DEED TO BETHANY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
There are two deeds to Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church registered in Randolph County. The first deed is registered in Deed Book 21, Page 144. It was deeded by John B. TROY in 1837. The second deed is for the same pro~party, by T. L. and Jane TROY, at the request of the trustees, not named, who say the deed has been lost and was never registered. (They must not have checked very closely.) At the time of the second deed in 1900, the property adjoined the lands of T. L. TROY. (Deed Book 104, Page 238)
Besides the genealogical information that appears in some of the old deeds, including trustees who were members, the conditions of the grant often make interesting reading. For those two reasons the deed to Bethany is copied below.
From DEED BOOK 21, Page 144
This Indenture made and Entered into this first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven——— between John B. TROY of the County of Randolph and State of North Carolina of the one part and Thomas KIRKMAN, Archibald FORGESON, John MILLER, Robert KIRK-MAN, Edwin MILLER, Leonard P; WREN, George BROWN, John B. TROY and James HUTTON Trustees of the Methodist E. Church at Bethany in the County and State aforesaid of the other part——- Witnesseth that the said John B. TROY for and in consideration of the sum of one Dollar to him in hand paid by the said Trustees the right whereof he doth hereby acknowledge hath given Granted bargained & sold and by these presents doth give grant bargain & sell unto the said Thomas KIRKMAN, Archabald FORGOSON, John MILLER, Robert KIRKMAN, Edwin MILLER, Leonard P. WREN, George BROWN, John B. TROY & James HUTTON Trustees as aforesaid and to their Successors in office of the estate right title Interest or Claim of the sd. John B. TROY into or upon the following lot or portion of Land situate lying & being in the County & State aforesaid on the waters of Sandy Creek beginning and bounded as follows
Beginning at a white oak in said TROYS line and running thence South 80° East 13% chains to a pine near the road, thence N2 5 C. to a stone thence west 9% C. to a white oak thence S9 4 C. to a stone thence N9 85° W. 4 C. to a stone thence to the Beginning Containing four acres more or less together with all woods waters & Improvements unto the said land Belonging to or in anywise appertaining to have and to hold all the above Mentioned lot or_par-cel of Land unto the said Thomas KIRKMAN, Archabald FORGASON, John MILLER, Robert KIRKMAN, Edwin MILLER, Leonard P. WREN, George BROWN, John B. TROY, & James BUTTON trustees as aforesaid and their successors in office forever upon this Issued trust and Confidence
Nevertheless first the said Trustees shall pay or cause to be paid to the said John B. TROY the amount that has been Expended by him in the erection of a house of worship on the said lot of land and Secondly shall cause the said house to be finished for a house of worship for the use of Members of the Methodist Episcopal church according to the rules and Disciplin which from time to time may be agreed upon and adopted by the General Conference of the said Church in the United States of America and in further trust and Confidence that they shall at all times forever hereafter permit such Mini-sters & preachers belonging to said Church as shall from time to time be duly Authorized by the same to preach or expound God’s holy word therin and in further trust and Confidence that as often as one or more of the trus-tees herein before mentioned shall Cease to Act as such asuccessorshall be appointed according to the rules & disciplin of said church in such case Made and provided so as to keep up forever the number of nine trustees pro-vided Nevertheless that if the said trustees or any of them or their successors in office have advanced or shall advance any sum or sums of money
(Continued)
or shall be liable or responsible for any sum or sums of money on account of the Said premisies the said trustees or a majority of them shall be Author-ized to raise said sum or sums of money by Mortgage on the premises or by selling the same after Notice given to the pastor or preacher who has the oversight of the Congregation attending Divine Worship on the said premises
if the money due be not paid to the said trustees or to their successors within twelve months after such Notice given and if such sale take place the said trustees or their successors after having paid the debt and other expenses which are due from the money arising from the sale aforesaid shall depute the remainder /if any/ of the money produced by the sale upon said in the hands of the stuard or Stuards of the said Church which surplus so deposited shall be appropriated to the use of the Society belonging to or attending divine Service on said premises by the next anual Conference of sd Church—
And the said John B. TROY doth by these presents warrant and forever Defend all and singular the before Mentioned and described lot or parcel of Land unto the said Thomas KIRKMAN, Archabald FERGASON, John MILLER, Robert KIRK-MAN, Edwin MILLER, Leonard P. WREN, George BROWN, John B. TROY & James HUTTON as aforesaid & to their successors chosen & appointed as aforesaid against the claim or claims of him the said John B. TROY his heirs or assigns & against the claim or Claims of all and every other person or persons whatsoever-— In witness whereof the said John B. TROY hath here-unto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Geo. HOOVER
State of North Carolina;
Randolph County
J?? B. TROY
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
August Term 1837
The execution of this deed was duly Acknowledged in open Court and Ordered to be registered.
Hugh MCCAIN c.c.c.
********************************************BY
Marie ALLRED SMITH and Francine H. SWAIM