SARAH OLIVER - Widow of FRANCIS OLIVER

DIED

At her residence in Duplin County, on the 10th of June, Mrs. Sarah Oliver,

relict of the Rev. Francis Oliver, in the 83d year of her age. In the death

of this truly excellent woman, society' and the church have been deprived of

one of its brightest gems. In early life, she embraced the religion of her

Saviour, and through her long life walked in strict conformity to the precepts

of the Gospel. She had to witness the death of her husband, and most part of

a numerous offspring, yet, under all her afflictions, she was resigned. For

years past, she seemed willing to depart and be with her Saviour, and during

her last illness (which was severe) she conversed with perfect composure

conce.rru.ng her future prospects, and died in full expectation of meeting her

departed husband in the kingdom of Heaven. vfuen her friends showed concern

for her recovery, her language seemed to be.

I would not live alway; no--welcome the tomb!Since .Iesus has laid there, I dread not its gloom;There sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise,To hail him in triumph descending the skies.

There, the saints of all ages in harmony meet,Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet;While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll,And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul.

Raleigh Reg.

BIBLICAL RECORDERJune 23, 1838, p. 3:3

~~~ tJ) c;t~/ ~ ~~: ;}~ UJ~ »»: ~ ([~ (J3_~ e.1vu~rY1C%Church in Wayne County. Many of the ablest brethren subsequently ; ~transferred their membership from the mother church to the new one.It is a cause for devout gratitude to God that this venerable church,whatever have been her fluctuations, has never, so far as I can learn,ceased to maintain the ordinances of religion at any time since herconstitution.

·"897.

list of the minis-to the present

expected, though I doas follows: Jeremiah781), Charles Hines

Davis, Allen Mor-McNabb, Lewis F. Wil-. N. Stallings, John R.J. B. Harrell, John T.R. C. Sandling has re-

HER ASSOCIATIONAL CONNECTION

Bear Marsh Church has been a member of five Associations. Shefirst joined the old Kehukee, from which she withdrew, with twenty-fourother churches, to form the Neuse, which was organized at Bear Marsh,October, 1794. In October, 1806, she, with other withdrawing churchesfrom the Neuse, formed the Cape Fear. This organization also waseffected at Bear Marsh. She next united with several other churchesof the Cape Fear to form the Goshen in 1827. Finally the Goshenchurches, together with some from the Neuse and some from the Bap-tist Advisory Council, met at Kenansville, Duplin County, October, 1844,and organized the Union Association, which in 1865, changed her nameto Eastern.This sketch, imperfect as it is, would be far more so, without further

mention of

from the present site,Brock from the publichouse was afterwards

and was burnedof the second house,near the swamp andAssociation for 1834burned up, but Godthereof, in which we

in an Associa-the States, the

as were suitable

REv. FRANCIS OLIVER

He came from Virginia to Onslow County in early life. He movedthence to Duplin county, and settled on a plantation near Bear MarshChurch, on which his grandson, Mr. Joseph B. Oliver now resides.He was a man of prominence and great usefulness. In 1795, or less

than four years from his ordination, he was chosen to preside over theNeuse Association, a body whose territory embraced the counties ofWayne, Wake, Pitt, Glasgow (now Greene), Sampson, Lenoir, Jones,Johnston, Edgecombe, Duplin, Carteret, Craven, Brunswick, New Han-over, Bladen, and Robeson, and among whose ministry were such menas William and Fleet Cooper, Job Thigpen, Abram Baker, John Dila-hunty and Needham Whitfield.Elder Oliver died in 1808 while on a visit to a son in Georgia. He

left in this State two sons-John and Benjamin-both of whom faithfullyserved Bear Marsh Church for many years and until their death-theformer as clerk and the latter as deacon. John R. Oliver, a grandsonof Francis Oliver, after his return from Wake Forest College, devotedhis affiicted life to the gospel ministry. It was a marvel to many howone so encumbered with bodily affliction, could travel and preach asmuch as he did. Robert T. Bryan and Will B. Oliver, the great-grand-sonsof Francis Oliver, are useful and growing ministers of the gospel. The

