_http://www.secondbaptistrichmond.org/history/hxvabapt.htm_
(http://www.secondbaptistrichmond.org/history/hxvabapt.htm)


In a message dated 10/25/2006 7:44:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

Lonny  Watro's remarks about a Baptist ancestor prompt me to put in a plug
for  Andrew Levy's superb book, "The First Emancipator," about Robert
Carter,  who was among the first high-status Virginians to become a
Baptist.   The book portrays the struggles of the early Baptists against
violent  abuse, Carter's extraordinary emancipation, and the twists and
turns of  Carter's religious conversions.  It is one of the best and  most
enjoyable books I've read on 18th-century Virginia.  A  must-read.

Henry Wiencek



Henry,

I descend from Matthew Marks who died in 1718 in Prince Georges County (now
portion in Brunswick Co. probably).  According to Robertson family
information the first "approved" Baptist meeting occurred in his home in 1715  (see the
following excerpt from list archives).  The minister was a Robert  Norden.
Are either of these people mentioned in the above  books.   I don't believe they
quite reach the "high status"  category.

Thanks in advance, Janet Hunter

_http://jrshelby.com/rfotw/robinson.txt_
(http://jrshelby.com/rfotw/robinson.txt)
Israel Roberson (Robertson, Robinson, Robyson), the father of
Susannah  Kendrick, was born in Prince George Co., Va., about 1698-1700,
as his oldest  son, Matthew, was born in 1720, and Israel himself was
not too old to serve  as an Ensign in the Granville Co., N.C. militia in
the General Muster Oct.  8, 1?54 (N.C. Colonial and State Records, Vol.
22, p. 372-3). He served in  the same company, Capt. Richard Coleman's,
as James and John Kendrick, and  the list of militiamen shows also
Israel's sons, Matthew (Sergeant), Israel,  Jr., and John Robinson.
Prince George Co., Va. records indicate practically  conclusively that
Israel Roberson and his brothers, John and Edward  Roberson, were sons
of Nicholas Roberson, of Bristol Parish, Prince George  Co., thus
connecting them with two of the founders of the first Baptist  Church
established in Virginia (cy. Ryland, "The Baptists of Virginia", pp.
2-5). Probably at the request of Matthew Marks, in 1714 the General
Assembly of the General Baptists of England sent to Virginia the Rev.
Robert Norden to become pastor of a Baptist congregation, and at the
Prince George Co. Court June 14, 1715, Robert Norden, "An Anabaptist
preacher", took the oath of allegiance, and Matthew Mark's home was
authorized as a meeting house for the Baptists (O.B. 1714-20, p. 20).
At  the next court, July 12, 1715, "On the motion of Nicholas Robertson
it's  ordered that his house be recorded a publick meeting house for the
sext of  Anabaptists" (p.25). Matthew Marks had lived in Charles City
Co., Va. (later  Prince George) at least since June, 1691, when he was
summoned before the  court for not going church, indicating that he was
probably already a  Baptist and opposed to worshipping in Ihe
Established Church (Charles City  orders, 1687-95, p. 348). He was a
comparatively wealthy man and was owner  of 1500 acres in Prince George
Co. in 1784 (VM 28, p. 344). He died in  Prince George Co. in 1719. The
will of Matthew Marks of Martins Brandon  Parish, dated Aug. 15, 1719
and probated at Merchants Hope Oct. 13, 1719,  leaves land to Edward,
son of Edward Marks; to John Robyson; to Israel and  Edward Robinson; to
John Marks, son of Israel marks; to his daughter Mary  Davenport; states
that Robert Norden (the Baptist Minister mentioned above)  is to have a
room reserved for him in the house as long as he remains in  Virginia
and is to have the plantation until Edward Marks comes of age; and
appoints Robert Norden and John Avery executors (D. & W. HM., 1713-28,
p. 358). An account of the estate in 1720 shows that the daughter was
the wife of George Davenport, and mentions a parcel of books "belonging
to the Baptist ministcr, not belonging to Marks (p. 47m). It is
unfortunate that the will mentions no relationships except the
daughter,  Mary Davenport. However, it seems practically certain that
the Marks and  Roberson legatees were grandsons. The legatee, Edward
Narks, was the son of  an Edward Marks who died prior to 1714, his widow
Martha in that year being  the wife of James Bell (O.B. 1714-28, p. 6).
She was a sister of William  Santain, whose Will, dated Dec. 31, 1716
and probated May 14, 1717, mentions  his wife; Iames Bell and martha hfs
wife ("my sister")i and her children,  Edward Marks and James Bell (D. &
W. Bk. 1713-28, p. 162). John Marks,  the other Marks legatee, was the
son of Israel Marks who died in 1718, and  his wife Elizabeth, who was a
daughter of Richard Pigeon, who also died in  1718 (D. & W. Bk. 1713-28,
pp 258 & 288). Edward Marks, Sr. and  Israel Marks were almost certainly
sons of Matthew Marks. The names Israel  and Edward Roberson among the
legatees, the fact that Israel Roberson's  eldest son was named Matthew,
and the fact that the three Roberson brothers  were left together 200
acres of land (the same as Edward Marks and the  daughter Mary
Davenport), indicate very strongly that their mother was a  daughter of
Matthew Marks, who had predeceased her  father.

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