Church and Family History Research Assistance for Warren County, Virginia
CHURCHES:UPPER SOUTH RIVER (REGULAR)
The first Baptist Church constituted at South River was of the Separate order. Several members belonging to different churches of the Regular order had their residences intermixed with those of the Separates. The Regular brethren were constituted into a church at the South River Church meeting house in the year 1782. Minutes of the Ketocton Association show that this church joined the Association in 1786. It is now known as South River Church, in Browntown.
LOWER SOUTH RIVER (HAPPY CREEK)
Originally known as the Lower South River Church (because located near the south branch of the Shenandoah River) the congregation was organized soon after 1770, and its first meeting-house stood on a limstone bluff, overlooking the river, about one mile south of Front Royal depot of the Norfolk and Western railway, where the old graveyard associated with the church can still be seen. At the time the "South River Meeting House" was built the Front Royal of that day was a hamlet of some thirty-five log houses, built along the two old Indian trails, known now as Main and Chester Streets.
From the turbulent character of those who congregated there, Front Royal was known as "Helltown," which speaks volumes in itself.
The congregation was organized by Elder James Ireland, a Scotsman of brilliant attainments, who although reared as a Presbyterian, embraced the Baptist faith. He had previously been a schoolmaster in New Market, Shenandoah County, from 1768 to 1770.
Elder Ireland suffered persecution and imprisonment for his preaching, which was held unorthodox and in opposition to the Established Church of England. He was likely responsible for the organization of the Old School Baptist Church at Waterlick, also where he lived for a time, and later removed to McCoy's Ford, a few miles west of Limeton.
A gospel missionary, Elder Ireland traveled on horseback throughout Warren, Page, Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah and Rockingham Counties, organizing churches, returning to become resident pastor of the Lower South River and Waterlick churches, and died there in 1806. It was not until 1785 that non-conformist ministers of that persuasion were permitted to perform marriage ceremonies; in which year he presented to the Court his "Certificate of Ordination," and gave a bond of $500, with Jeremiah McKay and Charles Catlett as bondsmen.
In 1793 the name of Lower South River Church was changed to Happy Creek Church, after the nearby stream of that name.
The second location was on what is now Main Street, Front Royal, on the site of the home of Dr. R. E. L. Miller, opposite the new post office building. The interior of this church building was dismantled during the War Between the States, and was used as a stable by Union troops who occupied the town from 1862 until the close of the war.
The federal government compensated the congregation for the war-time damage. There are no existing records of the congregation previous to 1836, all the early records having been burned in 1830, with the meeting house.
Beginning with 1836 names of members frequently found upon the minutes are: Buck, Blakemore, Ridgeway, Robinson, Harmond, Mastin, Saffel, Beaty, White, Skelton, Daugherty, Corder, Harrell, Crisman, Ramey, McDonald, and Grant. The last record of a meeting of the congregation in 1861 was on December 7 of tha tyear, and it was not until December 9, 1865, that the congregation met again for worship.
No signatures appear at the end of the records from 1836 until 1864 when Thomas N. Ashby became clerk, and acted continuously until 1872. J. G. Wiltshire succeeded him in his office and served until 1909. J. B. Compton was clerk from 1909 to 1919, and was followed by his wife, Mrs. Mattie L. Compton, who relinquished the place in 1932. She was followed by Miss Etta Lewin.
Pastors have been: Elder James Ireland, Elder William Marshall (uncle of Chief Justice John Marshall), who removed to Kentucky in 1782; Elder John Taylor, 1783-83 (removed to Kentucky); Elder James Ireland, 1793-1806; Elder Benjamin Dawson, 1806-1821; Elder Thomas Buck Jr. 1821-1855; Elder John Clark, 1855-1882; Elder Charles H. Waters, M. C. 1882-1892 (non-resident pastor from Washington, D. C.); Elder W. T. Eaton, 1892-1899; Elder T. S. Dalton, 1899-1911; Elder A. L. Harrison, 1912-1945; Elder Earl Quinn, 1945-1948.
(Note: Another source says Happy Creek Church, in Front Royal, was organized in 1783, with 64 members.)
WATERLICK (1787)
Waterlick Church was organized on April 15, 1787. The members to be constituted met at the home of Brother Charles Buck where they sat to hear experiences related, from whence they proceeded to the River singing a hymn as they went along, where, after an exhortation by Bro. John Parker, and a short discourse by Elder John Price, the ordinance of baptism was administered to several, and from whence they went to the Waterlick meeting house (which had been constructed for the sake of convenience of some of the members of South River Church who lived on the north side of the South River), and the church was organized in the presence of a very large audience, viz., Thomas Buck, Charles Buck, John Buck, John Parker, Donald Holmes, Negro Joseph, Negro Daniel, Isabella Richardson, Miriam Buck, Mary Buck, Nancy Buck, Martha Leith, Sarah Richardson, Elizabeth Parker, Jean Williams, and Negro Jeanny. Waterlick Church united with the Ketocton Association the same year.
Elder John Price was the first pastor. He was followed by Elder James Ireland, who served until his death in 1806. He was followed by Elder Samuel O'Herndon.
Waterlick Church meeting house was (as late as 1947) located near Buckton Station on the Manassas Gap Railway.
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