Early Settlers Rev John Pope

" STO Hl' 0 1"

aum ron", .

TFNN!::SSICr'

t!.9 t o l d by ,

Mr s. LOui so Sh1!.n no n f'Xldman *

In 1 006 the Re vere n!! J o hn Pope , his scenncl wi f e , l\ nn LUC ilS a nd nin c chi l dr e n , Ci'l mc t o Te nn essee fr o m FoC) oco mb

.

~unty.

comi nq

I: .'

~c r th "

f C') !n

Ctlr oli na ..

fivo o f t ho chi l d r on wo r o bor n .:lfter

l\o rth Ca r o li nn .

110 o wned l and f r Ofl'l Duck.

.

R ivc~

Ri dqc o n o ne sid'J tn, Ind i ·,," bou nda r y l ine o n t wo s i de s . , \.Qno C'

"'"

doad wa s si "l ~ c<;l by Go ne r " l J nmo s Rn t,.c rt snn i n 18 08.

WilS •

1!.

••

circu i t r i de l" mi ni s t e r o ! t ho, ' Ic thodist f.:li t h c1!.c c pt he

i n Bisho ps " nd Mi ssions . d i d no t be lieve J ",' • homos , i n ,g r o v e n <;I r a ny dan t s

Popo "

wh~

9 ~"C:o

' [0 p r onch oc\ in

he onul e g L1 tho r tho -. f e w r e si-

ha d v e ntu r e d i nt o this \!n so ttl c d !'lro." t o go t he r .

own I nn d ho l d i ngs

mct c nd c ~ n ~

t o qo wi t hou t i n f ri nq i nq. f t o lll the I nrl i ;ml:\.

~n

lIis

f1' r <'I S,. t h o l ;'1w l!.llo we d s e t t l e r n

I n nd t hn t hnd no t y e t be en t r e nti e d

!!in c l o s c s t nc i qhbo t, t wn lIIi l es a wa y ,

Co l o ne l Hr. r c1 y Hur f r cc .

, ~vc ran(i,

J o hn Pope . !edge comb Ce . , N. C . . Elizabeth J o f fr icn

J o hn POIlC' S l ino c f

"

(17211-179 9 ) ; ann wife .

.

....,

Col. J o hn Pope (1700-1745), F:d~ccomb a nd IlIl"lif;J X Co •• N. C . , b . Is l e o f l1 i ah t . VIl .• im d wif e , M~urn 1 n g i!e], i'n'n i c " . He n ry ' Pope .. nil !':,1.tllh ' 11\ttS t ll11i ,.(l'ri· Pope ( 16 3,; - 1 700) c.nd h i s wifc . I.l"ri~ . 1II,, : ri'-.>
.'

2B

,- . (l762-1tl2 8 ) ,

.-

"

It(!v.:l r o nd J o hn by his first wife,

N.C., 10M,

tit

P:JiJ~ ;~.n~

"

im d his sev e n child r <;m

!>/hit tly,cr , who died £dc;rocomoo Co.,

'. ,.

, '- .

t .'lc birth of th eir l.:lst. chil r1 , t:li:Z:\!lG th.

i\ho ut n , yc~r

Los"t no ' time in rCm.Jrriilqc t o ".\ nno Luc.::r.s. l.:itc'i he

and

c.o.A.

his child r en .lnd nQl," wife l o ft. c:tl<J C!= ~!3.::

N.C. f o r Tc nn.:!ssce nnd t ho c hon? Illlld . ' but ·rich.- ,as the .....J lind w;~ r(!

Indi Ol n s c cel.;:!cl more nnd 1:101;"0 t o the 'Govc r ruTlcnt

.!tu.shcd

fi:irthcr ' -bolck .

Ill! bought '1:nnc:l in 'Carr...,ll ,nnd lIe nry qounti cs , . '. in 'lluditio n '·to Nilliillllson Co unty" Tennessee . which I-!~ rc

.

gr ari'ts ·q'ivcn"· f o r Rcv.:)lution1r y Wa r s e rvice • .l n ~l his~ purc~il~C WIlS surrounded on three sides o f Indi" n

,"f:

,

tc rrito ~y . ~ ~c,.

n

sho rt. Wh ile in' C;J.rroll Cou nty I\nd on !!uffll l o

mi

' ' H.:lynasbo ro, ')JJonnesaao n o w lcs' 01.11:. f ro:n .. wh Jorc

ata n~~!I'

s1>C,nt

, .

, 'One i) f hia 'o ldcr S('lnl! ram.-. irH:!(l ;:)n th o 1 1\"<3.; on ,nuff ,1 1,a

River 'wh ile Rev : , Pe!>:"! .:l n tl h i s f l'. mily e ')I!\O t o buil<\ .t heir hom::! i n l1il l l runsc n Co un ty,

,~o was ;>1'I y1n9 ,l .lnd t.."Ixas in IH1-

li rtm:aoti' cro,in ty in laOS, !\nd o ho rt ly i'lfte r be.,,1n ,h<;l,w,i;n'1) ~5 to build his hom e in th e wild o l'ne55 , .-.djo inin<;J " rn,U,lIh 'rc.;::ri ' -' I"

....

,,, ,,",

tory, whiah Il t ' I:.h,i t ' time

W.:l 3

tho 'limit of

' (\I).y" o ncr::p:\~tunent

,

'I

, f o r , g r o wing supplies , inelllC!inq a d ist ille ry whiCh

W.:IS

, th~ il'

a o ns id::! r 2n

i'l

5<1 1-

,


,

~ .,

,

" ,

\

,

.

foods'. j ib W~lJ "h" ci:r:auit ridor prCi'lchor o f, the ;.Ie't h'"ilist ' '',

,

,I

', .. ,

h itti "J ;C'coPt h :J did not believe in'

bavin~ , jurh(lic tion unl'cr

-

!!c p r..:l'lc!1cd in hom::!s ,.\S the /\ro/\ be,},," to {lcqu ire

,"

"

_.

