Tompkinsville in Monroe County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

The Book of Records

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 21, 2021

1. The Book of Records Marker

Inscription.

The Book of Records. . When the congregation here split in 1809, the smaller group took two things with them...the name "Mill Creek Baptist” and the church records to date. In their care the "Book of records for the church of Christ on the head of the Big Barren at Mill Creek” became a treasured piece of Monroe County history." , Mill Creek Baptist Church graciously provided a photocopy of the book of records to the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site. The copy shows a book with pages that are tattered and water soiled. The handwriting is difficult to read and the spelling tests the best scholar. However for a document written with pokeberry ink on lambskin well over 200 years ago, it is in amazing shape. The most severely deteriorated pages of the book are the pages which contain the "Church Covenant". , Fortunately we know what those pages said because the church adopted the church covenant of Big Pigeon Church in Cocke County, Tennessee. The list of members has also sustained damage. Overall the book of records is clear enough to provide historians and genealogists with a wealth of information regarding membership, association meetings, church discipline and more. , The cover of the book reads "made July the 11th 1799 Phillip Mulkey.” However the first entry is dated September 11, 1798. The book records the "business” of the church rather than the services. These business meetings were usually held once a month. A thorough examination of the book of records shows the clerk was not meticulous in his record keeping. For example, on September 12, 1801 he records that 3 joined by letter and 42 by experience but he doesn't record their names. , On numerous occasions he simply records All Lost” or "Minutes Lost.” Even with errors of this type, the book gives a detailed account of the business of the church through December 1806. The next record is dated August 1809. No one, including Mill Creek Baptist Church, has a copy of the records between December 1306 and August 1809. Did they go west with Phillip Mulkey? Could they have perished in a fire? We may never know. , We do know when the record picks up in 1809; it is in a new taller ledger. We also know that it was just in time to record the proceedings that led to the split of this congregation. , Selected excerpts from the book of records are included on this collection of park signs. A copy of the first book of records in its entirety may be viewed in the park office.

When the congregation here split in 1809, the smaller group took two things with them...the name "Mill Creek Baptist” and the church records to date. In their care the "Book of records for the church of Christ on the head of the Big Barren at Mill Creek” became a treasured piece of Monroe County history."

Mill Creek Baptist Church graciously provided a photocopy of the book of records to the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site. The copy shows a book with pages that are tattered and water soiled. The handwriting is difficult to read and the spelling tests the best scholar. However for a document written with pokeberry ink on lambskin well over 200 years ago, it is in amazing shape. The most severely deteriorated pages of the book are the pages which contain the "Church Covenant".

Fortunately we know what those pages said because the church adopted the church covenant of Big Pigeon Church in Cocke County, Tennessee. The list of members has also sustained damage. Overall the book of records is clear enough to provide historians and genealogists with a wealth of information regarding membership, association

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meetings, church discipline and more.

The cover of the book reads "made July the 11th 1799 Phillip Mulkey.” However the first entry is dated September 11, 1798. The book records the "business” of the church rather than the services. These business meetings were usually held once a month. A thorough examination of the book of records shows the clerk was not meticulous in his record keeping. For example, on September 12, 1801 he records that 3 joined by letter and 42 by experience but he doesn't record their names.

On numerous occasions he simply records All Lost” or "Minutes Lost.” Even with errors of this type, the book gives a detailed account of the business of the church through December 1806. The next record is dated August 1809. No one, including Mill Creek Baptist Church, has a copy of the records between December 1306 and August 1809. Did they go west with Phillip Mulkey? Could they have perished in a fire? We may never know.

We do know when the record picks up in 1809; it is in a new taller ledger. We also know that it was just in time to record the proceedings that led to the split of this congregation.

Selected

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, August 21, 2021

2. The Book of Records Marker

excerpts from the book of records are included on this collection of park signs. A copy of the first book of records in its entirety may be viewed in the park office.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1809.

Location. 36° 40.66′ N, 85° 42.426′ W. Marker is in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, in Monroe County. It is on Old Mulkey Park Road 0.2 miles west of Old Mulkey Road. Located at the Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 38 Old Mulkey Park Rd, Tompkinsville KY 42167, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Pennyroyal Region.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hannah Boone

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(a few steps from this marker); Revolutionary War Veterans (within shouting distance of this marker); Rev. W. E. Thomas (within shouting distance of this marker); Five Generations of Gospel Preachers (within shouting distance of this marker); Ephraim Dicken (within shouting distance of this marker); William & Jane (Hart) Howard (within shouting distance of this marker); The Meetinghouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Truth Will Prevail (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tompkinsville.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 541 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 18, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.