I
Midzs
1S5
YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

ACQUIRED BY EXCHANGE

MATERIALS

TOWARDS. A

HISTORY OP THE BAPTISTS

IN

DELAWARE STATE.

Vol. III.

BY

MORGAN EDWARDS, A.M.,
. AND QUONDAM £ELLO% OF7R. I. COLLEGE.

"Lo, a people" that dwell alone! and shall not be reckoned -among the na
tions."— Exod. a -

PRINTED BY
J. B. LIPPHSTCOTT COMPANY,
PHILADELPHIA. 18 85.

MATERIALS

TOWARDS A

HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS

IN

DELAWARE STATE.

Vol. III.

BY;

MORGAN" EDWARDS, A.M.,
AND QUONDAM FELLOW OF B. I. COLLEGE.

""Lo, a people that dwell alone ! and shall not be reckoned among the na
tions."— Exod.

PRINTED BY
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY,
PHILADELPHIA. 1885.

The following History of the Baptists in Delaware, by Eev. Morgan
Edwards, was printed in volume nine of The Pennsylvania Maga
zine of History and Biography, a quarterly publication issued by
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadel
phia. It occupied a portion of two numbers of the Magazine, the
pagination of which has been preserved on the following sheets for the
convenience of those who may wish to refer to the history in the form
in which it first appeared in print.

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 45

HISTOEY OF THE BAPTISTS IN DELAWABE.
by rev. morgan edwards. .
Introductory Note by Horatio Gates Jonbs.i
[The Rev. Morgan Edwards, the author of the " Materials towards a
History of the Baptists in Delaware-State," was born May 9, 1722, in the
Parish of Trevethin, Monmouthshire, Wales, and was brought up in the
doctrines of the Church of England. In the year 1738 he embraced the
principles of the Baptists. His early education was obtained in Wales,
and he pursued an academical course at the Bristol Academy, under
the celebrated Dr. Bernard Foskett. He was ordained as a minister of
the Baptist Church June 1, 1757, in Ireland, where he resided for about
nine years. Eeturning to England, he preached for some time at Eye,
in Sussex, and while there, upon the recommendation of the learned
John Gill, D.D., he was called to the pastorate of the Baptist Church of
Philadelphia. He arrived at Philadelphia May 23, 1761, and had charge
of the church until 1771, when he resigned and removed to Pencader
Hundred, near Newark, in Delaware, where he lived until his death,
which occurred January 28, 1795.
He was one of the most learned ministers among the- Baptists, and
soon took a high position. Knowing the advantages of a liberal educa
tion, he soon suggested the organization of a Baptist College for the edu
cation of persons connected with his church. In his History of the
Pennsylvania Baptists, referring to this movement, he says (Vol. I. p.
48), " He labored hard to settle a Baptist College in Ehode Island gov
ernment, and to raise money to endow it; which he deems the greatest
serviced has done or hopes to do for the honor of the Baptist interest."
The College which he was the means of founding is now known as
Brown University, at Providence, E. I. Mr. Edwards soon became a
moving spirit in the Philadelphia Baptist Association, which was organ
ized in 1707, and he first suggested the printing of their Annual Minutes,
having been for many years appointed its Clerk. He early began his
labors as an historian, his object being to obtain and publish a history of
the Baptist Churches in all the Colonies. To accomplish this object,
Mr. Edwards travelled thousands of miles on horseback, visiting nearly
all the Baptist Churches then organized, and from the church records ob
tained a history of their foundation, and thus from reliable sources se
curing the names and biographies of the various pastors. His intention
was to complete this history in about twelve volumes, and in 1770 he
issued Vol. I., which he modestly entitled " Materials towards A History

46 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
of the American Baptists, in XII. Volumes. By Morgan Edwards, A.M.,
Fellow of Ehode Island College and Overseer of the Baptist Church in
Philadelphia." It treated of the churches in Pennsylvania.
The next volume was that relating to the New Jersey Baptists, pub
lished in 1792. His Ehode Island Baptists was not published until 1867,
when it appeared in Vol. VI. of the Ehode Island Historical Collections.
The original manuscript of the Delaware Baptists, which he entitled
Vol. III., is now in the archives of the American Baptist Historical
Society, No. 1420 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. It has never been
published as a whole, but extracts therefrom may be found in Eev. Dr.
David Benedict's History of the Baptists; and in Eev. Dr. Eichard B.
Cook's " Early and Later Baptists of Delaware." A revised copy, evi
dently prepared by the author for the press, was some years ago in the
possession of Miss Harriet Thaw, of this city. From a transcript of it, in
the possession of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the following
is printed.
Mr. Edwards was the only Baptist minister in America who was a
Loyalist during the Eevolution. He remained usually at Pencader,
Delaware. Many of the churches sketched by him in this History are still in ex
istence, but are very small in their membership, the Welsh Tract report
ing, in 1880, only 58 members. Most of them belong to " The Delaware
Old School Baptist Association," and are opposed to missionary and sim
ilar organizations. The American Baptist Year-Book for 1885 (p. 97),
states that there are in the United States about 900 " Anti-Mission" Bap
tist Churches, with 400 ministers and about 40,000 members.
When Mr. Edwards was living all of the churches were supplied with
learned and devoted pastors, and belonged to the now venerable Phila
delphia Baptist Association.
As stated, Mr. Edwards died in Delaware, but his body was interred in
the Philadelphia Baptist Meeting-House, which was then in La Grange
Place, between Market and Arch Streets. His remains were afte/wards
removed to Mount Moriah Cemetery. His tombstone, with that of many
of the other pastors of the church, can be seen in the vestibule of the
new meeting-house, at the northwest corner of Broad and Arch Streets.
Phila., March, 1885. Horatio Gates Jones.]

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 47
MATERIALS
Towards a history of the Baptists in
DELAWAKE STATE.
VOL. III.
By MORGAN EDWARDS, A.M.,
and quondam fellow of E. I. College.
Lo, a people that dwell alone 1 and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
— Bxod. INTRODUCTION.
Delaware became a State independent of Pennsylvania at
the Revolution in 1776 ; it contains three little counties, viz. :
Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex. In the first was a Baptist
Church as early as the spring of 1703. They settled near
the Iron Hill; from thence their religion took a spread,
northward as far as London-Tract in Pennsylvania, north
east to "Wilmington, east to Bethel, west to Elk in Mary
land, and southward to Duck Creek and Pedee, in South
Carolina. About the year 1733 eight or nine families (chiefly mem
bers of Welsh-Tract Church) made a settlement at Duck
Creek, in Kent County, from whence the same religion
spread southward to Cowmarsh and Mispillion, westward
to Georgetown in Maryland, and eastward to Fasflanding.
About the year 1778 or before two Baptist ministers, from
Virginia, came to the county of Sussex and made many pros
elytes, whom they baptized on profession of faith and repent
ance, and began to form them into churches in 1779. The
two ministers' names are Elijah Baker and Philip Hughes :
they and their disciples went by the name of Separate Baptists
at first, but now the distinction is dropped.
The Delaware Baptists are Calvinistic in doctrines, and differ
little or nothing in discipline from their brethren in the
neighboring States. Eive of their churches have been re
ceived into the Association of Philadelphia; the other three
belong to the Salisbury Association. These eight churches ,