:! • ,

"?'1' "

nC~9~~~~ , ~:~ ~:~ ~ ~ ~ ~ st nc i <Jhbo t \~lS co~~"no l l;ur~rce, th","

the !iw;mso n f,:un ily ~het"c ' he tt"e,!u n ntly h c ld ' '1Ol"ahi;> ael"vic c s.

" peo pl.:. t o fr o lic

·:Hl{l

d'1 0CO.

I?"lrson P'.me, I\S he WII S r efnrrc!.!

to fJ;'cqu cn t!y. m.:lt .:mrl o r cachctl "'Jl\inst the sins o f d
and no longer

~l l owc(l

SWilnSOn

f innllY· nceo::>tcd th!:! sin

this p l ea s an t 'lc t-tnq c ther in tho· Swanson

homo, .

In 1811, J{cv. J ohn Popo r Qccivcd word o f the dCilth o f his bllchclor

brot:\I~r,

Osborn P" pe, in Hll. kc Co . , N. C., lind it

was n(.'Ccs s1'I ry f o r him t o mnl: c the l ong trip there to his brothe r's cst
t'l

'Ittcnd

i\ (U ,~ry o f expenSQs wns kopt,

inclu~­

ing, ferry f:lre s, f ooel f or horses, loc.lging f n r his pnrty. Hi~ .•br"

thp r Osb0:rn hlle willed illl of his (I1;lVC5 to nov .

J .o hn , POi>
Osho rn Papa specifierl in !lis liill that '

ccrt.)in f
kc~)t

t 09cthct'

~.:J ~' ..

.) fnmily Clnc\ not t (1 b G SCp1 C ·'t,~e.. It is >:"I f intnrost ' t o no t e .. . .. ' in .the cxpen.se diary , which i s in I:!Y posscSGion t ...,dny, the .l:llount of whiskey pu reh:lI.cd cnc: h (l ilY, n lnng with ('t hor fiUPplies !oc t he p a rtl . i\s Rcv. POil(l ' S f.:\!llily grCI<.· a nd o thers were mo ving in and taking up . the ir l .... ml:,;, there ,,'n!) .1 vitnl neod f e r edue1l;tio n ."lnd

.J.

~

ho us e o f wo rship t o :1;>0 ·built . . lie noeu:::!d 1/2 .

·" lcro o f l ."lnd in 1616 (Scp. t.· 1.thl t ..., be usod by iUly c.en.,minoti on o r s oct s o l o ng. as th<;>y did nt:'t inh:ingc nn "nothe r's occ:ul.l:'tion /\5 :1 p1 .... c:o t.a worshi ?. •.

He spccificrl

f~ t

by f!)Ot

and !;oo.1[
.

1 lO

was t o be buil t from.-

I!rc qu':> ntly Cl\mp me etings we r e hoB

thoro whi c h l ll.sted f o r rl ."y s
c~mc

fro m mil e s uW" y

t o Pop e ' s Chil PCl, a s it h.:l(\ beon named, t n wc r !l hi ~) o:\ c c o r clin9

to'

,

the ir .,wn !>cH e fs. Tho church :Inn sc h o~ l 1'1,15 nevor c\oc(lcd t ':l "'IllY nc nominn_ ,:

"ticn

ns

1s r cco rdc(l "t tho !'lillicu,! Grl n Cnunty C~ urt ,' jo as,. thut a_

f o re. it d i d no t bc ! o n'l t o "'"Y o n e d e no mina tio n any mo:> r c thil n

t o ano the r. a nd " .

tlcnomin;;ltio n ~

~1

s t ilndo true t nd uy.

Qccup i .;:!d t he ,}ulpi t a t

I

s Chllp (') l, o n Po p'} ' B

Chapel 'Road, in th e
.,

"

.:Ind be c aus e n f "" f o r bot'h

/1

lilr9 9 ~ sprinlJ t he r e

it

e hurch il ll we ll il S '\ s c h OOl.

:

e n idc., l l Oci\tio n .

~1l!. S

Th e Cilr,:l with wh i c h .

th e "bui'l ding \-{115 c C' ns t r uct c d" it w., ::; lJuilt t~1 Gt.:l nrl fo!"wlYr. !

But ' ab{l ut

,

1910 a t v rnc.\!<::> hit the c. r o ll " n(\ ' (!
'

a t tha t tiec bci nq u s ed hy the lle t hl'>.lls t c.e nom i n" ti<>n. tho yenrs " s m
s prun~

OVe r

u p a bQut two mil es fr<ml

tho Rev . Po pe 's home n nd h u(l h e (m c ., 11 0(\ by s o veral different n,UlIes, including t-lil1i ams t'!ur'l , f o r <:l n o nr . !"Iilli;ull s wh ... ha d cooo into t h o vi cini ty t o wa i t o n the IJ i c k o f th 'l ."t r aa . ,

My f "thc r, Dr. J arna IJ o. Sh ann o n , ,\ y ou ng r.lil n o f 1\go 21 y e nr.!;. ha(l 9rm \U;l.te c. fro m University o f N~ siwnl l"J , which bc ci\1rle Vlm clo r bil t ,

,

~!u d i c ill

s cho o l in thc s e c o n d

f)r a du
Cl:15 S

o f t he Uni ve r s i t y i n 18 77 , ."18 V.J.lo clic t o ri a n o f hi s · c l (1.5s . fe lt th o · nc ml f o r addit i o n1\1 !:"ledie'll

He

t r n ining , so s :,ent a

year at Dollvuo lIo s p it u l in New Yo rk City b c f ,., r c c c mincr h a ck t o Frc nkli n , (l n d lx!<J.1. n h is first !)J: o.ctico with Dr .