internal dissensionsrical strength anding with only ten

undred names. Somein her early historyhad 299 members;withdrawal of the

to set up otherI applied for let-

tute the Mt. Olive

83

I,I one is our beloved mISSIOnary to the benighted millions of China, andthe other is the gifted and popular pastor of the First Baptist Churchof Wilmington, N. C.

..

CONCLUDING REMARKS

In morality and Christian beneficence, Bear Marsh wiII compare favor-ably with other country churches having only monthly preaching. Shehas a Sunday School and a Woman's Missionary Society, and monthlycoUections for the objects of the Association, State Convention, andS. B. Convention. Her present membership consists principally of poorpeople, there being not a single wealthy person among them, and hercontributions are not so large as they were thirty or forty years agowhen she was more able, and when Bro. James B. Taylor, the F. M.Secretary of the S. B. C., used to come and talk missions to the brethren.Nor are they so large now as they should be; but we are hoping forgrowth, in the grace of giving.

The church in the early part of the present year, with hearty andpractical unanimity, adopted strong resolutions against the manufacture,sale and use of all alcoholic beverages, declaring non-feUowship withsuch members as would persist in making or seUing them. When allour churches shaU have taken this advanced ground there wiII be Somehope of redeeming the country from the blighting evils of the liquorcurse.

By Rev. John T. Albritton,Mt. Olive, N. c., April, 1897.

(Baptist Historical Papers, UNC Library, Cbapel Hill.)

However,Aldermanin which

The

METHODISTS

The first Methodist Church building was on Carr's Branch near Mag-nolia. The deed for the church is recorded in Book E, Page 372 ofthe Duplin County Public Registry, and was from James Rogers toFrancis Asbury, Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.The deed was dated August 22, 1790, and is for I acre near the planta-tion of Job Rogers, and whereon the church now stands.

Other early Methodist churches in the county were: Providence inthe Rockfish Community, Wesley near Kenansville, Charity, CarltonChapel, Magnolia and Kenansvi11e.

time thereThere wereAmong

Wells, Rev.Rev. HiramThe

in 1808 theJames

NAHUNGA BAPTIST CHURCH

Nahunga Baptist Church was located about four hundred yards fromCooper's Mill, which is four miles east of Warsaw, and near NahungaCreek, from whence it derived its name.

84

EASTERN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1905

10on the spot where stands her present house three houses of worship. Thefirst was a creditable building for those times, but was destroyed by fire ashort time before the year 1834. They rebuilt at once, and tile minutes ofthe Goshen Kssociation, which met at Bear Marsh Church, October, 1834, intheir new house, contains this record: "Their once beautiful house, it istrue, was burned up, but God has enabled them to erect another on theground thereof, in which we noW have the happiness of taking sweet counciltogether in an Associational capacity." Some of the trees burned by thefire still stand in the grove to tell the story of the destroying flame. Thepresent house of worship was built about forty·eight years ago, the timbersof the old house that were suitable having been worked into the new one.Bear :iYIarsh has held membership in five Associations. The Kehukee,

the Neuse, the Cape Fear, the Goshen, and the Union (changed to Easternin 1865). Two of these bodies were organized at Bear Marsh-the Neusein October. 1794, and the Cape Fear in October, 1806. :Hany pastors haveserved Bear Marsh since the death of Elder Francis Oliver in 1808. Ofthese 1 have gathered the names of Allen ;JIorris. Hillary }farris. BenjaminDavis, J. W. Wallace, Henry Swinson. Robert 1IcNabb, L. F. Williams, C. C.Gordan, H. E. .'iIinor, J. D. Hupham, J. N. Stallings, J. R. Oliver, J. B. Har-rell, R. C. Sandling. A. C. Dixon, J. N. Tolar, W. L. Bilbro, T. J. Baker, C. G.Wells and the writer. Probably a few names have been inadvertently leftout. The present pastor is Rev. Thea. J. Hood, recently ordained to theministry at Bear Marsh.Mount Olive Baptist Church, with which this body