Dumplin Baptist Church Minutes, 1797-1860

Part 19 of 24 Parts

Transcribed from the WPA Typescript and Submitted by Al Baumbach
Research Tip: This is posted (with extraordinary thanks to Al) as a finding aid.  It is a transcription of a transcription.
Even the most diligent transcriber is subject to error, so it is imperative that you consult the original document.

January 1st, Saturday, 1846 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Chose J. Kimbrough Mod. - 2nd. - Called for the reference concerning Br. Douglass making & vending ardent Spirits which was not here and laid till next meeting - 3rd. - Appointed Thomas Cate Clk. pro tem to act at all times when the Clerk was absent - 4th. - Proceeded to precure a pastor fo the balance of this year. Rev. C. C. Tipton was named and a large majority was in favor of him & the Clerk ordered to notify him of the wish of the Church. E. Cate - Clk.

February 7th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference concerning Br. Thos. Douglass for making and vending ardent Spirits & after some considerable investigation the Church resolved to give him six months to reflect on it & resolve within himself what he will do - 2nd. - Took up two charges against Bro. Thos. Langford - 1st. - for neglecting Church meeting - 2nd. - for having joined the Dumplin Creek Temperance Society & violating the pledge by stilling or making ardent Sperits without withdrawing his name from the pledge - on Sunday Rec'd Lewis H. Moore by letter - 2nd. - Br. Elisha Kimbrough requested letters of dismission for himself & wife and granted. E. Cate - Clk.
N. B. - Appointed Brs. Thos. Cates & A. F. Cates to cite Br. Thos. Langston to attend our next meeting. E. Cate - Clk.

(p.161)

March 7th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceded to business - 1st. - called up the reference of last meeting concerning Br. Thos. Langford & laid it over till next meeting owing to the Brs. Not having cited him to attend meeting - 2nd. - excluded Samuel Coons from the fellowship of the Church for drunkenness - 3rd. - Excluded Elizabeth Hoozer & Jane Linsey from the fellowship of the Church for each having an illigitimate child. E. Cate - Clk.

April 4th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference of last meeting concerning Br. Langston & called upon the Brs. who cited him to attend & they informed the Church that Br. Langston had to attend muster & wished his cause to be continued till next meeting and it was laid over. E. Cate - Clk.

May 3rd 1846 - The Church & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference of Br. Langston & as he failed to attend the Church excludes him from her fellowship for the charges above alleged - 2nd. - Took a charge against Br. Evans Thomas for vending ardent Spirits as offering to so so it one of the Spring Musters & the proof being made to the satisfaction of the Church she excludes him from her fellowship for sd. Offence - 3rd. - Whereas some of our young men has become disorderly - Therefore it is resolved by the Church that Br. Charles Elder, Thomas Bryan, Michael Cates & John Douglass be and are appointed to notice all improper conduct that may hereafter happen or come under their notice done by any member or members of this Church & report them to the Church. E. Cate - Clk.

(p.162)

June 6th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Br. Thomas Langston came forward & informed the Church that he was not able to git to Church on last meeting & he still wished membership & after some investigation the Church refused to restore him to fellowship until he would quit making of ardent Spirits. E. Cate - Clk.

July 4th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - opened a door for the reception of members & rec'd Jas. C. Clendenen & John P. Cooper by expr. - 2nd. - appointed our next Camp meeting to be on the 4th Saturday of September next & invited several Ministers - 3rd. - Appointed Joseph Gaut, Michael Cates, Thos. Cates, Charles Elder Jas. L. Haggard, Alfred Slover & Elisha Cates as a Committee to draft a resolution or resolutions on the subject of members absenting themselves from the Church or neglecting Church meeting. E. Cate - Clk.

August Meeting, 1846 - past off without any business being done, the reference of last meeting laid over till next Camp meeting & br. Thomas Cates draft the resolution. E. Cate - Clk.

