RICE HAGGARD


1769 Born in Norfolk, Virginia, given
his mother’s maiden name.
1776 Nancy Grimes born. Marries
William Grimes. She inherited 3000
acres in Ohio from her father.
1784 Methodist Episcopal church
formed in America
Nancy Grimes inherited land in
from her father in Ohio.
 1787
Rich Haggard joined the
Methodist church. His brother
David admitted as preacher on
trial.

1789 Became a preacher on trial.
Both he and his brother served
under Elder James O’Kelly.
1790 Admitted to “full
connection” and ordained a
deacon. Appointed circuit in
Virginia.
1791 Ordained a preacher in
Methodist church by Bishop
Francis Asbury.
1792 Took part in debate over
appeal of bishop’s appointments.
Submitted resignation..
1793 Haggard, with others,
seceded from the Methodists and
formed the “Republican
Methodists” Over 1000 people left
Methodist church.
1794 Proposed group call
themselves “Christians”. Travels
the circuits as a Christian
preacher.
Little known of his later ministry.
His wife burned his papers.
 1798 David Haggard takes up
land in Cumberland County,
1804 In April he took part in a meeting at
Bethel, seven miles northwest of
Lexington.
“About this time R. Haggard, a minister of
the Christian church in Virginia heard of
them, and took a journey to see them. . .
.
at a great meeting held by them at Bethel
he proposed to them publicly the name by
which they should distinguish themselves
as the followers of Christ
This was followed by the meeting at
Cane Ridge where the Presbytery was
dissolved.
“Three valuable Elders, who had a few
years before separated with James
O'Kelly from the Methodist connexion,
about this time united with us. Their
names were Clement Nance, James
Read and Rice Haggard, the latter of
whom soon after published a pamphlet
on the name . . .
Christian, proving that by this time
alone every member of Christ's body
should be called Christian.” Christian
Messenger, Vol 1, No. 11.
This was a 31 page booklet An Address
to the Different Religious Societies on
the Sacred import of the Christian
Name Published in the Herald of
Gospel Liberty.
Bought land in Cumberland
County by proxy.
 1806-08? Marries Nancy Grimes
Wiles.
 1807
At home in Norfolk County,
Virginia. Visited by Joseph
Thomas.
 1811
James O’Kelly Haggard,
firstborn son born.

1812 Moves family to
Haggard’s Branch,
Cumberland County,
Kentucky. Later moved to
Kettle Creek. Perhaps tired
of controversy in Virginia.
1815 Published hymnbook
of 440+ pages, one of
earliest in West.
Why O My Soul, Why
Weepest Thou? (To tune of
O God Our Help in Ages
Past.
Why, O my soul why
weepest thou? Tell me from
whence arise Those briny
tears that often flow, Those
groans that pierce the
skies?
Is sin the cause of thy
complaint, Or the chastising
rod? Dost thou an evil heart
lament, And mourn an
absent God?
Lord, let me weep for nought
but sin, And after none but
thee, And then, I would, O that
I might! A constant weeper be!
Behold the Wretch (To the
tune of Am I A Soldier of the
Cross?
Behold the wretch, whose lust
& wine, Have wasted his
estate; He begs a share among
the swine; To taste the husks
they eat.
"I die with hunger here," he
cries, "I starve in foreign
lands; "My father's house has
large supplies, "And bounteous
are his hands.
"I'll go, and with a mournful
tongue, "Fall down before his
face; "Father, I've done thy
justice wrong, "Nor can
deserve thy grace.
He said and hastened to his
home, To seek his father's
love; The father saw the rebel
come, And all his bowels move.
He ran and fell upon his neck,
Embraced and kissed his son;
The rebel's heart with sorrow
brake, For follies he had done.
"Take off his clothes of shame
and sin," (The father gives
command) "Dress him in
darkness white and clean,
"With rings adorn his hand.
"A day of feasting I ordain,
"Let mirth and joy abound; "My
son was dead, and lives again;
"Was lost and now is found."
1819 Haggard died in Champaign, Ohio
while on evangelistic-business trip.
Probably buried near Xenia, Ohio.
“Where lie the bones of Rice Haggard or
who buried him, we do not know”
Joseph Thomas
1862 Nancy Haggard died,
buried in Burkesville,
Kentucky.
1954 Haggard’s tract on
the name Christian
found.
It was lost because Haggard did not put
his name on it.
Did not do so because “.. . he considers
himself connected with no party , nor
wishes to be know by the name of
any. . . ..”
“Rice Haggard wore the
name Christian ten years
before Barton Stone came
upon idea and fifteen years
before Alexander Campbell
came to America.”
“He died before the reform
enlisted such men as
“Raccoon” John Smith, John
T. Johnson. . . Yet he laid for
them the foundation. He
was for than a pioneer; he
was a forerunner” Colby
Hall
AN ELEGY


On the death of RICE HAGGARD, an
eminent preacher of the Gospel--well
known, and highly esteemed, in the
South and the West by the Christian
brethren.
He died at an advanced age in
Champaign county, Ohio, when on a
journey to preach the Gospel.
O! Haggard! thou hast left
the house of clay,
And wing'd thy passage to
immortal day!
Kind Angels hail'd thee to
their bright abode,
And shouted welcome,
valiant son of God.
Imagination points me now thy
throne,
Among the saints and highest
seraphs known,
There dwells thy spirit, and
forever reigns,
Triumphant in high heaven's
supernal plains.
No storms distress thee in thy
sweet repose,
But heavenly peace on thee thy
God bestows.
Thy toils are ended, and thy
fortunes found,
Where golden treasures and
rich spoils abound,
Eternal honors crown thy
worthy brow,
And scenes celestial open to
thee now!
I hail thee gladly in thy robes
of white,
On streets of gold--in
mansions of delight.
No howling winds, nor
tempests beat thee there,
Nor earthly wants to generate
thy care,
Thou hast escap'd thy native
land below,
To ever live where trees
ambrosial grow;
Thou hast behind thee, left a
name revered,
That once consoled the
saint, and sinners fear'd?
In youth thy God commanded
thee away,
From fond pursuits and objects
of the day--
To leave the plough, and all thy
friends around,
To seek a Saviour and the
gospel sound.
Thy parents poor, had never
taught thee then
To read the Bible, nor to use
the pen;
But in the smooth sand thou
didst learn to write,
And taught thyself to read by
faggot light!
Not long till science shone
upon thy mind,
Thy sins forsaken and thy soul
refined,
The Saviour's call to sound
the Jubilee,
Was loudly heard and then
obey'd by thee.
In melting strains thy youthful
voice was heard,
And weeping eyes among the
crowds appear'd;
Thy son'rous voice, like silver
trumpet's sound,
Awak'd the sinner from his
sleep profound;
Convinced him he was on the
downward way,
Constrained him to repent, to
weep and pray.
Thy friend's [sic]--a num'rous
train, now left in tears,
To mourn thee absent for some
tedious years,
Do fondly hope to meet thee
once again,
Where death is foil'd in heav'ns
extended plain.
Thou hast behind thee, left
a name revered,
That once consoled the
saint, and sinners fear'd?
1973 This house purchased,
moved and restored by
pharmacist and historian
Randolph Smith to his home in
Burkesville, KY.
Where is Nancy
Haggard’s grave?