Dumplin Baptist Church Minutes, 1797-1860

Part 9 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 9th 1819 - The Church met and after Worship proceeded to Business - 1st. - Bro. John Cate Requests of this Church Liberty to Exercise his Gift within the bounds of this Church also within the neighboring Churches & it is granted.

February 13th 1819 - The Church met and after Worship proceeded to Business - 1st. - Sister Hanner Moore Request a letter of Dismission and it is granted for her.

March 13th 1819 - The Church met and after Worship proceeded to Business - 1st. - Chose Br. Lockert for our Moderator.

April 9th 1819 - It being our Communion Season The Church to appointment on Friday and after Divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - A Grievance taken up against (p.71) Sr. Suzanna Cate on the account of her being Pragnant and on the account of her Delinquency Lays it over till next meeting & appoints Sister Mary Campbell & Rebecca Stephenson to visit her and cite her to our next meeting. - 2nd - A Grievance taken up against Sr. Nancy Cate for Drinking too much Spirituous Liquor and on the account of her Delinquency Lays it over till next meeting & appoints Sister's Mary Sullins, Mary Campbell & Rebecca Stephenson to visit her & cite her to our next meeting.

Saturday 8th of May 1819 - The Church met and after worship proceeded to Business - 1st. - The reference concerning Sr. Susanna Cate Taken up and her failing to attend and give satisfaction on the above cited greivance for which she is Excommunicated from the fellowship of this Church. - 2nd. - Took up the Reference concerning Sr. Nancy Cate and it is Laid over till next meeting which comes on the third Saturday in June on the account of the Unions meeting coming on our next meeting, in Course. - 3rd. - Appoints Br. Wm. Elder, John Elder and Charles Cate Deligates to Boyd's Creek Union meeting. - 4th. - Rec'd Moses Long and his wife Elizabeth Long by Letter - 5th. - Joseph Bell has removed his membership from the Arm near Holston to the main body - 6th. - The Church taken up a Grievance against Breathren Isaac Newman & Robert Elder for contradiction That has took place between them in the presance of the said Church & laid over till next meeting.

June 19th 1819 - The Church met and after Worship proceeded to business. Took up the (p.72) Reference against Sister Nancy Cate and she Denies the charge Ledged against her and the Church has no proof of the fact therefore she is aquited by this Church. - 2nd. - Took up the Referance against Breathren Isaac Newman and Robert Elder and Lay Them both under the censure of the Church and Lays the matter over till next meeting &c.

July 10th 1819 - The Church met and after a short Exortation proceeded to Business - 1st. - Took up the Referance betwist Br. Isaac Newman & Br. Elder and the Church takes their acknowledgement for her satisfaction in contradicting Each other in anger and exorts them to strive with Each other for Reconciliation Betwist themselves. - 2nd. - A grievance brought before the Church by Charles Kelley & wife against John Cate & wife concerning some Scandalous Reports against their daughter (Winney Carter) and the Church appoints John Lockhert, Thos. Jones, Humphrey Mount, Joseph Sullins, Moses Long & Matthia Teege To meet them at this place on the 4th Saturday of this instant to try for Reconciliation Betwist them.

August 14th 1819 - The Church met & after Divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Chose Br. Wood Moderator - on the account of Br. Kimbrough's absence - 2nd. - Took up the Reference Betwist Br. Kelly and wife against Br. John Cate and wife & the Church labored with them and after a considerable Investigation affected peace Betwist them - 3rd. - The Church appoints Br. Wm. Burnett & Wm. Elder Deligates to our next Association - 4th. - Appoints Br. Elisha Cate to write her Letter to the same.

September 11th 1819 - The Church met & after Divine Service proceeds to Business - 1st. - Chose the Lockhert Moderator - 2nd. - the Churches Letter read & seconded.

(p.73)

October 8th 1819 - The Church met and after Divine Servis proceeded to Business - 1st. - The Church act of taxing Disannulled and Void.

November 13th 1819 - The Church met & no business advanced and Dismissed.

