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October 16, 2012.

The Sabbath School of Knotts Island Methodist Church
From 1875-1881
Copied BY MELINDA JONES LUKEI

Preface
I copied these records on March 21, 22, 23, 1985, words and spellings transcribed from records in a small composition book that was in the office of Rev. Virginia McClanan at Knotts Island United Methodist Church while she was serving as the pastor there. I copied this book with the permission of Rev. McClanan. I have corrected the spelling in this version and corrected numbers when they did not add up, taking the whole number and subtracting the number of those present to get those absent.  I thought it was very interesting to see who attended the Sunday School, who the teachers were and who served as the officers.

Comment - Gary Montalbine: I have chosen the 1875 Class and added a sample of meetings thru 1880.

The Sabbath School of Knotts Island was reorganized January 3rd 1875 by the superintendent for the winter and changed from mornings to evenings. Being generally thought more suitable and convenient for officers, teachers and scholars with the following officers: Tully Capps - Superintendent, Wilson Cooper - Asst. Superintendent, William A. Cooper - Secretary, Caleb D. White - Asst. Secretary, Cornelius Jones - Treasury, James White - Librarian.

Male Teachers 1. Samuel A. Cooper 2. A. J. Ansell 3. John Williams 4. Malachi J. Waterfield 5. Edward H. Waterfield 6. William H. White (a line drawn through) 7. Samuel J. Waterfield 8. John W. Miller (a line drawn through) 9. William G. White

Female Teachers 1. Nancy Capps 2. Mary S. Jones (a line drawn through) 3. Emily B. Whitworth (a line drawn through) 4. Elizabeth E. Waterfield 5. Ellen E. Foster (a line drawn through) 6. Ann E. Brumley 7. Nancy E. Bonney 8. Ann M. White 9. Georganna Batten 10. Lydia E. Litchfield

Male Scholars 1. William A. Grimstead 2. John M. Jones 3. John B. Litchfield 4. Ezekiel B. Ansell 5. Elva D. Bowden 6. Jacob Litchfield 7. Willie R. Gale 8. Lewis N. Waterfield 9. James H. White 10. Calvin S. Jones 11. Caleb Gordon 12. John Bonney 13. Samuel Waterfield 14. William E. Bonney 15. Calvin C. Waterfield 16. Joachium B. Jones 17. Robert Williams 18. William J. Wicker 19. James E. Jones 20. John Williams 21. Marshall Williams 22. William A. Simpson 23. Augustus Ansell 24. Caleb B. Ansell 25. Jesse D. Litchfield 26. Caleb White 27. Jerome B. Ansell 28. Caleb Litchfield 29. Otto V. Halstead 30. Ferdinand Bonney 31. Jesse R. Waterfield 32. Cornelius Jones 33. Virginius Waterfield 34. Willard G. Smith 35. Malachi M. Ansell 36. Edmond L. White 37. Oliver J. Wicker 38. Abolena Waterman 39. John Newman 40. William H. Simpson 41. John G. White 42. Jerome B. Cason (a line drawn through) 43. Henry C. Waterfield 44. Cornelius Jones 45. James R. Waterfield 46. John C. Litchfield 47. Robert J. Waterfield 48. John Waterfield 49. Cornelius B. Jones 50. William Smith 51. John W. Miller 52. Caleb Ansell 53. James J. Spratt 54. Allen J. Beasley 55. Ivy D. Bowden 56. William H. B. White 57. John B. D. Beasley 58. Caleb Waterfield 59. Joachium Bowden 60. John W. Bowden

Female Scholars 1. Lydia E. Litchfield 2. Arseneth Smith 3. Mary E. Jones 4. Susan A. Waterfield 5. Rebecca F. Waterfield 6. Bethany A. W. Cooper 7. Sarah B. Ansell 8. Arseneth Newman 9. Mary F. Newman 10. Lydia Beasley 11. Virginia F. Waterfield 12. Sarah P. Waterfield 13. Mary V. Waterfield 14. Minerva Waterfield 15. Emily V. Simpson 16. Susan Waterfield 17. Emon J. Bowden 18. Mary E. Litchfield 19. Fanny B. Waterfield 20. Emily V. Waterfield 21. Emily F. Flanagan 22. Rebecca A. Waterfield 23. Helen J. Gale 24. Jenny M. Whitworth 25. Mary A. Whitworth 26. Geneva H. Waterfield 27. Polly C. Cooper 28. Nancy L. Litchfield 29. Madora J. Waterfield 30. Mary L. Ansell 31. Missouri F. Waterfield 32. Nancy E. Wicker 33. Lydia A. Williams 34. Julia E. Williams 35. Arseneth Williams 36. Martha A. Waterfield 37. Ida R. Litchfield 38. Emily V. Jones 39. Mary E. Jones 40. Lydia A. Bonney 41. Winnie J. Campbell 42. Mary L. Bonney 43. Alice V. Beasley 44. Carrie L. Williams 45. Mary L. Bonney 46. Josephine Waterfield 47. Mary M. Litchfield (removed) 48 Martha L. Ansell 49. Martha L. Ansell 50. Mary E. Spratt 51. Mary M. Kelly 52. Amelia F. Waterfield 53. Nancy A. Bonney 54. Willie E. Miller 55. Lydia A. Waterfield 56. Sarah E. Waterfield 57. Georgia V. Waterfield 58. Laura V. Williams 59. Mary E. Waterfield 60. Mary C. White 61. Fanny Waterfield 62. Carolina Waterfield 63. Emma J. Bowden 64. Lydia A. V. Waterfield 65. Louvenia Waterfield 66. Frances Williams 67. Vandalia Williams

