THE MINUTES OF THE WEST FORK CHURCH 1820

THE MINUTES OF THE WEST FORK CHURCH 1820 - 1822

Transcribed by Kasia S. Johnson 2005 (kasialido@aol.com)

The church met on the third Saturday of January 1820. Meeting opened by prayer then proceeded to business.

February 17^th 1820 The Church met according to order after prayers proceeded to business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience and TILLY WILSON received. Then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

March 18^th 1820 The Church met according to order after prayers proceeded to business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience and JANE MARSHALL came forward and was received. JOHN DUNCAN received by recantation. JONATHAN SALMONS chosen clerk. Also, NATHANIEL THOMPSON license to preach and exempted from the office of a deacon. Also, JOHN WADE, JOHN LESTER, PETER SLUSSER?, ALEXANDER MCALEXANDER chosen to act as deacons then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

April 15^th 1820 The Church met according to order after prayers proceeded to business.

1^st Brethren NATHANIEL THOMPSON, JAMES KEETH, JOHN WADE chosen to labour with BROTHER MARTIN WEDDLE respecting the report prevailing against him and to cite him to attend our next meeting to answer to the same.

2^nd FANNY CARTER came forward and received by experience.

3^rdbBRETHREN JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, PETER SLUSSER chosen delegate to our next association then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

May 20^th 1820 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience, and JACOB SLUSHER and LURANA?, a woman of color, was received by experience. The brethren appointed to Labour with MARTIN WEDDLE reported and was discharged he is therefore excluded from among us for drunkenness and immoral conduct. The reports prevailing against JOHN WEDDLE is taken up not being decided remains a reference signed by the order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

July the 15^th day 1820 The Church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st The reference from our last meeting respecting JOHN WEDDLE taken up and brought to a decision. He is therefore excluded from among us for getting drunk and denying the same signed by the order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clk

August 19^th day 1820 The Church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st The presbyter legally called for being present after examination proceeded to ordain

Brethren JOHN LESTRE, JOHN WADE, PETER SLUSHER, ALEXANDER MCALEXANDER to office in the office of a deacon.

2^nd A door opened to receive experience SALLY BURCHAM was received as one among us.

3^rd Brethren JESSEE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, PETER SLUSHER, chosen Delegated to our association by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

September 16^th day 1820 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st We call for a presbyter to ordain BROTHER NATHANIEL THOMPSON to the ministry if judged qualified. Signed by the order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

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October the 21^st day 1820 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience the following members received JAMES MCCUTCHEN, ELIJAH DICKERSON, and NANCY HUFF in full fellowship among us. Signed by the order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons C:LK

November the 19^th day 1820 The Church met according to order after prayer proceed to business.

1^st We grant BROTHER JONATHAN SALMONS the privilege of exercising his gift in the founds of this church or the adjacent churches round about. Signed by the order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

________________________________________________________________________December (can’t read) The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. Union and peace appears to abound then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons

END OF 1820

1821

January the 20^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. The church appearing to be in peace. Then dismissed in order. Signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

February the 17^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. Agreed that we call for the Presbyter to attend this place at our April Meeting to ordain BROTHER NATHANIEL THOMPSON to the ministry if judged qualified. Then dismissed in order signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

March 17^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayers proceeded to business. A door opened to receive experience ELIZABETH JONES came forward and was received in full fellowship among us. Agreed that we licence JONATHAN SALMONS to preach wherever God in his providence shall cast his lot and that BROTHER JESSE JONES and BROTHER JOHN LESTRE assign the licence in behalf of the church then dismissed in order. Signed

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

April the 21^st day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. The Presbyter legally called for being present after examination made proceeded to ordain BROTHER NATHANIEL THOMPSON to the ministry.

2^nd ? BROTHER JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, and JONATHAN SALMONS messengers to our next association . Assigned by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk.

May the 19^th day 1821 The church met on the third Saturday in May after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st We petition the association for the action? Meeting to be held over? with us. Then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

June the ?day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st appointed our August meeting for a communion. No other business came forward was then dismissed in order signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

July the 21^st day 1921 The church met according to order prayer being made then proceeded to business.

