A History Of The Rise Of Methodism In America - Media Sabda Org

It would increase the interest of the above account if the name of the individual had been given
by Mr. Shadford.
Soon after Mr. Shadford reached Baltimore, where he was sent to labor, a young man came for
him to go four miles in the country, to his father's, to see his poor distressed brother that was chained
in bed in deep despair -- apparently raging mad. When Mr. S. reached the house he was soon
convinced that all that the young man needed was the Saviour of sinners; he opened up the plan of
salvation to him. The young man laid hold of the name of Jesus Christ, and said he would call on
him as long as he lived. The young man was unchained, and it was not long before the Redeemer
freed him from the fetters of unbelief and guilt, and he soon began to exhort sinners to embrace the
Saviour; he became a traveling preacher, and was remarkably successful in winning souls.
We are led to conclude that Joseph Cromwell was the young man described above. He entered
the itinerancy in 1777, and was stationed this year on the Kent Circuit. Mr. Shadford says, "I
followed him on Kent Circuit, and believe he had been instrumental in awakening a hundred
sinners." Mr. S. spent the winter of 1777 and 1778 in Kent, just before he returned to England.
Mr. Richard Webster, of Harford County, Maryland, was among the first that embraced religion
when the Methodist preachers first came into his neighborhood: he became a Methodist in 1768. As
early as 1770 his house became a place for them to preach at. Soon after he became a public speaker
among them. In the latter end of 1772, when Mr. Asbury first had charge of the work in Maryland,
he appointed Mr. Webster and Isaac Rollin to labor under John King on the Eastern shore of
Maryland, in Kent and Cecil counties. He continued to preach under the direction of the traveling
preachers until 1774, when we find him stationed in Baltimore Circuit.
Mr. Robert Lindsay, of Ireland, was also with Mr. Shadford this year on the Baltimore Circuit.
He continued in the work in this country until 1777, when he went to Europe, where he traveled and
preached among the Methodists until the year 1788.
Mr. Edward Drumgole was a native of Ireland, near the town of Sligo, where he became
acquainted with the Methodists in the beginning of the year 1770. He had been raised a Papist, but
as soon as he heard the followers of Mr. Wesley preach he was convinced of the necessity of
religion, and began to read his Bible -- joined society, -- and resolved to read his recantation publicly
in the church, which procured him the displeasure of some of his relations.
In May 1770 he sailed for America, and landed in Baltimore, from whence he went to
Fredericktown. Having a letter directed to Mr. Strawbridge, in the fall of this year he heard him
preach, and importuned him to come to Fredericktown that he might hear the truth and be saved. One
Sunday evening while he was praying in great distress of soul, the Lord visited him with his
salvation. In 1773 he began to preach. In the beginning of 1774 he was employed as a traveling
preacher on Frederick Circuit and at the Conference of 1774 he was stationed on Baltimore Circuit.
He was regarded as belonging to the traveling connection until 1786, when he desisted. His labors
were confined chiefly to Virginia (where he settled near North Carolina, probably in Brunswick
county), and in North Carolina. After he located, he continued to be a faithful and much respected
preacher. In 1815 Mr. Asbury ordained him an Elder, at which time he must have been nearly