East New Market

Property Reports

7 Main Street

Old Methodist Episcopal Church Parsonage

Key date analysis:

In 1841, the trustees of the M.E. Church purchased this lot to build a preachers house for the accommodation of the Itinerant Minister or Preacher and family.

Who built it:

The Trustees of the M.E. Church built this house in the early 1840s.

Longest Residents:

This property was owned by the Trustees of the M.E. Church for 120 years.

More Research:

How did a court case arise in 1961 based on a 120 year old deed?  Are James W. Phillips & wife holding the property in trust for the M.E. Church?

Historic Records:

125 PLC 345 -24 October 1961 - Furman Clifton Jr., Trustee, to James W. Phillips & Lois R. Phillips, his wife, for $3,500:  Whereas by a decree of the circuit court on 28 August 1961 entitled Percy Lankford, President and others, Trustees Trinity Methodist Church, complainants vs. Heirs at Law of William E. Harrison & Elizabeth A. Harrison, his wife, defendants, being No. 9092 Chancery, Furman Clifton Jr. was appointed Trustee to sell the real estate.  Lot in the town of East New Market, being the same land conveyed unto James Thompson and others, Trustees of the M.E. Church of East New Market, dated 30 December 1841 from William E. Harrison & wife in 2 WJ 269.  Beginning at a bounded sassafras post standing at the southwest corner of Lot No. 12 on the east side of the road leading through East New Market, the post marked T.J. No. 13 and from thence running and binding with Lot No. 12 S75E 27.5p to another bounded white oak post marked T.J. No. 13 and from thence running S15W 5 7/8p to another sassafras post marked T.J. No. 13 and from thence running N75W 27.5p to another sassafras post standing by the side of said road and marked T.J. No. 13 and from thence with a straight line to the first beginning.  Containing 1 acre.

1930 Census
Dwelling #38, household of John A. Clark, preacher at M.E. Church

1920 Census
Dwelling #59, household of Tilman Smith, minister of the gospel

1910 Census
Dwelling #86, household of John L. Johnson, Methodist clergyman

1900 Census
Dwelling #245, household of Charlie W. Smith, clergyman

1880 Census
Dwelling #31, household of J. Elmer Kidney, minister of gospel

1876 Tax Record
Trustees of the M.E. Church Parsonage
Dwelling house & lot in ENM 1 acre - $1200

1870 Census
Dwelling #366, household of Nicholas M. Brown, minister of gospel

[Many marriages took place at the Methodist Parsonage between 1865 and 1884 according to the Records of the Dorchester Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church.]

1860 Census
Dwelling #743, household of James Merritt, Methodist minister

1850 Census
Dwelling #1232, household of Benjamin Price, M. Minister

Marriage - 15 May 1844 - William E. Harrison to Louiza Goldsborough

2 WJ 269, 13 December 1841 - William E Harrison & Elizabeth A Harrison, his wife to James Thompson, James Carroll, John Webb, Nimrod Newton, and Nathaniel E. Green, Trustees for $140:  lot in the town of East New Market.  Beginning at a bounded sassafras post standing at the SW corner of Lot No. 12 on the East side of the road leading through East New Market (the post marked TJ No 13), and from thence running and binding with Lot No. 12 S 75 E 27 1/2 perches to another bounded with oak post marked TJ No 13 and from thence turning south 15 W 5 7/8 perches to another sassafras post marked TJ No 13, and from thence running N 75 W 27 1/2 perches to another marked sassafras post standing by the side of the said road and marked also TJ No 13, and from thence with a straight line to the first beginning. Containing 1 acre.  Trustees to build a preachers house for the accommodation of the Itinerant Minister or Preacher and family that may from time be appointed to and authorized by an annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

[Mary Jackson is believed to be the daughter and possibly sole heir of Thomas Jackson.  William Harrison and Mary Jackson had a son, William E. Harrison and a daughter Elizabeth Ann Harrison.  Elizabeth Ann married Thomas B. Sherman.]

Marriage - 18 October 1819 - William Harrison to Mary Jackson

Republican Star - Easton - 24 April 1810 - Henry Haskins, administrator of Thomas Jackson, deceased

9 HD 407 - 28 July 1796 - James Sulivane to Thomas Jackson for 26 pounds: 1 acre part of a tract called "New Market" in the village of New Market. Beginning at a bounded sassafras post standing at the southwest corner of Lot No 12 on the east side of the new road leading through New Market, the post marked T+J No 13, and from thence running and binding with Lot No 12 S 75 E 27 1/2 perches to another bounded white oak post marked TJ No 13, and from thence running S 15 W 5 7/8 perches to another sassafras post marked TJ No 13, and from thence running N 75 W 27 1/2 perches to another marked sassafras post standing by the side of the said road and marked also TJ No 13, and from thence with a straight line to the first beginning. Containing 1 acre. Mary Sulivane, wife of James Sulivane.