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THREE FORKS ASSOCIATION

Yadkin Baptist Association. -- This association constituted the Three forks association in 1790. From it many other churches had been organized east of the Blue Ridge.{1}
{1} - William's History of the North Carolina Baptists.

In 1779 King's Creek Church, in Caldwell, and Beaver Creek, in Wilkes, were organized. A few years later Brier Creek, in Wilkes, was constituted. It had many "arms,"{2} and from it grew Lewis Fork, in Wilkes, and Old Fields Church, in Ashe County. Three Forks was constituted by the Yadkin Baptist Association. It became an association itself in 1840.
{2} - According to Rev. Henry Sheet's History, "arms" were church communities which had not been regularly organized into constituted churches.
"In 1790 Three Forks Church, the first in Watauga, was constituted. Part of the original members of this church came from the Jersey Settlement Church. Cove Creek was the second church in Watauga, being organized in 1799. At first these churches had only log houses in which to worship. The floors were rude, and large cracks were in the walls, so that they were often uncomfortable in winter. But the praises of God rang out from the lips and hearts of these old Baptist fathers. These churches first joined the Strawberry Association in Virginia, but in 1790 withdrew to organize the Yadkin Association. The first ministers of this body were George McNeil, John Cleveland, William Petty, William Hammond, Cleveland Coffee, Andrew Baker and John Stone . . . Later on the Mountain, Catawba and Brier Creek Associations were formed, and so the Yadkin Baptists continued steadily to grow."

Three Forks Baptist Church. -- This was the first church established west of the Blue Ridge, excepting only the one established at the Old Fields, which, according to Mr. Williams, was established "a few years after" --1779. It was organized

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November 6, 1790, according to the records now in the keeping of the clerk, Mr. John C. Brown, of New River. These records show that "the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ in Wilkes County, New River, Three Forks Settlement," was organized by James Tomkins, Richard Greene and Wife, Daniel Eggers and wife, William Miller, Elinor Greene and B. B. Eggers. This soon became the mother church, from which went out "arms" to the glove, to Ebeneezer and to South Fork and other places. Attendants came to Three Forks from all this section, many coming even from Tennessee. Among the first pastors of this mother church are: Richard Gentry, of Old Fields: John G. Bynum, who died in Georgia; Mr. Barlow, of Yadkin; Nathaniel Vannoy, George McNeil, of Wilkes; Joseph Harrison, of Three Forks; Jacob Greene, D. C. Harmon, Smith Ferguson, Brazilla McBride and Jacob Greene, of Cove Creek; Jackie Farthing, Reuben Farthing and A. C. Farthing, William Wilcox and Larkin Hodges. They earned their bread in the sweat of their faces and worked in the Master's vineyard without money and without price. They have all gone to their reward in heaven.

Membership from 1790 to 1800. --
James Thompkins,
Richard Green,
Daniel Eggers,
Ellender Green,
William Miller,
Mary Miller,
Phoebe Eggers,
Sarah Coleman,
Avis Eggers,
Elizabeth Tompkins,
Ben. Cutbirth,
Anna Wilcoxon,
Lidia Council,
Benj. Baylis,
Eliza. Cutbirth,
Sarah Baylis,
James Chambers,
Anna Champber,
John Faugerson,
Ebineezer Fairchild,
James Jackson,
Catharine Hull,
Joseph Sewel,
Ezekiel England,
Rugh Tompkins,
Christeana Reese,
Valentine Reese,
Samuel Ayers,
Elijah Chambers,
Moses Hull,
Joseph Ayers,
William Tompkins,
Benj. Green,
Sam'l Wilcoxon, Sr.,
Garsham Tompkins,
John Reese,
Hodges Counsel,
Mary Fairchild,
Sarah Green,
Sarah Reese,
Charity Ayers,
James Proffitt,
James Calloway,
Jeremiah Green,
Sarah Hull,
Joannah Eggers,
James Faugerson,
Elizabeth Hull,
Martha Champers,
Landrine Eggers,
Nathan Horton,
Mathew Counsel,
Nancy Chambers,
Rachel Champers,
Jesse Counsel,
Comfort Wade,
Edward Stocksdale,
Edieth Stocksdale,
Joseph Tompkins,
Susannah Brown,
Sam'l Wilcoxon, Jr.,
Thomas Wade,
Samuel Baker,
John Ayers,
Sam'l Castle,
Martha Castle,
Abraham

