Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

“In the year 1751, Mr. Nicholas Bedgegood … embraced the distinguishing
sentiments of the Baptists; this gentleman went over to Charleston, S.C.,
about the year 1757, and was baptized and united to the Baptist church in that
city, then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Hart. He soon discovered
talents for usefulness, and was licensed to preach; his ordination to the gospel
ministry took place in the year 1759. And it appears his labors were not in
vain in the Lord; for in 1763, he had the happiness to baptize several persons
… to whom, with a few other Baptists, (probably a branch of the Charleston
Baptist church) he administered the Lord’s Supper. This was the first
semblance of a Baptist church — this the first Baptist communion ever held in
the State.” f925
I have now shown that in the States which were the great fountains of the
many Baptist streams, running out into the new States, Baptists, instead of
beginning with Roger Williams, began in the regular continuity line.
Take even Rhode Island. Were we to admit that the present Providence church
is the Roger Williams church, yet we would have Rhode Island Baptists, to a
very great extent, originating from other churches. Of John Clarke’s church in
Newport, Backus says; “Mr. Richard Dingley,” its second pastor “in 1694, left
them and went to South Carolina.” f926 Thus, through Dingley, South Carolina
inherited baptisms from the John Clarke church. John Comer, another of
Clarke’s successors to the Newport pastorate, removed and gathered the first
Baptist Church in Rehoboth.” f926 John Clarke’s church, about 1729, “increased
to a hundred and forty-two members, being the largest church then in the
colony.” f927
Of the John Clarke church, and others, Backus says:
“On June 21st, 1729, they had the largest association of Baptist ministers and
churches that had ever been seen in America.” f928
“The first Baptist church in Connecticut was formed in Groton about 1705.
Elder Valentine Wightman came from North Kingston, and settled in Groton,
and was the first pastor of this church.” f929
Having shown the Kingston church a daughter of John Clarke’s church, thus,
we see Connecticut Baptists originated from it.
Why do not Baptist opponents call attention to the swarms of Baptists from the
Newport church? Why do they not call attention to other churches, also, being
the fountain head of American Baptist churches? Simply because they could
not close the people’s eyes against Baptist church claims; or, in many cases,
because of ignorance and thoughtlessness.
Of the first Baptist church in Swansea, Massachusetts, Davis says: