Church and Family History Research Assistance for
Primitive Baptist Churches in the State of Maryland
Maryland was one of the original thirteen states of the Union. Churches were established here long before the American Revolution.
An early minister in Maryland, Elder Plummer Waters, wrote a book, which was published in 1838, which gives an account of the opposition which he and others had to the introduction of the modern mission system into the churches in Maryland. The Baltimore Association divided over this issue in 1836; but Elder Waters and others had withdrawn much earlier.
CHURCH (CITY, COUNTY):
WINTER'S RUN (HARFORD) (HARFORD COUNTY)(1754)
Harford Church was organized in 1754 (another account says 1736) by fourteen brethren and sisters who held to the doctrine of the Particular Baptists (atonement for the elect only). The church immediately united with the Philadelphia Association. Elders Benjamin Griffith and Peter Van Horn were the first ministers. They were followed by Elder John Davis, who came from Pennepek, Pa., and served until his death in 1809. Harford Church was the "mother church" in this area. Some of the other churches which were formed from Harford were First Baltimore, Taneytown, Gunpowder, Fredericktown, and Westminster. Later ministers included Elders Absalom Butler, Thomas Barton, Thomas Poteet, and William Wilson.
The brick for the construction of this building were shipped by permission of Lord Baltimore, from the brick yard of the father of Elder John E. Davis, near London, England, to this country; and Elder Davis conveyed them, by pack-saddle from the Patapsco River, near Baltimore, to the site on which the church is located, a distance of approximately 25 miles. The church building was remodeled and repaired in 1787, using the original brick.
Elder John E. Davis was pastor of the church for more than 50 years. There is erected in the cemetery, just outside one of the entrances to the church, a loving monument to his memory. Elder Grafton also served the church for over 50 years. In 1937, Elder B. E. Cubbage was serving as pastor.
Old Harford Church is still active and is still identified with the old-line Primitive Baptists.
FREDERICKTOWN (1773)
Fredericktown Church was organized in 1773 and united with the Ketocton Association the same year. The first pastor was Elder Absalom Bainbridge. He was followed by Elders William Parkinson, William Gilmore, John Welch, Plummer Waters, and Joseph H. Jones.
SENECA (DAWSONVILLE, MONTGOMERY)(1773)
Seneca Church was organized in 1773, through the labors of Elders Daniel and William Fristoe, Richard Major, and Jeremiah Moore. It was located near Seneca Creek. Daniel Fristoe served for one year, until his death. Elder Jeremiah More then served for forty years. Elder Plummer Waters then served about the same length of time.
SALISBURY (WICONICO)(1782)
FIRST BALTIMORE (1785)
The Baltimore church first met for several years, as an arm of Harford Church, and Elder John Davis (pastor at Harford) preached to them. The Baltimore Church was organized January 15, 1785, by members dismissed from Harford, viz., Elder Lewis Richards, David Shields and wife, George Presstman and wife, Richard Lemmon, Alexander McKim, Thomas Coal and wife, William Hobby and wife, and Eleanor Thomas. The church united with the Philadelphia Association. Elder Lewis Richards, the first pastor, was born in South Wales.
TANEYTOWN (1791)
Taneytown Church was organized by members dismissed from Harford, in May 1791, viz., Thomas Jones, Amos Thomas, Ruth Thomas, John Bowden, Elizabeth Chenowith, Rebecca Rial, Isaac Hill, Margaret Hill, Richard Hill, Jane Hill, William Hill, and Mary Hill. Their first pastor was Elder William Clingham. He was followed by Elder Edward Choat.
HAMMOND'S BRANCH/COLUMBIA (ANNE ARUNDEL)(1792)
Originally named, "Church of Jesus Christ at Hammond Branch" near a small creek so named in Fulton, about 5 miles North West, near Pindel School Road. Elder John Welsh was the first pastor. In 1855, Richard Waters deeded acreage to the church and the congregation built a building and were now known as the Columbia Primitive Baptist Church as the road was Columbia Pike, a main road from Ellicott City to the District of Columbia. The address is15900 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, Maryland.
SECOND BALTIMORE (1794)
The Second Baltimore Church was formed by Elder John Healy, and a small band of brethren who came with him from England to Baltimore in 1794.
