Table Of Content

ORGANIZED 1793 200 YEARS WQWftLk£ PUBLIC LfSftAPV Vl'^mir^pf 121 m mi Boowia#,, Mmmsf 200 YEARS AT DEEP CREEK FRIENDS MEETING 1793 1993 — A Short History and Cemetery Listings Compiled by Nancy Shore Reece Holt 1993 I. Short History of Deep Creek Friends II. Old Cemetery Listing III. Index for Old Cemetery IV. New Cemetery Listing V. Index for New Cemetery _ _ _ SHORT HISTORY OF DEEP CREEK MONTHLY MEETING During the westward expansion of Quaker life through North Carolina, a considerable gathering of Friends were in the North Deep Creek area. As early as 1781, a member of Deep River Monthly Meeting of Friends located near High Point, NC, had a concern "to meet with a few Friends and others in parts adjacent to the Yadkin River. ’ By 1783, Friends of Deep Creek were requesting "to be indulged with the privilege of holding meeting among themselves.” (Deep River Minutes) It is known that a brush arbor was used as a gathering place for worship services before a meetinghouse was built. This arbor was located on Daniel Vestal’s land just west of the Yadkin Golf Course. (Harold Shore as told by his great-grandmother Vestal.) This must have been used during the 1780’s. Friends probably gathered at various dwellings in the community. In 1789 a one-room log structure was placed in a grove of trees at the present site. This land was given by John Bond, the earliest recorded minister of Deep Creek. The meetinghouse had two front doors and probably a partition down the middle of the building separating the men’s meeting from the women’s. In 1793 Deep Creek was granted monthly meeting status under the care of Deep River Meeting. A list of 65 names composed the first membership roll. There were probably more attenders since this list would not include children or other family members who had not joined Friends. The list is as follows: "George Adams, Susanna Adams, William Adams, Francis Barnard, Sr., Jane Barnet, Daniel Bills, Deborah Bills, Anna Bond, Charlotte Bond, John Bond, Garner Brion, Ann Brown, Jacob Brown, Jane Brown, Mary Brown, William Brown, James Burnsides, Mary Burnsides, Adam Coffin, Hannah Davis, Joseph Davis, Ann Dobbins, Jacob Dobbins, Nathan Farmer, Bridget Hadley, Eunis Hadley, Simon Hadley, Ruth Hinshaw, Rebecca Hobson, Stephen Hobson, Israel Hough, Mary Hough, William Hough or Huff, Daniel Huff, Daniel Huff, Jr., Elizabeth Huff, Sarah Huff, Benjamin Hutchens, Gulielma Hutchens, Judith Hutchens, Nicholas Hutchens, Sarah Hutchens, Strangeman Hutchens, Susanna Hutchens, Thomas Hutchens, Jemima Johnson, John Johnson, Daniel Jones, Joseph Keys, Jr., Lydia Keys, Jos. Noblet, Samuel Pearson, Ann Philips, Sarah Reece, Catherine Russel, Charles Russel, Sarah Shugart, Zachariah Shugart, John Stanfield, Archelus Stanley, Ann Stockton, Thomas Vestal, Samuel Welch, Keziah Worth, Jemima Zachery, William Zachery.” (Deep River MM Minutes) The first officers were William Hough as clerk, and Simon Hadley as recorder of marriage certificates, births, and deaths. Overseers were Jacob Dobbins, Stephen Hobson, Jacob Brown, and Zachery Shugart. (Deep Creek MM Minutes) Recorded ministers for the first 50 years of the Meeting’s existence were John Bond, John Hutchens, William Taulbert, Daniel Martin, and Ann Benbow. The lady preacher was evidence of Friends’ belief in the equality of women. A graveyard was started across the road from the church. Today we see many rough stones with an occasional initial and date in the 1700’s. Some epitaphs of the 1800’s can be read with difficulty. Another graveyard was started in the early 1800’s, probably to accomodate the large families who were anticipating being buried alongside their kin. The first one is used very seldom today. The second has had a new section added to it in the latter 1900’s. Cemetery land was donated by Aquilla Shore and family. The first school house was built in 1835 across the creek and southeast of the meetinghouse, just up the hill from a spring. This was the location of the "infamous shoot-out” when the homeguard surprised some conscientious objectors and draft dodgers. Sol Hinshaw was killed by being shot at through the cracks between the logs and is buried in the old cemetery. One of the homeguard was killed on the soapstone steps, leaving blood stains which were visible for years. (Eugene Shore) Others on both sides were killed. A new school house with two rooms was built in 1893 beside the old graveyard. In 1896 the school term was four months in length. School was taught here until 1931/1935 when schools were consolidated. One hundred years or so after the first meetinghouse was erected, a frame building was built consisting of one 1 large room with the pulpit in the north end and two doors in the south end. A pointed steeple housing the bell was over the entry. (Hattie Bovender) Stories have been passed down through the generations telling