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I hope this information on North Carolina
Parishes will aid you in your research.
Listing of Parishes sent
in by Donna Sherron
Additional info and research from various sources
In 1709, there were four precincts or parishes
in the Albemarle region: Chowan, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and
Currituck. There were three in the Pamlico region: Beaufort, Hyde,
and Craven.
In Chowan Precinct was St Paul’s Parish in Edenton, established in
1701. This parish was divided in 1715 and Southwest Parish was
established. In 1722, the parish was again divided and South Shore
Parish was created, becoming known as St Andrew’s Parish in 1729.
Bertie County was divided from Chowan in 1722, and Society Parish
was established at the same time. In 1727, Society Parish was
divided to form North West Parish, and in 1729, Tyrell County was
formed from Chowan, Bertie, Currituck, and Pasquotank Counties. St
Andrew’s Parish was established at the same time.
Craven Parish was established in 1715 and in 1741 became Christ
Church Parish. St Thomas Parish was established in 1701 in Beaufort
Precinct. St Thomas Church is the oldest church building in North
Carolina, having being erected in 1734. In 1722, Bath County was
divided, creating Carteret Precinct. St John’s Parish was most
likely established at the same time, and is mentioned as early as
1724.
St John’s Parish, of Carteret Precinct and Beaufort, existed through
the Revolution with the vestrymen changing their titles to wardens
of the poor continuing to meet yearly until 1843.
The original vestry minutes of St John’s Parish were rescued in the
1900’s when the fourth courthouse was being dismantled and records
were being tossed.
The vestrymen of St John’s Parish in 1723 included Christopher Gale,
Joseph Bell, Jno (John) Shaw, Jno Nelson, Richard Whitehurst,
Richard Williamson, Richard Rutsell, Jno Shackleford, Thomas
Merriday, Enoch Ward, Joseph Fulford, and Charles Cogdell. Prior to
this date, apparently, William Davis and sons and Joseph Wicker were
serving.
It is interesting to note that the first commissioners of the town
of Beaufort included Christopher Gale, John Nelson, Joseph bell,
Richard bell, and Richard Rustull. And in 1727, the first justices
of the court were John Nelson, Richard Rustull, Joseph Bell, Richard
Whitehurst, Ross Bell, Joseph Wicker, Enoch Ward, and Charles
Cogdell.
Another interesting fact is that several of the vestrymen serving in
Beaufort were also vestrymen in other parishes. Christopher Gale was
also at St Thomas, Bath; and Joseph bell and John Nelson served in
Craven Parish, New Bern. John Bell, although not a vestryman at St
John’s Parish, Beaufort, was with St Peter’s Parish in Pasquotank.
Joseph Wicker was also with Currituck Parish. There were also
several members of other parishes who were involved in the
beginnings of the town of Beaufort.
State was divided into parishes as follows:
St Paul’s Parish, in Chowan County
The parish was organized in 1701 as the first parish in the colony
under the provisions of the Vestry Act of 1701. A post-in-ground
church building was erected the next year on an undetermined plot of
land just east of Queen Anne's Creek on what is now known as the
Hayes farm. Edenton would not be founded for another eleven years.
By 1736, perhaps when the post-in-ground chapel had outlived its
usefulness, it was decided to build a new church in the bustling
town of Edenton, which was also the colony's capital. Here, the
church occupied the lots set aside for church and churchyard
(cemetery) before 1722 and construction began on a brick building
that followed a form popular in Virginia.
Some two months after the Halifax Convention, and two weeks before
the Continental Congress had formally declared independence, the
vestry of Old St. Paul's Church in Edenton met in solemn conclave,
and impelled by the wave of intense patriotism now sweeping over the
land, drew up the so-called "Declaration of Independence of St.
Paul's Parish," the context of which is as follows:
"We, the Subscribers, professing our Allegiance to the King, and
acknowledging the Constitutional executive power of Government, do
solemnly profess, testify and declare, that we do absolutely believe
that neither the Parliament of Great Britain nor any member nor any
Constituent Branch thereof, have a right to impose taxes upon these
Colonies or to regulate the internal policy thereof ; and that all
attempts by fraud or force to establish and exercise such claims and
powers are violation of the peace and security of the people, and
ought to e resisted to the utmost, and the people of this Province
singly and collectively are bound by the acts and resolutions of the
Continental and Provincial Congresses, because in both they are
freely represented by persons chosen by themselves, and we do
solemnly and sincerely promise and engage under the sanction of
virtue, honor, and the Sacred love of
liberty and our country to maintain and support all and every acts,
resolutions and regulations of the said Continental and Provincial
Congresses to the utmost of our power and ability. In testimony
whereof we have set our hands this 19th day of June, 1776."
In early 1700's the legislature promoted the Church of England
(Anglican Church) as the established church of the colony and two
parishes had been created by 1715: St. Paul's and Southwest.
These served the Chowan Precinct residents. England had also sent
missionaries from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG).
Nov 12, 1701, 12 gentlemen were appointed Vestrymen for the Parish
of St. Paul's in the Precinct of Chowan. You'll recognize some of
these names.
