David and Nancy Haggard are the first names appearing in the list of twenty names who were the founding members of our church. Mr. Haggard was born in 1764 in Albermarle County, Virginia. He married Nancy Dawson in 1779. He enlisted at the age of 16 as a private in the American Revolution; served in the Virginia line of troops; was at the siege of Yorktown; and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. He lived for a time in Viginia, then moved to Clark County Kentucky, on to Trigg County, Kentucky in 1823 and to Bloomington McLean County Illinois in 1836. He and his wife Nancy were the parents of ten children.
In his early life he followed the carpenter’s trade. He lived near President Thomas Jefferson and was often employed to make additions or changes in his mansion at Monticello. One change he worked on were the floor to ceiling windows in the library. Although a soldier of the Revolution War and entitled to a pension, he never applied for it.
The 1838 map of Bloomington shows a residence on Center Street between Kentucky Alley and Water Alley on the stage coach route to Springfield. This home was attached to a saw mill owned by his son-in-law William Thompson who was also a founder of FBC in 1837.
David Haggard was 72 years old when he helped organize First Baptist Church. He worked with Rev. Issac Newell drafting the Articles of Faith and was a trustee until his death. A reminder no one is “too old” to serve!
He died in 1843 and he is the only American Revolution veteran buried in Evergreen Cemetery (Section G, Lot 684). His estate paid $15 to David Davis, Esquire to file his will. There is no grave marker for Nancy, but it is assumed that she lies beside her husband.
A fun bit of FBC history to remember as we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.
