Thomas Smiley's Records of White Deer Valley Baptist Church, Union County, 1808-1831

THOMAS SMILEY’S RECORDS OE WHITE DEER VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH, UNION COUNTY, 1808- 1831 contributed by Aaron Goodwin T homas Smiley was the first pastor of White Deer Valley Baptist Church after its founding in 1808 and kept its records until his death in January 1832. Archived at the New York Public Library, those records have been far removed from both the church and the American Baptist Historical Society I A BI IS] for nearly a century. i The record book begins with a title page. Notwithstanding the fact that early entries frequently referred to Smiley in the third person, the page provides evidence of its authorship: Records of the Baptist Church of White Deer, Meeting in Union* County Washington Township and Common Wealth of Pennsylvania in the United States of North America. Drawn up and kept by the request of said church by Thomas Smiley The bottom half of that page is missing, along with the notation relat¬ ing to the asterisk. Union County was established in 1813 from part of Northumberland County, a fact the asterisk may have referenced. Imme¬ diately following that page is a brief history of the church's founding, including pertinent events in prior years that led to its establishment. Recorded in May 1814, that entry combined with the title page clearly indicates that records for the first six years were recorded elsewhere and copied here. The history and the church's first two dated entries are included below. The nature of other entries varied significantly. Some concerned church business: finances, leadership, and doctrine. Others concerned conflicts between members over theology, practice, sinful behaviors, and interpersonal relationships. Smiley also included diary-like entries about extreme weather and “anecdotes” of personal and religious inspiration. Of special interest were his entries on the occasions of early members’ deaths. Those entries, below, are unusually detailed and include information not likely to he found elsewhere. I'hc contributor is editor of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. Records of the Baptist Church in White Deer, Pennsylvania, I SOB- IS is, New York Public Library, Manuscript and Archives Division, call number MssCol 2377. The entries for years 1832-1848 were recorded by various people. On the inside front cover of the bound manuscript is the following notation: “Given to the New York Pub¬ lic Library 30 May 1913 by Edward Chauncey Worden, Milburn, Lssex County, New Jersey." Microfilms of the church's later records, 1854-1912, are at the American Bap¬ tist Historical Society, Mercer University, Atlanta. I Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 18 (2012) 51 52 f’cnnsyh >tinin Genealogical Magazine Vol. 48 “RISE OF THE CHURCH” As ii appears expedient to annex a sketch of the rise of the church to its rec¬ ords that in time to come somethin}; may be found in the church book of how it originated vve refer those concerned nevertheless to the manuscript history of the Chemung baptist Association in the possession of and com¬ piled by the writer of this for a full account of the same where from page 38 to 49 may be found a narrative of the facts most concern[ing| the whole. In November 1800 Thomas Smiley came over from the North branch of the Susquehannah where he then resided and got some acquainted with an old Lady in Jaysburgh of the name of Davis Awife of JohnA who notwithstanding she had been among the Presbyterians from her infancy now informed him that site was not easy in the place she was in: This time however he was pressed with business and could not therefore wait to preach. In July 1801 there was a vast tumult in the parts in which he lived on account of a part and the majority of the country being opposed to the laws of Pennsylvania and were wishing to hold their lands by a claim derived from the Susquehannah Company in the State of Connecticut: The writer was conscientiously attached to the state in which lie was a citizen (and his neighbors were agreed with him) which in short exposed him to the indig¬ nation of the rabble for such they were who were opposed to the state and its laws it being generally such who had fallen in with that claim and from them he received personal abuse and his life was threatened on account of which he fled to Jaysburgh and there preached where the name of baptist was hardly known before said Mrs. ASarahA Davis and her husband received him to their house and he was used by the people in general. After some time their fury abated and he returned home but having an acquaintance here came back and preached occasionally and after the lapse of a year or two baptised the said Mrs. Sarah Davis and some time after that a Mrs. Martha King not long after this Samuel Hales and wife both baptists from old England settled in the vicinity and became acquainted ] with those already baptised here and after this Sally Hales their daughter a young woman was baptised on the profession of her faith. The Philadelphia baptist missionary society was now formed and the writer informed them of it with a request that a missionary might come into the country, in consequence of which himself received a letter desiring him to go there accordingly in the winter and spring of 1807, he itinerated in the country three months and before his return