48 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
have been constituted at different times, which order of
time we shall observe in treating of them; and therefore
begin with Welsh- Tract.
This church is distinguished as above from a large tract
of land of the same name, on the western border of which,
at the foot of the Iron Hill, the meeting-house stands, in the
hundred of Pencader and county of Newcastle, about 42
miles s.w. by w.q.w. from Philadelphia. The house is of
brick, built in 1746 on a lot of six acres ; four of which were
given by James James, Esq. His conveyance is dated Jan.
20, 1709. The rest was purchased from Abraham Emmet;
the conveyance of this is dated April 20, 1768, and signed
Andrew Fisher. The dimensions of the house are 40 feet by
30 ; it is finished as usual, excepting galleries, and accommo
dated with a stove. The families belonging to the place are
about 90, whereof 108 persons are baptized and in the com
munion, here celebrated the first Sunday in every month.
The minister is Rev. John Boggs; the salary unknown, be
cause Mr. Boggs would have it that he receives no pay for
preaching, from a consciousness of his vehement exclama
tions against paying preachers before he himself turned
preacher. However, it was proposed to Rev. John Sutton
when he came among the people (in 1770) that his salary
should be 100 pounds.1 This church was raised to a body
politic, Feb. 9, 1788. The above is the present state of
Welsh-Tract Church, Oct. 5, 1790.
History.
To come at the history of this church we must cross the
Atlantic and land in Wales, where it originated in the fol
lowing manner. "In the spring of the year 1701 several
" Baptists in the counties of Pembroke and Caermarthen
"resolved to go to America; and as one was a minister
"(Thomas Griffith) they were advised to be constituted a
1 The proportion of Delaware money to sterling is as 5 to 3. Mul
tiply any Delaware sum by 3 and divide by 5, and the quotient will be
sterling. Eeverse the rule and sterling will be Delaware money.

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 49
' church. They took the advice. The instrument of their
' confederation was in being in the year 1770, but is now
' lost except one copy in possession of Mr. Isaac Hughes,
' and that without a date. The names of the confederates
'follow: Thomas Griffith, Griffith Nicholas, Evan Edmond,
1 John Edward, Elisha Thomas, Enoch Morgan, Richard Da-
' vid, James David, Elizabeth Griffith, Lewis Edmond, Mary
' John, Mary Thomas, Elizabeth Griffith, Jr., Jennet David,
1 Margaret Mathias, and Jennet Morris. These 16 persons
' (which may be styled a church emigrant and sailanl) met at
' Milford in the month of June, 1701 , and embarked on
' board the good ship James and Mary, and on the eighth
' of September following landed at Philadelphia. The breth-
' ren there treated them courteously and advised them to
' settle about Pennepek ; thither they went and there con-
' tinued about a year and a half. During their stay at Pen-
' nepek the following persons joined them, viz. : Bees Rhyd-
' darch, Catherine Rhyddarch, Esther Thomas, Thomas Morris,
' Hugh Morris, Peter Chamberlain, Mary Chamberlain, Mary
' Chamberlain, Jr., Mary Sorensee, Magdalen Morgan, Henry
' David, Elizabeth David, Samuel Griffith, Richard Seree, Re-
' becca Marpole, John Greenwater, Edward Edward, John
' James, Mary Thomas, Thomas John, Judith Griffith, and
' Mary John.
" But finding it inconvenient to tarry about Pennepek,
' they, in 1703, took up land in Newcastle County from
' Messrs. Evans, Davis, and Willis (who had purchased said
' Welsh-Tract from William Penn, containing about 30,000
' acres), and thither removed the same year and built a little
' meeting-house on the spot where the present stands. The
' same year were added to them from Wales, Thomas John
'and Rebecca John; and by baptism John Wild, Thomas
' Wild, James James, Sarah James, Jane Morgan, Samuel
' Wild, Mary Nicholas, Richard Bowen, David Thomas, Mary
' Bentley, and Jane Edwards.
" In 1709 were added from Kilcam, in Pembrokeshire
' (Samuel John pastor), John Devonallt, Mary Devonallt, Lewis
' Phillips, Catherine Edioard; and from East Jersey Philip
Vol. ix. — 4

50 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
" Trueax and Elizabeth Tilton; and from Pennepek, David
" Miles and Alee Miles.
" In 1710 the following Baptists were added from several
" parts of Wales, viz. : from Rhydwilim ( Jenkin Jones pastor),
" Lewis Philips, Rees David (a deacon), Thomas Evans, Thomas
" Edmund, Arthur Edward, Eleanor Philips, Susanna David,
"and Mary Wallis ; from said Kilcam, John Philips (an
" elder), Thomas Morris, Jenldn Jones (afterwards minister of
" Philadelphia), John Harry, John Boulton, Richard Edward,
"Eleanor Philips, Mary William, Elizabeth Harry, Susanna
" Owen, Mary Owen, Elizabeth John; from Lantivy (James
"James pastor), John Griffith (an elder), Rees Jones, Hugh
" Evan, David Lewis, Samuel Evan, Rachel Griffith, Esther
"John, Mary Evan; from Langenych (Morgan John pas-
" tor), Hugh David (afterwards minister of the Great Valley),
" Anthony Mathew, Simon Mathew, Simon Butler, Arthur Mel-
" chior, Hannah Melchior, Margaret David; from Lanwenarth
"(Timothy Lewis pastor), Jane James, Mary David; from
" Blaeneu-givent (Abel Morgan pastor), Joseph James.
"In 1711 were added, from said Rhydwilim, Elizabeth
" John ; from Lanvabon (Morgan Griffith pastor), William
" Miricks; from said Lanwenarth, James Jones, Ann Jones.
" The same year were added by baptism Thomas Rees, Thomas
" David, Margaret Evan, Sarah Emson, Rachel Thomas, Daniel
" Rees, William Thomas, John Thomas, Martha Thomas, John
" Evans, Lydia Evans.
"In 1712 were added from Pennepek Nicholas Stephens,
" Mary Stephens, John Pain, Elizabeth Pain.
"In 1713 were added from said Pennepek John Eaton,
" Jane Eaton, Joseph Eaton, Gwenllian Eaton, George Eaton,
" Mary Eaton; and the same year from said Lantivy Elias
" Thomas, Thomas Evan, Ann Evans, and from said Kilcam
" Philip Rees.
"In 1714 were added by baptism John Bentley, James
"James, Jr., Eleanor David, Mary Thomas, Ann Thomas,
"David John, Richard Lewis, Sarah Nicholas, Mary Lewis;
" from Philadelphia, Benjamin Griffith (afterwards minister
" of Montgomery), Emlin David, Catherine Hollinsworth ; from

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 51
" Cohansey (Timothy Brooks pastor), John Miller, Joanna
" Miller.
." In 1715 were added by baptism James James, Esq. (aged
" 16), John Jones, Richard Witten ; and the same year from
" said Rhydwilim, Griffith Thomas ; and from Radnor (Penn-
" sylvania) Mary Robinet.
" In 1716 were added by baptism Elizabeth John, David
" Davis, Thomas Richard and wife, Mary Price.
" In 1717 were added from said Pennepek Cornelius Van-
" sant, Richard Herbert, and by baptism his wife Sarah.
Note (1) The paragraphs marked with inverted commas
are translations from the records of Welsh-Tract, which
have been kept in the Welsh tongue (with some inter
mixture of English) down to the year 1732. Note (2) I
have transcribed more out of said records than my design
required in order to gratify my old friend Joshua Thomas
(of Leominster in Herefordshire), who thinks he may avail
himself of them relative to his history of the Welsh Bap
tists. Rernarkables.
Having followed Welsh-Tract Church from Wales to Pen
nepek, and from Pennepek to its present station, let us now
attend to what has been most remarkable in its progress
down to the present time. (1) It has existed for about
ninety years and increased from 16 to 108, besides deaths
and large detachments to form other churches. (2) It is a
mother church ; for that of Peedee, London-Tract, Duck Creek,
Wilmington, Cowmarsh, and Mispilion may be considered as
daughters. Peedee is a large river in South Carolina, re
markable for its meanderings, so as to form many peninsulas ^
on one of which settled the Welsh Baptists in 1736, and there
fore called the Welsh Neck. To form a church on said neck
the following persons were dismissed in the month of Novem
ber, 1736, viz. : " Abel Morgan (late minister of Middletown),
James James (a ruling elder), Thomas Evans (a deacon), Daniel
James, Samuel Wlds, John Harry, John Harry, Jr., Thomas
Harry, Jeremiah Rowell, Richard Barrow, James Money, No-

