Hoosier Baptist Records, 1809-2006
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Online Connections Genealogy Across Indiana Hoosier Baptist Records, 1809–2006: A Roster of Indiana Associations with an Inventory of Their Published Proceedings by Repository and a List of Associational Minutes Printed in the Annual Proceedings of the Indiana Baptist Convention Timothy Mohon (Latest revision: April 2009) Since first appearing as independent and distinct local congregations in seventeenth- century England, Baptists have held tenaciously to the autonomy of the local church. This Baptist distinction has been traditionally troublesome for the genealogist since local autonomy by definition precludes uniformity in record keeping and record holding. While rejecting outside control, Baptists historically have sought ways to foster connections among their churches. Following the English Civil War (1642–1649), Baptists began to collect their local bodies into associations. The Baptist association, unlike dioceses, presbyteries, conferences, and other organizations of denominational bodies, has no ecclesiastical authority over member churches, unless the members freely give it authority, and they rarely do. The first Baptist association to be formed in what is now the United States was the Philadelphia Baptist Association in 1707.1 Baptists began developing larger groupings—state and national conventions—in 1814, but not among all persuasions of Baptists. Therefore, understanding how, where, and when various associations formed can help the researcher know where to look for those Baptist records collected in denominational, academic, local, and state libraries and archives. This article, part of a series on Indiana’s Baptist records, will help in three fundamental ways. First, this article contains the following lists, compiled by the author: “Baptist Associations in the State of Indiana: A Roster” (with a key to Baptist sub-denominations); “Baptist Associations in the State of Indiana: An Inventory of Published Proceedings” (with holdings throughout Indiana and in Hoosier Baptist Records, 1809–2006 Louisville, Kentucky; Atlanta, Georgia; Cleveland, Ohio; and Nashville, Tennessee); and “Indiana Baptist Associational Minutes Printed in the Annual Proceedings of the Indiana Baptist Convention, 1916–1931.” Second, articles published in The Hoosier Genealogist: Connections Genealogy Across Indiana Department, beginning with the article in the spring/summer 2009 issue, will give brief histories for several Indiana Baptist Associations, telling when and where they were formed and when they disbanded or were absorbed into another association and introducing the secondary sources and authors that have discussed these associations. Third, for those associations addressed in this article series, where records exist, a listing of death notices found in the minutes for each association is given in alphabetical order. While the article series thus described gives an abundance of information for Indiana Baptist associations and their nineteenth-century members, it is not complete. It represents less than half of the information available. More work on this important resource would make a valuable contribution to historical and genealogical research. Therefore, the author plans to update the lists below as new information comes available. The lists may also be updated with proven information from readers and researchers. To submit your findings regarding Hoosier Baptist records, contact the Indiana Historical Society Press, Family History Publications, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3269, or e-mail [email protected]. Notes Regarding the Lists of Published Proceedings of Indiana Baptist Associations Name Changes Because of the numerous name changes, mergers, etc., of the Indiana Baptist associations over the years, as well as the same name being used more than once by different sub-denominations of Baptists, researchers should keep in mind the following. 1. Consult the roster of Baptist associations in Indiana for clarity (see first list below). 2. This listing uses the current or most recent name for an association. Archives normally catalog these items under the name that is physically on the published annual proceedings; the researcher will need to look under all names of an association when visiting one of these depositories (example: Crawford County/Perry County/Little Pigeon). 