"

STO Hl' 0 1" aum ron", . TFNN!::SSICr'

t!.9 t o l d by

, Mr s. LOui so Sh1!.n no n f'Xldman *

In 1 006 the Re vere n!! J o hn Pope , his scenncl wi f e , l\ nn

LUC ilS a nd nin c chi l dr e n , Ci'l mc t o Te nn essee fr o m FoC) oco mb
~unty.
. ~c r th
"
Ctlr oli na .. fivo o f t ho chi l d r on wo r o bor n .:lfter
comi nq f C') !n l\o rth Ca r o li nn . 110 o wned l and f r Ofl'l Duck. R ivc~
I: .' .
Ri dqc o n o ne sid'J tn, Ind i ·,," bou nda r y l ine o n t wo s i de s . , \.Qno
C' "'"
doad wa s si "l ~ c<;l by Go ne r " l J nmo s Rn t,.c rt snn i n 18 08. Popo "
WilS 1!. circu i t r i de l" mi ni s t e r o ! t ho, ' Ic thodist f.:li t h c1!.c c pt he
• ••
d i d no t be lieve i n Bisho ps " nd Mi ssions . ' [0 p r onch oc\ in
J ",' •

homos , i n ,g r o v e n <;I r a ny 9 ~"C:o he onul e g L1 tho r tho -. f e w r e si-

dan t s wh~ ha d v e ntu r e d i nt o this \!n so ttl c d !'lro." t o go t he r . lIis

own I nn d ho l d i ngs mct c nd c ~ n ~ f1' r <'I S,. t h o l ;'1w l!.llo we d s e t t l e r n

t o qo wi t hou t i n f ri nq i nq. ~n I n nd t hn t hnd no t y e t be en t r e nti e d
f t o lll the I nrl i ;ml:\. !!in c l o s c s t nc i qhbo t, t wn lIIi l es a wa y ,

Co l o ne l Hr. r c1 y Hur f r cc . , ~vc ran(i, J o hn POIlC' S l ino c f

"
J o hn Pope . !edge comb Ce . , N. C . (17211-179 9 ) ; ann wife .
. Elizabeth J o f fr icn
. ....,
Col. J o hn Pope (1700-1745), F:d~ccomb a nd IlIl"lif;J X Co ••
N. C . , b . Is l e o f l1 i ah t . VIl .• im d wif e , M~urn 1 n g
i!e], i'n'n i c " .

He n ry ' Pope .. nil !':,1.tllh ' 11\ttS

t ll11i ,.(l'ri· Pope ( 16 3,; - 1 700) c.nd h i s wifc . I.l"ri~ . 1II,, : ri'-.><I
1\\l.g . 16, 1 660 . P.:'I t e nted l r.. nd Uo s tII'I~ rc 1 l\ nd (l,nc
lIa ns cr.icnd il C" un ty , VIl . , 165 6-1662":'166 5. Di ed I.. os t-
IIIOt Cl 1!.TIl\ . acmbe r . p f F ri e nds (Quak o r r e co t s\s )

.'
 2B

" ,- . - .- "

It(!v.:l r o nd J o hn P:JiJ~ (l762-1tl2 8 ) im d his sev e n child r <;m

,
by his first wife, ;~.n~ !>/hit tly,cr , who died £dc;rocomoo Co.,
'. ,. , '- .
N.C., 10M, tit t .'lc birth of th eir l.:lst. chil r1 , t:li:Z:\!lG th.

Los"t no ' time in rCm.Jrriilqc t o ".\ nno Luc.::r.s. i\ho ut n , yc~r

l.:itc'i he and his child r en .lnd nQl," wife l o ft. c:tl<J C!= ~!3.:: c.o.A.
N.C. f o r Tc nn.:!ssce nnd t ho c hon? Illlld . ' but ·rich.- ,as the .....J
Indi Ol n s c cel.;:!cl more nnd 1:101;"0 t o the 'Govc r ruTlcnt lind w;~ r(! .!tu.shcd
fi:irthcr ' -bolck .Ill! bought '1:nnc:l in 'Carr...,ll ,nnd lIe nry qounti cs ,
. '. .
in 'lluditio n '·to Nilliillllson Co unty" Tennessee . which I-!~ rc
gr ari'ts ·q'ivcn"· f o r Rcv.:)lution1r y Wa r s e rvice • .l n ~l his~ purc~il~C
WIlS surrounded on three sides o f Indi" n tc rrito ~y . ~ ~c,. s1>C,nt
n sho rt. Wh ile in' C;J.rroll Cou nty I\nd on !!uffll l o
,"f:
, mi lcs' 01.11:. f ro:n .. wh Jorc
' ' H.:lynasbo ro, ')JJonnesaao n o w ata n~~!I' , .

, 'One i) f hia 'o ldcr S('lnl! ram.-. irH:!(l ;:)n th o 1 1\"<3.; on ,nuff ,1 1,a

River 'wh ile Rev : , Pe!>:"! .:l n tl h i s f l'. mily e ')I!\O t o buil<\ .t heir

hom::! i n l1il l l runsc n Co un ty, ,~o was ;>1'I y1n9 ,l .lnd t.."Ixas in IH1-

li rtm:aoti' cro,in ty in laOS, !\nd o ho rt ly i'lfte r be.,,1n ,h<;l,w,i;n'1) ~5

to build his hom e in th e wild o l'ne55 , .-.djo inin<;J " rn,U,lIh 'rc.;::ri -
' -' I" .... ,,, ,,",
tory, whiah Il t ' I:.h,i t ' time W.:l 3 tho 'limit of ' (\I).y" o ncr::p:\~tunent
, 'I

