These records have been submitted as contributions to WILBANKS WEB for the use of all those researching the history of the Wilbanks family. For more WILBANKS information go to: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~wilbanks/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Submitted by : Gary Wilbanks on 6 July 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Records from Bethlehem Church; Habersham Co., GA Note from Gary: This should be of interest to those with connections to the counties of Habersham, White, Franklin, Stephens and possibly Banks all in north Georgia. I believe these are descendants of Gillum Wilbanks, brother of William Wilbanks that was married to Abarilla Goswick.Minutes of Bethlehem Church; Habersham County, GA The Wilbanks name is mentioned many more times in these minutes than I have listed here. I have just listed portions of the minutes mentioning various Wilbanks members of this church. I have tried to list each new Wilbanks name when first mentioned in the minutes as well as any dismission by a Wilbanks. Also, any mention of a Wilbanks spouse by name. The minutes of this church can be found on Reel 111 in the Special Collections of the Mercer University Library, repository for Baptist records in Georgia. Mercer University is located in Macon, Georgia. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1838 - On motion the church apoint delegates to the union meeting and the association appoint brother D. Sutton & J. Sutton & L. W. Mcabee to the union meeting and brother Wilbanks in case of failure And also to the association brother D. Sutton, J. Sutton & W. Wilbanks. L.W. Mcabee in case of failure and the clerk to prepare the letters for the aso. and union meeting and closed. J. Suggs MD LW Mcabee CC At a church meeting held at the Bethlehem church the Saturday before the first sabbath in March 1839 brother John Suggs moderator received Nathan Hanks and wife Elizabeth by letter from the Piedmont church So. Ca. appoint N. Hanks clerk. appointed bethren Doyeer Sutton/Wilbanks & Hanks delegates to attend the union meeting to be held at the providence church the Friday before the second sabbath in April next further appointed Bro. Hanks one of the trustees to attend to the repairing the house in place of Bro. Mcabee removed the church closed in order. N. Hanks CClk At a church meeting held at the Bethlehem church on the Saturday before the first sabbath in July 1839 Bro Suggs Moderator appointed brethren Dozier Sutton, William Wilbanks & N. Hanks delegates to attend the association appointed Bro Hanks to write the letter adjourned in order N Hanks C Clk At a church meeting held at the Bethlehem church on the Saturday before the first sabbath in June 1840 the church in order Bro Suggs moderator appointed brethren Dozier Sutton, Wm Wilbanks & N. Hanks to attend the union meeting at Antioch to commence Friday before the third Sabbath in July and that N. Hanks prepare a letter closed by prayer & dismissed in order. N. Hanks CClk The church at Bethlehem in conference Bro Suggs Moderator appointed brthren Sutton, Wilbanks & Hanks delegates to attend the Association to be held at Thompson's Creek church on before third Sunday in Aug 1840 and that brother Hanks prepare a letter adjourned in order 1st Saturday in July1840. N. Hanks CClk August term 1842 The church at Bethlehem met in conference opened a door and received Mary Ann Woodard by letter appointed delegates to the union meeting and association viz Tho. Holland, Wm Wilbanks, Sutton & Mason. 15th July 1843 The church met in order our moderator and clerk both being absent brother Tho. Holland acted as moderator and E. Sutton as clerk pro tem. 1st opened a door for the reception of members and received sister Mary Chitwood by letter. 2nd took up the reference of the brethren Mason and Holland which was dismissed. 