Early Members of Antioch Baptist Church
!Note that there are several lists of names. Make sure you scroll down to see all of them!
Antioch Baptist Church is located in Cherokee County, S.C., very close to Kings Mountain Battle Ground and not far from the North Carolina line, in the vicinity of Grover, N.C., and Blacksburg, S.C. It is within the section of Cherokee County formerly a part of York County, S.C.
This neighborhood was not originally settled by Baptists. The venerable Abraham Hardin (1789-1881), who served the church as deacon from its organization until his death, described the earliest inhabitants as “a people that had never heard a Baptist minister preach, had never saw any one Baptized by Immersion, with whom it was a show to see the Baptist diping—who thought and said that they had no need of chage of heart, that they had been made Christians in Childhood by baptism, that their parants had them baptized, had raised them in the nerture and admonition of the Lord, and that it would be sinful in them to renounce what their parents had done for them …” The deacon was commenting on the influence of the nearby Shiloh Presbyterian Church and its Scotch-Irish constituency.
This church had its origins in a revival in the Buffalo Baptist Church (established before the Revolution, located several miles to the west) in 1812, when some of the people on Kings Creek were converted to the Baptist faith. These people soon invited Wm Martin, “a young minister or rather a new beginer,” to preach to them. His first sermon was preached “in the woods,” and his second, a month later, was delivered at Michael Whisonant's. The people proceeded to build a “stand” of logs at a spot on the old Cherokee road known as the Wolfpit. This has remained the site of the church.
In 1813 this congregation was organized as an arm of Buffalo Church, with Wm Martin serving as moderator and George Wilkie as “clark” of the first monthly conference. In 1814 Shurard James, Matthew Wilson and Abraham Hardin were elected deacons. During that or the following year the church was formally constituted under the name, “The Baptist Church of Christ at Antioch,” with sixty-two members, thirty of whom had formerly been members of Buffalo. Wm Martin was chosen as pastoral supply. After two years' service in that capacity, he was succeeded in 1817 by George Wilkie who served until September 1837, when and his wife Caty were granted Letters of Dismission. In 1838 James M. Thomas and T.K. Pursley appear as Elders, and John Mullinax was ordained to the eldership. In 1841 Ransom P. Logan, recently admitted to membership by letter as a “licensed preacher,” was ordained elder. In 1843 Wade Hill (presumably ordained in another church) was elected pastoral supply. In 1845 Thomas Dickson was ordained elder.
Joseph Whisonant donated the land on which the meeting house stood. A deed was made by him in 1816 to the deacons Shirad James, Abraham Hardin, Matthew Wilson, Thomas Martin and Edward Bird for five acres on Kings Creek, including Antioch Meeting House and a spring (York Co., SC, Deeds, H:182-183).
The Church's Minutes of Monthly Conferences were carefully and quite literately maintained from 1815. The earliest clerks were Edward Bird, from 1814 until 1843, then Abraham J. Guyton until 1849, and then G.R. Whisenant until 1872. These records have been microfilmed by the Baptist Historical Collection at Furman University, Greenville, S.C., with whose kind permission the following data have been copied for publication.
The earliest list of members consists of the named attached to the church covenant adopted in 1838. Some names toward the end of the list, however, were obviously added later. These are the names:
T.K. Pursley
John Mullinax Dis.
Abraham Hardin
Isaac Mullinax Dis.
Joseph Whisonant
Elijah Wilson
James Altom Dis.
Edward Bird
Michael Whisonant
Joseph Mullenax
Elijah Spurlin Dis'd
William Kent
Aaron Whisonant
Hezekiah Inman
Elisha Hardin
Thomas Lowr
John Smith
Levi Inman
Jacob Hullender
James Gabby
Fielding Bell
Henry Weston (dismissed June 1838)
Elijah Carrol
Francis Adams (dismissed June 1838)
Hugh Borders
William Earles Sr.
William Earles Jr. Ex.
Balis Earles
Benjamin Waterson Dis'd
Levi Inman
Martin Earles
Preston Herman Dis.