,
f o r , g r o wing , th~ il'

supplies , inelllC!inq a d ist ille ry whiCh W.:IS a o ns id::! r 2n i'l 5<1 1-

,
<lole .Cll"el' in ,th'l t <1<:1Y , ,1 10 ng \lith <::o:r:n , Pl) t,1troe s <"Ind ethc:r:
, ~ ., , " , \
, .
foods'. j ib W~lJ "h" ci:r:auit ridor prCi'lchor o f, the ;.Ie't h'"ilist
' '', , ,I ', .. ,

h itti "J ;C'coPt h :J did not believe in' bavin~ , jurh(lic tion unl'cr
!!c p r..:l'lc!1cd in hom::!s ,.\S the /\ro/\ be,},," to {lcqu ire
," "
_. -
:! • , "?'1' "
nC~9~~~~ , ~:~ ~:~ ~ ~ ~ ~ st nc i <Jhbo t \~lS co~~"no l l;ur~rce, th","
the !iw;mso n f,:un ily ~het"c ' he tt"e,!u n ntly h c ld ' '1Ol"ahi;> ael"vic c s.
 "
peo pl.:. t o fr o lic ·:Hl{l d'1 0CO. I?"lrson P'.me, I\S he WII S r efnrrc!.!

to fJ;'cqu cn t!y. m.:lt .:mrl o r cachctl "'Jl\inst the sins o f d<lncin<J

om1 such g;\icty, until C'(\w,1 rd SWilnSOn f innllY· nceo::>tcd th!:! sin

and no longer ~l l owc(l this p l ea s an t 'lc t-tnq c ther in tho· Swanson

homo, .

In 1811, J{cv. J ohn Popo r Qccivcd word o f the dCilth o f

his bllchclor brot:\I~r, Osborn P" pe, in Hll. kc Co . , N. C., lind it

was n(.'Ccs s1'I ry f o r him t o mnl: c the l ong trip there t'l 'Ittcnd
to his brothe r's cst<l.t.: . i\ (U ,~ry o f expenSQs wns kopt, inclu~­

ing, ferry f:lre s, f ooel f or horses, loc.lging f n r his pnrty.

Hi~ .•br" thp r Osb0:rn hlle willed illl of his (I1;lVC5 to nov .

J .o hn , POi><! . s o the r e turn tri p W,lS .ln ublc in nUln:x::r, c<'IlI'1ing

btle):: to Tennessoe. Osho rn Papa specifierl in !lis liill that '

ccrt.)in f<ltlli1ies of hi s s l " v;,:; wece t o bo kc~)t t 09cthct' ~.:J ~' ..

.) fnmily Clnc\ not t (1 b G SCp1 C ·'t,~e.. It is >:"I f intnrost ' t o no t e ..

. .. '
in .the cxpen.se diary , which i s in I:!Y posscSGion t ...,dny, the
.l:llount of whiskey pu reh:lI.cd cnc: h (l ilY, n lnng with ('t hor fiUP-

plies !oc t he p a rtl .

i\s Rcv. POil(l ' S f.:\!llily grCI<.· a nd o thers were mo ving in
and taking up . the ir l .... ml:,;, there ,,'n!) .1 vitnl neod f e r edu- ~

e1l;tio n ."lnd .J. ho us e o f wo rship t o :1;>0 ·built . . lie noeu:::!d 1/2 .

·" lcro o f l ."lnd in 1616 (Scp. t.· 1.thl t ..., be usod by iUly c.en.,mino-

ti on o r s oct s o l o ng. as th<;>y did nt:'t inh:ingc nn "nothe r's

occ:ul.l:'tion /\5 :1 p1 .... c:o t.a worshi ?. •. He spccificrl f~ t by f!)Ot

and !;oo.1[<! hy b oa r d o )( .... etl y how th2 bu ild in g "'15 t o be C:On";

strueteu ... the mC:let dim e nsions Cl nd the kin'l of mllteri,,1 i t

:, .
1
lO

was t o be buil t from.- I!rc qu':> ntly Cl\mp me etings we r e hoB

thoro whi c h l ll.sted f o r rl ."y s <lml pC(') p!o c~mc fro m mil e s uW" y

t o Pop e ' s Chil PCl, a s it h.:l(\ beon named, t n wc r !l hi ~) o:\ c c o r clin9

to' the ir .,wn !>cH e fs. ,
Tho church :Inn sc h o~ l 1'1,15 nevor c\oc(lcd t ':l "'IllY nc nominn_ ,:
}
"ticn ns 1s r cco rdc(l "t tho !'lillicu,! Grl n Cnunty C~ urt ,' jo as,. thut a_
•
f o re. it d i d no t bc ! o n'l t o "'"Y o n e d e no mina tio n any mo:> r c thil n I
t o ano the r. a nd ~1 s t ilndo true t nd uy. VIl.riOU5 Pro t e s t a nt ,
" .
tlcnomin;;ltio n ~ Qccup i .;:!d t he ,}ulpi t a t Po ~ I s Chllp (') l, o n Po p'} ' B ,
Chapel 'Road, in th e <l tll Civil .District o f !"/illil\ms 'Cln Co unty •
"
., :
.:Ind be c aus e n f "" lilr9 9 ~ sprinlJ t he r e it ~1l!. S e n idc., l l Oci\tio n .

f o r bot'h /1 e hurch il ll we ll il S '\ s c h OOl. Th e Cilr,:l with wh i c h .

th e "bui'l ding \-{115 c C' ns t r uct c d" it w., ::; lJuilt t~1 Gt.:l nrl fo!"wlYr. !

But ' ab{l ut 1910 a t v rnc.\!<::> hit the c. r o ll " n(\ ' (! <Imc..;"ed t h e ' hui1 cl in q ,
, '

a t tha t tiec bci nq u s ed hy the lle t hl'>.lls t c.e nom i n" ti<>n. OVe r

tho yenrs " s m<l l l vill .:llJo h a t! s prun~ u p a bQut two mil es fr<ml

tho Rev . Po pe 's home n nd h u(l h e (m c ., 11 0(\ by s o veral different

n,UlIes, including t-lil1i ams t'!ur'l , f o r <:l n o nr . !"Iilli;ull s wh ... ha d

cooo into t h o vi cini ty t o wa i t o n the IJ i c k o f th 'l ."t r aa .