3rd granted brother Alfred Mason and Elizabeth his wife and brother Tho. Holland and Elizabeth his wife and brother R.J. Holland letters of dismission 4th appointed brethren Dozier Sutton and William Wilbanks delegates to our next Association. Elijah Sutton pro tem The church met in order 1st appointed delegates to the association Dozier Sutton and William Wilbanks Sunday received Joseph Neal by experience 2nd adjourned in order Dozier Sutton clk J G Jarrard Moderator July 31, 1847 The church held conference and was found in order proceeded to appoint delegates to represent us in the association viz Dozier Sutton and Wm Wilbanks. Oct. 1, 1847 appointed delegates to the union meeting at camp Friday before Sabbath viz D. Sutton & Wm Wilbanks Saturday Bethlehem July 5th 1851 The church met in conference and found all in peace and appointed the following brethren to attend a convention to be held in Habersham county Georgia at Bethlehem church to commence on Friday before the first Sunday in September next for the purpose of adopting the constitution of a new association Singleton Sisk, Thomas J Hughes, S.H. Vandiver, Tho. Barron, Benjamin James and Dozier Sutton the door of the church was then opened for the reception of new members and received W.T. Wilbanks by experience. Tho. J Hughes CC Saturday August 3rd 1851 The church met again in conference at Bethlehem and after organizing opened the door for the reception of members when Henry L Meeks and his wife Mary Meeks, E.B. Dover and his wife Ann Dover and A.E. Calahan and his wife Amanda Calahan offered and were received by letter and Gillum Wilbanks and his wife Rebecca E. Wilbanks, Mary Wilbanks and Isaac Wilbanks offered and were received by experience after which a letter to the convention to be held with this church commencing on Friday before the first Sabbath in September 1851 for the purpose of forming a new association. contributions for minutes of the convention Thomas J. Hughes paid 10. Dozier Sutton paid 20 Thomas Barron paid 10 Benj. James paid 10 J.T. Carter paid 20 A.E. Calahan paid 10 Louisa Mills paid 10 Amstead Popham paid 20 H.L. Meeks paid 15 Gillum Wilbanks paid 20 W. T. Wilbanks paid 20 Reuben Hudgens (Black Boy) paid 5 Lehru Starrett paid 20 Joseph Prince paid 10 1.05 1.05 William Wilbanks paid 10 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2.00 Monday August 4th 1851 William T. Wilbanks and his wife Mary Wilbanks Gillum Wilbanks and his wife Rebeca E. Wilbanks and Isaac Wilbanks were baptized this day and became members in full fellowship in Bethlehem church. Tho. J. Hughes CC Bethlehem Saturday before the final Sunday in November 1851. The church met in conference and took the matter of appointing two deacons and upon balloting the choice fell on bethren Gillum Wilbanks and Henry L. Meeks when prayer was offered up by the Rev. Milton Nix and they were ordained to the office of deacons the door of the church was opened for the reception of members and none offered. Thos. J. Hughes CC At a conference in November 1851. James H. Wilbanks and his wife Elvira Wilbanks offered to the church and were received by experience. Saturday 3rd April 1852 The church in conference agreed to commune on the first Sunday in May and it was also agreed to petition the brethren of the Mud Creek church, Camp Creek church and Antioch church to commune with us on that day brother Gillum Wilbanks agreed to bear the petition to Mud Creek brother Isaac Wilbanks to Camp Creek and brother Thompson Wilbanks to Antioch. The ministering brethren of the Mud Creek church are particularly invited. July 3rd 1852 On motion of Bro. T.J. Hughes the following named brethren were appointed as delegates to represent this church in the association to be held with the Shoal Creek church viz bro. S. Sisk, Benj James, Gillum Wilbanks, James H. Wilbanks in case of failure. The committee appointed to confer with bro. R.D. Carmichael reported favorable. On motion of bro. D. Sutton the moderator appointed John T. Carter, Gillum Wilbanks, Tho. J. Hughes and William T. Wilbanks as trustees of the church and also as committee of finance. Saturday July 31st 1852 After preaching by bro. S. Sisk the church met in conference, the decorum was complied when Daniel and his wife Maria servants of bro. Gillum Wilbanks offered and was received as members of this church by experience............. A collection to pay for printing the minutes of the Association was made brethren Dozier Sutton 10 cts Thomas Barron 10 cts Benf. James 5cts H.L. Meeks 15cts W.L. Wilbanks 10cts Francis (Servant) 10cts, Nancy Bennet 10cts G. Wilbanks 15cts Kiziah Smith 5 cts J.T. Carter 12 cts Jehu Starrett 12 ctsSunday 29th August 1852 - On this day a protracted meeting was commenced after device service by Pastor the door of the church was opened for the reception of members when Elijah L. Sisk was received by experience. 