September 5th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - opened a door for the reception of members & rec'd John J. Henry & Jemima's black woman by expr. (p.163) - 2nd. - Wm. M. Manard, Dorcas Moore, Delila Sutlive, James Moore, Feby Moore, Elizabeth Carter, Narcissy Sellers called for letters of dismission & granted. E. Cate - Clk.

September 26th 1846 - Camp meeting commenced according to appointment & unanumously chose C. C. Tipton pastor - another year - 2nd. - Rec'd Jane Slover by experience also Jas. Smith's Amey a black woman - Perry England - 3rd. - appointed A. F. Cates, Abraham Slover & James L. Haggard for our deligates to our next Association to be held with the Church at Union, Knox Co., Tennessee commencing fryday before the 1st Saturday of October, 1846 - Fryday Rec'd Oney White's and Jas. Pate by expr. On Saturday Rec'd May Hoozer by experience. E. Cate - Clk.

November 7th 1846 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Nancy Cates requested a letter of dismission and granted - 2nd. - Restored Joseph Cannon to fellowship who was excluded for goying off without a letter of dismission and neglecting Church meeting and granted him a letter of dismission. E. Cate - Clk.

December 5th 1846 - The Church met and after divine Service - no business and was dismissed. E. Cate - Clk.

January 2nd 1847 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded - 1st. - Br. Jacob Thomas sent a note to the Church to inform her that there was a settlement between him and Br. James McCormack, (p.164) and he, J. Thomas was not able to go & see him & could not git Br. McCormack to come & see him so he asks the Church for advise - whereupon the Church appoints Br. J. Gaut, A. Slover & J. Haggard to get them together and settle the difficulty if possible and report to the Church the result at next meeting. E. Cate - Clk.

February 1st 1847 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference of last meeting concerning Br. Thomas & Br. McCormack & the Committee appointed to git them together being present report in substance as follows Viz. that they got the Brn. together but failed to make a reconciliation between them from the fact that Br. McCormack would not agree to pay Br. Thomas what seamed to be due him, even on Br. McCormack's own statement - Then the Church took up a charge against Br. James McCormack and excluded him from the fellowship of the Church for the above named offence - 2nd. - Appointed Br. Joseph Gaut treasury of the Church - 3rd. - Resolved by the Church that for the future each member who wishes to offer a yearly free will offering to the Lord, for the defraying of contingent or other expenses of the Church can do so by giving their names to Br. Joseph Gaut the treasury of the Church & fully authorized to receive all such sum or sums as the members may give for sd. Purpose & treasury to report (p.165) to the Church Simi annually the amount rec'd and by whom & to pay out all such moneys as the Church may direct and to report annually all disbursements and for what purpose and to report the State of the treasury - 4th. - Appointed Charles Elder & Michael Cates treasury's to receive the Churches contribution for the use of our pastor & it is made their duty to accertain from him what he needs mostly & report to the Church so that she may be prepared to minister to his necessities. E. Cate - Clk.

March 6th 1847 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to set apart May term for our Communion Season and called for several preaching Brth. & dismissed. E. Cates

April 3rd 1847 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - ordered by the Church that the Clerk bring the Church Covenant up to the next meeting for examination &c. - 2nd. - Whereas Br. Lewis H. Moore obtained leave of the Church to exercise his gift & having became delinquent in his functions the Church appointed Br. Thomas Cates & James L. Haggard to see him & report to our next meeting - 3rd. - Ordered by the Church that the Clerk bring up to our next meeting on the resolutions that has been heretofore adopted for the governing of the Church &c. E. Cates - Clk.