December 11th 1819 - The Church met and after worship proceeded to Business - 1st. - A request made by Br. Isaac Newman to have his Land Run around in the presents of Several members of this Church to show to them or this Church whether he is Justifiable in contending for interlock of Land that is contended for between him & Br. Robert Elder & the Church Gives up that Br. Newman shall have help and Defers Running until after next meeting in Course in order to see whether Br. Elder will have his land run out as Br. Elder is now absent.

January 8th 1820 - The Church met & after worship proceeded to Business - First - took up the Reference betwist the Brt. Newman and Elder Relative to running their Lands and the Church agrees. Six of her body Viz - Hum. Mount, John Cate, Thos. Jones, Joseph Sullins, Elisha Cate & John Lockhert To see their Land run out - 2nd. - A distress taken by this Church John Cate against Cassindra (French) and appoints Brs. John & Wm. Elder to cite her to our next meeting & there to have a fare investigation of the matter - 3rd. - Br. Moses Long and his wife Requests Letters of dismission & granted.

February 12th 1820 - The Church met & after Service proceeded to Business - First - the Reference taken up Betwist the two Brethren and the Churches Committee went and saw Br. Newman's Land Run according to the calls of his Deed and the Committee conceives an interlock (p. 74) Betwixt them & this Church considered the affair out her power - Therefore declines acting on it and finally Threw it ouf of this Church. - 2nd. - Took up the Reference Betwixt Br. John Cate and Sister French and lays it over till next meeting.

March 11th 1820 - The Church met & after worship proceeded to Business - 1st. - Took up the Reference Betwixt Br. John Cate and Sister French and Lays it over till next meeting for Further consideration - 2nd. - The Church receives a complaint against Sally Cate for Being pregnant and Lays the matter over till next meeting & appoints Sisters Sarah Newman & Rebecca Stephenson to Cite her to our next meeting.

Aprile 8th 1820 - The Church met & proceeded to business first took up a charge that Br. John Cate brought forward against Sr. Cassindra French for a breach of Contract in regard to binding a Child & appoints Bro. John Lockhert & Wm. Burnett & Sr. Sullins & Sr. Nancy Elder to cite Sr. French to attend our next meeting. - 2nd. - The Church excommunicated Sr. Sally Cate from fellowship for being pregnant - 3rd. - The Church took up a distress against Sr. Anna Cate for being pregnant & excludes her from fellowship - 4th. - Br. Wm. Burnett requests letters of dismission for himself & son Nathan granted and Matthias Teag request a letter of dismission and thier request granted. - 5th. - This Church enters into a Covenant in respect of furnishing wine for her use - that is to say for all the male members to furnish one pint every Communion Season to take it by turn as they are hereafter enrolled. Viz - Humphrey Mount, (p.75) John Elder, Isaac Newman Sr., Joshua Newman, Joseph Sullins, Wm. Elder, Isaac Newman Jr., Robt. M. Newman, John Cate, Robert Elder, Chas. Cate, Joseph Bell, Elisha Cate, Thomas Jones, Charles Kelly, Oby Gibbs & N. Cate.

May 13th 1820 - The Church met and after Service proceeded to Business - 1st. - took up the reference betwixt Br. John Cate & Sr. French and the Church Red her acknowledgement in respect to the previous charge - 2nd. - The Church appoints Bro. Robert M. Newman, Elisha Cate & Chas. Cate delegates to our next Union meeting at the fork of Pigeon - 3rd. - a Complaint was made by Bro. Wm. Elder to this Church against By John Cate and his wife Elizabeth in accusing of him taking Rails that was not hisn & flying from his word and swaring and the sd. Church appoints elder Duke Kimbrough, Humphrey Mount, John Lockhert & Robert M. Newman as her Committee to examine into the Complaint and to report to the Church at our next meeting which will come on the 3rd. Saturday of June next on the account of the Union meeting coming on the time of our next meeting in Course.

