Many early American Baptists were common citizens of no great fame or fortune. But there were notable exceptions. For example Eleaszer Clay was the Sheriff of Chesterfield county Virginia and the uncle of the famous Henry Clay. David Benedict claimed that the man was worth $100,000.
As I say Clay was Sheriff of Chesterfield. And as such, it was from the windows of his jail that several Baptist pastors preached to large crowds of people. Eleaszer became concerned, but not in the way you might first think. It was he who wrote to John Williams of Amelia Country on July 21, 1773 – “We wish you to come down and baptize those who are waiting for an opportunity. The Lord is now carrying on a glorious work in our county. The preaching at the prison is not attended in vain, for we hope that several are converted, while others are under great distress, and are made to cry out, ‘What shall we do to be saved.’”
In the face of arrest John Williams and William Webber came into Chesterfield, and on this day (August 23) in 1773 the Chesterfield church dismissed twenty members for the purpose of establishing a new congregation. They joined with those who were recently baptized to establish the Cumberland Baptist church. And Sheriff Eleaszer Clay became its pastor.