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 The Baltimore Association divided over this issue in 1836; but Elder Waters and others had withdrawn much earlier.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.

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)

OLD CARROLL (MT. AIRY, CARROLL COUNTY)

BLACK ROCK (BUTLER, -- COUNTY)

FELLOWSHIP (BALTIMORE, --COUNTY)

HAMMOND'S BRANCH (ANNE ARUNDEL)

NEW LISBON (ANNE ARUNDEL)

MASONGOES

NASSAONGO

SALISBURY (SALISBURY)

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.



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