David Whisonant
Samuel Kent
Madison Mullenax D.
Silas Bookout
Zephaniah Dover (dismissed Aug. 1839)
John P. Bird
Albert Ellis Ex.
H.W. Carrol D.
David Blalock D.
Kisiah Carrol D.
Elizabeth James
Mary Wilson
Unity Whisonant
Maryann Biggers
Mary Earles
Mary Waterson
Elizabeth Altom Dis.
Fereby Evans
Mary Waterson
Susannah Spurlin
Patsy Jarrel
Mary Patterson
Rebecca Carrol
Sarah Hardin
Rachel Hardin
Sarah Earles Dis.
Patsy Whisonant
Eliza Whisonant
Polly Robison
Sarah Spurlin Dis.
Elizabeth Hullender
Hesther Reid (dismissed Nov. 1839)
Delilah Earles
Elizabeth Carrol D.
Maria Lutz D.
Edy Parker
Cinthia Adams (wf of Francis) Dis.
Nancy Blanton dead
Priscilla Camp Dead 1843
Cinthia Moreland
Prudence Pierson
Vicy Borders
Elizabeth Sapoh
Eliza McAfee
Peggy Camp (dismissed 1843)
Nancy Collins
Sarah Earles Dis.
Violet Ramsey D'd
Sarah Wells
The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research
SCMAR, Volume IX
Number 1, Winter, 1981
Early Members of Antioch Baptist Church
SCMAR, Vol. IX, Winter 1981, No. 1, p.5
Marcus R. Bird
Wash S. Bird
John Dover
Peter Carrol
Martin Hardin
Thomas Dover
George Miller
John Dover Jr
Davison Whisonant
William Mullinax D.
W.H. Carrol
Ross Whisonant
Henry Carrol D.
Thomas Dixon
William Logan
Peter Sapoh
Sherad James Sr. D.
Sherad James D.
John James D.
John Hathcock
Henderson Whisonant
James Dover
(John Collins)[1]
(Ransom P. Logan)
Abraham Guiton[2]
Joseph Kendrick Ex.
John P. Bird Dis.
Elizabeth Herman Dis.
Louiza Earles Dis.
Elizabeth Altom
Elizabeth Bell
Sarah Kent
Nancy Dover (wf of Zephaniah) D'd
Martha Dover
Hannah Mullenax
Luvicy Wilson
Catharine Inman
Elizabeth Spurling Dis.
Sarah Hambright
Tabitha Wilson
Eliza Bird E.
Mary Weir
Eliza Bird G.
Jane Blackburn
Mary Camp Ex'd
Mary Logan
Elizabeth Dover D.
Nancy Wilson
Mary El. Hambright
Eliza Sapoh
Mary Howel
(Hannah Robeson)
(Melinda Logan)
(Sarah Haynes)
(Isabella Biggers
Susannah Gordon Ex.
Eliza Whisonant
Catharine Bird Dead
Arianna McBrayer
1. The name in parentheses are illegible on the Church Covenant but have been garnered from minutes of monthly conferences. All these persons were received slightly after 1838.
2. Abraham J. Guyton was received by letter in April, 1842, from Elbethel Church, Union District, where he had been ordained deacon.
The notations of dismissal, death or exclusion apparently were added when the next list was being compiled, and therefore refer to the period 1838-1843. The minutes record that in March, 1842, “A Petition from twenty-one Members living mostly on the long Branch in the Neighborhood of Bethlehem to be dismissed from Antioch to become a Constituted Church at Bethlehem has been granted.”
The second list of members is dated Jan. 6, 1844.
Elder W. Hill D.
A. Hardin
J. Whisenant
E. Willson D.
E. Bird
H. Borders
A.J. Guyton
Thos Dickson
Michael Whisenant
Joseph Mullinax
Wm Kent Ex.
Aron Whisenant
Hesekiah Inman Ex.
Elisha Hardin
Thos Lowery
John Smith
Jacob Hullender Ex.