Hon. Henderson Walker, Esqr
Col. Thomas Pollock
William Duckenfield, Esqr
Mr. Nicholas Crisp
Mr. Edward Smithwick
Mr. John Blount
Mr. James Long
Mr. Nathaniel Chevin
Mr. William Banbury
Col William Wilkinson
Capt. Thomas Leuton
Capt. Thomas Blount
Berkley Parish, in Perquimans County
Berkeley Parish was created in 1715, and embraced every part of the
present county and part of what is now Gates County extending as far
north as the Virginia line.
The Lords Proprietors, members for the most part of the Church of
England, were too intent upon extracting wealth from their colony in
Carolina to be willing to expend any of their gains for the good of
the colonists. Disregarding the petitions of their officers in
Albemarle, who saw the great need for missionaries in the struggling
settlements, they refused to become responsible for the salary of a
minister.
But after a while the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
foreign parts took hold of the matter, and in 1702 a church was
built in Chowan, near where Edenton now stands.
By 1709 Rev. Mr. Gordon, who was one of the two ministers sent out
by the S. P. G., writes to the secretary of the Society from
Perquimans :
"In Perquimans there is a compact little church, built with care and
express, and better than that in Chowan. It continues yet
unfinished, by reason of the death of Major Swann, 1707, who
fostered the building of this church."
Among the vestrymen of this new parish may be found the following
names : Francis Forbes, Colonel Maurice Moore, Captain Hecklefield,
Thomas Hardy, Captain Richard Saunderson, Henry Clayton, Joseph
Jessups, Samuel Phelps and Richard Whedbee. Most of these gentlemen
were men of note in the colony, and many of their descendants are
now living in Perquimans County. That the wealthy planters in
Albemarle felt a certain responsibility for the spiritual welfare of
their slaves, was shown by the fact that master and slave alike
gathered together to join in the services held by the early
missionaries of the Church of England ; and that the master
willingly allowed his servant to share in the blessings of the
sacraments of the church. A letter from Rev. Mr. Taylor, written
from Perquimans in 1719, records that he had just "baptized a young
woman, slave of Mr. Duckinfield, to whom I have taught the whole of
the church catechism."
St. John’s Parish on the South West
Side of Pasquotank River
No further information at this time. Research in progress.
St Peter’s Parish on the North side
of Pasquotank River in Pasquotank County
No further information at this time. Research in progress.
Currituck Parish in Currituck County
In 1715 a legally appointed vestry was organized for the parish of
Currituck, among the most prominent of whose members were Richard
Saunderson, Colonel William Reed, Foster Jarvis, William Swann, and
William Williams. The services of the Church of England were
conducted in the county during those early days with as much
regularity as the scattered congregations and the lack of facilities
for traveling in that water-bound region permitted. In 1774 the
General Assembly passed an act to establish St. Martin's chapel at
Belleville, and Isaac Gregory, Peter Dauge and a Mr. Ferebee were
appointed to take this matter in charge. In educational matters
Currituck was wonderfully alert in colonial days for a county so
inaccessible from the rest of the State. Probably the most noted of
her schools was the Indian Town Academy built in 1761 by William
Ferebee, one of the most prominent men in North Carolina, on his
plantation, called by the Indians "Culong," and by the whites,
"Indian Town." Many of the students at this academy were in later
days to be counted among the State's most famous and useful men.
William Ferebee's family alone furnished six members of the
Legislature, three Revolutionary officers, and one Colonel in the
Confederacy in the War of Secession. For a hundred years this famous
old school kept up its career of usefulness, but in the so-called
"negro raid" of 1863 it met the fate that befell so many of the
South's cherished institutions during the dark days of 18614865, and
was reduced to ashes by the incendiary's torch.
Society Parish in Bertie County
When Bertie Precinct was established in 1722, the Southwest parish
was designated for it, but the name was changed to Society Parish in
honor of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. William
Dukenfield of "Salmon Creek" was one of the early supporters and
gave 52 acres for a permanent building in 1721 "lying on the
northwest side of Ducking Run".
It was very difficult to find Anglican ministers willing to serve
due to the low salaries and early pioneer life style. The Rev. John
Boyd, was the first Anglican missionary to come to the Society
Parish. Perhaps he came as the result of Gov. Johnston's plea to the
bishop of London: "we are a most heathenish part of American and
have no sect amongst us but Quakers who daily increase."
Rev. Boyd had a reputation for drunkenness and died by early 1740's
when Rev. John Holmes served for a brief time. Following these
unsuccessful pastors, Bertie was dependent on neighboring counties
for their clergy until 1767 when the Society Parish called Rev.
Thomas Floyd, followed in 1770 by Rev. Francis Johnston.
The Revolution ended the Anglican Church as the established church,
but the Episcopal Church grew from these roots.
St Andrew’s Parish in Tyrell County
Bertie County was divided from Chowan in 1722, and Society Parish
was established at the same time. In 1727, Society Parish was
divided to form North West Parish, and in 1729, Tyrell County was
formed from Chowan, Bertie, Currituck, and Pasquotank Counties. St
Andrew’s Parish was established at the same time.
St. Thomas Parish in Beaufort County
St Thomas Parish was established in 1701 in Beaufort Precinct. St
Thomas Church is the oldest church building in North Carolina,
having being erected in 1734.
Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768 with its
northern boundary being the were established as follows: Granville
line. Its boundaries, the said County of Mecklenburg shall be, and
is hereby divided into Two distinct Counties and Parishes, by a Line
beginning at Earl Granville's Line; where it Crosses the Catawba
River; and the said River to be the Line to the South Carolina Line;
and all that Part of the said County which lies to the Eastward of
the said dividing Line shall be a Distinct County and Parish, and
remain and be called by the Name of Mecklenburg County, and St.
Martin's Parish; and that all that Part of the County lying to the
Westward of the said dividing line shall be one other distinct
County and Parish, and be and remain by the Name of Tryon County and
St. Thomas's Parish.
St. George’s Parish in Hyde County
The first services for what eventually became St. George's Episcopal
Church were held in 1866 in Amity Academy, also known as Chapel Hill
Academy. These, services were held by Reverend Samuel Swann Barber
who was the first missionary of the Episcopal Church in Hyde County.
In the fall of 1868 permission was re- quested of Bishop Thomas
Atkinson of the Diocese of North Carolina for the creation of a
parish in Hyde County. Permission was received from Bishop Atkinson
for the creation of a parish in Lake Landing Township, and St.
George's Parish was officially organized on November 25, 1868.
Reverend Barber was the first rector of the new parish.
The parish became an official part of the Diocese in May of 1869.
Northwest Parish in Northampton
County
By 1727, a second parish was needed and was called Northwest Parish,
but this became part of Northampton County when that section was
taken away from Bertie in 1741.
St. John’s Parish in Granville County
In 1746, when Granville Co., N.C. was formed from Edgecombe, St.
John's Parish was created, including all of Granville Co. In 1761,
Granville Co. was divided into two parishes, the western part
becoming Granville Parish and the eastern part remaining St. John's.
In 1764, the whole of St. John's Parish, the eastern part of
Granville Co., became Bute County and a small part of Northampton
Go., N.C. was added to Bute, in 1766.
St. Matthew’s Parish in Orange County
The General Assembly of Colonial North Carolina originally
constituted St. Matthew's Parish in 1752 as the established church
in the County of Orange. The parish was reorganized in 1824 and the
present building was consecrated on May 21, 1826. St. Matthew's has
continued as the Episcopal parish in Hillsborough and northern
Orange County from that time to the present.
St Luke’s Parish in Rowan County
Created in 1753 by and act of the Colonial Assembly, St. Luke’s
Parish conformed with the boundaries of Rowan County, then the
largest county in the colony. The church building was erected in
1828.
In 1823, St. Luke’s Parish was organized by Bishop John Stark
Ravenscroft during the eighth annual convention of the Diocese held
in Salisbury. The following year at the next convention it was
admitted to the Diocese. In 1827, an advertisement appeared in the
Western Carolinian requesting bids for 80,000 brick and a quantity
of pine and oak lumber, planks, and shingles.
The bricks were provided by the widow of General John Steele and the
grounds for the church were given by Major John Beard, with a deed
of September 15, 1827. The Gothic Revival style church, designed by
Rev. Francis L. Hawks, was built in 1828. Hillsborough mason and
John Berry built the Gothic Revival church out of brick in Flemish
bond. The church opened under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Wright,
who stayed until 1832.
St. David’s Parish in Cumberland
County
No further information at this time. Research in progress.
St. Gabriel’s Parish in Duplin County
In 1749, Duplin County was formed from the territory of New Hanover
lying north of a “Line beginning at the mouth of Rock Fish Creek, on
the North-East River of Cape-Fear, running East to Onslow County,
and westward, by a straight line from the mouth of the said creek,
to the upper forks of Black River, where Cohecry and the Six Runs
meet, thence up Cohecry to the head thereof.” By this act, the same
territory was erected into St. Gabriel Parish. John Sampson and
Henry Hyrne were directed to run the line. The justices of the peace
were ordered to hold their first court at the house of William McRee
at Goshen, at which court they should select a site for the
courthouse, prison, and stocks. John
Sampson, William McRee, George Meares, Francis Brice, William
Houston, Joseph Williams. John Herring, Anthony Cox, Mark Phillips,
John Turner, Thomas Suggs, and Charles Gavin were appointed
vestrymen of the parish.
St. George’s Parish in Anson County
At its formation Anson's boundaries were established by the General
Assembly of North Carolina.
...That Bladen County be divided by a Line. beginning at the Place
where the South Line of this Province crosseth the Westermost Branch
of the Little Pee-Dee River.
than by a straight line to a Place where the Commissioners for
running the Southern Boundary of this Province crosseth that Branch
of the Little Pee-Dee River. called Drowning Creek, thence up that
Branch to the Head thereof; then by a Line. to run.
as near as maybe, equidistant, from Saxapahaw River, and the Great
Pee-Dee River; and that the upper Part of the said County and Parish
so laid off and undivided. be entered into a County and Parish. by
the name of Anson County. and St. George's Parish. and that all the
Inhabitants to the Westward of the aforementioned dividing line
shall belong and appertain to Anson County,...
