I hope this information on North Carolina Parishes will aid you in your research.

Listing of Parishes sent in by Donna Sherron

Additional info and research from various sources

In 1709, there were four precincts or parishes in the Albemarle region: Chowan, Pasquotank, 
Perquimans, and Currituck. There were three in the Pamlico region: Beaufort, Hyde, and Craven. 
In Chowan Precinct was St Paul’s Parish in Edenton, established in 1701. This parish was 
divided in 1715 and Southwest Parish was established. In 1722, the parish was again divided 
and South Shore Parish was created, becoming known as St Andrew’s Parish in 1729.

Bertie County was divided from Chowan in 1722, and Society Parish was established at the 
same time. In 1727, Society Parish was divided to form North West Parish, and in 1729, 
Tyrell County was formed  from Chowan, Bertie, Currituck, and Pasquotank Counties. St 
Andrew’s Parish was established at the same time. 

Craven Parish was established in 1715 and in 1741 became Christ Church Parish. St Thomas 
Parish was established in 1701 in Beaufort Precinct. St Thomas Church is the oldest church 
building in North Carolina, having being erected in 1734. In 1722, Bath County was divided, 
creating Carteret Precinct. St John’s Parish was most likely established at the same time, 
and is mentioned as early as 1724.

St John’s Parish, of Carteret Precinct and Beaufort, existed through the Revolution with the 
vestrymen changing their titles to wardens of the poor continuing to meet yearly until 1843. 
The original vestry minutes of St John’s Parish were rescued in the 1900’s when the fourth 
courthouse was being dismantled and records were being tossed.

The vestrymen of St John’s Parish in 1723 included Christopher Gale, Joseph Bell, Jno (John) 
Shaw, Jno Nelson, Richard Whitehurst, Richard Williamson, Richard Rutsell, Jno Shackleford, 
Thomas Merriday, Enoch Ward, Joseph Fulford, and Charles Cogdell. Prior to this date, 
apparently, William Davis and sons and Joseph Wicker were serving.

It is interesting to note that the first commissioners of the town of Beaufort included Christopher 
Gale, John Nelson, Joseph bell, Richard bell, and Richard Rustull. And in 1727, the first justices 
of the court were John Nelson, Richard Rustull, Joseph Bell, Richard Whitehurst, Ross Bell, 
Joseph Wicker, Enoch Ward, and Charles Cogdell.

Another interesting  fact is that several of the vestrymen serving in Beaufort were also vestrymen 
in other parishes. Christopher Gale was also at St Thomas, Bath; and Joseph bell and John 
Nelson served in Craven Parish, New Bern. John Bell, although not a vestryman at St John’s 
Parish, Beaufort, was with St Peter’s Parish in Pasquotank. Joseph Wicker was also with 
Currituck Parish. There were also several members of other parishes who were involved in the 
beginnings of the town of Beaufort.



State was divided into parishes as follows:


St Paul’s Parish, in Chowan County

The parish was organized in 1701 as the first parish in the colony under the provisions of the 
Vestry Act of 1701. A post-in-ground church building was erected the next year on an 
undetermined plot of land just east of Queen Anne's Creek on what is now known as the Hayes 
farm. Edenton would not be founded for another eleven years. By 1736, perhaps when the 
post-in-ground chapel had outlived its usefulness, it was decided to build a new church in the 
bustling town of Edenton, which was also the colony's capital. Here, the church occupied the 
lots set aside for church and churchyard (cemetery) before 1722 and construction began on a 
brick building that followed a form popular in Virginia. 

Some two months after the Halifax Convention, and two weeks before the Continental Congress 
had formally declared independence, the vestry of Old St. Paul's Church in Edenton met in 
solemn conclave, and impelled by the wave of intense patriotism now sweeping over the land, 
drew up the so-called "Declaration of Independence of St. Paul's Parish," the context of which 
is as follows:

"We, the Subscribers, professing our Allegiance to the King, and acknowledging the 
Constitutional executive power of Government, do solemnly profess, testify and declare, that 
we do absolutely believe that neither the Parliament of Great Britain nor any member nor any 
Constituent Branch thereof, have a right to impose taxes upon these Colonies or to regulate 
the internal policy thereof ; and that all attempts by fraud or force to establish and exercise 
such claims and powers are violation of the peace and security of the people, and ought to 
be resisted to the utmost, and the people of this Province singly and collectively are bound 
by the acts and resolutions of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, because in both 
they are freely represented by persons chosen by themselves, and we do solemnly and 
sincerely promise and engage under the sanction of virtue, honor, and the Sacred love of 
liberty and our country to maintain and support all and every acts, resolutions and regulations 
of the said Continental and Provincial Congresses to the utmost of our power and ability. In 
testimony whereof we have set our hands this 19th day of June, 1776."

In early 1700's the legislature promoted the Church of England (Anglican Church) as the 
established church of the colony and two parishes had been created by 1715: St. Paul's 
and Southwest.

These served the Chowan Precinct residents. England had also sent missionaries from
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG). 

Nov 12, 1701, 12 gentlemen were appointed Vestrymen for the Parish of St. Paul's
in the Precinct of Chowan. You'll recognize some of these names. 