holds its presentsession, was the last colony to withdraw from the mother church. Uponapplication of the writer, letters were granted to"ii:ril and about twentyother members to form a new church at Mount Oli.v€. The organizationwas effected on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in. March, 1869, a fewbrethren from other Baptist churches having put il1 their letters with us.Among the early pastors of Bear M&.rsh church stands out pre·eminentlythe name of Elder Francis Oliver. He came from Virginia to Onslowcounty, N. C., in early life, marfled soon afterwards and moved to Duplincounty, settling on a plantation near Bear ;YIarsh about 1733. Upon thesame plantation his son, Benjamin, lived and died, and on which his grand-son, Joseph B. Oliver, now resides. Francis Oliver was a wise leaderamon~ his fellow-citizens, and was selected to represent them in the con-vention of the State to consider the Federal Constitution. As beforestated. he was ordained to the pastorate of Bear Marsh church ~[ay 17,1792, which position he held until his death in 1808, which occured inGeorgia, while on a visit to relatives in that State. Less than four yearsfrom the date of his ordination he was chosen to preside over the oldNeuse Association, a large influential body, covering from sixteen to twentycounries, and navtns among his ministry such men as William and FleetCooper. Abram Baker, .John Dellahunty. )!eetiham Whitfield anti JobThigpen. Besides his pastorai labor. Brother Oliver <lid much evangelisticwork. org::\Uizing and helping to organize many churches. Of course, hetraveled by private conveyance, there being at that. early date no railroadsin the State. On one of his evangelistic tours his beloved daughter, whooften accompanied him in his ministerial work, was drowned wllile at-tempting to cross a swollen stream, and he himself narrowly escaped thesame rate. He left behind him two sor.::;-John and Benjamin-who werehonored and useful members of Bear ;>Iarsh church up to their death, theformer serving as clerk and the latter as deacon. Brother John Oliverdied about 1343 or 1'lH and his brother died about 1880, having served hischurcll with loving fl..Jelity and the Eastern Association as ~IQ(lentor forseveral sessions, and as chairman of the Executive Committee for a longterm of years, or until age and infirmity compelled his retirement from

service.John R. Oliver, who devoted many many years of his afflicted life to thegospel ministry, was a son of Benjamin Oliver and a grandson of FrancisOliver. Being a great sufferer from rheumatism, the amount of travel andlabor he accomplished was a matter of :;.stonishment to his friends. He

~1I

I,.ii

\I·I«»

worship. Theby fire nInutes orr, l8:l4, In

tul house, It Isanother on the

sweet councilburned by theog llame. The

the timbersthe new one.

The Kehukee,aged to Elo.stero.

he Neusepastors havein l301l. or

[orris. Benjamlo.Williamtl. C. C.Iver, J. B. Har·J. Baker, C. G.. vertently lertordatuert [0 rhe

entered into rest in the year 1883. Francis Oliver being dead, yet speakethto the world through his great grandchildren, Rev. W. B. Oliver, of F'lorence, S. C., and Dr. R. T. Bryan, our beloved and honored missionary toChina ...

Should God spare my life I hope to have something to say about otherchurches belonging to this body at our next meeting. So many pleasantmemories of [he brethren who have labored among us and passed on to thebetter land rush upon me that r lay down my pencil with great reluctance.

II

J

cDIJ,-i.

i

By motion, this paper was thankfully received and adopted.The Report on Periodicals was read by Rev. J. :\1. Alderman, as follows:

Your Committee on Periodicals is glad to report that we have better lit-erature than ever before. The Biblical Recorder, our State organ, is betterable to feed our minds and inspire our hearts. The North Carolina Baptistis worthy of praise, especially because of its attitude on the temperancequestion. Charity and Children should be read by every Baptist in theState, that we may keep in heart to heart touch with the Orphanage. TheHome Field and Foreign Mission Journal should be carefully read, that wemay be intelligent regarding our work in the Home and Foreign fields.We would also encourage the use of the literature of our Sunday SchoolBoard, of Nashville, Tenn, purchased through the Baptist Book Store, atRaleigh, N. C.

