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Chatham County North Carolina Cemeteries

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004    ROCKY RIVER METHODIST CHURCH [A46.1]

      Location - Albright Township. 0.25 mile north of SR 1304, Albright Road, near junction with SR 1305, Cooper Road

      Coordinates: 35d 49m 29.0s N; 79d 32m 23.0s W Click here for Online Maps

      As early as 1780, Francis Asbury visited Chatham County. On 22 July 1789, Isaac Cox deeded 1.5 acres of land to Rev. Francis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in North America, and to his successor Bishops of the Church. This was the site of the Rocky River Methodist Church. In 1949, a Francis Asbury Memorial Association was founded with the goal of getting this historic church official recognition. A memorial marker with a bronze plaque was placed on the church grounds in 1951. A concrete pedestal 2 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet high stands in the center of the original building location. The bronze plaque (now missing) read as follows:

      "Bishop Francis Asbury came preaching through North Carolina as early as 1780. Through his influence of the First Methodist Church in this section of the state was organized here on July 22, 1789. Isaac Cox deeded this parcel of land to Bishop Asbury, his successor bishops and the Methodist Church forever. Upon these 4 corners a log meeting house known as Rocky River Methodist Church was erected and stood for more than 100 years.

      "The frail body of Bishop Asbury long since became dust, but the tremendous influence of his life and the great church he did so much to establish in America live and march triumphantly forward.

      "The Good Men Do Lives After Them.

      "Francis Asbury Rocky River Memorial Association
      July 22 1951"

      The original corner stones, set in concrete pads, mark each corner of the 21-foot by 27-foot log building. A frame structure, 24 feet by 37 feet, containing some of the timbers of the original log structure was constructed north of the original building location. This church building has not been in use since about 1960.

      In 1964, Lois Sugg Willett, Guilford Battle Chapter, DAR, Greensboro, North Carolina, recorded 53 grave markers and 48 graves marked with field stones. When Will and Audrey Heiser visited the site 6 June 1992, many of the stones had become illegible. They counted 45 legible stones, of which one was not on the DAR list, and 6 initialed footstones.

      Owner: North Carolina Conference, United Methodist Church.
      Legal Description: Deed Book F-263, 22 July 1789, 1 1/2 acres, Isaac Cox to Rev. Francis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist Church in North America.
      Topo Quadrant: Liberty.
      Church owned: Yes. Denomination: Methodist.
      Number of graves: 101.
      Cemetery size: 50' x 60'.
      White: Yes.
      Restricted access: Yes. 0.25 mile lane almost impassible
      Overgrown and not easy to identify: Yes.
      Not identified explanation: Church building standing. Cemetery overgrown with trees, brush and brambles. Some lilies and boxwood still growing there..
      Enclosed: No.
      Markers: Yes.
      Markers with inscriptions: Yes.
      Number of readable markers: 54.
      Last burial: 1921.
      First burial: 1825.
      Unusual situation: Only 42 stones legible 6 June 1992.
      Markers damaged: Yes.
      Other damage explanation: Overgrowth of trees and vines.
      Hazards: Neglect and overgrowth.
      Listed: Yes.
      Last canvassed by: Will and Audrey Heiser. Date: 6 June 1992.


