Lunsford, Lewis

Lunsford, Lewis a Baptist preacher, born in Stratford County, Virginia, in 1753, began to preach when seventeen at the Potomac (now Hartwood) Church. Later he traveled in Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, and all the counties of the northern Virginia Neck, and several churches sprang up as the fruit of his toil; among others, Nomini and Wicomico. On the establishment of Moratico Church in 1778, he became its pastor for life. His sect was much persecuted at the time he was preaching in Richmond Co., and Lunsford was arrested, and thereafter tried in vain to get license to preach. He never was ordained, because he thought a Church's call was sufficient. Faithful study in and out of his profession made up for a limited schooling. He died in Essex County,Virginia, October 26, 1793. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 6:125 sq.