Clarke County GaArchives Church Records.....Buena Vista Baptist Church Copyright Date December 11 1858 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Beth Collins http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002523 November 20, 2004, 5:04 pm From the Buena Vista Baptist Church, Athens, GA, record book Georgia State Archives, Manuscripts section December 11th 1858 Constitution of the church called the Buenavista Baptist Church Decr 11th 1858 – by brethren L. R. L. Jennings of the Athens Baptist church and Prof Cooper of The Madison Female College. The last named preached a Sermon suited to the occasion from Acts. And br. Jennings propounded the usual questions as to Covenant, Articles of Faith, &c. which were read and previously signed by most of the members petitioning for church constitution, declared the church a regularly constituted Baptist church or organization distinct and independent from all others, and concluded with a feelings Address and Prayer. The following names were constituted into a church, vz 1. Laura Martin 2. Mary Martin 3. Harriet Watkins 4. T. Eveline Tolbert 5. Nancy Tolbert 6. Mary Smith 7. George Dudley 8. John Joiner 9. Annice Joiner 10. Rosella Nix 11. Samuel M. Barber 12. William G Brown 13. William A. Martin 14. Sophronia Page 15. Rebecca Joiner 16. Thomas E. Parks 17. William S. P. Barrett 18. Elizabeth a. Barrett 19. Mary C. Brown 20. John white 21. Mrs. M. Barber 22. David Barnet 23. John I. Barrett 24. James L. R. Barrett 25. Martha A. Barrett 26. Wm G. Barrett 27. William Ledbetter 28. Elizabeth Watkins 29. William T. White 30. Mahala Servant B. Yerby Sr. The last four baptized into the fellowship the day of this Constitution _____. At the close of the constitution exercises the newly organized church proceeded to the discharge of some business by calling Rev. L. R. L. Jennings to act as the moderator – Where on motion, it was agreed That a door be opened for the admission of members by Christian experience when Eveline Servant of Burrel Yerby Sr. Came forward and was received for Baptism to be baptized immediately with the Three lying over for baptism. It was resolved that these Four be at once baptized into the fellowship of this church to preclude the necessity of being received by the Athens Baptist Church and then by letter be dismissed back to this church.. It was also resolved That this church have monthly conferences and that the Second Saturday in each month be considered a suitable day (for the present) for this object. It was also resolved that we have the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper administered at the first conference season at which time it would be determined how often during the year this solemn rite should be administered. As before said being feelingly addressed by Rev. L. R. L. Jennings, the congregation repaired to the water-side where the last four names in the preceding list were buried with Christ in Baptism. PAGE 17 Georgia Clarke County} In consideration of the love and affection I have for the Baptist Church Called the Buenavista Bap Church, I give the lot or parcel of ground of equal size with the lot conveyed by bro William G. Barrett around said Buenavista Church containing three fourths of an acre more or less – my lot lying on the left hand side of the road leading from Athens to NoWhere Court Ground and will meet the Corners of the Church lot in the middle of the road, corresponding with said church lot, corner for corner, and line for line in size the road being made now a perfectly exact dividing line between the two lots or parcels of ground.