Lower Fishing Creek. - This church located m Halifax county and derived its name from its close proximity to Lower Fishing Creek, which empties into Tar river. It is 126 miles N. W. from New Berne and ___ miles S. S. W. from Philadelphia. This church has sent out three branches: the first is on Fishing Creek where a house of worship was erected in 1757 (20x40) on one acre of land donated by James Wyatt, Sr.; another on Swift Creek, eight miles off, and the third on Rocky Swamp, twelve miles off, where a comfortable house of worship has been erected. They pay the pastor no salary, owing to his refusal to accept pay for his services. The members offered to pay a salary, but it was refused; and from their number and ability they would have easily paid L100. Ruling elders are admitted, bat the lading on of hands is forbidden. There are about 350 families living in the neighborhood, from which about 75 have been baptized, and are in communion, which is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, August, November and February, and at Rocky Swamp the first Sunday in these months. The present minister is Rev. Chas, Daniel, who is assisted by Rev. William Powell.The origin of this church was in the following manner: From the beginning they had been ministered to by Mr. Parker for about eight years on the Armenian plan, but disaffection got into their ranks and many were not satisfied; accordingly on the 13th October, 1757, the following persons severed their connection with Mr. Parker's society, and, by the help of. Rev. Thomas Pope, were formed into a church of the Calvinistic faith: James Wyatt Sr., Nathaniel Powell, Mary Cullender, Francis Spivey, Sarah Spivey and James Wyatt, Jr. Nothing very remarkable has happened in the history of this small church except the remarkable growth in numbers and faith, from which they were soon able to plant a branch near the Roanoke river. The first pastor to minister unto them after the reformation was Rev. Charles Daniel, who was born January, 1731, near Richmond, Va. At the early age of eighteen Mr. Daniel embraced the principles of the Baptists and was baptized into the church by Rev. Josiah Hart at Fishing Creek. On the 16th August, 1753, he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by Rev. Josiah Hart and Henry Ledbetter. In 1755 his opinions on the doctrines of grace underwent a change from the reading of Whitfield's sermons. On the 15th November, 1756, he was called to the pastorate of this church. He was reputed a wise and knowing man, and was often consulted not only on spiritual but temporal affairs. He ceased to exercise his gifts as a minister from the time he first suspected the orthodoxy of his first principles. He persistently refused all invitations to preach, until he had thoroughly examined the question for himself and was settled m the doctrines of faith and had the assurance that he himself was is a state of grace. He married a Miss Amy Clark.
The River Falls. -This church was located in Edgecombe county, 110 miles N. W from New Berne, and ___ miles from Philadelphia. The house of worship was situated near Tar River, hence its name, Two branches have been organized by this church one very near the Falls, with a house 30x20, erected in 1764 on. a tract of land donated by William Horne, the other about, fifteen miles off near the month of Swift, Creek. There are about 100 families in the neighborhood, out of which 64 are in full fellowship. Communion is administered on the third Sunday in January, April, July and October, The pastor receives no salary, but presents, helps, etc., amounting to about L20, are given each year.
Ruling elders are admitted, but the laying on of hands is discountenanced. They had their beginning by a kind of transformation from General to Particular Baptists through the instrumentality and teaching of Rev. John Moore and wife, Peter Herington and wife, Robert Surgenor and wife and John Baker. On the 3d December, 1757, these seven were organized into a church by Rev. Charles Daniel. The most remarkable events are: These members had for about twelve years been connected with the Arminian Society, but through the efforts of Rev. [Mr. ? - ink stain] Moore and William Wallis, they were converted to the Baptist faith, Their present pastor is Rev. John Moore, who was born in Nansemond county, Va., August 13, 1717, He was bred a churchman, but having embraced the Baptist faith was baptized in 1746 by Rev. Wm. Surgenor, and ordained to the ministry, October 30, 1748, by Revs. Wm. Surgenor and Josiah Hart. Rev. John Tanner assists him in his pastoral duties. He was known as remarkably sober from his youth. After reading the third sermon of Rev. Samuel Smith, called the "Great Assizes," he was convinced of his sinful nature. After groping in darkness for fifteen years, he never received rest to his soul until he embraced the doctrine of grace. By his marriage with Miss Sarah Meredith, he reared seven children, four sons and three daughters.
J. C. B.
========== [From Biblical Recorder, October 30, 1889, p. 1. On-line edition. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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