Hon. Henderson Walker, Esqr
Col. Thomas Pollock
William Duckenfield, Esqr
Mr. Nicholas Crisp
Mr. Edward Smithwick
Mr. John Blount
Mr. James Long
Mr. Nathaniel Chevin
Mr. William Banbury
Col William Wilkinson
Capt. Thomas Leuton
Capt. Thomas Blount





Berkley Parish, in Perquimans County

Berkeley Parish was created in 1715, and embraced every part of the present
county and part of what is now Gates County extending as far north as the
Virginia line.

The Lords Proprietors, members for the most part of the Church of England, were too 
intent upon extracting wealth from their colony in Carolina to be willing to expend any 
of their gains for the good of the colonists. Disregarding the petitions of their officers 
in Albemarle, who saw the great need for missionaries in the struggling settlements, 
they refused to become responsible for the salary of a minister.

But after a while the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts took hold 
of the matter, and in 1702 a church was built in Chowan, near where Edenton now stands. 
By 1709 Rev. Mr. Gordon, who was one of the two ministers sent out by the S. P. G., 
writes to the secretary of the Society from Perquimans :

"In Perquimans there is a compact little church, built with care and express, and better than 
that in Chowan. It continues yet unfinished, by reason of the death of Major Swann, 1707, 
who fostered the building of this church."

Among the vestrymen of this new parish may be found the following names : Francis Forbes, 
Colonel Maurice Moore, Captain Hecklefield, Thomas Hardy, Captain Richard Saunderson, 
Henry Clayton, Joseph Jessups, Samuel Phelps and Richard Whedbee. Most of these 
gentlemen were men of note in the colony, and many of their descendants are now living in 
Perquimans County. That the wealthy planters in Albemarle felt a certain responsibility for 
the spiritual welfare of their slaves, was shown by the fact that master and slave alike 
gathered together to join in the services held by the early missionaries of the Church of 
England ; and that the master willingly allowed his servant to share in the blessings of the 
sacraments of the church. A letter from Rev. Mr. Taylor, written from Perquimans in 1719, 
records that he had just "baptized a young woman, slave of Mr. Duckinfield, to whom I have 
taught the whole of the church catechism."




St.  John’s  Parish  on the South West Side of Pasquotank River

No further information at this time. Research in progress.



St Peter’s Parish on the North side of Pasquotank River in Pasquotank County

No further information at this time. Research in progress.



Currituck Parish in Currituck County

In 1715 a legally appointed vestry was organized for the parish of Currituck, among the most 
prominent of whose members were Richard Saunderson, Colonel William Reed, Foster Jarvis, 
William Swann, and William Williams. The services of the Church of England were conducted 
in the county during those early days with as much regularity as the scattered congregations 
and the lack of facilities for traveling in that water-bound region permitted. In 1774 the General 
Assembly passed an act to establish St. Martin's chapel at Belleville, and Isaac Gregory, 
Peter Dauge and a Mr. Ferebee were appointed to take this matter in charge. In educational 
matters Currituck was wonderfully alert in colonial days for a county so inaccessible from the 
rest of the State. Probably the most noted of her schools was the Indian Town Academy built 
in 1761 by William Ferebee, one of the most prominent men in North Carolina, on his plantation, 
called by the Indians "Culong," and by the whites, "Indian Town." Many of the students at this 
academy were in later days to be counted among the State's most famous and useful men. 
William Ferebee's family alone furnished six members of the Legislature, three Revolutionary 
officers, and one Colonel in the Confederacy in the War of Secession. For a hundred years this 
famous old school kept up its career of usefulness, but in the so-called "negro raid" of 1863 it 
met the fate that befell so many of the South's cherished institutions during the dark days of 
18614865, and was reduced to ashes by the incendiary's torch.




Society Parish in Bertie County

When Bertie Precinct was established in 1722, the Southwest parish was designated for it, 
but the name was changed to Society Parish in honor of the Society for the Propagation of 
the Gospel. William Dukenfield of "Salmon Creek" was one of the early supporters and gave 
52 acres for a permanent building in 1721 "lying on the northwest side of Ducking Run".

It was very difficult to find Anglican ministers willing to serve due to the low salaries and early 
pioneer life style. The Rev. John Boyd, was the first Anglican missionary to come to the Society 
Parish. Perhaps he came as the result of Gov. Johnston's plea to the bishop of London: "we are 
a most heathenish part of American and have no sect amongst us but Quakers who daily 
increase." 

Rev. Boyd had a reputation for drunkenness and died by early 1740's when Rev. John Holmes 
served for a brief time. Following these unsuccessful pastors, Bertie was dependent on 
neighboring counties for their clergy until 1767 when the Society Parish called Rev. Thomas 
Floyd, followed in 1770 by Rev. Francis Johnston. 

The Revolution ended the Anglican Church as the established church, but the Episcopal Church 
grew from these roots.




St Andrew’s Parish in Tyrell County

Bertie County was divided from Chowan in 1722, and Society Parish was established at the 
same time. In 1727, Society Parish was divided to form North West Parish, and in 1729, Tyrell 
County was formed  from Chowan, Bertie, Currituck, and Pasquotank Counties. St Andrew’s 
Parish was established at the same time. 




St. Thomas Parish in Beaufort County

St Thomas Parish was established in 1701 in Beaufort Precinct. St Thomas Church is the 
oldest church building in North Carolina, having being erected in 1734.

Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768 with its northern boundary being 
the were established as follows: Granville line. Its boundaries, the said County of Mecklenburg 
shall be, and is hereby divided into Two distinct Counties and Parishes, by a Line beginning 
at Earl Granville's Line; where it Crosses the Catawba River; and the said River to be the Line 
to the South Carolina Line; and all that Part of the said County which lies to the Eastward of 
the said dividing Line shall be a Distinct County and Parish, and remain and be called by the 
Name of Mecklenburg County, and St. Martin's Parish; and that all that Part of the County 
lying to the Westward of the said dividing line shall be one other distinct County and Parish, 
and be and remain by the Name of Tryon County and St. Thomas's Parish.




St. George’s Parish in Hyde County

The first services for what eventually became St. George's Episcopal Church were held in 1866 
in Amity Academy, also known as Chapel Hill Academy. These, services were held by Reverend 
Samuel Swann Barber who was the first missionary of the Episcopal Church in Hyde County. In 
the fall of 1868 permission was re- quested of Bishop Thomas Atkinson of the Diocese of North 
Carolina for the creation of a parish in Hyde County. Permission was received from Bishop 
Atkinson for the creation of a parish in Lake Landing Township, and St. George's Parish was 
officially organized on November 25, 1868. Reverend Barber was the first rector of the new parish. 
The parish became an official part of the Diocese in May of 1869.



Northwest Parish in Northampton County

By 1727, a second parish was needed and was called Northwest Parish, but this became 
part of Northampton County when that section was taken away from Bertie in 1741.




St. John’s Parish in Granville County

In 1746, when Granville Co., N.C. was formed from Edgecombe, St. John's Parish was 
created, including all of Granville Co. In 1761, Granville Co. was divided into two parishes, 
the western part becoming Granville Parish and the eastern part remaining St. John's. In 
1764, the whole of St. John's Parish, the eastern part of Granville Co., became Bute County 
and a small part of Northampton Go., N.C. was added to Bute, in 1766.





St. Matthew’s Parish in Orange County

The General Assembly of Colonial North Carolina originally constituted St. Matthew's Parish 
in 1752 as the established church in the County of Orange. The parish was reorganized in 
1824 and the present building was consecrated on May 21, 1826. St. Matthew's has continued 
as the Episcopal parish in Hillsborough and northern Orange County from that time to the 
present. 




St Luke’s Parish in Rowan County

Created in 1753 by and act of the Colonial Assembly, St. Luke’s Parish conformed with the 
boundaries of Rowan County, then the largest county in the colony.  The church building 
was erected in 1828.

In 1823, St. Luke’s Parish was organized by Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft during the eighth 
annual convention of the Diocese held in Salisbury.  The following year at the next convention 
it was admitted to the Diocese.  In 1827, an advertisement appeared in the Western Carolinian 
requesting bids for 80,000 brick and a quantity of pine and oak lumber, planks, and shingles.  
The bricks were provided by the widow of General John Steele and the grounds for the church 
were given by Major John Beard, with a deed of September 15, 1827.  The Gothic Revival style 
church, designed by Rev. Francis L. Hawks, was built in 1828.  Hillsborough mason and John 
Berry built the Gothic Revival church out of brick in Flemish bond.  The church opened under 
the ministry of Rev. Thomas Wright, who stayed until 1832. 




St. David’s Parish in Cumberland County

No further information at this time. Research in progress.




St. Gabriel’s Parish in Duplin County

In 1749, Duplin County was formed from the territory of New Hanover lying north of a “Line 
beginning at the mouth of Rock Fish Creek, on the North-East River of Cape-Fear, running 
East to Onslow County, and westward, by a straight line from the mouth of the said creek, 
to the upper forks of Black River, where Cohecry and the Six Runs meet, thence up 
Cohecry to the head thereof.” By this act, the same territory was erected into St. Gabriel 
Parish. John Sampson and Henry Hyrne were directed to run the line. The justices of the 
peace were ordered to hold their first court at the house of William McRee at Goshen, at 
which court they should select a site for the courthouse, prison, and stocks. John 
Sampson, William McRee, George Meares, Francis Brice, William Houston, Joseph 
Williams. John Herring, Anthony Cox, Mark Phillips, John Turner, Thomas Suggs, and 
Charles Gavin were appointed vestrymen of the parish.




St. George’s Parish in Anson County

At its formation Anson's boundaries were established by the General Assembly of 
North Carolina. 

  ...That Bladen County be divided by a Line. beginning at the Place where the South 
Line of this Province crosseth the Westermost Branch of the Little Pee-Dee River. 
than by a straight line to a Place where the Commissioners for running the Southern
Boundary of this Province crosseth that Branch of the Little Pee-Dee River. called 
Drowning Creek, thence up that Branch to the Head thereof; then by a Line. to run. 
as near as maybe, equidistant, from Saxapahaw River, and the Great Pee-Dee River;
and that the upper Part of the said County and Parish so laid off and undivided. be 
entered into a County and Parish. by the name of Anson County. and St.  George's 
Parish. and that all the Inhabitants to the Westward of the aforementioned dividing 
line shall belong and appertain to Anson County,...