January 11th 1875. School opened with singing and prayer by the Supt.
Whole number of Teachers 8: Present 5 Absent 3
Whole Number of scholars 60: Present 38 Absent 22
School closes by singing.
Comment - Gary Montalbine: This appears to be a male only school as the numbers correspond to the male scholars and teachers.

June 27th 1875. School opened with singing and prayer by the Superintendent Whole number of teachers 16: Present 11 Absent 5
Whole number of scholars 120: Present 85 Absent 35
School closed with singing by the choir.
Collection 31 cts.
James White, Librarian.
Comment: Combined school?

January 9th 1876. School opened with singing and prayer by the Supt
Whole number of teachers 13: Present 9 Absent 4
Whole number of scholars 103: Present 79 Absent 24
School closed by singing.
William A. Cooper, sec
220 Volumes in the Library
Money in the Treas $1.31. WAC, sec

Knotts Island Church April 9th 1876 Sunday School Reorganized
S. D. Waterfield - Superintendent, J. M. Caffee - Asst Superintendent, James White - Treasurer (probably Librarian), Alex. Smith - Secretary, Ferdinand Bonney, Treasurer.

Sunday March 18th 1877 School opened with prayer by Superintendent
Whole Number of Scholars 84: Present 51 Absent 33
Whole Number of Teachers 11: Present 7 Absent 4
Collection 18 cts
School closed with singing.
Alex. Smith, sec.

Sunday March 25th 1877 Sabbath School reorganized with the following officers Timothy Bowden, Jr. - Superintendent, Tully Capps - Asst. Superintendent, Samuel A. Cooper - Librarian, Ferdinand Bonney - Treasurer, Alexander Smith - Secretary
Whole Number of scholars this day enrolled: Male 45, Female 50. Total 95 (Others added during the year)
Whole Number of Teachers: 16 (others added during the year)

Sunday June 3rd 1877 School opened with singing and prayer
Whole Number of Scholars 152: Present 123 Absent 29
Whole Number of Teachers 21: Present 16 Absent 5
Collection 20 cts
School closed with singing
Alex. Smith, secretary

Sunday August 12th 1877 School opened with singing & prayer
Whole Number of Scholars 162: Present 90 Absent 72
Whole Number of Teachers 21: Present 8 Absent 13
Collection 16 cts
School closed with singing
Alex. Smith, sec.
Comment: It appears that up until this time Sabbath School was a joint Methodist Baptist group as indicated by the number of scholars. The next entry shows a large decrease in this number. The Baptist Church was started in June 1875.

Sunday Oct 21st 1877 School opened with prayer
Whole Number of Scholars 76: Present 54 Absent 22
Whole Number of Teachers 12: Present 10 Absent 2
Collection 7 cts
School closed with singing
Alex. Smith, secretary

Sunday March 24th 1878 Reorganized Sabbath School with the following officers Timothy Bowden, Jr. - Superintendent, Tully Capps - Assistant Superintendent, James White - Librarian, Ferdinand Bonney - Treasurer, John Williams - Secretary. Male Teachers: Samuel A. Cooper, Malachi J. Waterfield, Albert Gordon, Samuel J. Waterfield, John J. Brumley, Jesse Spratt, M. L. Williams, William Cooper.
Female Teachers: Nancy Capps, Lydia A. Beasley, Ida R. Litchfield, Delilah Gordon, Jennie J. Capps, Ann M. White.

Sunday March 31st 1878 School opened with prayer
Whole Number of Scholars 81: Present 62 Absent 19
Whole Number of Teachers 11: Present 10 Absent 1
Collection 36 cts
School closed with singing
John Williams, sec.

Sunday July 13th 1879 School opened with singing and prayer
Whole Number of Teachers 21: Present 18 Absent 3
Whole Number of Scholars 172: Present 122 Absent 50
Collection 37 cts
School closed with singing
John Williams, sec.
Comment: A joint Methodist Baptist Sabbath School again?

Sunday Nov 23rd 1879 School opened with singing and prayer
Whole No Teachers 13: Present 8 Absent 5
Whole No. Scholars 58: Present 36 Absent 22
Collection 9 cts
School closed with singing
E. D. Bowden, sec.
Comment: A review of attendance for the last 4 years shows a seasonal variation in attendance and perhaps not denomination related. Obviously the warmer months had the most scholars.