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Record of Monroe Church Session ( North Alabama Presbytery) In January, 1821, Mr. Stuart reached the place that had been chosen for a station, and began his preparation to enter upon his work. He was the only missionary, though his wife, who for many years shared his joy and sorrows and was indeed a companion and help-meet to him, assisted in all his labors. Besides, two men accompanied him from South Carolina-a mechanic named Vernon and a farmer named Pickens, with their families. On the 7th of June, 1823, a church was organized, consisting of the following members, viz: Hamilton V. Turner, James Wilson, Nancy Turner, Mary Ann Wilson, Ethalinda Wilson, Prudense Wilson. The Rev. Thomas C. Stuart, Supt. of the Mission was nominated. After the services of the day, a session consisting of the Rev. Messrs. Blair and Wilson, assisted by Father Dickson, convened in the prayer hall. (During the time of Rev. Thomas C. Stuart's advent among the Chickasaw, the country was divided into three districts, constituting in the main territory they had always occupied. These districts were TISHOMINGO, SEALY AND MCGILVERY.)
1823 June 7 ---A black woman named Dinah , belonging to Mr. James Gunn, applied to be received into the newly organized church. After a careful examination the session felt satisfied with her Christian experience, and accordingly admitted her to the privileges of the household of faith. Rindah , a black woman belonging to Mr Turner, was debarred from church privileges for improper conduct. August 3 ---Dinah , having previously expressed a desire to have her children baptized, and having given us satisfactory evidence of her knowledge of this holy ordinance, presented her three children, Chloe, William and Lucy, and dedicated them to God in baptism. August 6 ---Margaret Ethalinda, daughter of Rev. H. Wilson and Ethalinda Wilson was baptized
1824 May 15 --- Abraham, a black man belonging to an Indian, and husband to the woman received at our last communion, applied for church privileges. His examination was satisfactory, and he was accordingly admitted. Rindah , who was suspended from the church at our last, made application to be restored. On professing sorrow for her offense, and promising amendment, was reinstated. May 16 ---The ordinance of baptism was administered to Abraham . November 9---Mr. James Holmes, a member of the Presbyterian Church in Carlyle, Pennsylvania, was added to our number. December 4th ---Mr. Barnard McLaughlin, Mrs. Tennessee Bynum, a native, and Esther, a black woman belonging to Mrs. Colbert, having given satisfactory evidence of a work of grace upon their hearts, were admitted as members of the church. Esther was baptized December 19 ---The ordinance of baptism was administered to Bro. H. Wilson's infant daughter, Rachel Clementine, Mr. Bynum's two children, Turner and Elizabeth; Rhindah 's son Moses , and Esther 's daughter Patsy . December 26 --- Dinah's infant daughter Patsy, was baptized
1825 April 1 ---Observed as a day of fasting and prayer. After public worship the members of the church present convened in the church capacity for the election of an elder. Mr James Holmes was unanimously elected April 2 ---Mr Holmes was set apart by prayer to the office of ruling elder in this church. Session met and was constituted by prayer. Amy a black woman belonging to the estate of James Gunn, deceased, applied and was received. Adjourned to meet on Saturday, the 2nd day of July next. Concluded with prayer. July 2 ---Session met according to adjournment. Constituted by prayer. Chloe , a black woman belonging to an Indian, applied for privileges in the church. Her examination being sustained, she was admitted. Mr. James Wilson from the Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Ky., having produced a letter of dismission in good standing from said church, was received as a member. Adjourned to meet sine die. Concluded with prayer. July 3 --- Chloe was baptized December 24 ---Session met and opened with prayer. Three black persons, John , Daniel and Rebecca were added to the communion of the church on examination. Adjournment until the 4th of March, 1826. Concluded with prayer. (Mary Jane Stuart was baptized by Mr. Blair.) December 25 ---The ordinance of baptism was administered to the three black people received on yesterday; also to Mr. McLaughlin's daughter Susan.
1826 February 26 ---Isabella Graham, daughter of Rev. H. Wilson and Ethalinda Wilson, was baptized. March 4 ---Session convened according to appointment. Opened with prayer. Affy , a black woman, expressed a desire to be admitted to the communion of the church. Indulging the hope that she has experienced a saving change of heart, the session received her into the number of the professed disciples of Christ. Adjourned to meet on Saturday the 6th of May. Concluded with prayer. May 6 ---Session met and was constituted by prayer. Three black persons, Agnes , Mary and Bob , having given satisfactory evidence of a work of grace upon their hears, were admitted to church privileges. Adjourned 'till tomorrow morning, 9 o'clock. Closed with prayer. May 7 ---The session met and being opened with prayer, Miss Molly Colbert, a native, came forward and offered herself as a candidate for admission into the church. Her examination being sustained, she was accordingly received. Adjourned to meet on the 30th of September next. Concluded with prayer. May 21 --- Affy's child Rallin , was baptized. September 30 ---Church session met according to adjournment. Constituted by prayer. Two black women, Sarah and Indah , were admitted on examination. Adjourned to meet on the 6th day of January, 1827. Concluded with prayer.
