THE FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH RECORDS

Benjamin and Sadie (Atkins) Crawford
Photo Courtesy of Carol Brotzman

As copied from the original record book by Carol Brotzman in 1994

The data is copied as written, name spelling errors and all!

I would like to dedicate this book to Sadie Atkins Crawford, February 23, 1875 - March 22, 1959, wife of Benjamin Crawford April 18, 1864 - August 20, 1941. The book was originally compiled by Sadie’s father, Joseph Herman Atkins (March 18, 1836 - May 17, 1878). Sadie retrieved the book from the hall closet as the church was being torn down by the Lloyd Clapper family. The Clapper family planned to use the wood as lumber in their barn at Retta, Auburn Township, Susquehanna County, PA. Sadie gave the book to Alice Grow Sivers before she passed, knowing it would be in safekeeping.

Five marble tablets were in the church at that time, and were etched with the names of people from all over the area that must have donated money to keep the church going in lean years. Many of the names were not local, but appeared to have been associated with other branches of the Freewill Baptist churches throughout the area. Only one of the tablets is now known to be kept locally, and I do not have a photo of this tablet. Wish I did, it is beautiful.

Freewill Baptist Church
Silvara, PA
Looking North About 1900
Photo Courtesy of Carol Brotzman
Source: Photo Album owned by the late Martha Walker of California, a Marbaker family descendant

TUSCARORA CHURCH F.W.B. CHURCH BOOK APRIL 20^th 1865

JOSEPH H. ATKINS CHURCH CLERK

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS:

DATES MEMBERS AND NAMES BAPTIZED BY ELDER LETTER

Nov 24 1856 John Bishop

same date Matilda Bishop by letter

same Thomas Hughes by letter

same Sally A Hughes Elder S L Dimmock

same Miles Bennett Elder S L Dimmock

same Lucy Bennett by letter died in the triumph of faith June 1858

same Sally Bishop S L Dimmock

same Bela Cogswell S L Dimmock Nov 24, 1856

Jan 11, 1856 Eunice Cogswell S L Dimmock letter

Dec 7, 1856 Abel B. Cogswell (blank) died Jan 28, 1857 in full faith

Feb 27, 1856 Eunice A. Price Elder B Cogswell June 18, 1858

same Cecilia Jacoby S L Dimmock

same Sophronia Ruger S L Dimmock

same Charles Jacoby S L Dimmock

Mar 28, 1857 Lydia Parker S L Dimmock

May 17, 1857 Mary Hall S L Dimmock May 17, 1859

same Cornelia J Bennett by letter dismissed for Greasese (?)

May 30, 1857 Walter Taylor by letter

same Sally C. Taylor by letter

Jan 9, 1858 Philip R Hall Elder B Cogswell died July 10, 1865 in full faith

May 28, 1858 Emma R Atkins Elder B Cogswell August 15, 1858

Jan 15, 1859 Wm Price Elder B Cogswell April 10, 1858

same Zelolus Brown Elder B Cogswell Aug 18, 1858 died June 2, 1863 in faith

Mar 12, 1859 James Brown Elder B Cogswell Sept 24, 1858 died April 27, 1860

Jan 15, 1859 Adolphus Culver Elder B Cogswell Oct 23, 1858 died Nov 26, 1864 in the Army

Historian's note: Adolphus Culver (May 1839 - November 26, 1864) died from injuries in service of his country during the Civil War and is buried along side his brother Timothy Culver in the Beaver Meadows Cemetery

Adolphus was married to Cynthia Hardy. Cynthia remarried October 27, 1868 to Reuben Madison/Mattison. She remained on the farm where she had live with Adolphus. Timothy Culver (May 10, 1836 - June 07, 1865) was married to Catherine Potter. They were sons of James C and Margaret French Culver.

James Jarvis Culver (May 17, 1840 - January 11, 1922), another brother who served in the Civil War was so grief stricken over the death of his brother Timothy, since he was the one that convinced him to enlist, he married his widow Catherine E Potter Culver. This is the same Pennsylvania Century farm in Tuscarora Township, Bradford County, PA now owned by Carol and Dale Brotzman. [http://www.joycetice.com/families/culver.htm]

Dec 11, 1859 Hosea Bishop Elder B Cogswell Dec 18, 1858 Died Dec 2, 1861 in full faith