Jas Gabby
Fielding Bell
Bailus Earsl
David Whisenant D.
Madison Mullenax (marked through) D.
John P. Bird
H.W. Carroll
Marcus R. Bird
W.S. Bird
John Dover
Peter Carroll Ex.
Martin Hardin
Thos Dover
George Miller
John Dover Jr
Davison Whisenant
Ross Whisenant
Wm Logan
Peter Sapaw
Henderson Whisenant
Jas Dover
Alaxander White Ex.
Wm Dickson
John Collins
Sam'l Allen
Joshua Howell
A.C. Adams
Jas Aters Ex.
Zephaniah Dover D.
Jas Carroll dead
Wm Earls D.
Cortis Parker
Mark Bird D.
Archibald Hamright D.
Simpson Wells Ex.
Rufus Whisenant
Murphy Inman D.
Andrew Jackson
David Scoggins Ex.
James Dillinham
Abel Earls
John Milton Kennady
Jas M. Bird
Andrew Morgan
S.C. Collins D.
Amzy Biggers
Robert Gastin
Lawson B. Caveny
James Dunn
Coalmon Ledbetter D.
Elphus Blalock
John Woods D.
Wm Blalock
Levi Inman D.
John Howel
Eli Furgison
John Mulinax
Thos Martin
(Females)
Mary Willson D.
Unity Whisenant
Margaret Biggers
Mary Earls
Fereby Evans Dead
Rebecca Carroll
Sarah Hardin
Rachel Hardin
Patsy Whisenant
Eliza Whisenant
Elizabeth Hullender
Delila Earls D.
Edy Parker D.
Cinthy Moorland
Luvicy Borders
Elizabeth Sapaw
Eliza McAfee D.
Sarah Wells
Elizabeth Bell
Martha Dover
Luvicy Clark
Katharine Inman
Sarah Hamright
Telitha Hadly Ex.
Eliza Stewart
Mary Wear
Eliza Carroll
Jane Blackburn D.
Mary Logan
Nancy Willson D.
Eliza Hardin
Mary Howell
Rebecca Howell
Susannah Willson
Naza Sapaw
Eliza E. Whisenant
Mary Parker D.
Tempy Hill (wf of Elder Wade Hill) D.
Teracy Whisenant
Katharine Broom
Mary White D.
Lydia Hardin
Asenith Whisenant Joined Nov. 1843
Letha Wear
Sarah Dilinham
Frances Kernan
Jane Kernan
Luvicy Guyton
Isabella Biggers
Mary Biggers
Mary Bird D.
Nancy Smith
Mary Kindrick D.
Nancy Dover D.
Sarah Earls (wf of Bailus)
Gilly Wells Dead
Margaret Carroll
Elizabeth Hardin
Loucy K. Wear
Luticia Furgison
Luvicy Adams
Martha M. Whisenant
Eliza Aters
Elizabeth Howell
Manervia Furgison
Jane Parker
Mary Dover
Elizabeth Dover Ex.
Mahaly Dover
Jemima Inmon D.
Lydia Howel
Jane Hardin
Pinky Dickson
Manervia Carroll
Elizabeth L. Howell
Izabella Duncan
Sabra Roark
Mary Earls
Malinda Carroll
Elizabeth Lowery
Agnus Darby
Nancy Quinn D.
Eliza Lassly
Martha Collins D.
Jane Thorn D.
Francis Blalock
Francis F. Mullinax
Jane Mashaw
Margaret Biggers (wf of Amzi)
Amerinthy Inmon D.
Lotty Gastin
Martha Willson Ex.
Briter H. Hardin
Rachael Dunn
Sarah Earls
Luvicy Inmon
Elizabeth C. Scoggins
Margaret Willson
Nancy Earls Dead
Francis Dover Ex.
Mary Willson
Nancy Mashaw
Mary Hance
Hanah Robison Dead
Elizabeth Whisenant D.