—I give said lot that the Church may have the better advantage for Outlet and convenient room for the stopping of vehicles & the tieing of horses and promenading of the Congregation with the further and more serious consideration of laying out a Graveyard either on one side of the road or the other as the taste or Choice of the Church in Conference shall agree upon - I give said lot as I have before said so long as said “conveyed House” shall continue to be a Baptist church, having its regular Worshippers its Prayer Meetings and Sunday School, and no part of the lot I convey to become desecrated to the uses of Profligacy in any form Whatever whether it be in erecting building for the Selling of Ardent Spirits or of perpetrating any of the gross immoralities of the times. And I do hereby Warrant and forever defend the said lot from myself and my Heirs forever; But should said “House Conveyed” Cease to become a Baptist church, and the lot I convey be perverted to other uses than desired as above indicated then Said lot to revert to me or my Heirs Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of March AD 1859. In presence of- W. S. Barrett signed John White George Dudley J. L. Barrett PAGE 21 Buenavista, 10th Septr. 1859 Church in Conference - Present br. J. G. White, who acted as Mod. Brethren Burrell H. Yerby, John White, Wm Ledbetter, W. S. P. Barrett, W. G. Brown and Wife Espy Parks and Wife, Joiner and daughter Rebecca, Sister Barbour & Son Marcus, and W. G. Barrett. 1. Opened a door for members. None came forward. 2. Read Minutes of last meeting – Br. D. H. Moncrief, who was then called to preach us the ensuing year, responded & signified his willingness to do his best in preaching for us one Sabbath in the month and Saturday before the year 1860- The association letter being read, was approved. 3. Bro W. G. Barrett expressing a wish to change the form of the conveyance of the Church building and lot of land around it made the 12th day of February last so that it might belong exclusively to the members of the Baptist church called the Buenavista Baptist being with such a measure agreed to receive the following Deed of Conveyance from him – To wit Georgia, Clark County. In consideration of the love and affection I have for the Baptist Church called the Buenavista Baptist Church, I give the lot or parcel of ground on which Said house of worship Stands, to the use and benefit of all present members of said Church in good Standing and fellowship and to all future members of like character who shall succeed the present members and so on to the end of time consistent with the laws of the land and all legal regulations and requirements to be a place for the Worship of Almighty God according to Baptist views of the truths of the Everlasting Gospel – said Lot containing Three fourths of an acre more or less, around said house of Worship and having lands of W. S. P. Barrett, John L. Wimberly, and John White as Boundaries all of which lot and house of Worship thereon I give as aforesaid to be the sole property of the Baptist Church Called the Buenavista Baptist Church, to the end of time to be disposed of by them as best to promote the interests of the Baptist Cause, in its immediate vicinity Given under my hand and Seal this 10th day of September AD 1859. Signed W. G. Barrett In presence of J. G. white John White David W. Barnett PAGE 177 Buenavista Baptist Church of Christ met and after Singing reading & prayer by motion called bro James G. Mattox to the chair 1st Invited brethren & Sisters to seats with us 2nd Opened door of church, no application 3rd Read & adopted minute of last meeting. 4th Called for reference none found. 5th Fellowship. No disturbance reported 6th General business. The commity through their chairman reported they had located the church near the “Adair Spring” in Jackson Cty with “right of way” to the spring, by motion adopted the report. Elected messengers to the association convening at the Lexington Babtist Church, bro W. F. Stark bro James G. Mattox, & bro R. W. Tillman alternate. by motion granted letters of dismission to bro J. M. Sanders, & Sister Ophelia Yerby. by motion send one dollar for Minutes agreed also to send money for missions Resquested the clerk to prepare a letter for the association & by motion appointed a building com. Viz. James G. Mattox, R. W. Pittman Joseph g. Mattox John T. Mattox W. J. Pittman to raise the money for building the house & to decide also the sise of the building &c &c. by motion adjourned --- William S. Barrett ass’ clerk James G. Mattox Mod PAGE 178 July 30, 1885 Bunivista Church of Christ met and after singing & prar By