baptised Martha Lewis and Sarah Oakes and on his return to the place in about six months after bap¬ tised John Lewis. It now appeared that in case the writer was here himself a small church might be constituted accordingly providence opened the door and on the 28 of June 1808 himself and family arrived here and the church was constituted in the month of October following. The names of persons baptised and received into fellowship since the church was constituted are Samuel Jenkins, John Oakes, Mary Weeks, Elisa¬ beth Bowers, Rachel Docherty, Philip Gibbons, by letter Sarah Davis*, Mrs. McCully, Anna White. May 1814 ‘Her letter was a certificate given to her when baptised of her having submited to the ordinance when, where, and by whom administered. White Deer Valley Baptist Church, /SOS- /S.i / 2012 FRIDAY AUGUST 12. 1808 1 The brethren and sisters of the Baptist order who by the providence of (iod are now residing in this place met at the house of brother Thomas Smiley to consult on the expediency of their being constituted into a Gospel Church and offered a solemn prayer to God for direction therein. 2 Finding themselves united in the doctrine of sovereign Grace and a desire on their minds to be in a church capacity with each other agreed to write to the Baptist Church at Shamokin requesting the Pastor of said church and some of their members to come and fellowship us in it: a request was also sent to the Shamokin Church to dismiss some persons here who are members there to that they might be constituted with us. Parted with affection for each other. LORDS DAY OCTOBER 23. 1808 I Brother John Patton and some others of the members of the Shamokin Church met with us according to request. 2 Brother Patton preached on the subject: a short intermission. 3 The persons wishing to be constituted were called for and Thomas Smi¬ ley, Nancy Smiley, John Lewis, Martha Lewis, Samuel Hales, Elisabeth Hales, Sarah Hales, Rebckah Oakes, Sarah Oakes, and Martha King appeared.* i Brother Smiley read their letters of recommendation as far as produced but the Shamokin Church had forgot to dismiss the said members there¬ fore having certain information on the subject by the said pastor of Shamokin Church &c. and with their assent we received them. S Brother Smiley read Matt. 18. 1 S verse and downwards before a large audi¬ ence and expounding on it shewed what we believe to be the true new testament church and the duty of its members. 6 Several of the most interesting parts of the Philadelphia Baptist confes¬ sion of faith were read and the audience were informed that this we adopt as a testimony to the world of how we understand the scriptures of the old and new testaments. 7 Brother Patton requested the members to manifest their agreement with it and it was done and as some of the persons had not yet come under the imposition of hands with prayer that was done. 8 Brother Patton declared us a Gospel Church and gave us the right hand of fellowship as such. Prayer and benediction closed the solemnity. *Our aged sister Davis was hindered by sickness but brought her letter afterwards and joined us. DEATHS April 28 1820. Died a little after eight o’clock in the evening Sarah Davis entered on the eighty first year of her age since January last [born in January 1740): She was the first that was Baptised in this part of the land, and at the time she had little reason to expect that there would in her day many more follow the example: she however lived to see a gospel church rise and addi- S3 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 3I Vol. »8 lions made to it as well as room made for Baptist preaching in the country and the ordinance no more so much wondered at: Her life was of the most pious and exemplary kind, hence by the church she lived respected and by a large circle of acquaintances (many of whom were truly pious) as well as by the church she died lamented. She was in doctrine decidedly settled on "sovereign grace” and as she had it not barely in theory but from experience her life refuted what is now so much contended for that the Calvinistic doc¬ trine (so called) leads to ungodly living: She died on the tenth day after she had been seized with a putrid fever which she seemed to bear with that godly resignation that she met seas of adversity with in her life time, but could converse but very little as in an early period the disease had impeded her speech! On the 29 of the same month her remains were committed to the earth from whence it came where she now rests until the morning of the Resurrection. June 2nd 1821 ASaturdayA. Died about ten o'clock in the evening Anna White, in the ninety first year of her age |born about 1731 1. She was bap¬ tised in the then Province of New Jersey and according to the best accounts we have she must have been nearly seventy years a member of different Bap¬ tist churches: She had removed from Jersey to Muncy in Lycoming County Pennsylvania before the revolutionary war where her husband died and she remained a widow to the end of her life; from there she removed with some of her children to the Lakes in the state of New York and from that removed into this vicinity about eight years since with her son Abel White here she joined this church by a letter she lived a life becoming her profession and like Lazarus died full of sores she bore her last illness with patience and made her exit from time in a lively hope of glorious immortality through Jesus Christ the Lord. Lords Day July 21. 