Again, the notations of dismissal, death or exclusion apparently were added when the next list was being compiled, and therefore refer to the period 1844—1848. An exception is the name of Madison Mullinax who had been dismissed earlier. When the clerk realized that he had copied the name inadvertently, he then marked through it.
The third list is entitled “A List of Names made out 6 May 1848.”
(Males)
A. Hardin
J. Whisenant
E. Bird
H. Borders
A.J. Guyton D.
A. Whisenant
J. Dunn
Michael Whisenant D.
Joseph Mulinax
Elisha Hardin
Thos Lowery
John Smith
Jas Gabby
Fielding Bell
J.P. Bird D.
H.W. Carroll
M.R. Bird
W.S. Bird
John Dover
Martin Hardin
Thos Dover Ex.[3]
George Miller Ex.
John Dover Jr.
Davison Whisenant
Ross Whisenant
Wm Logan
Peter Sapaw D.
Henderson Whisenant
Jas Dover
Wm Dickson D.
John Collins D.
Saml Allen
Joshua Howell
A.C. Adams D.[4]
Cortis Parker Ex.
Rufus Whisenant
Andrew Jackson
Jas Dillingham
Abel Earls D.
J.M. Kennady D.
J.M. Bird
Andrew Morgan
Amzi Biggers D.
Robert Gaston D.
L.B. Caveny
Elphus Blalock
Wm Blalock
John Howell
Eli Furgison D.
John Mullinax
Thos Martin D.
Bailus Earls Ex.
Jas Escrage D.
Tho H. Mullenax
Siras C. Wethers D.
George Willson
Reuben Boston
William Dover
Amos Biggers D.
Thomas C. Gladden D.
Joshua Homes D.
James Wright D.
W.P. McAfee D.
E. Thompson
Allen White D.
3. Thomas Dover had barely escaped excommunication earlier. In April 1846, "Thos Dover Charg'd with standing up by his wife while A Presbyterian Baptized his Infant. Church believing by so doing he Approbated the Course. Robert Gastin Appointed to cite him to our next Meeting." The following month the church "took up the case of Br. T. Dover. from a Letter sent up the Br. restored. But in May 1849, he was charged with "absenting himself from the Church and other disorderly conduct." The matter was resolved in September 1849 when he was "expelled for refusing to hear the Church."
4. In December 1852 A.C. Adams and wife Elizabeth were dismissed by letter. No Elizabeth Adams appears in the list of female members, but the page references beside the notations of dismissal (not reproduced here) lead me to believe that this lady was listed under her maiden name Elizabeth Lowry. The marriage therefore took place between 1848 and 1852.
(Females)
Unity Whisinant
Margaret Biggers Dead
Mary Earls
Rebecca Carroll
Sarah Hardin
Rachel Hardin
Patsy Whisenant
Eliza Whisenant
Elizabeth Hullender Ex.
Cynthy Moorland Ex.[5]
Luvicy Borders
Elizabeth Sapaw Dead
Sarah Wells Ex.[5]
Elizabeth Bell
Martha Dover Ex.[5]
Luvicy Clark
Katharine Inmon
Sarah Hambright Dead
Eliza Stewart
Mary Wear
Eliza Carroll
Mary Logan
Eliza Hardin
Mary Howel
Rebecca Howel
Susannah Willson
Naza Sapaw D.
Eliza E. Whisenant
Teracy Whisenant
Katharine Broom
Lydia Hardin
Asenith Dickson
Letha Wear
Sarah Dillinham
Francis Kernan
Jane Kernan
Luvicy Guyton (wf of A. G. Guyton) D.
Isabella Biggers D.
Mary Biggers D.
Nancy Smith
Margaret Carroll
Elizabeth Hardin D.
Loucy K. Wear
Luticia Furgison D.
Louvicy Adams
Martha M. Whisenant
Eliza Aters
Elizabeth Howel
Manervia McAfee D.
Jane Parker D.
Mary Dover D.
Mahaly Dover
Lydia Howel
Jane Hardin D.
Pinky Dickson D.
Manervia Carroll
Elizabeth L. Howell D.
Izabella Duncan D.