52 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
thaniel Evans, Mary James, Sarah James, Ann Evan, Mary
Wilds, Elizabeth Harry, Eleanor Jenkin, Sarah Harry, Mar
garet William, Mary Rowell, Sarah Barrow. The next year
(April 30, 1737) Samuel Evan, Mary Evan, (and Nov. 4 fol
lowing) Daniel Devonallt, Thomas James, Philip James (late
minister), David James, Abel James, David Harry, Simon Peer-
son, Mary Boulton, Catherine Harry, Elizabeth James, Elizabeth
Jones, Eleanor James, Mary Hugh. The next year (Nov. 3,
1739) Jane David, Mary Devonallt. And in 1741 (Nov. 1)
John Jones, Philip Douglas, Oliver Allison, Walter Down,
Elizabeth Jones, lattice Douglas, Rachel Allison, Rachel Down ;
in all 48 souls. Peedee Church had shot into seven branches
in 1772. In 1780 (Nov. 22) about 18 members of Welsh-
Tract were constituted a church at London-Tract. Several
were dismissed to form a church at Duck Creek in 1781, and
another at Cowmarsh in ditto ; another at Mispilion in 1783 ;
and another at Wilmington in 1785. (3) Welsh-Tract Church
was the principal if not sole means of introducing singing,
imposition of hands, ruling elders, and church covenants into the
Middle States. The Century confession was in America long
before the year 1716, but without the articles which relate
to those subjects ; that year they were added by Rev. Abel
Morgan, who translated the confession to Welsh. It was
signed by 122 of Welsh-Tract members. The said articles
were retained in the next English edition, and the whole
adopted by the Association of 1742. Singing psalms met
with some opposition, especially at Cohansey ; but laying on
of hands on baptized believers, as such, gained acceptance
with more difficulty, as appears by the following narrative
translated from the church book : " But we could not be in
" fellowship (at the Lord's table) with our brethren of Pen-
" nepek and Philadelphia, because they did not hold to the
" laying on of hands .- true ; some of them believed in the
"ordinance, but neither preached it up nor practised it;
" and when we moved to Welsh-Tract and left 22 of our
" members at Pennepek, and took some of theirs with us,
" the difficulty increased. We had many meetings in order
" to compromise matters, but to no purpose till June 22,

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 53
" 1706 ; then 25 deputies x met at the house of Brother
" Richard Miles in Radnor and agreed (1) That a member
" of either church may transiently communicate with the
"other church; (2) That every member who desireth to
" come under imposition of hands may have his liberty
"without offence; (3) That the votaries of the rite may
" preach or debate upon the subject with all freedom con-
" sistent with brotherly love. But three years after this
" meeting we had cause to review the transaction, because
" of some brethren that came from Wales, and one among
" ourselves (John Devonallt) who questioned whether the
" first article was. warrantable ; but we are satisfied that all
" was right by the good effects which followed : for from
"that time forth the brethren held sweet communion to
gether, and our minister was invited to preach at Pen-
" nepek and to assist at an ordination after the death of our
" Brother Watts. He proceeded from thence to the Jersey,
" where he enlightened many in the good ways of the Lord,
" insomuch that in three years after, all the ministers and
" 55 private members had submitted to the ordinance."
Another remarkable affair belonging to this church i3, that
between the year 1783 and the present, it received large ac
cessions of members by breaking new grounds; one ground
was between Christiana and Newcastle, about nine miles to
the east of this church ; the history of which take as follows :
About the year 1780 a certain Baptist of the name of David
Morton came (flying from the Indians) and settled in the
part ; he invited Mr. Boggs to preach at his house. Mr.
Boggs went, and continued his visits ; and the audience in
creased, so that the house could not contain them. One day,
as Mr. Boggs was preaching out of doors, a storm arose and
dispersed the assembly ; this induced two wealthy men pres-
1 The names of the deputies were, Eev. Messrs. Thomas Griffith, Sam
uel Jones, Elisha Thomas, Euoch Morgan, Joseph Wood ; and Messrs.
James James, Peter Chamberlain, Joseph Hart, John Freeman, Evan
Edmund, John Edward, Thomas John, David Miles, Samuel Griffith,
Eichard David, Hugh Morris, William Bettridge, John Snowden, John
Wild, Thomas Morris, Griffith Miles, John Swift, Jr., Joseph Todd,
John Okison, Edward Church.

54 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
ent (Messrs. Porter and Lewden)' to talk of building a meet
ing-house on the place. The talk at first had the air of pleas
antry, but ended in seriousness ; and a house was built in
1786, measuring 32 feet by 28, and denominated Bethel. It
stands on land containing half an acre, the gift of Messrs.
Ebenezer and Andrew Morten ; their conveyance is dated
Feb. 8, 1788. The other ground was about the river Elk in
Maryland, especially the town of Elk.
Temporalities.
A plantation, containing about 116 acres, the bequest of
Hugh Morris. His conveyance is not to be found in the land
office, and therefore must have been lost, along with many
others, in the time of the late war. There is a dwelling-house
on the premises, which, with the land, lets for 7 pounds a year.
Were the place in good order it would be a proper residence
for the minister, as it lies contiguous to the meeting-house
lot. (2) A hundred pounds, the gift of David Lewelin, which
Congress money has reduced to forty-eight pounds : also half
a plantation within less than a mile of the meeting-house,
but not to come into the hands of the church till after the
death of the widow, if then, as the heirs may be yet alive.
Mr. Lewelin's will is dated Jan. 23, 1777. (3) Ten pounds,
the gift of John Bowen; his will is dated Aug. 27, 1789.
(4) A plantation of about 25 acres, the bequest of Henry
Howell ; it was sold cheap because of the insufficiency of
the title, which (with expense of sickness and burial) hath
reduced the sale-money to about 9 pounds ; his will is dated
March 21, 1785. (5) Two hundred pounds, the gift of
Thomas Edmond. (6) Twelve pounds, the gift of Mary
Williams, but Congress money and casualty have reduced
all to about 3 pounds. Ministry.
The pulpit of this church hath been supplied for about 70
years with Welsh ministers ; the first was
Rev. Thomas Griffith.
He was born in 1645, in the parish of Lanvernach and

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 55
county of Pembroke ; took on him the care of the church
at the constitution in 1701, and was himself one of the con
stituents ; arrived at Philadelphia with his church Sept. 8,
1701 ; died at Pennepek, and was there buried July 25,
1725. His children were Elizabeth, Samuel, Isaac, Mary,
Judith ; these married among the Trueax, Goodings, Mor
gan and Fulton families, and raised him 18 grandchildren ;
most of whom were alive in 1770 under the names of Loyds,
Wards, Holmes, Halls, Likings, Morgans, Howells, and Grif
fiths. " Mr. Griffith visited the Jerseys pretty often, and was
of great service in instructing the people in the ways of the
Lord more perfectly, and in encouraging young men to use
their gifts, whereby their churches were soon supplied with
ministers of their own raising." His successor was
Rev. Elisha Thomas.
His name is written Elizeus in the first records of this
church ; but on his tomb, Elisha. He was born in 1674 in
Caermarthen County; arrived in this country with the
church whereof he was one of the first members ; he died
Nov. 7, 1730, and was buried in this grave-yard, where a
handsome tomb is erected to his memory. The top stone is
divided into several compartments, whereon open books are
raised, with inscriptions and poetry in Welsh and English.
He had two daughters, Rachel and Sarah. Rachel's first
husband was Rees Jones, by whom she had children, Rees,
Mary, Deborah. Rees and Deborah died childless. Mary
married the Honorable John Evans, Esq., and is dead with
all her children. Her aunt Sarah (the other daughter of
Rev. Elisha Thomas) married Daniel James, and went with
him to Pedee in 1736 ; she had a son Elisha James, who also
went to Carolina. To him Rees Jones, Jr., devised a plan
tation in Welsh-Tract; but on failure of issue in his line (as
well as in the line of Mary) he devised the same plantation
to trustees, to be chosen by the ministers of the Philadelphia
Association for educating Baptist youths of piety and genius
for the ministry. It was reported that the offspring of Elisha
James was also extinct, which has since been proved to be

