[The footnotes are changed to endnotes and the numbers are changed to consecutive numbers.]
North Carolina Baptist History
Section II
By David BenedictKehukee Association - Portsmouth - Neuse - Cape Fear - Goshen - Chowan - Tar River - Raleigh - Beulah, and others.
KEHUKEE ASSOCIATION.
As this old body, which bears date from 1765 for about half a century, held an important rank in this and the surrounding States, and spread its branches in most of the low countries, and from it went out directly or indirectly most of the associations now in existence in this region, its history requires some extra attention.
This body arose out of the churches which had been reformed to an orthodox standard, by the labors of Messrs. Gano, Miller, Vanhorn, &c., as has already been related. It was organized in 1765, at Kehukee Creek, in Halifax county, on the northern side of the State. Soon after its formation, it opened a correspondence with the Charleston Association in S. C., with which some of the churches had united after their renovation. Jonathan Thomas, John Thomas, John Moore, John Burgess, William Burgess, Charles Daniel, William Walker, John Meglamre, James Abbington, Thomas Pope, and Henry Abbott, were the principal, if not all the ministers belonging to this Association, at the time of its constitution.
Rev. Isaac Backus, the baptist historian, was present in the session of this body, held at the Isle of Wight, in Virginia, in 1789.
The churches of which this Association was at first composed, according to Burket and Read, who wrote its history in 1803, were, besides the one from which it was named, those called Tosnoit, Falls of Tar River, Fishing Creek, Reedy Creek, Sandy Run, and Camden.(9) For many years this was a very efficient and prosperous community; a considerable number of its ministers were among the most able and active in the State, and its bounds were so greatly enlarged that in twenty-five years it had increased to sixty-one churches, and upwards of five thousand members. By 1790, by a mutual agreement, nineteen churches were dismissed to form the Portsmouth Association, in Virginia, and in four years after, the Neuse Association went off from this prolific community. It was now reduced to 26 churches. But soon after, so remarkable was the spirit of revival among them, that in the course of two years, fifteen hundred converts were baptized within its bounds.
_________________ Union of the Regular and Separate Baptists in N. C.
We must bear in mind that the Kehukee Association does not trace its pedigree from the New England New Lights, but from a company of General Baptists, who came hither from the mother country, via the colony of Virginia, which had been moulded to the orthodox standard, by the men and means which we have already described: most of whom, not early, but in process of time, adopted the strong views of hyper-Calvinism. About the time this Association was formed, the Separate party had become numerous, and were rapidly increasing in the upper regions of the colony; the ministers of both companies in their evangelical exertions were often brought in close contact, and had frequent interviews with each other; and although they differed in some small matters, yet they united their zealous labors in their evangelizing efforts, and a growing fellowship for each other produced an increasing desire to be more closely united.
The Kehukee body made the first advances towards the union, and in 1772, sent two of their elders, viz., Meglamre and Thomas, as deputies to the Separate, or Sandy Creek Association, for the purpose of making overtures to effect it. This led to a friendly discussion of the points of difference between them, and, after considerable delay, the union of the two parties was effected.
The principal, difficulty in the way of the proposed union arose from the fact, which was not denied, that in some of the Kehukee churches members were found, who had been baptized before their conversion, by the careless Arminian preachers, under whose pastorship they had formerly been. This circumstance had been for a long time a source of trouble and embarrassment to the ministers at home, and the discussions which now arose on the subject threw the body into commotion, and finally ended in its division. The arguments on both sides, which I shall denominate Reformers and anti-Reformers, were as follows: --
Reformers. Adult persons have no better claim to baptism before their conversion, than infants have.
Anti-Reformers. We admit the correctness of your doctrine, but say, in reply, this is an evil which we found in the churches when the Association was formed; all of us have submitted to it a number of years - the reformation you propose will unavoidably produce confusion and division; but if the thing is let alone, as the members complained of are advanced in years, it will soon vanish away.
But the Reformers persevered and remodeled their body to the true baptist standard, arid after this, the union with the Separates was easily effected.
The latest Minutes I have of this ancient body are those of 1842; then it had forty churches, and upwards of fourteen hundred members.
