Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Skinquarter Church (Chesterfield County, Va.) [cite specific record used and dates]. Accession [cite specific accession number used], Church records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 26297: Lent for copying by the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia 17 May 1965.

Accession 28288: Lent for copying by George A. Beadles, Moseley, Virginia, 29 May 1974.

Accession 29968: Gift of Reverend C. H. Cooke, Moseley, Virginia, 2 May 1978.

Accession 31342: Gift of Lynn L. Sims, Richmond, Virginia, 24 February 1982.

Biographical/Historical Information

Founded in 1778 by William Hickman, Skinquarter Church is the second oldest continuous Baptist congregation in Chesterfield County, Virginia. The first church was built on Hickman's farm in 1778, the same year he was ordained a Baptist minister. In 1836, the church withdrew from the Middle District Baptist Association and joined several other conservative local churches to form the Zoar Association. In 1848, it rejoined Middle District. The present church building was constructed in 1890, with additions made in 1974. For more information see, HICKMAN'S HALF-ACRE: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF SKINQUARTER BAPTIST CHURCH, 1778-1978, AND CEMETERY INTERMENT RECORDS, 1880-1917, by George Andrew Beadles, Jr., and Harriette Mooring Horner, 1978.

Scope and Content Information

Includes four volumes of minute books, an account book, and five deeds. The first volume of minutes covers the years 1824 to 1844. Membership lists appear on pages 3-17 (Accession 26297). The second volume covers the years 1868 to 1879. Resolutions of respect concerning the church are entered on page 191. Membership lists appear on pages 1-4, 179-184, and 188-190. The third volume of minutes covers the years 1880 to 1896. It begins with the constitution and by-laws of the church, followed by the rules of decorum and a membership list. Membership lists appear on pages 10-15 and 272-276. The fourth volume of minutes dates from 1896 to 1915. It includes a list of officers, rules of decorum, membership lists, and minutes. Membership lists appear on pages 11-19. (The second, third, and fourth volumes are Accession 29968).

The account book is for the year 1895, and lists male and female members of the church and indicates the amount of money paid for an unknown cause. It also contains copies of receipts to the treasurer of the church (Accession 31342).

There are also five deeds, dating from 1784 to 1860, which record transfers of land owned by the church (Accession 28288).