1822. As will appear in pages 10, 11, 12, 1.3, 1), 13, lb. and 17 of this book we lost our first meeting house by the hands of the Albricht Methodists in 1813. Since that we have been struggling with many difficulties to erect another place of worship which was preached in for the first time this day being at length in such a state of forwardness that we can meet in it in the summer time. We might have met in it a few Lords days sooner but the decease of John Smiley oldest son and oldest child of Thomas Smiley pastor of this church took place in Bradford county in this state on the fifth of June last [ 1 822 1 and his afflicted parents and relations here were desirous that the first sermon preached in it should be a funeral on the occa¬ sion: for this purpose our young brother in the ministry Silas L. Shepard was requested to undertake the work and previous notice having been given a congregation much larger than the house would contain met to which he preached to very general satisfaction from Ilosca 1.3.14. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; 1 will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, 1 will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. The deceased had been some time a transient member with us, see page 9,“ and has now departed this life of a lingering illness, in the ~ 27 August 1814: “Brother John Smiley and companion presented a letter of recommendation from the church at Tawanda and at their request we admitted them to transient communion with us." A later entry dated 13 August 182.3 named John's companion: At the Association the church voted that as our sister Susannah Smiley as will appear in page 9th had been considered as a transient member with us should now 2012 White Deer Valley Ila/)tist Church, /808- I8.f / 55 fortieth year of his age [born about 17831; leaving an aintiable and disconso¬ late widow, seven children, and an eighth one to be born, three brothers, three sisters, and an aged father and mother to mourn for him and to feel the loss, lie lived respected, died lamented, and manifested a resignation to the will of Heaven in his dissolution. Mournful Affair May [wo day\ 1824. We have received the dolefull tidings that our sister Jane Eliot, a member of the Little Muncy church hath taken her own life! She was in a state of insanity some time before and had attempted it but now clandestinely got a knife and cut her own throat! of which she expired ere she was seen by any one! Christian like life, she was baptised by our pastor in an early period, was often over here with us, but was not a member of any church until that at Little Muncy was gathered, when she joined it: The thing is wonderfully mysterious to us; Our God only knows why it has been permitted: it teaches us what the weakness of human nature is when left to itself; it is a cause of grief and mourning to us, but “He that hath gathered the wind in his fists" is able to “turn the shadow of death into the morning," and with him we leave it. She lived about twelve miles over the river from us. Mournful and afflicting circumstance, occasioned by the death of a young woman in this place in 1825 [this entry written between church meeting entries dated (no day) November 182) and 21 May 1825], Miss Mary Emmins came into this place from Jersey some years ago when quite young to keep house for her brother; (as her father had a farm here on which her brother lived) and being a promising and considerably accomplished young person, was well esteemed both by young and old: but about a year before her decease her best friends felt some compunction of mind on her account, for that she was often in company that it was feared would be unprofitable to her; and that too in part at her own dwelling: after this a bad report was whispered about concerning her, which her friends hoped was false. In the month of February this year it appears that the young man, that of right ought to have done so, had promised to come and marry her at her own dwelling on a day appointed, she made preparations accordingly; but he came not as she had expected. She forthwith became inconsolable, fell into convulsion fits, which continued with one paroxism succeeding another; a physician was sent for, and in this distressing time she was delivered of a child (which appears likely to survive the loss of its mother, and has no father that owns it) but she never recovered from her distress, and in a short time after first taken died! Before her last illness she had not disclosed to a certainty who the father of her child was, and after she was seized with it she was unable to do it; there are circumstances however that in the minds of many leaves but little doubt about who the man is. The last duty her friends could perform was to commit her remains to the silent tomb, which was accordingly done; and her funeral was attended by a large concourse of people; of whom it is hoped a number mourned not only on account of her death, but the manner in which it happened! It is therefore inserted in the hopes that in time to come (many years hence perhaps) some eye may see it, that it may be of use to, and especially among young people; and that the death of Mary Emmins in this way, when but seventeen years of age [born as she has some time ago requested be considered in full fellowship, brother Smiley presented her request.” S6 