Isaac traveling west

Early Life and Family

Isaac Reed – also known as Isaac Hines Reed[1] – was born June 6, 1776 in Pendleton, Anderson County, South Carolina, the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Reed.[2] On September 17, 1797, while still living in South Carolina, Isaac married Elizabeth Harper. This couple sired at least eight children: William B. (1798 – 1863, m. Sarah Wright), John H. (d. before 6 Nov 1848, m. Nancy Louise Hines),[3] Samuel A. (b. ca. 1806 – d. ca. 1876, m. Hannah Hines), Margarete (1808 – 1856, m. William Roark), Elizabeth Reed (1812 – 1850, m. Hugh Shepherd), Isaac, Jr. (1814 – 1837, m. Pricilla Herrin), Frances “Frankie” (1821-1861, m. John Morris), and Mary (m. Awalt?, Sweatt?).[4] Isaac’s “Last Will and Testament” mentions all eight of these children.[5]

Two Isaac Reeds (spelled Read) are in Pendleton District, South Carolina in 1800. Isaac Read # 420 was enumerated in Pendleton District, South Carolina in 1800. His family consisted of one white male under 10, one white male 16 thru 25, one white female under 10, and one white female 16 thru 25, a total of four household members. Isaac Read #931 was also enumerated in Pendleton District, South Carolina in 1800. His family consisted of two white males under 10, one white male 16 thru 25, and one white female 16 thru 25, a total of four household members.

An Isaac Reed of Lincoln County, Tennessee bought land on Farris Creek of Elk River in Lincoln County, from William Polk of Wake County, North Carolina, May 29, 1811.[6]

An Isaac Reed was enumerated in Franklin County, Tennessee, August 7, 1820. This family consisted of one white male 26 to 44, one white female 26 to 44, one white female over 45, two white females 10 to 15, one white female under 10, two white males 18 to 25, one white male 16 to 18, and 2 two white males under 10. At this time, Isaac and Elizabeth had five sons and three daughters and owned two slaves, for a total in the census of eleven white persons and two slaves.

Isaac moved west in Tennessee before turning toward the old Southwest and Texas. Several sources suggest this, and the 1830 Henderson County, Tennessee census agrees.

A Mrs. Luttrell believed that Isaac Reed was in the western district when he started the Clear Creek Baptist Church in McNairy County, Tennessee.

The Clear Creek Church of Christ was constituted about the year 1827 or 1828 by Isaac Reed and Silas Grinder, a deacon in the church. Both of these men came from Williamson or Henderson County, Tenn, with about 11 charter members.[7]

Z. N. Morrell relates knowing him in the western district of Tennessee.

With Elder Reed I was personally acquainted, and labored with him in the western district of Tennessee. He there served as moderator of an association; many baptisms and large success attended his ministry there.[8]

Joseph Bodkin Link, probably depending on Z. N. Morrell as his source, wrote,

REV. ISAAC REED came from the western district of Tennessee and located nine miles north of Nacogdoches in 1834.[9]

William and Margaret Roark (Isaac’s son-in-law and daughter) were members of “The Baptist Church of Christ at Hurricane” in Henderson County, Tennessee, when they called for a letter of dismission in the fall of 1834. Samuel A. Reed was church clerk.

State of Tennessee Henderson County

The Baptist Church of Christ at Hurricane

To all to whome these presents may come Greeting

   Where as our beloved Brother and Sister William Roark and Margaret Roark his wife being about to remove from this place has applied to use for a Letter of Dismission – Therefore this is to certify that they are Members with us in full fellow Ship and good Standing and at their request is dismiss^d from us in order to Join any other Church of our faith and order

   Done in Church conference on Saturday before the first Lords day in September 1834.

Samuel A. Reed, C. clk.[10]

An Isaac Read was enumerated in Henderson County, Tennessee, in 1830. This family consisted of one white male 50 to 60, one white female 50 to 60, one white female 5 to 10, and one white male 15 to 20. At this time, Isaac and Elizabeth owned seven slaves, for a total in the census of eleven persons – four white persons and two slaves.[11] Another Isaac Read was enumerated in Henderson County that year, which may or may not be Isaac, Jr. This household consisted of one white male 30 to 40, one white female 20 to 30, three white females under 5, one white female 5 to 10, one white male under 5, one white male 10 to 15, and no slaves.[12] A John Read is on the same page with the senior Isaac, whose household consisted of one white male 20 to 30, one white female 20 to 30, one white female under 5, one white male under 5, one white male 15 to 20, and no slaves.[13] The other John Read is in the 40 to under 50 years age category, which would seem too old to be Isaac’s son.[14] The names William Read, Samuel Read, William Roark and Hugh Shepherd – sons and sons-in-law of Isaac – also show up in the 1830 Henderson County Census.[15]

Early Ministry

In 1808, Isaac Reed was ordained to the ministry. The Hopewell Baptist Church of Franklin County, Tennessee set apart Isaac Reed for the work of the ministry on March 19, 1808.  Beneath is the text of his ordination certificate (which has been preserved by one of his descendants in Texas):[16]

The State of Tennessee.