Dec 30, 1859 Catherine Culver by letter

Jan 18, 1860 James C. Culver by letter

May 6, 1860 Edward Marbaker by letter

same Thankful Marbaker by letter

Apr 6, 1861 Ebenezer Cowls by letter

same Ruth Cowls by letter

May 26, 1861 Polly Ann Harsh Elder B Cogswell

Jan 13, 1858 Joseph Taylor by the same Feb 11, 1858 Suspended

May 26, 1861 Nancy J Taylor by the same

Sept 14,1861 Mary E Bennett by the same

Oct 13, 1861 Ardelia Franklin by letter died Sept 28, 1865 in full faith

Apr 11, 1863 Joseph G Atkins by letter

Feb 1, 1861 Stillman Fuller by letter Died Nov 19, 1864 in Bufort, S C in the full faith of the Savior

same Lydia Fuller by letter

May 14, 1864 John L Shove by letter dismissed April 28, 1864

same Hannah M Shove by letter dismissed April 28, 1866

Nov 24, 1856 Lorania Potter Elder S L Dimmock

Apr 29, 1860 Harriet M Harsh by letter dismissed

May 6, 1860 Edward Marbaker Jr. May 6, 1860 Elder Bela Cogswell suspended June 3, 1868

Feb 13, 1856 Polly Ann Newman by letter

same Calvin H Newman by letter

May 23, 1862 Abis Bennett Elder S Dimmock

Dec 19, 1856 Euphrama Fish Elder B Cogswell died 1866 in full faith

Dec 8?,1865 Hosmer E Cogswell Elder B Cogswell Suspended June 3, 1868

Jan 6, 1866 John Frank Bishop Elder B Cogswell May 13, 1866 Suspended Jan 3, 1868
Feb 3, 1866 Mary E Marbaker Elder B Cogswell May 15, 1866

