Aberdeen, Moore County, North Carolina
Many thanks to Doug Purcell 633 North Randolph Avenue Eufaula, AL 36027-1209 for sharing this helpful information. Posted June 22nd, 2000. Updated April 16, 2002. See below.
Vienna, La
June 4, 1883
Editor Christian Observer
Dear Sir:
In examining an old black book now in possession of my mother, which belonged to my Grand father, John P. [Purcell] Graham, I find a list of what perports (sic) to be the names of the members of "Bethesda Church" which my mother says was situated in Richmond County, NC. As will be seen, this list was made on January 20, 1812, and is in the handwriting of my grandfather who was one of the Elders of that Church. My mother thinks it was one of the oldest, if not the oldest Presbyterian churches in that portion of the State of North Carolina.
It may be a matter of interest to a great many of your readers to publish this list. It is doubtful if any of the persons whose names appear on this list are still living, but many of their descendants are, and it will be interesting to them. It may be of importance to this old church, which I see from the reports of the General Assembly still exists.
I copy the list exactly as it appears in the book:
The Session Book of Bethesda January 20, 1812
John McIntyre, Pastor
Posted by Myrtle Bridges June 21st, 2000
| RULING ELDERS | RULING ELDERS | RULING ELDERS |
|---|---|---|
| Alex.r Graham | John McLeod | John Black |
| Daniel Martin | Daniel McNeill | Lauchlin Curry |
| Norman Shaw | John P. Graham |
| MEMBERS | MEMBERS | MEMBERS |
|---|---|---|
| Angus Blue | Daniel Smith | Angus Johnston |
| Arch.d Gillis | Daniel McNeill | Alex.r Graham |
| Duncan Smith | Duncan Smith | Arch.d Paterson |
| Duncan McCallum | Colin Bethune | Duncan McLean |
| Daniel Blue | Daniel Campbell | Duncan McGugan |
| Hugh Black | Daniel Graham | John McIntyre |
| Daniel Paterson | John Black | Daniel Paterson |
| John McLeod | John Keahey | Christen Blue |
| Mary McIntyre | John Blue | Christen Gates |
| Margaret Graham | John P. Graham | Christen Gordon |
| Margaret Graham | John McDonald | Christen Smith |
| Margaret Graham | Christen McKennon | Daniel Martin |
| Margaret Paterson | Effy McLean | Jennet Graham |
| Malcom Clark | Eliza Graham | Nancy Graham |
| Christen McLeod | Margaret Paterson | Lauchlen Curry |
| Effy Black | Mary Smylie | Lauchlen McKinnon |
| Effy Black | Margaret McLean | Norman Shaw |
| Effy Graham | Margaret McNeill | Peter Blue |
| Malcom McCauley | Elizabeth Keahey | Isabella McLean |
| James Smylie | Elizabeth Shaw | Sarah Brown |
| Daniel McLean | Flora Blue | Sarah Campbell |
| Arch.d Buchan | Flora Graham | Sarah Curry |
| Alexander Graham | Flora Graham | Sarah Martin |
| Amelia Paterson | Gormel McLeod | Sarah Peterson |
| Ann Campbell | Isabella Blue | Sarah Smith |
| Ann Graham | Jane McIntyre | Sarah McLean |
| Ann Smith | Ann Smith | Jennit Smith |
| Flora Blue | Cathrine Buchan | Mary Clark |
| Sarah Buchan | Cathrine Baker | Mary Graham |
| Mary Black | Cathrine Blue | Mary Graham |
| Cathrine Clark | Mary Gordon | Mary McKinnon |
| Cathrine McLean | Mary Johnston | Cathrine McNeill |
| Mary Smith | Cathrine McDonald | Mary McCullum |
| Isabella McGugan | Margaret Smith | Flora Black |
| Lucia Black | Nancy Black |
Note: A copy of the same list dated January 20, 1812 and published in Bion Butler's book, "OLD BETHESDA at the Head of Rockfish", on pages 134-136 shows some differences in the two lists. According to Butler's list "Sarah Peterson", should be "Sarah Paterson"; "Christen Gates" should be "Christen Yeats." Daniel Graham, Daniel McLean, Mary Gordon and Christen McLeod listed above, are not shown on Butler's list. Butler's list names Isabella McGugan, Nancy Black, Louisa Black, Margaret Smith and Christen McLean, but those names are not on the posted list above. The list below is contributed by Elvalee Swift
The Session Book of Bethesda, January 20th, 1812, John McIntyre, Pastor. Ruling Elders, Alexr Graham, John McLeod, John Black, Daniel Martin, Daniel McNile, Lauchlen Curry, Norman Shaw and John P. Graham.
Members--Angus Blue, Arch'd Gillis, Alexer Graham, Angus Johnsden, Archd Paterson, Colin Bethune, Daniel Blue, Daniel Campbell, Duncan McLean, Duncan McGugan, Daniel Paterson, Daniel Paterson, Daniel Smith, Daniel McNeill, Duncan Smith, Duncan McCallum, Malcom McCauley, Amerial Paterson, Ann Graham, Gormel McLeod, Jane McIntyre, Isabella McGugan, Jennet Smith, Mary Black, Catherine Baker, Catherine Clark, Catherine McLean, Catherine McDonald, Sarah Buchan, Nancy Black, Catherine Blue, Catherine McNeill, Duncan Smith, Ann Smith, Ann Smith, Catherine Buchan, Hugh Black, John McIntyre, John Black, John McLeod, John Keachey, John Blue, John P. Graham, John McDonald, Daniel Martin, Luchlen Curry, Luchlen McKinnon, Norman Shaw, Peller Blue, Malcolm Clark, James Smylie, Archd Buchan, Ann Campbell, Flora Graham, Christen Blue, Christen Yeats, Christen Gordon, Christen Smith, Christen McKinnon, Christen McLean, Effy Black, Effy Graham, Effy Black, Effy McLean, Eliza Graham, Louisa Black, Elizabeth Keachey, Elikzabeth Shaw, Flora Blue, Flora Blue, Flora Graham, Margaret McNeill, Margaret Smith, Jennet Graham, Nancy Graham, Isabella McLean, Mary Clark, Mary Graham, Mary Graham, Mary Johnston, Mary Smith, Mary McCallum, Mary McKinnon, Mary McIntyre, Mary Smylie, Margaret Graham, Margaret Graham, Margaret Graham, Margaret Paterson, Margaret Paterson, Margaret McLean, Isabella Blue, Sarah Curry, Sarah Patterson, Sarah Smith, Sarah McLean, Sarah Brone, Sarah Campbell, Sarah Martin.
Here it is left to the reader to decide the correct account as both lists are said to have been written by Mr. John P. [Purcell] Graham
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