(The following information was transcribed from NB Archives film Number F961 topic is "History of Campobello Free Baptists". This information was first published in the Saint Croix Courier in September and October 1967, in three parts. This section was published September 28, 1967. The series was written by Dr. Charles M. Smith.

Note: Some of the film was very hard to read due to dark copies of the original article and overlapping. As a result, for the first part there will be a number of words missing and indicated by ----. Transcribed and converted to html by Heather Waddingham, with permission of the Saint Croix Courier. )

History of Campobello Free Baptists Part 2

Rev. Alexander Taylor

1856-1863

In 1847 the "Free Christian Baptist General Conference of New Brunswick" was formed and three years later the province was divided into districts: Campobello came under the Fifth District at that time. These districts held their official meetings and the respective member churches made their reports thereto, and it is mainly from these brief (and often vague) accounts that much of the early history of the Church is culled. Thus it is that the 1856 annual report shows Rev. Alexander Taylor as "Pastor of the Church on Campobello". But Campobello could not lay total claim upon so energetic a leader - for Rev. Taylor is also reported as Pastor on Grand Manan in 1856, thus relating his ministry in a busy and arduons Island circuit.

It might be well to digress here a bit and survey Mr. Taylor's Grand Manan work. In January of 1856 Rev. Cyrell Doucet, a Licentiate of the Free Christian Baptist Denomination went to North Head and after some two months of evangelistic services "guided the people into a decision to organize into a Church of the Free Christian Baptists - March 22, 1856". On the same evening Rev. Taylor arrived from Campobello and joined Mr. Doucet in his revival meetings. Ten were converted and baptized. On Tuesday April 1, 1856, the two ministers (mainly led by Mr. Taylor) met in the home of a "Brother Rhodney Flagg" and invited this new body of Baptist believers to formally organize into a "Free Christian Baptist Church" and twenty one responded. On July 11, 1856, Rev. Alexander Taylor was declared as "the first regular Pastor" (Some notes from Booklet "Centennial Anniversary, United Baptist Church 1856-1956, Grand Manan, NB).

Other Campobello ministers serving as Pastors or on interim work on Grand Manan over the later year were Revs. J. N. Barnes, J. T. Parsons, Freeman Babcock, Garraty, W. H. Perry, and J. E. Gaslene. Rev. Taylor served there six years 1856-1862.

Born in Scotland, 1816, Rev. Taylor had come to Maine, apparently with his parents at the tender age of six years. Here he spent his early life and here he was converted and began to preach. After some twelve years ministry in Maine, he moved (in 1853) to New Brunswick. Rev. Malloch was pastor at that time and it may well be assumed that Mr. Taylor entered into evangelistic work throughout the Province and finally coming to his island ministry in 1856 as successor to Mr. Malloch on Campobello and as Pastor of the newly organized Church on Grand Manan at the same time.

The following year (1857) we read that "Elder Taylor labours with the Churches on the islands of Campobello and Grand Manan". In this report we can see how frequently ministers moved about - in more of a "home missionary" type of ministry - establishing churches and building up young churches. The 1858 report states that "Elder Taylor is Pastor of the Campobello Church and resides among them." This pattern continued thus until 1861 when Mr. Taylor left for the mainland. He returned a year later and pastored for another year concluding his first pastorate on Campobello in 1862. Possibly Mr. Malloch supplied during the Pastor's absence.

The year 1863 proved to be a memorable one as the conference report shows: the newly organized "Seventh District" meetings took place at Wilson's Beach; and the Baptist Church at North Road Campobello was organized at that year. Prior to this Campobello was included in the Fifth District. Elder Taylor is reported as living at Wilson's Beach and the following excerpt on this historic meeting reads as follows:

"It was a blessed meeting indeed. Elder Ezekiel McLeod preached a most powerful sermonfrom Judges 5:23. Also present were Revs. Freeman Babcock and Jacob Gunter. A number of ministers were entertained at Lorenzo Wilson's home."

Here you will notice the first mention of Rev. Babcock.

During 1863 a revival occurred wherein 27 new members were taken ino the Church - among them whom was the long remembered and still beloved Decon Charles Savage with "Brother Taylor baptizing 11, Brother Babcock 6, and Elder Johnston (who also laboured some on the island) baptizing 10. There was also on the upper part of the island 25 baptized by Elders Malloch and Johnston. A branch church was organized by Elder Taylor and Malloch numbering 40. In all about 52 were baptized on the island." (From Denominational Files). This new church was most likely the North Road Church. Soon after these historic meetings Rev. Taylor's ministry seems to have moved elsewhere. He returned a few years later serving as a Supply minister.

Rev. Taylor lived a number of years at Wilson's Beach building a home there. He was a moist dedicated worker for his church, his denomination and his Lord. He was a man of great ability abounding energy and a vigorous preacher - as attested to by his wide ranging and active evangelistic campaigns. He died January 15, 1888.