"o f prc s e n t d llY Bu n tpO\! .

~' illi ams

• I

,

VIl.riOU5 Pro t e s t a nt Po ~

}

,

t!1c smnll ·,eommunity 'Inc Rev . Pnpc h"rl damlcd r",nds tt)

,g

his children in th"t rmrnmunity wllich nilmo WIG thC; " l,"l.st "des-

cendant' Hiss Cnrrio P,,<,c, whn di c cl there in 1958 .

,-

,

l cr~ -

y.::lt Blacks, d cs c cnclcd fr 0m the first

\~h\l

There a r c

c " mc t o '!'cnnCSSC8

with him. er ,~hich h e inhe rited f r ""m his broth":lr ' Osb C'r n in ~!orth

"

Caro l i n;) ..'nd hrnusht them her e in 1 a11.

C'lS a wh'llc "'ro a credit t o thc ' nnmc of

These Bl.lcks

. '

!??~'I!;

I I

which th c y "banr ,

1l0U some arc l iving and o wning 111ml \·;hieh their <3n~c'st0 rs

rccoru - kccpc rs. h

C:;l rd cd in th e o ld Pope Uibl e

,(l,me for the

(J iog.

LrClC C the ~n
~hc

• .

<,'

" , (11hi6h" I l1:wc), but ' nlsa thci:

,

' sl~ve5.

lineClg~

popes

were

meticulous , . , not 'l nly wor':! n.:lm c s, births nno ' donths rc-

f",rmcd 1lS sla·....1!J a f R(!v. Pope.

.r •.

llecllUSc (,f records ):cp t, I WIlS ablci t o

,

,

of J oe.:: Pni'O who still lives in tho vicinity,

he n nd his forcf.,thers were t '\ll'1ht tho Bible /\m1 hel'lrd th e

'om

s~me gospel tenching vhich' nev.

:cmt

his

f~ily

munity~

Clnd dcscenunnts.

(P",rs o n) Pope instilled in

They ~ra Il credit to the c om-

"

,

...

Du rinq the wl'lr between the Stlltcs , Rev. John Pope ' s grandson, John Osborn

Po ~e,

in trying t o oscape

by·, the Ya nk.eos, hid in the ne c. rby woods, but o nc chance , t d go h ome .

bcin~ c ~~ ture d

o;;y ·~~t"'X , . ;" ,

.,' .

He hid in the I'I ttic cnd Hhcn 1'1 f .uthful

,

"

apples waiting t o b e ntorQd for thQ winter ,lnd sca ttcred them thickly on the st,1 ir stei'5.

m'

1\s" Yn nkc c soldier <'Ittemp'ted t ('

g'J upstClirs in ' nearch of ·the cscl'.pcd s o ldie r.

"

.,

:'

she spread 1'111

"

her Ilrms \~ith h a nds 0 n h er llips CIt tho foot· of the stnirs n nd

J2 '.~.:Il k

dared t ha, Yn nkcn co l di a r t o

a ppl es nod r uin them.

mu~ t

She

o n hcr

~I i nt t: r ~st

have bee n

s uppl y o f

cn p hntie be-

ca us e he d id not n t t(lmpt to p ush by h o r in nia sQ
we nt o n l!.W,,,':'. l o nv ing t he Souther n solcl,i c r sl\fcly !li~ 1 cn uP Bt a ir s . ~ n d

g UlIrd cd by ! ,unt ~1l\ ry'l.I hu<)c physiCluc c.nd thcf

.

. J o hn PO[le ' a ,

stili r s .lI tr clin wi. th a,mie s. ' ,(~

. In the !lev . "':1.11 o f

~f!'lins co ti ng ,

rig ht , was, n

S f!C ~ ct

i n tlo.rt~ .C~ rolinr.. rntio n.

t.~

home , w ~1\'s tv ic",~ , cu t i n th e

S<:ll!lC thr ee o r to ur f eet !\i gh On y o u r ' pun':)l Ilh c r o i l!lIY-l r ttl nt proper s, " l d dee d s

(I,

d i a ry o f which I ~.r.I the ni oet h gcn o-

add no tfitio u G in , " Ld deeds o f 11Iml ho l dings in

lIalifax nnd Edgecombe Cou nti ell o f d eed o f l1lnc. to Rev . J o hn

,r cmoe.::!~ i ng

in t he

yc ~r

nn(" 11

13 11 sig n ed by

;,1 1 of t hClIlC clo cur.lon t s
J ame s -;t') b c r t floll.

somo

p()~C

Nnr th Caro Hn,."

l>:a Ol dOl\o t o t h l;) o l el h" u!lc , t h i s p;;l. noling

W1HI do ni;!. ilW;l.Y ,·lith "'n,; 1/h.... t w;os i ll tho;! bC<)inn i llg " n c nt rr. ne c:

ha ll, o ne wa l l

r oom.'

Th o

w(l 1k wil J'

111\>3

tr)r n

M US il l iaS

h"~;,'

110W:1 am~ mtlt'lc

into pl'trt n f th o living

w'!r. t hc r- bml. nl (!
11 00

tho she lte r ed

'" the d ining r ()(:m. t o t he kitchcll , w:!ich wno b uilt

s o me

~Uo t l:nc.::

ckll~n

I'm d a dded

frc r.1 t :t", ho uso au ~o

thc

~1!.cJ;

i\

fi re hazard . ".NlS ,,11 t o r n

of the h Cl U(lC .

The s ;me !)lI. ttc n "·

cloo r h anqll .... t t:1C. fn ot of smnil steep s t l'l. irstcps 9 " i n<:l t <j"

the .. ups t oi;::. bce.r nom= .

