Thanks to many of you, the following is my compilation of the long ship ride & walks of my gf Wm GEORGE from Wales, ENG to Bucks Co, PA America- HISTORY OF BAPTISM IN WALES, ENGLAND 1633: The Baptist movement at was started in 1667-68 from Olchon Church founded in 1633 - Earliest record of Olchon church in Wales, a direct descendant of the Hill Cliff Church, but the Rhydwilym chapel was not built until 1701. It is the oldest Baptist church in West Wales and stands in Llandissilio East near the western most point of the old county Carmarthenshire. Rhydwilym Baptist Church was formed during a period of great persecution and people attending the services were liable to heavy punishments because the Anglican Church was the only approved church in England until the passing of the Toleration Act in 1689 . Rhydwilym Chapel is situated in a remote but beautiful valley on a bank of the Eastern Cleddau River in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, England. 1667: Rhydwilim Church came from Olchon Church in 1667 http://www.bcgv.org/about/rootsinwales/ mailto:admin@rhydwilym.com 22 Aug 1709: Rhydwilym [Baptist] Chapel, Pembrokeshire, Wales has bapt for a William GEORGE of Landissillip Parish. [nlwenquiries@llgc.org.uk] [These baptisms in an early Baptist chapel would have to be for Christian believers only. Therefore young children would not be baptized. The minimum age would be approx 13 - 14 years. The elders of the chapel would have to be satisfied that the teenagers could understand what was meant by believers of baptism, per anneyvonne.evans@btinternet.com 20 Nov 2013] 17 Aug 1712: Rhydwilym [Baptist] Chapel, Pembrokeshire, Wales has a bapt for a Thomas GEORGE of Narberth Parish. [ibid] [The National Library of Wales reportedly holds the Rhydwilyn Chapel christening, marriage and burial registers for this chapel dating 1667-1823 (ref: Rhydwilym tist) chapel Minor Deposit 127A).] 14 Jun 1715: "the Brandywine Baptist ," near Birmingham, Del Co, PA. has a Thomas GEORGE listed among the 15 founders [reportedly received by letters from somewhere??] of The 180th Anniversary AND HISTORY OF THE BRANDYWINE BAPTIST CHURCH, of Chad's Ford, Penna. June 14th , 1895. p-199 http://www.delawarecountyhistory.com/chaddsfordtownship/documents/180thAnniversaryofBrandywineBaptistChurch.pdf [Could be father or uncle of my gf Wm 1696??] [Attached is the only mention of George (last name only) and as you will see there is no first name. The dates all fit so I think it's safe to assume that this is what you were looking for. No other Georges' were in the history files. I went thru the entire file that we have. It is kind of odd that he's mentioned there but not again. Susie Winner, Office Manager, Cemetery Manager, Brandywine Baptist Church, Chadds Ford PA (610) 459-1302] ca 1720-<Jul 1730: @ Great Valley Bapt Ch in Tredyffryn Twp, Chester Co, PA which still exists in modern day Devon, PA. Founded in 1711 by Welsh immigrants from Rhydwilym Chapel in Pembrokeshire, W Wales, ENG, the oldest active Welsh Bapt Chapel in World founded 1668. ""The Johns Connections." by Helen Sides Dye 2007 has several chapters of this book devoted to the early Baptists of PA and DE. "There's a Richard George with property adjoining that of John Jones son of Dr. Edward Jones c 1741 and a Richard George was in South Carolina in 1768. On p. 198 William George is mentioned as having given two acres for the Great Valley Meeting House and then the statement "and the rest was purchased." A William George is mentioned on p. 199 in a list of people who gave money to Great Valley Meeting House in Tredyffryn Twp, Chester Co, PA. And, further down on that page # 199 in a discussion of the Baptist Church at Brandywine which was founded in 1715 and among the founding members there was a Thomas George. On p. 203, re the New Britain church in Bucks county, William George is again mentioned as having given an endowment. [From Jane McCann Walsh <jmwalsh@hughes.net> 6 Dec 2013 who has book] I reviewed above Dye bk 12/20/13 in Fresno, CA Pub Lib, making additional notes- In the beginninng, she warns to beware of the Patronymics frequently practiced in 1600s -early 1700s Welsh area wherein