The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-11-14
REV. JOHN BAILEY
FIRST BAPTIST MINISTER in
LINCOLN COUNTY
Interesting Life History Given BY
DR.. Dunlap In Presenting lab
let To Church Here

Church of Stanford, Sunday nlgnt,
bv the heirs of the late Rev. John
Bailey in memoriam of him. Rev.
Bailey was the first Baptist minister
in Lincoln county, the founder of the
old Rush Branch Baptist church, and
a leader in many ways in the COM
munity, a fearless man of God, and
the ancestor of large family promi-
nent in all the walks of life IN the
present day.
The address of presentation was
made bv DR.. Fayette Dunlap, of Dan
Vile. who gave in connection there
with a short life history of his dis
tinguished progenitor Special seats
had been reserved in the church for
the members of the family. The audi
forum was crowded, for other
churches in town had dismissed IN
honor of the occasion, and the pas
tors of all took part in the ceremon-
les in one form or another. Miss
Mary Bailey, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs ]. C. Bailey sang a beautiful
solo. as a part of the program.
Response to the address of presen-
tation. was made eloquently and I'M
pressively by Dr. Early, pastor of
the local church, who accepted 1t on
behalf of his congregation, after the
church had done so by formal vote.
The ceremonies were indeed beautl-
full and impressive and appreciated
bv all. In presenting the tablet to the
church, DIR. Dunlap said:
John Bailey
Since / have been old enough to
properly appreciate the boldness OF
shirt. love of adventure, capacity Tor
endurance of our pioneer ancestry,
I have had the feeling that we nave
been lacking in reverence for their
memory. and this impels me to be
hero this evening to render in some
measure. a tribute to one of of the
most impressive figures of that ro-
mantle period of our local history
AS an apology for his own biography,
BENJAMIN Franklin explained that
neorle of prominence had others to
write things about them, but that
obscure people had to write about
themselves, and my doing this ser
vice for one of my own blood is thus
accounted for, but with this lmpor-
tant addition, that John Balley's SER
vice to his church, his country and-to
society. deserved a reader recognl-
ton than he now gets at this far
away time. This shall be simple
sketch of an interesting forceful per
sonality. not the fulsome eulogy of
partial kinsman.
A glance at the map of the Eastern
shore of Virginia shows a narrow
strip of land jutting out into the At
lantic and lying between the Kappa:
hammock and James rivers, ano
known in the geography of that re
gion as the Northern Neck" and Is
composed of the counties of Rich
mord. Lancaster, Westmoreland ant
MOI .l,.,n7be shire names fami
liar IN the old Britain home. 1t wa:
in this immediate region just acros:
thg James that jamestown wa'
founded in 1907, and as early al
1641 is found the name of Stepher
Bailey. He was plaintiff in court al
Ieg;ng trespass against brother-ln
law, James Barbour, for taking a,
walnut logs of the the value of =
pounds sterling. Shephen lost thu
suit
Whence came this Stephen Bale!
/ know not, but the name is foun'
TODAY in Kent in Southern Englant
and is POSSIBLY of Norman Frencl
origin and was formerly spelle'
B-A-IL-LI-E-U AS these Virgins
counties were organized on the pa
rochial system of the Episcopa
Church. a record of births, marriage
and deaths was kept in each parish.
In Heatherford parish find tina
Stephen Bailey had son, John, borl
in l647, that this son John had a son
Stephen, born March 21, 1851, and
son. Peter James, November 16, 1888
he son of George, born jar. J ]
f1l3. The mother Of dis GeO"S' wa
Lettuce, or Letitia Allen and thl
George married Bradley, Christian
name unknown, and 10 them wer
boin the subject of this sketch, Ma
4. 174S, and thirteei years there
after an only brother, Peter James.
The father died when these lad
were Is and 5 years or age, tn
msther dying soon after Just VINE
and where it not definitely known
They were baptized into the commun
ion of the English church, and job
was lay reader while in his teens.
This was an important era in hi
life. He withdrew from that commur
ion and entered the Baptist ministr
on the grounds that the Fp-Sc.r.:
church upheld the institution of slay
cry while the Baptists were abol
tionists.
NV kinsman, the Rev. Sidney No
Roberts told me that he had a sma
pamphlet issued by John Bailey in e,
promised to give me this pamphle
of church relationship. Mr.. McRober.
promised to give me this pamphe
but much to my regret it neve
reached me, as il would prove mos
interesting addition to this sketch.
At the age of twenty three job
Bailey is pastor of the Upper Bal
fist church, Pottsylvania county, V;
/ rather think that during this fou
wears pastorate he was married
Priscilla Townsend. There is no ret
ord to establish this, but we all kno,
that Baptist preachers do not renal
unwedded long, and we further kno,
that the name Townsend abound
even at this day in that particula
parish.
He is next heard of about Logan
Fort and Harrodstown enlistin
troops for the expedition against tn
British and Indians in the Illinois G
Northwest territory. He was mad
Lieutenant of a company of sixt!