Rev Charles Webb was married to Elizabeth Davis.
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Oldest Baptist Church West Of Alleghenies
Indian Creek Baptist Church....
(Compiled and read by Mrs. Stella Cook Booth at the 148th Anniversary on July 29, 1838 at the Indian Creek Baptist Church and by request read again at the General Union Association of Baptists at the Indian Creek Baptist Church on August 29, 1940, rewritten in Cynthiana Democrat, Aug 6, 1969. Celebration Edition)
Four miles east of Cynthiana on the main highway to Millersburg stands the oldest Baptist Church this side of the Alleghenies, that makes the unique claim of being the only original church on the original site and that has been in continuous service since its beginning.
There are several other churches that were constituted a few years earlier but the sites of these have been changed or the building destroyed or their services discontinued.
This church was founded 28 years before one was started in Cynthiana sending her pastors to help form the Particular Baptist Church at Cynthiana, and for the next 25 years members from her ranks were joining the so-called Particular Baptist Church at Belmont in Cynthiana.
Near the waters of Indian Creek the pioneers that made the beginning of history in this section built their church of great white oak logs, vying with one another in bringing the largest logs for its construction.
There are legends and historical facts that center around this beautiful spot, Old Indian Creek, and it thrills us as we follow the trail of these early people and, in some cases, martyrs, and as we think of the dangers they encountered in the primitive wilderness at the mercy of the wild beasts.
This church was established in 1790. Spencer, one of the most authentic historians, says "Probably by Augustine Eastin," but our records, and traditions, passed down by word of mouth in this neighborhood and by pioneer's descendants, say Rev Charles Webb was the first pastor. The Union Associational records of 1813 name him as the pastor when the church was constituted. Later Rev Isaac Monson was a pastor also. These two pioneer Baptist preachers whose families intermarried, came through from Virginia together.
The Associational records tell us the church was constituted in June 1790, and with 16 members was admitted into the Elkhorn Association that year. The messengers of the first meeting were William Cromwell and Thomas Hubbard; in 1791, Rev Charles Webb and Rev Isaac Monson; in 1802, Gresham Forrest, J Mason, Thomas Veach, and these messengers reported 95 members; in 1803, Isaac Monson and Gresham Forrest reported 55 members.
You can see here that the membership divided, reporting a loss of 40 members, and it was this year when it divided in so many other churches in the state, because of Arian doctrine that Augustine Eastin so strongly expounded. This doctrine at that time denied the sonsubstantial nature of the persons of the Trinity.
Augustine Eastin was at first a Baptist and was a successful pastor at Coopers Run Church until under the administration of James Garrard, a Baptist preacher, who was elected to Governor in 1796. Governor Garrard appointed Harry Toulmin, a polished Unitarian preacher, as his secretary of State, and the Englishman, Mr. Toulman, son converted the Governor to his religious sentiments and the Governor in turn led Mr. Eastin. Mr. Eastin was a brilliant man but very unstable because of the constant changing of his doctrine, being an imitator of men of distinction in the world. Due to this belief, Rev Eastin and his church at Coopers Run were excluded at the Elkhorn Association in 1803 from the fellowship of the Baptists.
This brought a crisis in the church. In 1803 a division between Regular and Separate Baptist and thus was formed the Second Baptist Church, referred to in a deed recorded in Bourbon County Court records. In 1808 there was a great depression in religion, about 37 churches in Elkhorn Association reporting only nine persons baptized. We can see how this church felt the low ebb in religion and how since the great Revival of 1801, through love and common consent, they had been trying to get the Regular Baptists and the Separate Baptists into one common belief under the name of "United" Baptists.
The first of July, 1809, (a Harrison County record) Gresham Forrest and Moss Endicott, Deacons of the First Baptist Church in Indian Creek bought back from Mason Johnson, Deacon of the Second Baptist Church, one-half of the Baptist meeting-house and lot on which it stands, containing one acre of land. The said Baptist Church should have full right to hold, use and occupy the said house, and lot for the purpose of religious worship on the second Sunday and Saturday and also the fourth Sunday and Saturday, this to these deacons and their successors in office forever."
We find this occurrence similar to the one that took place at "Bryants" where Ambrose Dudley and others were pastors. This church became involved in a difficulty which resulted in its division although both churches continued to occupy the same house for many years. One-half of the church members entered the Licking Association of Particular Baptist and the other afterwards were recognized by Elkhorn Association.
This old church building has two doors, one for the men and one for the women to enter, was originally without windows, and no chimney, a puncheon floor and a few break back benches. The gallery was used for the slaves and only a small part of this gallery remains. At first there was no way of heating. The wealthy had foot-warmers. No doubt the others would go outside to a bonfire or depend upon their religious fervor to keep them warm. The preacher had his hour glass and turned it on his congregation for a second glass or even a third glass, as it was said by some of the smart young ones that Rev Webb was "long-winded."