May 26, 1866 Elizabeth Cobb Elder B Cogswell May 26, 1868

Sept 28, 1865 Wm H Holdren Elder B Cogswell Sept 27, 1868

Sept 27, 1868 Sarah A Holdren by letter died September 5, 1888

Sept 28, 1868 Ester A Wesley Elder B Cogswell Sept 27, 1868

Page 26 - 27 of the secretary’s book

MEMBERSHIP RECORDS: January 3, 1869

DATES MEMBERS AND NAMES BAPTIZED BY ELDER LETTER

Nov 24 1856 John Bishop

same Matilda Bishop by letter

same Thomas Hughes by letter

same Sally Ann Hughes Elder S L Dimmock

same Miles Bennett Elder S L Dimmock

same Lucy Bennett dead long ago

same Sally Bishop died Sept 22, 1872

same Bela Cogswell S L Dimmock Nov 24, 1856

Jan 11, 1856 Eunice A. Price Elder B Cogswell June 18, 1858

Wm Price

same Cecilia Jacoby S L Dimmock

same Sophronia Ruger S L Dimmock

same Charles Jacoby died with the gospel in his hand Feb 20, 1871

Mar 28, 1857 Lydia Parker S L Dimmock

May 17, 1857 Mary Millard S L Dimmock May 17, 1859

May 30, 1857 Walter Taylor died August 31, 1873 died with the gospel in harness

same Sally C. Taylor by letter

May 28, 1858 Emma R Atkins Elder B Cogswell August 15, 1858

Joseph M Atkins

Jan 15, 1859 Wm Price Elder B Cogswell April 10, 1858

Dec 30, 1859 Catherine Culver by letter

Jan 18, 1860 James C. Culver by letter

May 6, 1860 Edward Marbaker by letter

same Thankful Marbaker

May 26, 1861 Polly Ann Harsh Elder B Cogswell

Jan 13, 1858 Nancy J Taylor by the same

Sept 14,1861 Mary E Bennett by the same

Oct 13, 1861 Ardelia Franklin by letter Died Sept 1865 in full faith

Apr 11, 1863 Joseph G Atkins by letter

same Lydia Fuller by letter now Cogswell

Nov 24, 1856 Lorania Potter Elder S L Dimmock

Apr 29, 1860 Harriet M Harsh by letter dismissed

Feb 13, 1856 Polly Ann Newman by letter

same Calvin H Newman by letter

Feb 3, 1866 Mary E Marbaker Elder B Cogswell May 15, 1866

May 26, 1866 Elizabeth Cobb Elder B Cogswell May 26, 1868

Sept 28, 1865 Wm H Holdren Elder B Cogswell Sept 27, 1868 dismissed from church

Sept 27, 1868 Sarah A Holdren by letter died September 5, 1888

Sept 28, 1868 Ester A Wesley Elder B Cogswell Sept 27, 1868 never was a member

Apr 27, 1869 Almon Wakeman by letter

same Bitsey Wakeman by letter died with the Gospel

Harness on her last words was Glory d/ September 25, 1872

same John Frank Bishop Elder Bela Cogswell May 13, 1866

same Stella Ann Cogswell Elder Bela Cogswell May 22, 1869

May 27, 1869 John Harsh Elder Bela Cogswell May 20, 1871

May 9, 1869 Rev John Tillinghast Died as Asst Pastor Preacher April 21, 1872

same Mary M. Tillinghast by letter

same A J Taylor Elder Bela Cogswell May 22, 1869

same Altheda Taylor Elder Bela Cogswell May 22, 1869

May 22, 1869 Jacob Bennett Elder Bela Cogswell May 22, 1869

same Emma E Bennett Elder Bela Cogswell May 22, 1869

Aug 6, 1869 Martha A Chamberlain Elder Bela Cogswell Aug 6, 1869

same R M Hunsinger Elder Bela Cogswell Aug 6, 1869

June 6, 1869 Saphronia Wakeman by letter from Vistle Church

same Phebie Chamberlain Elder Bela Cogswell

Oct 15, 1870 Hulda Bishop by letter

Nov 20, 1870 Mary Wakeman Elder Bela Cogswell Nov 20, 1870

same George Wakeman Elder Bela Cogswell Nov 20, 1870

May 27, 1870 Joseph H Tillinghast Rev B Cogswell May 21, 1871

Mar 2, 1872 G N Yarington Rev B Cogswell March 31, 1872

Revised page 64

page 64-66

DATES MEMBERS AND NAMES BAPTIZED BY ELDER LETTER

John Bishop

Matilda Bishop

Thomas Hughes

Sally A Hughes

Miles Bennett

Mary Bennett

Bela Cogswell
Lydia Cogswell

Wm Price

Cecilia Jacoby

Sophronia Ruger

Lydia Parker

Mary Millard

Susan Wakeman

Sally A Wakeman

Joseph H Atkins

Emma Atkins

Edward Marbaker

Thankful Marbaker

John Harsh

Polly Ann Harsh

Nancy J Taylor

C H Newman died July 25, 1898

Eliza Ann Newman died Jan 17, 1899

Lorania Potter

Mary E Marbaker

Sarah Ann Holdren

Elizabeth Cobb

John Frank Bishop

Hulda Bishop withdrawn

Stella Ann Cogswell

H E Cogswell died Nov 18, 1899 On the Earth he was a good-----? Was the last days with him

Joseph H Tillinghast

Mary M. Tillinghast

A J Taylor

Altheda Taylor

Jacob Bennett letter granted July 18, 1894

Emma E Bennett

Martha A Chamberlain

Saphronia (Wakeman) Taylor

Phebe J Wood (Chamberlain) Jan 3, 1875 dismissed by letter

Mary Wakeman

George Wakeman

G N Yarington

August 15, 1874 Jenny Lattimore under care by letter

Albert Mitchell by letter

May 22, 1895 Emily Mitchell by letter

Page 119 -120 about 1876 list

DATES MEMBERS AND NAMES BAPTIZED BY ELDER LETTER

John Bishop

Matilda Bishop
J F Bishop

Hulda Bishop

Thomas Hughes

Sally Hughes

Miles Bennett

Mary Bennett

Bela Cogswell

Lydia Cogswell

Stella Cogswell

Hosmer Cogswell

Wm Price

Eunice Price

Cecilia Jacoby

Sophronia Ruger

Lydia Parker

Mary Millard

Walter Taylor

Salla Taylor

J H Atkins

E R Atkins

Edward Marbaker

Thankful Marbaker

Ebenezer Cowls

Ruth Cowls

John Harsh

Polly Ann Harsh

J H Taylor

Nancy J Taylor

Lorania Potter

C H Newman

?ley or g Ann Newman

Mary E Marbaker

Elizabeth Cobb

Sarah Ann Holdren

A Wakeman

George Wakeman

Mary Wakeman

Saphronia Wakeman (Taylor)

G N Yerington

Membership list as of October 14th, 1887 & 1888

Rev B Cogswell

Lydia Cogswell

Rev John Swackhammer

Rosa H Swackhammer

Deacon Almon Wakeman

Phoebe Wakeman

Deacon C Newman
Polly Ann Newman

Edward Marbaker

Thankful Marbaker

Chorister A J Taylor

Altheda Taylor

E K Atkins

Lettie Sloat

Mary E Marbaker, now Mrs Mary E Warner

Joseph H Taylor

Nancy Taylor

Sophronia Ruger

John H Jennings died Jan 8, 1888

The following are highlights from the record book directly pertaining to the Beaver Meadows Church.

October 22, 1867: J C Culver was deciding to leave the Freewill Baptist on his own account. They were trying to convince him to stay.

* Historian's note: I don't believe he stayed there. He was listed on the Beaver Meadows register at the same time. This would be James C Culver who was married to Margaret French. They are buried at Beaver Meadows.

October 1, 1869 (Friday night.) The regular meeting was not held on account of the dedication of the church at Beaver Meadow on the following Sabbath.

* Historians note: The following Sabbath would have been October 3, 1869.

July 14, 1877: Miles Bennett was elected a trustee for the Freewill Baptist Church and was active at Beaver Meadows. However, Miles never appears on the official membership list at Beaver Meadows.

John Harsh and Thomas Hughes are trustees and officers for the Freewill Baptist Church but are also active at Beaver Meadows and buried there.