Portland in Sumner County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Bishop William McKendree
1757-1835
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 11, 2020
1. Bishop William McKendree Marker
Obverse side
One and eight-tenths miles west of here was the home of Bishop William McKendree, who was born in King William County, Virginia. During the American Revolution. he served as Adjutant in the commissary department supplying the armies of Generals George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau. Present at Yorktown in 1781. McKendree witnessed Cornwallis' surrender. Nine years later, he was ordained a deacon and subsequently "set apart to the office of an Elder” by Bishop Francis Asbury.
Reverse
At Baltimore, Maryland, McKendree was elected the first American born bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1808. Two years later. he moved here with his father and other family members. Near here, Bishops McKendree and Asbury presided over the formation of the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1812. Before reinterment at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Bishop McKendree's body was buried locally in the McKendree family cemetery.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3B 77.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1757.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fountain Head (approx. 0.8 miles away); Invasion of Kentucky (approx. 1.4 miles away); Portland - Strawberry Capital of Middle Tennessee (approx. 1.4 miles away); Richland (approx. 1.4 miles away); In Honor and Remembrance (approx. 1˝ miles away); Old Fountain Head Meeting House (approx. 1˝ miles away); "Freedom: Bought with their lives" (approx. 1˝ miles away); In Memory of Our Brave Men and Women (approx. 1˝ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.
Also see . . . Bishop William McKendree - Apostle to the frontier. Biography in the Portland Sun newspaper. (Submitted on April 12, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 11, 2020
2. Bishop William McKendree Marker
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 11, 2020
3. Bishop William McKendree Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 246 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 12, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
