Rev. William John Norfleet

THE Virginia Conference owes to the great Commonwealth of North Carolina a large score for the number of excellent ministers in our ranks who are natives of this State. The reader of these pages will note the contribution.

Among the accessions from North Carolina, the subject of this sketch may be counted. Whether in the social circle. or in the church, he has honored his sacred calling and added another name to the long roll of noble Carolinians. The picture on a foregoing page shows a face of native dignity and tried worth.

His parents were James and. Mary Norfleet. He was born in Edenton, N. C.. March 8th, 1815; His educational advantages were limited to a primary school, and an academy in his native town.

Before he was two years old, he was left an orphan, but was in the hands of Christian relatives, who trained him up in the church of his parents, who were among the first members of the Methodist church in Edenton.

His religious convictions date back to the summer of 1829, when under the ministry of the Rev James Dey, he became a penitent at the altar in that city ; but not being satisfied of his conversion he did not join the church until January. 1831.

On the 16th day of February, 1839, he was licensed as a local preacher, by the Quarterly Conference of Edenton station, and was employed by Rey. G. W. Nolley, Presiding. Elder, a part of that year as assistant preacher on the Princess Anne circuit. He commenced his work in August at a protracted meeting. conducted by the local preachers at Cuthrel's, near the Great Bridge. That meeting was a great blessing to him. He was encouraged. God attested his call and gave him many souls to his ministry.

He was received on trial in the Virginia Conference at its session in Farmville, February, 1810, and was assigned to Smithfield circuit. with Rev. Joshua Leigh as preacher in charge. This was a large circuit, embracing the counties of Isle of Wight and Surry, with some appointments in Southampton, Sussex, and Prince George. His next appointment was Farmville station in 1841. At the close of that year he was elected to deacons' orders and received into full connection. He was returned to Smithfield circuit. which had been reduced in size, and made a compact little circuit with eight appointments. During the next twenty years he filled the following appointments consecutively: Amelia, two years; Lunenburg, one year; Gloucester, two years; Gates, two years; Suffolk, two years: Elizabeth City, two years; Nottoway, one year; Murfreesboro, one year; Pasquotank, two years; Edenton, station, one year; and Edenton mission to colored people, four years.

On the Murfreesboro circuit, his health began to fail, and on Pasquotank circuit; his health was so enfeebled, 1 hat at the next Conference he asked a supernumerary relation: but at the solicitation of his Presiding Elder, he withdrew his request, and consented to take Edenton station. In all these circuits and stations God gave him success in winning souls, and in several of them there were gracious revivals, and very many souls converted to God.

At the Conference of 1862 he was placed on the Supernumerary list, which relation he sustains at this time.

Source: Sketches of the Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. by Rev. John J. Lafferty Richmond, Va., Christian Advocate Office 1880.

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