History NC Mecklenburg Hopewell Presbyterian Church

History, NC, Mecklenburg, Hopewell Presbyterian Church THE HISTORY OF HOPEWELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FOR 175 YEARS FROM THE ASSIGNED DATE OF ITS ORGANIZATION 1762 By CHARLES WILLIAM SOMMERVILLE, Ph.D., D. D. Prepared for publication By JANE D. CARSON, M.A. BETTY GUY SOMMERVILLE, A.B. Page 1 of 281 History, NC, Mecklenburg, Hopewell Presbyterian Church PUBLISHED, 1939 BY HOPEWELL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Committee for the Church J . F. HOUSTON, Chairman J. G. MCELROY J. F. PATTERSON Printed by THE OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE, INC. CHARLOTTE, NC Page 2 of 281 History, NC, Mecklenburg, Hopewell Presbyterian Church TO THE CHILDREN OF HOPEWELL Whose greetings around the pulpit in childlike simplicity heartened their pastor for new effort To feed His lambs, to tend His sheep, This history of the church of their fathers is dedicated Page 3 of 281 History, NC, Mecklenburg, Hopewell Presbyterian Church Table of Contents AUTHOR’S PREFACE..................................................................8 INTRODUCTORY NOTE.................................................................9 CHAPTER I THE BEGINNINGS AND JOHN THOMSON........................................10 Footnotes.....................................................................19 CHAPTER II ORGANIZATION AND BUILDINGS............................................23 Footnote......................................................................27 CHAPTER III THE SUCCESSION OF PASTORS............................................29 Footnote......................................................................45 CHAPTER IV SOME NEIGHBORS AND DAUGHTERS..........................................47 Footnote......................................................................63 CHAPTER V SCHOOLS OF HOPEWELL....................................................65 Footnote......................................................................69 CHAPTER VI OLD FAMILIES..........................................................70 THE ABERNETHYS OF MECKLENBURG 1................................................70 THE GASTON COUNTY ABERNETHYS..................................................72 THE ALEXANDER FAMILY..........................................................73 JOHN McKNITT ALEXANDER’S FIVE CHILDREN........................................74 REV. MR. WALLIS14..............................................................80 THE MOSES ALEXANDER FAMILY21...................................................84 THOMAS McCORKLE ALEXANDER22....................................................85 C. B. BARKLEY’S FAMILY........................................................86 J. R. BARKLEY FAMILY23.........................................................87 BARNETT FAMILY24...............................................................88 BARRY FAMILY25.................................................................88 BLYTHE FAMILY38................................................................90 CATHY FAMILY39.................................................................93 CRAVEN FAMILY.................................................................93 THE DAVIDSONS40................................................................94 HARRY FAMILY55................................................................100 HENDERSON FAMILY.............................................................103 HENDERSON FAMILY OF LONG CREEK61..............................................106 HOUSTON FAMILY62..............................................................107 HOPEWELL HOUSTONS65...........................................................108 HUNTER FAMILY66...............................................................108 JAMISON FAMILY...............................................................109 KERNS FAMILY68................................................................110 KIDD FAMILY72.................................................................113 JAMES LATTA73.................................................................115 LAWING FAMILY74...............................................................115 LUCKEY FAMILY75...............................................................116 McAULEY FAMILY76..............................................................116 THE COUNTRY CARPENTER78.......................................................118 McCOY FAMILY79................................................................120 McDONALD FAMILY80.............................................................122 McELROY FAMILY81..............................................................122 McKNIGHT FAMILY82.............................................................125 ROBERT WILLIS McNEELY FAMILY83................................................125 JOHN W. MOORE FAMILY84........................................................126 PARKS FAMILY85................................................................128 DR. THOMAS MOORE PARKS (1841-1877)86..........................................130 PATTERSON FAMILY: GENEALOGICAL HISTORY88......................................131 PATTERSON FAMILY AT HOPEWELL.................................................131 Page 4 of 281 History, NC, Mecklenburg, Hopewell Presbyterian Church POTTS FAMILY90................................................................133 JAMES PUCKETT FAMILY.........................................................133 WILLIAM F. PUCKETT FAMILY91...................................................134 SAMPLE FAMILY92...............................................................135 SHIELDS FAMILY95..............................................................137 STEPHENS FAMILY96.............................................................138 STEWART FAMILY97..............................................................140 TORRANCE FAMILY98.............................................................142 VANCE FAMILY100................................................................142 WHITLEY FAMILY102..............................................................147 FAMILY OF DR. ISAAC WILSON103..................................................148 SAMUEL WILSON’S FAMILY104......................................................149 Footnote.....................................................................152 CHAPTER VII THE HOMESTEADS OF HOPEWELL..........................................159 Footnote.....................................................................171 CHAPTER VIII REMINISCENCES......................................................172 Hopewell and the Secretary of the Convention in 17751.........................172 HOPEWELL MEDICAL MEN.........................................................182 HOPEWELL SINGING.............................................................184 LEADERS OF THE CHOIR.........................................................185 HOMECOMING AT HOPEWELL CHURCH................................................186 HOMECOMING 1937..............................................................186 Footnote.....................................................................189 APPENDIX A MISCELLANEOUS ADDITIONS TO THE NARRATIVE.............................190 ECCLESIASTICAL MAP OF HOPEWELL...............................................190 Presbyteries to which Hopewell belonged......................................190 Ephraim Brevard (1744 - 1781)1................................................194 General William Lee Davidson8.................................................196 OFFICERS.....................................................................198 THE RULING ELDERS............................................................199 JOHN McKNITT ALEXANDER’S LAMENT OVER HOPEWELL................................208 Some Students of Hopewell Schools............................................209 School House in Front of the Church14.........................................210 THE WILLIAMSON SCHOOL........................................................210 Hopewell Boys At Davidson College15...........................................211 JAMES ALEXANDER AND HIS WILL.................................................212 JOHN McKNITT ALEXANDER’S WILL16...............................................212 WILL OF SAMUEL WILSON, SR....................................................218 CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS OF HOPEWELL17..............................................221 WORLD WAR SOLDIERS...........................................................221 Footnote.....................................................................222 APPENDIX B HOPEWELL’S ACTIVITIES TODAY..........................................224 THE WOMAN’S WORK.............................................................224 President’s Report of Girls’ Aid, 1880-1892..................................226 HOPEWELL’S ASSETS............................................................227 THE STANDARDS OF THE CHURCH..................................................227 READING RECOMMENDED..........................................................227 THE NEEDS OF TODAY...........................................................228 HOPEWELL IS WORTHY...........................................................229 THE SABBATH SCHOOL...........................................................229 CURRICULUM OF HOPEWELL’S SABBATH SCHOOL......................................230 THE DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL..............................................232 YOUNG PEOPLE’S REPORT FOR THE SUMMER OF 19375.................................232 Footnote.....................................................................234

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