ROSS, JAMES ~ I

Skewarky Minutes, Vol. I CR 62

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v 1817 - 12 Apr i I • EI ected Moderator[ 177]

./ 1818 - 12 Sept. 191 ected Moderatpr [ 182] From Bertie.

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Vl920-12 Nov. Elected Moderator from BErtie[l94]

/1822-11 May. Elected moderator, from Bertie[200]

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JAMES ROSS

But I ittle is known of the early I ife of Elder Ross: indeed the materials

for a sketch of his 1 ife, placed in the hands of the writer have been of a very

I imited character. The solemn announcement that, that venerable man, Elder

James Ross is no more, should cause us to pause and reflect. The judgements,

as wel I as the mercies of God, should lead us to ponder our ways, and look

wisely to our latter end.

When the venerable oak beneath whose wide-spreading arms we have spent the

happy days of childhood, is stricken by I ightnings of heaven, or prostrated by

the raging tempest, we view the fal Jen mememto of our happier days with emotions

or sorrow and regret. Busy memory runs rapidly back, to those scenes of youth-

ful pleasure, we have so often enjoyed beneath the shade of that aged tree, we

loved so wel I .--But how is that sorrow and regret heightened, when we stand by

the mortal remains of one whom we have long known, as a friend, and esteemed

as the guide of the flock of Christ. He is gone. Of a tree there is hope,

"the tender branch thereof may sprout again," but "man dieth, yea man goeth

to his long home," and we shal 1 see him no more unti I we meet in the world of

spirits. The grave hides from our view the venerable servant of God, on whose

head the frosts of more than four score winters have shed their chi I I ing in-

fluence, and at the same time covers the manly form of the youth, whose warm

heart beat responsively to the cal Is of duty. No age is exempt from the approach

of death.

"Leaves have their time to fal I And flowers to wither at the northwind's breath, And stars to set--but al I Thou hast a I I seasons for thine own, own, oh death. ii

But death comes to the christian as a friend. The idea of decay to the servant of Christ, suggests only, that of a state necessary to transformation from corruption to incorruption, from degradation to glory, from'earth to heaven.

Elder James Ross was the son of Wm. Ross, Esqr., a gentleman of Scottish

JAMES ROSS - 2

ancestry. His father moved from Virginia, where the family settled on leaving

Europe, and located South of Roanoke river, where Jas. Ross was born on the

19th of March, 1768, in the I imits that now bound the county of Martin, which

was not detached from the counties of Halifax and Fayette unti I 1774.

He was early led to consider the cal ims of religion, and in his eighteenth

year was baptized by his brother, Elder Martin Ross, into the fellowship of the

church at Skewacky near Wi I I iamston, Martin county. In 1798 he commenced

preaching, and travel led into counties South of Roanoke and Tar rivers dis­

pensing the word of I ife to I istening multitudes.

Leaving Martin, Elder Ross was induced to settle in Bertie county, where

he I i ved, honored and esteemed by the good and virtuous unt i I ca I I ed away to

his eternal reward. Elder Spivey, (to whom the writer was indebted for the

few facts here names) writes "He (Elder Ross) was calm and resigned in the

prospect of death, and but a short time prior to his death, expressed him­

self to me as having as great a desire to preach the gospel, as he ever had,

although for years unable to preach from physical inabi I ity."

For some time, when too feeble to attend at the house of God, he would

assemble his neighbors at his own residence and expound the truths of God's

sacred word. But he is gone. The venerable patriarch no longer I ives to point

the way to heaven, through the cross of Christ. His virtues and his im­

perfections are now covered by the obi ivious pal I of the tomb. On the 6th of

January, 1853, Elder James Ross breathed his last ...

CHOWAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION MINUTES, 1853, p. 19 & 20

In his 18th year he was baptized by his brother, Martin

NAME: James Ross

Born in Martin County, 1768--Died, 1853, Age, 85

Ross. He labored as an Evangelist in the counties south

of Roanoke and Tar rivers. He afterwards settled in - Bertie county, where his works praised him. Having

passed the unusual I imit of fourscore and four years,

unable to reach the house of God, he would send for his

neighbors, and dispense to them the Word of Life.

HISTORY OF THEN. C. CHOWAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, 1806-1881

Compiled by: James A. Delke

B/286/D37

Page:

NAME Ross, James

Ancestry William Ross' Sr. ' v a. william Ross, Martin Co., N.C.

b. 9 Aug. 17J1; e. 25 Dec. 1801 b.

Mary (Griffin) Ross Ancestry

Mar/19/176 :if an/6/1853

Married

d.

RecordRoss M/R Windsor B/C 1842- , Chowan Association and Bertie County.

see Biblical Recorder, Jllan. 28, 1853(0bit.) Chowan Baptist Association Minutes, 1853, p. 19.

Dife and Times of Elder R~uben Ross, by James #oss, p. 22 file No.

(Over)