J. M. ALDER:'vIAN,J. E. HIGHS~IITH,W. H. HAGWOOD,

Committee.

Pending motion to adopt, the Association was addressed by J. }f. Alder-man, E. J. Edwards and J. M. Page. Report was adopted.

On motion the Association adjourned until 2 o'clock p. m. Benedictionby J. T. Allbritton.

WEDNESDAY-AFTERNOON SESSION.

Devotional exercises were conducted by song and pr-iyer by W. B. Riven-bark .

. Report of Committee to Nominate Executive Committee.

Your Committee to Nomlnute Executive Comrruttee for ensuing year begsleave to nominate the [allowing brethren, vtz.: C. E. Daniel, W. H. Mid-dIe ton. W. H. :\I[urray, J. A. Powell and L. Mlddleton.

By motion the report was adopted,

Report of Treasurer.

The Treasurer's Report was read by Brother C. E. Daniel, as follows:C. E. Daniel to the Eastern Assoclntion aebtor to amount received from

Finance Commitree of last Association, viz.:State :\Ifissions - $Assoctatiou.u Misstons .Foreign .Gcsoet Mi s sion s ..'.Iinisters' Relief .Orph8.nage . .Minisrerial E,lllcCltion .Home :'[ission~ _ .Minute Fund . ................•.........Charity and Children, Johnson Church .

54.69199.7570.8511.50

lIfll ro theor [;'rands

runt or r.rn val anrlhis trten.Is. He

I

145.3596.1027.5361.8038.952.58

Total received of Finance Committee $ 609.05

KEDAR BRYAN

Kedar Bryan, of Kenansville chur.ch, died August 19, 1891. He was

born April 28th, 1851, and was baptized in his 16th year by Rev. J. N.

Stallings. He was the great-grand-son of Rev. Francis Oliver, and

brother to Rev. R. T. Bryan, missionary to China. Mrs. Kate Bryan,

his stepmother, under whose pious training he grew up from early child-

hood to man's estate, says of him: "He was a true christian, and as a

child, a boy, and a man, none knew him but to love him, he was so kind

and loving to all. He died of consumption, suffering long and greatly,

with more patience and resignation than anyone I ever saw. In dying he

pointed upwards exclaiming, Jesus! We feel like our boy is with his

Savior."

EASTEFN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1891, p. 12.

SON OF

FRANCIS OLIVER

We have the painful duty of announcing the deaths of some valuable

brethren, which have occured during the past year. Benjamin Oliver,

the son Rev. Francis Oliver, was born in Duplin County, N. C., on the

15th day of March, 1803. His mother's maiden name was Sarah Barrow, who

was born and reared in Onslow County, N. C. His father was a Baptist

minister, widely known, and dearly beloved by those who knew him. He died

when the subject of this notice was quite young; his early training therefore

devolved upon his mother, and the faithfulness with which she performed this

task, has been shown in the life and virtues of her son. He was baptized

into the fellowship of Bear Marsh Church by Elder Henry Swinson, July, 1832.

He was shortly after then elected a Deacon of that church, and served faith-

fully in that capacity till his death. He was elected Moderator of the

Union Association, now Eastern, in 1845, and held such position at different

times until 1835. We do not know the exact time when he was elected a

member of our Executive Committee, but the records of 1844 show reports from

him as its chairman, and he remained one of that body until his life closed.

On account of bodily infirmity, he did not serve as chairman of the committee

his last two years, but continued to advise about its proceedings unto the

last. The great work of his life seemed to be the fostering of associational

missions; and in the interest of this great Christian enterprise, he gave

much of his precious time, and of his means, purely for its promotion. He

attended every session of the Association forty-eight years, and was a

delegate every year of that period except one, when he was excused at his own

request, owing to infirmity of body. He aided in organizing the body now

known as the Minister's Relief Society, and was its chairman several years.

The only civil position he ever held was that of magistrate. Having been

2

SON OF

FRANCIS OLIVER

reared under religious influences, his mind seemed to go in that direction,

and his heart being washed in the blood of Jesus, he sought not the honors