  1. Brower, Elizabeth   (b. 1798 - d. Jul 1881)
        2. Location row 6. column 2.
  2. Campbell, Elizabeth   (b. Unknown - d. Jun ____)
  3. Campbell, Isaac   (b. 1781 - d. 9 Nov 1855)
  4. Dafford, Austice   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
        5. Daughter of Nicholas and Cornelia Dafford. Location row 4. column 2.
  5. Ferguson, Archibald   (b. 3 Mar 1790 - d. 21 Jun 1848)
        6. Husband of Sarah Ferguson. Row 4. column 12.
  6. Ferguson, Eliza E.   (b. 18 Nov 1879 - d. 17 Feb 1890)
        7. Daughter of W. A. and E. J. Ferguson. Row 3. column 11.
  7. Ferguson, Elizabeth   (b. 16 Feb 1832 - d. 25 Aug 1855)
        8. Wife of David Ferguson. Footstone: EF. Row 4. column 14.
  8. Ferguson, J. H.   (b. 18 Jul 1860 - d. 19 Apr 1863)
        9. Son of D.B. and M. Ferguson. Row 3. column 13.
  9. Ferguson, Rachel E.   (b. 25 Jan 1871 - d. 1 Dec 1882)
        10. Daughter of W. A. and E. J. Ferguson. Row 3. column 12.
  10. Ferguson, Sarah   (b. 10 Aug 1801 - d. 18 Dec 1883)
        11. Wife of Archibald Ferguson. Footstone: SF. Row 4. column 11.
  11. Ferguson, Sarah M.   (b. 18 Oct 1831 - d. 10 Sep 1854)
        12. "In memory of". Footstone: SMF. Marker - Lauder of Fayetteville). Row 4. column 13.
  12. Fox, George   (b. 20 Aug 1804 - d. 20 Jun 1885)
        13. Husband of Sallie Fox. Row 3. column 3.
  13. Fox, Pattie M.   (b. 27 Aug 1829 - d. 8 Jul 1908)
        14. "Her toils are past, her work is done, She fought the fight, the victory won". Clasped hands at top of stone. Row 3. column 2.
  14. Fox, Sallie   (b. 28 May 1803 - d. 27 Jan 1873)
        15. Wife of George Fox. "Our Mother". Row 3. column 4.
  15. Hobson, David V.   (b. 7 Apr 1861 - d. 11 Jun 1862)
        16. Row 6. column 5.
  16. Hobson, John A.   (b. 5 May 1852 - d. 26 Mar 1904)
        17. Row 6. column 6.
  17. Hobson, Nancy E.   (b. 19 Apr 1857 - d. 6 Sep 1863)
        18. Row 6. column 4.
  18. Marley, Elizabeth J.   (b. 16 Feb 1854 - d. 2 Nov 1861)
        19. "In memory of". Row 2. column 2.
  19. Marley, Emeline   (b. 29 Aug 1834 - d. 19 Dec 1860)
        20. Wife of William Y. Marley. "In memory of". Row 2. column 1.
  20. Marley, Infant   (b. 2 Jan 1860 - d. 20 Jun 1860)
        21. Infant daughter of W. Y and E. Marley. Row 3. column 14.
  21. McMasters, Anderson   (b. 12 Nov 1812 - d. 13 Oct 1895)
        22. "During his pilgrimage here below, already ready some kindness to bestow. As husband, father, Christian and friend, he lived pure and faithful to the end. When death called him to his reward, he cheerfully left all to meet his God.". Row 3. column 9.
  22. McMasters, Andrew   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
        23. Row 4. column 10.
  23. McMasters, Daniel   (b. 24 Oct 1785 - d. 12 May 1852)
        24. Row 4. column 6.
  24. McMasters, Ivan   (b. 15 Jun 1837 - d. 15 Jun 1837)
        25. Son of W. R. and S. E. McMasters. Row 3. column 7.
  25. McMasters, Maranda Madison   (b. 30 Nov 1815 - d. 21 Sep 1861)
        26. Row 4. column 7.
  26. McMasters, Martha C.   (b. 1 Jun 1903 - d. 24 Jun 1903)
        27. Daughter of W. R. and S. E. McMasters. Row 3. column 6.
  27. McMasters, Mary   (b. 18 Feb 1778 - d. 24 Oct 1853)
        28. Row 3. column 10.
  28. McMasters, Rosannah   (b. 9 Dec 1831 - d. 31 Dec 1921)
        29. "At Rest". Row 3. column 8.
  29. McMasters, Sary   (b. 12 Jul 1761 - d. 3 Nov 1845)
        30. Row 4. column 9.
  30. Pearce, E. A. M.   (b. 14 May 1856 - d. 7 Sep 1856)
        31. Daughter of A. and A. Pearce. "Gone but not forgotten". Row 4. column 1.
  31. Pearce, Eliza   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
        32. Daughter of Parris and Rachel Pearce. Row 4. column 4.
  32. Pearce, Mary   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
        33. Daughter of Parris and Rachel Pearce. Row 4. column 3.
  33. Pearce, Parris   (b. 11 Jul 1801 - d. 24 Mar 1853)
        34. Husband of Rachel Pearce. Row 4. column 5.
  34. Pearce, Rachel   (b. 5 Jul 1803 - d. 5 Jul 1865)
        35. Wife of Parris Pearce. "Gone but not forgotten". Row 3. column 5.
  35. Pearce, Sarah Adline   (b. 13 Mar 1836 - d. 5 Aug 1914)
        36. Wife of Alfred Pearce. "She was a kind and affectionate wife, a fond mother and a friend to all". Clasped hands at top of stone. Row 3. column 1.
  36. Pickett, Ann P.   (b. 2 Jun 1799 - d. 25 Jan 1856)
        37. Row 6. column 3.
  37. R., C.   (b. Unknown - d. 1825)
  38. R., L.   (b. Unknown - d. 16 Jun 1897)
  39. Ritsman, H.   (b. Unknown - d. Apr 1826)
  40. Sullivan, F. M.   (b. 1844 - d. 14 Feb 1921)
        41. "Gone but not forgotten". Row 6. column 8.
  41. Sullivan, Louisa   (b. 21 Apr 1833 - d. 4 Jun 1913)
        42. Row 6. column 7.
  42. Thompson, Spencer D.   (b. 30 Aug 1829 - d. 10 Oct 1899)
        43. "May he rest in peace". Row 1. column 1.
  43. Underwood, Anna   (b. 7 Jul 1822 - d. 13 Sep 1844)
        44. "In memory of". Row 4. column 8.
  44. Wren, Green C.   (b. Unknown - d. 16 Mar 1835)
        45. Small. Location row 1. column 6.
  45. Wren, J. C.   (b. 22 Mar 1790 - d. 19 Feb 1869)
        46. Location row 1. column 4.
  46. Wren, James F.   (b. Unknown - d. 22 Feb 1835)
        47. Small. Location row 1. column 5.
  47. Wren, L. M.   (b. Nov 1835 - d. Unknown)
  48. Wren, S. R.   (b. 4 Mar 1797 - d. Unknown)
        49. Location row 1. column 3.
  49. Wren, W. D.   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
        50. Son of J. H. Wren.
  50. Wrenn, E. R.   (b. 10 Feb 1819 - d. 17 Feb 1892)
        51. Location row 1. column 7.
  51. Wrenn, Michael H.   (b. 23 Jul 1839 - d. 10 Sep 1868)
        52. Location row 1. column 2.
  52. Wrenn, S. J.   (b. 29 Nov 1832 - d. 10 Apr 1870)
        53. Location row 1. column 8.
  53. York, Empire   (b. 23 Jan 1828 - d. 6 Feb 1905)
        54. Wife of W. F. York.
  54. York, W. F.   (b. 30 Jan 1823 - d. 8 Jun 1901)
        55. Husband of Empire York.


Web page updated 8 June 2021


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