Total expenses for the Huntersville Circuit in 1850

 

Total Circuit Expenses for 1850: A Complex Picture

Determining the total expenses for the Huntersville Circuit in 1850 is challenging because the sources provide fragmented and sometimes ambiguous financial information.

Here's what we can piece together from the available sources:

Direct Expense Records:

• Page 31 (1850): This page details a "total" of $391.00 for various expenses, including:
  • Jameson's quarterage: $200.00
  • "Table expense": $125.00
  • Vetch's travel expenses: $16.00
  • Presiding Elder's claim: $50.00
• Page 32 (1850): Records $10.00 disbursed for "this amt. D. E. V." and $14.40 for "This de p. E. G. L." The meaning of these abbreviations is unclear.
• Page 35 (1850): Lists disbursements of $20.07 to E. R. Vetch and $10.00 to E. G. Jamison.
• Page 36 (1850): Shows $30.00 disbursed to E. R. Vetch and $49.20 to E. G. Jamison.

Indirect Expense Indicators:

• Parsonage Construction: The sources extensively document the construction and furnishing of the Little Levels Parsonage. While the final cost is not explicitly stated, it's clear that significant expenses were incurred throughout 1850.
• Travel Expenses: Frequent mentions of "travel expenses" for preachers and presiding elders suggest this was a recurring cost.
• Table Expenses and Fuel: This standard question at each quarterly meeting signifies the regular cost of meals and heating for attendees.

Challenges in Calculating Total Expenses:

• Missing Information: The sources do not provide comprehensive expense reports for each quarter. Some entries are unclear, and there might be undocumented expenses.
• Overlapping Entries: It's unclear if some expense entries across different pages are duplicates or represent separate costs. For example, the payments to Vetch and Jamison appear on multiple pages.
• Parsonage Costs: While the parsonage construction involved significant expenses, the exact breakdown and total cost remain elusive.

Conclusion:

Due to the fragmented nature of the financial records, determining the precise total expenses of the circuit in 1850 is impossible with the available sources. However, the documented expenses and indirect cost indicators suggest that the circuit incurred significant expenses throughout the year, likely exceeding several hundred dollars.