Kehukey Baptist church. - This church is located in Halifax county, 120 miles northwise from New Berne and - miles southwest from Philadelphia, and derived its name from a creek that empties into the Roanoke river. The house of worship was erected in 1742 and is 40X20 feet, built on a site donated by the Rev. William Sojourner. The pastor is paid no salary, but is made up in presents, &c. The laying on of hands and ruling elders are admitted. There are about 150 families living in the neighborhood of the church, from which 115 have connected themselves with the church. On the first Sunday in February, May, August and November communion is administered. The present minister is Rev. William Burgess.This church had its origin in the following manner: Under the preaching of Rev. William Wallis several of the old General Baptists embraced the doctrines of grace, and on the 11th of December, 1755, Revs. Mr. Miller and Vanhorn incorporated the following persons into a distinct church: Rev. Thomas Pope and wife, Abraham Dew, Abner Andrews, Richard Bailey, John Rhodes, John Moore, Francis Spivey, Jane Bryant and Elizabeth Atkinson. The most remarkable events in the history of this church are:
l. This was the first church of Particular Baptists organized in this Province, and is the mother of Bartee and Nottaway, organized about 13th June, 1772.
2. This had been a General Baptist church since 1742, and had been ministered unto by three preachers before its conversion to Particular Baptists, viz: William Sojourner, Edward Brown and Thomas Pope. The first minister after the transformation was Rev. Thomas Pope, who was born near the Blackwater river in Virginia. He was bred a church of England man, but experiencing a change in his religions views he embraced the Baptist faith and was baptized by Mr. Sojourner. He ceased to preach while making his investigation of difference between General and Particular Baptists, but when the church was reorganized in its new faith, he was again called to take charge of the church, which he filled acceptably until his death on March 1, 1762. He married the widow Ford, who was Miss Alice Foreman, and unto them were born two children.
Mr. Charles Daniel supplied the church until a call was extended to Rev. John McGlamree, who was born in Maryland and raised a Presbyterian, was baptized by Rev. William Walker at Fishing Creek on the third Sunday in May, 1765, and was ordained on the second Sunday in February, 1767, by Revs. Daniel, Abbott and Moore, and took charge of this church in 1768, but resigned May 2, 1772. He married Miss Lettice Nelms, and unto them were born three children.
His successor was Rev. William Burgess Jr., who was born in Pasquotank county, 24th December, 1731. Was baptized by Rev. William Burgess, Sr., and ordained on second May, 1772, by Revs. Mr. Moore, Edwards, McGlamree and Thomas, at which time he took the care of this church. Mr. Burgess was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Scarborough and then Miss Penelope Bryant. By the two marriages, there were born unto him nine children.
Mr. [Morgan] Edwards recorded only one church in Virginia which he visited, namely, Holston, Staunton, Va., which began about 1762, and had organized three branches - one a few miles off, another near the head of Roanoke river, and another on Staunton river. The first minister was Rev. William Murphy, who was baptized at Deep Run by Shubal Stearns, and ordained in 1763 at Staunton. Mr. Murphy was twice married: the first time to a Miss Hodgis, and the second time to Miss Sarah Barton, by both of whom were born unto him five children.
This series of articles will be closed in one more article, which will give the organization of the first Association formed, Sandy Creek and Quehuky, with the name of the churches and delegates present at the organization.
J.C.B.======== [From the Biblical Recorder, November 6, 1889, On-line edition. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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