Lenoir County, NC - Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church
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BEAR CREEK PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
Previous posted file:
NOTE: The original Bear Creek file at this site has been combined with
this new one but has been slightly changed and has been placed at the
top of the new file.
Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church was part of the Kehukee Baptist
Association and was formed by November 5, 1756 which makes it one of the
oldest known churches in Lenoir County. The land for the original church
was donated by Elder Joshua Herring. Mewborns Church in Jason, Greene
County, was formed from Bear Creek by members who found it too far to go
to Bear Creek for services and those records still exist. After the
Missionary Baptist Church was formed in LaGrange the original records of
Bear Creek, kept by Council Wooten, were taken to LaGrange. Eventually
Wooten moved to Mt. Olive but the whereabouts of the records are not
known today. The Primitive Baptists kept excellent records of their
members and it is hoped these old records will surface at some point.
The records of Bear Creek after the split are located at Duke University
and are found below.
The above information was supplied by Elder J. M. Mewborn who sent a copy
of a paper on the Kehukee Association published by the University of North
Carolina in 1904. The below information came from that paper.
Association Meeting held at the Kehukey Meeting House, Halifax County,
12 September 1772
Messengers Present
Bear Creek - Joshua Herring, Pastor, Major Croom, Abraham Baker
Joshua Herring petitioned for Bear Creek to join the Association
Association Meeting held at the Kehukey Meeting House, Halifax County,
6 August 1774
Bear Creek Pastor not present, Abraham Baker
Association Meeting held at Tossneot in Edgecombe County, 24 August 1776
Bear Creek Joshua Herring, Pastor, Samuel Peacock, John Rows
NOTE: One assumes this was John Rouse
Association Meeting on Tar River in Edgecombe County no date
Bear Creek Abram Baker, Pastor, Wm Taylor
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Newly posted file:
Copy of the original Papers found in the William Perkins Library, Duke
University
These are the later records for this Church, no longer in existence. It
was located in Lenoir County right on the Wayne County line and was the
Mother Church of at least Mewborns Primitive Baptist Church in Greene
County. According to Elder J. M. Mewborn, this church was founded by
November 5, 1756 and additional information can be found in the July 1930
issue of the North Carolina Historical Review, p 382. Although there is
no date on the below subscription list for the 3rd building, it appears
to have been built by Sept.1858 and the building was moved in 1880 to
LaGrange where it is now owned by the LaGrange Garden Club. In 1857 Bear
Creek split for religious reasons when Council Wooten deeded land in
LaGrange to the First Missionary Baptist Church. Elder Mewborn states it
is not known exactly where the original building was located but probably
near the old Herring home which still stands. That home has two staircases,
and the smaller of the two leads to just one room which was used by the
Elder of the Bear Creek Church. From the letter written by Joshua Moseley
below, the 2nd building may not have been built on the land given to the
Church by his father, Matthew Moseley, and it is not known which tract the
3rd building was built on. Joshua Herring donated the original land for
the first building and Matthew Moseley was his son-in-law.
There are more papers in this Collection but they are of a religious
nature and not copied. Time forced me to stop on page 49, which brought it
up to about the time the Courthouse burned in Kinston.
Bear Creek Primitive Baptist Church 1858 to 1916
A subscription list for the building of the third Predestinaran or
primitive Baptist meeting House on bare creek Lenoir County on the spot
where the Second one formerly stood there wore four lists all to the same
intent Which was directed by said church in conference to be recorded in
the church book
The following is the names of the subscribers and the amount subscribed
by them
Thos. Dawson Senor $ 50
Jesse Lassitter 20
Shade Wooten 30
Rebeca Uzzell 5
William Rouse 15
Elijah Bizzell 10
John Wooten 10
Richard Hinson 5
No name 5
A. M. Dawson 10
Thos. W. Dawson 5
Parrott M. Hardy 5
Jesse H. Hardy 10
Lemuel E. Hardy 5
John Wooten of Green 5
Josiah Wooten 5
Thos. H. Dawson 25
Jesse Hardy 5
Geo. Venters 5
C. Wooten 10
Joshua Rouse 10
W. W. Fuller 5
Thos. W. Daniel 3
Thos. H. Dawson 10
Parrott Mewborn 5
213
John Joiner $ 5
Hardy Sutton Sen 5
Dempsey Wood 3
William Dawson 5
Jos. M. Kirkpatrick 5
William Warters 5
Lears Johnson 5
J. ?? P. Wooten 5
Benjamin Sutton 3
John Loftin 5
Nancy Herring 5
C. S. ??? Foss 5
Haywood Walters 5
Benjamin Rouse 10
Lewis Foss 5
Alexander Aldridge 2
Noah Rouse 10
John Daniel 10
J. R. Croom 25
James R. Parker 10
Calv?? James Darris 10
Wiley Rouse 15
Wilson Tilghman 5
William Tabs ??? 4
John C. Wooten 5
172
Allen (middle initial not readable) Wooten 50
William Kornegay 10
William B. Whitfield 10
Lewis Whitfield 10
Jno. (middle initial not readable) Hufham ?? 2
Lewis C. Desmond 10
James Hood 5
John Hardy 1
$ 98
total of $543
Painting of the House and window sash done since by Bro. Thos Dawson, Sr.
and Thos. Dawson Jr.
CHURCH ROLL
Huldah Dawson Died
Eliza Pelltier (scratched through) Died
I or T J ?? Taylor dismissed by letter to join the church in Texas May 1893
Lewis Whitfield Died Jan 19th 1892
B. I. Herring Died 1904
W. E. Hines Dismissed by letter moved to Texas
Cornelia C. Hines Dismissed by letter Texas but still near ???
Susan Taylor
Sallie Dawson died
Jane Pearce
Mary Sutton
E. C. Smith dismised by letter to join the church at Newport
G. ??? H. Dawson
Annie E. Dawson
Alexander R. Sutton
Patcy Fields died
James A. Whitfield Died
Fannie ??? V. Fields excluded
Huldah H. Sutton
Mary Nelson dismissed by rest covered by another piece of paper
Sarah Sutton
Ava Warters died
Martha E. Sutton
Eliza Sutton died
Egbert Sutton
Susan Sutton died
Richard W. Sutton
Ida Hardy
Martha Latham Uzzell received and babtised 1896
Harriete Uzzell received and babtised 1896
Richard Sutton received and babtised
Sarah ??? Dawson
Jane Pearce
James W. Sutton babtised and received Aug 1897
Information to the Clerk in the line of each name the page should be
noted when they ware received a member or excluded and the page on which
the obitary is recorded. First conference meets in the new Meeting House
??? day before the third Sunday in Sept 1858
Elder Parrott Mewborn moderator and Elder J. R. Croom clerk
Amation ??? made to receive and record the names of the members that
stand upon original ground contending for the faith once delivered to the
Sunday ??? where upon the following named members had there names recorded
as follows (see 14 page)
Thomas Dawson Died May 29, 1866
Mary Dawson Died Sept 1863
Rebeca Uzzel Died 1878
Elizabeth Loftin Died March 1867
Sarah Whitfield Dead
Joshua Moseley Dead
Mary Rouse Died
Susan Waters Dead Sept 14, 1866
Thomas H. Dawson Died Nov 24th 1883
Hulda Dawson
Elizabeth Murven Died 1881
Lewis Uzzell dismissed by letter Feb 1st 1879 died Mar
Henry Fields died 24th decr 1870
Sister Elizer Pellier
Sister Elizabeth Fields
Sister Uzzell Died Feb 1879
Sister Gatsey Dayly dead
Brother Isaac Taylor
Brother Lewis Whitfield
Brother B. J. Herring
W. E. Hines
C. C. Hines
Sister Elizabeth Uzzell Died Aug 1884
Brother Alexander Dawson Sen died Sep 26 1884
Sister Susan Taylor
Sister Sallie Dawson Died Sept 1888
Sister Jane Pearce
Names of the collered members
Rachel servant of Thos Dawson encluded
Nancy Do of Col. A. Mosis encluded
Samuel do of Bro Thos H. Dawson died April 1866
Next name not readable - do of Sister Susan Walters excommunicated Feb 1866
Nancy do of Mr. Alkinson ???
Luke servant of John Parks encomunted
James Bizzll encluded 1876
For the names of members
Bro John H. Dawson received back, dismissed by letter
Sister Annie Dawson received back
Sister Alice Smith Died July 23 1883
Bro E. E. Smith
Bro Ivie Baker Dismissed by letter Aug 1885
Sister Matt Baker Dismissed by letter Aug 1885
Bro. Alex R. Sutton
Sister Patsy Field dead
Bro. James Whitfield
Fannie V. Fields Excluded May 13 1884
Huledah H. Sutton
Mary Nelson dismissed by letter May 5, 1888
Mary Sutton
Ava Warters
Richard W. Sutton
Jam Hardy
Br. P. Mewborn & J. R. Croom to represent the Church
Bro. Joshua Moseley granted dismission to join another Church
he moved south
Sister Susan Waters rejoined church 1859
Elder Mewborn chosen Pastor of Church
Mentions Mewborns Church & Bro. George Mewborn
First Sun Sept 1858 open for membership
Elder Mewborn
Thomas H. Dawson & wife Hulday
Elizabeth Murswon ???
