A Revolver Under the Pillow

The new West River Methodist Circuit, created in 1836, consisted of 3 member churches:  Friendship, Mt Zion, and Hope Chapel.

The Parsonage for the new Circuit was in Owensville - in a house built by Isaac Owens (c1818) and purchased 1836 by the Circuit.  Here resided the Methodist Circuit Riders.  A rough life, theirs... on horseback in all weather, traveling and preaching to three congregations.

In 1853 a Fund was established to care for ”worn out preachers”.  By then there were five churches, including a new one at Owensville, and one in The Swamp (Shady Side). 

Owensville Methodist Church & Parsonage c1910 (SWhall photo)

       

     During 112 years the Parsonage sheltered 104 different preachers.  Most were there only a year before being called to their next assignment.

Several preachers left family members behind in Owensville:

George Hildt served the Circuit in 1840 - his granddaughter Eliza married Owensville’s storekeeper Sam Chew. Eliza’s daughter Kate wrote a memoir, Maryland Girlhood 1908-28, which is quoted in this blog.

James Sanks served the Circuit 1856-7.  One daughter Jennie married Wm Peake Jr, Owensville’s native son architect.   The other, Carrie married Tom Weedon and was a beloved school teacher in Galesville for decades.

Two preachers left “skeletons in the closet” at the Parsonage:

One, famous for his sermons threatening hellfire, had a daughter (secretly pregnant) who hung herself in the attic rather than face his wrath.

Another had an unstable son who set fire to his bedroom.  Charred beams are still visible under new oak flooring on the second floor.

In 1948 the West River Circuit sold its Methodist Parsonage, skeletons and all, to a private family, the Johnstons. 

The "Parsonage", private residence of the Johnstons. 1949 (LWilson photo) 

 

The Johnstons' daughter remembers hearing a woman’s light footstep on the stairs at night (the suicide in the attic?)

Mrs Johnston returned one time from a trip to Canada to find a gun in her bed.

"Robert dear, why is there a revolver under the pillow?" 

"Oh Elizabeth”, he answered.  “I've barely slept a wink.  A ghost has been harassing me.“ 

______________________

P.S.  from the editor of Owensville Stories: 

From 1978-2018 while my family lived at The Parsonaage, the ghosts were at peace. -SW

 😊