Murder of Rev John Henry Lance

 I put this on Facebook 9 years ago:

This is Rev John Henry Lance. The Reverend's parents are Samuel Riley Lance (1814-1895) and Rebecca Hunter (1812-1898).Rebecca is the daughter of John and Polly Edwards Hunter, our ancestor. Which of course means John Hunter was John Henry Lance's grandfather.

Samuel Riley Lance: A friend of his (Samuel R. Lance), whoes name has long since been forgotten, was to have a duel with a fellow from Union County, and as fate would have it he became sick, not being able to fill the appointed date. Dueling custom has it that if you are sick you have the right to name a replacement, so Samuel Lance, being noted as a fighting man, was chosen to fight in his stead. He came to Union County by request, to uphold the honor of a friend, fought the duel and won, leaving his adversary, against whom he had no malice, lying motionless up the ground.

He came to Union County in the Spring of 1839. He returned to Buncombe County and told his brothers and moved his family one year later.

- From BLOOD MOUNTAIN COVENANT, A SON'S REVENGE pp7-8, by Charles E. Hill

Back to Rev John Henry Lance. He grew up as his peers did, fighting, drinking, and gambling.

He got involved in the Methodist religion and became a minister. He preached about the evils of drinking and moonshine, which his old friends were offended.

One Sunday morning on his way to church by a creek he had to cross were his old peers hanging around. They got into a heated argument and fight. The bottom line one of his old friends took out a big knife and sliced his neck, which almost decapitated Reverend Henry.

Rev John Henry Lance's grave in Old Salem Cemetery. Incidentally John Hunter is buried here also in an unmarked grave. John donated the land for the cemetery.

There is a book named BLOOD MOUNTAIN COVENANT, A SON'S REVENGE by Charles E. Hill, which tells of the details and the "payback" of the Lance family.