motion went into conferens Br F W Starks mod 1 read and adoped minut of Last meeting 2 call for report of Building committee don nothing moved that Brother W F Starks Leter be received back 3 med that the Lamps of the Church be returned to Brother Mark Barber it bought with his money 4 moved that ther be a committee appoint to take Charge of the property of the Church and dispose of the best they can committy James S Maddox R M [?] Pittman Joseph G. Maddox 5 moved that the clerk wright laters and deliver to the Bretheren that or in ____ fellowship 6 moved that all of the Church property not claimed soled and the funds given to Indan mishons By motion ajoined Joseph G Maddox ass Clerk W F Stark mod PAGES 423-425 Tabular View of Baptisms, rec’t by letters, exclusions, deaths &c of the Buenavista bap. Ch. Geo. Clarke Ch. [1885] [Very few dates are actually given] 1. Mrs. Mary Martin Bap. 1858 2. Miss Laura Martin (Mrs. D. Barnett) Bap. 1858 3. Miss Harriet Watkins Bap. 1858 4. Miss Eveline Tolbert Bap. 1858 5. Miss Nancy Tolbert Bap. 1858 6. Bro. Espy Parks., fr. Crooked Crk. Rec’d by letter 1858 7. Sister Elizabeth Parks, his wife Rec’d by letter 1858 8. Mr. John Joiner Bap. 1858 9. Mrs. A. Joiner, his wife Bap. 1858 10. Mr. George Dudley Bap. 1858; Excomm. 1859 11. Mr. Samuel M. Barbour Bap. 1858 12. Mr. William G. Brown Bap. 1858 13. Mr. William A. Martin Bap. 1858; Excomm. 1859 14, Mrs. Mary Smith Bap. 1858; Excomm. 1859 15. Miss Rosella Nix Bap. 1858; Excomm. 1859 16. Caroline, Sert. Of B. Yerby Sr. Bap. 1858 17. Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins Bap. 1858 18. Mr. William White Bap. 1858 19. Mahala, Servant B. Yerby Sr. Bap. 1858 20. Br John White Bap. 1858 21. Miss Rebecca Joiner Bap. 1858 22. Miss Sophronia Page Bap. 1858 23. Eveline, Servt. B. Yerby Sr. Bap. 1858 24. Mrs. Esther D Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 25. Miss Martha A Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 26. Miss Mary L. Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 27. William G Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 28. William S. P. Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 29. John J Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 30. James L R Barrett Rec’d Letter 1858; Dismissed 1861 31. Mrs. Levina Harris Bap. 1859; Dismissed 1860 32. Mrs. L. H. White Rec’d Letter 1859 33. W. T. Thornton Rec’d Letter 1859 34. Jane A Thornton Rec’d Letter 1859 35. Mary Brown Rec’d Letter 1859 36. Elizth. A. Barrett constitute member Dismissed 1859 37. Wm J. Britain Rec’d Letter 1861 38. David W. Barnett Rec’d Letter 1861 39. Joseph G. Maddex 40. J. T. Maddex 41. B. B. Nivn 42. John Barber 43. W. J. Pittman 44. John H. Pittman 45. James G Maddox 46. R W Pittman 47. W F Starks 48. Cicero Barber 49. W R Sanders 50. J. M. Sanders 51. Y W Massey 52. C D Barrett 53. Marion Carson 54. William Tolbert 55. Sarah Carson 56. E H Carson 57. M J Carson 58. A J Lord 59. Julia Martin 60. M D Michael 61. Neomi Gray 62. Susan Booth 63. Ophelia Yearby 64. Matilder Barber 65. Marget Moon 66. Cela Wesmoland 67. Lula Tolbert 68. H J. Barrett 69. H C Maddox 70. R Y Maddox 71. Sarah Nevin 72. S W Carter 73. Mary parks 74. Susan Brown 75. C. B. Pittman 76. F M Lord 77. S C Maddox 78. M A Pittman 79. P A Strickland 80. J D Barnett 81. S E Booth 82. M F Maddox 83. L C Sanders 84. Susan Turen 85. M E Pittman 86. S Sanders 87. S E J Bullock 88. M J Sander 89. M E Nivn 90. Fannie Short 91. C L Porterfield 92. L M Barrett 93. H J Barrett 94. Abrilla Johnson 95. Sarah Strickland 96. Amy Brooks 97. M Segravs 98. Adaline Brooks 99. R A Maddox 100. A H Maddox 101. M L Maddox 102. O E Segravs 103. S E Barett 104. Elvjah Massey 105. Martha Kent 106. N. H. Anthony Additional Comments: Buena Vista Baptist Church and cemetery was located on the old Nowhere Road north of the Cherokee Forest Subdivision. No building remains. The new cemetery (1885 on) is located on the Nowhere Road in Jackson County. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clarke/churches/nbb71buenavis.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/gafiles/ File size: 13.3 Kb