Phillip H May (son of William May, Jr. and Lucy Davis) was born Abt. 1772 in Anson County, NC, and died Abt. 1845 in Kemper Co., MS. He married Susannah Morris on Abt. 1797.
Phillip bought 450 acres of land in Pendleton County, South Carolina from Joshua Reader and moved there by 1805. In 1818 he sold this same land to Stephen Clayton. Phillip's oldest son, Phillip G. May witnessed this deed. Phillip moved to Greene County, Alabama about 1819. His son Elijah T. May stated he was b. 1819 in Greene Co., AL. Shortly thereafter, Rev. May removed to Tuscaloosa Co., AL when he was called to pastor Big Creek Baptist Church, 1820-23.
Phillip May received land grants in Fayette County, Alabama six times from 1823 to 1836 for a total of 480 acres. This land was in Township 16 Range 14 West, Sections 24 and 13. Rev. May made his home on this land while maintaining a large circuit ministry that included churches in Greene, Fayette and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama.
Phillip was in the 1800 census of Anson County, North Carolina and in the 1810 census of Pendleton District of South Carolina. He missed the 1820 and 1830 census even though he was in Fayette County, Alabama by 1823. Phillip was the first pastor of Big Creek Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from 1820 to 1823. This was, perhaps, a part of his circuit. He still maintained his home in Fayette Co., AL. He was a customer of Burr Wilson's store in Fayette, Alabama in 1830. He was listed in the 1840 census of Fayette County, Alabama though his mark is not on the census record.
In 1843, John G., Philip, Elijah and Daniel May paid taxes in Kemper Co., Mississippi. Men who paid poll taxes in Kemper County, Mississippi were between 21 and 50 years of age. In 1850 John G., Elijah, and Daniel paid poll taxes, but Phillip did not. Phillip paid taxes for 3 slaves in 1845 and his estate paid taxes on a slave the next year. Susanna May paid taxes on a slave the following years. Susannah was in the 1850 census of Kemper County, Mississippi.
If Phillip and Susannah had daughters, they were born after 1810 and had left home by the 1840 census. The only daughter whose name is known with certainty is Sarah May born 1814 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She married William Powell, Jr. 1832 in Fayette County, Georgia, settling in Heard County before 1840.
The state historical marker for Coker Baptist Church org 1820 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL, indicates that the first pastor of this landmark church was Rev. Phillip May:
Coker Baptist Church
Constituted as Big Creek Baptist Church on July 22, 1820 by Daniel Brown and Thomas Baines (ancestor of President Lyndon B. Johnson) with Phillip May as first pastor, Joseph Barrett and Charles Pate as first deacons. As the third oldest church in the county, it was one of the 13 organizing the Tuscaloosa Baptist Association in 1834. Prior to 1864 church records show 148 slaves as members. First located adjacent to Bluff Branch School and Meetinghouse, next to Big Creek Cemetery; moved to its present site in 1944. The name changed to Coker Baptist in 1956. Setting of the marker in July 1995 commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the Church.
***
Further information from FAG # 49503197, a direct descendant of Rev. Phillip H. May through Rev. John G. May, his son:
"I had always heard this, primarily from my grandfather, Harvey T. N. May. What you have posted is correct as far as my research has shown. One correction: the Landmark movement did not arise until the mid-1800’s, so Big Creek would not have been Landmark. There was a developing anti-missions movement that led to churches becoming Primitive Baptist. Philip H was a messenger to the Buttehatchee Association, which was a Primitive Baptist (anti-missions) Association according to Dr. Elizabeth Wells, retired director of special collections at Samford University. Philip is also mentioned in Hosea Holcomb’s A History of the Rise and Prominence of Baptists in Alabama (published in 1840) as being under investigation or associations being warned of him and two other ministers regarding their doctrine. He was accused of “reformism” at one time and “Campbellism” at another. I also found an accusation of “Sabellism”, which would be Sabellianism, an early heresy of the church similar to modalism. "
Phillip bought 450 acres of land in Pendleton County, South Carolina from Joshua Reader and moved there by 1805. In 1818 he sold this same land to Stephen Clayton. Phillip's oldest son, Phillip G. May witnessed this deed. Phillip moved to Greene County, Alabama about 1819. His son Elijah T. May stated he was b. 1819 in Greene Co., AL. Shortly thereafter, Rev. May removed to Tuscaloosa Co., AL when he was called to pastor Big Creek Baptist Church, 1820-23.
Phillip May received land grants in Fayette County, Alabama six times from 1823 to 1836 for a total of 480 acres. This land was in Township 16 Range 14 West, Sections 24 and 13. Rev. May made his home on this land while maintaining a large circuit ministry that included churches in Greene, Fayette and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama.
Phillip was in the 1800 census of Anson County, North Carolina and in the 1810 census of Pendleton District of South Carolina. He missed the 1820 and 1830 census even though he was in Fayette County, Alabama by 1823. Phillip was the first pastor of Big Creek Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from 1820 to 1823. This was, perhaps, a part of his circuit. He still maintained his home in Fayette Co., AL. He was a customer of Burr Wilson's store in Fayette, Alabama in 1830. He was listed in the 1840 census of Fayette County, Alabama though his mark is not on the census record.
