Background
Martin Ross was born in Martin County, N. C. , third of the ten children of William Ross, a Scotchman from Virginia. His childhood and youth were probably those of the normal farmer's son.
Martin Ross was born in Martin County, N. C. , third of the ten children of William Ross, a Scotchman from Virginia. His childhood and youth were probably those of the normal farmer's son.
Entering the Revolution as a boy, Ross served until its close. In January 1782 he joined the neighboring Baptist Flat Swamp Church. Licensed to preach in 1784, he was pastor of Skewarkey, Martin County (1787 - 96), Yoppim, Chowan County (1796 - 1806) and Bethel, near Hertford on the road to Edenton (1806 - 27).
Francis Asbury in 1804 found him "much thought of, " left him "in great affection, " visited him again in 1806 (The Journal of the Rev. Francis Asbury, 1821, III, 132, 189). Cool and competent Thomas Meredith (post) declared him "dignified, " "chaste and instructive in his conversation, " in all private relations "amiable and exemplary, " a "mild and humane master, " "a useful citizen, " of a hospitality "plain but cordial and substantial, " in his ministerial character combining "those qualities which were useful, rather than dazzling. " Without discouraging or undervaluing the remarkable emotional revivals of his day, Ross emphasized the formation of churches and the discipline of members, and in 1826 wrote the circular letter of the Chowan Association on discipline.
While the lowly and illiterate were asserting themselves in loud and lengthy "sermons" and even sensible men were contending against pay for preachers, he openly deplored his early lack of formal education, read and reflected much, gave useful advice publicly to other preachers, and boldly argued on grounds of professional usefulness as well as Scripture that preachers ought to "live of the gospel" (circular letters, Kehukee Association, 1791, Chowan Association, 1809).
Finding the Baptists of the Kehukee Association out of line with "that missionary spirit which the great God is so wonderfully reviving amongst the different denominations of good men in various parts of the world" (Hassell, post, p. 721), he assisted in organizing the meeting at Cashie Meeting-house (near Windsor) in June 1805.
Three years later he was working for a "Meeting of General Correspondence, " composed of delegates from the Kehukee and its daughter associations. His proposal (modified the next year to conform to the Virginia manner) led to a joint meeting of all North Carolina Associations each year from 1811 to 1820, with missions apparently the main interest.
In 1826 he began working for a North Carolina Baptist State Convention, which he apparently intended should foster ministerial education as well as missions. Though ill health and domestic affliction blocked him in this endeavor, in 1830, under the immediate leadership of Thomas Meredith, his neighbor, friend, and successor at Bethel, the Convention was constituted. This powerful organization today recognizes him as its father.
In 1783 Ross married Deborah (Clayton) Moore, widow of James Moore, and in 1806, Mary Harvey, widow of Miles Harvey, each of whom bore him children.