The Peter Spencer Churches of Newark, Delaware Early American Methodism
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The Peter Spencer Churches of Newark, Delaware Early American Methodism THE GARDEN OF AMERICAN METHODISM: THE DELMARVA PENINSULA CONFERENCE, 1769–1820. Published: August 1, 1997 By William Henry Williams. JOHN WESLEY 17 JUNE 1703 – 2 MARCH 1791 A Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to George Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally. CAMP MEETINGS Whites, free Blacks and slaves attended the Camp Meetings together. Richard Whatcoat Francis Asbury Thomas Coke Methodist Episcopal Church Barratt’s Chapel Cradle of Methodism 1784 Richard Allen Freeborn Garrettson Harry Hosier “BLACK HARRY” HOSSIER 1750 - 1806 The best-known early African American evangelist was Harry Hossier nicknamed “Black Harry”, He accompanied the Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury, Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Coke between 1784 and 1806. St. George’s United Methodist Church (Philadelphia) While Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and a number of other African Americans kneel in the gallery of St. George's for prayer one Sunday in 1787, church leaders attempt to pull them off their knees and move them to another part of the church. The oldest Methodist church in continuous use in the United States, Offended by the racism of church beginning in 1769. The congregation leaders, Allen and Jones lead the was founded in 1767 African American membership out of St. George's Methodist Church, never to return. First African Society Richard Allen Absalom Jones 8 Absalom Jones 1746 – February 13, 1818 Episcopal Church Bishop Richard Allen Peter Spencer 1782–1843 11 Peter Spencer O Born a slave in Kent County Maryland O His master freed him in his will. O Came to Delaware in 1800. Old Asbury Methodist Church The original section was built in 1789 13 NC-143 Ezion-Mount Caramel UMC NC-143: Originally Installed in 2005. In 1805, a group of African-Americans, desiring greater freedom of worship, withdrew from Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church to form a separate congregation. Led by Peter Spencer and William Anderson, they established what was then known as the African M. E. Church at 9th and French Streets. This was Delaware’s first church to be organized by African-Americans. The original house of worship was replaced by a new brick structure on the site in 1870. It was formally renamed Ezion Methodist Episcopal Church in 1885 and was rebuilt the following year after a devastating fire. The congregation continued to worship there until 1971. Mount Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church was established on Forrest Street in 1920 by a group of Wilmington residents who had migrated from lower Delaware. The congregation later moved to 504 E. 11th Street, and in 1942 they relocated again to 924 Lombard Street. On February 14, 1971, the congregations of the two churches officially merged to form Ezion-Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church. Construction of the present building was commenced in February 1973. The new church was formally consecrated on April 28, 1974. 14 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AFRICAN UNION CHURCH • Buyer Seller Year • African Methodist Church Articles of Assoc. 1813 • Recorder of Deeds Office • City County Building • Ledger Microfilm • Range Book Page Book Vol. Page • 1640 - 1873 A- C 10 M 3 470 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AFRICAN UNION CHURCH 1813 ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AFRICAN UNION CHURCH 1813 Articles of Association of the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington in the State of Delaware Article 1st The style and Title of this Corporation shall be the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilmington in the State of Delaware and Scotland Hill, Peter Spencer, Jacob Pendergrass, David Smith, John Kelley, and Jacob March Members of the said Church and their successors……. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AFRICAN UNION CHURCH 1813 John Agness Perry Cooper Jacob March John Alexander Ezekiel Coston Joseph Nichols Margaret Allen Maggie Debberty Grace Powell Jacob Anderson London Govern Charles Reed William Anderson Lydia Hall Peter Ripley James Back Sarah Hall John Simmons Luke Bashten Edmond Hayes David Smith Stephen Beardley Susan Hicks Peter Spencer Samuel Byard Scotland Hill William Touborn Moses Chippey George Hood Abraham Valentine Peter Clayton Richard Jackson Benjamin Webb Philip Closs John James Simon Weeks Jacob Collins John Kelly Joshua Young AUGUST QUARTERLY 1814 Big August Quarterly is an annual religious festival held in Wilmington, Delaware (sometimes called "Big Quarterly" or "August Quarterly"). Begun in 1814 by Peter Spencer in connection with the "quarterly" meeting (or "conference") of the African Union