,
My f "thc r, Dr. J arna IJ o. Sh ann o n , ,\ y ou ng r.lil n o f 1\go 21
y e nr.!;. ha(l 9rm \U;l.te c. fro m University o f N~ siwnl l"J , which bc -

ci\1rle Vlm clo r bil t ~!u d i c ill s cho o l in thc s e c o n d f)r a du<t t i~n Cl:15 S
, ,
o f t he Uni ve r s i t y i n 18 77 , ."18 V.J.lo clic t o ri a n o f hi s · c l (1.5s . He

fe lt th o · nc ml f o r addit i o n1\1 !:"ledie'll t r n ining , so s :,ent a

year at Dollvuo lIo s p it u l in New Yo rk City b c f ,., r c c c mincr h a ck

t o Frc nkli n , (l n d lx!<J.1. n h is first !)J: o.ctico with Dr . ~' illi ams

"o f prc s e n t d llY Bu n tpO\! .

 t!1c smnll ·,eommunity 'Inc Rev . Pnpc h"rl damlcd r",nds tt)
,g his children in th"t rmrnmunity wllich nilmo WIG thC; " l,"l.st "des-

cendant' Hiss Cnrrio P,,<,c, whn di c cl there in 1958 . There a r c

,- , y.::lt Blacks, d cs c cnclcd fr 0m the first \~h\l c " mc t o '!'cnnCSSC8

l cr~ - with him. er ,~hich h e inhe rited f r ""m his broth":lr ' Osb C'r n in
"
~!orth Caro l i n;) ..'nd hrnusht them her e in 1 a11. These Bl.lcks
. ' I I
C'lS a wh'llc "'ro a credit t o thc ' nnmc of !??~'I!; which th c y "banr ,

1l0U some arc l iving and o wning 111ml \·;hieh their <3n~c'st0 rs
• . <,'
f",rmcd 1lS sla·....1!J a f R(!v. Pope. ~hc popes were
meticulous
, . ,
rccoru - kccpc rs. not 'l nly wor':! n.:lm c s, births nno ' donths rc-
" ,
h C:;l rd cd in th e o ld Pope Uibl e (11hi6h" I l1:wc), but ' nlsa thci:
, .r •.
,(l,me for the ' sl~ve5. llecllUSc (,f records ):cp t, I WIlS ablci t o
, ,
(J iog. LrClC C the lineClg~ of J oe.:: Pni'O who still lives in tho vicinity,

~n<l he n nd his forcf.,thers were t '\ll'1ht tho Bible /\m1 hel'lrd th e

'om s~me gospel tenching vhich' nev. (P",rs o n) Pope instilled in
" ,
:cmt his f~ily Clnd dcscenunnts. They ~ra Il credit to the c om-
munity~ ...

Du rinq the wl'lr between the Stlltcs , Rev. John Pope ' s

grandson, John Osborn Po ~e, in trying t o oscape bcin~ c ~~ ture d

by·, the Ya nk.eos, hid in the ne c. rby woods, but o nc o;;y ·~~t"'X
chance , t d go h ome . He hid in the I'I ttic cnd Hhcn 1'1 f .uthful
, . ;" , .,' .

, "

apples waiting t o b e ntorQd for thQ winter ,lnd sca ttcred them

thickly on the st,1 ir stei'5. 1\s" Yn nkc c soldier <'Ittemp'ted t ('

m' g'J upstClirs in ' nearch of ·the cscl'.pcd s o ldie r. she spread 1'111
" ., :'

her Ilrms \~ith h a nds 0 n h er llips CIt tho foot· of the stnirs n nd "
J2

dared t ha, Yn nkcn co l di a r t o '.~.:Il k o n hcr ~I i nt t: r s uppl y o f

a ppl es nod r uin them. She mu~ t have bee n ~st cn p hntie be-
ca us e he d id not n t t(lmpt to p ush by h o r in nia sQ<!I:'e h, b tYt

we nt o n l!.W,,,':'. l o nv ing t he Souther n solcl,i c r sl\fcly !li~ 1 cn

uP Bt a ir s . ~ n d g UlIrd cd by ! ,unt ~1l\ ry'l.I hu<)c physiCluc c.nd thcf

.
stili r s .lI tr clin wi. th a,mie
' s. . ,(~

. In the !lev . J o hn PO[le ' a home , w ~1\'s tv ic",~ , cu t i n th e

,
"':1.11 o f ~f!'lins co ti ng , S<:ll!lC thr ee o r to ur f eet !\i gh On y o u r '

rig ht , was, n S f!C ~ ct pun':)l Ilh c r o i l!lIY-l r ttl nt proper s, " l d dee d s

i n tlo.rt~ .C~ rolinr.. (I, d i a ry o f which I ~.r.I the ni oet h gcn o-

rntio n. t.~ add no tfitio u G in , " Ld deeds o f 11Iml ho l dings in
lIalifax nnd Edgecombe Cou nti ell o f Nnr th Caro Hn,." nn(" 11

d eed o f l1lnc. to Rev . J o hn p()~C in t he yc ~r 13 11 sig n ed by

J ame s -;t') b c r t floll. ;,1 1 of t hClIlC clo cur.lon t s <lm1 m;l. ny ' m· lrO n f

somo ,r cmoe.::!~ i ng l>:a Ol dOl\o t o t h l;) o l el h" u!lc , t h i s p;;l. noling

W1HI do ni;!. ilW;l.Y ,·lith "'n,; 1/h.... t w;os i ll tho;! bC<)inn i llg " n c nt rr. ne c:

ha ll, o ne wa l l 111\>3 tr)r n 110W:1 am~ mtlt'lc into pl'trt n f th o living

r oom.' Th o M US il l iaS w'!r. t hc r- bml. nl (!<l :"lv e r 11 00 tho she lte r ed

'"
w(l 1k wil J' h"~;,' the d ining r ()(:m. t o t he kitchcll , w:!ich wno b uilt

s o me ~Uo t l:nc.:: frc r.1 t :t", ho uso au i\ fi re hazard . ".NlS ,,11 t o r n

ckll~n I'm d a dded ~o thc ~1!.cJ; of the h Cl U(lC . The s ;me !)lI. ttc n "·

cloo r h anqll .... t t:1C. fn ot of smnil steep s t l'l. irstcps 9 " i n<:l t <j"
the .. ups t oi;::. bce.r nom= . '1.':-00 s l !\vo qu .., r tcrs <'LTd homu ' li s ':1 r -
l CI::Y .h evc 1'>00) ))c o n d::m c ,", way wit h, h ut tho r ich r.1."'I t n f·

f Ml.i l y v C(lc::,tnl c 9;;l. r <lc n, is :.~ill uS ocl t r;dn y by its ;,J r c sent