Edgecombe Parish in Edgecombe County
In the early part of the eighteenth century there existed in London
England a society known as The Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in Foreign Parts The society was organized in 1675 but being
inefficient was revised by Dr Bray of the Church of England and a
charter for propagating the gospel in foreign parts was granted by
King William III in 1701 The duty of this society was to keep in
touch with the colonial settlers and to maintain the orthodox
clergymen in the British possessions In order to
do this an annual stipend of fifty pounds sterling was pledged by
the society to pay the missionaries whom they elected to come abroad
The Crown also gave a bounty of twenty pounds while the colonists
were supposed to contribute a part of the clergymen's salary As a
result of the efforts of this society the first established and
organized branch of the Christian Church in Edgecombe County was
formed After the transfer of the colony to the Crown the precinct of
Edgecombe was incorporated Provision was made for a parish with
authority to raise money by a poll tax not to exceed five shillings
in currency the purpose of which was to maintain the poor and to pay
ministers A parish court was erected to look after the social
affairs of the people In this court the day laborer mechanic and
blacksmith were disciplined from time to time The constable of the
village was also local officer collected taxes and looked after the
poor The church wardens were kept under bond by the precinct
committee as custodians of the vestry funds In 1741 the laws of
North Carolina record a law relating to those who had refused to pay
taxes in Edgecombe parish because of the uncertainty of its
boundaries This proves that some movement for church organization
had commenced before or during this year In 1741 under an enactment
by Governor Gabriel Johnston Edgecombe County was authorized to
establish a parish by the name of Edgecombe At the same time a
general church act was passed authorizing a poll tax which in
practice was found to be very burdensome Efforts were made to secure
another law which indicates that it was looked upon with disfavor
even by the churchmen No other law was passed and Reverend Mr Moir
who was assigned to the parish expressed himself as follows Nothing
was done for the encouragement of an established ministry The
sheriff of the county was empowered to summons the freeholders to
meet for the purpose of electing twelve vestrymen who promptly after
their election elected two church wardens An oath was required by
law for those serving as vestrymen In the oath the vestrymen were to
express themselves as not opposed to the liturgy of the Church of
England A failure to perform this duty resulted in a fine of three
pounds proclamation money The term of office was for two years The
jurisdiction of the parish was confined to the boundaries of the
northwest and society parishes of Bertie County from which Edgecombe
parish was formed The line of the parish began at the mouth of Sandy
Run thence up its course to its head and extending in a direct line
to Ahoshie Swamp From here it followed the old dividing line between
the Society and Northwest parishes of which Edgecombe was formerly a
part All the arrears which were due by the people of Edgecombe were
to be paid to the parishes in Bertie Included in the general act for
the erection of parishes and the election of vestrymen was a oath
prescribed for those who supervised the parish This oath also
contained an obligation to refrain from disturbing the King's peace
to propagate the interests of the church and not to bear arms
against Great Britain The first authentic account of a church being
erected in the parish is in 1748 This church was designated by a
reference in a division of the parish as a Chapell near Elias Fort's
on Tar River There is substantial evidence that this is the church
which was located about seven miles northwest of Tarboro on the
southeast side of Tar River near a small spring at Teat's bridge 1
Clement Hall who for some time prior to 1744 had been a lay leader
in Edenton was ordained in 1744 and made occasional visits to
Edgecombe County
St. Martin’s Parish in Bladen County
Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg
County in 1768 with its northern boundary being the were established
as follows: Granville line. Its boundaries, the said County of
Mecklenburg shall be, and is hereby divided into Two distinct
Counties and Parishes, by a Line beginning at Earl Granville's Line;
where it Crosses the Catawba River; and the said River to be the
Line to the South Carolina Line; and all that Part of the said
County which lies to the Eastward of the said dividing Line shall be
a Distinct County and Parish, and remain and be called by the Name
of Mecklenburg County, and St. Martin's Parish; and that all that
Part of the County lying to the Westward of the said dividing line
shall be one other distinct County and Parish, and be and remain by
the Name of Tryon County and St. Thomas's Parish.
St. James Parish on the East Side of
Cape Fear River
St. Philip’s parish on the West Side of Cape Fear River, to the
Bounds of the County, inclusive of the Island at the mouth of the
North-west and North- East rivers, commonly called Eagle’s island in
New Hanover County
St. Patrick’s Parish in Johnston
County
The law establishing Johnston County also set up St. Patrick's
Parish of the Church of England with the same boundaries as the
County. Vestrymen were appointed to serve until the next general
election. More than merely a governing body for a church, the vestry
attended to the needs of poor widows and orphans and generally
served as the local government's welfare agency.
Ten years after Johnston County was formed the territory was divided
into two parishes. Old St. Patrick's Parish remained in the eastern
part of the County and new St. Stephen's Parish was in the west.
Voters of the new parish were to meet at the courthouse at Walnut
Creek to elect vestrymen while those of St Patrick's met at Samuel
Smith's on Neuse River in the vicinity of modern Smithfield. This
move was the first of several which resulted in the division of the
large county of Johnston into several others, one of which became
Lenoir.
Christ Church Parish in Craven County
The Parish of Christ Church, New Bern, North Carolina, was organized
in 1715, and was one of the earliest parishes in the Colonies. In
the year 1723, during the reign of George I of England, a tract of
land, the property of Mr. Cullen Pollock, was formally laid out into
a township, by the name of New Bern. There were lots provided for a
Church, court house, and market place. An act was passed, by the
General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, in 1766, that the
Glebe land, which was formally purchased at the expense of the
County of Craven, for a residence of a minister of the Episcopal
Church, situated on Middle and Johnson streets, with all the
improvements thereon, should be taken from the Church, and the money
raised by rent or sale, should be used for erecting a new school
house, incorporated and named the New Bern Academy—no Rector or
professor should be a trustee. The trustees appointed were Hon.
