Minutes of the Big Blaine Baptist Church

The Skaggs family, part of the R-BY99605 Y-DNA line (a parallel branch to the famous Long Hunter Skaggs), was a foundational and enduring presence in Big Blaine United Baptist Church (Lawrence County, KY) from its early years around 1819 through at least 1860. Centered on "Old" Peter Skaggs Sr. (b. ~1765, d. 1841) and wife Martha "Patsy" Cothron (b. ~1768, d. 1865), along with Peter's brother Solomon Sr. (b. ~1766, d. ~1827–1829) and descendants, they appear in ~30 mentions across the church's fragile record book (transcribed by Lucy G. White in Tree Shaker Vol. 2 No. 2 and No. 3, 1978). Not listed in the 1831 charter membership, they feature prominently in minutes from 1821–1847 (discipline, baptisms, restorations, appointments) and the 1860 roll. Activities reflect Primitive Baptist practices: citations for non-attendance/transgressions, recantations, and community roles. Post-1841 references to "Peter Skaggs" are to his son Peter Jr. (b. ~1798–1803, d. after 1870). Below is a chronological summary, grouped by period, with distinct individuals (relations to Peter Sr. noted) and events compiled from both newsletter issues.


Transcript of the Church Minutes

The following pages 17-19 are sourced from the Tree Shaker, Vol. 2, No. 2 (Spring 1978) by the Eastern Kentucky Genealogical Society (Ashland, KY).




The following pages 25-27 are sourced from the Tree Shaker, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Summer 1978) by the Eastern Kentucky Genealogical Society (Ashland, KY).





Early Period (1821–1828): Founding Involvement and Discipline

~15 mentions; focused on Peter Sr.'s generation and children. The family was active in church governance and frequent subjects of restorative discipline.

  • 1821: Peter Sr. cited in complaint (Oct; absent with Henry Bare); restored with fellowship (Dec).
  • 1822: Nancy (Peter Sr.'s daughter; later Nancy Terry) censured for non-attendance (Jan).
  • 1824: Peter Sr. appointed to assist Mud Lick Church (Jul; with Wheelers, Kelly, Boggs). Solomon (Peter Sr.'s son) gave experience and baptized (Jul; with Fanny Boggs, Holbrooks, etc.).
  • 1825: James (likely Peter Sr.'s grandson/nephew, b. ~1805–1807) transgressed but recanted (Aug). Christian (Peter Sr.'s son) cited to appear (Aug; with James Sparks).
  • 1826: Solomon and Christian cited to appear (undated). Clearsy/Clerey (Clarinda Prince, wife of Peter Jr.) received by experience (Jul; with Sealee Sperlock, Kelly, Wilhite).
  • 1827: Nelley (likely widow of Peter Sr.'s brother Solomon Sr.; maiden unknown) received by experience (Jun). [Bill:  This is important, since I believe it is the only evidence of the name of Solomon's wife.]
  • 1828: Lewis (Peter Sr.'s eldest son; Baptist minister) signed as clerk (Apr/May).

Mid-Period (1833–1847): Continued Discipline and Transitions

~10 mentions; shift to second generation amid Peter Sr.'s 1841 death. Includes exclusions, moves, and leadership roles.

  • 1840–1841: Lewis appointed for unspecified duty (Jan 1841). Lewis and Nancy (possibly Nancy Skaggs) granted letters to Bethel Church (Mar 1844; wait, 1840 entry is for Nancy Woods—unrelated; 1841 for Nancy Boggs cited, but likely not Skaggs).
  • 1841: Lewis made recantation and restored (undated; with Solomon Barker). Peter (Sr.) died Oct 1841; no further minutes for him.
  • 1843: Lewis appointed to represent church at association (Aug; with Holbrook, Tary, Boggs). Church declares no fellowship with Elias Johnson (Sep; unrelated but context for Skaggs kin like Jeremiah).
  • 1844: Lewis and Nancy Skaggs granted membership to Bethel Church (Mar). Jeremiah (Peter Sr.'s son) cited to appear (Nov; with Randolph Holbrook); excluded for unspecified disorder (Dec).
  • 1845: No direct Skaggs, but context of grievances (e.g., Lydia Boggs excluded after citations; Skaggs kin like Holbrooks involved).
  • 1846: Peter (Jr.) made recantation and restored (Jan). Solomon received by recantation (Oct).
  • 1847: No further Skaggs-specific entries; last notes signed by Detroyet Burton as clerk (Jun).

Late Period (1860 Membership Roll): Legacy and Continuity

~8–9 members listed in this Civil War-era snapshot, mostly Peter Sr.'s children/grandchildren, amid deaths/dismissals. Reflects ~40-year family legacy.

  • Males: Moses (Peter Sr.'s son), Christian (Peter Sr.'s son), Peter (Jr., by recantation), Peter Skaggs Jr. (likely Peter III, grandson).
  • Females: Elizabeth (likely wife of Moses or Christian), Patsy (Peter Sr.'s widow Martha; deceased 1865), Clerey (dismissed; Peter Jr.'s wife Clarinda), Nancy Terey (Peter Sr.'s daughter Nancy; widow of Miles Terry).
Overall, the Skaggs were not just attendees but leaders (e.g., Lewis as clerk, Peter Sr./Lewis in associations) in a tight-knit congregation for two generations, with ~30 total mentions emphasizing family resilience despite frontier hardships. Records are incomplete (faded/torn pages), but they dominate alongside Boggs and Holbrooks.

PeriodKey Individuals (Relation to Peter Sr.)Participation SummaryNotes
1821–1828Peter Sr., Nancy (daughter), Solomon (son), James (grandson/nephew), Christian (son), Clearsy (daughter-in-law), Nelley (sister-in-law), Lewis (son)Citations/restorations (e.g., Peter Sr., James, Christian); baptisms (Solomon); appointments (Peter Sr. to Mud Lick); clerk role (Lewis).Core founding family; ~15 mentions; restorative discipline common.
1833–1847Lewis (son), Jeremiah (son), Peter Jr. (son), Solomon (son)Citations/exclusions (Jeremiah); recantations/restorations (Peter Jr., Solomon); association reps (Lewis); church transfers (Lewis/Nancy to Bethel).~10 mentions; transition post-Peter Sr.'s death; family moves/scatters.
1860 RollMoses (son), Christian (son), Peter Jr. (son), Peter III? (grandson), Elizabeth (daughter-in-law), Patsy (widow), Clerey (daughter-in-law), Nancy Terey (daughter)Membership amid losses (deaths like Patsy; dismissals like Clerey).~8–9 members; enduring presence with Boggs/Holbrook kin.

Location: Blaine, KY 41124, USA

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