CWl".ar ;:) n~ " CCCPill1 t , ' •. It;;-.• ,,:a Gr igsby "

 JJ

JU-s't beyond the. g,:,.rdcn in th e fam ily bur fill g r o und, with

some f orty marked gr:wcs am'. .!;cvc rJ.! unm,u:k.cd. In my y outh,

I can r e c.-.ll going there ilm~ Hhilc t'1c £=i1y 'Jr1l.~Cyrare · wb.s
; • I
within a fenced pll\cc , it \/1\5 surrounncn on nne
grilvcs mnr kcd only ,>'ith f i eld strn CD , wher/;) lay th:! uodies o f

the servant!! n~'d sla'vcs wh'l h"'l l:n')wn n0 Qthcr h:Jm~ ' f hnn th a t

:1£ th e Pope f.;l.mily, bo th in !'! 'lrth enro Lin<\. a nd ~~nnc6's6~~'"

r_". - ,
ncvorcml Pnpe w.;!.s ;;>ayin<:; t;:lx c !J. ilS statec1, in Il'illbmso n
u
Co unty, Te nnessee , hy 1905 and JJy 1920 he h F\d over "2, zi6i ri1= r cs.
. '
!Iost nf the l a nd J.ay on thQ "H caclh'lltc r[; of I~urphy's For).;:o f
. ,

l'lest lIarpe 't h'" ~ ml 'wns dcriv'.': cl from qri'. nts t o J'l!fI() S It'Jbcrtson.
,'Iilrtin flrmstrong, acnj~in C<lrtcr a nd O<lnfol I\mlerson'/ ilnii'
:Jxt",,'leu <is tnr as the Im~ ~ 1l 0\1~d settlers t o 'Jr. wifhnut' in-
tringc~cnt o n l a nrl that h~d nr. t yet ~ee n tr ea tiea f o r f rem' the
Indians. The 'srrawling o stat~ \~as , "If necessity, self-sus-
,
tllining, anr1 we s e ~mrl o te rlnwn t .') the d istillery. The ho us e

has stood 1(;5 Y.:!<lrS, ba:;ically unchl'.ng c{1 , i:,,"<l m!lny r')f th e

walnut nnt> cherry furnishin']s of the "'rigin;-tl ho me, mll(\e by

a sl<tvc Car(le ntc r, have passed down t hrv uqh the year"s t o th e

;Jrcse nt ,]cncratio n.
on ~!ovember ' 23, 1780, J o hn P'' ''i'e ~<lU married Ann 11'lhitakcr,
., " ,-,
the dau,]hter o f Rich<ln! ;'\~rd r;liz<l bC th Cary ':Ihit<:lker, of Gran -
r ' , ,
ville Co unty, !l.e . ' liy her he hm~ fiv e s " ns <in'! tW6'c.i;\ughte rs.
ITis wife died ,It n<JCl 37, ' sh('rtiy nfter the birth 'o f the "
y,)u ngcst chilc., Elizlloeth, in 1797. In Februa ry o f 1'198, ' John
,
Po pC mnrried
-, '
~nn
,
Lucas (177~ - la36l
. "
who bnre him soven mnr e
~ i [ '. , ""
childre n, th e last five o f \'.. ho m ~~e re bn rn i)"fter thi"! Pnpc s
" "': " - " , \l ere thC'y i s pcnt' m6st o f
crono t o Hillirunso n Co unty in 1806.
 t hei r livc!! and we r o ~I!. id tr. r o s t in t ho f amU y ' burying

'Jr nun:! beyo nd t ho _'Jll r don . Til:! fir s t trl h a ~uri ~ hore WAS
, " '.
Rev e rend Pope in 18 29 . S ince the n, v i vos , .,sO n !; , di\ ug hto r 's .
i n-laws n ne! g r a ndch i l d r e n. The l _,st . ba r ill l, thQt of <l Ij r a n:! -
!Ion , t ook p l ace i n 191 0. • j ,

Re v . Fope ' s gra nrlfathc r, ~y, th:l !I~o .I Q"m ::l , ha("\. . bce n 11
l' 'j , •

the cou rt s o f Edgec omb .lnd " " l i f 'lx cO llnti ~9-. ' lie

di ed whil e ser v ing as n member o f t he P.OU!lC f r om Edg8c o mb

,. :1'. , il ,-,; J
Co unty in 17 45. He w:ts " memb e r o f t h e Co l oni a l !\6scr.lbly ', .:
.
a nd was o n t he cO!M\i ttoo to Clc c.1n<) e ;;'I r o nt r :)11 f c>r ' ~h i!l

~I age!l ties " . ~? wa s 1\ pl a nt e r o f nr:J t o . j Ull ticc ' of the POllc e,'
Shc riff , Tax Collecto r a nd Ves t ryma n o f St . .1,..,hn'8 · C hu rc.~ ti · ,.' .
" . ' l ,·~~ • •
P<l rish • l;1n (1 I\ n '~ huilt <l
. J;'-

c hurc h ncar Ox fo r'~ , N.r: ., k n('N n ':11. 1'(,IOO ' 1J Chape l . It i ll no t

the r e f n r e . t hat I\S soon a s his g r a ndsC'n I\n,l : ..

