Church Records

Jonesborough Presbyterian Church, Session, Register, Baptism, Births, and Deaths; 1783-1873

Ancestry.com. U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Original data: Church Registers. Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Minutes of the Session of Jonesborough Presbyterian Church.

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Reminiscences and Memoranda – Continued

     Houses of Worship.

I.     The old log house four miles East of Jonesboro:  The site given by John B. McMahon.  Adam Mitchell Senr was the chief mover in putting up the building, though John B. McMahon, Samuel Fain, and Peter Miller bore a good share of the cost.  It was used also for a school house.  It rotted down before the memory of the present generation.  Was built about 1790.

II.     The old Martin Academy and Church, built of Brick in 1816.  Joseph Bowman was the Carpenter and Wade did the mason work.

III.     The building now used as a Female Academy (April 1853.)  It was erected in haste for the meeting of the Synod of Tennessee in October 1831.  The town gave a lot, now owned by Dr. Joseph S. Rhea.  This was exchanged with Adam Garnes for the present site. John Dameron did the brick work; Samuel A. Lyle, the plastering; John Patton and Thomas Mercer, the Carpenter’s work; and Jesse Thompson made the pews and built the enclosure, the last of which was completed in 1836.

IV.  The present house, of which a history is given in a former part of this Book.  Lyle & Hunt built the walls in 1847.  Wm M. Fleming did the Carpenter’s work finishing his job in the Fall of 1849.  Joseph L. Birts made the pews and pulpit in the summer of 1849, completing his job in 1850.  Wm Sherfer and George Collins enclosed the lot in July 1850.

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Minutes of the Session of Jonesborough Presbyterian Church.

Field 25th January 1873, B.G Swingle

A History of the Jonesborough Presbyterian Church

A historical discourse preached at the dedication of the Third House of Worship of the Presbyterian Church the 16th of August 1850 by Rev. Rufus P. Wells.

It is an unusual call that has brought us together today, and the hour before us cannot be more profitably spent than in calling up the scenes of the past and bringing to our minds what our fathers have told us, the words God did in their days, in the times of old.  The records of this church prior to Feb. 1835 are lost, and therefore in making up its history, I have had recourse to the memories of the aged among us, some of whom bore a part in that history.  You understand then some of the difficulties of my task.

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For some time the church remained in such an expiring and disorganized state, that persons wishing to make a profession of religion were advised to join the Salem church at Washington College and it is not recollected, that order was so far restored as to admit of holding a Sacrament before October 1816.  During this time preaching was had at the houses of Messrs. David Deaderick, John Adams, and other persons, and at the Court House, the second one built in the place.    In accordance with the custom of our denomination at that time, the pews were sold out, and the several families occupied their own seats.  It was here that Dr. Coffin held his first sacrament, at which he was assisted by Rev. Isaac Anderson D.D..  The other sacraments are remembered during Dr. Coffin’s time, at one of which in 1818 Rev. John McCampbell D.D. rendered assistance:  at another Rev. Robert Hardin D.D. and Rev James Gallaher, and at the other Rev. Andrew S. Morrison.  The number of church members at the time Dr. Coffin concluded his labors , could not have been less than thirty.  His Elders were Messrs. Adam Mitchell, Jonathan Young, and John Patton.

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…Rev. Charles Coffin…  …In the Spring of 1806, he joined the union Presbytery.   He was solicited to resume the charge of Hebron Church, soon after his return, but he declined doing so, on the ground, that the arrangement made with Rev. W. Doak had not expired.  At length however after Mr. Doak had discontinued his labors, he resumed the charge of the Church.

