Of the subscriptions made by citizens of Mecklenburg county, the name of William Townes heads the list with $1,000, the largest subscription to the College funds in early times. He was not a Methodist, nor a member of any church, but he was one of the earliest and best friends of the College.
On the early subscription lists there were about five hundred names.
Next to the subscription of Col. Townes, there were none above $300.
The third meeting of the Board of Trustees was held April 15, 1831, Rev. John Early, chairman, presiding. The following items of business transacted are noted:
Rev. Thomas Adams, a local minister, of Lunenburg county, was elected in place of Rev. James Smith, who resigned his membership.
A "Stewards' Hall" was authorized, the cost of the building of which was not to exceed $4,000.
The chairman of the Board was authorized to advertise that the Board would proceed to elect at the next meeting (in October, 1831) a President, Professors, and Masters.
The salary of the President to be elected was fixed at $1,000 for the first year; salaries of the Professors for the first year, $800.
The fourth meeting of the Board was held October 13, 1831, Rev. John
Early in the chair.
At this meeting Rev. H. G. Leigh, Agent, reported subscriptions amounting to $9,873, and Rev. William Hammett, $13,047, in all $22,920.
The South Carolina Conference was formally invited to unite and co-operate with the Board in the support of Randolph-Macon College, with the proviso that should the Conference agree so to do, the Board would elect six members Trustees from the bounds of that Conference.