Journal of Francis Asbury, Vol. 1, pg. 33 & 34: "The Virginia Assembly in 1796 received a petition from a number of inhabitants of Brunswick County for the incorporation of an academy. The names of John Easter and Edward Drumgoole were among the trustees. The school, called Ebenezer, was said to have opened in 1784 near Merritt's meetinghouse. Ebenezer Academy has been listed as the first Methodist school in America, even antedating Cokesburg College. It is said to be the fore runner of Randolph-Macon College and was in the beginning a day School. (Cummings: Early Schools of Methodism, 426; Duvall: Methodist Church and Education up to 1869, 28.)"

Journal of Francis Asbury, Vol. 1, pg. 312: Georgia, Thursday, 5 Nov. 1801: " . . . we arrived at Richard Easter's in Petersburg, at the junction of the rivers, on which are the towns of Lisbon and Vienna in South Carolina."

Journal of Francis Asbury, Vol. 1, pg. 328: Virginia, Tuesday, 16 Feb. 1802: " . . . We rode home with John Easter . . ." "On Thursday at John Easter's, . . ." "Friday, 19 [Feb. 1802] . . . Dinwiddie county . . . John Easter . . ., preachers, were present . . ." "Edward Dromgoole, Ira Ellis, and John Easter had been outstanding traveling preachers before they located. Easter led the great revival of 1787."

Journal of Francis Asbury, Vol. 1, pg. 484: Georgia, Saturday, 2 Nov. 1805: "I visited Richard Easter . . ."

Journal of Francis Asbury, Vol. 2, pg. 456: Virginia, Thursday, 15 Jan. 1784: "After preaching at "Easter's . . ."

Journal of Francis Asbury, Vol. 3, pgs. 105 & 106:

"[Lanes, Virginia]
[December 23, 1791]

[To William Glendinning]

I write in the presence of, and by the consent of Conference, to inform you that we do not look on you as being in connection with or under any direction from us. We cannot therefore make appointments for you, in our societies, or advise our people to hear you, knowing you are not under any legate authority but your own; and should you obtain countenance and authority from another demonination, it will not be ours.

Yours,

Francis Asbury

James O'Kelly
Ira Ellis
John Paup
John Easter
Wm. Spencer
John Fore
Dan. Southall
Jn. Wynne
Josiah Askew
Dan. Stringer
Hubbard Saunders
Rice Haggard
Benja. Barnes
John Metcalf
Archer Davis
W. McKendree
Philip Cox
Thos. Easter
John Buxton"

The explanatory footnote to this letter reads: pg. 105: "This notice to William Glendinning seems to have been written from the Virginia Conference, which met at Lane's Chapel, Sussex County, Virginia, on Friday, December 23, 1791. The preachers listed here were in that conference. Some preachers did not sign."

History of the Old Baltimore Conference: pg. 58: "At this period other names appear, of whom Asbury writes to his dear friend in England, George Shadford (1783): 'I do not think there has appeared another such a company of young, devoted men.' "

History of the Old Baltimore Conference: pg. 59: "John Easter, a Virginian, is described as 'the most powerful horatory preacher of his day.' Eighteen hundred souls were added to the church in a single year. Thousands were converted during the ten years of his effective ministry. Among these were Enoch George and William McKendree. He sleeps on the field where he won so many victories."

History of the Old Baltimore Conference: pg. 83 - 84: "With singular unanimity the plan of Wesley was accepted. His preference for an Episcopal form of Church government suggested the title, 'Methodist Episcopal Church.' . . . It was unanimously given to both Coke and himself; and, on Christmas Day, the second of the session, Coke, assisted by Whatcoat and Vasey, ordained Asbury deacon. On Sunday they ordained him elder; and on Monday he was solemnly set apart as superintendent, or bishop. . . . On Sunday, (January 2, 1785) . . . "we ended our Conference in great peace and unanimity." . . . [pg. 84] "There is reason to suppose that the following preachers, from their standing and the place of their labor, were also there: . . . John Easter . . . "

The Illustrated History of Methodism: pg. 302: "John Easter was the earnest and devoted servant of God, whose labors proved so fruitful in the Brunswick Circuit that twelve hundred members were added to the Church, among them the saintly McKendree. He encountered no slight opposition in his work. The clergy of the Established Church were only too ready to talk of "wild-fire," "delusion," and "hypocrisy." His "orders" and his methods were alike treated with contempt. But the character of Mr. Easter soon overcame hostile criticism. Of pure and upright life, and sound understanding, he spoke with grat plainness and incisiveness of the need of repentance; and his keen black eye, attesting deep convictions and unshaken faith, helped to carry conviction to the hearts of those whom he addressed. Some cried aloud in the intensity of the emotion; others fled from the place in confusion; still others fell to the earth as if stunned by a thunderbolt." . . . [pg. 303] "In the three circuits of Sussex, Brunswick, and Amelia, in Virginia, three thousand souls are thought to have passed through the same blessed experience which changed McKendree from a worldling into a man of God." [Note McKendree was converted in 1787, pg. 302].