Richard Caswell, Abner Nash, Esq., John Wright Stanly, William
Blount, John Sitgreaves, Spyers Singleton, William McClure, William
Bryan and Richard Dobb Speight, Esq.
St. John Parish in Onslow County
No further information at this time. Research in progress.
St. John’s Parish in Carteret County
The first Anglican Church in Beaufort, St. John’s Parish, was
organized approximately in 1724. However, the increasing opposition
of Baptists, Quakers, and other denominations contributed to the
decreasing number of Anglicans in Carteret County.
On Nov. 12, 1701, the Carolina Assembly passed the Vestry Act of
1701, making the Church of England the official religion of the
Carolina colony. Active opposition by Quakers, Presbyterians and
other religious Nonconformists, who lived there, ultimately
convinced the proprietors of the colony to revoke the act in 1703.
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THE STATE RECORDS NORTH CAROLINA
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES BY
ORDER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
COLLECTED AND EDITED BY WALTER CLARK
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA
VOL XXV LAWS 1789 1790 AND SUPPLEMENT
OMITTED LAWS 1669 1783
WITH INDEX TO VOLS XX111 XX1V AND XXV
NASH BROTHERS BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS GOLDSBORO NC 1906
An Act for appointing Parishes and Vestries for the Encouragement of
an Orthodox Clergy for the Advancement of the Protestant Religion
and for the Direction of the Settlement of Parish Accounts
I. Whereas the present as well as the future Happiness of Mankind
essentially depends on the Knowledge and Practice of true Religion
and a permanent and certain Provision for an Orthodox Clergy may
conduce to the Encouragement of pious and learned Ministers of the
Gospel to settle and reside in the several Parishes in this Province
to the Advancement of the Protestant Religion and Encouragement of
Vertue and Morality
II. Be it Enacted by the Governor Council and Assembly and by the
Authority of the same That this Government be and it is hereby
divided into distinct Parishes in the Manner following That is to
say St Paul's Parish in Chowan County Berkley Parish in Perquimons
County St John's Parish on the South West Side of Pasquotank River
and St Peter's Parish on the North East Side of Pasquotank River in
Pasquotank County Currituck Parish in Currituck County Society
Parish in Bertie County St Andrew's Parish in Tyrell County St
Thomas's Parish in Beaufort County St George's Parish in Hyde County
North West Parish in Northampton County St John's Parish in
Granville County St Matthew's Parish in Orange County St Luke's
Parish in Rowan County St David's Parish in Cumberland County St
Gabriel's Parish in Duplin County St George's Parish in Anson County
Edgecombe Parish in Edge combe County St Martin's Parish in Bladen
County St James Parish on the East Side of Cape Fear River And St
Philip's Parish on the West Side of Cape Fear River from the Mouth
of the said River running up the North West River to the Bounds of
the County inclusive of the Island at the Mouth of the North West
and North East Rivers commonly called Eagle's Island in New Hanover
County St Patrick's Parish in Johnston County Christ Church Parish
in Craven County St John's Parish in Onslow County and St John's
Parish in Carteret County
III. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Freeholders of each respective Varish aforesaid shall and they are
hereby impowered and directed to meet on the first Monday after the
Tenth Day of June next after the Ratificalion of this Act at the
Court house or Place where the County Court in each respective
County aforesaid is or shall be held or at the usual Place of
electing Vestrymen and on Easter Monday every Third Year thereafter
then and there to choose and elect Twelve Freeholders to serve as
Vestrymen for the Three Years next ensuing which Vestrymen so chosen
shall by the Sheriff or his Deputy in each of the said Parishes
respectively be summoned to meet at the church and where there is no
Church at the Court house or Place where the County Court is or
shall be held within Forty Days next after such Choice to qualify
themselves according to the direction of this Act and if the said
Sheriff by himself or Deputy shall neglect or refuse to summon the
Vestry as aforesaid he shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Twenty
Shillings Proclamation Money for each and every Vestryman not
summoned as aforesaid who shall reside within his District to be
levied and applied as herein after directed
IV. And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Sheriff
or his Deputy one Month at least before the Election of Vestrymen
for the Parish or Parishes within his County shall give Notice in
Writing to the Minister and every Clerk and Reader within the Parish
where such Election is to be held of the Time and Place appointed
for such Election and the Minister and Readers respectively are
hereby required to publish such Notice immediately after Divine
Service on every Sunday between the Receipt thereof and the Day so
appointed and on Failure thereof each Minister and Reader so
offending shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Five Pounds Proclamation
Money and if the Sheriff shall fail to make such Appointment and
give Notice as aforesaid he shall for such Failure forfeit and pay
the Sum of Twenty Pounds like Money one Moiety of which Penalty
shall be to the Parish wherein the Offence shall be committed and
the other Moiety to the Informer to be recovered with Costs ot Debt
in any Court of Record
V. And that the Election may be made in a fair open Manner Be it
Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That at all Elections of
Vestrymen hereafter to be made the Sheriff of the County or his
Deputy shall attend at the Court house of the County or Place where
the County Court is held or usual Place of electing Vestrymen and
there take the Votes in the following manner that is to say He shall
open the Poll at Ten o clock in the Forenoon and after Proclamation
to the Freeholders to come and give their Votes for Vestrymen shall
