RESEARCH OBJECTIVE(S): Research and identify descendants of enslaved families who were dismissed from Red Bank Baptist Church to start Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Several unmarked graves in the church cemetery contain the remains of slaves from the estate of Hillary Pipkin, Leander Guy, Mrs. Dawson, D. Richmond, F. Wilson, M. Lee, William Claytons, Elizabeth Clayton, Fowler estate, A. Walton, A. L. Goodwin, and Jessie Norman (Mary Clayton).
JuIy 1832 this vast territory of Northern Mississippi was ceded to the United States government by the Chickasaw Indian nation in the Treaty of Pontotoc. The people came in the 1830's to settle and make their fortunes. Most of the people came from Virginia and the Carolinas. The people of Baptist convictions organized the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in 1848.This was the first church in Red Banks itself.
The ministers of the presbytery were Whitfield Dupay, I. W. Stamps, C. B. Young, and Elias Rodgers.   Elder Dupay preached a sermon from 1 Peter 2:4-5. Letters were received for the purpose of organizing the church from the following: William Clayton, Elizabeth Clayton, Mary Ann Norman, Henry C. Waters, Fielding Clayton, Edy Clayton, I. L. Norman, Mary A. Norman, Elias Rodgers, Sally Rodgers, Sarah E. Rodgers, Mourning Rodgers, Mary Rodgers, Thomas H. Smith, Hester P. Smith, Augustus Bynum, Andrew J. Pyron, Sarah C. M. Pyron, and Harriot, "a colored sister."

The church chose Fielding Clayton and William Clayton as deacons; I. L. Norman as "writing clerk"; and Thomas A. Smith as "singing clerk." Elias Rodgers was called as the first pastor. Many of the charter members lie buried in the center of the present cemetery.   There were two churches in Red Banks with this name Pleasant Grove Baptist Church from 1866 until 1953 when the mother church changed its name to the Red Banks Baptist Church. In September 1866, letters of    dismissal were granted to many of the black members so that they might organize their own church. When the mother church changed its name to the Red Banks Baptist Church. The Pleasant Grove Baptist Church continues to serve the community.
The following families were prominent farmers who owned slaves in the Red Banks community.

William Clayton (w/Elizabeth Brewster) -Came from Spartanburg, SC (his father James Clayton b. Prince William County, VA married Mary Farrow)
William Clayton Obituary (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55645991)
1st wife Mary "Polly" Bragg Clayton, 2nd wife Elizabeth Brewton Clayton.
Children of William and Mary "Polly" are:
1. Daniel Bragg Clayton, born April 8, 1817, married 1st, Rebecca Farrow, daughter of John Waters Farrow and Emma Burns Farrow, married 2nd, Marry Amanda Rogers.
2. James W. Clayton, born May 13, 1826 in Spartanburg County, SC, died Sep. 10, 1873 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, married Mary Elizabeth Stone on June 21, 1854 at Holly Springs, Mississippi.
Children of William and Elizabeth are:
1. Mary Elizabeth Clayton, born Dec. 6, 1827, died Jan. 23, 1876 in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, married James McCartney Taylor.
2. Thomas R Clayton, born 1831, married Sarah Stone, Died in Arkansas.
3.Dr. Albert Fielding Clayton, born April 10, 1833, died March 12, 1902, in Marshal County, Mississippi, married 1st to Clorinda Houston, and married 2nd to Sarah Ellen Smith, no issue.
4. Dr. Jonas Brewton Clayton, born 1834, died 1892 or 1893 in Big Creek, Mississippi, married 1st Sallie Raiford, and married 2nd Eva Parker.
5. Sarah Jan4e Clayton, born May 18, 1835 in Spartanburg County, SC, died March 1, 1902 in Graysport, Grenada, Mississippi, buried in Ingram Cemetery. Married George Francis Ingram on May 29, 1866.
6. Cynthyia Rosanna Clayton, born Feb. 4, 1839, died Oct. 29, 1917 in Vion, Oklahoma. Married John Bruton Barry on Jan. 7, 1875.
Fielding Clayton, brother of William Clayton (w/Edith Putman)-Came from Spartanburg, SC
Fielding’s daughter Mary Ann Clayton married Jessie L. Norman (1860 Census Jessie Norman was living a few farms away from William Henderson (an overseer).
Jessie L. Norman- was a slave owner his wife Mary Ann Clayton brought slaves as part of her dowery.
William Henderson -overseer on ? plantations (probable father of mulatto boy James Henderson owned by Ms. Dawson)
Hillary H. Pipkins (Margaret Raiford)- from North Carolina (Hilliary Pipkins- 21 slaves on the 1850 Marshall County, Red Banks, MS Slave Schedule)

Dr. John H. Robinson (w/ Lydia Robinson)- from North Carolina (Had 3 male slaves)
Leander Guy- Longstreet Guy born May 1864 in Marshall County, Mississippi.

His parents were:
father: Samuel Guy born 1825 in North Carolina
mother: America Guy born 1830 in Tennessee

His siblings were:
sister: Emmeline Guy-Nunnally born 1853 in Marshall Co, MS.
sister: Hester Guy born 1855 in Marshall Co, MS.
brother: Lucins Guy born 1860 in Marshall Co, MS.
sister: Narcissa Guy-Webb (1866-1925) born in Marshall Co, MS.

(Emmeling Guy was married to Ned Nunnally born 1853 in Marshall Co, MS.)

(Narcissa Guy was married to Lawrence Webb Sr born 1856 in Texas)

Longstreet Guy, his parents, and his three older siblings were all born into slavery.

Longstreet would go on to name his daughter after his baby sister Narcissa Guy.

Longstreet's father Samuel Guy is believed to have been born on the same slave plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina as Millie Guy.

After traveling from Raleigh, North Carolina to Tuscumbia, Alabama with their slave master Dr. Joseph Albert Guy M.D. Samuel and Millie were enslaved on that plantation together.

Samuel could possibly be the son of Millie Guy she had while she was on the North Carolina plantation. Baldy and George Guy were born on the Alabama plantation.

After the death of Dr. Joseph Guy his slaves were divided up among three of his sons, Leander Ramsey Guy, Curtis Haywood Guy, and Joseph Albert Guy Jr.

Curtis would later leave Alabama with 16 slaves and move to Grenada, Mississippi.

Joseph Jr would stay on the Alabama plantation with Millie, Baldy, George and other slaves.

Leander Ramsey Guy would leave Alabama and move to Marshall County, Mississippi with 15 of his slaves. Leander would become the Board of Police President in March 14,1836 and the Chief of Police in Marshall County, Mississippi on April 25, 1836.
Samuel Guy is believed to have been one of the 15 slaves to have moved to Marshall County with his slave master Leander Guy.

(more details to come as they are researched)

(shown above is the 1870's Census Report of Samuel Guy and his family)
Mrs. Dawson
D. Richmond- Owner of Jerry and Lucinda black members of Red Banks Baptist Church
Armstead
Thomas Smith-Owner of Minervia Smith

Community Curation

Eunice Buffington