how members working in the field would hear this bell in mid-week, put down their hoes, and walk to church to sit in silent worship for an hour. Many times no word would be spoken, but children might spy a tear slipping down the cheeks of their elders earnestly in prayer. (Nora Shore) Sunday school became a regular part of the Meeting’s activities beginning at 9:00 A.M. The first records were dated 1887 with officers as follows: C.M. Warden, Superintendent; J.F. Adams, Secretary; and Nathan Adams, F. Warden, and Betty Adams as teachers. The general procedure was an opening with reading of scripture and "singing for a while.” Then classes were "arranged” and afterward a reconvening for more scripture with a question and answer period, roll call, and "minets” read. Eighty-three were on this first roll. (Deep Creek SS Records) In 1887, the "Little Singing Class” was organized to practice for one-half hour between a ten-minute recess after SS and in time for Meeting around 11:00 A.M. Sunday school conventions were held as early as 1888. The first hymn mentioned by name was "At The Cross.” (Deep Creek SS Records) In 1896 the officers were L.S. Shore and Lucy Vestal, Superintendents; and T.H. Adams and J.W. Shore, Secretaries. Mention was made of "remarks by Rev. David E. Sampson,” a well-known Friend working at Blue Ridge Academy and founder of Winston-Salem Friends Meeting. By November of this year, Sabbath school began at 10:00 A.M. In December, 1896, is the first mention of a choir. In 1920, a need for expansion brought about the pulpit and pews being reversed and two classrooms added on the south end which became the back. This also gave basement space for three small classrooms. By this time men and women had combined their business meetings as well as worshipping together. Women still sat on the left and men on the right with the center section being occupied by the younger people. Wood stoves provided the heat in the winter and funeral home fans were placed in the pews for summer cooling along with open windows. (Vallie Shore) Due to the loss of our Meeting Minutes for the 50-year period from 1850-1902, we do not have an accurate list of members, positions held, recorded ministers, and Meetings set up. T. Wesley Wooten was shared as a pastor with Forbush and Union Cross around 1893. (White Plains History) Also, we know that Franklin Warden and Lucy Vestal received their recording as ministers and served in the early 1900’s. (Deep Creek Minutes) Ben Millikan came to serve for the year 1923-1924. Charles Hutchens from the Forbush community began coming to preach once a month in 1925, which he continued to do for 23 years. He probably began with being paid by free-will offerings; by the end of his tenure he was getting $300 a year. Aunt Lucy Vestal was said to have received a bantam rooster once for holding revival services for an entire week. (Harvey Shives) Revivals were held annually, lasting a week with both day and night services. Great crowds came from far and near to attend, enjoying both spiritual and social enrichment. Altar calls were extended to get people to come to the "mourner’s bench” for confession and forgiveness of sins. "Singing schools” were conducted by Will Wooten and others, teaching singing by shaped notes. Cokesbury Hymnals were used by the congregation along with some more "lively” tunes. Arnie Shore was song leader for many, many years. Will Wooten first brought an organ into the meetinghouse causing some rather fervent discussion. (Willena W. Moore) A piano was added in the 1930’s. Music for a more formal choir was introduced around 1955. Through the years Deep Creek Friends Meeting has helped establish other Friends Meetings including Hunting Creek in 1794, Forbush in 1818, Union Cross in 1881, East Bend in 1886, Winthrop in 1877, Harmony Grove in 1894, and Pilot View in 1911. At least two other Meetings (Chestnut Creek and Swan Creek) were begun but later laid down or combined with other Meetings. One of our recorded ministers helped start Meetings in Surry Quarter. In recent years, Deep Creek, as a part of Yadkin Valley Quarterly Meeting, helped begin Sharon Friends near Charlotte, NC. Church services twice a month began about 1948 when Charles Hutchens retired. Bascom Rollins (1948- 1950) was shared with Pilot View who furnished the parsonage. Ben Millikan (1950-1954) followed with his second term of service with us. Pastors since then have been Leslie Winslow (1954-1957), Larry Emerson 2 (1957-1960), Jimmy Reinhardt (1960-1962), Carl Brooks (1962-1963), Wayne Johnson (1963-1968) - first one in our new parsonage, Joe Moorefield (1968-1970), Winford Clifton (1970-1974), Larry McEntire (1974-1977), Harold Smisor (1977-1988), and Hugh Spaulding (1988-?) Renovation began in 1950 when a vestibule with one entrance and two small rooms were added to the front of the building. A central