It is related in Spencer's History that during one of the great outdoor meetings at Indian Creek on July 24, 1800, a large congregation attended the stage, (which they erected in warm weather) where the word was preached with great zeal, and appeared to take considerable effect of the minds and of the hearts thereof. A boy about 12 years of age left the raised platform and mounting a log at some distance, raised his voice in an effecting manner, thus attracting the main body of people.
With tears streaming down from his eyes, he cried aloud to the wicked, warning them of their danger and doom, if they persisted in their sin and expressing his love to them and desire that they should turn to the Lord and be saved. He became so exhausted he was held up by two men and then spoke for an hour. His eloquence was inspiring, and at the last he raised his hand, wiping the perspiration from his little face, then dropping his handkerchief, he cried, "Thus, O Sinner Shall you drop into hell, unless you forsake your sins and turn to the Lord." This manifestation of the Holy Spirit led many to conversion.
Occurrences like this were taking place throughout the Elkhorn Association and in their report of 1801, they received the remarkable number of 3,000 conversions into their churches. Thirty-three new members were reported to Elkhorn Association from J C B C Also a membership reported 95 that year.
On Sept 4, 1813 messengers were chosen to meet on the fourth Friday in Sept at Indian Creek, for the purpose of forming "Union Association," because of the inconvenience to get to Elkhorn Association. These messengers were: Rev Charles Webb, Richard King; with brethren VanHook, Riley, Chambers, Bell, VanDeren and Bair. At this meeting the following churches by their own request, were dismissed from Elkhorn Association; Indian Creek - Elder Isaac Monson, George Eaton, Gresham Forrest, Thomas Veach and Arch. VanHook. Union: Elder Charles Webb. Garrard Riley, Richard King, James Chambers, John Bell and Godfrey VanDeren. Three other churches were named and their messengers.
Brother Isaac Monson was appointed to preach the introductory sermon for 1814 and Brother Webb to write the circular letter. For 1815 Brother Webb was appointed to preach the introductory sermon and the messengers from Indian Creek were Elder Isaac Monson, George Eaton, Gresham Forrest, Thomas Veach and Matthew Scott.
Mrs. J B Endicott has the record of being a faithful member of this church for 67 years. She is a grandchild of the first pastor, the pioneer Rev Webb. There is one other living grandchild, Mrs. Sue Young of Oxford, Ohio. Miss Edith Monson of Cynthiana is the only great-great grandchild of the two pioneer preachers.
A Harrison county deed of 1852 shows one acre to contain the new Christian meeting-house made to Benjamin Talbott and John C Wilson, deacons in the Christian Church. This acre of land was bought from Dan McShane, Sr. and Sally Cook McShane in 1852.
In 1878 Zerilda VanHook Wilson, widow of John M Wilson, left in her will her land lying near Indian Creek, to be sold and proceeds to be used by the Trustees for Indian Creek Baptist Church. This money was designated the Wilson Trust Fund, and continued until 1937. The last of the principal was used to roof the Church. The oldest tombstone that is marked in the graveyard is a small oval handcarved natural stone placed to the memory of Hugh Wilson, a Revolutionary soldier, who owned land near the church. He died in 1819. Henry Talbott, a Revolutionary soldier, died in 1819. Moses Endicott, a Revolutionary soldier, died in 1834.
One hundred and fifty years is a long time and during that time this old Indian Creek Church has had a more dominant influence than any other single factor upon our civilization in this and surrounding communities.
Organizing churches, ordaining ministers, sending out missionaries are some of its accomplishments. Now their members are few but their faithfulness is great.
This church possesses exceptional historical interest and is worthy of the most careful preservation and restoration to its original setting for the benefit of future generations.
There were in attendance at the sesquicentennial about 400 people. Many descendants of the early families were present. Twenty people stood when the call was made for those that had been present at the 1890 centennial. This was an all day program. Lunch was served on the famous grounds.
These records compiled from Church clerks Book 1857 to 1938:
The oldest church record was burned in the fire of the home of the clerk, William H Stewart; in the present book list of church members from 1837 to 1900 is in possession of Church Clerk, Miss Jennie Endicott. List of former pastors or deacons in Farmers National Bank, minutes of the first meeting of the Union Association in 1819. Records taken from Bourbon County Courthouse 1801-1804 Deed Bourbon County Courthouse to Harrison County Courthouse. Record of messengers on file at library of Southern Baptist Seminary from 1790 to 1813, Louisville.
(Spencer's History, Collins, and Perrin's History)
Charles Webb 