Franklin County.

Hopewell Baptist Church.

These are to certify that we being duly called as a Presbytery have examined into the character and call and qualifications of our Beloved Brother Isaac Read and with the consent of the Church to which he belongs have by prayer and imposition of hands set him apart of the work of the Ministry and he is hereby authorized to exercise himself in the several parts of the Ministerial function where he in the Providence of God may be called whether stately or occasionly.

Given under our hands this nineteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eight.

John Davis

Abraham Hargis

George Foster

Wm. Jennings[17]

Reed helped form the Boiling Fork Church on August 19, 1808, and apparently participated in constituting the Elk River Baptist Association. The Homecoming ’86 History of the Elk River Valley records the following item from an article by Betty A. Bridgewater in the Coffee County Historical Quarterly, Vol. XI, No. 2, 1980, pp. 1-3 and p. 12 – which in turn was taken from the history of the Elk River Association of Baptists that was printed in the Minutes of the 101st Annual Session of the Elk River Association (held at Elk River Church in Coffee County on September 11-12 1908).

An account of the Elk River Association of Baptists formed the 20th of August 1808:

On the 10th of October 1806, Bro. George Foster settled on the head of Elk River from the state of Kentucky. He formed the Hopewell Church in 1807. In the fall of 1807, Bethel Church on the south fork of Duck River was constituted by John Davis, James Walker, and George Foster; on 29 March 1808, Bethlahem Church was formed by the same men, and Boiling Fork Church on 19 August 1808 by Elder John Davis, Issac Reed, and George Foster. These four churches together with the Elk River Church met together by their delegates at Hopewell Meeting House on 19 August 1808. After services they were enrolled with George Foster and William Gotcher the delegates named from the Elk River Church. Other names noted which are familiar in pre-Coffee County records were Dutton Sweeten, John Lane, and Bro. William Keel. The following day the group of delegates agreed to unite and form an association, to be known as the “Elk River Association.”[18]

Elder Isaac Reed preached at Clear Creek Church in McNairy County circa 1831. Thomas Sanders, Sr. “united with God’s people at Clear Creek Baptist church, and was baptized by Elder Isaac Reed, when he was about fifty two years old.”[19]

Isaac Reed helped constitute at least the following Baptist Churches.[20]

Year     Date                 Name and Place

1808    August 19        Boiling Fork, Franklin County, Tennessee

1827    (circa)              Clear Creek, McNairy County, Tennessee

1838    May 6               Union (now Old North), Nacogdoches County, Texas

1839                            Buena Vista, Buena Vista near Timpson, Shelby County, Texas[21]

1843    Sept 23             Bethel, Reeds Settlement, Harrison (now Panola) County, Texas

                                                * Bethel Baptist Church (white) Clayton, Texas

                                                * Old Bethel Baptist Church (black) Clayton, Texas

1843                            Border, Harrison County, Texas perhaps in the Jonesville vicinity

1844                            Mount Olive (now Old Palestine), Cherokee County, Texas

1845    April 5             Macedonia, Harrison (now Panola) County, Texas

1845                            Eight-Mile (now Friendship) Harrison County, Texas

Isaac Reed participated in the constitution of at least three associations.

Year                             Name and Place

1821                            Mud Creek Association in Alabama[22]

1826                            Duck River Association in Tennessee

1843                            Sabine Association in Texas

Isaac Reed was ordained in March of 1808, and likely participated in the organization of the Elk River Association of Tennessee, but I have found no clear statement of that fact. It was formed August 20, 1808, one day after Isaac Reed helped found the Boiling Fork Church.[23]

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[1] All older records I found give only “Isaac Reed,” but family historians/genealogists give his full name as Isaac Hines Reed. Some spell his given name as “Issac” – e.g. Remembering Two Baptist Pioneer Preachers of Texas, Della Tyler Key, Sidney F. Alford, Lubbock, TX: Dennis Brothers, 2009

[2] Some genealogists give the name of the mother of Isaac as Elizabeth, others as Hephzibah. The latter claim seems to be incorrectly based on his parents being Nathan Reed and Hephzibah Bateman of New England.

[3] Isaac’s will mentions “the heirs of my son John H. Reed,” suggesting John is already deceased by November 23, 1848. A legal notice in the West Tennessee Whig (Friday, January 18, 1850, p. 3) indicates John was deceased by November 6, 1848. The Henderson County Court appointed an administrator for his estate at that time. Perhaps Isaac did not know whether John is still living, since John did not move to Texas – or just that he did not know how many heirs John had and so did not name them. In the case of Isaac, Jr., the will specifically mentions he is deceased. The children of Isaac, Jr. are mentioned in the will – Abner, Samuel, Lemuel, James, and Keziah. The children of John are not named. John is John Harper Reed, born perhaps March 12, 1806 in Franklin County, Tennessee (according to some Reed family genealogists). Some also assert that John died October 1835 at Winchester, Franklin, Tennessee, but this is incorrect. John H. Reed lived and pastored churches in Henderson County after 1835. This John Reed married Nancy Louisa Hines. Find-A-Grave lists John H. Reed, Jr. at Mt. Bethel Cemetery in Panola County as their child. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17859117/john-h_-reed

[4] An Edward Sweatt is listed on an 1850 Panola County agricultural schedule with many others in the Reed Settlement area – including John Morris, Elijah Allred, Stephen Allred, Samuel Pike, Purvince Williams, and Thomas Allison. “George Sweit” and “Edwin Sweit” are founding members of the Bethel Church in 1843 (Bethel Baptist Church, Church Bulletin, September 24, 1989).

[5] “Book A, Panola County Final Records and Estates,” as printed in East Texas Family Records, Vol. 7, No. 3, Fall 1983, pages 27-29. Some sources say the Mary Reed who married Henry Awalt was a daughter of Isaac Reed. Awalt was a charter member of Bethel Church. Other sources say she was a daughter of William B. Reed, therefore granddaughter of Isaac. According to birth dating based on censuses, Mary Awalt would be too old to be the daughter of William B. Reed. Since Mary Awalt is not mentioned in Isaac’s will, the latter is probably correct. On the other hand, the will at East Texas Family Records is a transcription, and perhaps “Awalt” was incorrectly transcribed as “Sweatt.”

[6] “Middle Tennessee Connections,” compiled by Dorothy Williams Potter, in The Middle Tennessee Journal of Genealogy & History, Volume XV, Number 2, Fall 2001, p. 59 (Lincoln County, Tennessee, Deed Book B, p. 4.)

[7] Clear Creek Missionary Baptist Church Minutes, 1827-1874, Transcribed by Nancy Wardlow Kennedy, 2004, p. 17. Silas Grider (rather than Grinder) can be found in the 1830 and 1840 Henderson County, Tennessee censuses.

[8] Flowers and Fruits from the Wilderness, Z. N. Morrell, Boston, MA: Gould and Lincoln, 1872, p. 185.

[9] Texas Historical and Biographical Magazine, J. B. Link, (Volume 1, 1891, as found in The Baptist Standard Bearer, Inc. Version 1.0, 2005).

[10] Transcription of handwritten document in the Sabine Baptist Association file, “The Texas Collection,” Baylor University.

[11] U. S. Federal Census, Henderson County, Tennessee, 1830, p. 85, on Ancestry.com.

[12] Ibid, p. 90.

[13] Ibid, p. 85.

[14] Ibid, p. 89.

[15] Ibid, pp. 77, 81, 104.

[16] Owned by Mrs. J. A. Knight of Conroe, Texas, a great-granddaughter, in 1923; Carroll, p. 119. Mrs. Knight had a notarized transcription of this certificate made in 1936, which copy resides in “The Texas Collection” at Baylor University’s archives. J. M. Carroll writes, “The first definite record we have of him is found in his ordination papers. In the possession of Mrs. J. A. Knight, of Conroe, Texas, is an old book—a copy of the New Testament—given to Elder Reed by a Mrs. Bullard of Harrison County, back in the thirties or forties. Under the sheepskin cover of that book is the original copy of Reed’s ordination paper. Mrs. Knight is a great-granddaughter of that early pioneer preacher.” A History of Texas Baptists (Dallas, TX: Baptist Standard Publishing Company, 1923, p. 119).

[17] This transcription attempts to follow the one in “The Texas Collection.” Others have made adaptations of punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and abbreviations.

[18] Homecoming ’86 History of the Elk River Valley (Pelham Valley) of Grundy County, TN, compiled by Arlene Partin Bean, Janelle Layne Coats, Manchester, TN: Beaver Press, 1986, pp. 100-101 | 

[19] Clear Creek was in McNairy County. The baptism occurred circa 1831, since Sanders died Sept 14 1848 at age 69 years. “Obituary Notices,” Tennessee Baptist (Nashville, Tennessee) Thursday, October 12, 1848, p. 3

[20] Bethel, Border, Macedonia, and Eight-Mile with Lemuel Herrin.

[21] This seems to be a traditional date passed down. I am not aware of any 19^th-century records that demonstrate it.

[22] “This Association was organized on the third Saturday in November, A. D. 1821. Delegates from nine churches convened at Mud Creek meeting-house, Jackson County, Ala., and after a sermon had been delivered by Elder Isaac Reed from Joel, second chapter and part of first verse (“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain”), they chose Elder Isaac Read Moderator, and brother Josiah Cann Clerk.” – History of the Church of God, Cushing Biggs Hassell, Sylvester Hassell, Middletown, NY: Gilbert Beebe’s Sons, 1886, p. 887. In contrast, David Benedict gives its organization as 1825. This appears to be a misunderstanding of what Hosea Holcombe wrote in A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Alabama (Philadelphia, PA: King and Baird, 1840, pp. 291-292). Holcombe did not give their date of organization, but only gave their number of churches and members in 1825.

[23] Benedict dates Elk River to 1806, but this must be in error. Elk River’s minutes of 1901 state that the Boiling Fork Church was in the organization of the Elk River Association, and Boiling Fork did not exist in 1806. See A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America, David Benedict, New York, NY: Lewis Colby and Company, 1848, p. 803.