'. '" "
el e11 r ed l ~ml and hll r ;-re,s t ed a f o w crops ,"\t hi s naw homa ho
bu il t il m.::lc tin g house ."orl s c hop l \/lm r :! hi. s f'll1li l y a n~

neighbo r s c o ul cl wo r Shi p }m d, cduc.:Ite thei r child r en f o t: ho

..
pu t CJ r aa t emp hilS i.s n il. bo th r elig i o n "n~~ c ,luca tio n .
....s mo nti o nad . t ho communi ty t h'lt ,'cvc l o?:!<l i n .t his a r eta J'

'''''$ f i r s t kn<,)wn 110 Willi."\msh ur'J. nne'. l .:'l t c r Shaw. Irho ·'pr o-
sen ~ nnma o f Burw<Xld " ,lS su<)gCG t cd hy a Cj ranuso n ., f novc c o nd .' I
Po po, J nmcs Dr;:'li:.o 1"0,[,'0 , wh,') t oo i:. the n.:>r.lo t r "", ,Mrs . !tumphry .;j'

Ila r d ' s nove l , "Hobert IUsme r e", .and r !lut:"00{1" i t i s s~ i rl

,
today.
~" . ;.t'- 1
, .,
no the l"npc childrQ n r eilo hed: r.l11 t ur i t y ,', t ho ir fll the r
~ ,,' .
g ave e a ch " f a rm n.:lll r ,hi m. oxcep t f o r th .... se wh.... mrwed t o hi s ·
e x t e ns i ve ho i lling i n. tile , "Nester n Di st r ic t ~ . His' s n its Thnmn s
, :.1·'

--
 "
,'ndo rs e n ilno J ~hn ' l'h itilkGI: Pc;:>::! "'~ r c ? 1:(l<Jcn i 1;l'lrs .... f th o

f olrni lics wh'J c o ntinuo t o l i v;;! in t his C"I u nty. '<'hero ,1ro n o n e
, o f tho n<:!!!lo l a ft , but amont} t he tCIII<11 c (lcsccml(l.n t s is IIrs.
nn- LO uise Shonn;,n ~drn1\n o f Fr <l n!: lin, ",!'I" ("1\0,'1\8 m.:l ny o f th e Po po
..,apcr!; ."lntI tho f .:'\ r.lily Bibl c . t a k c)n f. r C'tr1 t h e secret e nclo sure

in o:;hc pan e li ng. EV e ry indic . \t i~ n p.'lin ts t ,,) l'I tr Mn'1 ti cs o f

llffcctio n llc t wccn t he popes and the ir Go rv.,nt!; throu']h th o

gene r a tions . The y wor o taught t he Bibl e , warc trcntcd mcdi-

",
ca ll y ilS r c cci p t s 91'10\1, ;'1m: many n f th~ ir m<lrri;;uJc s o!'lrry the

"
interse c t i o n o f Evor9rccn " nd Pope ' s Chape l ~"ild . continue"
to :)0 the ho mc nf Iu-s . /'\.nn Pope until hel: dc~ th in 1836 . nt
).'- .
lihieh tim e it was t -:l h;;lve g e n e t o 1\ SOli llho died unm<l rri ed

p rio r t (l that d;:!.tc . I t W<'l S ~wnc (l mi'my yca rs hy Col rmel He lm,

.:!.nd o t his dQilth, posscc! into :lthc r hands.

'.... n " ut.(lt llnd in<,] Illn dr.vuk in ~H lli !\ms~n C'lu nty, J:os tvicw ,
The llevo rQncl J o hn Pope ' s h'l",c, i 3 p r c s (m tly ow ncd .:Ind o eeu -

p ic,~ by Lc o ntlrcl Gr i g sby. ,,\f t e r thc ,1cst ructivQ t<>rn a rt ::>

dnm<lgcc tho Po~c's Chape l Church s~ seve r ely. a n nw church

on t·.
wa s built nearer the c o nte r o t t he e r.mmunity wh ich is
aurwol.ld.
nd " I

..
,
1
"
H I STO~Y or THE nURWOOD ME'!.'HOI'l J ST C!W;tCI!

By: Nrs. Lilil il'.li ,'kin R~'Jsdo. l ~

,
Hc t hodism. i n the c Cmr.lunity nnw callc tl 9urwond, h egan i n

lIllS. just six y ;\rs ::l ft e r Dish-:- p l l cK cm1r~c <Io ml "s~ury 1'111(\

O[<) lI.nL:.::d The Tennessee C"nforcncc .- ,t 0 1<\ Fr.- unt')in ~! P.'\C' Church

nC:l r P::> r t l :l.n{\, T~nncsscc .

CO urt Ho use . Franklin , Tc nn ca sco, o n ;,ugust 10, 18 18. J'o hn

"par so n" Pope uocucd twe nc r :;os '"O f s r oun<! " f r" r i"t p l ::1cC o f wor -

ship" t o the f nll ""~i n!,! trustoes: Sl\t:Iud l ,\k in, .Jn hn :tI1c r c o. nd
, ..,
J tl IQ;JS !>ut t o n.

On this 'Jro \,mc! g iven by ·Parso n " Pnpc . . , Pr-,tc5t nnt

dist, e. !·Iot h<xli s t

..
."~isc"pal church wml cstnblis hcn.
The Chu r ch, l o c a t ed nlYlu t t,./O miles wcst ,-,f t he ,rcs: ,nt

vi11 ,''1::: o f Sur...',:,od . was n,v;,\0,1 P<) I.'>C ' s Chl'll"IC l .

The b uild in')' was 0 sub5tll.n ti~1, n no-ro~m h rick s tru cture
,. illx>ut 3.1 f eet by '!O f ee t in o i2e. In style, it was tho

ty p i cal """ rly Mo r ici\n lIIO o tin.,- h u usC! with tw,", ..~")o ro on tho

front. Its a r chao-to p '..:in<i:"lWII wit h o l d-f(\shioncd !;l e tted-

shutter!; l ent bei'l uty 1'I n d (lic;n i ty t D tho ch., pcl.

I n 19 1 0, Po p e '::> Ch1\jlcl 111'10 <!cstr o y cu by {\ cyclo n e. F~r

1\ y ae r o r rn~rc , the con9 rc?n tio n m~t in a nc~rhy sc h~ l ho u::ic

for its "preaching Ilerv i c c s."

Fo r a tUnc the Sun<l<1Y schco l was c1isll'lmied ; hut l a t er it

r eor g " ni2eu, meet i n? in n v ncan t h nuoe in Burwoo d on t he

wh:m t he r o w;':s no " p r oi'lchi n'j s o r vice s".

In 1912, Th e Po pe ' s Ch l\['>c l Co n",r c<)ll.tio n c! ""cida~ t 'l build

Ch UTC h <It o r in n urwr~d in lltcll.cl nf o n th a o ri~in!1 1 site .