The District Report of 1864 states as follows: "The Church at Campobello has been without pastoral care but has had visits from Brethern Taylor, Babcock, Barnes and others. Two have been baptized. This is a large church and a good field for labour. We hope some faithful brother may be directed toward this island." Here the reports become clearer and perhaps a little more personalized. With the coming of 1865 the pastoral need persisted although visits were received from Revs. "French, Marsh and others", although little in the way of revival was experienced. "Elders Babcock and Malloch both live on the island and have laboured some with the people. Elder Babcock baptized 3 in connection with Brother Marsh's visit". From this we gather that although two Elders resided on the island yet the church was officially without a Pastor - a condition that often recurred in the later years.

For whatever the following statistics of 1861 may be worth, I hereby insert this brief list of names and occupations of a few Residents of Campobello during this period:

John D. Small - General Dealer, R. Simond - Physician, Luke Byron - Grocer and Post Master, J. A. Taylor - Hotel Manager, C. Townsend - Saw Mill, John S. Williams - School Teacher (Anglican from Ireland, aged 60, apparently a clergyman. Affectionately known as "Master Williams").

Population (1861) -1,039.

Religious Census: Baptists 607, Chruch of England 276, Roman Catholics 96, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists 22 total in all 3; "And one misguided but intrepit soul who refused to commit himself."

From the "1866, 1867 Directory" we have the following additional identifications:

Robert Mulholland, Ferryman; John James Robinson Captain, RN; Eliezer Taylor, Carpenter; William Williams, Mariner; Alexander George and William Tinker, Boat Builders; Owen Perker, Shipmaster; John Sharland, Storekeeper; Charles Williams, Cooper; Lorenzo Wilson, Merchant.

The middle decades of the 19th century formed a significant period in the history of the Baptist of Campobello.

Rev. S. Freeman Babcock

1865-1868

It is not known exactly when Rev. Babcock and his family came to Campobello. According to an 1851 Census Record on the Island we have the following: "Freeman Babcock, ages 29, a Joiner"; and "from Nova Scotia". A Mr. Robert Babcock, grandson (now deceased) who could remember his grandfather insisted "The Babcock's came from Maine and that both Rev. and Mrs. Babcock were born in Alexander Maine." At least the age is correct ----- --------stone at Wilson's Beach ------------------------1893; his family could supply the correctional historical data on Rev. Babcock.

At least this much is known - that Mr. Babcock had become prominent in the life of the Wilson's Beacb Baptist Church by 1863 and remained a significant leader therein throughout the remainder of his life. I am told that the Babcock home once stood on the hill above the cemetery, and tradition has it that the Babcock's provided the land for the cemetery.

It was back in this period - early 1860's - that the Church building was erected; exactly when remains a subject of debate. Rumors also vary as to who was Pastor or whom should be credited with this honor. Each of the Church's first three pastor's have been mentioned in this regard: Rev. Malloch, Rev. Taylor, and Rev. Babcock. The unique feature about this issue is that all three could have been involved as all three were resident on the island either in part or full time during this period. Some construction dates from 1850-1861. It is hoped that this important information may be uncovered some day.

Perhaps at this point, a word could be shared as to Pastors in general back in thos early days.

First of all very few Baptist Ministers were paid a standard salary for their services; in fact there was even a strong aversion to a settled and paid ---history. The few ministers who dared to attempt to make limited arrangements with their churches were generally regarded as "hirelings". Therefore Pastors were hard to hold to any field - many providing self-support or engaged in ----- preaching or missionary work. For the most part it was not until the 1870's that the "Free Baptist Churches" began to repont settled Pastors - some with "stated" labour and a few others as "pastoral care". The Seventh District began taking a lead in this matter and in 1871 reported more churches under "pastoral care" than in any other Districts.

In addition to this inhibition most ministers were without any formal training or "higher" education in the early days. The care of the Churches therefore rested almost entirely with the membership who appointed local laymen to ad in the capacity of Pastors. Ministers were called "Elders" then - "Reverend" being frowned upon as "smacking of un-biblical professionalism". We can see more clearly, therefore, why it was that the majority of the churches were Pastorless. A self-supporting minister either had to settle down for life in a community and raise his family or be on a circuit and away from home most of the time - and that with little or no money to send home.

Returning to our Biographical sketch - the Wilson's Beach Church progressed during Mr. Babcock's permanent ministry; and certainly by now the congregation was well established in their new place of worship. During 1868 Rev. Taylor returned from his travels and "spent several months" on Campobello. With Rev. Taylor's return it appears that Rev. Babcock stepped down from the Pastorate as the 1869 District Records report Mr. Taylor as the minister "residing on Campobello", with the strong inference that Mr. Taylor was again installed as permanent Pastor. Thus as far as this writer can determine, Rev. Babcock's pastorate concluded - after three eyars of service - 1865-1868.

In summary therefore - the period 1489-1868 or '69 seems quite clearly outlined as to Pastoral ministries; the three resident ministers (Malloch, Taylor and Babcock) serving in a sort of shared ministries (or exchnage pulpits)over these two decades. Afterward, however, the picture is different from 1868 to 1885 (as far as can be ascertained) there seem to be only "Supply" ministers or evangelists or former Pastors assisting - thus leaving Wilson's Beach Church largely to lay leadership.

Go to The History of Campobello Free Baptists Part 3
Return to Campobello Churches & Cemeteries
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