This church is claimed by two counties - Metcalfe and Barren but according to the minutes of the church, it is considered a Barren Co church. The Blue Spring was well known to early settlers of this area; it was a primary land mark is is mentioned in many of the old deeds. It was located between the Big and Little Barren River where the Great Warrior's Trail came from the Lookout Mountain country to the Falls of the Ohio. It was crossed by another trail from the Lexington KY settlements and Logan's station to the county south east of Bowling Green. The Long Hunters appear to be the first white men to see the Blue Spring as early as 1770. This included Henry SKAGGS and his brother Richard SKAGGS. Both bought land in the area and Henry lived with the EDWARDS family. Blue Springs Church was constituted in 1799 and there were nine members in that constitution. Elijah SUMMERS (first pastor), William RATLIFF (2nd pastor), Daniel SHIRLEY (3rd pastor) and Ralph PETTY (4th pastor.) The minute books from the early years burned and all that was saved was put in a vial that was placed in one of the corner pillars when the original building was torn down. Isaac DALE and Alexander EDWARDS are mentioned in the minutes in Sept 1800. They requested dismission and united with Blue Springs. Richard SKAGGS, Isaac DALE and Henry M'GEE were the messengers to the Green River Association the same year and they recorded a membership of 22 members. In July 1806, the original name of the church - Barren Church - was changed to Blue Springs. Isham HARDY, Isaac DALE and Henry COOK were early trustees as found in a Barren Co deed dated 7 Aug 1815 - the church lot is shown as 1 acre and 5 poles. William RATLIFF died abt 1815; Daniel SHIRLEY in 1823. In 1845 the church split over the missions vs anti-missions controversy and the remaining members pulled out the Green River Association and united with the Liberty Association. The membership dwindled and most had pulled out by 1883 when the Hiseville Baptist Church formed. Most of this introductory information is courtesy of one of our listers, Normal Warnell and his co-author Cawthorn to whom I am indebted! Messengers to the association are shown as: 1800 - Richard SKAGGS, Isaac DALE and Henry M'GEE. 1801- Same. 1802 - James JALLEPH, Richard SKAGGS, Alexander EDWARDS. 1803 - Alexander EDWARDS, Henry COOK, Henry M'GEE. 1808 - William RATLIFF, John GREEN, Isham HARDY. 1810 - Wm RATLIFF, Daniel SHIRLEY. In following years new names appearing include W TRENT beginning in 1811; Thomas EDWARDS in 1820; Beverly BRADLEY in 1816; James G HARDY in 1824; Ralph PETTY in 1824; Geo B COOK in 1835; Johiel FORREST in 1840; Joel BRADLEY in 1846; Joshua PETTY in 1849; W C BRADLEY in 1853. After the admission to the Liberty Association: Robert T GARDNER, W A ALLEN in 1845; Wm W CLACK in 1846; W GALLOWAY and St Clair WALKER in 1850; James T WITHERS in 1852; John WITT in 1853; Geo W WELCH in 1863; Alex. FORD and O P SUMMERS in 1865; C CRAIG, S WATKINS IN 1871; I S GALLOWAY in 1872, E F B HATCHETT in 1874; J F MORTON in 1876; Presley THOMAS in 1879. Church dissolved in 1900. One of the earlier membership lists shows the following members: J C ___KER, James T WITHERS, Henry PETTY, William TWYMAN, John EMORY, Alexander FORD, Beverly BRADLEY, Claborn M FORREST, Benjamin F BRADLEY, Anselem MINOR, James B RATLIFF, James C BRADLEY, Martha WALKER, Sally MYERS, Mary Jane WITHERS, Martha BRADLEY, Sallie F BRADLEY, Susan E CLACK, Elizabeth EAKEN, James CLARK, Burrell HARD___, Isabella CLACK, Dorothy Ann MINOR, Elizabeth WALKER, Emily TWYMAN, Sopha HARLOW, Purmelia CLACK, Mary RATLIFF, Charlotte EDWIN?, Patsey BRADLEY. Slaves were: Peter (MALONE), Lou (WOODS), Sam (CRENSHAW), Nelly (WOODS), Mary Ann (TWYMAN), Celia (TWYMAN) and Louesa (TWYMAN). Carpenters who built the 3rd church building were William S JONES, John W SLINKER, Tulley A SLINKER and Thomas M SLINKER. Next week - we'll start with the membership in 1844 on. Sandi Sandi's Puzzlers: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gensoup/gorin/puz.html SCKY Links: http://www.public.asu.edu/~moore/Gorin.html GGP: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/