May 1st 1847 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Opened the door or the reception of members and rec'd Sarah Lowry & Rebecca Jones by letter - 2nd. - took up the reference of last meeting concerning the Constituion of which the Church at Dumplin Creek was founded, and (p.166) on an examination of it there appeared some things in it so objectionable that the Church rejected it and after some investigation in regard to whether the Church should have one or not, she then agreed to take the Bible for her Constitution and to have Rules of Decorum and appointed Elisha Cates & Joseph Gaut to draft them against next meeting for the Adoptions or rejection of the Church - 4th. - Took up the reference of last meeting concerning Br. Moore's gift and upon motion of E. Cates the matter about him was dispenced with for the present and took up a charge against him bro being a railer & a lyer and the motion being seconded the evidence - being present and after hereing it the Church concidered the charges fully sustained, she proposes to exclude him, Lewis H. Moore from the fellowship of the Church - 5th. - took up a charge against Alfred Coons for swaring, drinking & dancing & it appearing from the evidence that the charges was true - then procede to Exclude him from the fellowship of the Church - 6th. - took up a charge against Elijah Coons for profanity - swaring and the charge being fully sustained the Church excludes him from her fellowship of the Church - 7th. - took up a charge against John Coons Jr. for neglecting Church - Excludes him fom her fellowship. E. Cate - Clk.

(p.167)

June 6th 1847 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference of last meeting concerning the rules of decorum and they was appointed to draft them - presented the following rules of decorum which was read & rec'd and the Committee discharged - 2nd. - Appointed Brn. Thos. Bryan, Jas. L. Haggard, Thomas Cates, Charles Elder & John P. Cooper the Churches Committee to serve under the rules of decorum - 3rd. - Br. Lewis H. Moore came forward to the Church and asked for a bill of charges and the evidence on which he was excluded and granted and appointed Br. Joseph Gaut & Alfred Slover git them and collect the witnesses and take down the evidence in writing and present them to the Church at next meeting for to be handed over by order of the Church. E. Cate.

June 26th 1847 - The Church met insted of July & our pastor failed to attend and chose Br. Charles Elder Moderator & proceeded to business - 1st. - the case of L. H. Moore laid over till next meeting - 2nd. - The treasury made his 1st report which was rec'd & ordered to be filed - 3rd. - Took up a charge against Mary K. Cates for having an illigitimate Child & excludes her from the fellowship of the Church. E. Cates - Clk.

(p.239 - back of book) (June 1847)

Rules of Decorum for Dumplin Church

Rule 1st. This Church shall meet once a month of oftener for worship.
2nd. All meetings shall be opened & closed by prayer.
3rd. The Pastor shall preside at each meeting when present but in case of his absence one of the deacons chosen for that purpose shall open the meeting, call Church to order & procede to Business - 4th. - No person or persons shall absent themselves in time of Church Session without leave of the Moderator - 5th. - None of the members shall whisper or talk when any member is speaking upon any subject relative to the business of the Church - 6th. - No resolution of any importance shall be offered to the Church without being previously conversed upon by the leading members - Some definite conclusion come to, except the ordinary business of the Church - 7th. - All resolutions for the action of the Church shall be presented in writing and if no record can be obtained to sd. Resolution the voting of the Church shall not be taken. - 8th. - After a resolution is presented in the above form, it is open for debate & all members shall have the priviledge of giving their views an shall be herd - all persons wishing to speak shall rise to their feet to address the Moderator - 9th. - No person shall speak but once upon any subject until all the members wishing to speak be hered & shall not speak more than twice on any subject.

(p.168)

July 31st 1847 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up reference of June meeting concerning Br. Moore and the Committee returned the evidence in writing that sd. Br. Moore was excluded on and it was rec'd and the Committee discharged - 2nd. - the sd. L. H. Moore being present & prevailed with Br. A. W. Bryan to move for him to have a new trial and knowing that he had complained of the Church for having excluded him when absent & that he had blowed much about what he could prove by the Church agreed to reherse the matter over again and here him and give him the privilege of bringing his witnesses against next meeting. E. Cates - Clk.

