Mt. Zion Church Records 1849-1896

Abstracts

From Mr. & Mrs. Paul W. Gregory

The information provided her was found among the records of Irene Basey. The letter is old and hand-typed and has been re-input into a computer for this format.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church was organized 30 Jun 1849 when a presbytery composed of Elders William Church and William Brown, finding a number of Christinas in the Mt. Zion area to be sound in teh faith and desirious to establish a church in that community, constituted the Body and named the organization Mt. Zion Baptist Churc. Members composing this organization were given off Stoney Fork Baptist Church and the Lewis Fork Baptist for this purpose. During the constitutional ceremony, Thomas Land and Wilson Fairchile served as spokesmen for this group.

Constituional Members

1849	William Fairchield	Mary Land
	Elizabeth Fairchield	Nancy Land
	Mary Gray	Unicy Miller
	Mary A. Triplett	John of color
	Thomas Land	William Adkins
	Jane Land	Sarah Adkins

Note: Thomas was ordained the second Saturday in July, 1850 by Elders Jacob Crouch and James McNeil.

First Officers

1849

Elder William Church

Moderator and pastor

Wilson Fairchild

Church Clerk

Thomas Land

Deacon

Memberships

1849 June the 3rd Saturday
- Hendrix, Benjamin - received by letter
- Adkins, Wilson - received by experience
1849 July the 3rd Saturday
- Triplette, Susannah rec. by letter
Note: Unless so indicated, all meetings were dated 3rd Saturday of the month indicated.
1849 Land, Linville - rec. by letter
- Land, Rhoda - rec. by letter
- Hedndrix, Margaret - rec. by letter
1850 May
- Crouch, Eloer Jacob, pastor
1850 July
- Land, Thomas C. - rec. by experience
- Hendrix, Wilson - rec. by experience
1850 October
- West, Mary - rec. by letter
1851 April
- West, Franklin - by experience
- West, Elak ? - rec. by experience
1851 May
- West, Sinthy - rec. by experience
1851 July
- Adkins, Sarah - dismissed by letter
1851 August
- Fairchild, Wilson elected Deacon. He was ordained by Elders Jacob Couch and James Mc Neil
- Ales, Nancy - rec. by experience
- Adkins, William - rec. by recantation
- Adkins, Sally - rec. by letter
1852 June
- Walsh, Elbert K. - rec. by letter
- Walsh, Elmira - rec. by letter
1852 August
- Ferguson, John B. - rec. by letter
- Triplett, Russell - rec. by letter
- Triplett, Elizabeth - rec. by letter
1852 September
- Waters, Rebecca - rec. by letter
1853 March
- Land, Thomas C. - elected Church Clerk
1853 June
- Crouch, Jacob - call as pastor
1853 August
- West, Balis - rec. by experience
1854 September
- Triplett, Jesse - rec by experience
- West, Elizabeth - rec. by experience
- Proffitt, William - rec. by letter
- Proffitt, Mary - rec. by letter
1854 October
- Hall, Bethany - rec. by experience
1854 November
- Land, Linvill - given permission to "exercise Public Gift in Exhortation and Prayer".
1855 July
- Land, Linvill - given permission to serve Elk Church as Exhorter for ensuing year.
1856 June
- McNeil, James and Bryan, John - elected pastors for ensuing year.
1856 August
- Cox, Jane - rec. by letter
1856 Sept.
- White, Elisha - rec. by experience
- White, Mary - rec. by experience
1857 March
- West, Anna - rec. by experience
1857 April
- Fairchield, Wilson and wife rec. letters of dismission
1857 May
- Land, linville ordained into the ministry a presbyptery composed of Elders James McNeil, Jacob Crouch and William Pool. "This is to certify to all to whom these presents shall come, that at the call of the Baptist Church of Mt. Zion of Wilkes County, we attended with the church and then and there our beloved brother, Linville Land, was unaminously appointed as a faithful Gospel preacher; and after examination, being satisfied with the gift and Graces, was solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer and laying on of hands to officiate in the whole ministerial functions where-so-ever God in his providence may call him." signed by the above presbtery.
1857 June
- McNeil, James called as pastor.
- Proffitt, Andrew - rec. by experience
- Triplett, George W. - rec. by experience