The KEHUKEE CHURCH, 1755, was then the largest in this Association; it reported 125: all the others are under 100.
The churches called Fishing Creek, 1755; Falls of Tar River, 1757; Flat Swamp, 1776 ; Cross Road, 1786; are the oldest in old Kehukee.
The churches are in the counties of Halifax, Edgecombe, Martin, Washington, Pitt, Beaufort, Carteret, Hyde, Tyrrell, Currituck Camden, &c. Halifax, near the Virginia line, was in old times a central position for this body; but at present it seems to be on its western edge, and the churches are spread over most of the eastern and north-eastern part of the State. This ancient body has for many years been decidedly hostile to all benevolent institutions, and is probably the strongest Association in the State of this character; its churches, instead of occupying a particular location, as is commonly the case, are intermixed with those whose principles on missionary and all other societies they wage a fierce warfare against, through a wide range of territory.
The Portsmouth Association, which is now one of the strong Virginia communities, was the first company which colonized from the mother body; it took off all the churches on the Virginia side of the line, and was set off in 1790, as has already been related.
________________________ NEUSE ASSOCIATION.
This was formed by a second colony from this fruitful nursery, in 1794; it contained at the time of its organization twenty-three churches, which were situated on both sides of the river whose name it assumed, and extended from Tar River nearly to the southern boundary of the State. It embraced, in its early movements, a number of the oldest churches in the country.
Rev. John Thomas, and his two sons, Jonathan and John, were among its most distinguished ministers at its commencement.
This community shared largely in the great revival which spread through all the country, which has already been referred to in the early part of this century. In my table for 1812, it contained a thousand members. As I have none of its late Minutes, of course I must omit my usual account of its churches.
Allen's Register for 1836, makes its membership between 6 and 7 hundred. Its churches were in the counties of Pitt, Lenoir, Jones, Craven, and Carteret.
The Baptist Almanac represents it about half that size in 1842; it symbolizes, I believe, with what are called the old school party, if it still maintains its visibility.
_____________________ CAPE FEAR ASSOCIATION
Was formed from the Neuse, in 1805; it is situated in the southern corner of the State, in the counties of Cumberland, Robeson, Columbus, Bladen, and Brunswick. Some of them are in the adjoining parts of S. C., in the districts of Marion and Horry.This Association has adopted the commendable practice of affixing the dates of their churches to their Minutes, by which I learn that most of them have been constituted within the present century, and generally they are of recent origin.
The FAYETTEVILLE CHURCH, 1837, is the largest in this body.(10)
________________________ GOSHEN ASSOCIATION
Was formed by a colony from Cape Fear, in 1827. This fact I obtained from Allen's Register, and it constitutes my whole stock of information relative to this community. I have no Minutes since 1842, in which there is no distinction between the ministers and the other delegates. It then had 24 churches; most of them, however, were small.(11)The WILMINGTON Church was then the largest in this body.(12) This is a town of much importance in the neighborhood in which the churches are probably situated. Sampson is the only county named on the Minutes above referred to.
____________________________ CHOWAN ASSOCIATION.
This was another branch of the old Kehukee, and was organized with 18 churches, containing, upwards of eighteen hundred members in 1806.
The Roanoke River became the dividing line, and all the churches of which this body was at first composed in the beginning lay to the east of it. This is the largest Association in this State, having about double the membership of any other, although the churches are not as numerous as the Cape Fear, but they are large, compared with associational fraternities in this government; but unfortunately no historical sketches of any of them have come to hand, except same additional items relative to the church founded by Paul Palmer in 1727, now called Shiloh, of which some account has already been given. This old society now belongs to this Association; a few of the peculiarities of its rules of discipline in early times, are thus described by a correspondent who lives near it: -
"I have procured the Records, which go back to 1758, when John Burgess was pastor, and the business of the church was managed by 'elders or overseers,' while the private secular matters of the members, was under the direction of the ministers, and six members who were constituted the 'Court of Union.' The churches had several arms or branches in the adjoining counties, to which the ministers, attended by the overseers, and the clerk, regularly repaired. In a few years the 'Court of Union' was dispensed with -- but the churches being dissatisfied with its extinction, nine members were chosen, who were to be considered permanent elders, if found faithful, while the former overseers or elders were elected annually. Lemuel Burket, who afterwards became a minister of much distinction in this region, was once a member of this ancient society.(13)
Such was the complex machinery in ecclesiastical affairs at that early period with this well-meaning people.