'1.':-00 s l !\vo qu .., r tcrs

<'LTd

homu ' li s ':1 r -

l CI::Y .h evc 1'>00) ))c o n d::m c ,", way wit h, h ut tho r ich r.1."'I t n f·

f Ml.i l y v C(lc::,tnl c 9;;l. r
;:) n~

:.~ill

uS ocl t r;dn y by its ;,J r c sent

" CCCPill1 t , ' •. It;;-.• ,,:a Gr igsby "

JJ

JU-s't

beyond the. g,:,.rdcn in th e fam ily bur fill g r o und, with

some f orty marked gr:wcs am'. .!;cvc rJ.! unm,u:k.cd.

In my y outh,

I can r e c.-.ll going there ilm~ Hhilc t'1c £=i1y 'Jr1l.~Cyrare · wb.s ; •

I

within a fenced pll\cc , it \/1\5 surrounncn on nne grilvcs mnr kcd only ,>'ith f i eld strn CD , wher/;) lay th:! uodies o f the servant!! n~'d sla'vcs wh'l h"'l l:n')wn n0 Qthcr h:Jm~ ' f hnn th a t :1£ th e Pope f.;l.mily,

bo th in !'! 'lrth enro Lin<\. a nd

~~nnc6's6~~'" r_". -

,

ncvorcml Pnpe w.;!.s ;;>ayin<:; t;:lx c !J. ilS statec1, in Il'illbmso n u Co unty, Te nnessee , hy 1905 and JJy 1920 he h F\d over "2, zi6i ri1= r cs.

.

.

'

,

!Iost nf the l a nd J.ay on thQ "H caclh'lltc r[; of I~urphy's For).;:o f

l'lest lIarpe 't h'" ~ ml 'wns dcriv'.': cl from qri'. nts t o J'l!fI() S

It'Jbcrtson.

,'Iilrtin flrmstrong, acnj~in C
:Jxt",,'leu
Indians.

ilnii'

wifhnut'

in-

o n l a nrl that h~d nr. t yet ~ee n tr ea tiea f o r f rem' the The 'srrawling o stat~ \~as , "If necessity, self-sus-

tllining, anr1 we s

,

e ~mrl o te

rlnwn t .') the d istillery.

The ho us e

has stood 1(;5 Y.:! cherry furnishin']s of the "'rigin;-tl ho me, mll(\e by a sl
on

~!ovember ' 23, 1780, J o hn P'' ''i'e ~
.,

"

Ann 11'lhitakcr,

,-,

the dau,]hter o f Rich
'

, ,

ville Co unty, !l.e . ' liy her he hm~ fiv e s " ns
,

-,

'

Po pC mnrried

~nn

,

Lucas

.

(177~ - la36l

,

~ i [ '.

In Februa ry o f 1'198, ' John "

who bnre him soven mnr e ""

childre n, th e last five o f \'.. ho m ~~e re bn rn i)"fter thi"! Pnpc s

"

"':

"

-

"

,

crono t o Hillirunso n Co unty in 1806.

\l ere thC'y i s pcnt' m6st o f

~I!. id

t hei r livc!! and we r o

tr. r o s t in t ho f amU y ' burying

'Jr nun:! beyo nd t ho _'Jll r don . ,

Til:! fir s t

'.

"

Rev e rend Pope in 18 29 .

S ince the n, v i vos , .,sO n !; , di\ ug hto r 's .

i n-laws n ne! g r a ndch i l d r e n.

The l _,st . ba r ill l, thQt of

!Ion , t ook p l ace i n 191 0.

• j

Re v . Fope ' s gra nrlfathc r, l'

'j

h a ~uri ~ hore WAS

trl

,

~y,

di ed whil e ser v ing as n member o f t he :1'.

il

,

,-,;

Co unty in 17 45.

.

~?

.

P.OU!lC

cO llnti ~9-.

' lie

f r om Edg8c o mb

J

He w:ts " memb e r o f t h e Co l oni a l !\6scr.lbly ', .:

a nd was o n t he cO!M\i ttoo to Clc c.1n<) e ~I age!l ties "

ha("\. . bce n 11

•

the cou rt s o f Edgec omb .lnd " " l i f 'lx ,.

Ij r a n:! -

,

!I~o .I Q"m ::l ,

th:l


wa s

1\

;;'I

r o nt r :)11

f c>r ' ~h i!l

pl a nt e r o f nr:J t o . j Ull ticc ' of the POllc e,'

Shc riff , Tax Collecto r a nd Ves t ryma n o f St . .1,..,hn'8 · C hu rc.~ ti · ,.' . "

•

. ' l ,·~~

•

l;1n (1 I\ n '~

P
.

c hurc h ncar

Ox fo r'~ ,

N.r: ., k n('N n ':11. 1'(,IOO ' 1J Chape l .

huilt
It i ll no t

the r e f n r e . t hat I\S soon a s his g r a ndsC'n I\n,l

'. '"

el e11 r ed

l ~ml

J;'-

:

..

"

and hll r ;-re,s t ed a f o w crops ,"\t hi s naw homa ho

bu il t il m.::lc tin g house ."orl s c hop l \/lm r :! hi. s f'll1li l y

a n~

neighbo r s c o ul cl wo r Shi p }m d, cduc.:Ite thei r child r en f o t: ho pu t CJ r aa t emp hilS i.s n il. bo th r elig i o n

"n~~

..

c ,luca tio n .

....s mo nti o nad . t ho communi ty t h'lt ,'cvc l o?:!
'''''$

f i r s t kn<,)wn 110 Willi."\msh ur'J. nne'. l .:'l t c r Shaw.

sen ~

Irho ·'pr o-

nnma o f Burw<Xld " ,lS su<)gCG t cd hy a Cj ranuso n ., f novc c o nd .' I

Po po, J nmcs Dr;:'li:.o 1"0,[,'0 , wh,') t oo i:. the n.:>r.lo t r "", ,Mrs . !tumphry .;j' Ila r d ' s nove l , "Hobert IUsme r e", .and r !lut:"00{1" i t i s s~ i rl

today. ~"

,

;.t'- 1

.

