Daily Republican., 1881-01-22
REV. FRANCIS AssUnr.
HIS visit 60 New Castle County,
RelswsFe.-Netes ~ Rev. @. W.
LybRand.

/ A~seS - Asos' Ne "
LybFand.
Fte following account Of Rev. Francl
Asbury's visit to this county, gathsrst
from his journal, has been sent 10 In,
REPVRLIcAs with notes by Rev. Gsorg,
w. Lybrsnd, Of the PhiladslphiA Coz
ference.
On April s, l772, | set out from
Philadelphia for Bohemia 10 fnd Mr.
W. (RicLsrd WrighD who had beer
A. HIS own discretion, that he mig hl
wait on Mr.. b. (boardmAn) In order "a
90 TO York (New York; Tor Ave months,
stopping at Mrs. Why's, in Chester
TO iced myself and horse, | inquired
about preaching In that town, and
found this to bs the house where Mr..
BoardmAn and Mr.. Fillmore put up
and that the people were pleased with
Methodist preaching. [Mrs. W,thy's
Kept the bost Inn on the continent,
and always received the Methodist
preaehers. ]
After leaving word that would call
to preach there on my return, 1 oct Of
for Wilmington, expecting to meet Mr.
Wright there but We accidentally met
Just as he was turning OF to Mr..
russey's for lodging, about four miles
from the town. He seemed glad TO see
ne, and willing to be- subject to order.
The next morning he went on his way
70 Philadelphia. Having desire to 90
and see, and hear how things went, |
desired him 10 call and preach at Ches.
ter. lprooeeded to the house Of Mr..
;tedham, friend OF the Methodists,
and then rode on to New Castle, and
stopped at the house OF brother Furness
q rn-kesper, but q good man.
| preached there to few people, bat
met with opposition, and found the
Mstbodlsts had done 20 great good.
The courthouse here is shut against
us but It is epen for dances and balls;
and brother Fnrness has lost his com
psny by receiving us. However, We
we're oomfsrted together. Tuesday,
April l3, l772, was advised, and invit-
cd to preach at Wilmington +; which |
did, though there W ere but few to hear
{ This was the first time Mr.. Asbury
had preached at Wilmington.
Mr.. Stedham was the irst friend the
Methodists had In Wilmington; he re-
ceived the preachers, and had preach.
ing in his house, II seems for several
years; and his family, 1t appeared, was
the first Me hodist family in the town.
For several years the Methodists in
this town held their meetings in pri-
vate houses. MIR. Isaac Tussey lived
It She'll pot Hill, he was 3 cousin t.
Mr.. Stedham, and received and enter
aimed the preachers from the begiu-
lipg, and lived and died Methodist.
'Lsdnum] He married the daugt te.
" George Smith, Of Goshen, and set.
led In the vicinity Of the Grove Socie-
y, L. "Mr. Robert Furness, who
Sept public house in New Castle, was
he first that received the preachers,
md the preaching into his house in
his town. By joining the Methodists,
40 lost his custom; and, at the Court
louse, which was open for balls, was
,losed against Methodist preachers,
hey preached in his tavern. At this
.ime there was rather more promise Of
,uccess TO the cause In New Castle,
han in Wilmington. Here one Of the
irSt Methodist societies In Delaware
vas formed, II not the very frat"
Lednum.
Wednesday, October %, l772, Rich
aid sauss, and myself set out on
for Bohemia, TBohemia
Manor, Cecil county, Md, and on our
way We found few friends at New
that had not deserted the cause.
Richard Ssuse who accompanied him
N this visit, was leading member OF
he Methodist society In New York city.
ie was from Dublin, Ireland, aud q
dethodist in his own land. A liberal
towards the building OF
ohm stroat Chapel, New York. BE
ave Gl3. s5. For time was Treas.
rer. He had the honor Of boarding
be first regular preachers from the cid
,orld, Richard Boardmsn and Joseph
ilmore.
On Monday, December Is, l772,
ode to New Castle, aud preached to q
lrge company. My soul has lately
cen much borne down. Tuesday IL
here were but few people attending
reaching at Mr.. 5tedham's; and as
le next day was wet, staid and had
family meeting. On Thursday, Il
enL to Mr.. Tussey's. My mind has
cen much affected lately. May the 1
ord support and teach me After {
reaching at Mr.. Tussey's, went to
ear New Light, and found but little I
Lords day, Il. Though /
rained much, yet many people at 1
,nded preaching at Isaac Hersey's. 0
This was Asbury's first visit. He (
as the father Of Rev. John Hersey.
As early as It'll, Hr. Isaac Herssy, a
ho lived west Of Christiana, opened L
Is house to :he preachers. Here q t
'ois.y was raised up, and afterwards I
church called Salem was built about g
'0s. The appointments at New r
astls, Wilmington, Tussey's, Isaac il
.ersey's, are the Oldest appointments u
Delaware State.-Lednum. Z
Then 1 preached at a place about Eve a
lies Off and rode thence to New Castle u
here many people attended at night. @
he Lord favored me. My mind Ia now b
IL Of divine peace. Monday l4tb, II 7
I ont for Bohemia. Friday, March l8, t.
10, Ispoks with power to many peo h
9 at New Castle. Went thence to
ilmington, and spoke to q few people
tn great feeling. Lords day 10th.
1t few attended at Isaac Hersey's be. n,
use Of the rain, but l felt myself n
eAtly assisted. Went thence through q,
Q rain to Newport where many peo. "
8 attended in the evening. They ap- ss
ared to have very little sense Of re- a.
ious things. y; Al
81. being rainy day, We n
out late for Marlborough, Cheater an
1nty, Pa. IN
From Samuel Hooper's he went "
ont twenty miles. through wet weath- N,