Sabra Roark
Mary Earls D.
Malinda Carroll D.
Elizabeth Lowery D.
Agnus Darby D.
Eliza Lassly Ex.[5]
Francis Blalock
Francis F. Mullinax
Jane Mashaw
Margaret Biggers D.
Lotty Gastin D.
Briter H. Hardin
Rachael Dunn D.
Sarah Earls
Luvicy Inmon
Elizabeth C. Scoggins D.
Margaret Willson
Mary Willson D.
Nancy Mashaw D.
Mary Hance
Talitha Hadly D.
Margaret Cambel
Malicia Loftess D.
Mary Moss D.
Jane Hardin
Tabitha Right D.
Sis Williams
Derinda Dover
Siscily Carroll
Mary T. Whisenant
Mary Willson Jr.
Nancy A. Dunn D.
Sarah Lowery
Jane Carrol
Nancy P. Eskridge (wf of James) D.
Elizabeth A. Cambell
Anna Ettress
Unity Whisenant
Martha F. Kennady D.
Masina A. Jackson
Nancy Boston
Anna Blalock
Eliza Black
Margaret Adams
Disa Earls
Luticia Smith
Jemima Lowery D.
Mahulda Oats D.
Cynthia Kent Ex.
Nancy L. Walas D.
Emaline Haze D.
Elizabeth Blalock
Dorinda N. Bird
Litsa Ettress
Sarahan E. Nance D.
Mary M. Nance D.
Elizabeth Boston
Jane E. Mullenax
Elizabeth E. Escridge
Sarah Williams D.
Malissa E. Collins D.
Matilda Dover
Barbra Whisenant
Talitha Hadley
Eliza Howel
Agnes Darby
Margaret E. Write
Emmeline Gladen Ex.
Martha A. Love D.
Hester Parker D.
Rebeca Homes D.
Lydia Seapoch D.
Katharine White D.
Mary White D.
Mary Parker
Mary J. Borders
Rachael Lowery
Nancy Dawson D.
Elizabeth Cobb D.
Mary J. Logan
Didema Logan
Mary ann Meshaw D.
Amanda Nichols D.
Elizabeth ann Gladen D.
Matilda Smith D.
Juliann Mullenax
Sarah Thompson
Isabell Guntharp
Charlott Guntharp
Eliza Long
5. In June 1849 Sarah Wells, Martha Dover, Cynthia Moorland & Eliza Lassly were excluded for "absenting themselves for twelve months from the Church."
The inordinate number of dismissals recorded on this list (all referring to the period 1848—1854) is partly explained by the creation of two daughter congregations. In the minutes of April 1853: “By request the following Brethren & sisters was dismissed By letter, Viz
Peter Seapoch Naza Seapoch
James Eskridge Lydia Seapoch
Thomas Martin Malissa E. Collins
John Collins Nancy P. Eskridge
Abel Earls Mary Earls
Received a request from the above named brethren & sisters for help to Constitute a Church by the name of Mt. Whiteker. Request granted.” This church was probably located in Cleveland County, N.C.
And in June 1853: “By request the following Brethren & sisters was dismissed by letter for the purpose of forming a Church at Enon. viz.
Robert Gaston Joshua Homes
Amzi Biggers James Wright
Amos C. Biggers Allen White
Wm P. McAfee
Number 1, Winter, 1981
Early Members of Antioch Baptist Church
(Females)
Charlotta Gaston Emaline Hays
Margaret Biggers Martha ann Love
Mary Biggers Mary ann Meshaw
Manerva McAfee Amanda Neckles
Rebecca Homes Elizabet ann Gladden
Tabitha Wright Hester Parker
Mary White Isabella Biggers
Nancy Dawson Catharine White
Elizabeth C. Scoggins Nancy L. Jenkins
Nancy Barber Matilda Smith
—presented a request for the Eldership (to provide) helps to constitute a Church at Enon.” This church has survived. It is located between Hickory Grove and Smyrna, S.C.
Contributed by Laurence K. Wells