The Minutes of this Association are well got up in general, but the dates of the churches are not given, nor is there any reference to the counties in which they are situated. This deficiency is supplied by a tabular view of this large community, which was compiled by Dr. Wheeler, its clerk, for my use. From this I learn, when each body arose, and who are their present. pastors. A few are of great age, but a majority of them have been formed within the present century.
The COLERAINE CHURCH, Jno. Newell pastor, appears to be the largest in this body;(14) it bears date from 1789.
___________________ TAR RIVER ASSOCIATION.
This body bears date from 1831; it is on the ground formerly occupied by old Kehukee, and probably originated, wholly or in part, from that body, but I have no historical information of its commencement or progress. Its name indicates the important stream on which it is situated. The Minutes do not distinguish the ministers from the other delegates, neither do they specify the counties where their churches are found, but I have ascertained that a part of them, at least, are in those of Warren, Franklin, Nash, and Edgecombe.
The POPLAR SPRING CHURCH is the largest in this body.(15)
_________________ CONTENTNEA ASSOCIATION.
I learn from Allen's Register, of 1833, that this community was organized in 1830, by the union of two small bodies by the name of Toisnot, and Nawhunty; in 1844, it contained 17 churches in the counties of Edgecombe, Green, Pitt, Wyne, and Lenoir; none of the churches amounted to 100.
__________________ BAPTIST ADVISORY COUNCIL.
This singular name is given to a very small Association which was formed about 1840. Its Minutes of 1844, exhibit four churches, containing in the aggregate 155 members. It is situated in the counties of Green, Lenoir, and Duplin.
_________________ WHITE OAK ASSOCIATION.
This is a small body in the lower part of the State, adjoining S. C., and was probably formed about 1840. I have no account of its origin, or any items of its history, except, what is contained in a copy of its Minutes for 1842, in which I find the following article in their constitution:
"We, as an Association, declare a non-fellowship with Masonry, Missionary, Bible, and Tract societies, Campbellism, State Conventions,, Theological Seminaries, and all other new instituions that have the appearance of a speculation on the gospel; we know of but two societies, viz.: Civil and Religious."
The churches are all small, and contain in the aggregate about 400 members ; they are situated in the counties of Jones, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslaw, and Carteret.
__________________ RALEIGH ASSOCIATION.
This is a community of forty years standing, having been organized in 1805, with but four churches which were dismissed from the Neuse.
The clerk of this ancient body has sent me an account of its annual doings, from near the time of its commencement, which shows, for each year, the preachers of the first sermon - the names of the moderators and clerks - the No. of churches - the total, do. baptized - do. of members. In 1831 they received by baptism 466, which appears to be the largest number in one year.The moderators for different periods of time, for about forty years, have been M. Thomas, J. Gulley, B. Fuller, Geo. Nance, J. Purify, J. Southerland, S. Senter, and J. Dennis. The clerks have been R. T. Daniel, S. Stephenson, J. Gulley, Thos. Crocker, J. Britt, Geo. W. Purify, Wm. Roles, and S. P. Norris. Croker has performed the clerkship more years than any other member; Norris has filled that office for a number of years past.
The seat of this community is in the Capital of the State, whose name it bears; Wake Forest College, a baptist institution, is situated but 16 miles from it, and has been got up by this and other Associations, which are friendly to the cause of education.
The HEPZIBAH CHURCH appears to be the largest in this body; it is, I believe, near to the seat of government.(16)
The Raleigh Association stands the third in the State for numerical strength; Chowan and Cape Fear are the only ones before it._____________________ LITTLE RIVER ASSOCIATION
Was formed in 1826, by a seceding colony from the one last named, because, in the estimation of the seceders, they were doing too much for missions and other objects of the kind. It of course is on the same ground. All the information I have respecting it, is contained in Mr. Norris' details of the Raleigh Association.(17)___________________ FLAT RIVER ASSOCIATION.
