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

In North West Fork, Sussex county, Delaware, at the house of Robert Layton, a society was
formed about 1777. The second time Mr. Asbury preached here, in 1778, he received, twelve
brokenhearted penitents into it. The Lord was working powerfully, among the people. This society
afterwards met at Mr. Thomas Layton's, near by where the preaching was for several years. In 1780,
Mr. Asbury says, "I preached to a faithful people at T. Layton's. The Methodists, blessed be God, do
grow -- their little stock increases. I am pleased with their temporal; and rejoice in their spiritual
prosperity." Mr. Thomas Layton married Miss Rebecca Turpin, one of Mr. Garrettson's converts.
Miss Turpin was the daughter of Mr. Solomon Turpin of North West Fork, in whose house there was
preaching in 1779, and a society raised up, chiefly through Mr. Garrettson's labors. In 1780 Mr.
Turpin died, in the favor of God, and his funeral was preached by Mr. Asbury. Soon after, his
daughter Rebecca was married to Mr. Layton. Concerning her, Mr. Garrettson says: "A few months
ago, she was in the height of fashion, but now sees the evil and folly of these things, she is a very
happy young woman." Mr. Asbury declared her a "pattern of piety." She was one of the holiest
women of her age; while she fasted, prayed, and wept much, she was seldom, if ever, seen to laugh.
Though in good pecuniary circumstances, she was so self-denying and plain in her dress, that she
wore no other bonnet on holydays and Sundays, than the white muslin bonnet. If the gay and the
merry should flippantly say that she erred in going to the extreme, we answer for her by saying, if
she erred, it was on the safe side. In the beginning of the present century, Mr. Layton sold his land
in Delaware, and emigrated to Kentucky, but scarcely reached the place of his destination, when he
was removed to a "better country." Mr. Minus Layton, who was received into the Western
Conference in 1808, and died the same year, we are persuaded, was his son.
After Mr. Layton moved for Kentucky, this meeting was continued at Judge Laws' whose son, the
Rev. James Laws, was some time a member of the Philadelphia Conference, and also, of one of the
Ohio Conferences, until lately.
After the death of Judge Thomas Laws, the meeting was at William Allen's a local preacher, and
father of the Rev. William Allen, lately of the Philadelphia Conference. This ark of Methodism
finally rested in Bridgeville, after the chapel was built, about 1812-13. A new church was erected
a few years since, in its place.
The following names were among the first Methodists of this region: -- David Nutter,
father-in-law of Judge White, Tilghman and Lowder Layton, William Jessup, of the first race of
itinerants, John and David Richards. The Hickmans -- Clement Hickman, once a member of the
Philadelphia Conference, who joined the Presbyterians in western New York, was of this region.
William and Anthony Ross, and several of the name of Smith; also, Daniel Polk, son-in-law of Judge
White. -- John Flowers, Thomas Garrettson, uncle of the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, and Waitman
Gozeley. Mr. White Brown was the nephew of Judge Thomas White. Mr. Asbury's intimacy with
Mr. White, led to an acquaintance with White Brown, at whose house preaching was established by
Mr. Asbury, in 1778, and a Methodist society begun, which still continues; these people he called
"His children." In 1780 he founded Brown's Chapel, which is now known as Bethel, in North West
Fork. This has generally been a popular meeting, especially on quarterly meeting occasions.