Sheila, thank you for the biography on Thomas Hill Sr. I have seen
excerpts from this before, but never all the detail that you have provided.
It's great. I think he was Quite a guy, and My G-G-G-Grandfather.
Thanks again Fred Crabb (From Mass)
----- Original Message -----
From: <KFurBallKell(a)aol.com>
To: <INJENNIN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: [INJENNIN] Imput needed please...
Sorry I have found nothing yet on Crabb but here is the biography of
Thomas
Hill, Sr.
The following is what is written in the book I have titled History of the
Coffee Creek Baptist Association , An Account of Present Churches and
Biographical Sketches of Its Ministers written in 1883 by J.C. Tibbets.
This biographical sketch is on Elder Thomas Hill, Sr.
The following history of Father Hill was written by his son, Elder
Thomas Hill Jr., by request of Coffee Creek Association, and published in
the
minutes of 1848.
Elder Thomas Hill, Sr. was born March 17,1763, in the State of New
Jersey. While he was yet small, his parents removed to Virginia, where at
the
age of nineteen, he entered the army and served a three month's
term in
the
war of the American Revolution. The 26th of October, 1786, he was
married
to
Mary Stone, by whom he had 5 sons. About the year of 1788 or 1789, it
pleased
the Lord to awaken him to a sense of his condition as a sinner, and,
after
some months of sorrow and distress on account of sin, he was enabled to
trust
in the Lord Jesus Christ, and realize peace in believing. He
immediately
began to exhort his fellow-men to flee from the wrath to come. He united
with
the Baptist Church, was baptized by Elder Jos. Anthony, and received
a
license from the Church to spread the gospel. His companion a few months
after, made profession of religion and united with the same church.
"After laboring a few years in Virginia, he removed to East Tennessee,
where he resided about four years. In the fall of 1798, he removed to
Kentucky, and settled near Somerset, Pulaski County, uniting with the
church
at Sinking Creek. Thomas Hansford being pastor. He soon began to
hold
meetings in a destitute neighborhood about eight miles distant, and in a
short time, under his labors, a church was raised up called White Oak, of
which he became pastor. He was there ordained the 2nd of February, 1800,
by
Thomas Hansford and James Fears. He continued his labors at White Oak
and
retained the relation as pastor about seventeen years, during which time
many
were added to the church. He labored successfully in other churches
and
neighborhoods, especially in the vicinity where he resided, and was the
favored instrument under God in the conversion of many souls.
" In March, 1817 he removed to Indiana, Jennings County, and untied
with
a small church called Graham's Fork, was chosen pastor, and
continued to
serve the church as such until May 1822, at which time Coffee Creek Church
was organized in his immediate neighborhood and under his labors. He was a
member in the constitution, was chosen pastor, and continued his
pastorship
for sixteen and a half years, when, at his own request, he was
released in
consequence of the infirmities of age.
"He was a faithful and persevering laborer in the gospel field in
Indiana, supplying from three to four churches regularly for many years,
until, by reason of age, he found himself unable to perform the arduous
duties devolving upon him, and was compelled to retire. He labored
faithfully, and had the satisfaction to know that his labors were not in
vain
in the Lord. Many yet live who claim him as their father in the
gospel,
while
many others, who were brought into the fold of Christ under his
insturmentality, are gone to enjoy that rest which remains to the people
of
God.
" On the 14th day of October, 1844, he was called to part with his
bosom
companion, with whom he had lived nearly fifty-eight years. She had
been a
faithful burden-bearer with him in all his labors and toils. The
bereavement
to him was very painful, but he comforted himself with the thought
that
his
loss was her gain.
"He continued to labor as far as health and strength would permit, and
when he was no churches, he was still faithful in attending the meetings
of
his own beloved church, even when unable to walk without being
supported;
and
frequently, at the close of meeting, he would lean upon his staff and
exhort
his brethren and sisters to faithfulness in duty, and point sinners
of the
Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.
"He departed this life on Monday, the 22nd of May, 1848, after a short,
but painful, affliction, occasioned by a fall. The last month of his life
was
to him a season of more than usual religious enjoyment. He died in
hope of
a
blessed immorality. In his last illness he remarked to his friends
that he
felt willing to go and, after a few moments, repeated 'Yes, I feel willing
to
go; my hope is in Jesus. I have no confidence in the flesh.'
"On the following day, at 3 o'clock, his funeral sermon was preached
at
Coffee Creek meeting-house by Elder J. B. Swincher, from I Cronicles
XXIX.
14: 'We are strangers before thee and sojourners, as were all our fathers;
our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.' After
which his remains were followed by a very large procession to the
graveyard,
where they were interred by the side of his dear companion, there to
remain
until the resurrection morn."
In addition to the foregoing, it is due to the memory of Father Hill to
say
that he was a preacher of much more than common ability. Although, at
the
time of his conversion, he was entirely uneducated, he very soon learned
to
read his Bible, which was his daily companion, and in which he made
great
proficiency. During the entire time of his ministerial labors in this
State,
he was regarded as one of our most able expounders of the Scriptures.
Perhaps
no minister in Southern Indiana had a better faculty of illustrating
his
subject to make it interesting to all, or of securing and holding, while
speaking, the undivided attention of his auditors. Certainly no one more
fully possessed the confidence and esteem of the entire community.
The above is typed as it is written in the book, punctuation included. I
did this at 4:30 in the morning as I had to stay at my daughters last
night.
She worked overtime. I have to get ready for work but will look for
references to more people tonight on others mentioned by you. I did see
Arbuckle as one of the elders. There is an even longer biography on Thomas
Hill, Jr. Who was the minister when this book was written. J.C. Tibbets
was
clerk of the Commiskey Church.
Sheila Kell
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