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Bishop Francis Asbury |
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Francis Asbury was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, England on August 20th, 1745. He was the only son of Joseph and Elizabeth Asbury, who were devout Methodists, some of the earliest followers of John Wesley. Asbury had only eight years of formal education, most from the village school, and when he was fourteen he was apprenticed to a shoe tongue maker. When he was twelve Asbury started to become very interested in Methodism. During his teenaged years the Methodist movement continued to spread in England, and around the age of seventeen Asbury began to preach, traveling through Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, Bedfordshire, Sussex, Northampton, and Wilshire. Continuing this he was by 1767 listed as an official itinerant preacher in the Methodist church. He traveled as a lay preacher to America in 1771 on assignment for John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. With him went Rev. Richard Wright, and they landed in Philadelphia on October 27th. When the two arrived there were only about 300 Methodists in the country, and the following year Asbury was temporarily appointed general assistant in America. This state of affairs only lasted until 1773 when the position was transferred to Thomas Rankin, an older preacher. When the Revolutionary War broke out Rankin went back to England, but Asbury stayed to continue his missionary objective. Because the Methodist ministers refused to take oaths of any kind, Asbury and others were unable to take an oath of loyalty to the patriot’s cause. The ministers suffered under suspicion and sometimes outright hostility, but Asbury avoided trouble until 1776, when he was fined five pounds and briefly arrested. The problem continued and in 1778 Asbury took refuge in the house of a judge and stayed there for the next two years. Eventually the patriots accepted that the Methodist ministers’ refusal to take oath was brought on by religious beliefs, not political, and Asbury was able to resume his missionary circuits. After the Revolutionary War was over John Wesley decided that America needed its own organization, because it was too hard to run the church from England. Therefore the Americans Church separated from the English Methodist Church and were called the “Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America.” At the age of thirty-nine Asbury was chosen as co-bishop with Rev. Thomas Coke. After this time Asbury continued to ride circuit and to distribute books and pamphlets to encourage education on the frontier. For fifty years Asbury traveled through America working to convert people. He went over 270,000 miles, preached over 1600 sermons, led 224 conferences, and ordained 4,00 preachers. By the end of his work he had helped Methodism to become one of the most popular religious affiliations in America. He traveled about six thousand miles per year, an astounding distance in a time when all travel was done by cart or horse. The area he frequented reached from Maine to Georgia and went as far west as Ohio.
Asbury died in Spottsylvania, Virginia on March 31st, 1816.
Shortly afterwards his body was moved to Eutaw Street Church in
Baltimore, and in 1854 was permanently settled in the Lord’s Acre in Mt.
Olivet Cemetery in Baltimore. Throughout his work in America Asbury
kept a journal and wrote many letters. Today those papers tell readers
much about his life and early Methodism in America. |
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"Francis Asbury...was the son of some of the earliest followers of John Wesley and was born in Handsworth, Staffordshire England, August 20, 1745. He became a Methodist at thirteen, a local preacher at sixteen, and a regular preacher at twenty-two, in 1767. In 1771 John Wesley sent him to America. On October 17, 1771 he landed at Philadelphia. Next year he was made 'general assistant in America' and in 1784 Bishop. He began then his annual journeys of about 6000 miles each from Maine to South Carolina. He died in Spottsylvania, Virginia, March 21, 1816. His Journals were published in 1821 and again in 1852. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.115.) |