2 © 2009 Indiana Historical Society Press. All rights reserved. Hoosier Baptist Records, 1809–2006 3. This listing shows the various associational denominational connections, but it can be confusing to discern this point of information. When an associational name has been used by more than one Baptist sub-denomination, look under all names to find the holding of interest (example: Northern is a name that has been used by American, Separate, and Southern Baptists as an association name in Indiana). One can also find the associations combined under one heading (example: Danville #1 and #2 are normally found catalogued together; see special note #3). Points of Special Note (or Confusion) 1. American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky (ABC): In the first year, 1833, there were two meetings; these distinct annuals are designated as “1833a” and “1833b.” 2. The Blue River (PB) association split into two factions in 1858, with each retaining the same name. These are differentiated as “Blue River #1” and “Blue River #2.” The minutes prior to 1858 split are under the “#1” heading. 3. It appears that the Danville #1 (PB) and Danville #2 (PB) were originally one association that split, but minutes before the 1850s have not been discovered, and this can not be proven. 4. The Whitewater (PB) association split into two factions in 1845, but they rejoined in 1909. These are differentiated as “Whitewater #1” and “Whitewater #2.” The minutes prior to the 1845 split and those dated after the reunion of 1909 and later are under the “#1” heading. 5. In an archive or library these items can be found in the general circulating stacks, in vertical files, and in special collections (and sometimes in different places in the same library). These items will not always be found in the card catalog. Be prepared to ask the librarians for assistance. 6. Those associations marked with an asterisk (*) have experienced a name change at some point in their history, and the name given is the most recent one for that body. Consult the associational listing to trace these name changes. 3 © 2009 Indiana Historical Society Press. All rights reserved. Hoosier Baptist Records, 1809–2006 Notes 1. Parts of this article series were published previously in The Hoosier Genealogist in an introduction to Timothy Mohon, “Death Notices in the Annual Minutes of the Friendship Baptist Association in Central Indiana, 1855–1900,” Part 1: A–E (fall 2002): 164–67; Part 2: F–S (winter 2002): 238–41; and Part 3: T–Z and Church Roster (summer 2003): 96–101. A Roster of Baptist Associations in the State of Indiana Key to Baptist Sub-Denominations AA: African American Baptist PB: Primitive Baptist ABC: American (or Missionary) Baptist SB: Separate Baptist AS: Anti-slavery Baptist SBC: Southern Baptist FB: Free Will Baptist UB: United Baptist GB: General Baptist ASSOCIATION NAME DATES NOTES Bedford (ABC) 1842–present Bethel (ABC) 1837–present Bethlehem (PB) 1839–1920 Bloomington (ABC) ca. 1833–ca. 1851 Blue River (PB) 1816–57 Blue River #1 (PB) 1858–present Blue River #2 (PB) 1858–ca. 1910 Brownstown (ABC) 1836–present Calumet (ABC) 1923–51 Merged with the Northern to form the Northwestern association. Central (ABC) 1888–1924 Central (SBC). See Metropolitan (SBC). Central Indiana (SB) 1870–present Coffee Creek (ABC) 1827–present Conn’s Creek (PB) ca. 1830–1939 Crawford County (ABC) 1821–present Little Pigeon, 1821–55; Perry County, 1856– 1996; Crawford County, 1996–present Curry’s Prairie (ABC) 1834–present Danville #1 (PB) ca. 1827–? Danville #2 (PB) ca. 1827–? Decatur County (ABC) 1923–present East Central (ABC) 1923–present 4 © 2009 Indiana Historical Society Press. All rights reserved. Hoosier Baptist Records, 1809–2006 ASSOCIATION NAME DATES NOTES East Central (SBC) 1964–present Eastern Indiana (AA) 1884–1912 Eastern Indiana (SBC) 1951–present Indiana, 1951–53; Eastern Indiana, 1954–present Eel River (PB) 1825–ca. 1941 Elkhart (ABC) 1845–68 Enon (PB) 1842–81 Evansville (ABC) 1850–present Flat Creek (GB) 1870–present Flat Rock (ABC) 1823–present Fort Wayne (ABC). See Northeastern (ABC). Freedom (ABC) 1840–present Freedom (GB) 1902–present? Friendship (ABC) 1855–present Friendship (UB) ca. 1860–? Gallatian (AA) ca. 1848–ca. 1857 Great Lakes (SBC) 1943–59 Harmony (ABC) 1864–present Huntington (ABC) 1841–67 Indian Creek (PB) ca. 1868–? Indiana (AA) 1858–1912 Indiana (SBC). See Eastern Indiana (SBC). Indiana, State Convention of 1959–present Baptists in (SBC) Indiana and Kentucky, 1833–present General Association of Baptists of Indiana, American Baptist Churches 1833–36; General Association of Baptists in of (ABC) Indiana, 1837–45; Indiana Baptist General Association, 1846–63; Indiana Baptist State Convention, 1864–95; Indiana Baptist Convention, 1896–1986; American Baptist Churches of Indiana, 1986–2000; American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, 2000–present Indiana Free Baptist (FB) 1887–ca. 1912 Indianapolis, American Baptist 1826–present Indianapolis, 1826–1988; American Baptist Churches of Greater (ABC) Churches of Greater Indianapolis, 1989–present Iroquois (SBC) 1982–? Johnson County (ABC) 1892–present Morgantown, 1892–97; Johnson County, 1898– present Jubilee (AS)