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 48 about 1808|, may serve as a mean|s] in the hand of Providence of preventing other from falling into sin. Friday August 8th 1828. Died, our aged sister Rebekah Oakes: Her maiden name was Rees, a descendant of a family from Wales: She in an early period of her life was baptised at and was a member of Vincent Baptist Church in this state, from thence removed to the town of Sunbury; together with her family being now married to a Mr. Jenkins; here they both gave their membership to the Baptist church at Shamokin, not long after it first origi¬ nated; after his decease (which took place ere they had been long at Sun¬ bury) she resided for some time within the vicinity of Shamokin and taught school; and here Samuel Oakes Senr. married her and brought her to this val¬ ley; she still continued her membership with Shamokin church; when the writer visited this place in 1807 he found her, the only Baptist to be found far or near. In 1808 she removed her membership from Shamokin and was one of the first members which composed this body, and continued it with us until her decease, nearly twenty years. She lacked but a little of seventy seven years of age [born about 17S1 ] at the time of her death; she had a lin¬ gering illness for five years before she departed this life, in which she nearly lost her eyesight and hearing both, her mental powers also became as much impaired as her other faculties, but while often very incoherent in other respects, she appeared to be correct as to the “one thing needful”; always soliciting her friends to pray with and for her, as well as read the scriptures to her, while it was difficult for those who were naturally of a weak voice to make her hear; therefore she sometimes for want of judgment would be impatient about it. In the time of her departure she appeared to be calm and resigned to close her eyes on all below the sun in the blessed hope of a glo¬ rious immortallity: as she had been long expecting it, site had manifested to her friends the spot in the Baptist hurrying ground where she would wish her body to be deposited; had appointed a text from which her funeral ser¬ mon should be preached, and requested of the writer to attempt it. On the next Lords day after her decease, her remains (attended by her relations and a concourse of her friends) were brought to the place and committed to the silent tomb; after the interment the assembly retired into the meeting house, where a discourse was delivered by the writer, according to her desire from Matthew 24.44. Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh. In this discourse, I noticed that I was making the attempt at her request, and since she had desired it, hail been likely to go before her in a sore fever, but in mercy was spared hitherto. In this place the deceased had for many years been both exceedingly useful and fortunate as a midwife, was assiduous in attending on public worship and the duties of religion, was of a kindly disposition to persons in need, and friendly among her friends; but as Solomon tells us, “He that hath the rule over his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city:” the poor old lady was defective in that, and hence she had not at all times her tongue under that control that would otherwise have made her a more brilliant professor, been more consoling to herself, and have done more honor to the cause of God and truth in the world: this remark is made not to reproach the dead, but to warn the living against their besetting sin! She now sleeps in dust, but her descendants com¬ pose a considerable part of our little church: our number is hereby dimin¬ ished; may our God add to our number all such as should be saved. 2012 White l)eer Valley Baptist Church, /BOB- IB.i / 57 September 23d 1828. Died, David Lewis son of our brother and sister Lewis' in the tenth year of his age |horn about 1 819]. A sermon was delivered at the house on the occasion and his remains, attended by a number of mourning relatives, was committed to the cold grave at the Baptist meeting house on the day after his decease. I le was a promising child. September 25th 1828. Died, Tamar Lewis daughter of the aforesaid brother and sister Lewis in the thirteenth year of her age |born about I8I6|. A ser¬ mon was also delivered on the solemn occasion and a large concourse of people accompanied her remains to the silent tomb at the same place. She was a hopeful child who “came forth as a flower and was soon cut off." Our brother and sister Lewis seem to drink a large cup of calamity: Last season thunder from the cloud was commissioned to bereave them of a large por¬ tion of worldly property; 1 and now a sore fever bereaves them of two of their children within a little time of each other! They have appeared to sub¬ mit to the will of Heaven with patience and Christian resignation: “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Friday March 26. 