1^st Chose BROTHER PETER SLUSHER and SISTER OMY STANLY? and ELIZABETH DICKERSON to talk with ELIZABETH SLAUGHTER and cite her to attend our August meeting to make satisfaction for the reports prevailing against her. Signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

August the 19^th day 1821 The church collected on Sunday to receive experience. POLLY ALEXANDER came forward and was received as on among us. Signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

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September the 19^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st The reference from our July meeting relative to ELIZABETH SLAUGHTER taken up and those that were appointed to talk with her related that they had gained no satisfaction. She is therefore excluded from among us for not attending meeting and other immoral conduct. A call from Jacks Creek church to the church for help to settle a matter of difficulty with a couple of their members and brethren JESSE JONES, JOHN LESTRE, JONATHAN SALMONS, ALEXANDER MCALEXANDER, & JACOB SLUSHER appointed to attend the same. Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMSON, & JOHN LESTRE chosen delegated to the association. Then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

October the 20^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience. ELIZABETH RATLIFF and RHODY SIMEONS received by experience. Union and peace appearing to abound. Then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

November the 18^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. The church appearing to be in peace. Then dismissed in order.

Then collected on Sunday morning and a door opened to receive experience. .ELIJAH THOMPSON received by experience in order for baptism.

Jonathan Salmons

December the 20^th day 1821 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business

1^st A door opened to receive experience. WILLIAM SIMEONS came forward and was received. Then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons

END OF 1821

1822

January 19th day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience & BRITTANER, a woman of color received by experience. Then dismissed in order.

J. Salmons Clerk

February the 18^th day 1822. The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. Union and peace appearing to abound. Then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

Then collected on Sunday and a door opened to receive experience and SAMUEL HARRISS came forward and was received as one among us by experience.

March the 16^th day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. The church appearing to be in peace were then dismissed in order.

Jonathan Salmons

Then met on Sunday morning and a door opened to receive experience and OWEN SUMNER came forward and was received by experience.

April 20^th day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. 1^st Chose Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, JONATHAN SALMONS messengers to our next association.

2^nd Appointed BROTHER JACOB SLUSHER and sisters NANCY HELTON AND CATY STICLEMAN? to talk with ELIZABETH KEETH concerning of reports prevailing against her and cite her to attend our next meeting and give satisfaction for the same. Signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

Sunday April the 21^st day of 1822 Collected together and a door opened to receive experience and BIDDY PRATT and NANCY HALIDAY? Came forward and received among us.

Jonathan Salmons

May the 18^th day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st The reference from our April meeting concerning ELIZABETH KEETH called over and those that were appointed to talk with her stated that they had gained no satisfaction. She is therefore excluded from among us for withdrawing herself and, refusing to hear the church. JANE MARSHALL was likewise excluded for withdrawing and refusing to hear the church. A call from Jack Creek church to this church for helps to settle a matter of difficulty with some of there members and brethren. JOHN LESTER, WM SIMEONS, JACK SLUSHER, JONATHAN SALMONS were appointed to attend the same. Then dismissed in order signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

________________________________________________________________________June the 8^th day 1822 In consequence of our association we agree to meet on the second Saturday of this instant. The church met according to order. After prayer proceeded to business. Union and peace appearing to abound. Then dismissed in order signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons CLK

July the 20^th day 1822 The church met according to appointment then convened in order for business.

1^st A door opened to receive experience and JOSEPH SPENCE came forward and was received by experience. Appointed our August meeting for a Communion Season. Union and peace appearing to abound were then dismissed in order signed by the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

August the 19^th day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st Chose brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, JONATHAN SALMONS, & BROTHR PETER SLUSHER in case of failure our messengers to the ? association. Then dismissed us and ordered by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

September the 20^th day 1822. The church met according to order after prayer proceed to business. Union and peace appearing to abound were then dismissed in order signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

October the 19^th day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business.

1^st The church agreed to meet the second Sunday in November at Brother SAMUEL AGNEWS to set and receive experience. Union and peace appearing to abound were then

dismissed in order signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

November the 16^th day 1822 The church met on the second Sunday in November at Brother SAMUEL AGNEWS after prayer proceeded to business.

A door opened to receive experience and DANIEL FIELD received and his wife received by experience. (Cannot read the rest)

Jonathan Salmons CLK

December the ? day 1822 The church met according to order after prayer proceeded to business. Union and peace appearing to abound were then dismissed in order. Signed by order of the church.

Jonathan Salmons Clerk

END OF 1822