56 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
fact; upon that report two grandchildren of Elias Thomas
(brother of Rev. Elisha Thomas) took possession ; but they
soon quitted their claim, and the trustees of the Philadelphia
Association demanded possession ; but the Evans refused to
resign, though by Rees Jones's will they have not the least
right to the plantation. This I cannot account for otherwise
(from the character of the Evans both in church and state)
than that they keep possession till the Association prove
their right to the place. Rees Jones's will is dated March
20, 1754, and witnessed by Rev. David Davis, Jonathan
Davis, and Hugh Glassford, who is yet alive. Mr. Thomas's
successor was Rev. Enoch Morgan.
He was brother to Rev. Abel Morgan, author of the
Welsh Concordance. Their father was Morgan Rhyddarch,
a famous Baptist minister in Wales ; but it was common in
that country to assume the personal names of the fathers for
the surnames of the children, and tacking them together by a
string of aps. I remember to have seen a Bible of my grand
father with the following writing in the title-page : Eiddo Ed
ward ap William ap Edward ap Dafydd ap Evan. Mr. Enoch
Morgan was born in 1676 at a place called Allt-goch, in the
parish of Lanwennog and county of Caerdigan ; arrived in
America with Welsh-Tract Church, being one of the con
stituents. He took on him the care of the church at Mr.
Elisha Thomas's decease. He died March 25, 1740, and
was buried in this grave-yard, where a tomb is erected to
his memory. His widow was alive in the year 1770, by
whom he had children Abel (late minister of Middletown),
Esther, and Enoch. Abel died a bachelor; the other two
married into the Douglas and Howel families, and raised
him many grandchildren, one of whom succeeds his uncle
in the church of Middletown. Mr. Enoch Morgan's suc
cessor was the Rev. Owen Thomas.
He was born in 1676 at a place named Gwrgodllys, in CU-
manllwyd parish and county of Pembroke ; came to America

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 57
in 1707 ; took the sole care of the church at Mr. Morgan's
decease; continued in the care thereof to May 27, 1748,
when he resigned to go to Yellowsprings, and where -he
died Nov. 12, 1760. His children were Elizabeth, Morris,
Rachel, Mary, David, Sarah, Owen ; these married into the
Thomas, Cantrel, Allison, Jury, Rogers, and Evans families,
and raised him 46 grandchildren. Mr. Owen Thomas left
behind him the following note : " I have been called upon
three times to anoint the sick with oil for recovery; the
effect was surprising in every case, but in none more so
than in the case of our brother Rynallt Howel : he was so
sore with the bruises he received by the falling on him a
cask from the wagon that he could not bear to be turned in
bed ; the next day he went to meeting." His successor was
Rev. David Davis.
He was born in the parish of Whitchurch and county of
Pembroke in 1708 ; came to America when a child, in 1710 ;
was baptized in the month of January, 1729 ; ordained in
1734, at which time he became pastor of the church. He
continued in the pastorship to August 19, 1769, when he died.
He was buried in this grave-yard, where a handsome stone
covers his remains. He was an excellent man, and is held
in dear remembrance by all that knew him. His children
were Rees, Jonathan (late minister of the Seventh-Day Bap
tist Church of Shiloh), John, Susanna, Mary, Margaret.
John was sometime pastor of the Second Church of Boston,
and died childless at the Ohio. The rest married into the
Miles, Bentley, Bonds, Pars, Thomas, and Booth families,
and have raised him many grandchildren. Contemporary
with him was Rev. Griffith Jones ; he officiated at Duck-
Creek, where see his history. Mr. Davis's successor was
Rev. John Sutton.
He took the oversight of the church Nov. 3, 1770, and
resigned in 1777 to go to Virginia. See his history in Vol.
II. p. 42. His successor is the present minister,

58 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
Rev. John Boggs.
He took on him the care of the church when he was or
dained, Dec. 5, 1781. He was born in East Nottingham,
April 9, 1741 ; bred a Presbyterian, and continued in that
profession for many years. In process of time he avowed
his present sentiments, and was baptized Nov. 3, 1771. His
first wife was Hanna Furniss, by whom he had children,
Jaen, Joseph, Elizabeth, and John. These married into
the Jones, Booth, Redman, Smith, and Dewees families,
and have raised him several grandchildren. His present
wife is the widow Griffiths. Mr. Boggs travels much, and
is well qualified for it, being a very able-bodied man. He is
popular among one class of hearers, and were he to labor at
finding out the fixed meaning of words, the right way of
pronouncing, accenting, and tacking them together in con
cords, he might be tolerable to classes of some refinements.
As it is, he grates their ears so with barbarisms as to
check their attention and hurt their feelings.
Postscript.
The late Dr. Fosket (principal of the Baptist Academy at
Bristol) was wont to say "that barbarisms in the pulpit
"were inexcusable; because they are the effect of" either a
" vain conceit of self-sufficiency or of laziness. An English-
" man with a grammar in his hand, a learned friend at his
" elbow, and hard study for about three months, might talk
" above contempt either in the pulpit or conversation.
" Words are to a preacher what tools are to a mechanic ;
" and if a mechanic has not his tools in good order will he
" not be a botch after he has done his best ?"
The next church in order of time is the
Sounds.
Sometimes named The head of the sounds: by each of
which descriptions. this little church is distinguished from
its sister churches. It is situated in Baltimore Hundred and

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 59
county of Sussex, about 150 miles towards s. b. w. from Phil
adelphia. The families which usually make up the congre
gation are about 30, whereof 14 persons are baptized and in
the communion, here administered four times in the year.
The minister is Rev. Jonathan Gibbins. No fixed salary ; no
temporality ; no meeting-house. They hold worship at the
houses of Messrs. Tull and Wilegoos. The above is the
present state of the Sounds Church, March 19, 1791.
History.
This church originated in the following manner. About
the close of 1778 or the beginning of 1779 Rev. Elijah Baker,
from Virginia, arrived in the parts ; and soon after him, Rev.
Philip Hughes, of the same Virginia. They both preached
here, at Broad Creek, Gravelly Branch, &c, and made many
proselytes, whom they baptized on profession of faith and
repentance, and formed them into churches, beginning at
the Sounds. The time was Aug. 12, 1779. The constituents'
names were John Gibbins, John Gibbins, Jr., Jonathan Gib-
bins, Samuel Gibbins, Sarah Gibbins, Jaen Gibbins, Elizabeth
Gibbins, Elizabeth Gibbins, Jr., Eliphas Dazey, Thomas Wile
goos, Tabitha Wilegoos, Isaac Duncan, Sarah Duncan, Sarah
Duncan, Jr., Mary Bull, John Tull, Hannah Tull, Mary Clark,
Mary Ake, Roda Hickman, Rachel Emson, and Rose, a negro ;
in all 25. Remarkables.
This is the first church in Sussex, and the second in the
State of Delaware ; and one of the ten which formed the
Salisbury Association in 1782. This Association was re
ceived into union with the Philadelphia Association in 1782.
(2) This church hath decreased in 13 years from 25 to 14,
owing to emigrations to other parts of America. (3) Out of
it sprang six ministers, viz. : John, Samuel, Jonatha Gib
bins ; Elipnaz Dazey, Gideon Farrel, Edward Carter Dingle-;
this last is son of a clergyman of the Church of England. But
he officiates in Maryland, and therefore out of my present
visitation.