EBENEZER, (BALTIMORE, COUNTY)(1821)
Ebenezer Church was organized in early 1821, by sixty members who withdrew from the First Baltimore Church, which had been excluded from the Baltimore Association for deviation from the faith. Elder E. J. Reis withdrew on this account, and those who followed him became the nucleus of Ebenezer Church. Ebenezer Church first built a house of worship on Calvert Street, and the Baltimore Association was held there in 1835, but being unable to pay for it, they moved to the Bazaar on Harrison street in June 1835. They met in public halls until 1876 when a stone building was erected on Madison Street near Calvert, where they met thereafter. Pastors who served included Elder E. J. Reis, Francis Thorne, F. A. Chick, and Joshua T. Rowe, up to 1921. Later information has not yet been obtained.
OLD CARROLL (MT. AIRY, CARROLL COUNTY)
BLACK ROCK (BUTLER, BALTIMORE COUNTY)
Black Rock Church meeting house dates from at least as early as 1828, the year the congregation was organized. It is a one story gable-roofed stone structure. The original fourteen members were representatives of such local families as the COles, Ensors and Scotts. Having purchased a lot from the Johns family, they erected this stone churvch building. In February 1832, an address expressing the views of the congregation was prepared and adopted. It became known as the Black Rock Address, and was directed to the "Particular Baptist Churches of the Old School in the United States. In 1860, the congregation purchased land for a cemetery from Mr. Evan Davis. The church was reconstituted in the 1980's after several years with no members. Meetings are still being held on a regular basis.
SNOW HILL (SNOW HILL)(1876)
Snow Hill Church was organized in the Old School Baptist meeting-house at Snow Hill, on Monday, November 20th, at one o'clock p.m.. After singing and prayer the meeting organized for business by the appointment of Elder E. Rittenhouse as moderator and Joseph L. Staton as clerk. The charter members were dismissed from the churches at Salisbury and Indiantown. They were Brother Joseph L. Staton and wife, Mary J. Purnell, Zedekiah Truitt, Gertrude Truitt, and Sallie Truitt. Others in the presbytery included Elder T. M. Poulson (who was chosen the first pastor), from Masongoes; Brethren J. W. Warren, Robert W. Bailey and Littleton Bailey, from Indiantown; D. J. Staton, J. W. Sirmon, William Shockley, and Lemuel A. Hall, from Nassaongo.
FELLOWSHIP (BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE COUNTY)(1959)
Fellowship Church was organized April 5, 1959, with five charter members, Brother and Sister Oscar Lowery, Brother and Sister Elva Lowery, and Sister Ada Utz. The presbytery was composed of Elders F. E. Thompson, W. H.; Lewis, T. E. Majors, Douglas Heare, and Deacons Wise Edwards, Rayming Link, A. D. Ousler, Thomas G. Weaver, Claus Pepper, James L. Compton.
NEW LISBON (ANNE ARUNDEL)
MASONGOES
NASSAONGO
SALISBURY/FOREST GROVE (SALISBURY)
Forest Grove-Salisbury Old School Baptist Church, 6562 Forest Grove Rd., Parsonsburg, Maryland
The exact date of the meetings that resulted in the organization of the Forest Grove Old School Baptist Church is not known. As early as 1875 there was a building on this site referred to as the Baptist Meetinghouse; however, the church was not organized until January 26, 1886 with 19 members, many moving their membership from Little Creek, Nassaongo, and Indiantown. The first building was constructed of board and batten siding with crossbuck shutters over the windows. Elder John W. Timmons was chosen first pastor. He served only until April 24, 1886, when he died at a fairly young age.
In 1896 Brethren Levin Hastings (son of Elisha, father of Elmer F.), D. J. Parsons, George W. Adkins and John H. Parker with Elder A. B. Francis as chairman were appointed a building committee to erect the present building. The new building was to be painted white inside, steel grey with darker trim on the outside. The pumphouse, originally a woodshed and storage area for sawhorse tables, and water shelf with a pitcher pump was erected in 1905. The communion set was purchased in 1951 with goblets and plates from the church and a flagon given by Mr. and Mrs. (Agnes Laws) Elmer Hastings. In 1963 Mr. and Mrs. (Olive) Elmer Hastings purchased new pews, window shades and door locks for the meetinghouse. Bro. Elmer was appointed deacon in 1964, the first the church had had in 30 years. In 1977 at a cost of $4, 992.66, the renovated pumphouse became the first in-door plumbing in the church.
MT. CARMEL (BEL AIR)(1934)
Mt Carmel was organized in 1934 by migrants from North Carolina churches looking for work. Elder R. H. Pittman served as pastor for one year. Elder F. E. Thompson served for 50 years. The present pastor is Elder Steven W. Bloyd. The church is located at 1707 E. Churchville Rd, Bel Air, Maryland.
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