 BURI,'OOD:
EARL Y SETTLERS II1lD HONES

Judith Grigsby Hayes

Although mu ch inf orma ti o n ,,'ritt en h ere h ils Il lreildy been

reco rd e d by Hr ll . Virgin iil Bowman in llistoric Williamson County
,lnd by Mrs. Loui se Shilnnon Dedmlln Ilnd ~!rs. Lilli Mili Akin in
Publicat.ion No. 11, SprJng 1980, Wil li.lmso n County Hi s torical
. Society , my i nt.en t is to try to tie th ese import.-ant p.-arts of
BUNood ' s histo r y in t o t he l .l rge r, overa ll p i c ture of hov two
fam i l ies , the Popes and ,\ kin s , and the ir many homes cont r ibuted
to the h istory of Burwood .
There .l re a lso other families who likew1se influe nced
history nnmes s u ch as Shnw , Johnson, Riggins,
Dodd , r,(lY ender , By rd, ~lorro"', Drake, ~!nrtin, Cayce and
as well a s many othe rs. The ilCCUr<l.t e te l ling of <l.11
st.ories would t<l.ke II great deal more rese<l.rch than is
, c urr e ntly Ilvllll.-able, b u t by conce ntra tin g o n tw o f <l.mllie s '.;ho
t o h il ve been the ea rli est se tt le rs within Burwood p r oper, we
begin to get a sense o f t h e <l. r e<l. ' s h i s t o ry .
Revere nd J Oh n Pope ond Silmuc l Akin or t h ei r lmmcdlil te
memhe rs we r e r espons1b l e for several homes a nd made o ther
such as the church, the schooL lind the sto re . The
men lived on different sides of a hill, yet they both made an
" '0' on BU N ood and it 111
41most impossible t o wr ite much about
spec ial hous e s without mentioning the people who called

REVt!REND JOli N POPE

Th e Reverend J oh n Pope was p ily inq taxes on property in

is n OW' Surwood in 1805. Over the year s he increa s ed his
holdings , and by 1828 he h ad claimed two thou~on d sixty-o ne
The land extended a~ r <l r ilS t he l ilW WQu i d .l l iow. 1'..... 0
"'ere bounded by I Jnd no t yet treatl ed from the I nd ia ns. 1'0
 'I
, 'I
I
the nort h lived I!ac dy Hurfrcc fo r whom Hurfr cesbo r o "'/IS ""mcd.
\
rio t b ei ng one to wa s te tim e, ilccor d i ng to reccrds f r om
his d !iUY , Reverend Pope s el e cted a knoll and i mmed i ately set
a bout building his two-story hou se , Eastview . Th e CX,lct dll te it
.... as fi nished is no t known but is believed to be 1806. It Is
known t h at reference was ma de wh i ch i ndicated it was occupied by

I
1808 . Th e home wa s we ll buil t ilnd the sturdy structure s til l
sC.lndlng tod.ly is evidence of the f act. Unde r t he CHipboard
, si ding lIro l il r gc hand - he .... n 1°95. No n.:J U s wc c c u sed at <I l l. The

\ I
,
strong
.ltti c.
many
construct i on can cl e a rl y be secn in the cella r
The n.:trre".. stai r s l e ading t o the seco nd floor as .... e ll
orig i n <l l h<'ltte nc d doors ... rc still being used . There
ilnd

is
the
as
a
sec r e t e nc l osure c a rvod i n th e origi nal wai nscotti ng in the
11vi ng r oom, and l arge stonos a sh o r t di s tan ce f r om tho s i d e doo r
ma rk t he f OIT.Ie r location of the kitch en, whi c h W.:l S s o par.:lte d (ro::l
the main house .
Ou t from Eastview 1s the Pope fa mily ceme t e ry with t he
fi r st b urial being th at of Reverend Po pe !l imself i n 1829 a n d t he
I o.s t a gr.:lnds o n in 1910. A short dis ta nce away, in front of what
i s now a ba rn, was a ce me tery whe re many se rvants and slaves were
b u ri ed .
Reverend Pope WliS' a c irc ui t rider mini ster of the
Me t hod i st fa ito. \-"Ith th e ., r e;:,. grow1ng, he (e I t 1 t ne c essa ry to
o uve a build i n g for wo rship and schoo ling. In 1818, he deeded a
half ac r e to be used as a p l aco of wors h ip by a ny de no mi n.,t!on,
so lon g a s one d i d not i nfrinqe on the other. School wa s .,150
h(! ld at th(! POP(! Chape l Chu r ch , as Re ve r e nd POP(! f elt that an
education wa s very important . He made sure h is sl.:>ves and
sorl/a nt s wero taught, t oo . La ter, a t ...·o-room sc hoo l W<lS 1>uilt
ne are r Revere nd Pope 's home. This West End Schaal .... as c l osed
a bou t 19 16 wh e n a l a rg o r s chool W.:lS built .:Ibout .:I mil(! a way whe r e
a cO!lllllun ity had spru ng up .
Fi r s t ItnO'o<o'n as Wi II i .,msbur<jh , then Shaw Town, it became
BUrwood, The re are dl f f(! f ent o p inion s a s to how tho nam e Du1"\o'Oo(\
W.:IS chosen'. Some 5.:1y John Drake Pope t qo k the name from Mr.
Humphry Wa r d ' !; novel, Rob e rt Elsme r e; o ther s S<1 Y Or. J oe Pari<s '
 . . 58

son h ll d returned from C... Uforrlia ..'here h e ~ iI '" ."nd like d the n ... rne.
Although the coad cacrics t he "lime Po pe ' s Chilpc l todllY,
11'1 1910 n tornado d e stroyed the ehurch. Fo r a time t he
con gregation melt at the "'cst End School <ln d l.:lter In II v a c ant
house. In 1912, the Pope' s Chape l eOn'1 rC9"Uon dec ided to bu il d
I n whilt had become the center of their ne w cDlII1IIun l t y . ,\I'I a cre of
]<1nd ...·Il S bought from W. ,\. Shaw. who opcc <l ted Shaw's store. for
onc hundc(!d tw e nty-f ive do l l <l c s . The Bur... ood Me thodist Church
c ompl e te d In 1913 and with hter add ition i s st ill in us e