18.31. I have now sat down to write this in memory of our brother Philip Gibbon, concerning whom I am now informed that he departed this life on the 28th of January 18.30. lie had been a resident in this part of the land for many years, and in the early part of his life had attached himself to the Presbyterian denomination in this place; and with them was a communicant for eight or nine years: However the Lord opened his eyes to see that notwithstanding his profession he was yet in his sins: some books that lie read, and the preaching of the unworthy writer, was made the means of enlightening his mind into the knowledge of Christ as the end of the law for righteousness to the believer; and hence to trust his grace as a Mediator: Having thus obtained an experimental hope in the savior, he was led for¬ ward to reflect on what was his duty as a believer, the scriptures in regard of baptism opened to his understanding: (Now this was not at a time when the Baptist cause was in golden slippers in this place, but the very reverse); and now an host of opposition took place from the Pcdobaptists in general, and all his relations in particular (his nearest partner in life was among the num¬ ber then, but has since been for a long time a worthy member of this church). However, eventually he was baptised and took membership with us: lie knew the worth of truth by being reproached for it, and as it was not in mere theory he had it but in experience it met his ease he was discern¬ ingly led into practical piety; his life was sober, righteous, and Godly, and his house was a place where dialy [s'/c; daily] prayer was made; while the whole ' The prior entry listed “the persons composing the White Deer church; at the time of our church meeting in August, 1828": Thomas Smiley, Nancy Smiley, John lewis, Martini t.ewis, John Oakes, Sarah Oakes, Philip Gibbon, Katharine Gibbon, Jonathan Pratt, I.oisa Pratt, Samuel Jenkins, Tamar Lomison, llariet Geddes, Susanna Smiley, Fliza Smiley. 1 Smiley’s 5 August 1827 entry makes particular note of a violent storm. Mis daughter Eliza had returned home from a funeral and “brought us the account of the barn of our brother John Lewis being struck by lightening and burned down to the ground! It was a large building, well filled with the fruits of the field flowing in from a plentiful harvest and several large stacks of the same kind adjacent thereto, all was consumed; together with a farm waggon and a light one, all his horse tackling and other instruments for husbandry: but the most pitiful part of the catastrophe was four working horses and two spring colts lost their lives in it." 58 I’enusylrtniia Get 1eal<>y teal 11layazi11e Vol. 18 of his conversation in the world refuted what is so much advanced at this time by the Wesleyans, viz That to believe in eternal personal election to holiness here and glory hereafter, will lead to ungodly practices. For it might well he said of him that he had "good report of all men and of the truth itself.” For a long time before his decease he experience great affliction and debility of body. In October 1829 lie took the dismiss from us that may be seen on page 92s and removed with his family to the State of Ohio; but not finding a Baptist church there suitable to him in doctrine, and the Baptist cause generally in a convulsed state through the new-fangled doctrine intro¬ duced by Campbell; lie wrote back that he would continue his membership here until he found a people with whom he had fellowship, and thus died in membership with us of an impostlnimc which he had with patience suffered much with for many years. 1 1 is gift in prayer was a mediocrity, but both in prayer and conversation lie appeared to breathe out vital piety: The turbu¬ lent storm (comparatively) that appeared at the time he was baptised sub¬ sided after a time, and lie dwelt in peace: and the invetracy of the populace against the Baptist sentiment also declined, so that all is now quiet: but in a world that was not friendly to the prince of life, when here, it may be that a storm may be approaching that may trouble the living, while we trust brother Gibbon has gone to rest. In brotherly respect I write this page to the memory of the deceased. Hitler Thomas Smiley, the writer of these records and Pastor of the Church during a period of nearly twenty three years, expired rejoicing in the faith and hope of the Gospel on the 12th day of January 18.52— aged nearly 75 years.” George Spratt s "Brother and Sister Gibbon. The Baptist Church of Jesus Christ meeting in White Deer; Denying Arminian, Socinian, and llopkinsian errors; Believing in regeneration only by the power of God. (lie divinity of the Lord Jesus, and in particular atonement; and adopting the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of faith as a testimony to the world of how we understand the scriptures of the old and new Testaments. To any church of the same faith and order wheresoever this shall come. Greeting. This is to certify that our beloved brother Philip Gibbon, and Catharine his wife, were baptised in this place upon a profession of their faith and have for many years been members with us, clear of church censure: and as they are now about to remove from us; We recommend them as such to favor and respect among brethren; and when they have joined another church of the same faith and order with ourselves we shall consider them dismissed from us. Done at our meeting of business October tenth 1829 and signed for the church by us, Thomas Smiley, pastor; John Lewis, clerk.” ” Smiley frequently included ruminations on various aspects of his life on his birthday, 27 May. In 1827 he specifically referred to his birth year: "Serious thoughts on my birth day May 27th 1827. Once more has the rolling year gone round and brought the same day of the month and the same month in which I first breathed the vital air in 1759....”