This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: frrr=waldroup Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/3c.2ADE/1516.1.1.2.1.1.2.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Bethlehem Baptist was established in 1818 about eight years prior to the founding of Providence. The current (New) Church was completed prior to 1971 but I am not sure of the year but I have it some where. The reason I know "1971) is that my father's funeral was the first one in the new church and he died in September 1971. The library in Clarkesville is wonderful and has so very many aids there for geneaologists. I am of the belief (but don't know) that Lewis Free and Lewis Lee Waldroup lived nearby John L. Harris ---they were all pioneers and dedicated workers in the Providence Baptist Church. Of course the Providence Church is much smaller than Bethlehem but still has a lot of history. Did you tell me that your folks lived near where the creek runs across the road (at hwy 197 near Batesville)? That is also pretty near LaPrade's and that's the area where most of the original settlers won Indian Land ::Lotteries---I know that Lewis Free and Elisha Free and the LaPrade's and the Motes alal won some of the Indian Lands. Do you have a copy of the Minutes from Providence? You can pull them up on your computer and print them out but it will require about 20 legal pages. I do have them and if you want to risk putting your mailing address on this screen, I will mail the minutes to you. Liz