JOHN A - :M:AHEY 1826 Willow Brook Circle

Flint, Michigan 48507-1413 [313) 238-3931

September 10, 1990

Baptist Historical Collection Z. Smith Reynolds Library Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC 27109

Dear Librarian:

In connection with a genealogical research project, I am seeking information about a Baptist minister named John Newman, a Virginian who settled in the Surry­ Stokes-Rockingham counties area of North Carolina in the late eighteenth century. What I am most interested in is to document his origin, i.e. whether he was a native-born American -0r an immigrant and, if possible to learn the name of his father.

A biographical sketch of this person's son, the Rev. Peyton Newman, by Baptist Elder William C. Ligen, appeared in James B. Taylor's LIVES OF VIRGINIA BAPTIST MINISTERS, pp. 370-380. This states that Peyton's father came to America from Dublin, Ireland. It does not, however, identify Peyton's father, John Newman, as a Baptist minister. I suspect that the Rev. John Newman did not come from Ireland, although his forebears did in the 1660's. This biographical sketch, written some time after the death of the Rev. Peyton Newman in 1822, may rely upon incomplete or inaccurate information.

The earliest published reference I have for the Rev. John Newman is in EARLY FAMILIES OF THE NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES OF ROCKINGHAM AND STOKES WITH REVOLUTIONARY SERVICE, Vol. 1, p. 72 [Daughters of the American Revolution publication]. There, in an entry for a certain JOHN MABE describing his marriage in 1781 appears the statement, "They were married on Beaver Island Creek, now Rockingham Co, NC, by the Reverend John Newman." Later in the entry is the statement, "John and Lucy Mabe were members of Snow Creek Baptist Church in Stokes Co."

A later reference to a person who quite likely was the Rev. John Newman, appears in records of the Moravian community at Salem, NC. It is dated 30 Apr 1804, and

states that "Baptist Preacher Newman" visited the community at that time, that he was sixty-nine years of age (b. 1735), that he came there to consult a doctor, and that he lived some thirty miles away. "Thirty miles away" may refer to the Buffalo Creek area of Stokes Co. A land deed of 1791 records a transaction at the South Fork of Buffalo Creek, Stokes Co., called Little Buffalo, and John Newman is one of the witnesses to the transaction.

Another well-recorded Baptist minister in Virginia seems to be closely associated with the family of the Rev. John Newman: the Rev. John Alderson. I don't know if Alderson figures in the Baptist history of North Carolina. He was one of the founders of Lineville Creek Baptist Church, Shenandoah Co., VA. This church later joined Smith's Creek Baptist Church in New Market. A Samuel Newman, thought to be a cousin or uncle of the Rev. John Newman, was another founder of the Lineville Creek Baptist Church. Thomas Newman, thought to be a brother of the Rev. John Newman, was received as a member of the Lineville Baptist Church in 1766 by the Rev. John Alderson. Finally, the biographical sketch of the Rev. Peyton Newman (mentioned above) states that in Stokes Co. he was a member of Clearspring church, that his ordination occurred about 1814, and that the or­ dination was conducted by Elders John Alderson, George Guthery, and John Young. By 1814 the Rev. Peyton Newman was already living in Cabell (later Wayne Co.), VA (WV). I suspect he was ordained in Stokes Co. prior to moving to Cabell Co., therefore prior to 1814.

I realize that librarians are busy people, and probably have little time to conduct research in response to inquiries such as this. Still, it is important to me, and whatever you may turn up will be gratefully appreciated. I clearly do not expect your efforts to go unrewarded and would be pleased to make a contribution to the needs of your library if you will kindly advise me how to make out a check for that purpose.

Sincerely,

~~Ma~· Yr/u.Ly

HISTORY OF N. C. BAPTISTS, Vol. II by G. W. Paschal NORTH CAROLINA BAPTISTS

little account is found of this work in Baptist records, and to many writers of Baptist history even the names of able and worthy Baptist preachers in this section in the years before Elias Dodson seem to be unknown. However, in the Records of the Moravia!ns in North Carolina, which may be easily consulted, there are numerous references to these men and their activities. It was in this work that was found the account of the presence in this section of Rev. Samuel Harris already given. The Records are also the source of much information used in previous chapters, and it is to them that we are indebted for the greater part of our somewhat detailed knowledge of Rev. William Hill and learn that as early as August 1775 he was well known as a Baptist minister and an active and trusted patriot in the struggle for Independence.18 It is known from Baptist records that Rev. William Hill

conti?ued active as a minister of the Gospel for many years, and m 1784 had a part in the organization of the new Jersey Baptist Church. Little is known of other Baptist preachers and their work in this section in the later years of the eighteenth and earlier years of the nineteenth cen­ turies. Two of the Baptist ministers who at this time were doing great and highly successful work here were John Tatum and ~hn N~an. Of John Tatum the Salem Diary for August 4, 1803, says: 19

We heard of the decease yesterday of our friend John Tatum a neighboring and blessed preacher of the Baptist persuasion: At the request of ~ nun;iber of his followers he bought a piece of land three to six miles from Bethabara in the year 1792 and this made him acquainted with the Brn. Marshall and Benaien. From. them he learned that they, as he, had come as poor sinners to enJoy the grace of Jesus, and that in the Unity of Brethren, this was the greatest concern for us and for our children and this led him soon into a hearty love for them. He considered the Idea Fidei

18 Records of the Moravian.a in North Carolina, II, pp. 845 848 881 892

907, 939; III, pp. 1049, 1096, ll39, II84. ' ' ' ' ,. Records of the Moraviana in North Carolina, VI, p. 2730.

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ABBOTT'S CREEK

Fratrum a priceless book, read and reread it, and spoke of it to those who came to his house. His preaching places, which were largely on the east side of Wachovia, he served in addition to carry­ ing on his farm; and his warm testimony to free grace through the blood of Jesus was blessed to many inside and outside his flock. He particularly liked to visit the sick, as much as he could, and often had the pleasure of pointing to the Saviour, in their last need and anguish, even those who had led evil lives, and saw them pass away trusting in His merits. A few weeks ago he became ill with dysentery, and at once thought this would be the occasion of his home-going, and witnessed to everybody his thanks and joy in the lot of grace which he anticipated. To his last days he remembered his friends in Salem, and sent a hearty greeting to them. He was somewhat over sixty years old, was loved and respected in the whole neighborhood, and his home-going is a loss for many.

--}' Of John Newman the following account is found m the Salem Diary for April 30, 1804: 20

"This afternoon the Brn. Reichel and Benzien had a friendly visit from a Baptist preacher named Newman, a good friend of the Baptist preacher Tatum, already mentioned in our diary, who fell asleep in the Lord last year. This sixty-nine year old man, in spite of his age and his feeble health occasioned by a severe illness (concerning which he consulted our doctor) has continued to pro­ claim Jesus the Crucified, His merits, His blood and death, as the only ground of salvation, to many congregations of his denomina­ tion .... For some time now he has had the pleasure of perceiving in his neighborhood, some thirty miles from here, where formerly godlessness and sin abounded, more attention was being given to the Gospel, and to the power of God. He said he felt at one with all who love the Lord Jesus, whatever their denominational name, and interrupted his remarks to extend his hand in friendly fashion to the Brethren as a sign of unity in love of Jesus.

From the Records of the Moravians in North Carolina we learn that Tatum was widely known and much respected among his fellow Baptists, and particularly among preach­ ers such as John Mond who died at the home of Br. Folz at Salem, and Newman. In the account above it is said that Tatum's preaching places were largely east of the

"'Records of the Moravia113 in North Carolina, VI, p. 2765.

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