Edgecombe Parish in Edgecombe County

In the early part of the eighteenth century there existed in London England a society 
known as The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts The society 
was organized in 1675 but being inefficient was revised by Dr Bray of the Church of 
England and a charter for propagating the gospel in foreign parts was granted by King 
William III in 1701 The duty of this society was to keep in touch with the colonial 
settlers and to maintain the orthodox clergymen in the British possessions In order to 
do this an annual stipend of fifty pounds sterling was pledged by the society to pay the 
missionaries whom they elected to come abroad The Crown also gave a bounty of twenty 
pounds while the colonists were supposed to contribute a part of the clergymen's salary 
As a result of the efforts of this society the first established and organized branch of the 
Christian Church in Edgecombe County was formed After the transfer of the colony to the 
Crown the precinct of Edgecombe was incorporated Provision was made for a parish with 
authority to raise money by a poll tax not to exceed five shillings in currency the purpose 
of which was to maintain the poor and to pay ministers A parish court was erected to look 
after the social affairs of the people In this court the day laborer mechanic and blacksmith 
were disciplined from time to time The constable of the village was also local officer 
collected taxes and looked after the poor The church wardens were kept under bond by 
the precinct committee as custodians of the vestry funds In 1741 the laws of North Carolina 
record a law relating to those who had refused to pay taxes in Edgecombe parish because 
of the uncertainty of its boundaries This proves that some movement for church organization 
had commenced before or during this year In 1741 under an enactment by Governor Gabriel 
Johnston Edgecombe County was authorized to establish a parish by the name of 
Edgecombe At the same time a general church act was passed authorizing a poll tax which 
in practice was found to be  very burdensome Efforts were made to secure another law which 
indicates that it was looked upon with disfavor even by the churchmen No other law was 
passed and Reverend Mr Moir who was assigned to the parish expressed himself as follows 
Nothing was done for the encouragement of an established ministry The sheriff of the county 
was empowered to summons the freeholders to meet for the purpose of electing twelve 
vestrymen who promptly after their election elected two church wardens An oath was required 
by law for those serving as vestrymen In the oath the vestrymen were to express themselves 
as not opposed to the liturgy of the Church of England A failure to perform this duty resulted in 
a fine of three pounds proclamation money The term of office was for two years The jurisdiction 
of the parish was confined to the boundaries of the northwest and society parishes of Bertie 
County from which Edgecombe parish was formed The line of the parish began at the mouth of 
Sandy Run thence up its course to its head and extending in a direct line to Ahoshie Swamp 
From here it followed the old dividing line between the Society and Northwest parishes of which 
Edge combe was formerly a part All the arrears which were due by the people of Edgeeombe 
were to be paid to the parishes in Bertie Included in the general act for the erection of parishes 
and the election of vestrymen was a oath prescribed for those who supervised the parish This 
oath also contained an obligation to refrain from disturbing the King's peace to propagate the 
interests of the church and not to bear arms against Great Britain The first authentic account 
of a church being erected in the parish is in 1748 This church was designated by a reference 
in a division of the parish as a Chapell near Elias Fort's on Tar River There is substantial 
evidence that this is the church which was located about seven miles northwest of Tarboro on 
the southeast side of Tar River near a small spring at Teat's bridge 1 Clement Hall who for some 
time prior to 1744 had been a lay leader in Edenton was ordained in 1744 and made occasional
visits to Edgecombe County 




St. Martin’s Parish in Bladen County
Tryon County was formed from Mecklenburg County in 1768 with its northern boundary 
being the were established as follows: Granville line. Its boundaries, the said County of 
Mecklenburg shall be, and is hereby divided into Two distinct Counties and Parishes, by 
a Line beginning at Earl Granville's Line; where it Crosses the Catawba River; and the 
said River to be the Line to the South Carolina Line; and all that Part of the said County 
which lies to the Eastward of the said dividing Line shall be a Distinct County and Parish, 
and remain and be called by the Name of Mecklenburg County, and St. Martin's Parish; 
and that all that Part of the County lying to the Westward of the said dividing line shall 
be one other distinct County and Parish, and be and remain by the Name of Tryon 
County and St. Thomas's Parish.



St. James Parish on the East Side of Cape Fear River

St. Philip’s parish on the West Side of Cape Fear River, to the Bounds of the County, 
inclusive of the Island at the mouth of the North-west and North- East rivers, commonly 
called Eagle’s island in New Hanover County



St. Patrick’s Parish in Johnston County

The law establishing Johnston County also set up St. Patrick's Parish of the Church of 
England with the same boundaries as the County. Vestrymen were appointed to serve 
until the next general election. More than merely a governing body for a church, the 
vestry attended to the needs of poor widows and orphans and generally served as the 
local government's welfare agency.

Ten years after Johnston County was formed the territory was divided into two parishes. 
Old St. Patrick's Parish remained in the eastern part of the County and new St. 
Stephen's Parish was in the west. Voters of the new parish were to meet at the 
courthouse at Walnut Creek to elect vestrymen while those of St Patrick's met at 
Samuel Smith's on Neuse River in the vicinity of modern Smithfield. This move was 
the first of several which resulted in the division of the large county of Johnston into 
several others, one of which became Lenoir.



Christ Church Parish in Craven County

The Parish of Christ Church, New Bern, North Carolina, was organized in 1715, and 
was one of the earliest parishes in the Colonies. In the year 1723, during the reign 
of Georve I of England, a tract of land, the property of Mr. Cullen Pollock, was formally 
laid out into a township, by the name of New Bern. There were lots provided for a 
Church, court house, and market place. An act was passed, by the General Assembly 
of the State of North Carolina, in 1766, that the Glebe land, which was formally 
purchased at the expense of the County of Craven, for a residence of a minister of 
the Episcopal Church, situated on Middle and Johnson streets, with all the 
improvements thereon, should be taken from the Church, and the money raised by 
rent or sale, should be used for erecting a new school house, incorporated and named 
the New Bern Academy—no Rector or professor should be a trustee. The trustees 
appointed were Hon. Richard Caswell, Abner Nash, Esq., John Wright Stanly, 
William Blount, John Sitgreaves, Spyers Singleton, William McClure, William Bryan 
and Richard Dobb Speight, Esq.



St. John Parish in Onslow County 

No further information at this time. Research in progress.




St. John’s Parish in Carteret County
The first Anglican Church in Beaufort, St. John’s Parish, was organized approximately in 1724.  
However, the increasing opposition of Baptists, Quakers, and other denominations contributed 
to the decreasing number of Anglicans in Carteret County.    


On Nov. 12, 1701, the Carolina Assembly passed the Vestry Act of 1701, making the Church 
of England the official religion of the Carolina colony. Active opposition by Quakers, 
Presbyterians and other religious Nonconformists, who lived there, ultimately convinced the 
proprietors of the colony to revoke the act in 1703





THE STATE RECORDS NORTH CAROLINA 

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES BY 
ORDER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

COLLECTED AND EDITED BY WALTER CLARK 

CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NORTH CAROLINA 

VOL XXV LAWS 1789 1790 AND SUPPLEMENT 
OMITTED LAWS 1669 1783 

WITH INDEX TO VOLS XX111 XX1V AND XXV 

NASH BROTHERS BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS GOLDSBORO NC 1906  

An Act for appointing Parishes and Vestries for the Encouragement of an Orthodox 
Clergy for the Advancement of the Protestant Religion and for the Direction of the 
Settlement of Parish Accounts 

I.	Whereas the present as well as the future Happiness of Mankind essentially 
depends on the Knowledge and Practice of true Religion and a permanent and certain 
Provision for an Orthodox Clergy may conduce to the Encouragement of pious and 
learned Ministers of the Gospel to settle and reside in the several Parishes in this 
Province to the Advancement of the Protestant Religion and Encouragement of Vertue 
and Morality 

II.	 Be it Enacted by the Governor Council and Assembly and by the Authority of 
the same That this Government be and it is hereby divided into distinct Parishes in the 
Manner following That is to say St Paul's Parish in Chowan County Berkley Parish in 
Perquimons County St John's Parish on the South West Side of Pasquotank River and 
St Peter's Parish on the North East Side of Pasquotank River in Pasquotank County 
Currituck Parish in Currituck County Society Parish in Bertie County St Andrew's Parish 
in Tyrell County St Thomas's Parish in Beaufort County St George's Parish in Hyde 
County North West Parish in Northampton County St John's Parish in Granville County St 
Matthew's Parish in Orange County St Luke's Parish in Rowan County St David's Parish in 
Cumberland County St Gabriel's Parish in Duplin County St George's Parish in Anson 
County Edgecombe Parish in Edge combe County St Martin's Parish in Bladen County 
St James Parisn on the East Side of Cape Fear River And St Philip's Parish on the West 
Side of Cape Fear River from the Mouth of the said River running up the North West River 
to the Bounds of the County inclusive of the Island at the Mouth of the North West and 
North East Rivers commonly called Eagle's Island in New Hanover County St Patrick's 
Parish in Johnston Oounty Christ Church Parish in Craven County St John's Parish in 
Onslow County and St John's Parish in Oarteret County 

III.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Freeholders of each 
respective Varish aforesaid shall and they are hereby impowered and directed to meet on 
the first Monday after the Tenth Day of June next after the Ratificalion of this Act at the 
Court house or Place where the County Court in each respective County aforesaid is or 
shall be held or at the usual Place of electing Vestrymen and on Easter Monday every 
Third Year thereafter then and there to choose and elect Twelve Freeholders to serve as 
Vestrymen for the Three Years next ensuing which Vestrymen so chosen shall by the 
Sheriff or his Deputy in each of the said Parishes respectively be summoned to meet at 
the church and where there is no Church at the Court house or Place where the County 
Court is or shall be held within Forty Days next after such Choice to qualify themselves 
according to the direction of this Act and if the said Sheriff by himself or Deputy shall 
neglect or refuse to summon the Vestry as aforesaid he shall forfeit and pay the Sum of 
Twenty Shillings Proclamation Money for each and every Vestryman not summoned as 
aforesaid who shall reside within his District to be levied and applied as herein after 
directed 

IV.	And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Sheriff or his Deputy 
one Month at least before the Election of Vestrymen for the Parish or Parishes within his 
County shall give Notice in Writing to the Minister and every Clerk and Reader within the 
Parish where such Election is to be held of the Time and Place appointed for such Election 
and the  Minister and Readers respectively are hereby required to publish such Notice 
immediately after Divine Service on every Sunday between the Receipt thereof and the 
Day so appointed and on Failure thereof each Minister and Reader so offending shall 
forfeit and pay the Sum of Five Pounds Proclamation Money and if the Sheriff shall fail to 
make such Appointment and give Notice as aforesaid he shall for such Failure forfeit and 
pay the Sum of Twenty Pounds like Money one Moiety of which Penalty shall oe to the 
Parish wherein the Offence shall be committed and the other Moiety to the Informer to be 
recovered with Costs ot Debt in any Court of Record 

V.	And that the Election may be made in a fair open Manner Be it Enacted by the 
Authority aforesaid That at all Elections of Vestrymen hereafter to be made the Sheriff of 
the County or his Deputy shall attend at the Court house of the County or Place where the 
County Court is held or usual Place of electing Vestrymen and there take the Votes in the 
following manner that is to say He shall open the Poll at Ten o clock in the Forenoon and 
after Proclamation to the Freeholders to come and give their Votes for Vestrymen shall 
take a List of the Names of the Voters who shall give their Suffrage which shall be for 
neither more nor less than Twelve and the Votes shall be given openly and the Poll kept 
open till Sun set unless the Majority of the Freeholders there present shall agree to have 
it closed sooner and the Sheriff shall then cast up the Number of Votes given for each 
Candidate and declare the Twelve who shall have the greatest Number of Suffrages to be 
duly elected and in Case of an Equality of Votes among any of the Candidates the Sheriff 
shall have the casting vote and in no other Case give his Vote 

VI.	And to prevent Disputes concerning who shall be understood to be a Freeholder 
Be it further Enacted That no Person who hath not an Estate Real for his own Life or the 
Life of some other Person or an Estate of greater Dignity in Fifty Acres of Land in the Parish 
for which such Election shall be made shall be deemed a Freeholder within the Meaning of 
this Act and any one of the Candidates may in Case he suspects any Person going to give 
his vote hath not a Freehold within the Meaning of this Act object to such Person giving his 
Vote and require the Sheriff to tender him an Oath or Affirmation concerning his Qualification 
which Oath or Affirmation the Sheriff is hereby impowered and directed to administer in the 
following words to wit You shall swear or affirm That you have been possessed of a Freehold 
of Fifty Acres of Land for Three Months past in your own Right in the Parish of and that you 
have not given your Vote before in this Election So help you God 

VII.	And be it further Enacted That no Person under the Age of Twenty one Years shall 
give his Vote for the Election of Vestrymen in any Parish 

VIII.	And to enforce the Attendance of the Freeholders at all future Elections of Vestrymen 
Be it further Enacted That every Person qualified to Vote for Vestrymen in the several and 
respective Parishes shall and he is hereby required duly to attend and give his Vote at all 
future Elections at the Time and in the Manner as is herein before directed unless prevented 
by some bodily Infirmity or legal disability under the Penalty of Twenty Shillings Proclamation 
Money To be recovered by Warrant from any Magistrate within the County 

IX.	And be it further Enacted That if any Person shall hereafter at an Election of 
Vestrymen give his Vote who is not possessed in his own Right of an Estate for Life or an 
Estate of higher Dignity of Fifty Acres of Land in the Parish for the Vestrymen of which he 
shall give his Vote such Person shall forfeit Five Pounds Proclamation Money To be recovered 
ered by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in the County Court by such Person as will 
sue for the same wherein no Essoign Injunction Protection or Wager of Law shall be admitted 
and where such Action shall be brought the Onus Probandi shall lie on the Defendant 

X.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no Person shall be admitted 
to be of any Vestry within this Government that doth not wiihin Forty Days after his being chosen 
by the Freeholders as i& before directed take the Oaths by Law appointed for the Qualification 
of Public Officers and repeat and subscribe the following Declaration to wit I AB do declare That 
I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is by Law established And all and 
every Person chosen and summoned as is hereinbefore directed who shall refuse or neglect to 
do the same shall if he be not a Dissenter from the Church of England forfeit and pay the Sum 
of Forty Shillings Proclamation Money to be levied and applied as is herein after directed and if 
any Person or Persons chosen as is hereinbefore directed shall neglect or refuse to make and 
subscribe the said Declaration the other Persons chosen as aforesaid or the Majority of them 
shall and may after their having taken the Oaths and repeated and subscribed the aforesaid 
Declaration elect and choose another or other Freeholder or Freeholders in Place of him or them 
which shall so refuse or neglect to take the Oaths aforesaid or to repeat and subscribe the said 
Declaration and such Person or Persons as shall be chosen and electe l by the Vestrymen in 
Manner aforesaid shall after his or their taking the Oaths arid repeating the Declaration aforesaid 
be deemed and held to be legal Vestrymen to all Intents and Purposes as if they had been 
elected and chosen by the Freeholders of the County 

XI.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Vestrymen of each and 
every Parish respectively or a Majority of them shall and they are hereby directed within Sixty 
Days after Easter Monday Yearly to elect and choose out of the said Vestry Two Persons to 
execute the Office of Churchwardens in each and every respective Parish and if the Persons 
elected Church wardens as aforesaid or either of them shall refuse to execute the said Office he 
or they so refusing shall forfeit and Pay Forty Shillings Proclamation Money to be levied and 
applied as is herein after directed and the Vestry shall immediately proceed to choose in the Room 
of him or them who refuse to execute the said Office another or other Churchwarden or 
Churchwardens out of the said Vestrymen Provided that no Person whatsoever shall be obliged 
to serve as Churchwarden in any Parish for more than One Year at the expiration of which the 
Vestry shall again choose another to succeed him and the Churchwardens of every Parish shall 
purchase at the Expence of the Parish Books well bound in Vellum for keeping therein a Journal 
and Register of all Proceedings of the Vestry in which shall be fairly stated the Accounts of all 
such Monies as they from Time to Time shall receive in Virtue of their Office and all Disbursements 
and Expences made on Account of the Parish and within Ninety Days after their Wardenship shall 
expire set lip in the Court house of their County on a Court Day and continue the same during the 
sitting of such Court fair Copies of such Accounts for Inspection of the Parishoners 