September 4th 1847 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to to business - 1st. - took up the reference of the meeting concerning Lewis H. Moore & he being present in his own proper person together with all of his testimony and signally failed to prove anything to point - Therefore the Church confirms her former decision believing that the charges is true & he not being a (p.169) railer & a lyer but had slandered C. C. Tipton our pastor - 2nd. - Winny Carter requested a letter of dismission for herself and son Wm. Carter and it was granted - Hiram Travillian registered letters of dismission for himself & wife Hannah and it was granted. E. Cate - Clk.

September 25th 1847 - At Dumplin Creek The Camp meeting commenced at this place according to previous appoint -- on this day open a door for the reception of members - 1st. - Rec'd Sarah Hodges by letter - 2nd. - Rec'd Dafney a cullered girl - 3rd. - Appointed A. F. Cates, Joseph Gaut & Daniel L. Jones our deligates to the Tennessee Association which is to be held with the Church at Bethel, Sevier County, Tennessee and agreed to send one dollar up to sd. Association and order it to be paid out of the treasury - 4th. - appointed Brs. Charles Elder, Calvin M. Hodges & Alfred Slover as our deligates to the General Association which is to be held with the Church at Beverdam, Knox County, East Tennessee to commence fryday before the 3rd. Saturday in October next - 5th. - Rec'd Thomas Reneau by Baptism - 6th. - Rec'd Mary Chambers by baptism - 7th. - Nelson Riley offered and his reception pended till next meeting. (p.170) - 8th. - Rec'd Marian Langford by baptism - 9th. - Rec'd George Armburster by baptism - 10th. - Rec'd James Perry by baptism and Mary Hoozer also by baptism - 11th. - Br. G. W. Armburster registered a letter of dismission and granted - 12th. - the Church purchased a hymn book for the use of the Church & ordered to be paid out of the treasury. E. Cates - Clk.

October 6th 1847 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Nelson Riley who offered at our last meeting is still put off till next meeting - 2nd. - Appointed Joseph Gaut, H. V. Hoozer, Alfred Slover & J. P. Cooper be and are appointed as a Committee to make out a charge against Br. Ahaz W. Bryan from the evidence before them & report forthwith - We, your Committee beg leave to prefer a charge against Ahaz W. Bryan for some imprudent conduct towards some several sisters Viz. Carline M. Henry, Katherine Jones & Elizabeth Douglass and the Church Rec'd the charge and the Commitee discharged and the Church laid the matter over till next meeting - 3rd. - Br. Jesse Langston requested letters of Dismission for himself & wife Rody & Daughter Kizzire which was granted (p.171) - 4th. - Rec'd by letter Mary Scarlett & Mary An Scarlett by letter. E. Cates - Clk.

December 4th 1847 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - was moved by Elisha Cates to amend the charge against Br. A. W. Bryan which was rejected - 2nd. - took up the case of Nelson Riley who was refused baptism - 3rd. - took up the reference against A. W. Bryan and after investigation the Church agrees to call for a reference of seven from Sister Churches to try this difficulty whose decision shall be final and 5 shall be a corem to try it Viz. four from Mossy Creek Church & 3 from Alderbranch. E. Cates - Clk.

January 1st 1848 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Called up the case against A. W. Bryan and it appearing that there was a corum of the Committee called for present ready to discharge the duty assigned them but there was two of the sisters absent Viz. M. C. Henry & Elizabeth Douglass - 2nd. - inquiry was made of their friends why they was absent and on examination it appears there was no material cause - 3rd. - The Cause laid over till night and appointed Alfred Slover & John P. Cooper to cite the Sisters to attend (p.172) before sd. Committee this night and if they will not come to report the fact and the cause why they will not attend - 4th. - If the above Sisters fail to attend the former Committee is to give evidence to the Committee who is to try the difficulty - 5th. - Rec'd by baptism Nancy Thurman & Margaret Jones - 6th. - We, your Committee after hereing the evidence of Katharine Jones, Elizabeth Douglass & Milly Caroline Henry the above named Sisters and investigation of the matter we believe Br. Ahaz W. Bryan guilty of unchristian and insulting conduct & language towards them with adulterousdesigns and by the power invested in us by the Church we exclude hims from fellowship of the same.
The Above report rec'd & the Committee discharged - Jonathan Quarrels, David S. Coward, Gooden Price, James Coward & Thomas Lindsey. E. Cate - Clk.