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In addition to the inconvenient size of the old church, its walls were badly cracked, and it was through unsafe as a place of worship.  Accordingly it was resolved to build a new house.  This was done with the utmost haste that it might be ready for the meeting of the synod of Tenn. The 12th of Oct. 1831.  Some of the pews, and the yard fence were not entirely finished till some time in 1836.  A lot of ground had been given by the Town for a building site on the opposite side of the way, but by and exchange with Mr. Adam Garnes the present beautiful location i.e. of the second church, the present female Academy was obtained.  The plan of having few seats, and of families setting promiscuously in the congregation, the gentlemen on one side of the house, and the ladies on the other, was adopted during the sixteen years, which that house was used.  The result was that much disorder was always in the congregation, rude young persons being under less restraint than when occupying the same seat with their parents and older persons.

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On the 2nd of April 1840 at a meeting of Holston Presbytery in this place, the name of Hebron was laid aside, and from that time it has taken the name of Jonesborough Presbyterian Church.

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The history of this house of worship, is briefly this.  There was a bell suspended close to the end of the old second house in a frame, which by its bowing posture, because an eye sore and a source of terror to the passers by.  This suggested the idea of a cupola or steeple for the bell.  On examination it was found that the walls of the house were much cracked, and that a steeple surmounting such a low front would be exceedingly awkward, and out of proportion.  Various plans were then thought of; one was to raise the walls higher, another was to turn the front around and build higher; and another was to build entirely new; At last it was determined to let the old house stand for a Female Academy, and to seek a new location.  To leave a house so well shaded as the old one is, and there being also many pleasant associations connected with it, was thought to be too great a trial.  But the place being not of easy access during the winter, and there being a prospect of having a house more centrally situated , the majority of the congregation were in favor of a change of location, and the present site was fixed upon.  The Walls of this house were put up in the Spring of 1847, and the basement was so enclosed, that we met in it the following Christmas.  During the summer of 1848, that room was entirely finished and has been our place of worship ever since.  We are able however today to meet in our Sanctuary proper, and to dedicate it to the service of the great Jehovah.

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Jonesboro’ Friday 16th August 1850

At a meeting of the session, Hon. Seth J.W. Lucky as appointed to attend a called meeting of Holston Presbytery in this place to day.

Our new House of Worship was this day dedicated.  Invocation and reading of the scriptures by Rev. Samuel Y. Wyly; - a Historical Discourse by Rev. Rufus P. Wells from Psalm 78: 1-8 – Dedicatory Prayer by Rev. Charles Coffin, D.D.; and an address to the people by Rev. F.A. Ross.

The cost of the new building; the names of the contributors’ the sums given’ and the amount expended in Improvement will be hereinafter recorded, whenever a statement may be prepared from the various written and verbal contracts.

Thos A.R. Nelson, Clerk     Rufus P. Wells, Moderator

History and Cost of the new Church Ediface

     The old Church building – now used as a Female Academy – was, in its day, a fine House of Worship compared with other churches in this end of the State.  Some improvements in the style of Church Buildings had taken place at Rogersville and the small, but chaste and tasteful Presbyterian Church recently built at Kingsport, began, in this country, to awaken public attention to the propriety of departing from the old custom, in East Tennessee, of building the Churches out of town to accommodate the country people with a place to hitch their horses, and of making such Houses more near, convenient and attractive.

