Pennsylvania and settled on the forks of Hyco Creek. They were staunch Presbyterians. The first church services were held under bush arbors and homes of the members. During the ministry of Rev. William Mooe (1789), the members built a church on lands of James Richmond and Jim Grier. Jim Grier may have died before the deed was registered. This may be the reason that the change was made from Upper Hyco to Grier's.
A rusted out and falling down iron fence surrounds a cemetery containing about 75 graves. The earliest date being 1820, the newest grave 1903. The newer cemetery (present) oldest marker has the date of 1890.
Some of the earlier ministers were: Henry Pattillo 1760; Hugh McAden 1768; William Moore 1789; James H. Bowman 1810; Ezekial B. Curry 1811; William B. Maroney 1814; Samuel Paisley 1829; Thomas Lynch 1836; John S. Grasty 1856; Jacob Doll 1857-1862; James L. Currie 1877-1883; W. R. Coppedge 1889; and William Campnell 1891.
Source: Caswell County NC GenWeb Archives.
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Alumnus of Union Theological Seminary: (1838-1839) Doll, Jacob; Martinsburg, W. Va.; b. June 27, 1812; Jeff. C., Pa.; merchant; (3.); L. Winc. Pby. July 17, '41; My. Fauquier '40-'42; O. Or. Pby. July 8, '43; P. Oxford and Lewisburg '43-'48; S. S. Milton '49 -- (Bethesda '51-'52) -- '53; S. S. Snow Cr. and teacher Madison '54-'56; P. Yanceyville '57-'74; P. Bethesda '67-'78; S. S. Reidsville '75-'78. Died suddenly at Presbytery in Newbern, April, 1878.
Note that a street in Milton, North Carolina, is named Doll Branch Road. Whether this name has any connection with the Jacob Doll of this entry is unknown.
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Reverend T. U. Faucette was minister at the Milton Presbyterian Church December 1881 - September 1890, and at Red House Presbyterian Church 1875-1893.
In the Beginning . . . The Churches of Caswell County, Jean B. Scott, Compiler (2000) at 60 and 87.
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Dr. John Sharshall Grasty (c.1825-1883)
Caswell County, North Carolina Churches
Upper Hyco/Griers Presbyterian Church
National Register of Historic Places
Upper Hyco Church, the first organized church still in existence in Caswell County was organized in 1753 near the headwaters of North Hyco Creek. Samuel Bell, and his brothers removed from Pennsylvania and settled on the forks of Hyco Creek. They were staunch Presbyterians. The first church services were held under bush arbors and homes of the members. During the ministry of Rev. William Mooe (1789), the members built a church on lands of James Richmond and Jim Grier. Jim Grier may have died before the deed was registered. This may be the reason that the change was made from Upper Hyco to Grier's.
A rusted out and falling down iron fence surrounds a cemetery containing about 75 graves. The earliest date being 1820, the newest grave 1903. The newer cemetery (present) oldest marker has the date of 1890.
Some of the earlier ministers were: Henry Pattillo 1760; Hugh McAden 1768; William Moore 1789; James H. Bowman 1810; Ezekial B. Curry 1811; William B. Maroney 1814; Samuel Paisley 1829; Thomas Lynch 1836; John S. Grasty 1856; Jacob Doll 1857-1862; James L. Currie 1877-1883; W. R. Coppedge 1889; and William Campnell 1891.
Source: Caswell County NC GenWeb Archives
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1850 US Census (Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina). Living in the Josiah Rucks household. This most likely is the Reverned John Sharshall Grasty who maintained a diary containing his observations about life in Caswell County.
1850 US Census
Name: John S Grasty
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Birth place: Virginia
Gender: Male
Occupation: Clergyman O.S.P.
Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Yanceyville, Caswell, North Carolina
Grasty apparently moved from Caswell County to Virginia, as is shown in the following census record:
1860 US Census
Name: John S Grasty
Age in 1860: 35
Birth Year: abt 1825
BirthPlace: Virginia
Home in 1860: Fincastle, Botetourt, Virginia
Gender: Male
Post Office: !!
Household Members: Name Age
John S Grasty 35
Ella G Grasty 29
Thomas H P Grasty 6
Mary A Grasty 2
Ann J Grasty 1
By the time of the 1870 US Census this John S. Grasty apparently was living in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky, with a wife (Ella T.) and six children. However, that this is the same John S. Grasty who maintained the famous diary has not been confirmed.
