This collection contains records from the first part of the nineteenth century of the [First] Presbyterian Church in Frankfort, Kentucky. The records include correspondence, payment orders, receipts, annual reports, membership lists, minutes, and resolutions. The records refer to the church as the Presbyterian Church in Frankfort, Kentucky. The majority of the records consists of correspondence. Several letters relating to charges against members concerning various violations of church rules are present. Some pertain to trials or hearings held by the church's session to consider the charges. Many of these concern Sabbath activities considered improper and use of intoxicating liquors. There are a few letters pertaining to the issuance of calls to new pastors, and an undated (ca. 1850s) document noting the dissolving of the "Pastoral relation" with Stuart Robinson. Other letters concern the influx of new members migrating from other churches and departures of other members. The collection has some letters concerning notable figures and/or the politics of the day. One letter, dated February 4, 1830, is a response by G.E. Russell, a ruling elder, to charges he violated the Sabbath by having the first message of President Andrew Jackson printed in his office. A December 1829 exchange of letters between J.T. Edgar, the church pastor, and F.P. Blair [Francis Preston Blair, Sr]. and his wife, Eliza V. Blair, is present. The letters concern Eliza Blair's withdrawal from the church in favor of an Episcopal church in Lexington. F.P. Blair's letter outlined his preferences in specific examples for Episcopal doctrine and practice over his perceptions of Presbyterian dogma and practice. Edgar's reply stated Eliza Blair as the member of the church must apply for "dismission" herself. He also took specific exceptions to F.P. Blair's characterization of Presbyterian dogma, services, and ways. Edgar noted that Presbyterians recognized the Episcopal Church as a church of Christ in its doctrines and rules, but that his denomination did not approve of the Episcopalian discipline and church government, feeling such discipline and government was too absolute to "accord with the spirit of even our political institutions." Eliza Blair's letter made the application for dismissal herself as requested. Another letter written by Edgar in 1830 stated the Presbyterians' differences with the emerging Disciples of Christ, then described by Edgar as the Campbellite schism within the Baptist church. The letter refused a request to have Reverend Philip S. Fall speak at the Presbyterian church. Edgar's letter noted Fall was reported to be part of the new movement. An 1860 letter from the Harrodsburg Presbyterian Church transferred the membership of Anna Magoffin, wife of Kentucky Governor Beriah Magoffin.