of this world, but was content to hold such positions in the church as would

enable him to promote the Master's cause. Educational facilities being few

in his early life, he obtained but little mental cultivation, then, but by

dint of perseverance and close application to study, he became a man of rare

intelligence. He was a great lover of history, science and agricultural v70rks,

but the Bible was prized as the grand storehouse of mental lore, and was

his guide to heaven. He began life as a mechanic of small means, but by

untiring energy and prudence acquired a comfortable living. He was the firm

friend of education, and proved his sincerity and devotion to its interests

by giving his children a lil;?eralcultivation of. mind, and contributing of

his means for the instruction of others. Associational missions and Bear

Marsh Church were precious earthly objects to him, while family and friends

were ever dear also. Hany friends, besides his family and other relatives

will long miss his presence. He is gone from among us; gone to the mansions

of the pure and happy ones. As his life has been one of labor for his Master,

so his end was peaceful; and happy. He passed away from earth to heaven,

Sunday morning, June 5th, 1881, with a pleasant smile on his countenance, and

is but waiting for the full redemption of the body, when all shall rise again.

There is a long array of facts that rarely distinguish the personal history

of the servants of God, and well may the Baptist brotherhood be saddened at

the departure of him who cherished, fostered and ardently loved every christian

work of theirs in all its phases, and so may Israel say, "Blessed are the

3

SON OF

FRANCIS OLIVER

dead who die in the Lord, for their works do follow them." May coming

generations cherish the memory, and imitate the example of him whose boasting

was that he gloried in the Lord.

EASTERN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1881, p, 12-13.

Burkitt

" On last Christmasoaybaptized a Mr. Sht>pherd,.

ushold (like the Jailor' was}three in family.. In this

as been raised up and cal-nistry, Hillary Morris, who

, g in this "Churcb forapprobation-, who 'sinceHertford county, and he.of Elder Wall's church ..

. : .......Bear·AJar"lt, Dupli1l coun-l..[orlh. Carolina.

were ten persons~ B\'efemales, who requested

rethren in Pitt county to :vi-ingly Elders Jeremiah

Nobles-came about 25th3, who examined into lheirfinding them sound in faithlife and conversation, they •

by the said ministers con-under the Care of Elder'

e time afterwards there "weremembers. 'William Good-a preacher, moving into_

urhood became a member..his gift in word -.md doe ...

g approved of, about thes ordaiped, ·and :t(:)ok1.h~pas-this. ~urch~ He .l;ontinued. -. ~

NEUSE ASSOCiAnON'. 20,r.

~n tile .pastoral function until about the l.

,'ear 1781, he then remcred south- ....ardly:"Elder Charles Hines then took the careof the church, and his labours were blest

> - ,

and ia number were added to the church.Some time after the 'work encreasing, andEld~r Hines's charg~ appearing too great,having the charge of several branches, El-der Fragcjs Oliver, who had been cxercis-.

- in5. his gift.in the ministry, was called, or-.dained and took the care of Bear .:Marsh _.church, and Elder Hines was dismissed on'the] 7tb May, J 79!. The labours of EJ~der Oliver have been greatly blessed, andseveral branches gat hued. One branch jsat l\a~ghungo in Duplin, 'another .at Plea-san t Plains 'in Wayne, and at each of these ,~eeting-ho~ses- they enjoy-all church liber-. ,tres and privl1eges. Their numbej is'about. l.:ro. - Yearly meeting at Bear-Marsh be~gms on the F.riday before the :3d Sunclay inA~gust, ~nd quarterly in .course. Quar-'tetly at Naughung.o, the Saturday beforethe '2d Sunday in ~eptem ber, &c. At Plea-sant Plains, quarte.rly meeting .begins the,Sa-::urdaybefore the 4-th Sunday in AuO'ust •

d . 0 ,,an-so In course.Tile C~urch .on Tou.m-C1'~ek, Edgecomlt.8

• < county: .lV. C. ., !HIS church was gathered by means of _

f.l:der Josh ua Barnes, whp:;e Jabol}rs !lav~."• ~"l,l-' h-:.,· h~ell ,

Explanation of Symbols, P-Facts Secured From Primary Sources: 8-From Secondary Sources:From tao

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File No.