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1 N-c_, ~~1 J3o ~uj (Pa/Jc~ctL t)~ SPREAD OF SEPARATE BAPTISTS feelings in outbursts joy and praise, but it appears that they were free from those wild and fantastic exercises which prevailed in many other places." The anxious seat, or mourners' bench, did not come into use among the Separates for more than fifty years. Another church constituted in this same region was that Shallow Ford which was near the ford that name on the Yadkin River near the southern limit the present county Forsyth, but probably on the western bank the river in what was then Surry County, but now Yadkin. According to Morgan Edwards, this church was established through the labors Elder Joseph Murphy, who, as we have seen, had been the pastor the church Little River. He preached in this vicinity and baptized several. These joining with others who had been members Mr. Gano's church at the Jersey Settlements and possibly with some from other churches were to the number 3~ in 1769 constituted into a church by Elder Joseph Murphy, who became their pastor. They built a house the same year, thirty feet by twentysix. Like the former church Mr. Murphy, this church also showed much proselyting zeal and in three years time had increased in numbers to one hundred and eighty-five members, and had established two branches, one in the Forks the Yadkin and another in what was known as the Mulberry Fields, "near the Moravian settlement," in the service which Mr. Murphy had three assistants, Messrs. David Allen, John Cates and David Chapman. Grassy Creek in northern Granville was among the earliest churches constituted by the Separates in North Carolina. We have seen that the Rev. _Hugh McAden found a Baptist meeting house here in August, 1755, and preached to a large congregation. If this congregation had any organization it was on the General Baptist plan, perhaps as an arm the church at Upper Fishing Creek. In the same year the Separates came to Sandy Creek. Among the first places!t99

2 NORTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS visited by the enterprising Daniel Marshall was Grassy Creek; the exact date is unknown, but it was some time in 1756, and before Marshall had been ordained.12 Preaching with his usual zeal and fervor he made many converts. Shubal Stearns, who as the only ordained minister among the Separates was competent for the service, came, possibly not before the next year, and baptized them. At the same time, exemplifying his constructive ability, for which Semple praises him, he effected an organization among them, doubtless gathering with those recently converted and baptized such.cther Baptists as were in the neighborhood. These had been for the most part General Baptists, seemingly relatively numerous and respectable, since they had built a good house worship. For five or six years this was an arm the church at Sandy Creek, but in 176~ it was constituted into an independent church.13 Its first pastor was Elder James Read. He was among the first converts Marshall's preaching at this place, and was baptized by Stearns himself. Though illiterate he had considerable gifts. Immediately after his conversion he began to exhort the people u Since the converts this first meeting were baptized by Stearns, I take it that Marshall had not yet been ordained. Devin, History Grassy Creek Church, says that Marshall was "without question here in a preaching tour in 1756." u Asplund, Register, Devin supposed that the church was constituted in 1757 or 1758, since James Read attended the first meeting the Sandy Creek Association in 1758 as a delegate from this body. Devin also speaks circumstantially the visit Stearns to the Grassy Creek in 1757, at which time "he explained to the brethren his plan forming an Association. He showed them its necessity for extending the interests the Redeemer's kingdom, and urged the importance sending messengers to Sandy Creek meeting house in January, 1758, for the purpose organizing a Baptist Association. The delegates were appointed according to his request, and the Assoclation was organized at the time designated." This statement Devin is not based on any contemporary record the matter but seems to be a deduction from Semple's account Stearns' activity in organizing the Association, and from the fact that Read was present at its first meeting. It is probable that Stearns did visit the Grassy Creek saints on the mission indicated, for as an arm the Sandy Creek Church it was under his pastoral care, but it certainly did not become an independent church until an approved person was found to ordain as its pastor. The date 1762 goes back to Asplund, and was accepted by Benedict. 300