1827 January 6 ---Session met and was opened with prayer. Miss Emeline H. Richmond, having produced a certificate from the session of the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, N. J. as to her being a member in good standing, was received into full fellowship and communion in this church and is entitled to all its privileges. (The following words, until the mark*, are crossed out with pencil mark) : Resolved, that notice of the same be publicly given immediately after public worship in the evening*. Adjourned until 31st of March. Concluded with prayer. February 25 --- Mary's child, George Russel was baptized. March 31 ---Session met according to appointment and was opened with prayer. Juno , Laney and Jack , applied for admission to communion of the church. The session proceeded to examine them as to experimental acquaintance with religion, and being satisfied with their account of themselves, received them as members. Adjourned to meet on the 23rd of June. Concluded with prayer. April 1 ---David Brainera, son of Brother and Sister Butler, and Byington , son of Dinah and Abraham , were baptized. June 3 -- Elay , Laney's daughter was baptized. June 23 ---Session having met and being opened with prayer. Mr. Thomas F Cheadle applied for admission to the church. His evidence of piety being satisfactory, he was received. Adjournment until this day week. Concluded with prayer. June 30 ---Session met and was opened with prayer. Nancy , a black woman, applied and was received. Adjourned until tomorrow morning , 6o'clock. (Interlined) Mr. Cheadle was Baptized. Concluded with prayer. July 1 ---Session convened, and after being constituted as usual, proceded to examine several persons, who were not received. It again adjourned to meet on Saturday, the 6th of October, next. Concluded with prayer August 26 --- Sarah , a black woman, removed by death September 29 ---The Lord having visited our church the past summer with a time of refreshing; having, as we hope, savingly renewed a number within our bounds, it was thought expedient to have a meeting of the church session before the time to which it stood adjourned. Session therefore having met and implored the presence and blessing of God, proceeded to examine the following persons who applied for admission, viz: William Colbert, a native, and Primus , Ned , Billy , Jinney and Sally , black people. These having given us evidence of a work of grace in their hearts, were received as members in our church. Concluded with prayer. October 6 ---Session met according to the last adjournment. Constituted with prayer. Mrs. Sarah A Holmes was received by certificate from session of the Second Presbyterian Church of Newark, N.J. Mrs Cheadle, a native woman and four black people: Billy , Isham , Sally and Medlong , were admitted on examination to the privileges of the church. Adjourned to meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. Concluded with prayer. Harriet Elizabeth Stuart and Emma Holmes were baptized. October 7 ---Met according to appointment and was opened with prayer. No one having offered for examination, it was resolved to convene the newly admitted member that we may read to them the form of convenant to be used hereafter on the admission of persons of this church. Adjourned to meet on the second Saturday in December, next. Concluded with prayer. Mrs. Betsy Cheadle, Meadlong , Jinny , William Colbert, Primus and Ned were baptized. October 10 ---Mr. Cheadle, a member of our church, having been guilty of a heinous sin, a meeting of the session was called to examine into the circumstances of the offense. According to citation, he appeared, made full confession of his crime of his fall, with deep contrition of his soul, and that he has obtained forgiveness from God, we feel it our duty and our privilege to recognized him as a disciple of Christ, and therefore ought not to be excluded from the privileges of the church. Concluded with prayer. November 11 ---The ordinance of baptism was administered to Mr. and Mrs. Cheadle's five children, John Randolph, Mary Ann, Betsy, Thomas Josiah. Also Jinney's three children, Fanny , Sunnun , Sally . Esther' s infant son Battels , and Sally 's daughter Teneesa . December 8 ---Session met according to appointment and was open with prayer. Prince , a black man applied for admission to the church. His examination being satisfactory, he was received. Adjourned to meet on this day week.. Concluded with prayer December 15 ---Session having met and opened with prayer, the following persons applied, viz: Mila , Minney , Bekky , Snookey and Nelly . The session was satisfied with their account of the work of grace upon their hearts and therefore admitted them to the communion of the church. Adjourned until the 22nd at 2 o'clock. Concluded with prayer. December 22 --- Leah and Sophia admitted. December 25 --- Billy 's son Randolph was baptized. December 29 ---Session again met and was constituted with prayer. Mr. John Gattis offered himself as a candidate admission to the church. Having had frequent conversation with him, and being well satisfied with his Christian character, the session cordially receive him. Mrs. Colbert, a native also applied for admission. There being no good interpreter present, it was resolved to keep the session open and meet Mrs. Colbert at the house of Mrs. John Bynum on next Monday morning with a suitable interpreter. December 31 ---According to previous arrangement the session had an interview with Mrs. Colbert, and having obtained satisfactory evidence of the work of grace upon her heart, received her into the bosom of the church. Adjourned 'till Saturday, 5th of January, 1828. Concluded with prayer.