- Miller, William R. J. - rec. by experience
1857 Sept.
- Walsh, E.K. and West, A. B. elected deacons
1857 October
- Rules of Decorum written by E.K. Walsh and Thomas C. Land
1857 November
- E.K. Walsh and Thomas C. Land ordained by the presbytery composed of A.W. Vannoy, Linville Land and James McNeil.
1858 January
- Miller, William R. J. given permission of exercising public gift.
1858 March
- White, Elisha and his wife rec. letters of dismission
- West, Elizabeth - rec. letter of dismission
1858 August
- Adkins, Sarah - rec. by recantation
- Walsh, Susan - rec. by experience and baptism
- Adkins, Williams - rec. by recantation
1859 February
- Proffitt, William - rec. letter of dismission
- Proffitt, Mary - rec. letter of dismission
- Proffitt, A.J. - rec. letter of dismission
1859 May
- Hall, Mary L. - rec. letter of dismission
- Walsh, Thomas - rec. by letter
1859 June
- McNeil, James and Land, Linville chosen as pastors
1859 August
- Triplett, Russell and wife, G.W. dismissed by letter
- West, A.B. granted liberty "express his public gift."
1860 March
- Walsh, E.K., and his wife were given letters of dismission
1860 April
- McNeil, James, pastor, resigned
1860 July
- West, Franklin, and West, A.B., given letters of dismission
1860 August
- Triplett, Susan, given letter of dismission
1861 February
- Walsh, Thomas, and his wife given letters of dismission.
1861 April
- Brown, Elder Joel H., elected as pastor - subsequently declined to accept.
1861 Sept.
- West, A.B. and West, Nancy received by letter.
1861 November
- Waters, Willis, elected Church Clerk (in absence of Thomas C. Land)
1862 January
- West, Franklin, and West, Sintha, received by letter.
1862 November
- Shell, D.M. received by experience
- Pipes, Elder Larkin and Brown, Elder J.H., elected pastors.
1862 December
- Carlton, F., and J.H. Brown elected pastors
1863 May
- Carlton, Calvin and Rebecca received by letter.
1863 May
- Jones, A.J. and his wife, Rebecca, received by letter.
- Jones, Delia - received by letter.
- Carlton, M.L. - received by letter.
1864 January
- Land, Lenvill, again called as pastor.
1864 May
- Proffit, Thornton and his wife, Elizabeth, received by letter
- Proffit, Clarinda - received by letter
- Proffit, Charlotte - received by letter
- Proffitt, Mary - received profession of faith
  - Note: The records show that Thornton and his family came from Gap Creek Church; and that Thornton was a deacon there.
1864 June
- Shell, D.M. rec. letter of dismission
1864 September
- Hendrix, Martha - rec. by experience
- Waters, M.E. - rec. by experience
- Waters, Mary - rec. by experience
- Ferguson's Black woman, Missiah, received by experience
1865 May
- Triplett, Mary L. rec. by experience
- Triplett, Martha J. rec. by experience
- Land, Elizabeth, rec. by experience
1865 July
- Waters, Alisa - rec. by experience
- Waters, Leah L. - rec. by experience
- West, Caroline - rec. by experience
1865 July
- Mroley, Henry - rec. by letter
- Morley, Jane - rec. by letter
- Morley, Martha - rec. by letter
- Morley, Sarah - rec. by experience
1865 October
- Brown, Elder J.H. elected pastor
1866 September
- Carleton, Calvin and his wife, Rebecca, were dismissed by letter
- Triplett, Mary L. was dismissed by letter
1866 October
- West, Franklin, was ordained a deacon.
1868 November
- Land, Linvil elected pastor
1869 March
- Triplett, M.J. dismissed by letter
1869 July
- Morley, Mary J. - rec. by experience
- West, Sarah E. - rec. by experience
1869 August
- Land, Linvil and his wife were dismissed by letter
1870 February
- Proffit, Nancy Emely, received by experience (Married Wesley Wood?)
1870 June
- Carleton, Clarinda - given letter of dismission
1870 July
- Triplett, Ann E. - rec. by experience
- Shell, Brody - rec. by experience
1870 August
- Elder Linvil Land resigned as pastor
1870 October
- Elder Larkin Hodges elected pastor
1871 October
- Elder Larkin Hodges resigned as pastor
1872 April
- Elder Joel Brown elected pastor
1872 July
- Hendrix, Martha - dismissed by letter
1873 January
- Miller, Elizabeth - dismissed via letter
1873 April