.,

no the l"npc childrQ n r eilo hed: r.l11 t ur i t y ,', t ho ir fll the r ~

,,'

.

g ave e a ch " f a rm n.:lll r ,hi m. oxcep t f o r th .... se wh.... mrwed t o hi s · e x t e ns i ve ho i lling i n. tile , "Nester n , :.1·'

--

Di st r ic t ~ .

His' s n its Thnmn s

,

" ,'ndo rs e n ilno

J ~hn '

l'h itilkGI: Pc;:>::!

"'~ r c

? 1:(l<Jcn i 1;l'lrs .... f th o

f olrni lics wh'J c o ntinuo t o l i v;;! in t his C"I u nty.

,

'<'hero ,1ro n o n e

o f tho n<:!!!lo l a ft , but amont} t he tCIII<11 c (lcsccml(l.n t s is IIrs.

nn-

LO uise Shonn;,n

~drn1\n

o f Fr
..,apcr!; ."lntI tho f .:'\ r.lily Bibl c . t a k c)n f. r C'tr1 t h e secret e nclo sure in o:;hc pan e li ng.

EV e ry indic . \t i~ n p.'lin ts

t ,,)

l'I tr Mn'1 ti cs o f

llffcctio n llc t wccn t he popes and the ir Go rv.,nt!; throu']h th o

gene r a tions .

,

The y wor o taught t he Bibl e , warc trcntcd mcdi-

"

ca ll y ilS r c cci p t s 91'10\1, ;'1m: many n f

th~ ir

m
" interse c t i o n o f Evor9rccn " nd Pope ' s Chape l ).'-

to

.

:)0

the ho mc nf Iu-s . /'\.nn Pope until hel:

lihieh tim e it was t -:l h;;lve g e n e t o p rio r t (l that d;:!.tc .

I t W<'l S

~wnc (l

1\

~"ild .

dc~ th

continue"

in 1836 . nt

SOli llho died unm
mi'my yca rs hy Col rmel He lm,

.:!.nd o t his dQilth, posscc! into :lthc r hands. '.... n " ut.(lt llnd in<,] Illn dr.vuk in

~H lli !\ms~n

C'lu nty, J:os tvicw ,

The llevo rQncl J o hn Pope ' s h'l",c, i 3 p r c s (m tly ow ncd .:Ind o eeu p ic,~

by Lc o ntlrcl Gr i g sby.

dnm
Po~c's

,,\f t e r thc ,1cst ructivQ t<>rn a rt ::>

Chape l Church

wa s built nearer the c o nte r aurwol.ld.

nd " I

.. ,

s~

seve r ely. a n nw church

o t t he e r.mmunity wh ich is

1

" H I STO~Y

By:

or

THE nURWOOD ME'!.'HOI'l J ST C!W;tCI!

Nrs. Lilil il'.li ,'kin

R~'Jsdo. l ~

,

Hc t hodism. i n the c Cmr.lunity nnw callc tl 9urwond, h egan i n

lIllS. just six y ;\rs ::l ft e r Dish-:- p

l l cK cm1r~c


"s~ury 1'111(\

O[<) lI.nL:.::d The Tennessee C"nforcncc .- ,t 0 1<\ Fr.- unt')in ~! P.'\C' Church

nC:l r P::> r t l :l.n{\,

T~nncsscc .

CO urt Ho use . Franklin , Tc nn ca sco, o n ;,ugust 10, 18 18. J'o hn "par so n" Pope uocucd twe nc r :;os '"O f s r oun
ship" t o the f nll ""~i n!,! trustoes:

,

J tl IQ;JS

i"t

p l ::1cC o f wor -

Sl\t:Iud l ,\k in, .Jn hn :tI1c r c o. nd

..,

!>ut t o n.

On this 'Jro \,mc! g iven by ·Parso n " Pnpc . . , Pr-,tc5t nnt

dist, e. !·Iot h<xli s t

..

."~isc"pal

church wml cstnblis hcn.

The Chu r ch, l o c a t ed nlYlu t t,./O miles wcst ,-,f t he ,rcs: ,nt

vi11 ,''1::: o f Sur...',:,od . was n,v;,\0,1 P<) I.'>C ' s Chl'll"IC l . The b uild in')' was 0

,.

sub5tll.n ti~1,

illx>ut 3.1 f eet by '!O f ee t in o i2e.

n no-ro~m

h rick s tru cture

In style, it was tho

ty p i cal """ rly Mo r ici\n lIIO o tin.,- h u usC! with tw,", ..~")o ro on tho front.

Its a r chao-to p '..:in
shutter!; l ent bei'l uty 1'I n d (lic;n i ty t D tho ch., pcl. I n 19 1 0, Po p e '::> Ch1\jlcl 111'10
y ae r o r

rn~rc ,

the con9 rc?n tio n

m~t

in a

nc~rhy sc h~ l

F~r

ho u::ic

for its "preaching Ilerv i c c s." Fo r a tUnc the Sunc l Co n",r c<)ll.tio n c! ""cida~ t 'l build Ch UTC h
BURI,'OOD: EARL Y SETTLERS II1lD HONES Judith Grigsby Hayes

Although mu ch inf orma ti o n ,,'ritt en h ere h ils Il lreildy been reco rd e d ,lnd

by

by Hr ll . Virgin iil Bowman in llistoric Mrs.

Publicat.ion . Society ,

Loui se Shilnnon Dedmlln Ilnd No.

my

Williamson Lilli

~!rs.