The History of American Methodism: pg. 500: "Here, in 1787, the year from which southern Presbyterians dated their Second Great Awakening, in a revival begun at Hampden-Sydney College, Methodists had shared in a religious refreshing, led by the storied John Easter." -- See Wesley W. Swewhr, the Great Awakening in Virginia, 1740 - 1790, Durham: Duke University Press, 1930, chapters 6 & 7.

The Pioneers of Methodism: pg. 93: "In the course of these Sketches we have had occasion to remark upon the peculiar type of oratory which the Wesleyan movement developed in America. The "burden" which the pioneers felt to rest upon them, the "woe" pronounced against their unfaithfulness, and above all the great love for souls that their religion kindled in their hearts, and the peril -- the fearful peril -- in which they saw the world to lie, developed an earnest, thrilling, overwhelming [pg. 93] power in their pulpit efforts that swept every thing before it as by storm." "They preached for immediate results. They saw, with the eye of faith, the approaching judgment and the sinner's only refuge; and they made their hearers see as they saw, and moved them to act as they had acted. They combined the plaintive strains of prophetic lamentation over the "dry bones" of the world's ruin with the apostolic shout of adoption and assurance, and moved upon the hearts of the people as no other men have done since the first era of Christianity. The great historian of Methodism has well said: "The usual process of a long preparatory training for the ministry could not consist with the rapidly increasing wants of the country. Methodism called into existence a ministry less trained, but not less efficient; possessing in a surprising degree that sterling good sense and manly energy, examples of which great exigences always produce among the common people. These it imbued with its own energetic spirit, and formed them to a standard of character altogether unique in the annals of the model Christian ministry. They composed a class which will perhaps never be seen again. They were distinguished by native mental vigor, shrewdness, extraordinary knowledge of human nature; many of them by overwhelming natural eloquence, the effects of which on popular assemblies are scarcely paralleled in the history of ancient or modern oratory; and not a few by powers of satire and wit, which made the gainsayer cower before them. To these intellectual attributes they added great excellences of the heart -- a zeal which only burned more feverently where that of ordinary men would have grown faint, a courage that exulted in perils, a generosity which knew no bounds and left most [pg. 94] of them in want in their latter days, a forbearance and cooperation with each other which are seldom found in large bodies, and entire devotion to one work, and withal a simplicity of character which extended even to their manners and their apparel. They were mostly robust. The feats of labor and endurance which they performed in incessantly preaching in villages and cities, among slave huts and Indian wigwams; in journeyings, seldom interrupted by stress of weather; in fording creeks, swimming rivers, sleeping in forests; these, with the novel circumstances with which such a career frequently brought them in contact, offered examples of life and character which in the hands of genius might be the materials of a new department of romantic literature."

"Among these men are to be found names that deserve a place on the roll of the world's greatest orators, and when justice is done, Virginia's patriot-statesman Patrick Henry will have no higher place accorded him in history than will her patriot-preacher John Easter." [pg. 95] "He was preeminently the great pulpit orator of early Methodism." [pg. 96] "John Easter was an extraordinary man with regard to his faith and power in preaching the gospel of salvation. Like Jacob, he had power with God and with men. When he preached or exhorted, great power fell upon the people, and many sinners were slain by the sword of the Spirit." [NC Christian Advocate, June, 1857]. [pg. 97] - 1783: c 24 July,: Rev. James Lee & Rev. John Easter in Warren Co., VA. c. 25 July: John Easter preached in Halifax Co., VA.

Marriage Records 1765 - 1810, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, collected & Compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill, VA:

Jordan Anderson and Margaret Easter, M.B. 6 June 1785, Surety: Lewis Rolfe. Note: Jordan Anderson of Prince Edward County.

Pg. 184: "Deemed advisable to examine the . . . records of Granville Co., NC, because of the close association of the early families in the two counties." "Colonial Granville Co. was established in the same year, 1746, in which Lunenburg Co. was created. . . . Many of the early Mecklenburg Co. people owned land on both sides of the state line dividing the two counties . . ." "Since the deeds, wills, marriage and other records of the area comprising Mecklenburg Co. were recorded in Lunenburg Co. from 1746 to 1765 . . ."

Pg. 185: The first Court for Mecklenburg Co. was held in the home of Richard Swepson on Monday, March 11, 1765.

