Grave of a Faithful Itinerant.
Perhaps Round Table readers would like to hear about the grave of William Watters, the first native American Methodist minister. This grave is in Fairfax County, Virginia, six miles from Washington, in an old graveyard. The monument is a simple veined marble shaft about seven feet high, with these inscriptions:
In Memory of
Rev. William Watters
The First Native Itinerant
Methodist Preacher in
America
Born Oct. 16, 1751
Died Mar. 29, 1827
He was a pioneer leading
the way for the vast army of
American Methodist Itinerants
having the Everlasting
Gospel to preach.
Fervent in spirit, prudent
in council, abundant in
labors, skillful in winning
souls, he was a workman that
needed not to be ashamed.
Also His Wife
Sarah Adams.
Erected by the Virginia
Conference of
The Methodist Episcopal
Church.
This was not the minister's home. He was on his way from North Carolina to Baltimore when he died. The monument was not erected until years after.
Dorothea F. Sherman, R.T.L.
Ash Grove, Va.