take a List of the Names of the Voters who shall give their Suffrage
which shall be for neither more nor less than Twelve and the Votes
shall be given openly and the Poll kept open till Sun set unless the
Majority of the Freeholders there present shall agree to have it
closed sooner and the Sheriff shall then cast up the Number of Votes
given for each Candidate and declare the Twelve who shall have the
greatest Number of Suffrages to be duly elected and in Case of an
Equality of Votes among any of the Candidates the Sheriff shall have
the casting vote and in no other Case give his Vote
VI. And to prevent Disputes concerning who shall be understood to be
a Freeholder Be it further Enacted That no Person who hath not an
Estate Real for his own Life or the Life of some other Person or an
Estate of greater Dignity in Fifty Acres of Land in the Parish for
which such Election shall be made shall be deemed a Freeholder
within the Meaning of this Act and any one of the Candidates may in
Case he suspects any Person going to give his vote hath not a
Freehold within the Meaning of this Act object to such Person giving
his Vote and require the Sheriff to tender him an Oath or
Affirmation concerning his Qualification which Oath or Affirmation
the Sheriff is hereby impowered and directed to administer in the
following words to wit You shall swear or affirm That you have been
possessed of a Freehold of Fifty Acres of Land for Three Months past
in your own Right in the Parish of and that you
have not given your Vote before in this Election So help you God
VII. And be it further Enacted That no Person under the Age of
Twenty one Years shall give his Vote for the Election of Vestrymen
in any Parish
VIII. And to enforce the Attendance of the Freeholders at all future
Elections of Vestrymen Be it further Enacted That every Person
qualified to Vote for Vestrymen in the several and respective
Parishes shall and he is hereby required duly to attend and give his
Vote at all future Elections at the Time and in the Manner as is
herein before directed unless prevented by some bodily Infirmity or
legal disability under the Penalty of Twenty Shillings Proclamation
Money To be recovered by Warrant from any Magistrate within the
County
IX. And be it further Enacted That if any Person shall hereafter at
an Election of Vestrymen give his Vote who is not possessed in his
own Right of an Estate for Life or an Estate of higher Dignity of
Fifty Acres of Land in the Parish for the Vestrymen of which he
shall give his Vote such Person shall forfeit Five Pounds
Proclamation Money To be recovered by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or
Information in the County Court by such Person as will sue for the
same wherein no Essoign Injunction Protection or Wager of Law shall
be admitted and where such Action shall be brought the Onus Probandi
shall lie on the Defendant
X. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no
Person shall be admitted to be of any Vestry within this Government
that doth not within Forty Days after his being chosen by the
Freeholders as i& before directed take the Oaths by Law appointed
for the Qualification of Public Officers and repeat and subscribe
the following Declaration to wit I AB do declare That I will conform
to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is by Law established
And all and every Person chosen and summoned as is hereinbefore
directed who shall refuse or neglect to do the same shall if he be
not a Dissenter from the Church of England forfeit and pay the Sum
of Forty Shillings Proclamation Money to be levied and applied as is
herein after directed and if any Person or Persons chosen as is
hereinbefore directed shall neglect or refuse to make and subscribe
the said Declaration the other Persons chosen as aforesaid or the
Majority of them shall and may after their having taken the Oaths
and repeated and subscribed the aforesaid Declaration elect and
choose another or other Freeholder or Freeholders in Place of him or
them which shall so refuse or neglect to take the Oaths aforesaid or
to repeat and subscribe the said Declaration and such Person or
Persons as shall be chosen and electe l by the Vestrymen in Manner
aforesaid shall after his or their taking the Oaths arid repeating
the Declaration aforesaid be deemed and held to be legal Vestrymen
to all Intents and Purposes as if they had been elected and chosen
by the Freeholders of the County
XI. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Vestrymen of each and every Parish respectively or a Majority of
them shall and they are hereby directed within Sixty Days after
Easter Monday Yearly to elect and choose out of the said Vestry Two
Persons to execute the Office of Churchwardens in each and every
respective Parish and if the Persons elected Church wardens as
aforesaid or either of them shall refuse to execute the said Office
he or they so refusing shall forfeit and Pay Forty Shillings
Proclamation Money to be levied and applied as is herein after
directed and the Vestry shall immediately proceed to choose in the
Room of him or them who refuse to execute the said Office another or
other Churchwarden or Churchwardens out of the said Vestrymen
Provided that no Person whatsoever shall be obliged to serve as
Churchwarden in any Parish for more than One Year at the expiration
of which the Vestry shall again choose another to succeed him and
the Churchwardens of every Parish shall purchase at the Expence of
the Parish Books well bound in Vellum for keeping therein a Journal
and Register of all Proceedings of the Vestry in which shall be
fairly stated the Accounts of all such Monies as they from Time to
Time shall receive in Virtue of their Office and all Disbursements
and Expences made on Account of the Parish and within Ninety Days
after their Wardenship shall expire set lip in the Court house of
their County on a Court Day and continue the same during the sitting
of such Court fair Copies of such Accounts for Inspection of the
Parishoners
XII. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Churchwardens or in Case they refuse or neglect any Three or more of
the Vestry in each Parish respectively shall have full Power and