February 5th 1848 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - James Slover requested a letter of dismission an granted. E. Cate - Clk.

March 1848 - March meeting passed off and no business I a Church way. E. Cate - Clk.

(p.173)

April 1st 1848 - The Church met and after divine Service no business and was dismissed. E. Cate - Clk.

May 6th 1848 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - On application of Br. Gaut the Church give Br. Michael Cates the privilege of exercising his gift in the bounds of the Church - 2nd. - J. C. Newman requested letters of dismission for himself and wife Mary and granted.

June 3rd 1848 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Chose Rev. Wm. Ellis Moderator - as our pastor was absent - 2nd. - the report of the treasury put off next meeting - 3rd. - The Church Session for next meeting put off till morning. E. Cate - Clk.

July 3rd 1848 - The Church met & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up a charge against Br. Wm. Henry & Olmas Reneau for an assault and battery and the matter settled our of doors by Rev. C. C. Tipton and others and was brought before the Church with their acknowledgments and the Church forgive them - 2nd. - the treasury made his first report for this year and it was rec'd - 3rd. - Br. Charles Elder agreed to take charge of the Church house - 4th. - The Church agreed to send for Br. Lane, Manning, Rogers, Corum & Newel to attend Camp meeting - 5th. - Appointed Br. Joseph Cates to attend to keeping the gates strait - Our next meeting appointed to be on the 5th Saturday of this Inst. in place of the 1st next month. E. Cates - Clk.

(p.174)

July 5th 1848 - The Church met according to appointment & after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Chose Rev. C. C. Tipton pastor for next year - 2nd. - Susanna Henry presented a bill of Charges against Br. Joseph Gaut and after some deliberation the Church appointed Br. Thomas Cates, Charles Elder, Alfred Slover, Parnel Bales & Jas. L. Haggard as her Committee to labour with Sister Henry & Br. Gaut if possible to bring them to a oneness and in case they should fail they are to examine the bill of charges and report to our next meeting whether the Church ought to receive it, and act upon it or not - 3rd. - Rec'd Martha J. Cates by letter. E. Cates - Clk.

September 2nd 1848 - The Church met and after divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - as our pastor was absent Chose Br. Wm. Ellis Moderator - 2nd. - took up the reference of last meeting against Br. Joseph Gaut and the report of the Committee called for and it being rec'd the Committee discharged and after some deliberation it is resolved by the Church that she called a Committee of five as follows - Viz. - 3 from Mossy Creek Church & two from Boyd's Creek and 3 to be a quorum to transact the difficulty existing between Sister's Henry and Br. Jos. Gaut & their decision to final meeting (p.175) -3rd. - Appointed the last Saturday of this Inst. for out next
Church meeting at which time is set apart for the Committee to meet at our Church to settle the above difficulty - 4th. - Ordered by the Church that the Clerk prepare a letter for our Camp meeting at which time there will be delegates appointed for the same. E. Cate - Clk.

September 16th 1848 - The Camp meeting commenced according to previous appointment and the Church being organized for the perpose of transacting business - 1st. - Chose Brethren Michael Cates - Calvin M. Hodges & John Douglass as our deligates to the Tennessee Baptist Association to be held at the Little Flat Creek Church, Knox County, Tennessee commencing on fryday before the 1st. Saturday in October next - 2nd. - Appointed Brs. Robert R. Bryan & Calvin M. Hodges as our deligates to the next General Baptist Association to be held at the Sweetwater Church, Monroe County, Tennessee - on Sunday night - Rec'd Samuel Douglass & Elizabeth Thomas by experience on Monday dismissed by letter S. M. Langford and his wife Elizabeth & Delily Manard - on Tuesday ordered by the Church that the treasury pay over what money was in his hands to Rev. J. Manning as compensation for his services rendered at sd. Meeting - 2nd. - Rec'd Lucretia Jones, Nancy Jones, Benjamin Manard & Mary Jane Kimbrough by Baptism - 3rd. - Dismissed by letter Wm. C. Langston & Cely Gearin by letter - 4th. - On Wednesday Rec'd Bertha Boulton by baptism - 5th. - dismissed Benj. Manard by letter then ended the meeting. E. Cates - Clk.

