Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-09-15

ing with her husband and settling on
the South bank of the great Shoe
co Creek" in l735. Her descendants
are scattered throughout the South
and West.
Following the abandonment of "St.
Johns" the Baptist, Methodist and
Presbyterian groups began to form
ally organize into churches. 1.-THE
Methodist Society" organized a church
in what is now Franklin county
then Butte county. This church was
called New Hope" and was located
about ten miles southwest of st.
Johns" This church was the meet
ing place of the Methodists for seve-
raj years. It was then moved to War
rem county at a sight on the State
road about two miles west of old st.
Johns. The site was a beautiful one.
on the land of Edward Jones Jr..
whose granddaughter, Anna Jones,
heired this portion of the plantation.
When she married DR.. Robert c. Prit-
chard they decided to build their
home where the church was located.
and made proposition to the stew
ards of Shocco to exchange the site
for a site in the fork of the Hender-
son, Louisburg roads, about a half
mile east.
1 have in my possession a subscrip-
ton list for repairs to Shocco
church, and as this was dated in
1875, 1 must conclude that it was for
rebuilding New Hope" under the
name of "Shocco." 1 quote:
I'VE promise to pay unto Thomas
Cook, Edward Jones and Daniel Bar
row with several sums hereunto an
nexed to our several names, pune
tually to be paid the 25th of Decem-
Der next, which shall and is intended
by them to be applied towards re-
pairing Shocco Church in such man
ner as they shall think best. Witness
our hands this 6 October, 1885,"
Thomas Cook, Daniel Barrow. J. w.
Macon, John Pinnell, Francis Mvrick.
Thomas Landon, Abe Smith. VIM.
Fairon, Ben Ingram Joshua Perry.
William Williams, Benz. Moss, Thos.
Jenkins, Soloman Dorsey, Ephriam
Price, John Foster James Kimball,
James Ransom, John Hawkins. Ben
Jamnl Bilbro, Gabriel Long, John
Norwood, Aaron Russell, Caleb Dor
sey, Robert Hightower, Young Nc
Lemore, Robert Hill, ]. Devaney.
Thos. Armstrong, BENZ. Ward, Jr.,
ROBERT Jones, Edward Jones, William
ransom, Sugar Jones, James Grav.
William Thomas, Isaac Hunter. Phil
Hawkins, G. H. Macon, VIM. Myrick.
A total of 261 L. Possibly S14OO.
MY father informed me that the ben
ches in Shocco came from New Hone.
but that they had no backs. This
repairing must have included the
backs, as I knew them. Thew were
smooth, and splendidly made. and vet
were rather hard on an eight year-old
boy, who often laid his head in his
mothers or brothers lap, during the
long service and slept.
The pulpit was mounted by a cir
cular stair, and the Altar rail sur
rounded the pulpit. Since I was a
large boy the pulpit was cut down
ana the stairs removed. The preach
er of the early days was where he
could look down on his CONGREGATION
in one sense; but I am quite sure
that he could not look down sociallv
or mentally on his Shocco congrega-
ton. The church had no gallery. but
for the colored attendants.
left the neighborhood more than
~ years ago, but returned and spent
several years with my wife and fam
NY among my old friends and neigh
bors.
we attended the Sunday school
ana church, and it was always plea
sure TO meet our neighbours The
memory of my boyhood days and the
happy days with my family in Shoe
co neighborhood I love to dwell upon
don't think anything sweet and
wholesome is ever lost, and some dav
we shall all gather at the River in
our pilgrimage to that land where
Infinite Day excludes the Night
And pleasures bannish pain"
Warrenton, N. C.
T1IIxy