The War of the Regulation part twelve- Attack on the Jersey Settlement May 28th – by Jim Curran

Jim Curran Admin by Jim Curran 5/28/21 (3) Facebook

The War of the Regulation part twelve- Attack on the Jersey Settlement May 28th

After crossing the Ueharrie on either the 27th or 28th Tryon’s troops marched on to their next target. On the Last days of May all of the divisions of Tryon’s army converged on the Jersey Settlement and Benjamin Merrill’s plantation and on the region around Jersey Baptist Church. One of the primary targets of Tryon’s wrath was Benjamin Merrill who was a captain in the Militia and had led a group of regulator troops toward Alamance but skirmished with Wadell’s troops before. This would result in the inability of either of these forces to reach Alamance. Merrill would disband his troops immediately after Alamance and send them home but this action was not enough for Tryon. The Jersey Settlement which was almost all Baptist would receive the greatest part of Tryon’s wrath. Jersey Church was founded by the almost everywhere John Gano who would pastor in New York City, serve as a chaplain in the Revolutionary war (and according to some accounts Baptize George Washington) and later plant churches in Kentucky. The settlers here initially were from New Jersey and John Gano had preached in this settlement several times. He would move to the area in 1758 and the church would build a meeting house. Although this was a Regular Baptist Church rather than a Separate Baptist they enjoyed good relations and Gano was friends with Shubal Stearns and had preached in at least one of the camp meetings. Merrill’s home and farm lay about two miles east of Jersey Church. The three divisions of Tryon’s army converged here and would camp on Merrill’s farm. Fanning’s men would capture Merrill and bring him to the camp on the 1st of June. In the meantime the “100 gentlemen” with Tryon’s army would run roughshod over the whole area requisitioning supplies, and burning the houses barns and fields of many. One report seems to indicate that they also burned the meeting house at Jersey Church. I can not find any conformation of this and there is a meeting house mentioned when the church was reconstituted. (Saints and Sinners at Jersey Settlement A history of Jersey Baptist Church,) Regardless if the building was destroyed or not the church was absolutely devastated. Most of the members scattered, some joining Boone’s Ford. There is little record of any activity in the Revolutionary war period either. It was not until 1784 when the church was reconstituted. Morgan Edwards notes that 1500 Baptist families moved out of the area that the Baptist settlements were in. 30 (one account 40) men were hauled in chains when Tryon’s army would leave here and march to Bethabara.

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