(p.176)

September 30th 1848 - The Church met and after prayer by Rev. Wm. Hodges proceeded to business - 1st. - chose Br. Michael Cates Moderator - 2nd. - the reference of last meeting taken up and the Committee called for attended and the difficulty existing between Sisters Susannah & Ann Henry against Br. Joseph Gaut was submitted to them and their report referred to next meeting. E. Cates - Clk.

October 4th 1848 - The Church met and after Worship proceeded to business - 1st. - Chose Br. M. Cates Moderator - 2nd. - Rec'd the report of the Committee and the difficulty between Sisters Henry & Br. J. Gaut which is as follows - Viz.

September 30th 1848 )
State of Tennessee    )
Jefferson County

We, the undesigned Commitee convened by request of the Dumplin Creek Church after having duly examined the Charges made against Br. Joseph Gaut by sisters Susannah & Ann Henry and having compared them with the evidence aduced on both sides Beg leave as your committee to State our decision which is that Br. Gaut is not guilty of the charges alleged in the bill of charges laid before us in further moore have decided that brother Gaut shall pay Sister Susannah Henry sixteen dollars in concideration for the trouble she had with her mother during her sickness, (p.177) all of which is respectfully submitted -

W. H. Hodges - Chairman
A. Bowers - Clk.
Jos. Newman
Sam F. Newman
Jourden Houk
Elisha Cates - Ch. Clerk.

November 4th 1848 - The Church met and after prayer proceeded to business - 1st. - chose Br. Michael Cates Moderator - 2nd. - Resolved by the Church that she call Rev. J. S. Coram to the pastoral care of the Church for the term of one year provided he can be sustained and appointed our next meeting on the fourth Saturday & Sunday of this Inst. and ordered the Clerk to notify him forthwith that she wish him to attend at that time that further arrangements may be made in the case - 2nd. - took up a charge against Sister Susanna & An Henry for Slandering Br. Joseph Gaut existed in the bill of charges prefered against him to the Church a few months back and was decided at our last meeting - See report of the Committee - 3rd. - Appointed Brs. Alfred Slover & Abraham Slover to cite them - the sd. sisters to attend next meeting. E. Cates - Clk.

November 25th 1848 - The Church met and after Worship proceeded to business - 1st. - Chose Br. Michael Cates Moderator - for owing to the inclemency of the weather Rev. J. S. Coram failed to attend and appointed Br. Charles Elder & Jas. Perry to go and see him and see if he (p.178) can be got to Attend us - 2nd. - took up the Reference concerning Sister's Henry & the Br. appointed to cite them to attend report that Sister Susanna Henry has been chilling for sometime but would attend if she could the other Sister was not seen and laid over the matter till next meeting or till she recovers - 3rd. - Alfred Slover and his wife Cinthy & Albert Moore, Olmas & Morris and Cely Reneau requested letters of dismission & granted. E. Cates - Clk.

December 1848 - The Church met & after divine Service proceded to business - 1st. - layed over the case of Sisters Henry till next meeting - 2nd. - Pleasant A. Haggard and his wife Elizabeth requested letters of dismission & granted - 3rd. - took up a charge against Br. John Atchley from report for drinking too much ardent Spirits and making and vending ardent Spirits to the injury of Society contrary to a reslution adopted by the Church - 4th. - Appointed Brs. Thomas Cates & John Douglass to cite him to attend our next. Elisha Cates - Clk.