60 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
Ministry.
The first ministers of this church were the fathers of it,
viz. : Rev. Messrs. Elijah Baker and Philip Hughes ; but they
are to be considered rather as Eoangelists than stationary
pastors ; for in Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware they have
planted 21 churches whom they visit as fathers do their
children. Their history is worth relating.
Rev. Elijah Baker is a native of Virginia, where he suf
fered much for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
The cause of his coming to this State was an invitation from
Thomas Batston, Esq., who had heard him preach (through
a window of Accomack jail) about the year 1778. The rude
Virginians (in order to silence him) took him out of jail
and put him on board a privateer, with orders to land him
on any coast out of America. Here he was compelled to
work, and for his refusing and praying and preaching and
singing was ill used. The privateer put him on board an
other ship, but the wind keeping contrary still, they began
to think that it was owing to their having poor Baker in
the harbor; therefore that other ship put him on board a
third, and the third put him ashore. When Jonas found
himself on the dry land, he remembered Squire Batston's
invitation and hastened to his house; this good Squire died
this day, March 19, 1791. His companion in travels (Mr.
Hughes) has promised me a full history of this extraordi
nary man, which he has not performed, though I have stirred
up his pure mind to it in three letters ; but it will come into the
history of the Baptists in Virginia.
Rev. Philip Hughes shares in the praise which Mr. Baker
has in all the churches. He was born in Colver County Nov.
28, 1750 ; bred a churchman ; avowed his present sentiments
Aug. 10, 1773, when he was baptized by Rev. David Thomp
son. Called to the ministry in Rowanty Church ; ordained
in Virginia Aug. 13, 1776. His wife is Esther Pollock, by
whom he has children, Whitfield, Ann, Mary. He printed
a volume of hymns at Wilmington in 1782, some of which
are of his composing ; also, in 1784, he printed at the same

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 61
place an answer to a Virginia clergj'man on the subject of
baptism. He was obliged twice to appear on the stage to
dispute on the subject : once at Fouling Creek, in Mary
land, in 1782 : his challenger was one Willis, a Methodist
preacher. Victory was announced by both parties ; but facts
varied much. Three men nominated for class-leaders, with
many others, were (in consequence of this dispute) baptized
by Mr. Hughes. The other dispute was held near the mouth
of Potommak in 1785. His challenger was another Meth
odist preacher by the name of Coles. Here victory was de
cisive ; for 22 of the audience were baptized next day, and
soon after about as many more by Rev. Mr. Lewis Lunsford.
During the absence of Baker and Hughes the church was
supplied in a transient way till
Rev. Jonathan Gibbins
became their pastor. He was born in Broad Creek Hundred
Dec. 16, 1751 ; called to the ministry in this church and
here ordained by Messrs. Hughes and Dazey April 16, 1787.
Had also the care of Broad Creek till they obtained a minis
ter of their own. Mr. Gibbins's wife is Elizabeth Carpen
ter, by whom he has children, Ann, Elizabeth, Mary, and
Sarah. To'be continued.

198 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
Eunice Gordy, Rebecca Cormin, Sophia Shahavane, Comfort
Boyce, Sarah Phillips, James Perdue, Ann Perdue, William
Oliffin, Elizabeth Oliffin, Rhoda Pointer, Delilah Perdue,
George Davis, and Mary Davis, and two negroes, Neal
and Rachel : these 47 persons were constituted into a
church (May 31, 1781) by Rev. Messrs. E. Baker. and John
Gibbins. Remarkables.
This is the second church in Sussex, and the third in the
State, and one of the ten which formed the Salisbury Asso
ciation in 1782. (2) This church hath in ten years decreased
from 47 to 23 : the reason is, several families have moved
from hence to Georgia and other southern parts about the
year 1784 ; and a large number was dismissed to form a
church at Gravelly Branch in 1785.
Ministry.
The first ministers of this church were the fathers of it,
viz. : Rev. Messrs. Baker and Hughes : they visit their chil
dren at seasons to this day. Mr. Baker was here since my
arrival (March 10, 1791) ; and Hughes last Sunday (March
20) : but the first that settled among them was
Rev. John Gibbins.
He was born in this neighborhood in the year 1739 ;
bred a Presbyterian ; embraced the sentiments of the Bap
tists among the first of Baker's and Hughes's converts ; or
dained at Fouling Creek ; then he travelled till he settled
with this church in 1784 ; died Nov. 6, 1786. His wife was
Mrs. Dingle, widow of a clergyman of the Church of Eng
land. He had to his brother, Rev. Samuel Gibbins, to
whose occasional labors the churches in Delaware and
other States are much beholden. He remedied the defects
of his education by personal industry (and the help of Rev.
Jer. Walker) so far as to be master of his mother-tongue ;
and (in a conversation I had with him in 1786) he lamented
that he could not read the gospel in the language of Christ

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 199
and his apostles, without which knowledge (of Greek) he
deemed it impossible to study his Testament critically, as
so much depends on the little particles, viz. : prepositions,
adverbs, conjunctions, etc. He was therefore determined to
visit R. I. College; but the smallpox stopped his progress
at Wilmington, where he died soon after. I contracted
intimacy with said Walker in my tour through Virginia in
1772. I found him remarkable for strength of memory
and industry ; the English grammar he published is much
thought of. Mr. Gibbins's successor is the present minister,
Rev. John Benson.
He was born in Worcester County in Maryland July 22,
1758 ; bred a Presbyterian ; after he became a Baptist he
was employed in reading sermons to the people when no
minister happened to be present : afterwards he was desired
to preach in the assembly of the church. He continued this
course to June 14, 1790, when he was ordained and took the
oversight of the church in conjunction with that of Gravelly
Branch. He has an assistant of the name of Joshua Gib
bins. The family of the Gibbins (like that of the Suttons)
have furnished the churches with many ministers, and are
the first fruit of Sussex (as that of Stephanas was of Achaid),
and, like his family, have addicted themselves to the minis
try of the saints. Eight were in the constitution of the
Sounds Church, six in that of Broad Creek; five of the
same family became preachers. The next church in order
of time is
Cowmarsh.
The church is distinguished as above from a tract of land
of the same name, in Murderkill Hundred and county of
Kent, about 92 miles toward s. s,w. G.w. from Philadelphia.
They hold worship chiefly at the house of Job Meredith, Sr.,
for a meeting they have not ; the families, about 30, whereof
27 persons are baptized and in the communion, here cele
brated once a quarter. No minister. No fixed salary ; nor
many rich. The above is the present state of Cowmarsh,
March 4, 1791.