3 =s ' Ill mg rts. ng bly me ple btzed 1ese laod ted der ll's m- e ple s, I in on Ling dy. -SSY the for a p- at onle's the hat for re, ved to SPREAD OF SEPARATE BAPTISTS to flee from the wrath to come. With the assistance his wife he learned to read and write. Though he was very active in preaching be:fore that time he was, in accord with the usage the Separates, probably ordained only on the constitution the church in This church he served as pastor, except for the two years , until 1779, and died in An account Mr. Read's work in Virginia may be found in the chapter from Semple given above. I am quoting here the sketch his life found in the same author: So much has already been said Mr. Read (so Semple spells the name) in our account the rst rise the Baptists in Spotsylvania, &c., that we may now be shorter. He was born (probably in Edgecombe County, N. C.) about the year 1725 or His father lived from the time Mr. Read was about seven years old on the Shenandoah river. He had early and awful alarms about eternal things, when nothing more than a boy. He says, that when bound an apprentice he would ten call upon God, on particular emergencies; and that he ten had the most manifest answers to his prayers. Once, he states, that having permission from his master to go and see his parents, he came to a creek so much swelled that he could not pass. Being much distressed be fell upon his knees and prayed to God to help him over. After a little time a horse that was feeding near at hand actually came to where he was; believing him to be sent by Providence he mounted him without saddle or bridle. He carried him over; and then dismounting, the horse immediately returned. These answers prayer increased his religious impressions, so that to many he seemed to be running into melancholy. It was not until he had become a man family, and had in a great measure shaken f his serious thoughts, that he met with the New Lights as they were called in North Carolina, to which place he had moved about the same time that Stearns and his party came. Under Mr. Marshall's preaching be was wrought upon according to the gospel plan. After some struggles he nally became a Baptist, probably as early as j 756 or When he first pressed he could neither read nor write. He immediately began to learn, his wife being his instructor. Of his subsequent labors and usefulness, and also his downfall, see account, page 9, &c. After his excommunication in Spotsylvania, he went on home, called Grassy Creek church together, which he was a member, made 301

4 > NORTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS a confession bis guilt and pressed repentance; a majority were willing to excuse him, but doing everything by unanimity they called for helps. Not giving satisfaction bis excommunication was confirmed. This took place November 21, He made no attempt for restoration until the next July, when be was rejected, the church not thinking his repentance evangelical. His next attempt was in July, 1772; he was again rejected, and for the same reason. On the 7th September, the church calling for helps, he was restored to membership, and in November he was restored to the free exercise the ministry. We have detailed the particulars more at large, because Mr. Read was certainly a distinguished preacher in the first rise religion, and likewise to show how cautiously they acted in those days. (This account is taken from the Grassy Creek church book.) He was never as useful after his restoration. He, however, continued to preach, and was esteemed by most his acquaintances a sincere Christian and as a father in the gospel, although he had shamefully, though for a short time, departed from the right way. He tells us in his manuscript that about 1791 he was stirred up God to travel through the churches Virginia, and to endeavor to encourage them to zeal and perseverance. Though infirm in body he made the attempt. He says he was kindly and respectf,ully received by the brethren wherever he went, and that his labors were blessed to the desired end. For about thirty years before his death, he used to say, that he had a presentiment his death, and that it would not take place until he was seventy-two. And after that he should look for death every day. From want education he did not know the precise year when that would happen, but said it was one two years. Accordingly in the year I 798, which was about the time expected, he finished his course. His death was glorious indeed. He declared not only a willingness, but an anxiety to depart and be with Christ. His last words were (turning to a friend standing by), "Do you not see the angels waiting to convey my soul to Glory?" He lived and died a poor man, having generally a large family. From the first Grassy Creek was a flourishing church; it had a large membership many whom possessed considerable wealth and occupied high social position. The house worship was large and very respectable for that. day. Its pastor manifesting the same evangelical zeal as that displayed by Marshall went on long missionary tours and made many converts and baptized them into the mem- so~

5 NAME: Read, James, DATA: b. Edgecombe co., N. C., ca. 1726; ord. Grassy Creek (Granville) N. C., 1762; sett. Grassy Creek, N. C., ; excommunicated 21 Nov. 1770; restored, Nov.-1772; missionary in Culpeper co., Va., ; Bapt. d. Grassy creek, N. C., a. 71. SOURCE: The Colonial Clergy Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina by: The Reverend Frederick Lewis Weis Page: 68

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