The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-06-22
THE UNITED BRETHREN
Historical Sketch Of the Rise and Prog
TGSS Of the
MORAVIANS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
The First Colony that Came was from
Pennsylvania and Consisted OF
Twelve Young Men-They Arrived
on the 18th of November, 1888
Many Difficulties Encountered


the 18th of November, 1893
Many Difficulties Encountered
The Settlements of the United
Brethren in Europe as well as IL
America. having met with Applause
the Attention of the British Parlia
Inent was thereby raised, which pass
ed an Act in the Year 1749 declared
a public Act wherein the Brethren o.
Unitas Fratrum are said to be ''Ar
ancient Protestant Episcopal church.
demeaning themselves as a sober, quiet
and industrious People, and that the
encouraging them to settle in greater
Number in America would be beneti-
cial to the Colonies, therefore exempt
ing them from military Duties as well
as from taking of OdthS."
In consequence tn ereof many Offers
were made to them to settle both on
the Continent and the Islands Par
ticularly the late John Earl Granville,
President of the British PriYy COun-
Gil, was most urgent 10 it with regard
to North Carolina, which was accept
ed of, in hopes to come nigh the In
dian Nations, to preach the Gospel to
them, tho they have since removed
great way further.
Accordingly in August, 1852, six
Brethren from Bethlehem in Pennsyl-
yania were deputed to go to Edenton
n North Carolina, from whence they
Travelled up the Country in Company
with the Surveyor general MIR. VIM
Churton. In a short Time all fell sick
except one who waited on the rest. At
last they were Obliged to leave two
behind them, and the who were
gradually recovered, proceeded under
many Difficulties of Cold Snow and
Want in the Mountains of then De
sarts of Catawba Atkin and Newriyer:
where there We're no Roads nor Paths,
meeting everywhere with smaller
Tracts, till in their way back they
came to that Part where now Wacho-
via lieth, where they met with large
Tract, and from the 18th of December
1852 till the 18th of January 1913 ran
out above 10000 Acres in one Tract, to
which since then some more were
added, making in all 9S, 9S5 Acres.
This Tract was conveyed by John
Earl Granville to is. Hutton Secretary
of the Unitds fir. in 10 different Deeds
and by separate Deed of the same
Date, said Tract was declared to be in
Trust for the UnitaS F'raGrum, Stipu-
lating in the same Time, that the
yearly Quitrent of e14S p Sterling
should be paid in England in Airing
ton Street Westminster, which Qui-
trentS were in the Year 1867 bought
outright.
The Advocate Chancellor and Agent
of the United Brethren, had by their
Credit procured the Purchase Money
from a Number of Brethren and
Friends, who being willing to encOur-
age the Undertaking, consented to
Advance not only that Sum, but also
the other Expenses necessary for
transporting ColoniSts from Europe or
elsewhere for the first Settlement on
the Tract, upon Condition to receive
proportiOnable Compensation either
in Land or out of the ale thereof. The
Management thereof was left to Fred
erick William Marchall Esq. who
having been in England when the Act
of Parliament was passed and the
North Carolina Settlement was re
solved upon, had been acquainted
with all the Particulars from the Be
ginning, and in the Year 1768 came to
reside in North Carolina, to whom
also at the Time of the Revolution
the Land was conveyed from is. Hut
ton, and confirmed by Act of Assem-
bly, of the Year 1882, and he IS now
bound to Creditors under Certain
Conditions.
The first Colony that came from
Pennsylvania consisted of II young
Men who arrived the 18th of Noyem-
Der 1913 to make a Beginning. 1t be-
ing so late in the Season, they resOlv-
ed to stay in left off hunters Cabin
which they found where Bethabara
now stands, and Immediately went
a bout clearing s Acres for Winter
grain, which yielded but poor Crop
BEING sOwed too late.
n All Beginnings are attended with
ifficultieS, but Bethabara then stu
ated at such Distance from any Cul-
tivatiOn, experienced them in a more
eminent Degree. Coming from Penn
sylyania they Travelled the upper road
by Winchester EYao Gap and Upper
Sawra town, which was then so wild
that they were frequently obliged to
unload the Wagon ard carry both
Baggage and Utensils up or down the
PrecipiceS, besides cutting Banks OF
Rivers to made WaggOnroad. Pro
visions were sometimes not to be had
for love nor money, when hunting
alone supplied Necessaries. The CHI
mate as well as the Soil were not yet
explored. Cows were not used to be
MIXED. The next place to fetch Salt
they paid Z pounds Sterling for a
Bushel, and for Want of Roads trav.
elled for a long time 20 miles to a
place scarce II miles distant. Roads
were to be laid out as well as Bridges.
Some of the first houses were only
raised of fence rails. Whatever they
wanted besides the Tools they haC
brought along, was to be fetched neal
600 miles from Pennsylvania. The
first Beehoy was brought 120 mile
from Tarriyer.
The Year after some more Colonist:
followed them in small Companies
and Gristmill and Sawmill as wei
as couple of Lighthouses were begun
Now also some other People settled il
their NeighbOrhood, however, the chic
Settlement being intended to be mad
about the middle of the Tract, thes
first steps were only looked on as pre-
paratory to raise Farm for their flu
ture Support, and the Place was call
ed Bethabara Ia Thoroughbred.
In 1855 this Tract was by Act o
Assembly declared separate parish
and the Land was in that act called
Wachovia.
During the first three Years the
had found SO much Occupation wit
the most necessary Building, clearin
and preparatory work, that they live
in great measure upon Expense, an
the Indian War broke out, in whic
the Cherokees were gradually entang
led, and the Brethren who had still
their Eyes fixed upon the Centre c
Wachovia, found themselves under
Necessity, for their SafeSy's Sake t
continue for the present in one bod
where they were.
Being determined to stand thei
ground, they palisaded Rethabara a
well as the Mill, and the Inhabitant
as far as the Heads of NeWriyer too
their refuge to them ana lived in Bal
racks. Proyidentially the measure
taken for the Safety of the Places sui
ceeded so well, that the Indians then