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