Mates Creek Association

This is our collection of minutes, if you have a year that isn't posted, please contact me, so that I can share it to the website. Also a portion of our history and arms of other associations.

1849	1850	1851	1852	1853	1854	1855	1856	1857	1858
1859	1860	1861	1862	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868
1869	1870	1871	1872	1873	1874	1875	1876	1877	1878
1879	1880	1881	1882	1883	1884	1885	1886	1887	1888
1889	1890	1891	1892	1893	1894	1895	1896	1897	1898
1899	1900	1901	1902	1903	1904	1905	1906	1907	1908
1909	1910	1911	1912	1913	1914	1915	1916	1917	1918
1919	1920	1921	1922	1923	1924	1925	1926	1927	1928
1929	1930	1931	1932	1933	1934	1935	1936	1937	1938
1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945	1946	1947	1948
1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	1958
1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978
1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988
1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
2019	N/A	2021	2022	2023

The Old Hardshell Primitive Baptists - The history of the Old Regular, Primitive, or Hardshell, branch in the Tug Valley is associated with the Mates Creek Association.

From the little information that I have found. The Mates Creek Association was given an arm by the New Salem Association (See below). It was constituted at Mates Creek meeting house in Logan, Virginia, on a second Saturday in July of 1849, at which time most of its churches were in that State (Virginia, modern day West Virginia). It extended its churches into Kentucky, and subsequently dismissed most of its original churches to form a new association, because of a split among the association. The newly formed association rejected missionaries and Sunday Schools. Another split among the Mates Creek Association came because of a division in the teachings of a "no hell doctrine" and that there was no punishment for the wicked. The present day Mates Creek Association rejects against false teachings that have caused divisions in the past and considers itself to be the Original Old Regular Primtiive Baptists that was organized in 1849 and rejects the man-made teachings of mercenaries, Sunday Schools, and "no hell doctrine". It also does not allow instrumental music with it's worship as most modern day churches allow. At present, most or all of its churches are in Pike County, Kentucky. It had considerable growth for it's original time, and, in 1878 numbered 16 churches with 726 members... In 1880, it numbered 14 churches with 503 members." (see A History of Kentucky Baptists, From 1769 to 1885, J. H. Spencer, 1886.)

At present, the Mates Creek Association has 16 churches with 572 members (2022 Minutes). There are 11 churches in Pike County, Kentucky, 2 churches in Virginia, 2 churches in Ohio, and 1 church in Michigan. I truly believe that Mates Creek Association upholds to the doctrine of God, who freely gave the good doctrine of Grace to His disciples. The Word of God clearly teaches against missionaries and Sunday Schools to teach others to know the Lord. The Word of God clearly teaches that God created the lake of fire and brimstone for the devil and his angels and also for the unjust.

(For more details, see the 1905 minutes of the Mates Creek Association annual meeting.)

The Hatfield and McCoy Feud - Mates Creek Association was the home association of Anderson "Preacher Anse" and Basil Hatfield, cousins of "Devil Anse" and Ellison Hatfield, the brother of "Devil Anse" that was killed by the three McCoy brothers in 1882.

From the Obituary of Elder Anderson "Preacher Anse" Hatfield

Elder Anderson Hatfield was born September 25, 1835 and died March 6, 1920, lived 84 years 5 months and 10 days. Elder Hatfield received a hope in Christ in 1853 and joined the Primitive Baptist Church, called Enon, located on Mate Creek, Logan County, West Virginia and was baptised by Elder John Ferrell on the fifth day of July 1853. Elder Hatfield had a call to the ministry and the church gave him license to preach on the tenth day of November, 1868. He then moved his membership to the Old Pond Primitive Baptist Church, in Pike County, Kentucky; then was ordained by Elders John Ferrell and James Williamson, on the eleventh day of July, 1869. Elder Hatfield preached 51 years and 5 months. The last text he ever used was Genesis, second chapter and seventh verse: "The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, etc." He was wonderfully blessed to preach Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. Brother Hatfield was a faithful minister; he would always leave his worldly affairs and go to his meetings.

He was married to Polly Runyon August 2, 1855, and unto them were born fourteen children; twelve living, two dead. Brother and Sister Hatfield lived to see their fourth generation. Their grandchildren were one hundred and eighteen in number; their great-grandchildren, one hundred and fifteen, and their great-great-grandchildren, fourteen.

To fill the request of their children, I will say a few words about their mother, Polly Hatfield. She was born January 25, 1839, and died March 15, 1920; lived 81 years, 1 month and 10 days. She joined the Primitive Baptist Church, September 18, 1892, and was baptized by Elder W. J. May.

These two old people lived together 64 years, 6 months and 2 days. Their home was a home for the brethren and sisters. The loss with us and their children and many friends is great. While we miss them here, we feel sure that our loss is their gain, for we believe that when the last trumpet shall sound that their mortal bodies will be raised immortalized and be just like Jesus to dwell with Him forevermore.

J.D. Riffe

The origins of the Old Regular Baptist can be traced back both directly and indirectly to the original Philadelphia Baptist Association.

Philadelphia Association of Baptist organized September 27, 1707 Originally consisted of 5 Churches with origins in England Charleston Baptist Association organized in 1755 in South Carolinia from the Philadelphia Ketoctin Baptist Association organized August 19, 1766. Located in the north eastern part of Virginia Four churches that were originally in the Philadelphia Association but due to the long distance from Virginia wanted an association established there. (The Philadelphia Association) The accepted view of the time line of Baptist in Kentucky according to Spencer's History of Kentucky Baptists and Miniutes of the Burning Springs Association 1813-1825 is as follows:

THE ARMS GIVEN OFF FORMING ASSOCIATIONS

The Philadelphia Association, organized in 1707 is the mother of all Baptist Associations of the United States.

1. The Philadelphia Association organized the Katockon Association 1766.

2. The Katockon Association organized the Holsten Association 1783.

3. The Holsten Association organized the South Elkhorn Association 1784.

4. The South Elkhorn Association organized the South Kentucky Association 1787, which became the South District and North District in 1801.

5. The North District Association organized Burning Springs Association 1813.

6. The Burning Springs Association organized the New Salem Association 1825.

The New Salem Association is the mother of the following Associations:

Mates Creek Association, organized 1849. Union Association, organized 1859. Sandlick Association, organized 1876. Now Primitive baptist Kyova Association, organized 1924. No longer in existance Philadelphia Association, organized 1925. Northern New Salem Association, organized 1957. Three churches withdrew from the Mates Creek Association over the Doctrine of Election, those 3 churches met and organized the Sardis Association, August 5, 1893.

The Indian Bottom Association originated from a division in the Sandlick Association in the year 1896, the churches that later became Indian Bottom Association held annual union meetings until September 1907, the name was then changed from union meetings to Association.

From 1896 to 1907 they had no correspondence with any other Associations at this time (Dixon and Akers)

The Old Friendship Association was organized in 1917 from churches that left the Pineville District of Primitive Baptist.

Associations from the above which retain correspondence New Salem Union Sardis Indian Bottom Old Friendship Philadelphia Northern New Salem There have been splits in associations over the years because of differing views on various points of doctrine. That I did not go into The origins of the Baptists movement into Kentucky is an area that I am currently researching for a book. I have found original documents that contradict the accepted view of Old Regular Baptist origins. Since my findings have not yet been published I am not quite ready to release my research.

The New Salem Association gave an arm in 1859 consisting of the following churches: Thornton, Bethel, Elkhorn, Sulphur Spring, Pound Fork, Holly Creek, Union, Cloe, and Raccoon to meet at the Union Church the Friday before the second Saturday in November 1859. A presbytery to constitute the new association was chosen consisting of Jordan Ashley, B.E. Caudill, J. A. Caudill and Elders M.T. Lipps and L. Edwards. The new association took the name Union after the oldest church in the arm.

Old Regulars or Primitive Baptists or Particular Baptists or Old School Baptists separated themselves and rejecting other denominational Baptists who supported missionaries and Sunday Schools.
Minutes of the proceedings and resolutions, Drafted by the Particular Baptists, Convened at Black Rock, Maryland, September 28, 1832
Black Rock Address

Updated: 2/29/24

Mates Creek Association - Minutes

Mates Creek Association - History

Origins of the Old Regular Baptists Associations

Black Rock Address