Thomas Worthington embraced Methodism very early, around 1770, through his association with Richard Owings, who was the first American-born Methodist preacher. In 1786 Richard’s sister, Marcella, became Thomas Worthington’s second wife. In 1827, Six years after Thomas’ death, Marcella persuaded her son Rezin to donate an acre of land and an initial fund for the establishment of a Chapel of the faith.
The Land Grants show Worthington Purchases, dated 1736, extending along the current Davis Avenue area to the current Old Court Road, adjoining the chief quarrying area. Thomas Worthington, father of Noah and Rezin, would have arrived sometime before his marriage to Elizabeth Hammond in 1761, which took place in Baltimore County. Rezin is said by Scharf to have been born on his farm, so Thomas and family by 1794 had moved from the original settlement house (remains located just North of Old Court Road) to the main family land described in this report.