Church -- PETER SPENCER DIED: JULY 28, 1843 There were 31 churches in the African Union Church denomination when he died. LEGAL PROBLEMS AND DISSENTION PLAGUED THE PETER SPENCER LEGACY AFTER HIS DEATH 21 UNION CHURCH OF AFRICANS, DEFENDANTS V. ELLIS SANDERS, PLAINTIFF (1855) Bishop Ellis Saunders Mandamus is a judicial remedy — in the form of an order from a superior court, to any government subordinate court, corporation, or public authority — to do (or forbear from doing) some specific act which that body is obliged under law to do (or refrain from doing) UNION AFRICAN CHURCH PETER SPENCER CHURCHES SPLIT IN 1865 Union American Methodist Episcopal Church UAME AUMP African Union Methodist Protestant Church ST. DANIELS UAME CHURCH IRON HILL COMMUNITY 1838 Whitaker Iron Company Iron Miners Principico Iron Works Cecil County, MD ST. DANIELS UAME CHURCH African Union Church of Iron Hill ST. DANIELS Picture provided by the Delaware Historical Society 1838 1927 UAME CHURCH Church named after first pastor 155 Whitaker Road, Newark, DE 19711 Land Purchased in 1852 DEED FOR ST. DANIELS UAME CHURCH • Buyer Seller Year • Parker Daniel and others William Walker & wife 1852 • Trustees of the • African Union Church • ¼ of an acre $5.00 ST. DANIELS CHURCH DEED September 9, 1852 ST. DANIELS CHURCH DEED September 9, 1852 (Transcribed) This Indenture, Made the Ninth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two Between William Walker of Pencader Hundred in the County of New Castle and the state of Delaware and Hester his wife of the first part, and Daniel Parker, James Coomes & William Walker of Pencader Hundred, and George Morris, James Potter, Henry Evans and Isacc Bassus of White Clay Creek Hundred of the county and state aforesaid., Trustees of the African Union Church of the other part. ST. DANIELS CHURCH DEED September 9, 1852 (Transcribed) …alien, enfecoff, release and confirm unto the said David Parker, James, Coomes, William Walker, George Morris, James Potter, Isaac Baccus and Henry Evans, and to their successors in Office. All that’s certain Lots of Land situate in Pencader Hundred aforesaid, TRUSTEES OF ST. DANIELS CHURCH Iron Ore Miners White Clay Creek: Pencader: George Morris William Walker (MD) James Potter Daniel Parker Henry Evans James Cooms Isacc Bassus 155 Whitaker Road, Newark, DE 19711 SIGNATURE WILLIAM WALKER AND HESTER WALKER his her William X Walker Hester X Walker mark mark PATH OF OWNERSHIP TO CREATE ST. DANIEL’S UAME CHURCH 1841 $650.00 Seller: William Kincaid 50 acres Buyer: Solomon Grier, William Walker and Daniel Parker 1849 Seller: Solomon Grier & William Walker Seller: Solomon Grier & Daniel Parker Buyer: Daniel Parker Buyer: William Walker $1.00 13 acres and 38 Perches $1.00 37 ½ acres 1852 Seller: William Walker $5.00 ¼ acre Buyer: Daniel Parker, William Walker and Daniel Cooms of Pencader Hundred and George Morris, James Potter, Henry Evans and Isacc Bassus of White Clay Creek Hundred trustees of the African Union Church of Iron Hill his Land was redistributed Solomon X Grier mark Signature Page her Eliza X Grier mark his William X Walker mark her Hester X Walker mark United States Census 1850 William Walker Pencader Hundred, New Castle, Delaware Household Sex Age Race Birthplace Occupation William Walker Male 42 B Maryland Laborer Hester Walker Female 35 B Maryland William H Walker Male 19 B Maryland Laborer Mary J Walker Female 13 B Delaware Isaac Walker Male 11 B Delaware Lorenza Blackston Male 40 B Pennsylvania Laborer Susan Blackston Female 37 M Pennsylvania School Teacher Thomas Blackston Male 4 M Pennsylvania Levi Blackston Male 1 M Pennsylvania Iron Stopped in Iron Hill in 1888 36 The Cooch Family The James Family Patriarch of the Family Patriarch of the Family United States Census 1820 United States Census 1820 William Cooch, Jr. Zebulon James PENCADER HUNDRED, New Castle PENCADER HUNDRED, New Castle Household Role Sex Age Race Birthplace Total Household Role Sex Age Race Birthplace Occupation William Cooch Head Male 24 B Del 1 Zebulon James Head Male 39 B Del Free Whites 5 Jane James Wife Female 29 B Del Slaves 7 James James Son Male 3 B Del Free Blacks 1 Abijah James Son Male 0 B Del Total 14 The Cooch Family The James Family Patriarch of the Family United States Census 1860 Zebulon James PENCADER HUNDRED, New Castle Household Role Sex Age Race Birthplace Occupation Zebulon James Head Male 79 B Del Jane James Wife Female 69 B Del James James Son Male 23 B Del Abijah James Son Male 20 B Md Secelia James Daughter Female 30 B Del Zebia James Son Male 12 B Del David James Son Male 11 B Del Samuel James Son Male 5 B Del William Cooch Jr. Secilia James Daughter Female 2 B Del Samuel James Son Male 46 B Del siblings, Thomas, Zebulon, & Levi. Sept. 20 1796 May 31, 1869 (aged 72) Old Welsh Tract Baptist Church Cemetery Newark United States Census 1880 David James Pencader Hundred, Delaware Household Role Sex Age Race Birthplace Occupation David James, Jr.