Museum Matters: About Fanning's 'Bloody Sabbath'

Peggy Woodlief

RANDLEMAN — St. Paul’s July meeting is on the 19th at 2 p.m.; the program will begin at 2:15. The speaker will be Ryan Beeson, and his topic will be “Fanning’s Bloody Sabbath.”

Beeson is a native of Randolph County, growing up on a dairy farm in Sophia. He still calls Sophia home.

This program will be particularly interesting because it is specifically about Randolph County during the Revolutionary War.

The PowerPoint presentation will include maps and pictures and Beeson’s personal interpretation of the route of Fanning’s Bloody Sabbath based on extensive research.

Beeson describes his presentation: “We will look at the early life of David Fanning 

(1755-1826) and how it shaped his character. I will discuss the politics and religious landscape of Randolph County, established in 1779 in the midst of the Revolution.

“Having this backdrop, we will follow the events of Fanning’s Bloody Sabbath as he swept through the countryside into the heart of the Whig (or Patriot) portions of the county, leaving death and destruction in his wake.”

A time for questions and discussion will follow.

In case you haven’t yet been to the St. Paul Museum, you will find it at the corner of High Point and Stout Streets in Randleman.  And yes, the Museum is air-conditioned.