Early Wills 1765 - 1799, Mecklenburg Co., VA, compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill, VA:

Pg. 73 & 74: Roffe, William, Senr. (Rolfe) Will Book 2, Page 161 - Names:
Wife: Elizabeth Roffe
Children: William, Lewis, Edward, John, Sarah Brame, Katherine Brame
Grandson: William Brame, son of John Brame
Granddaughter: Lucy Brame, dau. of Thomas Brame
James Brame: husband of dau. Sarah
Thos. Brame: husband of dau. Elizabeth
NOTE: Specific bequests to others named in will
Exec: Eldest son William Roffe and friend William Johnson
Wit: Elizabeth Pool, Mary Pool, Mary Johnson
Dated: 30 Dec. 1784
Rec.: 13 Mar. 1786

Life By the Roaring Roanoke, A History of Mecklenburg Co., VA, by Susan L. Bracey, 1977, The Mecklenburg Co. Bicentennial Commission, Meck. Co.:

pg. 102: "According to Bishop Francis Asbury, a Methodist society had been founded somewhere in the northeastern quarter of Mecklenburg in 1773."

pg. 103: "During the Revolution, John Easter of Mecklenburg became an itinerant preacher. He had been born, it is assumed, in that part of Lunenburg Co. which became Mecklenburg." "This meeting-house [Easter's] has an interesting history. Legend says that it was built in the 1780's and was then known as Easters. However, it appears that the church was first called Pisgah Chapel, which was standing in 1794 when William Rowlett deeded the acre on which it stood to Samuel Young, Senior, John Ogburn, Charles Ogburn, James Wright, and Matthew Easter [pg. 104] (son of John), trustees. By 1857 a new church building had been erected on another site, and Mary Leaker and Elizabeth Craddock deeded its acre to John T. Williams, W. M. Winckler, and Charles S. Hutcheson. The church was by then known as Easters. It still stands on this site, north of Boydton at Routes 660 and 677. However, after 1871 and by 1876 it was again called Pisgah . . ."

pg. 104: "Asbury had preached 'at Easter's' in 1784 and 'at Jon Easter's' in 1802. He was, however, possibly referring to Easter's private home. On the other hand, not being aware of its proper name, he could have been referring to the chapel, which was near Easter's land."

pg. 404: Elmer T. Clark, J. Manning Potts, and Jacob S. Payton, editors, The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury, Nashville, Abingdon Press, 1958, Vol. 2, pg. 34

pg. 405: William H. Bennett, Rev., Memorials of Methodism in Virginia, 2nd edition, Richmond, VA: Published by the Author, 1871, p. 170.

Mecklenburg Co. Will Book 5, 1802 - 1807, pg. 396 & 397: See Will of John Easter.

Marriage Records of Brunswick Co., VA 1730 - 1852, by Augusta B. Fothergill, 1953:

pg. 31: 17 Sep. 1778/88: John Easter to Mary Walker, widow of David, Sec: Jos. Lyell.

Marriage Bonds & Ministers Returns of Charlotte Co., VA 1765 - 1815, Comp. & Pub. by Catherine Lindsay Knorr, 1951:

pg. 24: 7 Jan. 1788: Richard Easter & Mary Chisholm, dau. Wm. & Mary Chisholm. Sur: Joseph Farrell. Md. 10 Jan. by Rev. Edward Almond (p. 113)

DAR Patriot Index:

Easter, James, b. c. 1730, d. 1791, md 2) Sarah, Sol. GA

Easter, John, b. 17 Jan. 1760, d. p. 26 Nov. 1832, md. Margaret Thomas, Pvt, MD Easter, Michael, b. c. 1760, d. p. 15 Apr. 1821, md. Barbara Essigs, Pvt, NC

Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution:

pg. 246: Easter, John, Morgan, 74, mpl

Revolutionary War Records, Mecklenburg Co., VA, comp. by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill, VA:

Patriot: pg. 56: Easter, John: John Easter, Methodist Minister, was drafted in Meck. Co. militia, but hired Edward Bevill as a substitute to serve for him in 1781. Bevill Pen. S - 16638

pg. 56: Easter, Richard: Patriot: Public service -- served as a Juror 10 Dec. 1782. O.B. 5, p. 259

Original Lists of Persons of Quality . . . by Hotten, pg. 256: Musters of the Inhabitants in Virginia -- Elizabeth Cittie [sic] -- 1624/5 -- Muster of M' William Gany -- Servants -- Thomasin EESTER, age 26, in the Falcon, 1617. [Depending on how you interpret this, Thomasin was born either in 1591 or 1599.]

Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol. 2, by Nugent, pg. 10: Mr. Tho. Muler, granted 660 acres in Gloucester Co. in Petsoe Parish on 29 Oct. 1696 (Pat. Bk. 9, pg. 58) . . . on John EASTER'S old field, & c. 300 acres granted him 28 Oct. 1665 . . ."