heating system was installed. New floors and carpet strips were put in the sanctuary. In 1955 four classrooms and a fellowship hall in the basement were added. A kitchen and two restrooms were installed. In 1960 the old part of the meetinghouse was bricked to match the newer addition, new windows replaced the old, and a new roof was put on. In 1961, the Quaker Men’s group did extensive work on the grounds — leveling, grassing and graveling the driveway and parking areas. In 1963 a parsonage was built enabling the Meeting to have a full-time pastor. In 1975 another addition was erected containing a spacious fellowship hall in the basement, six large classrooms, a nursery, a study for the pastor, and two additional restrooms. Revamping of the sanctuary was done with choir relocation, new windows, and completely redecorated interior in 1984. In recent years, the parking lot has been surfaced and marked and ramps into the building and shelters over doorways have been added. Better outside lighting has been installed. The small rooms on each side of the vestibule have been furnished as memorials. Office equipment, classroom aids, and more comfortable chairs have been added. Through the years our music program has grown. We are blessed to have a children’s choir, a young adult choir, and an adult choir. An older Friend’s generosity enables us to have a three-octave bell choir. Several members are able to share with instrumentals and specials of solos, duets, trios, quartets, men’s and ladies’ choruses. Members participate in community projects helping the hungry, the homeless, those in prison, and the sick in hospitals and nursing homes. We are involved in Friends missions and disaster relief projects with some of our members traveling to work overseas or in stricken portions of the United States. All this we enter into enthusiastically, along with enjoying the fellowship of worshipping and serving our Lord in the local Meeting. The outreach and involvement of members of Deep Creek Friends Meeting has continued to grow and expand to serve in many NCYM and FUM positions of leadership. Participation in the Revitalization Program in 1992 has enabled our Meeting to set new goals for spiritual, physical, and numerical growth and service. With 200 years of Quaker witness in the North Deep Creek Community behind us, we now enter the 21st Century with renewed faith and vigor. 3 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from North Carolina Digital Heritage Center https://archive.org/details/200yearsatdeepcr00u OLD CEMETERY AT DEEP CREEK FRIENDS MEETING From West Side Beginning At Road No. Name Information Born Died New Graves in Old Cemetery 1. ADAMS, Fred 1904 1979 Blanche B. 1918 Old Graves (Spelling is as appears on stones) ROW A 1. ADAMS, Thomas Aged 22y, 7m, 4d 8/15/1875 3/19/1989 Our Brother A precious one from us has gone A voice we loved is stilled A place is vacant in our home Which never can be filled 2. ADAMS, GDP Aged 64y, 2m, 19d 8/2/1835 5/14/1900 Our Father Gone but not forgotten 3. ADAMS, Susan Aged 62y, 8m, lOd 11/9/1837 5/19/1900 Our Mother Gone but not forgotten 4. HOBSON, Rachel Aged 18y, 7m, 17d 7/20/1848 In memory of 10/16/1851 5. MARTIN, Simon H. Aged 57y, 5m, lid 6/14/1843 6. REECE, Mary Aged 28y, 6m, 20d To the memory of 7. WILLARD, Jonathan Aged 68y, 6m, 6d 5/12/1854 In memory of 1841 8. REY— W (?), Mary 8/14/1832 9. VESTAL, John 9/7/1844 10 HADLEY, Mary Aged 5y, 10m, 29d In memory of HADLEY, Hester Ann Aged ly, 3m, 4d The daughters of Spence & Caroline Hadley Here lies the dear children in the depths of the cold clay. It grievs the parents severe to think they were taken away. Why do we mourn departed friends or shake at death & alarm. Tis but the voice that Gesus sends to call them to his arms. 1828 11. DOBBINS, Kizeah 1825 12. DOBBINS, Jessee 3/24/1836 13. MARTIN, John Aged about 80 14. M., S. H. 15. H., W. 16. H., A. 5 ROW B 1. H., P. 1800 2. T. 3. HINSHAW, Elizabeth 4/12/1838 4. H., S. Twins 1847 5. H., S. Twins 1847 6. Blank Stone 7. SIZEMORE, N. C. Aged 2 months 2/14/1848 8. REECE, —oil m ne (Elm) Aged 2m, 8d Son of J.A. Reece 9. Blank Stone 10. HUFF, Diner Aged 82 1809 11/1/1891 At rest 11. HUFF, John D. 3/1/1848 5/4/1877 12. HUFF, Daniel 1857 13. HUFF, Joshua Aged 92y, 4m, 26d 9/8/1788 1/4/1881 EMPTY SPACES 14. CARTER, Mary 12/21/1800 15. Blank Stone 16. HINSHAW, Sol Aged 25 2/ /1863 Killed in a school house by Confederate Home Guard because he was a Union Sympathizer 17. HINSHAW, John Aged 83 1/31/1885 18. HINSHAW, Hannah Aged 82 6/22/1887 ROW C 1. HOBSON, Abram Aged 19y, 5d 9/21/1837 2. HOBSON, Joshua Aged 17y, 8m 6/31/1834 3. Blank Stone 4. H 5. CARTER, Nathan I. Aged 3m 10/1/- EMPTY SPACE 8.-9. Blank Stones 10. HOBSON, Elizabeth R T E G H H 79 Rest in the Lord 11. H., J. 12. -AIM, Elizabeth 79 Rest EMPTY SPACE 13. Blank Stone 14.-15 . Blank Stones 16. W., S. ROWD 1. Blank Stone 6