In 1843, John G., Philip, Elijah and Daniel May paid taxes in Kemper Co., Mississippi. Men who paid poll taxes in Kemper County, Mississippi were between 21 and 50 years of age. In 1850 John G., Elijah, and Daniel paid poll taxes, but Phillip did not. Phillip paid taxes for 3 slaves in 1845 and his estate paid taxes on a slave the next year. Susanna May paid taxes on a slave the following years. Susannah was in the 1850 census of Kemper County, Mississippi.
If Phillip and Susannah had daughters, they were born after 1810 and had left home by the 1840 census. The only daughter whose name is known with certainty is Sarah May born 1814 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She married William Powell, Jr. 1832 in Fayette County, Georgia, settling in Heard County before 1840.
The state historical marker for Coker Baptist Church org 1820 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL, indicates that the first pastor of this landmark church was Rev. Phillip May:
Coker Baptist Church
Constituted as Big Creek Baptist Church on July 22, 1820 by Daniel Brown and Thomas Baines (ancestor of President Lyndon B. Johnson) with Phillip May as first pastor, Joseph Barrett and Charles Pate as first deacons. As the third oldest church in the county, it was one of the 13 organizing the Tuscaloosa Baptist Association in 1834. Prior to 1864 church records show 148 slaves as members. First located adjacent to Bluff Branch School and Meetinghouse, next to Big Creek Cemetery; moved to its present site in 1944. The name changed to Coker Baptist in 1956. Setting of the marker in July 1995 commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the Church.
***
Further information from FAG # 49503197, a direct descendant of Rev. Phillip H. May through Rev. John G. May, his son:
"I had always heard this, primarily from my grandfather, Harvey T. N. May. What you have posted is correct as far as my research has shown. One correction: the Landmark movement did not arise until the mid-1800’s, so Big Creek would not have been Landmark. There was a developing anti-missions movement that led to churches becoming Primitive Baptist. Philip H was a messenger to the Buttehatchee Association, which was a Primitive Baptist (anti-missions) Association according to Dr. Elizabeth Wells, retired director of special collections at Samford University. Philip is also mentioned in Hosea Holcomb’s A History of the Rise and Prominence of Baptists in Alabama (published in 1840) as being under investigation or associations being warned of him and two other ministers regarding their doctrine. He was accused of “reformism” at one time and “Campbellism” at another. I also found an accusation of “Sabellism”, which would be Sabellianism, an early heresy of the church similar to modalism. "
Phillip H May (son of William May, Jr. and Lucy Davis) was born Abt. 1772 in Anson County, NC, and died Abt. 1845 in Kemper Co., MS. He married Susannah Morris on Abt. 1797.
Phillip bought 450 acres of land in Pendleton County, South Carolina from Joshua Reader and moved there by 1805. In 1818 he sold this same land to Stephen Clayton. Phillip's oldest son, Phillip G. May witnessed this deed. Phillip moved to Greene County, Alabama about 1819. His son Elijah T. May stated he was b. 1819 in Greene Co., AL. Shortly thereafter, Rev. May removed to Tuscaloosa Co., AL when he was called to pastor Big Creek Baptist Church, 1820-23.
Phillip May received land grants in Fayette County, Alabama six times from 1823 to 1836 for a total of 480 acres. This land was in Township 16 Range 14 West, Sections 24 and 13. Rev. May made his home on this land while maintaining a large circuit ministry that included churches in Greene, Fayette and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama.
Phillip was in the 1800 census of Anson County, North Carolina and in the 1810 census of Pendleton District of South Carolina. He missed the 1820 and 1830 census even though he was in Fayette County, Alabama by 1823. Phillip was the first pastor of Big Creek Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from 1820 to 1823. This was, perhaps, a part of his circuit. He still maintained his home in Fayette Co., AL. He was a customer of Burr Wilson's store in Fayette, Alabama in 1830. He was listed in the 1840 census of Fayette County, Alabama though his mark is not on the census record.
In 1843, John G., Philip, Elijah and Daniel May paid taxes in Kemper Co., Mississippi. Men who paid poll taxes in Kemper County, Mississippi were between 21 and 50 years of age. In 1850 John G., Elijah, and Daniel paid poll taxes, but Phillip did not. Phillip paid taxes for 3 slaves in 1845 and his estate paid taxes on a slave the next year. Susanna May paid taxes on a slave the following years. Susannah was in the 1850 census of Kemper County, Mississippi.
If Phillip and Susannah had daughters, they were born after 1810 and had left home by the 1840 census. The only daughter whose name is known with certainty is Sarah May born 1814 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She married William Powell, Jr. 1832 in Fayette County, Georgia, settling in Heard County before 1840.
