FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LEITCHFIELD, KENTUCKY

SEVERNS VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES

SOUTH FORK BAPTIST CHURCH MEETINGS/MINUTES

Websites of Interest

For more early church and settlement  history of the area, see also the History of the Baptists.

"South Fork Church was organized in 1782 by Rev. James Skaggs and Rev. Benjamin Lynn. The church was constituted under a large tree and seven people were approved for baptism. The baptising is thought to be the first in Kentucky. In 1804 the first log church building was completed and the church consisted of 36 members. Rev. Jonathan Paddock was pastor when the first building was put up. Not long after this the church was split over the issue of slavery. During the years 1804 to 1811 there is no record of a pastor and no church minutes. It is about this time that some of the members left to form the Little Mount Church. Not until the great revivals in about 1811 did the church begin to come back. In 1811 Shadrack Duncan was elected church clerk. He served until 1823. In 1828 a revival led by Rev. David Thurman swept this part of Kentucky and the membership of South Fork increased to 193. Some of the names of the members in the earliest 1800's were Thomas Whitman, John Brunk, Charles Harper, James Skaggs, Stephen Skaggs, Joseph Kirkpatrick and Shadrack Duncan.

"Names of other early church members included Walters, Bayne, Duncan and Brownfield. If anyone knows the names of the first 36 members. Please send them to me and I'll post them here. (Much of this article is from the Aug. 29, 1974 Larue County Herald News)."

(From:  http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8066/oldchurc.html)

Historian Louis A. Warren wrote: "A most disturbing and bitter controversy over the rights and wrongs of slavery was being waged in that part of Kentucky where the Lincolns lived. The record book of the South Fork Baptist Church, located within two miles of the Lincoln Sinking Spring home, shows that in 1808 fifteen members 'went off from the church on account of slavery.' At the time of Abraham Lincoln's birth this church had closed its doors because its members could not meet in peace. Among its congregation were friends of the Lincolns and relatives of Nancy Lincoln....Thomas and Nancy affiliated with the Little Mount Church, a Separate Baptist congregation located about three miles from the Knob Creek farm. Its members were antislavery in sentiment."  (Louis A. Warren, Lincoln's Youth, Indiana Years, p. 13).

(From:  http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=5&subjectID=2)

	Mather wrote an article on churches of the county, part of which is reproduced below.
Page 1	Page 2	Page 3	Page 4	Page 5

 

South Fork Baptist Church Minutes (select)

Please note: These are fragments of select pages transcribed from a microfilm. The pages were discolored and dark and the bottom half of many is illegible. I could not reproduce a complete list of members. Names or words marked with an * represent my best guess throughout. My notes are in italics.

1808

1st Inquired after fellowship

2nd Brother Whitman* declared himself emancipated (original spelling: amanspates) and requested the Church to know whether they would _____ him to attend them any longer or not. The Church took it up and labored sometime on it and agreed _____ till our next meeting.

July the third Saturday 1808 the Church met and after worship proceeded to business (original spelling: businesf).

1st John Brunk, Abraham Soverns*, Isaac Friend, George Friend, Joseph Todd, Mary Brunk, Dicey Lemons or Simmons*, Susannah Ellit, Mary Cisney, Kathy Kirkpatrick*, Nancy Marten, Sarah Burney, Caty Friend, Syortha* Todd, Nancy Phelps or Phillips* rent of from the Church upon the account of slavery - 15 withdrew (in another handwriting).

Church meeting the fourth Saturday in September 1810 and after prayers proceeded to business.

1st Brethren from Nolin Church being present _____ in as helps to act as a Church.

2nd Brother Duncan restored to fellowship by his acknowledgment of his fault.

(end page)

January the fourth Saturday 1821 the Church in order.

1st Abraham Brunk excluded from the fellowship of this Church for horse racing therefore he is no more of us...

February the fourth Sunday after preaching the Church opened a door for the reception of members. John Hodgen received by letter.

March the fourth Saturday the Church in order. Agreed to send for help* for the ordination of brother John Hodgens.

April the fourth Saturday the Church in order. Brother John Hodgens ordination fell through on the account of his unwillingness to submit to it.