Mecklenburg Co., VA, Deed Book 3, 1771 - 1773, 15 Feb. 1772 (Page ?): John EASTER of Mecklenburg Co. to Matthew Marrable of same Co. Deed of Trust [?] 100 acres whereon the said John now lives . . . which John purchased of Robert Coleman . . . recorded in Lunenburg Co.

Mecklenburg Co., VA, Deed Book 4, 1773 - 1776, pg. 121, 10 Jul 1773: John EASTER of Mecklenburg Co., to Alexander Boyd & Co . . . Deed of Trust [?] 100 acres whereon the said John now lives . . . which John purchased of Robert Coleman . . . recorded in Lunenburg Co.

See 1988 IGI - EASTER surname

Sketches of the Pioneers of Methodism in NC & VA, by Rev. M. H. Moore, 1884. Copies of pages 92 through 101 sent to me by Nancy Spaine, Asst. Archivist, Commission on Archives & History & Conference Historical Society, United Methodist Church.

Memorials of Methodism in Virginia, From its Introduction into the State, in the year [can't read] to the Year [can't read], by the [can't read] W. Bennett, D. D., [can't read] nd Christian Advocate. [_]econd Edition.), Richmond. Published by the Author, 1871. Copies of pages 168 through 179 sent to me by Nancy Spaine.

The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury, Vol. 2, The Journal 1794 to 1816, Edited by Elmer T. Clark, J. Manning Potts and Jacob S. Payton, Published Jointly by Epworth Press, London, and Abingdon Press, Nashville. Copies of pages 32 - 35, Vol. 1 Copies of pgs. 312 - 313, Vol. 1. Copies of pgs. 328 - 329, Vol. 1. Pgs. 484 - 485, Vol. 1. Pgs. 316 - 317, Vol. 2. Pgs. 456 - 457, Vol. 1. Pgs. 104 - 107, Vol. 3. Copy of Map, "Places Visited by Francis Asbury, in Virginia and West Virginia, 1775 - 1816". All sent tome by Nancy Spaine.

History of the Old Baltimore Conference from the Planting of Methodism in 1773 to the Division of the Conference in 1857, by James Edward Armstrong, Baltimore, 1907. Copies of pgs. 58, 59 & 83 - 85. Sent to me by Nancy Spaine.

The Illustrated History of Methodism . . . by Rev. James W. Lee, D.D., Rev. Naphtali Luccock, D.D., and James Main Dixon, M.A., The Methodist Magazine Publishing Co., St.Louis & New York. Pgs. 302 & 303. Sent to me by Nancy Spaine.

The History of American Methodism, In Three Volumes. Vol. 1, Abingdon Press, New York & Nashville. Pg 500. Sent to me by Nancy Spaine.

A Short History of the Methodists in the United States of America; Beginning in 1755, and Continued till 1809. To which is Prefixed, A Brief Account of Their Rise in England in the Year 1729 & c, by Jesse Lee, Baltimore, 1810. Pgs. 316 - 341 and 366 - 376. Copied 16 Aug. 1988 from the book at the Virginia State Library Archives by SSS.

Margaret EASTER, daughter of John. Marriage bond 6 June 1785, Mecklenburg Co., VA to Jordan Anderson, of Prince Edward Co., VA. Issue:
Elizabeth L.: Md. 1) Mr. Blankenship; 2) Mr. Tucker
Matthew: b. ca 1789. Poss. md. Elizabeth Johns. Poss. died 27 Apr. 1835, Nottoway Co., VA.
Thomas: Poss. md. Fannie Shaw
Mary Watkins: b. 7 Mar. 1786, Prince Edward Co., VA, d. 4 Jun 1874, poss. Amelia Co., VA. Md. Jeremiah Bailey. Issue:

Jordon, b. 15 Nov. 1806, md. 16 Feb. 1830 to Frances Ann Claiborn, d. poss. 3 May 1857.
Elizabeth Ann: b. 5 Mar. 1816, md. 18 Dec. 1833 to Edmond Binns, d. 8 Dec. 1899.
Richard Thomas: b. 5 Mar. 1821, md. 16 Sep. 1841 to Mary Elizabeth Robertson, d. 21 May 1899.
Mary Frances: b. 30 Sep. 1825, md. 12 May 1853 to Rev. Thomas Wilson Rowlett, d. 7 Mar. 1918
Benjamin Watkins: b. 12 Feb. 1814, d. 13 Oct. 1899, Amelia Co., VA. Bur.: Bailey Family Cem., Amelia Co., VA. Married 4 times:
1) 17 Jan. 1833, Amelia Co., VA to Mary Elizabeth Holloway - 4 children
2) 3 May 1855, Amelia Co., VA to Amelia [Permelia] Clarke Hubbard - 4 children
3) 21 Oct. 1862, to Virginia Wimbush Vaughan - 7 children
4) 17 Oct. 1880, to Mrs. Ann Clarke Harper - No issue.