1828 Jan 5 ---Session
convened. Constituted by prayer. Peggy , a black woman, was admitted to
the January 6 --- The
ordinance of baptism was administered to the March 8 ---Sision met according to adjournment and being opened in the usual way, received Mr Samuel C Pearson by certificate from the Presbyterian Church, Tuscumbia, Alabama. Adjourned, ect. (Martyn) March 22 ---Session met and was opened with prayer. Mrs. Sarah Love applied for admission to the communion of the church. Her examination being substained, she was received. Adjourned etc. March 29 ---Session
met, etc. Stephen , a black man, applied and was April 5th ---Sesion met
according to adjournment. Constituted by prayer. Mrs. Pearson,
Catherine, an Indian woman, April 6 ---Mrs.
Pearson, Catherine , Stephen , Mobile and Caroline
were baptized. April 27 ---
Catherine's daughter, Nancy ; Dinah's two Saturday June 14 ---Session met according to adjournment. Constituted, etc.Messrs. James B.
Allen and Daniel June 28 ---Session met and was opened with prayer. Silpha , a black woman, was admitted. Adjourned 'till this day next week. Concluded with prayer. July 5 ---Session having met and being opened with prayer, Fanny and Esther were received into the communion of the church. Adjourned until the second Saturday in September, next. Concluded with prayer. July 6 ---James B.
Allen, Benjamin Love, Manuel , Fanny
August 3 ---Henry
Martyn, son of Samuel and Elizabeth August 9 ---A report having been in circulation that Mila a member of our church, has been guilty of conduct highly unbecoming the Christian character and calculated to injure the cause of Christ in this place, it was resolved to call a meeting of the session and cite the offender to attend. Session met accordingly, and after being constituted by prayer, the charge of adultery was exhibited, founded on "common fame" To this charge she confessed guilty and could pled nothing in extenuation of her offense. She acknowledge that by her conduct she had dishonored God, wounded the cause of Christ and brought a reproach upon herself and the whole church; expressed contrition for her sin and a hope that she had obtained forgiveness. After mature deliberation and seeking direction from God in prayer, it was thought expedient for the love of religion and the good of the cause, that she be suspended from the communion of the church until she give evidence by her deportment that she is truly penitent and that, since her offense has become public, she is publicly suspended in the presece of the congregation. Concluded with prayer. August 10 ---Mila was suspended according to the decision of the session on yesterday. Martyn: August 23
---Session met and was opened with prayer. Mr. Henry Love, a native,
Mr. Christopher August 24 ---The
persons admitted yesterday were September. 14 --- The
ordinance of baptism was administered to September 15 ---There being no one present for examination the session did not convene according to appointment. It was resolved not to meet again until the first Satrday in October. October 4 --- Session
met and was opened with prayer. Four black persons, Manuel , Reuben
, Jennet
November 22 , Martyn,
C.N.(Chickasaw Nation) Session met according to adjournment and was opened
with prayer. Mr. James November 23 ---
James Colbert's two children, Benjamin and December 20 ---Session again met and was opened with prayer. No one having been admitted, it was resolved to keep the session open until tomorrow (21st) Dec. 21 --- Sandy
, a black man, was admitted on
1829 January 3 ---Sesion met and was opened with prayer. Mila , who was debarred from the privileges at our last communion, applied to be restored. Having given a satisfactory evidence of sincerity of her repentance, and having obtained a good report of her, session restored her to the communion of the church. Adjourned sine die. Concluded with prayer. Mary's infant child and Chrissy's two children, Stephen and Mercury, were baptized. June ---Peggy died July 4 ---Session met for the examination of candidates and the following persons having given evidence of their change, were admitted to the privileges of the church: Lotty Love, Nancy Boyd, James Fooye, William H. Barr; Chickasaws; Elsey , Rachel and Tom , people of color. July 5 ---The persons admitted yesterday were baptized and also the following children: Elizabeth Jane Boyd, daughter of James and Nancy, Narcisso, daughter of Benjamin and Lotty Love, Sarah Rebecca, daughter of James and Sarah A. Holmes, and James ' child Keciah July 9 --- Mila was this day dismissed to unite with the church at Elliott, in Choctaw Nation. While in connection with this church, a few years afterwards, Mila died, giving good evidence of piety, and as we hope has gone to a better world T. C. Stuart Monroe; October 2 ---The church session met and was constituted by prayer by Rev. Cyrus Byington. Mrs. Mary Gunn and Mrs. McLaughlin were examined with reference to church privileges, and approved. October 3 ---The session met according to adjournment and examined and approved Lewis and Cassander , people of color. October 4 ---Mrs McLaughlin and Cassander , having assented to the requisite questions, were baptized by Rev. Cyrus Byington, and together with Mrs. Gunn and Lewis , for the first time received the Lord's Supper. Joseph B. Adams October 4 ---The ordinance of baptism was administered to two children of Wm. Colbert, Joseph and Tennessee, also to James Stuart, infant son of Thomas and Elizabeth Cheadle.