This is one of the old communities of the north State; it was formed in 1794, by a division of the Roanoke, which is now confined to the Virginia side of the line. The division was made by mutual agreement, as such movements generally were at that time.
With materials for the history of this ancient fraternity, I am very amply supplied, by the efforts of Thomas B. Barnet, who has been its clerk for a number of years past, and from historical sketches of the churches which are found on the Minutes for 1845. This body is on the ground occupied by the old Separate baptists, about a century ago.
GRASSY CREEK CHURCH, 1765, is the oldest in this body; it arose out of the labors of James Read and Daniel Marshall. Mr. Read was its first pastor. After him, they have lead in succession, for their spiritual guides, S. Harris, H. Leister, T. Vase, R. Picket, E. Battle, H. T. Daniel, W. B. Warrell, Thomas D. Mason, and Samuel Duty.
Rev. James Ding, the present incumbent, has occupied this station about 15 years.
This church has been the seat of operations for the denomination in this region; it was here, that the widespread Separate Association agreed on its division in 1770.
In 1829, a missionary society was formed in this church, and about $100 was collected for the mission cause. The State Convention for N. C., held its annual session with this body in 1839.
The BUFFALO CHURCH, 1778, was also founded by Read, Harris, and their evangelical associates.
"This is a church of happy standing, and has been blessed with several revivals; many years ago, there were 90 added as the fruits of one of these refreshing seasons; in 1813, Rev. Jas. King baptized 93 into the fellowship of this church."(18)
The BETHEL CHURCH, 1823, stands on the Minutes for 1845, as the largest in this body.(19)
The churches in this Association are situated in the counties of Person, Orange, Wake, and Granville; most of them are in the one last named. The N. C. University is in the bounds of this Association, at Chapel Hill, Orange Co.; but this, I believe, is wholly under the control of the Presbyterians.
___________________ COUNTRY LINE ASSOCIATION
Was formed by a division of the Flat River in 1806; it was divided by a line running north and south, and the churches to the west of the line united in the new organization. This community is also on old ground for baptists, and some of its churches, as it stood at the time of its commencement, were those which were gathered by S. Harris, J. Read, Thomas Mullins, Dutton Lane, &c.The ENO CHURCH, James Terrell pastor, is the largest in this body.(20)
________________ BEULAH ASSOCIATION
Was formed in 1834, with only three churches, which, in the aggregate, contained but 157 members; it has since increased to thirteen churches, and upwards of 1000 communicants. This young community is in the same counties of the Country Line fraternity, from which they were driven out by the passage of a set of stereotyped resolutions by the old body, which proscribed all the societies of the day, religious newspapers, &c., as being incompatible with what they called old school principles. This growing interest supports an itinerant minister, who acts as a colporteur and missionary among the feeble churches, and in the destitute parts of their own bounds.Rev. Stephen Pleasant, with whom the trouble began, as to the cause of benevolence, and who was the principal means of getting up this institution, has been its moderator from the time of its organization.
The CANE CREEK CHURCH is the largest in this body.(21)
In the bounds of the Beulah Association, in the county of Caswell, are two High Schools, which are well spoken of; one is under the tuition of
Rev. J. J. James, pastor of one of the churches. The other, which is for females, is at Milton; both, I believe, are baptist institutions.(22)We have now gone over about half the State, so far as the baptist population is concerned, and shall probably find that the largest portion of the communicants are contained in the Associations whose affairs have come under review. I shall now attempt my usual historical sketches of the remaining associational communities, which lie scattered over the long range of territory which stretches beyond the mountains, to Tennessee on the west, and South Carolina and Georgia on the south.
___________________ 9. Burket and Read's History of Kehukee Association, p. 27.
Notes10. In 1845, it reported 320; Bear Swamp, S. Dusenberry, 184; Cape Fear,____, 181; Beaver Dam, 179; Ashpole, W. Ayres, 160; Spring Branch, 156; Antioch, 124; Cross Roads, ______, 119; Beaver Dam (Columbus Co.), 118; Iron Hill Cross Roads, 114; Mount Pisgah, 108; Porter's swamp, 106.
