First United Methodist Church of Americus Original Minutes Book* submitted by Alan Anderson <mailto:alanande@bellsouth.net>
"Book of Records for the M.E. Church, Feby. 26,1849 Americus,
Georgia.""The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Americus, Geor-
gia about the year 1835. Rev. Edwards Preacher in Charge. Wm.
Pegg L.P.""About the year 1843, or 1844, Geo. M. Dudley, A.A. Robinson, &
E.S. Young commenced a Sunday School in Americus upon the "Union"
plan.""During the year 1845 the society were enabled to build & dedi-
cate a church house, Rev. Thos. Sanford preached the dedication
sermon.""The M.E. Church of Americus dissolved its relationship with the
Sabbath School of the same place, denominated the "Union Sabbath
School", and organized one, on the 31st October,1847, known as
the "M.E. Church Sabbath School in Americus", and appointed Jos.
J. Granberry, Superintendent.""At class meeting April sixth,1853 A.A. Robinson and Charles J.
Malone were appointed Leaders and on Thursday the seventh the
Church was divided into four classes, and T.M. Furlow was remov-
ed from being leader at his own request. Leaders for 1853 and
1854 - Wm. P. Hames, W.T. Davenport, A.A. Robinson, C.J. Malone,
T.C. Sullivan.""At a meeting of the trustees of the Church in Americus held Aug-
ust 7,1854 T.M. Furlow, G.W. Bivins and John H. Wallace were ap-
pointed a building committee for the purpose of erecting a new
house of worship in the Town of Americus.""Americus station was organized and its first quarterly confer-
ence held on the 27th day of January 1855. Walter Knox P.E.
Jesse R. Littlejohn P.C. The following brethren were appointed
Stewards for the Station. A.A. Robinson, T.M. Furlow, C.J. Ma-
lone, J.V. Price, J.H. Wallace, G.W. Bivins, R.J. Hodges.""A majority of the Trustees of the M.E. Church South, in Americus
met Aug. 23rd,1855. There being one vacancy in the board, it
was filled by the election of C.J. Malone. The following is a
list of the present Trustees. A.A. Robinson, T.M. Furlow, J.J.
Granberry, W.P. Hames, John J. Hudson, T.C. Sullivan, W.T. Dav-
enport, Jas. P. Guerry, C.J. Malone."
Preacher in Charge
1836 Rev. Falkenberry
1837 John W. Talley
1838 John W. Talley
1839 Jacob Osier
1840 John K. Morse
1841 James Wynn
1842 Thomas Coleman/ Jos. T. Talley Jun. P.
1843 Geo. Bright/ Ferrity Jun. P.
1844 R. Menafee/ W.D. Bussy Jun. P.
1845 R. Menafee/ Jacob W. Danforth Jun. P.
1846 B. Clark/ Charles Hays Jun. P.
1847 R.E. Oslin/ Charles Hays Jun. P.
1848 Daniel Kelsey
1849 Jos. T. Talley
1850 John B. Wardlaw
1851 John W. Twitty
1852 John W. Twitty/ Thomas R. Stewart Jun. P.
1853 Davidson Williams
1854 Davidson Williams
1855 J.R. LittlejohnNames of Local Preachers &c
Wm. Pegg Dead
Asa Ansley removed membership
Abel Ansley " "
Isaiah Ansley Joined the Baptists
Joshua Hames Died in great peace
David Young Removed
James M. McPherson Removed & Dead
1852 Robert J. Hodges
1853 James Miller Removed to Providence
1853 A.A. Robinson
1854 John W. Perry Removed to circuitNames of Exhortors
John H. Weaver removed membership
Edmund Nunn Infirm Died in great peaceList of Class Leaders
"From the year 1837, until about the year 1843, Wm. P. Hames
served as leader mostly alone."1843 A.A. Robinson, Wm. P. Hames C.L.
1844 Thos. C. Sullivan, Wm. P. Hames, A.A. Robinson C.L.
1845-46 Thos. C. Sullivan, Wm. P. Hames, A.A. Robinson C.L.
1847-48 Thos. C. Sullivan, Walter T. Davenport, A.A. Robinson,
Wm. P. Hames C.L.
1849 Thos. C. Sullivan, Walter T. Davenport, Wm. P. Hames,
A.A. Robinson C.L.
1851 Wm. P. Hames, Walter T. Davenport, Timothy M. Furlow,
Thomas C. Sullivan C.L.
1852 Wm. P. Hames, Walter T. Davenport, Timothy M. Furlow,
Thomas C. Sullivan C.L."In class meeting this evening (Oct. 22,1852) A.A. Robinson was
unanimously recommended to the Quarterly Conference for license
to preach, and Timothy M. Furlow appointed class leader to fill
his vacancy."
"The remaining original Trustees of the M.E. Church in Americus
viz. A.A. Robinson, Wm. L. McRee, N. McBain, Wm. P. Hames, Thomas
C. Sullivan and John J. Hudson, or a majority of them, met in
Americus on the 29th of May 1852 and filled out their board by
electing the following brethren as Trustees viz. W.T. Davenport,
T.M. Furlow, James P. Guerry, & J.J. Granberry."Original Members with Remarks
Males
M B John W. Sherman RemovedFemales
M B Charity Sherman RemovedOn August 19, 1850 John and Charity Sherman lived in Panhandle, Stewart, Georgia. [See Sources - 1850 U.S. Census]
Sources:
Evelyn M. Olschner. History of Webster County, Georgia. 1980. Compiled and Sponsored by Weston Woman's Club., 399.
Emma Orphelia (Sherman) Milner's Family Bible.
Moved from Ireland to Virginia.
Veteran of War of 1812. John served, during the war of 1812, in the Virginia Militia from Dinwiddlie County, Virginia. He was in the same unit as his brother-in-law Thomas Coleman.
Abt 1814 John F. Sherman, Nancy and their children are believed to have arrived in Hancock County, Georgia.
Estate Inventory of John F. Sherman, husband of Nancy Coleman, who died in 1826. One of those appointed to do the inventory was Nancy's brother Washington Coleman. Listed among the assets of her husband was "a one eighth share of the Estate of Isham Coleman". [Nancy's share.]
In the early 1830's Nancy may have been previously married, as daughter Louise appears to have been born nearly 2 years before her marriage to John Fortune Sherman.
1826 - 1837 Nancy lived in Hancock County, Georgia. She then moved to Stewart County, Georgia.
Most of the dates for this family are from the family Bible of one of her son George’s children.