1830 April 3 ---Rev.
Cyrus Byington conversed with the June 5 --- The
following were received into the church, August 1 ---Polley
Hogan, native, and Lydia and Lizzie , August 8 --- Mrs. J.
Perry's two sons, Levi and Oliver, October 1---William Colbert's wife, Kunnoeyi,
and December 20 ---Session
met and was opened with prayer. It having become notorious that the following
persons viz: Sam Pearson and wife Reuben and
1831 January 2 ---The above
named persons were publicly dealt Martyn, April 30
--- Baptized Thomas C. Stuart, son of May 1 ---The ordinance
of baptism was administered to Mrs. September 10 ---Session
met and was opened with prayer, Silpha , a colored woman, applied and September 11 --- Silpha
was baptized, also the following In October 1831, the church at Monroe came under the care of the Presbytery of Tombeckbee by the union of its pastor with that Presbytery.
1832 Monroe January 7
---The session convened and was constituted by prayer. Mr Thomas F Cheadle,
a member of this church, having been guilty of the crime of intemperance, was
suspended from its privileges until he shall give evidence of a sincere
repentance. Concluded with prayer January 14 ---The
following children were baptized, viz: January 15 ---George
Duffield, infant son of James and Sarah March 10 ---Session met
and was opened with prayer. Mr. Cheadle, who was suspended from church
privileges at our last communion, applied and was restored. Prince , a
black man, was also restored. Titus , April 29 --- Martha
Jane, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. June 30 ---The session
not being present, the Moderator July 1 ---
Mr.
Spencer was baptized. Agnes, infant July 8 ---The following
children were baptized, viz: Mary Jane, September 20 ---Caroline
, who was suspended on a former
1833 January 5 ---Session
convened and was opened with prayer. Ishthimayi, a native member of our
church, April 7 --- Jim and
Juda were baptized June 9 --- Eliza
Jane, daughter of Nuseka and Mary July 7 ---Session met
and was opened with prayer. Mrs. Lizzie Perry (a native woman) applied
for July 14 ---The
ordinance of baptism was administered to John August 4 --- J uda' s children, Violet , Phili , Philetus and October 6 ---A session not being present, the Moderator examined and admitted to the privileges of the church the wife of Tuppeha, a native woman. She was baptized by the name of Mary. Syke was restored to the church. October 7 ---A black
child named Jinney , the daughter of
1834 April 5 ---Mr
Benjamin Godfrey and wife, Lucrecia, and (July 6) ---Session met
and was opened with prayer. George, a native man, was examined on
experimental religion. His evidence of a change appearing good, he was admitted
to the privileges of the church. Maj. John L. September 7 ---Session
convened and was constituted by prayer. Mr. William Colbert, a member,
and Examined and approved by Presbytery at Unity Church, March 7 1837
1837 The number of members reported to the General Assembly as being in good standing on the first of April, 1837, is forty-one. September 16 ---Session
met and was opened with prayer. The following persons were adjudged A resolution October 10 ---Session
met and was opened with prayer. Jack , a black member of the
church, who has been for some time under suspension from its privileges,
applied to be restored. The session being satisfied with his profesions of
sorrow and promises of admendment, restored him accordingly. Being March 24, 1838, Approved H. Reid, Mod.
End of Records Transcribed as written including spelling errors |
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