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"'Thursday 6 [1800]. Crossed Nolachucky at Querton's Ferry, and came to Major Craggs, 18 miles. I next day pursued my journey and arrived at the Warm Springs, not however without an ugly accident. After we had crossed the Small and Great Paint mountain, and had passed about thirty yards beyond the Paint Rock, my roan horse...reeled and fell over taking the chaise with him; I was called back when I beheld the poor beast and the carriage bottom up, lodged and wedged against a sapling which alone prevented them both being precipitated into the river. After a pretty heavy lift all was righted again, and we were pleased to find there was little damage done...We passed the side fords [plank extensions of the road into the river and around mt. spurs that literally end in the river] of French Broad, and came to Mr. Nelson's; company was not agreeable here--there were too many subjects of the two great potentates of this western world--whisky, brandy. My mind was greatly distressed.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 106.) "'Sabbath day, 9. We came to Thomas Foster's and held a small meeting at his house. We must bid farewell to the chaise; this mode of conveyance by no means suits the roads of this wilderness; we were obliged to keep one behind the carriage with a strap to hold by, and prevent accidents almost continually. I have health and hard labor, and a constant sense of the favor of God.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 106.) "'Tobias Gibson had given notice to some of my being at Buncomb [sic] courthouse, and the society at Killyon's, in consequence of this, made an appointment for me on Tuesday 11....In the meantime we had our horses shod by Philip Smith; this man, as is not infrequently the case in this country, makes wagons and works at carpentry, makes shoes for men and for horses; to which he adds...the manufacture of saddles and hats.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.107.) "'Monday, 10. Visited Squire Swain's agreeable family. On Tuesday we attended our appointment. My foundation for a sermon was Hebr. ii, 1. We had about eighty hearers; among them was Mr. Newton, a Presbyterian minister, who made the concluding prayer. We took up our journey and came to Foster's upon Swansico [Swannanoa]--company enough, and horses in a drove of thirty-three. Here we met Francis Poythress--sick of Carolina, and in the clouds. I, too, was sick. Next morning we rode to Fletcher's on Mud Creek. The people being unexpectedly gathered together, we gave them a sermon and an exhortation. We lodged at Fletchers.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 107.) "'Friday 14. We took our leave of French Broad--the land's flat and good, but rather cold. I have had an opportunity of making a tolerably correct survey of this river. It rises in the southwest, and winds along in many meanders, fifty miles northeast, receiving a number of tributary streams in it course; it then inclines westward, passing through Buncomb in North Carolina, and Green and Dandridge counties in Tennessee in which last it is augmented by the waters of Nolachucky. Four miles above Knoxville it forms a junction with the Holston, and their united waters flow along under the name of Tennessee, giving a name to the State. We had no small labor in getting down Saleuda [sic] mountain.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.108.) "In October 1801: 'Wednesday, 7. We made a push from Buncomb courthouse; man and beast felt the mighty hills. I shall calculate from Baker's to this place one hundred and twenty miles; from Philadelphia eight hundred and twenty miles.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 108.) "'Yesterday and today we rest at George Swain's.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 108.) "...in Nov. 1802: 'Wednesday 3. We labored over the Ridge and the Paint Mountain; I held on awhile, but grew afraid and dismounted and with the help of a pine sapling, worked my way down the steepest and roughest part. I could bless God for life and limbs. Eighteen miles this day contented us; and we stopped at William Nelson's Warm Springs. About thirty travellers having dropped in, I expounded the Scriptures to them, as found in the third chapter of Romans, as equally applicable to nominal Christians, Indians, Jews and Gentiles.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 109.) "'Thursday 4....four hours brought us to the end of twelve miles to dinner at Barnett's station; whence we pushed on to John [Thomas] Foster's, and after making twenty miles more, came in about the going down of the sun. On Friday and Saturday we visited from house to house.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 109.) "On Oct. 1803: 'North Carolina. On Monday we came off in earnest; refreshed at Isaiah Harrison's, and continued on to the Paint mountain, passing the gap newly made which makes the road down to Paint Creek much better. I lodged with Mr. Nelson, who treated me like a minister, a Christian and a gentleman.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 110.) ''Tuesday, 25. We reached Buncombe. The road is greatly mended by changing the direction and throwing a bridge over Ivey.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.110.) "'Friday, 28. We came up Little River, a sister stream of French Broad: it offered some beautiful flats of land. We found a new road, lately cut, which brought us in at the head of Little River at the old fording place, and within hearing of the falls, a few miles off of the head of Matthews Creek, a branch of the Seleuda....once more I have escaped from filth, fleas, rattlesnakes, hills, mountains, rocks and rivers; farewell western world--for a while!' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.110.) "In Oct. 1805: 'North Carolina. We came into North Carolina and lodged with William Nelson at the Hot Springs. Next day we stopped with Wilson in Buncombe. On Wednesday I breakfasted with Mr. Newton, Presbyterian minister, a man after my own mind: we took sweet counsel together. We lodged this evening at Mr. Fletcher's Mud Creek. At Col. Thomas's on Thursday, we were kindly received and hospitably entertained.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.111.) In Sept. 1806: 'Friday 25 [26]. My affliction returned: considering the food, the labor, the lodging, the hardships I meet with and endure, it is not wonderful. Thanks be to God! we had a generous rain--may it be general through the continent!' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.111.) "'North Carolina, Wed. Oct.1. I preached at Samuel Edney's. Next day we had to cope with Little and Great Hunger mountain. Now I know what Mills Gap is, between Buncombe and Rutherford: one of the descents is like the roof of a house for nearly a mile: I rode, I walked, I sweat, I trembled and my old knees failed; here are gullies and rocks and precipices; nevertheless the way is as good as the path over the Table Mountain--bad is the best. We came upon Green River.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, pp. 111, 112.) "Oct. 1807: 'Friday 15 [16]. We reached Wampings [Warm Srpings]. I suffered much today; but an hour's warm bath for my feet relieved me considerably. On Saturday we rode to Killon's [sic]'. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 112.) "'North Carolina--Sabbath, 18. At Buncombe Courthouse I spoke from 2 Kings vii, 13, 14, 15. The people were all attention. I spent a night under the roof of my very dear brother in Christ, George Newton, a Presbyterian minister, an Israelite indeed. On Monday we made Fletcher's; next day dined at Terry's and lodged at Edwards's. Saluda ferry brought us up on Wednesday evening.' (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.112.) "Oct. 1809....Eight times within nine years I have crossed these Alps. If my journal is transcribed it will be as well to give the subject as the chapter and verse of the text I preached from. Nothing like a sermon can I record. Here now am I, and have been for twenty nights crowded by people; and the whole family striving to get round me. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.113.) "Dec. 2, 1810...Sabbath, Bishop M'Kendree and John M'Gee rose at five o'clock and left us to fill an appointment about twenty-five miles off. Myself and Henry Boehm went to Newton's Academy where I preached. Brother Boehm spoke after me; and Mr. Newton, in exhortation confirmed what was said. Had I known and studied my congregation for a year, I could not have spoken more appropriately to their particular cases; this I learned from those who knew them well. We dine with Mr. Newton: he is almost a Methodist, and reminds me of dear Whatcoat--the same placidness and solemnity. We visited James Patton; this is, perhaps, the last visit to Buncombe. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 113.) "1812: "Monday, Dec. 1 [Nov. 30]. We stopped at Michael Bollen's on our route, where I gave them a discourse on Luke xi, 11, 12, 13. Why should we climb over the desperate Spring and Paint Mountains when there is such a fine new road? We came on Tuesday a straight course to Barrett's [Barnett's], dining in the woods on our way. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p.114.) "North Carolina--Wed., Dec. 3 [2]. We went over the mountain, 22 miles, to Killon's. "Thurs. 4 [3]. Came on through Buncombe to Samuel Edney's: I preached in the evening. We have had plenty of rain lately. Friday, I rest. Occupied in reading and writing. I have great communion with God. I preached at Father Mills's. (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 114.) "Oct. 1813, Sabbath, 24. I preached in great weakness. I am at Killion's once more. Our ride of ninety miles to Staunton bridge on Saluda river was severely felt, and the necessity of lodging at taverns made it no better. Friday, 29. On the peaceful banks of the Saluda I write my valedictory address to the presiding elders." (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 114.) "Killian's, so often mentioned with different spellings in the foregoing extracts, was the residence of late Capt. I.V. Baird on Beaverdam. [There is an historical marker on Beaverdam Road that mentions Asbury and Killion.] (1922. Sondley, F. A. Asheville and Buncombe County, p. 114.) |
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Fiske, John, and Wilson, James Grant, editors. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888-1889. Reprint. Detroit: Gale Research, 1968. Powell, William S., ed. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1979. Sondley, Forster A. Asheville and Buncombe County. Asheville, NC: The Citizen Co., 1922
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