Church and Family History Research
Assistance
for Perry County, Ohio
CHURCHES:
UNION
Union Church, near Thornville, is listed as a member of the Muskingum Association in 1814, the messengers being Brethren George De Bolt, Lic. Eli Ashbrook, and Aaron Ashbrook, who reported 29 members.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Ashbrook, Buriff, Cherry, De Bolt, Grove, Neel (very incomplete list).
HOPEWELL
Hopewell Church, near Somerset, was listed as a member of the Muskingum Association in 1814, her messengers being Elder John W. Patterson, Lic. Smith Goodwin, and Bro. Samuel Ream. They reported 52 members at that time, although they had dismissed 18 members by letter that year (probably to organize Salem Church).
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Bennett, Barker, Forsythe, Goble, Goodwin, Melick, Patterson, Ream, (very incomplete list).
NEW LEXINGTON
New Lexington Church was organized at the home of Brother Reuben Skinner, in Pike township, on December 4, 1819. The presbytery was composed of Elders John W. Patterson and Smith Goodwin. Many of the early members of this church came to this part of Ohio from Turkeyfoot (or Jersey) Church in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. There were twenty-five (25) charter members, viz., Jonathan Carrel, Rachel Carrel, James Chenowith, Sarah Chenowith, Phoebe Clayton, Samuel C. CLayton, Elizabeth Colbourn, Agnes Rush, Catherine Rush, Henry Rush, Lydia Rush, Nathaniel Rush, Rachel Rush, John Skinner, Mary Skinner, Mary Skinner, Reuben Skinner, Sarah Skinner, Anne Thorpe, Highly Thorpe, John W. Thorpe, Reuben Thorpe, Sarah Thorpe, Hannah Vail, and John Vail.
Elder James Skinner was chosen as the first pastor in December 1819, and served for fourteen years. He was followed by Elders Thomas Harper, Matthew Brown, Thomas Martin, Samuel Carpenter, James Riny, Thomas Harper, J. J. Vanhorn, G. N. Tusing and Z. K. Holliday, W. H. Hickman, and Lewis T. Ruffner.
A graveyard was established very early at the rear of the old meeting house. The first church building was made of hewn logs. In 1847 a substantial frame building was erected at the same site, which was repaired and in use as late as 1921. The church joined the Muskingum Association in 1820. A division occurred in 1837 over the doctrine of Andrew Fuller and the mission system.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Surnames of members from available minutes of the association include: Aid, Barndt, Brown, Carrel, Chenowith, Clayton, Colbourn, David, Dusenberry, Goodwin, Harper, Immel, Jennings, King, McKever, Moore, Ogg, Rush, Skinner, Spencer, Strait, Strawn, Stump, Thorpe, Vail, Wortman, Wright (very incomplete list due to records not having been found).
HARMONY
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Line (very incomplete list).
MT. PLEASANT
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Printz, Richards (very incomplete list).
MONDAY CREEK
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Go Back to the Primitive Baptist Library Page
Go Back to the Family History Assistance Page
Copyright c. 2001-2006. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