(end page)

The Church at Southfork Nolin met the 2nd Saturday of May 1835 after worship proceeded to business

1st Called for the references the reference of brother Thomas W. Ellit taken up and disposed of in the following manner. Whereas* certain charges having been exhibited against brother Thomas W. Ellit for drinking too much and dancing continued from January and the Church having searched for the testimony and can find none and the brother denying the charges but still neglects to attend his church meetings at the request of his brethren* resolve that he _____.

3rd Thomas W. Ellit unduly charged in the above charges but think he ought to attend his meetings and sustain the feelings of his brothers therefore send William Ellit Jr. and _____ Styles to _____ him to attend the meeting of business. Enquired for the peace of the church all in peace. Settlement made by our treasurer and a balance of fifty cents left in his _____. (John Ellit, clerk)

(end page)

Note: Thomas had an unspecified falling out with William Ellit and Susan Ellit which was discussed by a committee in a later meeting. He neglected to attend the church meeting and "ought not to be considered any longer one of us."

... at Southfork Nolyn met the 2nd Saturday of October* 1836 after worship proceeded

1st selected Brother William M. Brown* _____

2nd Called for the reference the reference of sister _____ taken up and the sister made satisfactory acknowledgements is restored in full fellowship.

3rd Called for the peace of the Church all in peace

4th Granted Bro. Jacob Ellit and his wife Brother Richard Rout* and his wife Sister _____ (could be Margaret). For John Ellit and wife letters of dismission

5th opened a door for the reception members received none.

John Ellit clerk

(end page)

2nd Saturday in March 1841

The Church met and after prayer proceeded to business.

1st Opened a door for the reception of members Rec none

2nd Called for references - none

3rd Inquired for the peace of the Church - all in peace

4th Agreed to request the members of this Church who have not attended their church meetings for the last six months to come forward at our next meeting and give their reason for not attending - and upon inquiry it appears that brethren George Ellit Charles Ellit Fielding Ellit William Ellit and Abram Ellit and sisters Elizabeth O'Daniel*, Dierdens or Diamant* Farrant, Rachel Ellit and Asbarene* Ellit have not attended and brother Edmund Sitton and John Duncan are appointed to see the above named brethren...

(J. G. Woodson, clerk)

(end page)

2nd Saturday in June 1841

after worship proceeded to businesf -

1st Opened a door for the reception of members. Received by letter brother Robert W. Compton and Sister Sarah Compton.

2nd Called for references and the brethren and sisters who were requested at our March and April meeting last, to come forward and give their reasons for not attending their church meetings being taken up. Brethren Charles Ellit and Abram Ellit and sisters Rachel Ellit, Elizabeth O'Daniel, Asbarene* Ellit and Diadem* Farrant, Leander Howill* and Polly Huston* gave their reasons for not attending their church meetings, which was considered by the Church satisfactory. Brothers George and Fielding Ellit having failed to attend to the request of the Church their fellowship was tried and the Church say they are no longer of her _____. Brethren William Ellit and G. McDowell are allowed until our next meeting to come forward and give their reasons for not attending. _____ and brother Chares Duncan is appointed to see Brother Ellit and request him to attend.

3rd Called for the Peace of the Church (all in peace)

4th Agreed to call a Pastor to attend this Church for one year beginning at this meeting and the vote being taken brother Will Brown was chosen and he being present was called on to let the ... (JG Woodson, clerk)

(end page)

1845 Jacob Ellit and Mary his wife having obtained letters of dismission from this church many years ago and they having went back into the world and wounded the cause of Religion, but they both made satisfactory acknowledgments returned their letters and was restored to the full fellowship of the church again. Abram Ellit came forward and made satisfactory acknowledgments and was restored to the full fellowship of the Church again. Charles D. Ellit came forward and made satisfactory acknowledgments and was restored to the full fellowship of the Church again - Sister Elizabeth Pease dismissed by letter.

(John Duncan, clerk)

(end page)

1846 - Inquiries* made and brother Duncan informed the Church that brother Jacob Ellit wished to be dismissed from the fellowship. The Church it taken up and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Church that he was in the practice of getting drunk his fellowship called for the vote taken and he was unanimously* expelled from the Church.

(Note: I believe they granted him a letter of dismissal anyway so that he could join "any other Church of the same faith," but it is not at all clear if that is the case).

(John Duncan, clerk)

(end page)

(page 63) 2nd Saturday in May 1848

The Church met and after worship proceeded to business

1st Opened a door for the reception of members (Received none).