- Land, T.C. - dismissed via letter
- Elder Daniel Welborn elected pastor
1873 June
- Barnette, Hamilton rec. by letter
1873 September
- Cox, Malinda rec. by letter
1874 May
- Brown, Joel H. elected pastor
1875 August
- Hamby, Rebecca - rec. by experience
1875 September
- Morley, Elisha - dismissed by letter.
1875 October
- Welborn, George - rec. by experience
- West, Thomas - rec. by experience
- Miller, H.H. - rec. by experience.
- Miller, Martha - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, Ellen - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, John - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, Bethany - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, Manda - rec. by experience.
- Morley, William - rec. by experience.
- Land, William - rec. by experience.
- West, Julia Ann - rec. by experience.
1875 Novemer
- Carlton, L.B. and his wife, L.C. rec. by letter
- Carlton, Dicey - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, John F. - rec. by experience.
- Hendrix, William L. - rec. by experience.
1875 December
- Hendrix, Eliza - rec. by experience.
- Hendrix, Narcisin - rec. by experience.
1876 January
- Hendrix, Gay - rec. by experience.
1876 June
- Carlton, L. H. elected deacon
1876 July
- Land, Elder Linvil elected pastor
- Miller, H.H. elected church treasurer
- Hendrix, Susan - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, Martha - rec. by experience.
- Triplett, Rebecca - rec. by experience.
1876 August
Carleton, L. H. ordained a deacon
Carleton, L. B. given liberty of exercising a public gift
1876 October
- Hamby, Franklin rec. by letter
1877 April
- Eller, J.F. elected pastor
1877 July
- Triplett, J.D. and Miller, H.H. A controversy in the church. Cause: Eternal Damnation... Triplett and Miller dcid not believe in eternal punishment and taught what they believed.
- Solution to the controversy: Three men from four separate churches were called to the church and heard the theological discussions on the controversal subject and subsequently recommended excommunication. The decision makers were
  - From New Hope Church
    - A. Eller, B. F. Eller and W. C. Carlton
  - From Lewis Fork Church
    - J. W. Church, G. E. Manuel, and J. B. Blackburn
  - From Mt. Pleasant Church
    - William Proffit, J. O. McNeil and A.M. Church
  - From Mt. Zion Church
    - Thornton Proffit, F. West and J.F. Triplet
- Consequences of the above controversy : H.H. Miller and J. C. Triplett were excommunicated (fellowship withdrawn). The church being divided, the following withdrew from the fellowship of Mt. Zion and established their own church: Mary Triplett, Martha Miller, Sarah Hendrix, Bethany Triplett, Manda Triplett and Rebecca Triplett. Apparently, this was the beginning of the Mt. Zion Adventis Church.
1878 July
- Triplett, Nancy - rec. by experience
1878 September
- Hall, Sarah - rec. by experience.
  - Note: The church began meetiing the fourth Saturday of the month,k beginning in August 1860.
1879 October
- Thonrton Proffit and his wife, Tlizabeth, L.B. Carlton and his wife, Clarinda, Frankline Hamby and his wife, Rebeccah, Charlotte Walker, Mary Church, Wesley Woods and hiw sife, Nancy E., and Beady Spell, withdrew by letter to form a new church. Not indicated was the name of the church to be established but this writer believes that it was Chestnut Mountain Baptist.
1880 June
- Barnette, H., ordained a deacon
- Pipes, Larkin elected pastor.
1880 August
- Triplett, Ellen rec. by experience.
1881 May
- Elder James McNeil elected pastor.
1884 January
- Hendrix, Gay and his wife, China, dismissed by letter.
1884 February
- A revival was held that week and the following were received into membership via experience:
  - Cox, Thomas
  - Barnett, A. L.
  - Kees, Harrison
  - Barnett, A.J.
  - Simmons, Phoebe
  - Hendrix, L.F.
  - Kees, Emmett
  - Triplett, William L.
  - Hendrix, George L.
- Kendall, Larkin and his wife, Leah L. withdrew by letter.
- Note: On Saturday, Nov. 4th, 1884., L.C. Land returned from the West after 14 years absence.
1884
- West, T.H. and his wife, A.A. elected deacon and co-sponsors.