1870 US Census
Name: John S Grasty
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1826
Age in 1870: 44
BirthPlace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Shelbyville, Shelby, Kentucky
Family and Neighbors: View Results
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Shelbyville
Death Record
Name: John Sharshall, Rev. Grasty
Age or Birth Date: * kc
Death Date: Apr. 1883
Issue Date: 24 Feb 1887
Source: Kenneth E. Weant. Audrain County, Missouri Deaths, 1876-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004
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The relevance of the following records has not been determined. It is shown here for research purposes only.
Birth Record
Name: Grasty, John
Father: Grasty, Sharshall
Mother: Waldo , Ann
Birth Date: 1722
State: VA
Country: USA
Source: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2001
It is possible that Sharshall Grasty was the father of John Sharshall Grasty, who was the father of Reverend John Sharshall Grasty, Jr. However, the Jr. designation has not been seen associated with Reverend John Sharshall Grasty.
Birth Record
Name: Grasty, John
Father: Grasty , Sharshall
Mother: Jones , Anna
Birth Date: 16 September 1762
County: Fairfax
State: VA
Country: USA
Source: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2001
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Alumnus of Washington and Lee University: John Sharshall Grasty, D.D., Pittsylvania Co.: Presbyterian Minister; Author; Pastor churches at Yanceyville, N.C., Fincastle, Va., Shelbyville, Ky., Austin, Texas, and Columbia, and Mexico, Mo.; died April 18, 1883.
A Discourse on the Death of General Zachary Taylor, Delivered at Yanceyville, North Carolina , July 24, 1860 by Reverend John S. Grasty.
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Reverend John S. Grasty became the minister at Yanceyville [Presbyterian Church] and Griers, serving from 1850 until 1856. His great, great grandson, James L. Grasty, Jr. preached at Yanceyville on Joy Gift Sunday (in the month of December) 1986. He brought with him a copy of John S. Grasty's diary and other artificts for members to see and read. Source: In the Beginning . . . The Churches of Caswell County, Jean B. Scott, Compiler (2000) at 118.
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Reverend Thomas Lynch
Some of the earlier ministers at Griers Presbyterian Church: Henry Pattillo 1760; Hugh McAden 1768; William Moore 1789; James H. Bowman 1810; Ezekial B. Curry 1811; William B. Maroney 1814; Samuel Paisley 1829; Thomas Lynch 1836; John S. Grasty 1856; Jacob Doll 1857-1862; James L. Currie 1877-1883; W. R. Coppedge 1889; and William Campnell 1891.
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Reverend John W. Montgomery served as minister at Bethesda Presbyterian Church (between John H. Pickard and Jacob Doll). Source: In the Beginning . . . The Churches of Caswell County, Jean B. Scott, Compiler (2000) at 11.
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Reverend Stephen Addision Stanfield
Red House Presbyterian Church: A communion table and pulpit chairs were a gift of the children of the Rev. T. U. Faucette, who was pastor from 1875 until 1893. A chalice which was used for many years was a gift from Miss Betty Durham. Two communion goblets, which were formerly used, were a gift first to the Woods Church in Dinwiddie, Virginia, by General Joseph Jones, a Revolutionary general. They were used there until that church merged with the Tabb Street Church in Petersburg, Virginia. There, they were used until they were replaced. They were returned to the grandson of General Jones, Richard Lee Jones. Mr. Jones gave them to the Rev. S. A. Stanfield to be used at Red House. Mr. Stanfield had married Miss Rebekah Jones, a niece of Mr. Jones. These goblets were used at Red House until after 1913, when they were replaced by the present individual cups presented by Robert Kennon Smith. These goblets were returned to a daughter of Rev. Stanfield, Mrs. Geore T. Lansdell. The chalice was also give to her.
Source: In the Beginning . . . The Churches of Caswell County, Jean B. Scott, Compiler (2000) at 87.
1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Stephen A Stanfield
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1823
Age in 1870: 47
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1870: Cunningham, Person, North Carolina
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Cunningham Store
Occupation: Presbyterian Minister
Value of Real Estate: $3000
Value of Personal Estate: $1500
Household Members: Name Age
Stephen A Stanfield 47
Rebecca D Stanfield 33
Lucey e Stanfield 12
Mary J Stanfield 10
Joseph J Stanfield 8
Lillia Stanfield 5
Stephen A Stanfield 2
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