I've just finished transcribing an excerpt from "A Concise History of the Introduction of Protestantism into Mississippi and the Southwest," written by John Griffing Jones, over 140 years ago. Richard Curtis, Jr., on whom this excerpt is focused, was the brother of my 4-g-grandmother, Martha "Phoebe" Curtis Stampley, wife of John Stampley. The Curtis and Stampley families were early pioneers of the MS Territory. Richard Curtis, Jr. was the first Baptist minister in the "wide region of the Southwest, below the Cumberland settlements in Middle Tennessee." He organized the first church of that faith in approximately 1788. His story, and the story of all of the settlers of Cole's Creek, in what would later become Jefferson County, MS, is a tale fraught with peril and filled with adventure. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I have: www.geocities.com/twincousin2334/History_Protestantism_Mississippi My favorite part: "Their families and neighbors hastily collected and prepared such supplies as they would need on their long and perilous journey through the various tribes of Indians inhabiting the vast region between the Natchez country and Georgia.......all things being in a state of readiness, a new and unexpected difficulty sprang up. Not a man could be found willing to risk the penalty of 'aiding and abetting' in the escape of the refugees. Their absence from home a single day or night might throw suspicion on them and lead to disastrous consequences; and the question was asked, with increasing anxiety, 'Who will take the supplies to their place of concealment on Bayou Pierre?' The question was soon answered. There lived in the vicinity a noble-hearted and daring woman by the name of Chloe Holt.......who was in every way suitable for such an adventure as was now on hand. Aunt Chloe had a kind and sympathizing heart, but an iron will, was determined and bold, and withal was a little eccentric. While she was all aglow to have the pleasure and honor of conveying the needed supplies to the exiles, she wished to hit a backhanded lick at what she considered the cowardice of the men in the neighborhood. 'If the men in the neighborhood,' said she, 'are so fainthearted that not one of them can be prevailed upon to take Dick Curtis and his companions in exile their promised supplies in order to secure their escape.......if they will furnish me with a good horse, surmounted with a man's saddle, I will go in spite of the Spaniards, and they may catch me if they can.' " Nancy, researching: Baldridge, Cain, Courtney, Curtis, Carmichael, Dawkins, Doty, Garmon, Garrett, Hanon, Jackson, McCormick, Matthews, Osborne, Robertson, Sharp, Stampley, Stringer, Warren and more! www.geocities.com/twincousin2334 & www.thepastwhispers.com Please forgive cross-posts.