Authority to call the Vestry together at any Time and upon any
Occasion they shall judge necessary by Warrant or Warrants under
their Hands directed to the several Constables of the several
Districts in each respective Parish who shall be obliged to execute
the same according to the Tenor thereof under the Penalty of Ten
Shillings for each Vestryman in such Warrant named whom he shall
fail to summon and every Vestryman who shall refuse or neglect to
attend the Vestry agreeable to such Summons shall forfeit and pay
the Sum of Ten Shillings Proclamation Money for every such neglect
unless he can show sufficient cause for his so doing to be admitted
by the Majority of the Vestry at their next Meeting to be levied as
is herein after directed
XIII. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Vestries of the several Parishes shall have full Power and Authority
upon the Death or Removal out of their respective Parishes of any
Church warden or Churchwardens before the Time limited for the
executing the said Office is expired to elect and choose out of the
Vestry another Churchwarden or Churchwardens in the Room and Stead
of the Person or Persons so dead or removed out of the Parish
aforesaid which Churchwarden or Churchwardens so elected shall serve
until the Time appointed by this Act for the Election of
Churchwardens
XIV. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Vestry of each respective Parish shall have full Power and Authority
and they are hereby directed and required between Easter Monday and
the First Day of November Yearly to lay such a Poll Tax as they
shall judge necessary for purchasing Glebes and satisfying the
Expence of their respective Parishes
XV. And for the better collection and paying the said Tax Be it
further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Vestry of each
respective Parish shall and is hereby authorized and impowered to
nominate and appoint such Person as they shall think fit by the Name
of the Collector of the Parish Taxes to collect and receive the
aforesaid Tax the Person appointed giving Bond with sufficient
Security that he will duly collect and receive the said Tax and pay
and satisfy unto the Creditors of the Parish all Taxes levied for
such Purpose and the Overplus if any to the Vestry or their
Sucessors for the Use of the Parish which Tax shall be collected at
the Time and in the Manner that Public Taxes ought by Law to be
collected and shall be allowed Five Per Cent for his Trouble and
have full Power and Authority by Virtue of this Act upon Neglect or
Refusal of Payment of the said Tax or any Part thereof by any Person
or Persons chargeable therewith to distrain the Goods and Chatttels
of the Party refusing or neglecting and if the Owner thereof shall
not pay what is due within Five Days after such Distress such
Collector may and shall lawfully sell by Auction the Goods so
distrained or so much thereof as shall be sufficient to satisfy the
said Tax and the Charges of Distress and Sale returning the Overplus
if any to the Owner but shall give Notice of the Sale by setting up
an Advertisement in Writing at the Church Door in the Parish or at
the most Public Place of Worship where there is no Church and by
publishing the same among the People immediately after Divine
Service on the next Sunday after the Expiration of the said Five
Days which Sale shall not be more than Three Days nor less than Six
Days after Notice so given and shall be good and effectual in Law
against all Persons whatsoever And if the Vestry of any Parish shall
neglect or refuse to lay a sufficient Tax to satisfy the Parish
Creditors in such Case all and every the Vestrymen of the Parish
neglecting or refusing shall be liable to the Action of the Party
grieved his or her Executors or Administrators for all Damages which
he or she shall sustain by such Refusal or Neglect
XVI. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in
every Parish in this Province where a good and convenient Glebe is
not already purchased and appropriated a good convenient Tract of
Land to contain Two Hundred Acres at least shall be purchased by the
Vestry and assigned and set apart for a Glebe for the Use of the
Minister of such Parish and his Successors in all Times hereafter
XVII. And where Mansion and convenient Outhouses are not already
erected for the Habitation of the Minister It is hereby Enacted That
the Vestry of every such Parish shall have Power and they are hereby
authorized and required to cause to be erected and built on such
Glebe One convenient Mansion house Kitchen Barn Stable Dairy and
Meet house with such other Convenience as they shall think fit
XVIII. And to the End that the Buildings already erected or
hereafter to be erected upon every Glebe may be kept in good Repair
It is hereby further Enacted That every Parish Minister within this
Province shall during the Time of his being Minister of the Parish
keep and maintain the Mansion house and the Out houses and
Conveniences erected or to be erected OB his Glebe in tenantable
Repair and shall so leave the same at his Removal from the Parish or
Death Accidents by Fire or Tempest only excepted and in Case any
Minister shall fall to do so such Minister his Executors or
Administrators shall be liable to the Action of the Churchwardens of
the Parish for the Time being wherein the Value of such Repairs
shall be recovered and Damages with Costs of Suit and the Damages so
recovered shall be applied and laid out in necessary Repairs upon
the Glebe And every Vestry of a vacant Parish is hereby impowered
and required to put all the Buildings upon the Glebe of their Parish
into such good and sufficient Repair that they may be fit for the
Reception of the succeeding Minister Provided nevertheless That any
Vestry who shall judge that the Minister has not wilfully committed
any waste on his Glebe may make such necessary Repairs at the Charge
of their Parish as they shall think fit
XIX. And to the End that the Clergy may have a decent and
comfortable Maintenance and Support without being obliged to follow
any other Employment than that of their Holy Function in the Cure of
their respective Parishes Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid
That every Minister hereafter to be preferred to or received into
any Parish within this Province shall have and receive an Annual
Salary of Eighty Pounds Proclamation Money to be levied assessed and
collected and paid in Manner herein before directed Provided always
That no Vestry shall at any Time make Presentation to any Parish of
a Missionary whose Duty requires him at any Time to be absent from
such Parish unless such Missionary shall agree with the Vestry for
such Yearly Salary as they shall think fit and reasonable
considering the Time his Duty will require him to be absent And
whatever Agreement shall be so made between the Vestry and Minister
shall be binding on such Minister during the Continuance of such
Mission any Thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding
XX. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Right of Presentation of a Minister to each respective Parish within
this Province shall be and remain in the Vestry of each respective
Parish for and during the Space of Twelve Months after a Vacancy
shall happen in the same and if the Vestry in that Time shall
neglect to make Presentation of a Minister to such Parish it shall
and may be lawful for the Governor or Commander in Chief for the
Time being to present and the Minister so presented to the Parish
shall be deemed and held to be the Minister of such Parish and
entitled to the same Salary and Dues as if the Vestry had made the
Presentation as is herein before directed Provided nevertheless That
in Case the Vestry of any Parish that shall be vacant one Year shall
procure some neighbouring or other Minister to serve in the Cure of
such vacant Parish by performing Divine Service once in Three Months
they shall thereby save to themselves and retain the Right of
Presentation for so long a Time as such Minister shall so serve in
the Cure of such vacant Parish Any Thing herein contained to the
contrary notwithstanding Provided also That no Vestry within this
Province shall present for their Minister any Person who shall not
first have a Certificate from the Bishop of London that such
Minister hath been duly ordained conformable to the Doctrine and
Discipline of the Church of England and i& of a good Life and
Conversation
XXI. And be it further Enacted That any Minister of a Parish who
shall be guilty of any notorious Immorality in Disgrace of his
Function and to the Scandal of Religion on Conviction thereof before
the Supreme Court of Justice wherein Actions arising in such Parish
shall be triable shall lose his Salary and Dues which he would
otherwise be entitled to and such Parish shall be held and deemed
vacant and the Vestry impowered to make Presentation of another in
the same Manner as if the Minister so convicted had been naturally
dead
XXII. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Minister of each respective Parish shall be obliged to officiate in
such Parts cf the Parish and at such Times as the Vestry or a
Majority of them shall direct at the Time he shall be received into
his Parish and in Case of Failure it shall be lawful for them to
withdraw his Salary unless other Places shall be afterwards agreed
on between such Vestry and Minister and the Vestry in Case of such
Failure may and are hereby impowered to make Presentation of another
Minister to such Parish as is herein before directed to be done in
vacant Parishes
XXIII. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
Vestry of every Parish shall have full Power to call every Justice
of the Peace or other Person or Persons whatsoever to Account on
Oath and pay to them the Monies in the Hands of him or them
belonging to their respective Parishes or accruing or becoming due
to the same by Virtue of the Laws of this Province and if any
Justice or Justices or other Person or Persons shall refuse to
appear and account as aforesaid he or they so neglecting shall
forfeit and pay Twenty Pounds Proclamation Money To be recovered by
the Churchwardens of the Parish for the Time being where such Money
shall become due by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any
Court of Record wherein no Essoign Protection Injunction or Wager of
Law shall be allowed and to be applied to the Use of the Parish And
where any Suit shall be brought by the Churchwardens and the Money
shall not be by them recovered and received before the Expiration of
their Office the Suit shall be carried on to Execution by the
succeeding Churchwardens in the Name of their Predecessors who
brought such Suit and shall be received by such succeeding
Churchwardens to the Use of the Parish Provided that nothing in this
Act shall be construed to repeal any Clause Matter or Thing in an
Act of Assembly intitled An Act to enable the Commissioners herein
after mentioned to finish the Church already begun at Edenton
XXIV. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the
several Sums of Money arising and becoming due by Reason of the
Forfeitures and Penalties by this Act inflicted and for which no
Method of Recovery or Application is before directed in this Act
shall be levied within one Week after
they shall become due by Warrant of Distress from any Two of his
Majesty's Justices of the Peace within the County where the said
Penalty or Forfeiture shall be incurred and by Sale of the
Defendant's
Goods returning the Overplus if any to the Owner and the Money so
levied shall be paid to the Churchwardens for the Use of the Parish
XXV. And be it further Enacted That all and every other Act and Acts
and every Clause and Article thereof or so much thereof except as
before excepted heretofore made so far as they relate to any Matter
or Thing contained within the Purview of this Act is and are hereby
repealed and made void to all Intents and Purposes as if the same
had never been made
XXVI. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That this
Act shall commence and be in Force from and after the first Day of
June next and that all Acts heretofore legally made and done by
Vestries heretofore chosen and qualified agreeable to the Laws of
this Province are hereby declared to be as good and valid as if this
Act had never been made
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