Voyage down the river, -- attacked by the Indian, -- settlement on Cole's Creek, -- church formed, -- a Spaniard converted, -- persecution and flight, -- perilous journey to South Carolina, -- return and success in the Ministry, -- other churches formed, -- Elder Ezra Courtney.

Early in the spring of 1780, three boats were seen passing down the Holston river, (a branch of the Tennessee,) near a place then known as Long Island, and in the north-eastern corner of East Tennessee. The forward boat contained a Baptist minister by the name of Richard Curtis, his wife, and his four sons; -- Benjamin, Richard, William, and Jonathan. The three first named had families with them. In the same boat were John Courtney, a son-in-law of Elder Curtis, with his family, and John Jones and his wife. The three eldest sons of Richard Curtis, with Courtney and Jones, were members of the Baptist Church. In the second boat were Daniel Ogden, William Ogden, -- Perkins, with their wives, all of whom were Baptists. History has not recorded the names of the families in the third boat, but some of the passengers having the small pox, it kept behind the others, though not so far as to part company.

This colony of emigrants were from South Carolina, and had embarked on the perilous enterprise of passing down the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, amidst hostile tribes of Indians, to the country of the Natchez, then under the government of Spain.

Elder Curtis was ordained while in South Carolina, by Elders Benjamin Mosley and Matthew McCullars. Mosley's name appears on the minutes of, the Charleston Association in those early times, hence, I infer these emigrants were from that part of the state.

At the period referred to, the Cherokees, and other Indian tribes along the Tennessee river were hostile, and frequently attacked boats as they passed down. Our company of emigrants met with no difficulty for several days, as they passed down the current of the Holston, till they came to a passage through a ridge of mountainous country, after they had passed the mouth of Clinch river. Here were shoals, rapids, and a short bend near the north-western corner of Georgia. The Indians, who had watched the boats for some miles, laid an ambuscade at one of the shoals in a narrow part of the river and attacked the forward boat, in which were Elder Curtis arid his family. The wife of William Curtis held a thick poplar stool before her husband while he plied the oar; another female seized the steering oar that her husband might use the rifle, and with dauntless heroism guided the vessel until disabled by a severe wound. Jonathan Curtis was slightly wounded in the wrist. While the Curtis family thus defended themselves, the second boat. with the Ogden family, passed down the narrows unharmed. The third boat, being some distance in the rear, drifted near the shore and was instantly boarded by the savages, while their friends who escaped were unable to relieve them. All were massacred, except one woman, who was taken captive. She remained with the Indians three years, when by treaty she was restored to her friends. She stated that the Indians took the small pox from the articles they stole from the boat, and that many died.

The two boats met no further difficulty, otherwise than (the one) incident to a long and perilous voyage down the Tennessee to the Ohio, and thence into the Mississippi, and down the turbid current of that river to Cole's Creek, about sixteen miles above Natchez. Here they formed a settlement, established the worship of God, organized a church and chose Elder Curtis their pastor. He was aided by his son William, a man gifted in prayer and exhortation. This was the first church of Jesus Christ ever organized in all the wide regions of the south-west, below the Cumberland Settlement, in middle Tennessee. The labors of Elder Curtis were attended with the divine blessing, sinners were converted and baptised, arid amongst others, a man by name of Stephen Alvoy,a Spaniard and a Catholic, who became a zealous servant of Jesus Christ and a pious Baptist.

Amongst the emigrants into this remote region was a Mr. Harrigal, from Georgia, who united with the church and societies attempted to exhort. But he was deficient in the wisdom of the serpent and harmlessness of the dove. With more zeal than prudence, he denounced the despotism and superstition of the Romish hierarchy, and told his brethren they "had not resisted unto blood." The expression was reported to the priest at Natchez, and arrangements were promptly make [made] by the existing authority to send Curtis and Alvoy to the mines of Mexico. Providence directed a friend to forewarn them of their danger, and they lay concealed in a cane-brake until their friends could provide horses, clothing and provisions to facilitate their escape. Their food was corn-meal, roasted and wet into paste with bear's oil. Thus fitted out, they made their way for several hundred miles through the wilderness, to South Carolina, where they arrived safely in the autumn of 1795. On this route through the Indian country, they were exposed to the attack of hostile savages, and had frequently to cross the smaller streams by swimming, and the larger ones on rafts of logs.

Understanding that the Natchez country was likely to come under the government of the United States, Curtis and Alvoy again entered on the line of march through the wilderness, trusting in God, and resolutely determined to preach the Gospel where sin and superstition reigned. In Tennessee they were hospitably entertained by a Mr. Johnson, whose son was subsequently Governor of Louisiana.

In a few months the government was changed, and the flag of the American Union waved its stripes and stars over Natchez, -- Romish despotism expired, and civil, and religious liberty, the birth-right of man, was officially recognized. Elder Curtis and his companion Alvoy, returned to their brethren that had been left as sheep without a shepherd.

Emigration poured its waves into this new and interesting country. The labors of Elder Curtis were arduous, self-denying and successful, and seals were given to his ministry. A church was constituted in Second Creek, about twenty miles below Natchez. In 1802 or '3, Daniel Ogden and his brother William, removed from Cole's Creek, and aided in forming another church about four miles west of Woodville, which was called Bethel. Thus was the gospel of Jesus Christ, in its primitive order, first introduced into that portion of our common country, which is now included in the State of Mississippi.

The facts here given were in part obtained from the venerable Elder Ezra Courtney, who is still living, at a very advanced age in the parish of East Feliciana, La.

Rock Spring, Ill. August 20th

J. M. Peck.
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[From The Baptist Memorial and Monthly Record, October, 1846, pp. 298-300. - Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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