200 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
History.
The first Baptist minister who preached at Cowmarsh was
Mr. John Sutton, then minister of Welsh-Tract ; this was
in 1770. After him Rev. Messrs. Stelle, Kelsay, Worth and
others visited the parts. In 1772 Rev. James Sutton (from
Tuckiho) came and baptized four, viz. : JohnPrice and biawife,
Grace Reynold, Elizabeth Reynold. Others were baptized here,
and some at Welsh-Tract, viz. : William Price, Rebecca Price,
John Patten, Elizabeth Patten, Job Meredith, Jacob Meredith,
Jacob Meredith, Jr., David Meredith, Elizabeth Meredith, Wil
liam Belts, Elizabeth Belts, Jacob Growell, Susanna Robinson,
Sarah Lewis, Sarah Goodwin, Lucretia Bostwick, Daniel Carter,
Joshua Dewees, Elizabeth Dewees, Mary McGifford, Elizabeth
Patten, Jr., Alee a negro. These 26 persons (some of whom
had joined Welsh-Tract Church) were formed into a body
ecclesiastic by Messrs. Boggs and Fleeson, July 18, 1781 ;
and in 1786 joined the Association. Remarkables.
This little church hath existed for ten years, and is but
one more in number than at the constitution in 1781. One
reason is, the detachment that was made from it to form a
church at Mispillion. (2) A resolution was formed in 1781
to build a meeting-house, and a considerable sum was sub
scribed ; but their active friend (Luff Meredith) dying, the
design failed : but they talk of putting it in execution this
coming summer. (3) This church and that of Mispillion are,
in part, the offspring of Welsh-Tract Church. (4) The
principal families, viz. : the Prices and Merediths, are
of Welsh extraction. Ministry.
The ministers who officiated at Cowmarsh from the be
ginning have been mentioned already; the only one they
have had since was Rev. Eliphaz Dazey.
He took the oversight of this church April 21, 1787, in

History of the Baptists in Delaware., 201
conjunction with that of Duck Creek; but resigned Oct. 25,
1788. Since that time Messrs. Ferrel, Dewees, and others
have ministered to them. Mr. Dazey was born near Indian
River, in Sussex Couuty, Oct. 26, 1754 ; called to the minis
try at the Sounds in the month of April, 1782; ordained
July 12, 1784. Next fall went to Mispillion, and in 1787
to Cowmarsh and Duck Creek, and thence to Chester, in
Pennsylvania ; there he married Miss Jemima Leonard, by
whom he had a daughter named Harriet. The next church
in point of age is Duck Creek.
So named from the hundred where most of the people re
side in the county of Kent, about 72 miles to s. s.w. h.w. from
Philadelphia. The meeting-house is of bricks, built in 1771,
and accommodated with a good stove. It stands on a lot of
one acre, the gift of John and Philemon Dickinson ; their
conveyance is dated Nov. 17, 1772. The dimensions of the
house are 30 feet by 25 ; the families about 60, whereof 74
persons are professed Baptists and in the communion, here
administered the fourth Sunday in the month. The church
consists of three branches ; one near, another at Eastland-
ing where a meeting-house is to be built,1 the third at
Georgetown in Maryland. This branch sprouted in the fol
lowing manner: towards the end of July, 1785, Messrs. Flee-
son and Boggs preached in the neighborhood at the request
of a certain Methodist of the name of Parsons; other minis
ters visited the parts until about 16 persons were proselyted
to their way : these joined Duck Creek Church. The Lord's
Supper is administered to this branch by Rev. Mr. Ferrel
once a quarter. He and the two following are the present
ministers of Duck Creek ; the revenue is unknown, but sup
posed to be about 100 pounds. The above is the present
state of Duck Creek Feb. 2, 1791.
1 And was built in 1791 — its dimensions are 25 feet by 20 ; it is ac
commodated with a stove, and stands on a lot of half an acre, the gift of
Hugh Durborow : his conveyance is not yet signed. The Presbyterians
contributed to the building of the house, and therefore have the use of
it.
Vol. ix. — 14

202 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
History.
The tract of land which is known, at present, by the name
of Duck Creek Hundred was settled in the year 1733 by a
number of Welsh families, some of the Independent and
some of the Baptist denomination. The Independents built
a meeting-house near the spot where the Baptist meeting
house now stands, and called it Brynsion, viz. : Mount Zion.
They had divine service performed in it by Presbyterian
ministers, viz. : Rev. Messrs. Thomas Evans, Rees Lewis,
David Jemison, etc., but in process of time this Independent
society dwindled away, and the Baptists made use of their
house while it stood. The Independents neglected to have
the lot conveyed over to them, by which means it reverted
to the Dickinsons, and continued in their hands till con
veyed to the Baptists at the time before related.1 The
Baptist families who settled in the same district were about
nine : the names of the heads of them were James Hyatt,
Nathaniel Wild, David Evan, Evan Rees, David Rees,
James Howel, Evan David Hughs, Joshua Edward ; this last
preached to them till he went to Peedee in South Carolina ;
I saw him there in 1772. These Baptist families came
hither from Welsh-Tract, and were members of that church ;
and the ministers of Welsh-Tract preached and administered
ordinances among them, viz. : Enoch Morgan, Nov. 18,
1734; and again July 19, 1737; Rev. Hugh Davis (of the
great valley), May 18, 1735 ; he preached at Brynzion
meeting-house ; otherwise they met at the house of James
Hyatt. Rev. David Davis, Sept. 18, 1737, worship was then
held at the house of Evan David Hugh. In 1749 Rev. Grif
fith Jones settled at Duck Creek and continued with this
branch of Welsh-Tract Church to his death, Dec. 4, 1757
1 The above particulars and some which follow, I have gleaned from
an old manuscript that was put into my hands by Eisdon Bishop, Esq. : it
was written by an Independent of the name of Joshua Evans. The writer
was a scholar, as appears by the correctness of his English and some
sprinklings of Latin. I received further information from Mr. Joseph
David (father-in-law to my step-daughter), who is now in his 77th year,
and well remembers all the settlers and their proceedings.

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 203
(see his history in Vol. I. p. 24).1 In the spring of 1766
Rev. William Davis (of New Britain) settled here and con
tinued with the people to his death, Oct. 3, 1768 (see Vol.
I. p. 52).2 After him Rev. Messrs. David Davis, John Sutton,
John Boggs, Thomas Fleeson and others preached here till
the number of Baptists had increased to 30 souls ; then they
petitioned Welsh- Tract Church for leave to become a dis
tinct church. The names of constituents follow : Daniel
David, Rachel David, Lydia Jones, Samuel Griffin, Mary
Griffin, Martha Griffin, Rachel Griffin, Mary Griffin, Jr.,
Elizabeth Griffin, Lydia Griffin, Lewis Williams, Ruth Wil
liams, Rhoda Wallis, Eleanor Spruance, Elizabeth Roe, Coesar
Roe, Martha Meredith, Deborah Dickinson, Hugh Durborow,
Martha Durborow, Mary Anderson, Rebecca Mc Vay, Rhuhamah
Parkerson, Martha Owens, Mary Thompson, Elizabeth Greely,
Moleston Curry, James Darkling, Andrew Loekart, Mary Lynch.
These 30 persons were constituted a church by Messrs.
Fleeson and Boggs, Nov. 24, 1781, and in 1786 were re
ceived into the Association of Philadelphia. Note (1) The
covenant of this church is without date and without signers,
and therefore no covenant; the dates I obtained from Mr.
Fleeson's journal. Note (2) The names of the members run
in one continued list without any distinction between the con
stituents and the members afterwards added; the above 30
1 From volume I. p. 24. — Griffith Jones. He was born Oct. 8, 1695, at
a place called Alltfawr in the parish of Llanon and County of Car
marthen. Entered on the ministry in the nineteenth year of his age.
Settled first at Penysai, and afterwards at Chesenhengoed. Came to
America in 1749, and settled at Duck Creek. Died Dec. 4, 1754, and,
was buried at Pencader. He had two wives, by whom he had children,
Mary, Samuel, Morgan (now minister of Hempstead in England), John
Benjamin, Eobert, and Eachel.
2 From volume I. p. 52. — He was born in 1695, at Castellneth in
Glamorganshire. Came to this country first in 1722, but soon went
back again. He returned in 1737, and settled at Vincent; thence he
removed to Newbritain, and had the joint care of the church to his
death, which came to pass Oct. 3d, 1768. He was buried at James'
hundred in Kent county. He had two children, William and Mary,
who married into the Evans and Caldwell families, and have raised him
fourteen grandchildren.