the first/given name was frequently used for the surname of the children!; p-30 Richard George land owner in lower Merion [PA]; p-90 a John GEORGE wit 1723 will of Griffith JOHN of Great Valley in Chester o, PA; p-198 Great Valley Meeting Hse in 1701-2 had gift of 2 A for site for meeting house fm William GEORGE, also notes that most of Great Valley Congregation were from Rydwiln Bapt Ch in Carmarthshire, Wales; p-199 shows William GEORGE giving legacies; also mentions that Brandywine Bapt Ch near Brandywine R in Birmingham TWP, Chester Co [now Del Co] 38 mi W of Philly formed 14 Jun 1715 with a Thomas GEORGE among 15 founders; p-200 mentions Montgomery Bapt Ch in Montgomery twp in Philly Co, PA; p-203 notes New Britain Bapt Ch in Bucks Co, PA 25 mi from Philly with bldg erected in 1744, incorp in 1754 with 2 branches, inc one on Great Swamp, endowments by Wm GEORGE et al. Listed as a source = Welsh Founders of PA, in 2 or more vols by Thomas Allen Glenn stating by 1675 a few Baptist settled along the E & W banks of Del R, p-9 lists a GEORGE among 1682 arr fm ENG; p-11 by 1700 influx of Quakers immigrants ended & Bapt started, Bapt arr at Uwchland, Newtown & Goshen twps on Chester Cr soon after 1700. [Rev 15 Jan 2013 index of Welsh Founders in PA online at books.google.com w/o finding a Wm GEORGE] July 1730: "Wm GEORGE received @ Montgomery Bapt Ch from Great Valley Bapt Ch" per Hist of Montgomery Bapt Ch by Edward Mathews @ CB Lib 8 Nov 2013. No mention of wf or ch?? Says Great Valley still exists in modern day Devon, PA. 1754: William GEORGE listed among 20 founding members @ New Britain Bapt Ch, Bucks Co, PA . [church minutes rev on film # 21679 at FHC 15 Oct 2013 in Vista, CA]. search prompted because the hist records of Shenandoah Co, VA &/or Linville VA Bapt Ch minutes showed that some of their earliest residents/members came from this church and there was uncertainty of whether a Thomas Sr or a William GEORGE was parent of my gm Martha & bro Geo GEORGE, Jr. The New Britain church minutes began when the church was formed in 1754 from a split with the Montgomery Church, Gwynedd Twp, Montgomery Co, PA and ran into 1900s. I rev from the start until 1800 & scanned the rest. The orig congregation inc 4 founders inc Rev Wm White, John THOMAS.. and a list of 20 members inc a Wm GEORGE who is listed alone on several mem lists & the only subscribers list until a Jul 1767 entry shows the only member's death mentioned in the minutes as a Wm GEORGE "bur this Summer at the Society". These minutes list a few mem as admitted by admission ltrs and/or ltrs of demission, very few bapt, almost no women listed, no m, no births, and only one death [Wm GEORGE] , almost no policing, no welfare.. [This would lead one to assume Wm GEORGE was a mem of the "Montgomery Church" bef the 1754 split and perhaps even a member of the father Hopewell Ch in NJ. Hal] In checking the New Britain Baptist Church Records 1754-1858, I found one mention of John and Jane Alderson - they were members on 7 March 1755. There was also a note next to their names in the index that said: "to Rockingham Co., VA" [a parent of Shenandoah Co, VA] Donna Humphrey dhumphrey@mercermuseum.org The New Britain Ch Cemetery records include tombstone readings and burial records at the church which were checked by the late Doris Fadenracht. There are two books that cover the 1700's - Membership and Church Meeting Book 1754-1858, and Trustees Minutes 1786-1925. The other books we have cover the 19th and 20th centuries (last date 1959). 26 Oct 2013 Donna Humphrey dhumphrey@mercermuseum.org WILL: Bucks County, PA Will Book 3, page 168.William George of Buckingham [Twp], yeoman. Will dated 1/25/1765, proved 7/24/1767. Sons Philip, Thomas. Daughters Jane Kerrel [CARROLL], Martha Hylyard, Ann West & Susanna Heyferlin. Granddaughters Martha George & Anne Hyly [Hylyard?]. Baptist Congregation at New Britain given 5 pounds - John Mathews Trustee thereof. Sons-in-law John West & Cornelius Hylyard appointed executors. David Stephens appointed trustee. Witnesses Simon Mathew, John Boyd & David Evans. [Rec 29 Oct 2013 from Tom Myers ] Hal McCawley, 4178 Pindar Way, Oceanside, CA 92056 760-941-4716