The following church record is from the manuscript minutes of the Blounts Creek Baptist Church, founded in 1808. A photocopy of the minute book is in the New Bern-Craven County Public Library.
June 29 day 1833. Elder Ross met his appointment and preached and after meeting Confearnce was opened by Prais and Elder Ross was Chosen Moderator. Visiting Breathin [Brethren] was invited to take Sets [seats] with us and thea [they] dun so. L. Redditt & R. Tripp was chosen Delageats to our next association and send to the fun[d] $1.50.
5th. Br. Levi Stilly arose up in conference address the moderator and conference stating his Greevinces [grievances] with Br. Peter Dowty for his unchristian like conducts which he stated was a publick offence in chalenging a man for a duel his pashion was so exasperated that he declared he feard neither father Son nor holy Ghost and at another time at Abner Jones turned out in publick company and danced what he called Jim Crow his witnesses not being present the tryal is laid over untill our next Quarterly Meeting.
Brethren Joseph Tripp & Benjamin Keel was by the conference appointed a committee to give the Sd. Br. Peter Dowty a citation to attend our next conference to answer these charges.
6thly Br. Thomas Tutle [Tuten] got up and requested the Clerks to take his name of[f] the Church Books as he was not willing to be considered as a member any longer. The church considered it as a transgression for which they expelled him done in conference this day & date above written.
Dismist by order of Conference. Signed in behalf of the whole. L. Redditt.
The situation between Dowty and Stilley continued over the next few minutes of the church. A “feiar [fair?] trial” was held on September 14, and Dowty “continued in full fellowship”. At the December 28, 1833, meeting, the Clerk (L. Redditt) announced that Dowty wanted to be dropped from the membership, but Dowty then rose and stated he wanted to remain. Stilley addressed the congregation and “charged Br. Dowty of telling aly [a lie] on him.” The moderator, Brother Smaw, suggested that two members of another church should be called in to help settle the dispute and report at the next quarterly meeting.
On March 28, 1834, the church met in conference and the referees appointed to help settle the dispute between Dowty and Stilley were chosen. In the end, though, “Brother Stilley was turned out for his non for given Spirit.”