June 17th 1820 - The Church met according to her appointment & after worship proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the Reference betwixt Wm. Elder & John Cate & wife the Churches Committee met according to their appointement to examine into the above charges that Wm. Elder laid in against John Cate and wife & the sd. Committee when inquiring into the Charges found Both parties faulty - 1st. - Br. Elder done wrong in not fully Complying with his agreement also forgetting in a passion & using unbecoming language and Br. Cate and wife done wrong in charging Elder for taking rails (p.76) not his own also in reporting that Elder flee from his agreement & the Church received the Committees report and lays them all under censure & Br. Elder Being absent lays the matter over till next meeting an appoints Isaac Newman, Thos. Jones & Charles Kelly to cite him to our next meeting.

July 8th 1820 - The Church met & after worship proced to business - 1st. - Took up the reference betwixt Br. Elder & John Cate & wife and the Church laboured under so much difficulty & failed to affect peace that she calls for help to attend a Call Meeting on the Friday before the 3rd. Saturday in August next from four Sister Chrs. (Viz) French Broad, Fork of Little Pigeon, Boid's Creek and the Paw-paw hollow which helps shall have full power of the matter betwixt the sd. Brethren and the Church further agrees to send a Commitee of four members (Viz) Humphrey Mount, Thomas Jones, Joseph Sullins & Elisha Cate to ascertain the boundary's of certain tracts of lands that is in dispute betwixt the two Brethren and to report to the helps called for to set on the affair at the time aforesaid - 2nd. - Br. John Burnett Request a letter of dismission & granted.

August 12th 1820 - The Church met & after divine Sevice proceeded to Business - 1st. - appointed Br. Thomas Jones, Joseph Sullins, Charles Cates & Isaac Newman as Deligates to go to the Association - 2nd. - Whereas the paw-paw hollow sent a request to the Arm of this Church to ordain Br. John Lockhert to the Administration of the gospel ordinances and the Arm appears to be unanimous to Comply with the request the Church also Complys with the request.

Thursday September 7th 1820 - The Church met to do Business instead of the second Saturday - 1st. - after worship Rec'd by hand of Br. Stockton a Transcript of the Committees Verdict who was called for this Church to settle a matter of Controversy betwixt Wm. Elder & John Cate & wife which appears to read as follows (Viz) - State of Tennesse, Jefferson County, Friday 18th August 1820 - We Jacob Denton, George Long, James Moore, John Lindsey Senr., Samuel Stockton, Wm. Henderson, Josiah Denton, James Wood, Wm. Varnel, Thomas Atchley, Henry Parrott, Abram Slover, John Moore, Joseph Coons, Luke Stansbury, Matthias Teague, Lewis Reneau & Zacheus Routh at Dumplin Chruch meeting house conveaned - delegates from the neighboring Churches to settle certain matters of Controversy Subsisting between Brs. Wm. Elder & John Cate & wife. First proceeded to appoint brother James Moore Moderator - Brother Lewis Reneau Clerk after which being done the Clerk of the Church at this place produced to us the record of sd. Matters of grievances which appeared to be as follows - Elder complained of sd. Cate & wife for saying he, Elder had not complyed with his word - 2nd. - for saying he, Elder took rails not his own and 3rdly - for saying he swore and therefore the brethren Cate & Elder (sister Cate being absent) both heard and evidence being heared, we are of the opinion that Elder did forfait (p.78) and not comply with his word in a certain disagreement that had heretofore been made between them. We also further find that Elder moved a certain piece of fence which devloved upon Cate the necessity of rebuilding in order to save his this years crop, wherefore we appoint brother Jacob Denton, John Lindsey, Samuel Stockton to go and view the sd. piece of fence So made by sd. Cate & adjudge how much it is worth and also view the ground where the line divides a certain field between the said parties and to adjudge how much it would be worth To make a cross fence there and when the sd. Br. Has so adjudged the sd. Elder shall pay in money to the sd. Cate the full price of making sd. Fence so made by Cate aforesaid and also one half of the price that it would cost to make a good cross fence or near the line between the two parties. We also Further order & decree that the said brother by us appointed shall report to the next Church meeting at this place what price they shall assess touching said fence and that Br. Stockton shall take this Record & deliver up to the next Church meeting to be holden at this place. We further think both the Brothers have been a Little innatured & have spoken of each other imprudently and have each ketched at little things against each other more then what they ought to have done, we therefore advise & admonish them to look over each fibles or errors and endeavor to be friendly hereafter.
Dated August 18th 1820:

We, John Lindsey, Jacob Denton and Samuel Stockton after viewing the fences that we was appointed to view we do agree tha Wm. Elder (p.79) ought to pay Br. Cate three dollars for making That fence sd. Elder moved and $5.40 cts. for the half of the Cross fence &c.

October 13th 1820 - The Church met - few in number so there was nothing done.

November 11th 1820 - The Church met it being meeting in Course - 1st. - The Church proceeds to take up the reference between Br. Wm. Elder & Br. John Cate and after examining into the afare the Church proceeds to excommunicate Br. Elder from fellowship - 1st. - for not complying with his Contract forgetting in a passion & useing unbecoming Language and for refusing to hear the Church - 2nd. - After examination Br. Cate not making full satisfaction the matter is laid over till next meeting in Course.

December 9th 1820 - The Church met it being in Course proceeded to Business - 1st. - Took up the Reference against Br. John Cate and wife Both being present and failing to give full satisfaction, therefore the matter is laid over till next meeting.

January 13th 1821 - The Church met it being meeting in Course and after divine Service proceded to Business - 1st. - Took up the reference against Br. Cate & wife and after a considerable investigation the Church being tried by a question so the Church not yet satisfied and the matter is left on reference till next meeting.

February 10th 1821 - The Chuch met it being meeting in Course and after worship proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference against Br. Cate & wife they both being present and give (p.80) pretty General satisfaction to this Church, therefore they are the sd. Cate and wife restored to fellowship with us again - 2nd. - Sister Witt requests letters of dismission for herself & daughter Patsey and granted - 3rd. - Br. Elder and wife Request letters of dismission and granted - 4th. - Sr. Sally Witt request a letter of Dismission and granted - 5th. - Sister Campbell request a letter of dismission and granted.

March 10th 1821 - After divine Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Mourning Witt request a letter of dismission and granted - 2nd. - Elizabeth Kimbrough requested a letter of dismission & granted.

April 19th 1821 - The church met & after Service proceeded to business - 1st. - Took up a grievance against Esther Widner for revolting from us and adjoining another Church of another faith & order and appoints Brs. Humphrey Mount & Joseph Sullins to go and see her and cite her to our next meeting.

May 12th 1821 - The Church met and after Service proceeded to business - 1st. - took up the reference against Sister Widner and the men appointed to Cite her to attend meeting failed to go to Br. Chas. Kelly had talked with her on the subject since the brethren was appointed therefore Br. Kelly has informed the Church that she says the report is true and there is no hopes of her recanting therefore the Church releaves the Brethren appointed and Rec'd the Report of Br. Kelly and excommunicated her for revolting from us. - 2nd. - Appoints Br. I. Newman Sen., Charles Kelly & John Cate to go to the Union meeting at Long Creek.

June 16th 1821 - The Church met - no bisiness advanced and dismissed.

July 14th 1821 - The Church met & after divine Service no business to do and dismissed.

(p.81)

August Fryday 17th 1821 - The Church met on this day to do business instead of the 2nd. Saturday - 1st. - Appoints Bro. Humphrey Mount, Joseph Sullins & Isaac Newman Senr. To attend our next Association at Boyd's Creek.

September 8th 1821 - The Church met but a few in numbers and Sister Roberson -Richards and Rebecca Moore whose name was Richards request Letters of dismission.

October 13th 1821 - The Church met and Sister Elizabeth Grissom Requested a letter of dismission & granted.

November 10th 1821 - The Church met it being meeting in Course a few in number - no business advanced and Sister Rebeca Stephenson Requested a letter of dismission & granted.

December 12th 1821 - The Church met - no business and Dismissed.