2nd Called for the references and the Deacons reported that the sum of seventeen dollars was all they could raise by subscription for the support of a pastor next year

3rd Inquired for the peace of the Church and brother John Duncan informed the Church that brother Abram Ellit and sister Susan Miller had been engaged in Dancing. The Church took it up and the Church agrees to send brother Edmund Sutton to request Sister Susan Miller to attend our next meeting of business and Brother William Ray* to request brother Abram Ellit to attend our next meeting of business. The Church agrees to send brother Ezra Holt* to request brother Stephen Beauchamp to attend our next meeting of business and let the Church know the reason why he does not attend his Church meetings... (John Duncan, clerk)

(end page)

In my notes I have written down that William Ellit accused himself in front of the Church for "being drunk at the election."  Wm Elliott - guilt of swearing and fighting Jul 1841 and Wm Elliott - admitted drinking too much Nov 1841.

TOP

SEVERNS VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH NOTES

[Note:  It is possible that William Ellit also attended this early church.]

From: http://www.geocities.com/baptist_documents/nowlin.3.first.churches.html

From "Haycraft's History of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and Its Surroundings," which was written by Samuel Haycraft and published in the Elizabethtown News in 1869, and published in book form in 1921, we gather the following facts concerning the Severn's Valley Baptist Church, which is now located in Elizabethtown.

"On the 17th (this should be the 18th) day of June, 1781, under the shadow of a green sugar tree, near Haynes Station, a Baptist Church was constituted with eighteen members, by Elder William Taylor and Joseph Barnett, preachers, with Elder John Gerrard, who was ordained first pastor. The church was called the Regular Baptist Church of Severn's Valley. The same church still exists in Elizabethtown and is known by the name of the United Baptist Church of Christ, called Severn's Valley, and is now the oldest Baptist church that maintains an existence in Kentucky. All of the members and the preacher emigrated from Virginia, and Elder Gerrard might have been emphatically styled 'the voice of one crying in the wilderness.'

"This man of God was only permitted to exercise the functions of his office for nine months." (Page 14). It is supposed that he was killed by the Indians, as he went out hunting one day and never returned, and as the wilderness was infested with hostile Indians at that time.

"Church going folks of the present day who make it a point to appear in their best attire at the public religious services might feel some curiosity to know how our ancestors appeared on such occasions, and I hope they will not blush at the description. I received my impression from Jacob Vanmeter, who was the younger Jacob Vanmeter in the original constitution of the church. He died a few years since at the advanced age of about ninety-five, having been a Baptist about eighty-four years.

"They then had no house of worship. In the summer time they worshipped in the open air, in the winter time they met in the round-log cabins with dirt floors, as there was no mills and plank to make a floor. A few who had aspired to be a little aristocratic split timber and made puncheon floors.

"The men dressed as Indians; leather leggins and moccasins adorned their feet and legs. Hats made of splinters roled in Buffalo wool and sewed together with deer sinews or buckskin whang; shirts of buckskin and hunting shirts of the same; some went the whole Indian costume and wore breech-clouts. The females wore a coarse cloth made of Buffalo; wool, underwear of dressed doe skin, sun bonnets, something after the fashion of men's hats and the never-failing moccasin for the feet in winter, in summer time all went barefooted. When they met for preaching or prayer, the men sat with their trusty rifles at their sides, and as they had to watch as well as pray, a faithful sentinel keeping a lookout for the lurking Indian. But it so happened that their services were never seriously interrupted, except on one occasion. One of the watches came to the door hole during a sermon and endeavored by signs and winks to apprise the people that something was wrong -- not being exactly understood, a person within winked at the messenger, as much as to say, 'Don't interrupt us.' But the case being urgent, the outside man exclaimed, 'None of your winking and blinking -- I tell you the Indians are about.' That was understood, the meeting was closed, and military defense organized. Now, gentle and fair reader, I beseech you not to blush or be ashamed of your forerunners; they were the chosen of God and nature's nobility."

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LEITCHFIELD, KENTUCKY 

The First Baptist Church of Leitchfield, Kentucky descends from this early church (above).  These are pages from their May 1984 centennial celebration giving history of the church as well as settlement of the area.  A list of early church members from 1804 is given on page six.

	Page 1 (Title Only)	Page2 (Timeline)	Page 3 (Early History)
	Page 4	Page 5	Page 6 (Early Members)

TOP