30th after preaching the door of the church was again opened when Margaret Ann Wilbanks and Dorothy C. Wilbanks was received by experience. September 1st, 2nd, 3rd the meeting continued. Sunday 5th the congregation then repaired to the water where the ordinance of baptism was performed in a solemn and impressive manner by the immersion of Elijah L. Sisk, Thomas Lecroy, Margaret Ann Wilbanks, and Dorothy C. Wilbanks (Meeting Dismissed)J.T. Carter CC Saturday 2nd October 1852 On motion of bro. Hughes the moderator appointed a committee of five to have made soon a convenient good comfortable seats for this house. Whereupon the moderator appointed as that committee Thomas J. Hughes, John T. Carter, Gillum Wilbanks, Dozier Sutton and John Westmorland. Also as a committee to confer with committees of other churches of this association on the subject of selecting and securing the right of suitable ground for holding camp meetings, (one or two as may be) the moderator appointed as that committee Thomas J, Hughes, John T. Carter, William T. Wilbanks, Thomas Barron and James W. Wilbanks. Saturday 5th February Bro. G. Wilbanks reported disorderly conduct by bro. T. Lecroy being drunk whereupon it was moved by bro. D. Sutton that the case be taken up the motion being seconded brthren G. Wilbanks & Wm. Wilbanks were appointed as a committee to notify bro. Lecroy of the charge and request him to attend the next conference (being now absent) and answer thereto.Saturday 2nd April 1853 The charge against Thomas Lecroy a defaulting brother was then considered who being absent and having been notified to attend conference was on motion of bro. Dozier Sutton excluded from fellowship with the church the charge of drunkeness being fully sustained against him by brethren G. Wilbanks, W.T. Wilbanks and J.H. Westmoreland. Saturday 1st April 1854 Preaching by bro. Elijah Sutton after which the church met in comference John P. Mills and his wife Matilda Mills joined the church by letter from the Oostanaube Church of Franklin County. Took up the charge against Miss Nancy Bell the committee reported favourable and was discharged from further duty - An objection was then made by bro. T. Vauss to her baptism a committee was appointed to examine into that objection made by bro. V. and report viz Gillum Wilbanks, T.J. Hughes, T. Barron, Jo. Prince and bro. W.T. Wilbanks - who reported that from the evidence of bro. Vaun that she is not a fit subject for baptism -- baptism postponed. August 5th 1854 Saturday bro. James H. Wilbanks applied for letters of dismission for himself and his wife, William Wilbanks and his wife for the purpose of becoming members of a new church about being organized in their neighborhood on missionary principal granted. Saturday 2nd June 1855 At a conference in December last bro John H. Westmoreland stated to the church that a report was in circulation that he was in the habit of drinking spirits to excess - this he denied - with the exception of four times in as many years he had drank none - after some discussion the moderator on motion appointed a committee to make inquiry into the truth of the report. (viz) Dozier Sutton, Gillum Wilbanks, Wm. T. Wilbanks, John Mills and Joseph Prince who after much time spent in examining persons who professed to have seen the brother when he had used too much spirits had an interview with bro. Westmoreland who acknowledged his error voluntarily agreeing to drink or use as a beverage no more spirits and kindly forgiving those who had spoke of the report. Saturday September 16th 1865 The church met in conference. the body granted letters of dismission to Brother William T. Wilbanks and Sister Mary Wilbanks his wife and adjourned. October 6th 1866 The church met in conference. Bro. Jas H. Wilbanks presiding as moderator called for the fellowship of the church and found all in peace proceeded to business and appointed delegates to the union meeting to be held with the church at Camp Creek commencing on Friday before the 3rd Sabbath in October and adjourned in order. Tho. HughesCC Sabbath Morning October 7th 1866 Preaching this morning by brethren J. H. Wilbanks and Benj Jones. Tho HughesCC Saturday May 14th 1870 Church met at Bethlehem and formed a Presbytery for the purpose of ordaining two deacons, brethren Kimbro? H. Watson and Tho Hughes being the candidates for ordination. The brethren composing the presbytery were Tho. Carter moderator, Benjamin Jones clerk, Gillum Wilbanks Deacon from Antioch and Joseph Prince to act as ?????? for the church...... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -