By Dixie Gatlin
1872, Pamlico County founded, formed from Beaufort and Craven Counties.
1705, Pamlico County prescient.
1711, New Bern founded, voted with Beaufort up until 1883.
Bayboro named for the number of bay trees.
Long before Pamlico County was created, the Pamlico Methodist Circuit was active in this area, which extended from Almermarle Sound to the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. It was organized in 1789. When ways and means of travel were limited, this widely scattered area was covered whenever possible. Mr. James Parks, the first minister, probably traveled by boat as well as horseback.
In 1794, Jeremiah Norman, a former native of this area, served this territory and gave the first complete account of the old Pamlico Circuit. Within this circuit, at Jackson on the Bay River, (still called Craven County) Mt. Vernon Methodist Church was formed.
By 1857, this Methodist membership had grown to the point where it was decided a church should be established. They made a deal for a piece of land from Norman Jackson, who ran a store and owned most of the land, on the southeast side of the Bay River. This piece of land, which they purchased for $1.00, was located on Main Street, two blocks from the river shore.
Five men acting as trustees of the new church accepted the deed on August 29, 1857. They were: F. P Latham, Stephen Barrington, Samuel W Whitehurst Benjamin J. Perkins and Nathan Hookes.
In the years just following the founding of the church, the Civil War spread even to this quiet section of the state. Jackson became a bustling town with Brooks Shipyard the center for news of the war. The church was used as a hospital during the War between the States and was then taken over by the Union forces for the same purpose.
In 1872, Pamlico County was created from the southeastern part of Beaufort County and the eastern part of Craven County. About this same time, the post office name was changed to Stonewall and the church became known as the Stonewall Methodist Church. During these 1870's, the Stonewall Church was on circuit of over a dozen churches. The minister in these years received a total of $300.00, with Stonewall's portion being $60.00 a year.
As progress came to Pamlico County, Stonewall Church continued to grow. The first Women's Society Group was formed in 1901, by Mrs. Jenkins, wife of the pastor; with the help of Mrs. Hannah F. Kennedy and Mrs. Alice Millen In 1930 it. was apparent that the center of the town had changed so that the congregation decided to turn the white framed building. It was jacked up, turned around and placed on a new concrete foundation. This renovation included a basement for classrooms and fellowship hall and a brick veneer covering over the original outer wooden walls.
The next major renovation took place in 1956. At this time, new stained glass windows were put in and a new air conditioning system was installed.
In the early 1960's, the granddaughter of Joseph M. Caho left a $600.00 estate to be used for a church library.
In 1966-1967, the church was painted, with a new altar rail and dossal added and new carpeting. The original interior remains the same.
In 1990, a new fellowship building was constructed and in 1994, the downstairs Sunday School rooms were renovated and completed to accommodate more Sunday School rooms.
We are proud of our 200 years of heritage and feel that all of the efforts of every member and friends of the church have made Stonewall Methodist Church a beacon to our community and county...and so the women would like to give thanks to every man, woman and child who have served and worshipped in this church and made a difference in the life and growth of this historic church.