Reverend. John Pope, the man . the mi n ister, the teacher

t he pionee r, mllde a great imp rint on the h istory of the
nurwood commun i ty. EastView, his home. h.:ls been nominated by the
~ s t ate for listing on th e NaUona l Regi$te r o f Historic"l Pl aces.
is owned by Leonard Grigsby, who bought it from th e
Shaws 1n 1938. " Colo n e l lIe nc.e r son Uelm h as been t he only o the r
sice th e Pope f"mil y.
,
, POPE - H"RTIU ,

, AS th e year s went by, Re v e rend Pope gav e l and to

, of
th e
his sons for buildIng. Also, on
fonner co untry home of IHlliam Po pe.
Pope Chape l
On evergreen
Ro ad

.0
, the Thom"s Pope h om e r e mai ns.
Cayce
John Osbur n Pope' s hom e
Springs Ro a d and was de s t t"oye d by fit"e. Th e home
wa s
of
.
r;:; :::d,.:c~ ::t":rle , Edith olnd ~lolry Pope, the las t of the Pope nllme
"an ~ is also en Evergree n Read .
During the Civil War , Jacob ~lartin, fath e r of t .... ins.

.n" Doug las and ~l1ss Olive ~l artl n , commanded Bake r' s Company ot
" Cavollry Battali o n which h' as organized in 18 6 2 in
;cd
Station. Ile was " cting majot" o f G Compa ny, l a te r me r ged
~rc
'h. El even th Tenne ssee Cava lry b y Forres t; ye t he was never
y promotcd t o that rilnk .
Knowing the Th o mp so n Station area so we l l, Ca ptai n
Wil S in command of an il!lv,lnce pa r ty se nt i nto Tennessee

r l: s '
 59

ahe ad of Hood ' s a rmy in 1864. In Octobe r of 186 4, C;;tpt.lln Mart in

Ollld some twenty-(1ve men c aptured 1I Fedcrlll t roo p train and
'"
di,
de rail ed it . ,\11 t he capt ured so l d i e r s werc: late r excha nged or CO"
p al:oled becau s e of a l ack o f sO l d i ers to gUilrd th e m. ef!
t"
retaliation, the Fe de ra l tro o ps b u rne d t h e Drake home on the
co rner o f Evergreen a nd Cayce Springs Ro ad where Captain ~l a rtln

a nd h i s wife. Susan Orilkc ~!ilrtin, were livi ng with h e r parents.

This wa s the on l y hou s e in the neighbo r hood burned b y the t roops
cl ueing t he war . Captain Ma rtin a nd h i s wife then bou ght and
mov ed to wha t is now kno-.m as the POp(!-~!ilrtln house.
Th is stately home be lo nged to Thomas Anderson Pope. the
son of Pa r son Joh n Pope, and stands on Evergreen Road. J acob
~\ilrtin and Su:;an Dr.:ake Ha r t i n bought the property, and i n about
188 0, the o r 1g1 nil l s ection was cove r ed with e l ilpb o a rd ilnd t he
ba c k dining and bed r oom areas were added. This l ove l y ho me, a nd
the Martin fa mily , c:<:empli fl e d So uthern charm. After the d eath
of ~\ r. Douglas and ~Hs s Otivc , t .... in c hil d r en of Jacob and Su san
': ~la rt ln, t h e l ast dying in 1<) 67 , the home w.:as first sold to ~\r .
and Mrs . J. T. Reed, '~'h o did some restoration. Tile present
owne r s , Tony and Sue Pewitt , have complete l y remodeled the hou~e
i1 nd h a ve given b ac k tile c harm so much a part of their home p l ac e .
AS a n adolescent, ,I was o f te n inVited to t he home o f
the Mo r tins to p l ilY with Nr. Oo ugla s ' s granddaughter, who visited •
from Cal ifo r nia. tn the sultlltle r, we o f te n played croquet on the
beilutifully ga r dener - k e pt, ma nicured 111....·1'1. After the g<1me, we
were treated to l emon a de and c ooki es 01'1 the COO l veranda b efore
being 'l l lowed to he l p pick fresh fl o wers from the green house.
Durin g the winter mo nths ""e .... ere allowed t o explore upstairs 3nc
s earch thr oug h 'o l d trunkS betore af t ernoon t ea and c ake s we re

I
se rved b etore a roaring fire . I never sa .... r~r. Doug l as without J

tie, no r MiSS Ol ive Withou t <1 fresh.starched co tton d r ess !'LO

ma tter how ea rly I <1r ri,v ed .
acing" dinner guest was .1 ra,, ) tre"t . Of cou r se, )' 011
ndres s ed ~ for dinne r ilnd Sil t a r ound a l o ng buffet t.1ble. AftC!
qr"ce W.lS o~fered . loIis5 Ol iv e would rln9 1I 5m.l! I brass be ll
(which I bOU9ht .1t .l l .:I ter lIuct i o n sale) . I n st,~ntly 11 sen'lIl1 t ,
 ,
1
, 1n her starc hed uniform, would appear i1nd serve from the silver
, dishes which W(lre then plilced on the sideboard
conversation .... as n lways plc.ls <lnt, never cent r oversial.
Of buffet.
A special
.,
effort was <llways milde to make me feel we lcome. These dllYs spe nt

..'"
I,
with the Martins a rc some of my most wonderful memories. Ilevcr
cou l d there be a bet ter example oC Southern 9race and charm t h iln

, . II
,
"" I

;hc
:ob

,,'
",
,,'
" h
,,\ n
}lr •

j(lnt

.,
'U!\C

IICC .

of
i tee! ..Atiss O/We .A1artill .,dre.ssl!dJor di!J7zer "
'""' SAMUEL AKIN
~{ore