11, SprJng 1980, Wil li.lmso n

i nt.en t is to try to tie th ese

Mili

County

Akin

histo r y

fam i l ies ,

the Popes and ,\ kin s , and the ir many homes

in

Hi s torical

import.-ant

BUNood ' s

County

in t o t he l .l rge r, overa ll p i c ture of

p.-arts

of

hov

two

cont r ibuted

to the h istory of Burwood . There

.l re a lso other families who likew1se

history

nnmes

s u ch

Dodd , r,(lY ender , By rd, as st.ories

~lorro"',

well a s many othe rs. would

t
II

as

Shnw ,

Johnson,

Drake,

~!nrtin,

influe nced Riggins, Cayce

The ilCCUr
great deal more

rese
of than

and
, c urr e ntly Ilvllll.-able, b u t by conce ntra tin g o n tw o f
J Oh n Pope ond Silmuc l Akin or t h ei r

lmmcdlil te

memhe rs we r e r espons1b l e for several homes a nd made

o ther

such as the church, the schooL lind the sto re .

The

men lived on different sides of a hill, yet they both made an

" '0'

111

on BU N ood and it 41most impossible t o wr ite much about spec ial hous e s without mentioning the people who called REVt!REND JOli N POPE Th e Reverend J oh n Pope was p ily inq taxes on property is

n OW' Surwood in 1805.

Over the year s he

holdings , and by 1828 he h ad claimed two The land extended

a~

increa s ed

thou~on d

in his

sixty-o ne

r
"'ere bounded by I Jnd no t yet treatl ed from the I nd ia ns.

1'..... 0 1'0

'I , 'I

I the nort h lived I!ac dy Hurfrcc fo r whom Hurfr cesbo r o "'/IS ""mcd.

\

rio t b ei ng one to wa s te tim e, ilccor d i ng to reccrds his

d !iUY ,

Reverend Pope s el e cted a knoll and

a bout building his two-story hou se , Eastview . .... as

I \

fi nished

f r om

i mmed i ately

set

Th e CX,lct dll te

is no t known but is believed to be 1806.

It

Is

known t h at reference was ma de wh i ch i ndicated it was occupied by 1808 . Th e home wa s we ll buil t ilnd the sturdy structure s til l

sC.lndlng

tod.ly

is evidence of the f act.

Unde r

t he

CHipboard

,

si ding lIro l il r gc hand - he .... n 1°95.

I

strong

construct i on

.ltti c.

The n.:trre".. stai r s l e ading t o the seco nd floor as .... e ll

,

it

many

No n.:J U s wc c c u sed at
can cl e a rl y be secn in the cella r

orig i n
sec r e t

e nc l osure

c a rvod

i n th e origi nal

The

ilnd

There

wai nscotti ng

the as

is

in

a the

11vi ng r oom, and l arge stonos a sh o r t di s tan ce f r om tho s i d e doo r ma rk t he f OIT.Ie r location of the kitch en, whi c h W.:l S s o par.:lte d (ro::l the main house . Ou t from Eastview 1s the Pope fa mily ceme t e ry with

t he

fi r st b urial being th at of Reverend Po pe !l imself i n 1829 a n d

t he

I o.s t a gr.:lnds o n in 1910.

A short dis ta nce away, in front of what

i s now a ba rn, was a ce me tery whe re many se rvants and slaves were b u ri ed . Reverend Me t hod i st fa ito.

Pope

WliS'

a c irc ui t rider

so

lon g a s one d i d not i nfrinqe on the other. at

sorl/a nt s ne are r

wa s

very

wero taught, Revere nd

important . t oo .

He made

School

sure

h is

La ter, a t ...·o-room sc hoo l

Pope 's home.

to

This West End Schaal

a

de no mi n.,t!on, wa s

th(! POP(! Chape l Chu r ch , as Re ve r e nd POP(! f elt

education

the

In 1818, he deeded

ac r e to be used as a p l aco of wors h ip by a ny

h(! ld

of

\-"Ith th e ., r e;:,. grow1ng, he (e I t 1 t ne c essa ry

o uve a build i n g for wo rship and schoo ling. half

mini ster

.,150

that

sl.:>ves W
an and

1>uilt c l osed

a bou t 19 16 wh e n a l a rg o r s chool W.:lS built .:Ibout .:I mil(! a way whe r e a cO!lllllun ity had spru ng up . Fi r s t ItnO'o
The re are dl f f(! f ent o p inion s a s to how tho nam e Du1"\o'Oo(\

Some 5.:1y John Drake Pope t qo k the name from Mr. W.:IS chosen'. Humphry Wa r d ' !; novel, Rob e rt Elsme r e; o ther s S<1 Y Or. J oe Pari<s '

.

.

58

son h ll d returned from C... Uforrlia ..'here h e

~ iI '"

."nd like d the n ... rne.

Although the coad cacrics t he "lime Po pe ' s Chilpc l todllY, 11'1 1910 n tornado d e stroyed the ehurch. Fo r a time t he con gregation melt at the "'cst End School
...·Il S bought from W. ,\. Shaw. who opcc
c ompl e te d

t he

Me thodist

Church

In 1913 and with hter add ition i s st ill

in

us e

Reverend. John Pope, the man . the mi n ister, the

teacher

pionee r,

of

nurwood commun i ty. ~

The Bur... ood

for

mllde a great imp rint on the

h istory

the

EastView, his home. h.:ls been nominated by the

s t ate for listing on th e NaUona l Regi$te r o f Historic"l Pl aces. is owned by Leonard Grigsby, who bought it from th e Shaws 1n 1938.

" Colo n e l lIe nc.e r son Uelm h as been t he only

o the r

sice th e Pope f"mil y.

,

,

, , ,

.0

"an "

.n ;cd ~rc

POPE - H"RTIU , AS

of th e

th e

year s

went by, Re v e rend

his sons for buildIng.

