Three Forks Church
It was organized in Watauga
County in 1790. Daniel Boone
was a member and so was bis
nephew, who caused quite a lot
of trouble and dissension.
By IIAKKY Z.
Г1С К1Н
OX a hillside overlooking the
headwaters of New River, al¬
most within the shadow of the
town of Boone, stands historic Three
Forks Baptist Church. Organized in
1790 with only eight charter members,
the old church bespeaks of an early
period in our transmontanc expansion.
Three Forks Church was named
for the three crystal streams which
form the headwaters of beautiful New
River, discovered in 1654 by Abraham
Wood of Virginia, who was probably
the first white man to trade with the
Indians along its banks. He named
it Wood’s River, but when it was
discovered in 1749 by Daniel Weldon
and William Churton, of North Caro¬
lina, while extending the boundary
line between the two states mentioned
above, they renamed it New River.
Tributary of the Mississippi
Governor Gabriel Johnston, of
North Carolina, expressed great sur¬
prise when he learned that New River
was a tributary of the Mississippi. It
was his belief that any stream rising
east of the Great Smoky Mountains
eventually found its way to the
Atlantic Ocean.
Spangenbcrg visited this
n 1752, in search of suitable
land' for a Moravian settlement. lie
had thousands of acres surveyed, but
the terrain was not adapted to the
purpose he had in mind. Fort
Chisholm was erected here as early
as 1758, as a means of protecting
the few scattered settlers from the
French and Indians. General William
Campbell had a camp here during the
Revolutionary War. Two of his aides
were Colonel Joseph Williams and
Colonel Joseph Winston, each of
whom commanded a company of
soldiers.
The first church, a crudely con¬
structed building of logs, must have
appeared very lovely to these people
of the frontier. It was the main¬
spring of their religious and social
life.
While the founding of this church
in the wilderness was proof of an
advancing civilization, it was more;
it. was a place where the settlers could
meet to offer prayers anti songs of
thanksgiving, a place where the
promiso of the Saviour could be
realized. Coming together in their
Father's house, they found n means
of securing strength anti hope with
which to live so far removed from the
busy centers they had known.
During the long winter months in
the mountains, it was the custom of
the members to build huge log fires
in the churchyard, for thorn was no
stove or fireplace in the building. The
preacher, who always spoke from the
pulpit, made no comment as men and
women left the church to warm. When
they returned, others passed from the
church for the same purpose. They
warmed and listened, listened and
warmed.
Strict Church Rules
The old church records show that
a stringent churchly decorum, how¬
ever, was required. One Sister Com¬
fort was excommunicated for the
trivial reason that she called a piece
of eloth wrongly. Brother Barr, who
was banished from the church in 1801,
was convicted for not properly cloth¬
ing bis children.
Jesse Boone, an obstreperous
nephew of the famous Daniel Boone,
lived between the church and the
present Blowing Rock resort. He
seems to have caused no end of trouble
for the august church council. For
a number of years be carried on a
uarrel with Jeremiah Greeno, of
>eop (Jap, another prominent mem¬
ber.
It
ар|>саг8
that Greene refused to
remove a landmark at Boone's request.
A quarrel ensued. Boone was evident¬
ly in the right for the old records
show that the church sent a committee
to Greene, asking him to set up a new
boundary. Inasmuch as they failed
in their mission, the Boone family
Bishop
locality i
became much dissatisfied. Jesse Boone
ceased his regular attendance at Three
Forks Church, declaring that the
members were out of order.
Since strict observance in church
attendance was one of the requisites
for membership, Jesse Boom- was
tried before the church council and
suspended on tho grounds of disrespect
and lack of proper observance of t ho
church vow.
Since the lending members of the
congregation were now at open
enmity, the preacher sent for Mrs.
Boone and Mrs. Greene, telling them
that if they expected to remain in
good standing ns members it would
he necessary for them to bring about
a reconciliation of their husbands.
Sister Boone, Haring up, told the
preacher that she didn't care how
soon she was excommunicated, that
she had joined simply because her
husband had. She further stated that
she could not fellowship with Mrs.
Jeremiah Greene.
Tho pastor of the little flock was
displeased with the mettle lie found
in Mrs. Jesse Boone, told her ns
much, and on the following Sunday
openly declared her disorderly. Mrs.
Boone was dismissed.
The excommunication of his wife so
riled Jesse Boone that he removed
across the mountains to Tennessee.
Upon their arrival there, tho Boones
(Continued on page twenty-two)
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