204 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
were pointed out to me, by Dr. Jones, as the persons who
formed the corporation in 1781.
Remarkables.
The people of Duck Creek continued a branch of Welsh-
Tract from 1733 to 1781, which was a period of 48 years.
(2) Since they became a church their number hath increased
from 30 to 47 in the space of ten years.
Temporalities.
A lot in the town of Duck Creek Crossroads measuring
7 perches square, the gift of Isaac and Mary Griffin ; their
deed bears date July 1, 1789. Ministry.
The ministers who officiated at Duck Creek before the
people became a church have been mentioned; but since
the constitution the following had and have the care of
them, viz. : Rev. Eliphaz Dazey.
I find that he was received into membership in this July
23, 1784, which I suppose was the time he began to act the
pastor among them; however, he resigned Oct. 25, 1787
(see his history under Cowmarsh). His successors are the
present ministers, viz. :
Rev. James Jones.
He took the joint oversight of the church April 8, 1789,
when he was ordained by Rev. Messrs. Fleeson, Boggs,
Dazey, and Dewees. Mr. Jones was born in Welsh-Tract
April 6, 1756; was licensed in that church Nov. 2, 1782.
Had his education at Newark Academy, and in the same
Newark studied physic. His wife is Mary Crayton, by
whom he hath children Sarah, Susanna. His colleague is
Rev. John Patten.
He took the joint care of the church at the same time

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 205
with Mr. Jones ; for they were ordained the same day and
by the same persons. Mr. Patten was born in Cowmarsh
Dec. 15, 1752. Was licensed in that church June 14, 1788.
His wife is Elizabeth Lockwood, by whom he has children,
James, Richard, Margaret, Samuel. Their colleague is
Rev. Gideon Ferrel.1
He is a native of Maryland ; born in Talbot County, Sept.
2, 1763; brought up a Quaker; became a Baptist at the
Sounds, where he was licensed in the month of June, 1788 ;
ordained at Churchill, Jan. 1790. He resides near George
town, and has the care of one branch of this church which
reside there. His wife is Mary Tull, by whom he has chil
dren Jacob and Mary. The next younger church is
Gravelly Branch.
This church is distinguished by the above name, which is
the name of a branch of Nanticoke River, and in Nanticoke
Hundred and county of Sussex, at the distance of 99 miles
towards s. b. w. from Philadelphia. The families about 62,
whereof 69 persons are professed Baptists and in the com
munion, here administered once a quarter. The minister is
Rev. John Benson ; his income about 30 pounds. No meet
ing as yet, but soon will be as materials are prepared. They
hold worship at the house of John Willis, where a movable
pulpit is prepared. The above is the present state of Grav
elly Branch, March 10, 1791. History.
The rise and settlement of this church are owing to the
ministry of the forementioned Baker and Hughes. When
1 Since the above was written Messrs. Patten and Ferrel have resigned
all care of this church and have gone elsewhere, but another has risen
up among themselves to supply their place; his name is William Davis,
and (if I understand my informer right) he is grandson of the Eev. Wil
liam Davis, whose history may be seen in Vol. I. p. 52. Be that as may,
our William Davis was born at Duck Creek May 9, 1757 ; licensed Sept.
27, 1794.

206 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
they had made and baptized 23 disciples in the neighbor
hood they formed them into a church July 30, 1785 ; their
names are Milbern Dukes, Rachel Dukes, John Willis, Ann
Willis, Mathew Marine, John Hinson, Richard Crockett, Eliza
beth Crockett, Anna Crockett, John Graham, Ann Graham,
Edward Carter Dingle, Comfort Boys, Marjery Hins, Pricilla
Carter, Isaac Fisher, Elizabeth Fisher ; and the following
negroes, Rachel, Francis, Marian, Bonny, Jenny.
Remarkables.
This church hath now existed for six years and increased
from 23 to 69. (2) It was received into the Salisbury As
sociation in 1785. (3) A revival took place in this church
in 1788 whereby 35 members were added to it.
Ministry.
The original preachers and fathers of this church have
been often mentioned, viz. : Messrs. Baker and P. Hughes :
since the constitution Rev. Jonathan Gibbins
hath had the care of them (see his history under the Sounds
Church). His successor is the present minister, viz. :
Rev. John Benson.
He took the oversight of the church (June 14, 1790) when
he was ordained ; the ordainers were Messrs. Hughes, Pol
lard, Gibbins, and Dingle. Mr. Benson was born (July 22,
1758) in Worcester County in Maryland. Bred a church
man. His wife is Tabitha Hitchins, by whom he has chil
dren William, Elijah, Gideon, Tabitha. The next church
in order of time is Mispillion.
It is so distinguished from the hundred where the people
reside, in the county of Kent, about 90 miles g. b. w. westerly
from Philadelphia; the families about 18, whereof 11 per-

History of the Baptists in Delaware, 207
sons are baptized and in the communion, here administered
quarterly. The minister is Rev. Joshua Dewees. No fixed
salary. No meeting-house. No temporality. Worship is
commonly held at the house of Cornelius Dewees. The
above is the present state of Mispillion, March 7, 1791.
History.
The Baptist interest got footing at Mispillion by means of
Rev. Messrs. Boggs and Fleeson, who were invited to preach
here about the year 1781. They repeated their visits and
baptized some, five of whom joined Cowmarsh. After them
Rev. Messrs. Baker, Hughes, and others preached and bap
tized till 20 Baptists we made at Mispillion: their names
were Joshua Dewees, Elizabeth Dewees, Rachel Dewees, Corne
lius Dewees, Cornelius Dewees, Jr., Ann Dewees, John Dewees,
Mary Dewees, Isaac Dewees, Mary Furchase, Martin Purchase,
Peter King, Ann King, Ruth Merony, Ccelia Jester, Avery
Draper, William Merony, Esther Draper, James Thisslewood:
these were formed into a church by said Fleeson and Boggs,
May 10, 1783. Remarkables.
This church hath decreased in eight years from 20 to 11,
owing to deaths, emigration, and no additions equal to losses;
and, it is to be feared, will soon come to nothing, as their
minister purposes going to the western world in May next.
(2) This church joined the Association of Philadelphia in
1785, but was dismissed to the Salisbury Association in 1790.
Ministry.
The first who labored in these parts have been mentioned.
Since they became a church
Rev. Eliphaz Dazey
ministered to them ; he was received into membership July
23, 1784, which must have been the beginning of his pas-
.torship, but he resigned Dec. 24, 1785. His successor is
the present minister,

208 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
Rev. Joshua Dewees.
He was born in this neighborhood May 3, 1742. Bred a
Presbyterian. Called to the ministry in this church in 1785.
Ordained by Rev. Messrs. Fleeson, Boggs, and Dazey, Dec.
26,1785. His first wife was Elizabeth Bowman ; his second,
Hannah Birch ; his third, Elizabeth New, by whom he had
children, Anna, Thomas, Lewis, Samuel, William, James,
Jethro, Joshua, Elizabeth, Jr., Mary. The two first are
married into the Brandel and Spencer families. The reason
of his going to the back-woods was, that he might have land
for his great family, which, I think, is a very good reason.
Mr. Dewees's transition from a state of nature to a state of
grace was tedious and distressing : his account of that tran
sition put me in mind of what John Banyan saith of himself
in his Grace abounding, etc. ; but it will not be long before he
make another transit from a state of grace to a state of glory,
for his lungs are wasting fast. The youngest church is
Wilmington.
This church is distinguished, as above, from the town
where the meeting-house stands, in Christiana Hundred and
county of New Castle, 27 miles towards s. w. b. w. h. w. from
Philadelphia. The dimensions of the house are 40 feet by 35;
it was built of bricks in 1785, on a lot of 210 feet by 60, the
gift of Joseph Steadham, Esq. ; but a part is reserved by the
donor for his own use. His conveyance is dated Aug. 23,
1784. The house is accommodated with a stove, and will
be a neat building when finished, for as yet it is but a shell.
The families which usually make up the congregation are
about 36, whereof 54 persons are baptized and in the com
munion, here celebrated quarterly. No temporality. Salary
uncertain till the debt of the meeting-house be discharged.
The above is the present state of Wilmington Church, May
9, 1791. History.
There were Baptists in Wilmington long before a Baptist
Church existed in town; particularly Mrs. Ann Bush (a

