Baptists: Early History of Bath, Steuben Co., NY
Seeking information on any early Baptist ministers or congregations
of Steuben Co., NY, particularly members of Amos EGGLESTON's
congregation.
For many years, the compiler was unable to find any other
documentation to support the statement made in the obituary of
Thomas-2 STREETER (1808-1882) that his father, Thomas-1 STREETER
(1753-1831), was a Baptist minister. In 1993, an index became
available for "A History of the Purchase and Settlement of Western
New York and of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the
Presbyterian Church in That Section" (M.W. Dodd, Brick Church
Chapel, New York, New York, [1848]). The following excerpt reveals
some rich, albeit startling, biographical details of Thomas'
activities in the 1790s at Bath. In this passage, Reverend James
Hervey Hotchkins paints a vivid picture of life in early Bath.
... The Sabath was disregarded; drinking, gambling,
carousing, horse-racing, attending the theatre, with
other concomitant vices, were very general, and numbers
of those who moved in the high circle were exceedingly
depraved in their habits. But it deserves notice, that
at this dissolute period, an obscure individual of the
Baptist denomination, plain and illiterate, but very
pious, upheld worship. This man's name was Streeter. He
drew around him upon the Sabbath in some humble building,
a little circle, mostly of colored people, prayed and
sang with them, read a portion of Scripture, and talked
to them about the salvation of the soul. Some call it
preaching, but Mr. STREETER did not. He denied being a
preacher, entertained humble views of himself, but
claimed the priviledge of addressing his fellow men on
the subjects which concern salvation. There was at this
time a large proportion of Slaves in Bath and its
immediate vicinity. Some of them were pious; and among
the white population, there were a few pious
individuals...
In America, Thomas Streeter became involved in the First
Baptist Church of Bath, initially as a licensed preacher.
The First Baptist Church of this village [Bath] was
organized in 1798 and was located on a hill four or five
miles south of this village... It was a member of the Old
Chemung Association and was received from that Association
into the Steuben Association in the year 1820 with
nineteen members. It was dismissed to the Canisteo River
Association [in] 1836 and was received back again in 1838.
It was dropped from the Steuben Association in 1843
("Historical Statement of the Bath Baptist Church, Bath,
New York"; Prepared by and Presented to the Church Sunday
Morning March 15th 1942 by the Pastor Rev. Harland K.
Tuttle, D.D.).
On Wednesday the 3rd and Thursday the 4th of November, 1808,
Thomas STREETER attended the annual meeting of the Chemung Baptist
Association at Elmira, Chemung County, New York. Representing
Bath's congregation of twenty-three were Amos EGLESTONE, minister,
Thomas STREETOR [sic], licensed preacher, and John KENT. On
Wednesday, Thomas was appointed to a committee to revise a circular
letter prepared for the member churches of the association by the
following day. On Thursday, "Brother STREETOR prayed" following
the meeting's adjournment and "Brother STREETOR preached in the
evening," ("Minutes of the Chemung Baptist Association, Held by
Appointment, at Newtown, Now Called Almyra. On November 3d and
4th, 1808"; The American Baptist-Samuel Colgate Historical Library,
Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, University of Rochester,
Rochester, New York).
Elder Jesse HARTWELL, a missionary of the Massachusetts
Baptist Missionary Society, was also in attendance for the 1808
meeting of the Chemung Baptist Association. He documented his
perceptions of the meeting in his journal:
Wednesday 3 [November 1808], I was called upon to
deliver the introductory sermon to the Chemung
Association. I preached from John x. 27, 28, 29.
Afterwards attended with them to the business of the
Association. I found here a little feeble band,
collected from different parts of the wilderness, in love
and good agreement; but very much needing help...
Thursday 4, still attended the Association, --heard
two sermons, and gave them much exhortation and the best
advice that I was capable of. Our union and fellowship
in general was pleasant, and we parted with Christian
affection. --This Association consists of five or six
churches and three ordained ministers, though one of them
has now moved far from them. This is a very needy
country, and calls the most loud for missionary labours
of any that I know of in all the western parts of our
land (Jesse Hartwell, "Extract from Elder Hartwell's
Journal," Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Magazine, Vol.
II: 306).
Amos EGGLESTON was the first pastor of the old First Baptist
Church of Bath. He first appears in the minutes of the Chemung
Baptist Association at their 1802 meeting in Romulus; in the minutes
of 1813 it is noted that "Our Brother in the ministry, Amos
EAGLESTONE, died in the year past," (Thomas William Carter,
"Centennial History of the Steuben Baptist Association and of its
Original Churches and Pioneer Pastors," [Bath, New York: The Courier
Press, 1917], 92).
The Chemung Baptist Association was established in November
1796; the old First Bath Church joined in 1802. At a time when
controversy was dividing many Baptist churches, "...the original
Chemung Association churches remained true to the gospel." "The
sessions generally continued two days -- sometimes three. Sermons
were at times three hours long, funeral sermons two hours, weddings
forty-five minutes. One historian facetiously remarks, 'It may
well be admitted that all joined heartily in the final amen'"
(Thomas William Carter, "Baptists of West Central New York State,"
The Chronicle, Vol. 20: October [1957], 156).
I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the
individuals documented above. All additions and corrections,
however speculative, will be greatly appreciated. Please send a
copy of any response directly to me. I subscribe to many lists and
post to many websites; I would not want to miss your reply! Thank
you!
Perry Streeter ([log in to unmask]) Canandaigua, New York USA
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