.

Pope

fonner co untry home of IHlliam Po pe.

the Thom"s Pope h om e r e mai ns. Cayce

Also, on

Pope

gav e

l and

Chape l On Th e

Ro ad

evergreen

John Osbur n Pope' s hom e

Springs Ro a d and was de s t t"oye d by fit"e.

to

home

wa s of

r;:; :::d,.:c~ ::t":rle , Edith olnd ~lolry Pope, the las t of the Pope nllme ~ is also en Evergree n Read . During the Civil War , Jacob ~lartin, fath e r of t .... ins. Doug las and ~l1ss Olive ~l artl n , commanded Bake r' s Company ot Cavollry Battali o n which h' as organized in 18 6 2 in " Station. Ile was " cting majot" o f G Compa ny, l a te r me r ged El even th Tenne ssee Cava lry b y Forres t; ye t he was never

'h.

y promotcd t o that rilnk .

Knowing the Th o mp so n Station area so we l l, Ca ptai n Wil S in command of an il!lv,lnce pa r ty se nt i nto Tennessee r l: s '

59

di,

de rail ed

CO"

p al:oled

,\11 t he capt ured so l d i e r s werc: late r excha nged

it .

becau s e

retaliation, co rner a nd

of

the

a

l ack o f sO l d i ers

to

gUilrd

Fe de ra l tro o ps b u rne d t h e Drake

th e m. home

o f Evergreen a nd Cayce Springs Ro ad where Captain

h i s wife. Susan Orilkc

~!ilrtin,

were livi ng with h e r

cl ueing

t he

war .

Captain Ma rtin a nd h i s wife

mov ed to wha t is now kno-.m as the

son

of

~\ilrtin

188 0,

POp(!-~!ilrtln

then

the

~l a rtln

parents. t roops

bou ght

and

house.

and Su:;an Dr.:ake Ha r t i n bought the property, and i n the

o r 1g1 nil l s ection was cove r ed with e l ilpb o a rd

Douglas and

~Hs s

about

ilnd

t he

This l ove l y ho me,

a nd

the Martin fa mily , c:<:empli fl e d So uthern charm. ~\ r.

After the

d eath

Otivc , t .... in c hil d r en of Jacob and Su san

': ~la rt ln, t h e l ast dying in 1<) 67 , the home w.:as first sold to ~\r . Tile present and Mrs . J. T. Reed, '~'h o did some restoration. owne r s , Tony and Sue Pewitt , have complete l y remodeled the hou~e i1 nd h a ve given b ac k tile c harm so much a part of their home p l ac e . AS a n adolescent, ,I was o f te n inVited to t he home o f the Mo r tins to p l ilY with Nr. Oo ugla s ' s granddaughter, who visited from Cal ifo r nia. tn the sultlltle r, we o f te n played croquet on the beilutifully were being

ga r dener - k e pt, ma nicured 111....·1'1.

After the

g<1me,

treated to l emon a de and c ooki es 01'1 the COO l veranda 'l l lowed

to he l p pick fresh fl o wers from

the

we

b efore

green house.

Durin g the winter mo nths ""e .... ere allowed t o explore upstairs s earch

thr oug h

'o l d trunkS betore af t ernoon t ea and

se rved b etore a roaring fire . tie,

c ake s

3nc we re

I never sa .... r~r. Doug l as without

no r MiSS Ol ive Withou t <1 fresh.starched co tton d r ess

J

!'LO

ma tter how ea rly I <1r ri,v ed . acing" dinner guest was .1 ra,, ) tre"t . Of cou r se, )' 011 ndres s ed ~ for dinne r ilnd Sil t a r ound a l o ng buffet t.1ble. AftC! qr"ce (which

ef!

Th is stately home be lo nged to Thomas Anderson Pope. the Pa r son Joh n Pope, and stands on Evergreen Road. J acob

ba c k dining and bed r oom areas were added. of

or t"

on

This wa s the on l y hou s e in the neighbo r hood burned b y the

I

'"

ahe ad of Hood ' s a rmy in 1864. In Octobe r of 186 4, C;;tpt.lln Mart in Ollld some twenty-(1ve men c aptured 1I Fedcrlll t roo p train and

W.lS

o~fered .

loIis5 Ol iv e would rln9 1I

I bOU9ht .1t .l l .:I ter lIuct i o n sale) .

5m.l! I

brass

I n st,~ntly 11

be ll

sen'lIl1 t

,

•

,

1 ,

1n

,

her starc hed uniform, would appear i1nd serve from the

dishes

which

W(lre

then

plilced on

the

sideboard

Of

.,

conversation .... as n lways plc.ls
..'"

effort was
I,

, . II ,

""

silver buffet.

A special

These dllYs spe nt

with the Martins a rc some of my most wonderful memories. Ilevcr cou l d there be a bet ter example oC Southern 9race and charm t h iln

I

;hc :ob

,,' ", ,,' " h ,,\ n }lr •

j(lnt

.,

'U!\C

IICC .

of

..Atiss

i tee!

'""'

O/We .A1artill

.,dre.ssl!dJor di!J7zer "

SAMUEL AKIN

~{ore

)Us c •

"d

.... e re

,

"' ,0

~·r,.J

On Carter's Creck. Pike across the ridge from PolnlOn home, another family came and made ., great imp.let ;lG c","rly

of

what later became known a s Burwood.

Samu c I

land 1n the fourth Civil District ,)s ea rly as 1801. he owned two hundred twelve acres.

I n 1818.

Ak i n

Ell'

Somue l

IIkin

n.lmed .lS .In orlql.na l trustee of Popc ' s Chape l by Porson

John

SlImucl lIkin and hill wife, Dorcus, lived in.l log cabin a l.lrqer house was finished in f ro nt of the cabin and .lbout

61

a

mile tlouth of wh.:r.t is now the center of Burwood .