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Eaton,
Jno. Parr,
Mary Parr,
Jonathan Allen,
Jas. McCaleb,
Mary McCaleb,
Anne Doneky,
Catharine Allen,
Wm. Davis,
Rebakah Fairchild,
Richard Orzgathorp,
Jn. Vanderpool,
Ellen Vanderpool,
Catherine Hull,
Sam'l Vanderpool,
Sam'l Pitman,
Winant Vanderpool, Jr.,
Anna Vanderpool,
Winant Vanderpool,
Naomi Vanderpool,
Keziah Pitman,
Abraham Vanderpool,
Sarah Davis,
Abraham Linvil,
Susannah Vanderpool,
Peter Regan,
Rebekah Regan,
Catharine Linvil,
Margaret Linvil,
Maryann Isaacs,
Mathias Harmon,
Mary Harmon,
Jno. Holesclaw,
Jane Vanderpool,
Jacob Reese,
Catherine Brown,
Hannah Phillips,
Jeremiah Buck,
Sarah Shearer,
Jno. Shearer,
Vanentine Reese, Jr.,
Mary Eggers,
Jonathan Buck,
John Brown,
Hannah Reese,
Elisha Chambers,
David Coleman,
James Jackson, Jr.,
Elizabeth Horton,
Henry Champers,
Rachel Brown,
Anna Reese,
Mary Reese,
Eliza Reese,
Isaac Reese,
Landrine Eggers' negro man by name, George,
Anthony Reese,
Asa Chambers,
Comfort Stocksdale,
Samuel Northern,
Susanna Fairchild,
Mary Owens,
William Owens,
Daniel Eggers, Jr.,
Henry Earnest,
Gracy Shearer,
Susannah Brown,
Debby Lewis,
Benja. Brown,
Mahala Eggers,
Elizabeth Morphew,
Margarete Chambers,
Robert Shearer,
Jane Triplet,
Richard Lewis,
John Ford,
Benja. Tompkins,
Lyons Wilcoxon,
Benja. Greer,
Barnet Owens,
Susanah Owens.

Of these there were received by experience: Three in 1790, three in 1791, twenty-nine in 1792, seven in 1793, none in 1794, two in 1795, none in 1796, one in 1797, one in 1798, sixty in 1799. Received by letter in 1790, one: in 1792, eight; in 1793, one; in 1795, four; in 1796, seven; in 1797, two; in 1798, six; in 1799, nine. The following were dismissed by letter: Jeremiah Green, in 1793 Samuel Ayers, Benj. Bayless, Sarah Bayless, Joseph Sewel, Garsham Tompkins, Ruth Tompkins, Joseph Tompkins, Wm. Tompkins, in 1794; jesse Counsel, Lydia Counsel, Mathew counsel, in 1795; Elijah Chambers, Samuel Wilcoxon, Anna Wilcoxon, Sam'l Wilcoxon, Jr., in 1797; Jonathan Allen, Catharine Allen, James McCaleb, Mary McCaleb, Thomas Wade, Comfort Wade, Mary Reese, in 1798. Elizabeth Tompkins died in 1796. The following were excommunicated:

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Sarah Hull, Exekiel England, Susannah Brown, Jesse Counsel, in 1794; James Callaway, Samuel Ayers, in 1795; William Miller, James Jackson, Landrine Eggers, Hodges Counsel, in 1796; Mary Miller, in 1797; Samuel Wilcoxon, Jr., Moses Hull, in 1798; Jno. Ayers, Daniel Eggers, Phoebe Eggers, Mahala Eggers, Martha Chambers, in 1799; William Owens, in 1801. It must not be concluded, however, that these had been guilty of very serious offences, for most, if not all, of them were restored to full membership by recantation.

The One Great Moral Force. -- In the early days, when courts were few and far between and settlers scattered here and there, the only influence for good in pioneer communities was the church. this proved to be the case in this portion of Ashe County from 1790 to 1800. Nothing seemed to trivial for the correction of the church. What now appear very venial offences, were tried, frequently with the result of expulsion, but always with the assurance of restoration upon proper submission and repentance. Among the more serious offences thus punished were one case of adultery in 1794, one case of drinking to excess in 1795, one case of disposing of property to defraud creditors in 1798, and in 1799 a man confessed to fornication. This is a fine record for ten years in this far-away community. Among the more trivial matters of which the church took notice in the first thirty years of its existence where John Brown's confession of "being so overcome by passion as even to strike a man;" Comfort Wade was excommunicated for having told Phoebe Eggers that a certain piece of cloth was cross-barred and others that it was tow linen, but at the next meeting her husband obtained a new hearing, when she was acquitted (April, 1801). In January, 1853, Burton and Damarcus Hodges were cited to appear and answer to the charge of having joined the Sons of Temperance. In December, 1801, Prother Parr was tried and acquitted for letting his children "go naked," and at the same meeting Polly Owens was publicly excommunicated for allowing her daughter to request a certain young man to meet her, and accordingly he did, when they spent the whole time of public worship talking and laughing," but soon afterwards, the mother "having