11. On these Minutes, I find the following item: - a question came up respecting ordaining elder Lewis F. Williams who had come over to them from the Free Will Baptists; this they decided to be unnecessary, he had been regularly ordained by the society to which he formerly belonged.
12. In 1842, it reported 177 ; Bear Marsh, 118; Moore's Creek, 116; Well's Chapel, 98.
13. Communication of Dr. Wheeler, of Murfreesboro', 1845. Dr. W. thinks Mr. Edwards' statement is incorrect, in saying that this old church was called Perquemans, on Chowan river, The seat of if is now on the river Pasquotank, in the county of Camden. This is a question in geography which I cannot settle; the space between these rivers is indeed considerable, but the original planters of the Baptist cause in this region occupied an extensive field - the branches of their growing communities were established at different points - sometimes one of them, and again another would give name to the whole fraternity. This is the only way I can account for this apparent discrepancy. I have met with a number of such cases in my historical investigations.
14. In 1846, it reported 481; Murfreesboro', G. M. Thompson, 343; Ballards, Wm. White, 339; Ahoskie, 322; Cashie, 292; Ross M. H. P. Noggard, 281; Smith Chh., 280; Sandy Cross, Q. H. Trotman, 279; Shiloh (1757), F. Forbs, 258; Potecasi, 252; Connaritsa, 215; Bethel, 211; Sawyer's Creek, 209; Elizabeth, J. Nash, 190; Cool Spring, H. Speight, 180; Cape Hearts, 183; Edenton, T. Waff 184; Sandy Run A. M. Craig, 176; Middle, 148; Piney Grove, Ed. Howell, 122; Ramoth Gilead, M. W. Jones, 115; Bethlehem, 115.
15. In 1845, it reported 354; Peachtree, 304; Sandy Creek 203; Browne's, 149; Reedy Creek, 146; Tanner's same; Perry's Chapel, 129; Flat Rock, 128; Haywood's, 120
16. In 1845, it reported 353; Raleigh, J. J. Fink, 288; Wake Cross Roads, 237; Cedar Fork, 199; Hollyspring, 162; Smithfield 135 ; Shady Grove, 130; Wake Union, 128; Johnston Liberty, same; Rolesville, 101; Neals Neck, 100.
This Association does not place the names of the pastors against the churches; of course, I cannot add them, as I do in other cases.17. In the records of this body for 1827, are the two following queries:
1. "Is it orderly for any of the churches of this Association, to invite any of the preachers who call themselves The Reformed Conference, (its name at first), to preach in any of their churches, or sit with them in conference?
"Answer. We, as an Association, do not believe it orderly for any of the churches, or individual members of the church, to invite, them or prevent them.2. "What course shall we pursue in future towards those churches, who have rent off from the Association?
"Answer. Endeavor to pursue a course of brotherly love, and christian affection." A third query was to the same effect, and was answered with similar mildness and forbearance.18. Minutes of the Association for 1845.
19. At that time, it reported 308; Grassy Creek, 260; Buffalo, 254; New-light, 189; Olive Branch, 170; Concord, 143, Island Creek, 142; Bethel, 133; Brassfield, 132; Tabb's Creek, 130; Mount Moriah, 118; Corinth, 102. The pastors are not put down against the churches as they were in former years; of course, I cannot insert there in my usual style.
20. I have no Minutes later than 1843; then, it reported 181; Upper South Hico, R. McKee, 135; Flat River, ______, 112; Lickfork, _____, 109; Arbor, John Stadler,106; all the others are under 100.
21. In 1843, it reported 237; Ephesus,_____, 137; all the others are under 100.
Rev. Elias Dodson was the domestic minister for 1844-5, and was 13 months in the field. His account of his travels, ministerial and colporteur service, is published in the Minutes, and exhibits a commendable activity in his peculiar vocation.22. My sketches of this community are taken partly from the Minutes, but mostly from communications from its clerk, Rev. G. W. Purify, of Chapel Hill, Orange county.
================== [From David Benedict, A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America, 1848; reprint, 1977, pp. 688-694. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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