Before Monroe Mission
The Monroe Mission records makes reference at various points of members being debarred from church privileges for improper conduct (6-7-1823 the day it was organized). This page has been added so that you, the reader, can better understand; although short lived Rev. Joseph Bullen, had baptized, and organized a few in the nation before the arrival of Rev. Thomas C. Stuart some 23 years later. From the journal of the Reverend Joseph Bullen, a missionary to the Chickasaws in 1799 and 1800. Bullen was a representative of the New York Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Synod of New, York. His journal begins on May 19, 1799 when he arrived sick, tired and wet, at the home of "General" William Colbert. On May 22, 1799 he met with Levi Colbert using Joseph Colbert as interpreter when he disclosed to Levi the design to start a mission, of which Levi was "evidently pleased". On June 22, 1799 Bullen met with James Colbert, "a native of this country, who has been baptized, reads and writes, is a man of property: one quarter Indian; is a sober man; knows something of religion, wished his nation to know and observe the same..." ( James Colbert is my ggggreat grandfather, he was sent to school, St. Augustine, were he learned to read, write and speak English.). One June 24, 1799 Bullen formally married James and Susan (James) Colbert, who were already married by Indian Law. He baptized two persons including Colbert's son Charles and Peggy Allen, daughter of James's sister Susan. Bullen took a temporary leave of absence from the Chickasaws on June 27, 1799, but returned on July 3, 1800. A new interpreter was found in Christopher Oxberry, a halfbreed Cherokee who was married to William Colbert's daughter, Molly. Bullen notes that "Oxberry can read some, and is quick of apprehension". The missionary, Bullen also reformed an association with a Chickasaw settler named James Gunn. Gunn was a Virginian who had settled among the Chickasaws in 1777 and was later to marry Christopher Oxberry's widow On July 24, 1800, Bullen had the sad duty of preaching the funeral of young Charles Colbert (b. 1795 d. 1800). The missionary did not enjoy success with the average Chickasaws, and so his mission drew to a conclusion in late August 1800. On August 29, 1800 he talked with George Colbert "George Colbert, a Chickasaw chief, called in a decent dress, and lodged here. He informed me how he and his brother Levi had laboured to further the pious and benevolent designs of the Society; that he and Levi, and a number of others, wish to learn good things: no get drunk, but work, make corn, cotton, cattle, hogs..." The next day Bullen again met with Levi. On September 4, 1800 Bullen left the Chickasaw country for Jefferson County in the Mississippi Territory. In time he became known as the "Father of Mississippi Presbyterianism" Copyright� June 5, 2000 Eleanor L. Denson-Wyatt. All Rights Reserved |