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acknowledged her transgression," she was restored to full membership. In April, 1802, Benj. Brown was acquitted of having attended the races at Elizabethton, and in July, 1802, Brother John Brown was cited to answer the charge of having joined the Masons, and in August was excommunicated therefor."(3) At the same meeting an unnamed charge against Brother Hull was tried, and it found that he had done nothing "worthy of death or bonds." A second protest was also then entered against the subject of double marriages "as being against the word of God." "Cathern" Hull was excommunicated because her conduct at Cove Creek had not been agreeable to the gospel and not giving the church satisfaction. Sister Eggers had a grievence against Brother hull and Brother Reese "for refusing to talk with her about her distress, and for saying her daughter had a fambly and had not." (Sharon's note - "fambly"? Typo for family?) Hull was reproved for this. But in March, 1803, Brother Hull was excommunicated for not complying with his bargain, whatever that might have been. In April of the same year it was shown that the report was proven false that "Sary Reese had said that it took three persons to complete a sermon delivered by Brother McCaleb, to wit: Brother McCaleb, Brother Richard Green and the devil." Again, in May, 1807, James Proffitt was excommunicated for having joined the Masons, while in July, 1811, Henry Chambers was acquitted of the charge of not having paid a just debt. In the following month Jeremiah Green was cited to appear to answer to the charge of having allowed "his daughter to go with a married man," and a letter of dismission was refused him till he should debar her from his home. This daughter, however, was restored to full membership in June, 1812. As this was before Noah Webster had established a uniform system of spelling, each man spelt "according to the dictates of his own conscience," just as they worshipped, and so, in July, 1816, we fina a complaint that was "throad out of doors." In July, 1802, Brother

NOTES: (3) The Language of the minute shows the frequent use of "of," not now so common: "first, of joining of them (the Masons); second, of denying of it, and third, of refusing to obey the church." Again, in July, 1802, it is recorded that "we enter our solemn test against its (double marriage) being agreeable to the Word of God." Our modern expression is "protest against," which seems a contradiction in terms.

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Shearer's name is spelt Shirrow. In April, 1801, "a letter was received from Brother Wade, requesting a re-hearing of his wife's excommunication, and stating that he stood with her except she got another." At the June meeting following she was acquitted. There are several instances of male members having been chosen to act as singing clerks, though it is probable that then, as now, the female members did most of the singing and made the best music.

Other Ancient happenings.-- The last Saturday in April, 1792, was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, and at the same meeting James Chambers was "approbated to exercise his gift in preaching." In August, 1793, James Chambers, Ebenezer Fairchild and Samuel Wilcoxon were sent as delegates to the assembly at Eaton's Meeting House, Dutchman's Creek, near Daniel Boone's old home, while in February, 1793, James Tompkins and Richard Green were sent to the association at Brier Creek to "seek for union." In January, 1795, a brother was suspended for "drinking to excess, using profane speeches, singing vain songs and dancing." In March 1800, the first "solemn protest was entered against double marriage," and in July following James Chambers, James McCaleb and Shadrack Brown were sent to the association at Fox Creek, Grayson County, Va. In November, 1800, John Brown and Elisha Chambers were elected singing clerks, and in August, 1802, Brother Boone laid an allegation against Brother Hartley for "ot giving good usage at his mill," and in February following and again at a called meeting during same month Hartley was admonished.

First Churches.-- There seems to be no record of the building of the first church which stood on the site of the present structure, though tradition says it was merely a log cabin, without chimney or windows. The first Robert Shearer in 1790, lived on the hill above the present site of Three Forks Church, and it was in his home that the church was constituted; Robert's grandfather is said to have lived just below the dam of the A.T. school on New River. Certain it is that within the memory

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of men now living, in the fall of 1856 and in 1857 services were held in the second or third log house which stood there, and that the worshippers had frequently to leave the church and warm themselves by a fire under the tall oaks which grow near by. There is a tradition that a heavy fall of snow crushed the roof of the building in about 1830, but it is certain that in October, 1805, James McCaleb and James Morphew were appointed trustees to "form a plan of a roof for out Meeting House, and divide three-fourths of the work between the male members, leaving one-fourth part for the Jenerosity of those that are not members . . ." In the following December four dollars in Brother Shearer's hands were spent for nails for the roof. There is a record, however, of the building of ther present structure, for on November 3, 1866, Robert Shearer, Eli Brown and Ransom Hayes were appointed commissioners to build a new church, which was completed in ther summer of 1867.

Revivals.--There was a protracted meeting in January and February, 1853, which continued for thirteen days, Larkin Hodges and John Cook being the ministers in charge. There were seventy-seven conversions and admissions by letter. There was another great revival in September, 1866, with Joseph Harrison and A. C. Farthing as ministers, at which there were forty-three conversions. But there were "lean seasons" also, for, though the church flourished from its foundation in 1790 till 1800 and afterwards, there was no business recorded from October, 1808, till March, 1809, nor in May and June and August and December of the later year. Again, in April and May, October and December, 1811, and in January, February, April, May, June, September, October and November, 1812, and from September, 1823, till July, 1824, there seems to have been no business. In February, 1807, the only instance on record, there was no meeting on account of the weather. The first pastor was Brother Chambers, elected in September, 1792.