Baptist Churches Constituted After Territory Acquired By U.S.A.
Until 1798, The Mississippi Territory was under Spanish rule. Threatened with banishment to the silver mines of Mexico because of preaching, Richard Curtis, Jr. returned to South Carolina until there was a change in the government.
President Washington sent Andrew Elliot in 1796 to negotiate with the Spaniards. In 1798 Spain yielded and the Territory came under the control of the United States.
Richard Curtis, Jr. returned by horseback after a three year exile. A church house had been constructed of logs on Stampley's settlement where he began a ministry that lasted several years. The church was once called " The Baptist Church of Cole's Creek", but later came to be known as "Salem Baptist Church".
The Salem Church was the only one in the Mississippi Territory until 1798. The second Baptist Church was at Bayou Pierre near Port Gibson. In 1800 the New Hope church was organized in Adams County. The fourth church was Bethel near Woodville. The fifth and sixth churches were New Providence and Ebenezer in Amite County.