S.:r.muel

.:r.nd Dorcutl I\kin h.:r.d

d.:r.ughters) , 1850.

t .... e

l ve chil d r en (five

Even .:r.nd

501'15

only two sons werc II l iv c ·..,hen their mother

By the t e rms o f the ",ill dr.:r.wn up short l y

thOIJ'lh sevell

died

before

,.kin's doath in 1844, the land .... a s t o !)e divided e qually

i/\

S.:r.mu':li betw Clell

the brother!.!, John I\ kin .:r.nd ,.rthur S te ....... r d Akin.

,

I

, "do. ,

5a"'ttel.:llkin .ilfOU$C sIgned

by

I\ndrew

h"

Johnson ,

of

Governor

Te nnessee, dated 18 5 4, gave John Akin cleve n IIcres In the Fourth Civil Di strict of Williamson County. (Thi s g rill'll i :l i n t he pOssession of LiI.l "'
mos tly

HOllo....

and

~!.li

Akin R
y e 11 0 ...•

popl
Boston

Roads.

This e l even-
This (l cre ag e provided

l umbet f o r s ev e ral ,.kin houses 11'1 the .lrea. Aki n

e omplc ted home

Wll lJ.lm fini s hed Tim

Akin

pl,lce

J ohnso n

.1

s o u r ce

of

In 187 2.

~Ji lli am

~l .

hi r. hom e across thc road f r om his fat h er

S(lmue l Ak i n home pl
bet .... een

the

HIS dllughter, Cora, continued to live in

until s he sold it to the

Z.l ll

Dodds

M. Ak!n ~ l s o g.lve hi S two sons 11 h ome si.tc .

in

192 2. Akin

~lill

bu i lding hi s home n car his fat he r ' s h ouse In 1895, bui lt

on lan d f o rm erl y o .... ned by

Fee l in

Helm

and

ncarer

" Bu ....... ood's ce nter. JlImcs

Bruce

Ak!n,

i1

brOther to Wi lliam

Akin,

~!.

son of John , g[".:Indson of Samuel, lived .le e as!;

the

and rOlld

' :::~,. ,:the Tim Akin house • . Over the;! YCilrs it be c.:Imc known as

,

;':

"':in hau::;:e . the late

'0

o

,,'

Nillarcl

1800's ,

Dr. Joe

Parks

came

the

into

the

hui lt lin office by the stde o f t he road in front of Akin house. This office building has been moved

the house but is 5t111 standing.

Earlier doctors were Dr.

for whom the commun i ty was first named "" "'"'. Dr. Shllnnon, £lIther of Lou ise Shannon Dceman,

Willillmsbur gh , whose mother

a direct descendant of Parson John Pope. Vilnce . ilnother son of James Bruce "kin, l i1tc r buI l t

,}

~::::: " ,o:~o. do .... n C.ll"tcr's Creek Pike nColrer the center of the :~ The two ,'~in brothe rs - Millard and Vance, plnycd a part in Burwood's business history. They operllted I\~in's fir s t in its Old location when a porch extended across the Durinq

1910 and 1 911, t h ey built a new

store

at

the

location, where "they operated it until it was sold to the family in 1937. It conti n ues to be operated much as always, the old bulcony and ro l ling llldders still in use. Being the contin uously operlitinq country store in WlIlli1lDson County, recently been nominated by the state for uccep tance on the

.U""I of

urth

,M ,tiOI'l 105 0 1'1

,

,I

,L

" ,hO vo \ n

192 2 •

Registry of Historica l Places. Just as many families played a vitlll rO l e in

•

so dId cilrly bUSinesses .

Burwood's

There were Shaw ' s store,

salo.'mill , the cotton·- gin, the blacksmith shop, the

Will barber

which later bccame the creumery and the post office. With

i mproved

roads

nnd

betler

methodD

aurwood hilS become a quiet, pleasant com:nunity i n Williamson County.

lHth all t h e present-dillY chillnges,

remains eenstillnt - the country store and of cOlMlu n ity iIIctivity. remaininq.

There
churches mnny

I f they could talk - what stories

old they

remain county could

6J

ill "Br
1890'S

1911

'" The Trustees wore \'1. ~ . Min . M• . D. Cl l\rk, N. 11. '!lOYd, n .

Thweatt

A." R.

~nu

S~ar~an.

The Pope ' a Ch,'pcl site \oj'·IS 5:)1<, ""Ill o ne "lo r e :'I f o:r I:'OUnd in Durwood WI\S bou')ht f r r:m \~. ;" "

'

This l o t

WitS ·

.(;l\W f o r S125.00 por .:le re.

doodad t o " th e :I !:>:"vc - nru:lc(l trustees in June 1 ,

1912, ~ccordi ng t o t he r eco rd In t ho Cnurt P.ousc in Franklin , ,.... . Tennessee .

p r escnt snnc t uu ry. I n 193 1 , ;;\n ontr
til',)

the

..

Sund1'!y SchC'o l r enms . ,

ne w church "'{Ia c:n llCd

The Durwond ;1othO

) .. 'f/l.} last additio n t o t h <'l huil,Un'T. Hhich c nnsists of a modorn ki tcJ:!on ,a riel twn 5un(~.:l.Y Soh('n c o nvo rtccl in to

1I

d i nimJ 'nr o'l,

Wi' S

r ,)(,1115 cnp.:I')lo .O f boin<;r

m
in ___ _ _____ __ . ,

,

Tho present l~cm!)orshi tJ o f ':.hc Ilurw(\nd ~!cth od i st Church i!,l _I: _ _

~~_ ,

, !.

.

I'

, l' '.

,' "il

"

" , J

.• ' .' . '

J