     Our Church was built at such a respectable distance out of town as to deter wet weather Christians from going out in cloudy weather and, absolutely, to prevent all but the boldest from risking their necks by going to night meetings, except in “dry times,” or on moonlight nights or Sacramental occasions.  It was dimly lighted by misty lamps, made of tin in accordance with an “odd-come-short” Patent, and, at night, was generally filled with smoke, redolent of grease!  The small Church Bell was suspended upon a frame “somewhat resembling a gallows, standing at an angle of about 45°,” and conspicuously fronting the town.  When rung, the bell creaked, or shrieked upon its hinges in such a manner as to shock the nerves of the delicate and, generally to excite the visibility of the “young Republicans” of the Congregation.  Some of the Church members, whose names are not now recollected, became ashamed of the manner in which the bell was suspended and proposed to build a vestibule and spire in front of the Church.  A subscription paper was started, which is now lost or mislaid, and about three hundred dollars subscribed for that purpose.  On the 30th April 1846, John F. Deaderick, Wm K. Blair and Wm R. Sevier, the Commission named in the Subscription paper, made a contract with Wm. M. Fleming, for the erection of the spire.  This led other members of the Church to reflect on the subject and, on the 2 June 1846, a subscription paper was started for the purpose of removing the roof from the old building & of elevating it so as to construct a gallery.  This design to alter the building created some opposition.  The sum of One thousand dollars was subscribed as follows.  Thos. A.R. Nelson, Seth J.W. Lucky & R.L. Blair & Brothers $200 each; C.W. Meek $20; John P. Chester for burial grounds $30, John Yancey $30, and J.F. Deaderick and E. Embree each $100.  On further consultation and reflection, it was believed that the addition of a new brick story to the house would not add much to its appearance, and that the building could be taken down and a new one erected on the same site, for a comparatively small additional expense; and a new subscription paper was started for this purpose, to which most of the person above mentioned subscribed twice as much as their original subscriptions.  This project excited considerable opposition and a vote was finally taken in the Church to obtain the consent of the Church members.  Several persons voted against allowing the alteration and the subscribers were on the point of abandoning the enterprise.  Propositions of compromise were made.  The project of erecting a new building in the center of town was then started: to which great opposition was made at first.  Differences of opinion arose as to the lot upon which it should be built, but it was finally settled, by the vote of a large majority of the Church members, that the subscribers to the new house should be permitted to exchange the old house and lot for more central lot and that they should be permitted to carry out their wishes.  On the 13th of August 1846, a contract was made with Wm. M. Fleming and John Lyle and John B. Hunt by Seth J.W. Lucky, Wm. K. Blair, Thos. A.R. Nelson, John F. Deaderick, John Ryland, and John Blair, by which they agreed to pay their own increased subscriptions and to become liable for $630.00 which they hoped to raise by a subscription from the other members of the Church, but ultimately had to pay.  By this contract and an enlarged contract entered into on the 30th March 1847, the subscribers last above named, paid for the building, as it now stands finished, with the exception of the spire, in the roof, the pews in the second story, the painting, lightning rods, lamps, grading, and fencing.  The fund to pay for these additions was raised by a still further increased subscription on their part, by a sale of the pews made after various other experiments and difficulties, upon permission given by another Church Vote, and by other contributions, all of which, so far as they can be ascertained, are set forth in the statement hereto appended.  It is deemed unnecessary here to record the numerous conflicts of opinion and the occasional bitterness of feeling which, strangely enough, marked the progress of the improvement at almost every step and, especially, in reference to the arrangement and disposition of the pews.  The good sense and Christian feeling of the members of the Church finally prevailed over all obstacles and, since the building has been finished and its convenience, as to locality and otherwise, is felt in the increased attendance and comfort of the Congregation, it is believed that all the members of the Church are now satisfied with the change and continue so until another generation shall, in the march of improvement, improve upon the example which has been set and erect a house still more worthy of the members.  When such a purpose shall arise – if this Record shall then be in existence – they may be able to produce perfect harmony of action by avoiding the errors and profiting by the example, of their “illustrious predecessors!!” of whom it may be said not one is rich.

Memorandum – April 1855

     The following minute was adopted by Holston Presbytery at its Meeting, in April 1855

     Whereas it appears from the Records of Jonesboro Church that the matter of the dissolution of the pastoral relation at present existing between that Church and the Rev. R.P. Wells, has been agitated at the suggestion of Brother Wells; and where it appears that there are no difficulties in the way of continuance of this happy relation – therefore, 

     Resolved, that Presbytery declines to dissolve the Pastoral relation between Brother Wells and the Jonesboro Church and recommend to Bro. Wells, at the earliest practicable opportunity, to give up his connection with the Odd Fellow Female High School, in order that he may give himself wholly to the work of the Ministry.”