XII.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Churchwardens or in Case 
they refuse or neglect any Three or more of the Vestry in each Parish respectively shall have full 
Power and Authority to call the Vestry together at any Time and upon any Occasion they shall  
judge necessary by Warrant or Warrants under their Hands directed to the several Constables of 
the several Districts in each respective Parish who shall be obliged to execute the same according 
to the Tenor thereof under the Penalty of Ten Shillings for each Vestryman in such Warrant named 
whom he shall fail to summon and every Vestryman who shall refuse or neglect to attend the Vestry 
agreeable to such Summons shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Ten Shillings Proclamation Money for 
every such neglect unless he can show sufficient cause for his so doing to be admitted by the 
Majority of the Vestry at their next Meeting to be levied as is herein after directed 

XIII.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Vestries of the several 
Parishes shall have full Power and Authority upon the Death or Removal out of their respective 
Parishes of any Church warden or Churchwardens before the Time limited for the executing the 
said Office is expired to elect and choose out of the Vestry another Churchwarden or 
Churchwardens in the Room and Stead of the Person or Persons so dead or removed out of the 
Parish aforesaid which Churchwarden or Churchwardens so elected shall serve until the Time 
appointed by this Act for the Election of Churchwardens 

XIV.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Vestry of each respective 
Parish shall have full Power and Authority and they are hereby directed and required between 
Easter Monday and the First Day of November Yearly to lay such a Poll Tax as they shall judge 
necessary for purchasing Glebes and satisfying the Expence of their respective Parishes 

XV.	And for the better collection and paying the said Tax Be it further Enacted by the 
Authority aforesaid That the Vestry of each respective Parish shall and is hereby authorized 
and impowered to nominate and appoint such Person as they shall think fit by the Name of 
the Collector of the Parish Taxes to collect and receive the aforesaid Tax the Person appointed 
giving Bond with sufficient Security that he will duly collect and receive the said Tax and pay 
and satisfy unto the Creditors of the Parish all Taxes levied for such Purpose and the Overplus 
if any to the Vestry or their Sucessors for the Use of the Parish which Tax shall be collected at 
the Time and in the Manner that Public Taxes ought by Law to be collected and shall be allowed 
Five Per Cent for his Trouble and have full Power and Authority by Virtue of this Act upon Neglect 
or Refusal of Payment of the said Tax or any Part thereof by any Person or Persons chargeable 
therewith to distrain the Goods and Chatttels of the Party refusing or neglecting and if the Owner 
thereof shall not pay what is due within Five Days after such Distress such Collector may and 
shall lawfully sell by Auction the Goods so distrained or so much thereof as shall be sufficient 
to satisfy the said Tax and the Charges of Distress and Sale returning the Overplus if any to the 
Owner but shall give Notice of the Sale by setting up an Advertisement in Writing at the Church 
Door in the Parish or at the most Public Place of Worship where there is no Church and by 
publishing the same among the People immediately after Divine Service on the next Sunday after 
the Expiration of the said Five Days which Sale shall not be more than Three Days nor less than 
Six Days after Notice so given and shall be good and effectual in Law against all Persons 
whatsoever And if the Vestry of any Parish shall neglect or refuse to lay a sufficient Tax to satisfy 
the Parish Creditors in such Case all and every the Vestrymen of the Parish neglecting or refusing 
shall be liable to the Action of the Party grieved his or her Executors or Administrators for all 
Damages which he or she shall sustain by such Refusal or Neglect 

XVI.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in every Parish in this Province 
where a good and convenient Glebe is not already purchased and appropriated a good convenient 
Tract of Land to contain Two Hundred Acres at least shall be purchased by the Vestry and assigned 
and set apart for a Glebe for the Use of the Minister of such Parish and his Successors in all Times 
hereafter 

XVII.	And where Mansion and convenient Outhouses are not already erected for the Habitation 
of the Minister It is hereby Enacted That the Vestry of every such Parish shall have Power and they 
are hereby authorized and required to cause to be erected and built on such Glebe One convenient 
Mansion house Kitchen Barn Stable Dairy and Meet house with such other Convenience as they 
shall think fit 

XVIII.	And to the End that the Buildings already erected or hereafter to be erected upon every 
Glebe may be kept in good Repair It is hereby further Enacted That every Parish Minister within 
this Province shall during the Time of his being Minister of the Parish keep and maintain the 
Mansion house and the Out houses and Conveniences erected or to be eiected OB his Glebe in 
tenantable Repair and shall so leave the same at his Removal from the Parish or Death Accidents 
by Fire or Tempest only excepted and in Case any Minister shall fall to do so such Minister his 
Executors or Administrators shall be liable to the Action of the Churchwardens of the Parish for 
the Time being wherein the Value of such Repairs shall be recovered and Damages with Costs 
of Suit and the Damages so recovered shall be applied and laid out in necessary Repairs upon 
the Glebe And every Vestry of a vacant Parish is hereby impowered and required to put all the 
Buildings upon the Glebe of their Parish into such good and sufficient Repair that they may be 
fit for the Reception of the succeeding Minister Provided nevertheless That any Vestry who shall 
judge that the Minister has not wilfully committed any waste on his Glebe may make such 
necessary Repairs at the Charge of their Parish as they shall think fit 

XIX.	And to the End that the Clergy may have a decent and comfortable Maintenance and 
Support without being obliged to follow any other Employment than that of their Holy Function 
in the Cure of their respective Parishes Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every 
Minister hereafter to be preferred to or received into any Parish within this Province shall have 
and receive an Annual Salary of Eighty Pounds Proclamation Money to be levied assessed 
and collected and paid in Manner herein before directed Provided always That no Vestry shall 
at any Time make Presentation to any Parish of a Missionary whose Duty requires him at any 
Time to be absent from such Parish unless such Missionary shall agree with the Vestry for such 
Yearly Salary as they shall think fit and reasonable considering the Time his Duty will require 
him to be absent And whatever Agreement shall be so made between the Vestry and Minister 
shall be binding on such Minister during the Continuance of such Mission any Thing herein 
contained to the contrary notwithstanding 

XX.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Right of Presentation of 
a Minister to each respective Parish within this Province shall be and remain in the Vestry of 
each respective Parish for and during the Space of Twelve Months after a Vacancy shall happen
in  the same and if the Vestry in that Time shall neglect to make Presentation of a Minister to 
such Parish it shall and may be lawful for the Governor or Commander in Chief for the Time 
being to present and the Minister so presented to the Parish shall be deemed and held to be 
the Minister of such Parish and entitled to the same Salary and Dues as if the Vestry had 
made the Presentation as is herein before directed Provided nevertheless That in Case the 
Vestry of any Parish that shall be vacant one Year shall procure some neighbouring or other 
Minister to serve in the Cure of such vacant Parish by performing Divine Service once in Three 
Months they shall thereby save to themselves and retain the Right of Presentation for so long 
a Time as such Minister shall so serve in the Cure of such vacant Parish Any Thing herein 
contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided also That no Vestry within this Province 
shall present for their Minister any Person who shall not first have a Certificate from the Bishop 
of London that such Minister hath been duly ordained conformable to the Doctrine and 
Discipline of the Church of England and i& of a good Life and Conversation 

XXI.	And be it further Enacted That any Minister of a Parish who shall be guilty of any 
notorious Immorality in Disgrace of his Function and to the Scandal of Religion on Conviction 
thereof before the Supreme Court of Justice wherein Actions arising in such Parish shall be 
triable shall lose his Salary and Dues which he would otherwise be entitled to and such Parish 
shall be held and deemed vacant and the Vestry impowered to make Presentation of another in 
the same Manner as if the Minister so convicted had been naturally dead 

XXII.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Minister of each respective
Parish shall be obliged to officiate in such Parts cf the Parish and at such Times as the Vestry or 
a Majority of them shall direct at the Time he shall be received into his Parish and in Case of 
Failure it shall be lawful for them to withdraw his Salary unless other Places shall be afterwards 
agreed on between such Vestry and Minister and the Vestry in Case of such Failure may and are 
hereby impowered to make Presentation of another Minister to such Parish as is herein before 
directed to be done in vacant Parishes 

XXIII.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Vestry of every Parish shall 
have full Power to call every Justice of the Peace or other Person or Persons whatsoever to Account 
on Oath and pay to them the Monies in the Hands of him or them belonging to their respective 
Parishes or accruing or becoming due to the same by Virtue of the Laws of this Province and if any 
Justice or Justices or other Person or Persons shall refuse to appear and account as aforesaid he 
or they so neglecting shall forfeit and pay Twenty Pounds Proclamation Money To be recovered by 
the Churchwardens of the Parish for the Time being where such Money shall become due by Action 
of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any Court of Record wherein no Essoign Protection Injunction or 
Wager of Law shall be allowed and to be applied to the Use of the Parish And where any Suit shall 
be brought by the Churchwardens and the Money shall not be by them recovered and received 
before the Expiration of their Office the Suit shall be carried on to Execution by the succeeding 
Churchwardens in the Name of their Predecessors who brought such Suit and shall be received by 
such succeeding Churchwardens to the Use of the Parish Provided that nothing in this Act shall be 
construed to repeal any Clause Matter or Thing in an Act of Assembly intituled  An Act to enable 
the Commissioners herein after mentioned to finish the Church already begun at Edenton 

XXIV.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the several Sums of Money arising 
and becoming due by Reason of the Forfeitures and Penalties by this Act infiicted and for which no 
Method of Recovery or Application is before directed in this Act shall be levied within one Week after 
they shall become due by Warrant of Distress from any Two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace 
within the County where the said Penalty or Forfeiture shall be incurred and by Sale of the Defendant's 
Goods returning the Overplus if any to the Owner and the Money so levied shall be paid to the 
Churchwardens for the Use of the Parish 

XXV.	And be it further Enacted That all and every other Act and Acts and every Clause and Article 
thereof or so much thereof except as before excepted heretofore made so far as they relate to any 
Matter or Thing contained within the Purview of this Act is and are hereby repealed and made void to 
all Intents and Purposes as if the same had never been made 

XXVI.	And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That this Act shall commence and be 
in Force from and after the first Day of June next and that all Acts heretofore legally made and done 
by Vestries heretofore chosen and qualified agreeable to the Laws of this Province are hereby declared 
to be as good and valid as if this Act had never been made  







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