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 209
member of Welsh-Tract Church) ; she settled here in 1748.
In 1764 Mrs. Elizabeth Way (a member of Brandywine)
came to the same place. In 1769 Mr. John Stow (member
of Philadelphia) arrived here with his family. The residing
of these Baptists here induced Baptist ministers to preach
in town, but made no proselytes ; in so much that Wilming
ton was supposed not to be a proper soil to plant Baptists
in. The first time that a prospect opened to the contrary
was between the years 1782 and 1784; the means were (1)
the preaching of Rev. Messrs. Boggs, Fleeson, and Hughes.
(2) A religious society kept at the house of Mr. (now Rev.)
Thomas Ainger ; he settled in town in the month of April,
1783. Mr. Hughes came hither in 1782, and again in 1784.
By the above means some (who had been converted long
before) were quickened to do their duty ; these were bap
tized by Mr. Boggs (May 25, 1784) ; their names are Thomas
Ainger, Rachel Ainger, Noah Cross, Mrs.  Ferris. The
same year Mr. Hughes baptized four more, viz. : Robert Smith,
John Redman, Henry Walker, James (now Rev.) Macklaugh-
lan ; the last is a New England convert ; two of the other
attribute their conversion to the said society. Mr. Hughes
came to this town (in 1782) to print a volume of hymns,
most of which are of his own composing; and in 1784 to
print an answer to a Virginia clergyman on the subject of
baptism. This detained him in town for several weeks,
during which time he preached constantly, sometimes at
Mr. 'McKennan's meeting-house, and sometimes at the town
school-house, and gained much attention. Messrs. Fleeson
and Boggs continued to visit the place alternately and bap
tized others; their names are Thomas Williams, Joseph
Tomlinson, John McKim, Curtis Gilbert, Sarah Stow, Elizabeth
Hopkins, Mary Matson : to these twelve must be added four
more who had been baptized elsewhere, viz. : John Stow,
Thomas Stow, Elizabeth Way, and- Abigail Ainger: these 16
persons were formed into a church Oct. 8, 1785, by Rev.
Messrs. Griffiths, Fleeson, Boggs, and Dazey, and the next
year were received into the Association.

210 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
Remarkables.
Though the church of Wilmington hath existed but six
years yet hath it increased from 16 to 54, besides deaths and
detachments to other churches. (2) Several ministers sprang
up in this church, young as it is, viz. : Rev. Messrs. Thomas
Ainger, James McLaughlan, and Curtis Gilbert. Another
has been licensed upon an appearance of pulpit-talents ; his
name is Henry Walker ; he now resides at Alexandria in
Virginia. (3) When believers-baptism starts up in anyplace it
raises commotions aud outcries, because the little image (in
fant sprinkling) " which fell down from Jupiter, and whom
Asia and all the world worship, is like to be set at naught
and its magnificence despised" it happened so at Wilming
ton ; for three societies (votaries of said little image) com
bined to preach down the monster Anabaptism. The minister
of one congregation said not much against it, but exhibited
a Swedish picture which shewed the manner in which John
baptized Jesus, and which satisfied some who had been
alarmed at hearing that neither sprinkling nor pouring was
baptism. The minister of the other congregation showed
no mercy to the said minister, but assured his congegation
that, after studying his Greek Testament for three weeks, he
could aver that to Sa-KTe&uv signified to sprinkle and pour as
well as to dip : he also introduced father Abraham as the
author of said little image, though the seed of Abraham were
refused baptism on that plea, and forbidden the use of it in
future (Mat. III. 9). Add to the above that he took a Bap
tist pamphlet to the pulpit and made some pleasant remarks
upon it and the author : this pamphlet was written by Rev.
Philip Hughes in answer to a Virginia clergyman of the
Church of England; let any unprejudiced person read the
pamphlet and he will know what to think of our pert censor's
pleasantry. During the said commotion a veteran divine of
a third society taught his people to love their neighbors as
themselves ; his name is McKennan.

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 211
Ministry.
Some of the ministers who labored at Wilmington have
been mentioned already, viz. : Rev. Messrs. Hughes, Boggs,
and Fleeson : the two last deserve further notice, for they
not only preached often to the people, but exerted them
selves to collect money towards building their meeting
house, the first stone of which was laid by Mr. Fleeson ; he
also saved (from the care of his own church) much of his
time to serve them between 1785 and 1788, when one of
their own members rose up to take the pastoral care of the
church, viz. : Rev. Thomas Ainger.
Somewhat of his history hath occurred already ; to which
may be added that he was born in Philadelphia May 12,
1755; bred a Presbyterian, and continued in that commun
ion to May 25, 1784, when he was baptized by Rev. P.
Hughes. Called to the ministry April 15, 1786. Licensed
May 19, 1787. Ordained by Rev. Messrs. Dr. Jones, David
Jones, Eliphaz Dazey, Oct. 28, 1788 ; at which time he took
on him the care of the church. His wife is Abigail Scull
(widow of William Ferris), but no issue. He received serious
impressions (of the religious kind) when young, which wore
off; when he advanced to manhood they returned with more
vigor and permanency. He followed them to what Presby
terians call full communion, but was all the while a stranger
to the liberty of the children of God ; this liberty he obtained
about the beginning of 1780; the means were his reading
the eighth chapter of Romans, particularly the first verse,
There is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. This
he read (as it were) with new eyes, and consequently with
new sensations, in so much that fears vanished and confi
dence took their place. He had frequent doubts relative to
the validity of infant baptism while in the Presbyterian
communion which he strove to suppress ; but being on the
banks of Schuylkill (when baptism was celebrated in that
river by Rev. P. Hughes) all his doubts vanished : so con-

212 History of the Baptists in Delaware.
formable to the gospel history of baptism appeared the
whole transaction that he determined to go and do likewise.
Syllabus.
Baptist Churches in Delaware  8
Members  380
Families, about  376
Souls (allowing 5 to a family) about .... 1880
Ministers ordained . . . . . . . 9
Ministers licenciate  3
Meeting-houses  4
List of churches : the figures refer to the pages [in the original manuscript.
The Index will supply the reader with the reference for the Magazine.]
Welsh-Tract  160
Sounds  180
Broad Creek  185
Cowmarsh  189
Duck Creek  192
Gravelly Branch  199
Mispillion  201
Wilmington  204
List of ministers.
Ainger, Thomas  209
Boggs, John  178
Baker, Elijah  182
Benson, John  188
Davis, David  177
Dazey, Eliphaz  191
Davis, William  195
Dewees, Joshua  203
Ferrel, Gideon  198
Fleeson, Thomas  209
Griffith, Thomas  173
Gibbins, Jonathan  184
Gibbins, John  187
Gibbins, Samuel  187
Jones, Griffith  195
Jones, James  197
Morgan, Enoch  176
Patten, John  198
Sutton, John  178

History of the Baptists in Delaware. 213
Sutton, James  190
Thomas, Owen  177
Thomas, Elisha . .  174
Postscript.
In the preface to the second volume I advised the pur
chasers not to bind their books for a reason there given. I
repeat the same advice with regard to this volume ; because
three volumes more will complete the history of the Baptists
in the Middle States. I also requested that if any error or
defect should be discovered in that volume I might be in
formed of it, for the sake of correcting or supplying the
same. No person (except he should try the experiment)
can imagine the difficulty, if not impossibility, of correctness
and accuracy in such an undertaking as I and others have
been engaged in. Truth is the daughter of time. By it
have mistakes in all histories been corrected.

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