This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: MUSE Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/IhB.2ACI/275.1 Message Board Post: I looked through the Bedford County Cemetery book, and although I found many MUSE listings, I did not find one for James H. Muse. It is possible that he is buried in Bedford County but the tombstone is missing. I did find his father: Muse Cemetery -------------------------- Rev. John T. Muse, Apr 19, 1791, Sep 4, 1850 As you mentioned, James is found in the 1880 census in District 19. Perhaps he moved to Obion County also? As far as the "Missionary Baptist Church" goes, I found a reference in the Shelbyville Times-Gazette Sesquicentennial, published October 7, 1969, page 181: New Hope Missionary Baptist ----------------------------------------- The New Hope Misstionary Baptist Church is the oldest Baptist Church in Bedford County, being built in 1809 on the land donated by Andrew Ervin (Erwin). Jeremiah Burns is the first recorded inister of this congregation. A division occurred in the church October, 1843. Many of the records were lost during the Civil War. The church was reorganized in April, 1881. In that same year the Primitive Baptist and Missionary Baptist joined to erect a new building, with the Missionary Baptist using it the second and fourth Sunday of each month and the Primitive Baptist using the building every first and third Sunday of the month. At the present time the structure is only used by the Missionary Baptist. Rev. W. T. Warren, the present pastor, has served the church for over twenty years. Please note: I am not connected to this line, only doing a lookup. Hope it helps, Kathryn