- Simmons, Phineas rec. via experience (4th Sat. in March)
1884 May
- Simmons, Sarah Ann rec. via experience.
1884 August
- Cox, Mildred rec. by experience
1884 September
- Watson, Thomas rec. by experience
- Triplett, Mary rec. by experience.
1885 September
- Frazier, Selena recieved by experience.
1886 July
- Greene, S.F. granted letter of dismission
- Greene, Mahala granted letter of dismission.
1887 July
- Church, A.S. elected pastor.
1887 Novbember
- Bentley, Alfred received by experience.
- Foster, Lillie received by experience.
- Hendrix, Martha G. received by experience.
- Hendrix, V.I received by experience.
- Shell, Granville received by experience.
1887 December
- The church decided to biuld a new bldg. It was to be located near the school #65 on one acre of land to be donated by J.F. Triplett. The bldg. was to be 24X36 - to have six windows, three on either side - and one double door in the rear. Biulding committee: F. West, T. H. West and G.H. Hendrix.
- Shell, Ellen was received via experience
1888 June
- Greene, Sarah Ann granted letter of dismission.
1889 February
- Land, T.C. elected Church Clerk "as long as he remains with us"
1889
- Greene, Sarah Ann granted letter of dismission
1889 Novbember
- Pardue, Eld. A.T. elected pastor
- Winters, Nancy granted letter of dismission
- Pipes, W.L. and his wife, Sarah, received by letter
- Barnett, H elected Trustee
- Hendrix, George F. elected Trustee
- West, T.H. elected Trustee
1890 February
- Lee, William elected pastor - A.T. Pardue declined to serve
1890 December
- Kees, Mrs. Florence received by experience
1891 October
- Hendrix, Gay and China dismissed via letter
- Watson, F.J. and wife electon deacon and deaconess
1891 November
- Hendrix, G.F. elected Clerk of the Church
1892 March
- Bentley, Alfred granted letter of dismission
- West, T.K. elected Sunday Superintendent
1892 October
- Walsh, Mary dismissed by letter
1892 December
- Brown, Asa elected pastor.
1893 April
- Cox, W.S. dismissed by letter
1893 November
- Barnett, Mary received by experience
- Triplett, Zora received by experience
- Triplett, William received by experience.
1984 February
- West, J.H. granted letter of dismission.
1894 June
- Robinett, Mrs. A.V. rec. via letter
1894
- Welborn, J.F. received by experience (Sept.)
1894 November
- Sehll, D.M. received by restoration and was subently dismissed by letter.
1895 March 3
- A revival began on February 28 and the following were received by experience during that week:
  - Barnett, W.O.
  - Barnett, H.
  - Barnett, G.F.
  - Barnett, Ellen
  - West, M.A.
  - West, Alice
  - West,, J.R.
  - West, Bertha
  - Kees, Fern
  - Triplett, J.L.
  - Welborn, Green
  - Welborn, Rebecca
  - Triplett, L.W.
  - Triplett, Anna
  - Hall, John
  - White, Wilson
Anderson, John was received via restoration
1895 March
- Anderson, Vertie - received via experience
1895 April
- Welborn, Sarah received by letter.
1895 May
- Robinette, Zeb and his wife, Zory (Mary?) received via experience
1895 June
- Triplett, Alice rec. via letter.
1895 November
- Welborn, Ila, rec. via experience.
1895 December
- Welborn, B.A. rec. by experience
1896 November
- Anderson, William, rec. by experience
- Stansbery, Rosen, rec. by experience.
1896 November (end of book)
- Brown, Asa was pastor
- Hendrix, G.F. was Church Clerk
DEATHS RECORDED IN THE ABOVE MINUTE BOOK
Hendrix, Benjamin, deceased 10 November 1852
Cox, Jane, deceased 2 November 1857
West, A.B., killed in action at Winchester, VA.19 September 1864
Land, Jane, decesased 15 March 1864 - age 71y 11m
Jones, Rebecca, deceased in August 1865
Simmons, Phineas, died from a wound 14 February 1890
Waters, Wilson, died after the 4th Sunday in August 1888
Wilson, Wilson, deceased 2 March 1905
Jones, Cordelia, died in 1879
Waters, Rebecca, died 18 October 1980
Waters, Alley, died 18 July 1870
John of color died 8 February 1889
Hendcrix, Margaret died 22 January 1895
Kendall, Nancy Ates, died 7 July 1891
Simons, Jennie, died 23 January 1894

1849	Elder William Church	Moderator and pastor
	Wilson Fairchild	Church Clerk
	Thomas Land	Deacon