Received & Baptized by Elder Parrott Mewborn also a collared woman
Rachel a servant of Bro. Thos. Dawson Senr who was a former member
First Sunday in Oct (no year but assume 1858)
Lemuel a servant of Bro Thos H. Dawson & Nead, belonging to Sister Susan
Walters received
May Sat before 1st Sunday (no date)
Joined Bro Luis Uzzell a former member also a colored woman belonging
to Mr. Adkerson
Delegate to Association Thos. Dawson, Thos. H. Dawson, Lewis Uzzell
Elder Parrott Mewborn Elder of this Church departed this life April 26, 1867
Mary Dawson wife of Thomas Dawson dep. This life Sept 1863
Sat, Before 1st Sunday in Sept 1865
State of Church not well by reason of some Black members suppose to be in
disorder Bro Lewis Uzzell appointed to wait on Luke servant of
John Gants ???
Sat Before 1st Sun of May 1866 Elder G. ?? W. Wells moderator Black
member
Rachel in disorder for not attending church
Mentioned Bro Allen Whitfield
May 1867 sister Churches B. G. Hardy & Hardy Cade from Mewborns
Sat Before 1st Sun Aug 1868 Brother John H. Daniel chosen moderator
Bro T. H. Dawson & Henry Fields chosen delegates
Sat Before 1st Sun Feb 1869 Elder R. D. Hart chosen moderator
Sat Before 1st Sun Aug 1871 Mrs. Eliza Peltier joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Nov. 1871 Mrs. Henry Fields joined
Sat Before 1st Sun July 1872 Gatsey Dailey joined with letter from White
Oak; sister Uzzell joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Quarterly Meeting Aug 1872 visitors were Benjn Hardy,
Parrott Mewborn, Joshua Mewborn & Noah Adams, Sist. Hardy
Sat Before 1st Sun Feb 1872 Isaac Taylor joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Aug 1873 Bro Lewis Whitfield joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Aug 1873 - a colored Brother chosen to minister to colored
Sat Before 1st Sun Nov 1873 mentioned Bro James Uzzell a colored Brother
Sat Before 1st Sun May 1874 Harriett Bizell joined
NOTE: there was a lot of visiting back and forth between Bear Creek and
Mewborns members
Sat Before 1st Sun Aug 1874 Bro Abia & Henry Herring visiting from
Friendship, Wayne Co
Sat Before 1st Sun Feb 1875 Bro. James Uzzell excluded from membership for
being disorderly
Sat Before 1st Sun May 1875 Bro. Benjamin Herring joined
Sat Before 1st Sun May 1877 visitors Bro N. F. Latham & Benjamin Britt
from Nahunta & John Roberts & Henry Herring from Friendship and Elder Jesse
Baker & Thomas Felton from White Oak & Jesse Mewborn from Mewborns
Sat Before 1st Sun July 1877 W. E. Hines & wife Cornelia C. Hines joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Oct 1877 Elizabeth Uzzell joined
A letter found between pages 34 & 35
Madison Sept 27, 1859
NOTE: Joshua Mosely moved to Jefferson County, Florida an abstract
Brother Dawson,
Refers to Dawsons letter of the 19th refers to 6 acres of land & all
land around it belonged to my father who did a Quit Claim deed to old Bear
Creek Baptist Church 6 acres for a meeting house the Church did not live
up to its sides & the deed null & void guess the 6 acres belongs to me now,
it was part of 1000 acres given to me by the Will of my father & acknowledged
by a Quit Claim from my brother William if present members would erect a
Church I am agreeable is there strife among your members some one has
offered to buy this land so there would not be a Church it would be an
injustice to Sister Walters or her son to sell the adj tract
Signed Joshua Mosely
PS my health is better, wife in good health, children scattered to the 4
winds son Baaz in south Fla to route the Indians, son Algernon has gone
to Kansas, two daughters one is up north and one in SC
DEED Lenoir County
NOTE: The deed is torn
15 July 1806 - Matthew Moseley of Lenoir Co as a donation to the
Predistinarian Baptist on Bear Creek a tract on ES Bear Creek adj Lewis
Whitfields mill land 6 acres for a building of worship of God can cut
timber, build wells and make improvements
signed Matthew Moseley
WIT Bryan Whitfield, B ??? Skinner, L. Whitfield
Jan Court 1809
Enrolled 15 Jan 1809 by Jas. Bright, Regr
Sat Before 1st Sun March 1878 Bro Alexander Dawson joined
Sat Before 1st Sun June 1878 Sister Susan Taylor joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Nov 1878 Sister Sallie Dawson rejoined
Sat Before 1st Sun Feb 1879 Bro Lewis Uzzell given letter of dismissal to
join another church in good standing
Sat Before 1st Sun May 1879 sister Alice Smith joined July 1879 Bro.
E. C. Smith joined
Sat Before 1st Sun Feb 1880 Bro Y ??? Dawson & Sister E. Dawson to join
Rose of Sharon Church
Sat Before 1st Sun Sept 1880 sister Mattie Baker joined
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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Martha Mewborn Marble - mmarble@erols.com
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