)Us c • On Carter's Creck. Pike across the ridge from PolnlOn

"d home, another family came and made ., great imp.let ;lG c","rly

.... e re of what later became known a s Burwood. Samu c I Ak i n

, land 1n the fourth Civil District ,)s ea rly as 1801. Ell'
"' ,0 he owned two hundred twelve acres. I n 1818. Somue l IIkin
n.lmed .lS .In orlql.na l trustee of Popc ' s Chape l by Porson John
~·r,.J SlImucl lIkin and hill wife, Dorcus, lived in.l log cabin
a l.lrqer house was finished in f ro nt of the cabin and .lbout
 61

a mile tlouth of wh.:r.t is now the center of Burwood . Even thOIJ'lh

S.:r.muel .:r.nd Dorcutl I\kin h.:r.d t .... e l ve chil d r en (five 501'15 .:r.nd sevell
d.:r.ughters) , only two sons werc II l iv c ·..,hen their mother died i/\
1850. By the t e rms o f the ",ill dr.:r.wn up short l y before S.:r.mu':li
,.kin's doath in 1844, the land .... a s t o !)e divided e qually betw Clell
the brother!.!, John I\ kin .:r.nd ,.rthur S te ....... r d Akin.

I
,
"do. ,
5a"'ttel.:llkin .ilfOU$C h"

sIgned by I\ndrew Johnson , Governor of

Te nnessee, dated 18 5 4, gave John Akin cleve n IIcres In the Fourth
Civil Di strict of Williamson County. (Thi s g rill'll i :l i n t he
pOssession of LiI.l ~!.li Akin R<lgsd<lle). This e l even- <le r e section
"'<lS mos tly y e 11 0 ...• popl<lr timberl.:r.nd lo c<lted bet .... een J ohnso n
HOllo.... and Boston Roads. This (l cre ag e provided .1 s o u r ce of
l umbet f o r s ev e ral ,.kin houses 11'1 the .lrea. In 187 2. ~Ji lli am ~l .

Aki n e omplc ted hi r. hom e across thc road f r om his fat h er the
S(lmue l Ak i n home pl<lce. HIS dllughter, Cora, continued to live in
th e home pl,lce until s he sold it to the Z.l ll Dodds in 192 2.
Wll lJ.lm M. Ak!n ~ l s o g.lve hi S two sons 11 h ome si.tc . ~lill Akin
fini s hed bu i lding hi s home n car his fat he r ' s h ouse In 1895, and
Tim Akin bui lt on lan d f o rm erl y o .... ned by Fee l in Helm ncarer
 "
Bu ....... ood's ce nter.
JlImcs Bruce Ak!n, i1 brOther to Wi lliam ~!. Akin, and
son of John , g[".:Indson of Samuel, lived .le e as!; the rOlld
' :::~,. ,:the Tim Akin house • . Over the;! YCilrs it be c.:Imc known as the
, ;': "':in hau::;:e .
o '0 the late 1800's , Dr. Joe Parks came into the
,,'
Nillarcl
hui lt lin office by the stde o f t he road in front of
Akin house. This office building has been moved
the house but is 5t111 standing. Earlier doctors were Dr.

"" "'"'. for whom the commun i ty was first named

Dr. Shllnnon, £lIther of Lou ise Shannon Dceman,
Willillmsbur gh ,
whose mother
a direct descendant of Parson John Pope.
Vilnce . ilnother son of James Bruce "kin, l i1tc r buI l t ,}
~::::: " ,o:~o. do .... n C.ll"tcr's Creek Pike nColrer the center of the
:~ The two ,'~in brothe rs - Millard and Vance, plnycd a
part in Burwood's business history. They operllted I\~in's
fir s t in its Old location when a porch extended across the
Durinq 1910 and 1 911, t h ey built a new store at the
location, where "they operated it until it was sold to the
family in 1937. It conti n ues to be operated much as always,
the old bulcony and ro l ling llldders still in use. Being the
contin uously operlitinq country store in WlIlli1lDson County,
recently been nominated by the state for uccep tance on the
.U""I Registry of Historica l Places.
of Just as many families played a vitlll rO l e in Burwood's
•
urth so dId cilrly bUSinesses . There were Shaw ' s store, Will
,M salo.'mill , the cotton·- gin, the blacksmith shop, the barber
,tiOI'l which later bccame the creumery and the post office.
105 0 1'1 With i mproved roads nnd betler methodD
, ,I aurwood hilS become a quiet, pleasant com:nunity i n
,L Williamson County. lHth all t h e present-dillY chillnges,
" ,hO remains eenstillnt - the country store and churches remain
vo \ n of cOlMlu n ity iIIctivity. There <lire mnny old county
192 2 • remaininq. I f they could talk - what stories they could
 6J

ill "Br<ffher.5· 5rQre

1890'S

1911
 '"
The Trustees wore \'1. ~ . Min . M• . D. Cl l\rk, N. 11. '!lOYd, n .
Thweatt ~nu A." R. S~ar~an.

The Pope ' a Ch,'pcl site \oj'·IS 5:)1<, ""Ill o ne "lo r e :'I f o:r I:'OUnd
in Durwood WI\S bou')ht f r r:m \~. ;" .(;l\W f o r S125.00 por .:le re.
" '

This l o t WitS · doodad t o " th e :I !:>:"vc - nru:lc(l trustees in June 1 ,

1912,
,.... . ~ccordi ng t o t he r eco rd In t ho Cnurt P.ousc in Franklin ,
Tennessee .

p r escnt snnc t uu ry.

I n 193 1 , ;;\n ontr<lne c h:l11 <Ind til',) Sund1'!y SchC'o l r enms
,
. ..
were added . , Fro r;l tho hc<)inning, the ne w church "'{Ia c:n llCd
The Durwond ;1othO<li st Church.

) .. 'f/l.} last additio n t o t h <'l huil,Un'T. Hhich c nnsists of a

modorn ki tcJ:!on ,a riel twn 5un(~.:l.Y Soh('n r ,)(,1115 cnp.:I')lo .O f boin<;r
c o nvo rtccl in to 1I d i nimJ 'nr o'l, Wi' S m<l~C in ___ _ _____ __ .
, ,
Tho present l~cm!)orshi tJ o f ':.hc Ilurw(\nd ~!cth od i st Church
i!,l _I: _ _ ~~_

, .
, !. I'

l' '.

,'
"il

" , J "

.• ' .' . ' J