The state historical marker for Coker Baptist Church org 1820 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL, indicates that the first pastor of this landmark church was Rev. Phillip May:
Coker Baptist Church
Constituted as Big Creek Baptist Church on July 22, 1820 by Daniel Brown and Thomas Baines (ancestor of President Lyndon B. Johnson) with Phillip May as first pastor, Joseph Barrett and Charles Pate as first deacons. As the third oldest church in the county, it was one of the 13 organizing the Tuscaloosa Baptist Association in 1834. Prior to 1864 church records show 148 slaves as members. First located adjacent to Bluff Branch School and Meetinghouse, next to Big Creek Cemetery; moved to its present site in 1944. The name changed to Coker Baptist in 1956. Setting of the marker in July 1995 commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the Church.
***
Further information from FAG # 49503197, a direct descendant of Rev. Phillip H. May through Rev. John G. May, his son:
"I had always heard this, primarily from my grandfather, Harvey T. N. May. What you have posted is correct as far as my research has shown. One correction: the Landmark movement did not arise until the mid-1800’s, so Big Creek would not have been Landmark. There was a developing anti-missions movement that led to churches becoming Primitive Baptist. Philip H was a messenger to the Buttehatchee Association, which was a Primitive Baptist (anti-missions) Association according to Dr. Elizabeth Wells, retired director of special collections at Samford University. Philip is also mentioned in Hosea Holcomb’s A History of the Rise and Prominence of Baptists in Alabama (published in 1840) as being under investigation or associations being warned of him and two other ministers regarding their doctrine. He was accused of “reformism” at one time and “Campbellism” at another. I also found an accusation of “Sabellism”, which would be Sabellianism, an early heresy of the church similar to modalism. "
Phillip bought 450 acres of land in Pendleton County, South Carolina from Joshua Reader and moved there by 1805. In 1818 he sold this same land to Stephen Clayton. Phillip's oldest son, Phillip G. May witnessed this deed. Phillip moved to Greene County, Alabama about 1819. His son Elijah T. May stated he was b. 1819 in Greene Co., AL. Shortly thereafter, Rev. May removed to Tuscaloosa Co., AL when he was called to pastor Big Creek Baptist Church, 1820-23.
Phillip May received land grants in Fayette County, Alabama six times from 1823 to 1836 for a total of 480 acres. This land was in Township 16 Range 14 West, Sections 24 and 13. Rev. May made his home on this land while maintaining a large circuit ministry that included churches in Greene, Fayette and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama.
Phillip was in the 1800 census of Anson County, North Carolina and in the 1810 census of Pendleton District of South Carolina. He missed the 1820 and 1830 census even though he was in Fayette County, Alabama by 1823. Phillip was the first pastor of Big Creek Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from 1820 to 1823. This was, perhaps, a part of his circuit. He still maintained his home in Fayette Co., AL. He was a customer of Burr Wilson's store in Fayette, Alabama in 1830. He was listed in the 1840 census of Fayette County, Alabama though his mark is not on the census record.
In 1843, John G., Philip, Elijah and Daniel May paid taxes in Kemper Co., Mississippi. Men who paid poll taxes in Kemper County, Mississippi were between 21 and 50 years of age. In 1850 John G., Elijah, and Daniel paid poll taxes, but Phillip did not. Phillip paid taxes for 3 slaves in 1845 and his estate paid taxes on a slave the next year. Susanna May paid taxes on a slave the following years. Susannah was in the 1850 census of Kemper County, Mississippi.
If Phillip and Susannah had daughters, they were born after 1810 and had left home by the 1840 census. The only daughter whose name is known with certainty is Sarah May born 1814 in Pendleton District, South Carolina. She married William Powell, Jr. 1832 in Fayette County, Georgia, settling in Heard County before 1840.
The state historical marker for Coker Baptist Church org 1820 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL, indicates that the first pastor of this landmark church was Rev. Phillip May:
Coker Baptist Church
Constituted as Big Creek Baptist Church on July 22, 1820 by Daniel Brown and Thomas Baines (ancestor of President Lyndon B. Johnson) with Phillip May as first pastor, Joseph Barrett and Charles Pate as first deacons. As the third oldest church in the county, it was one of the 13 organizing the Tuscaloosa Baptist Association in 1834. Prior to 1864 church records show 148 slaves as members. First located adjacent to Bluff Branch School and Meetinghouse, next to Big Creek Cemetery; moved to its present site in 1944. The name changed to Coker Baptist in 1956. Setting of the marker in July 1995 commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the Church.
***
Further information from FAG # 49503197, a direct descendant of Rev. Phillip H. May through Rev. John G. May, his son:
"I had always heard this, primarily from my grandfather, Harvey T. N. May. What you have posted is correct as far as my research has shown. One correction: the Landmark movement did not arise until the mid-1800’s, so Big Creek would not have been Landmark. There was a developing anti-missions movement that led to churches becoming Primitive Baptist. Philip H was a messenger to the Buttehatchee Association, which was a Primitive Baptist (anti-missions) Association according to Dr. Elizabeth Wells, retired director of special collections at Samford University. Philip is also mentioned in Hosea Holcomb’s A History of the Rise and Prominence of Baptists in Alabama (published in 1840) as being under investigation or associations being warned of him and two other ministers regarding their doctrine. He was accused of “reformism” at one time and “Campbellism” at another. I also found an accusation of “Sabellism”, which would be Sabellianism, an early heresy of the church similar to modalism. "
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