Elijah STITES

                   Information comes from the Family Bible of Miss Nellie Stites
Census: 1830 Census for Turtle Creek Twp, Warren Co., NJ
Family: Notes from Fran Johnson indicate that Rhoda Brown was Elijah's 3rd wife I really doubt this Elijah married Rhoda in 1780 which would make him 22 years old at the time.  It is unlikely he had two wives before 22. Rhoda  died in 1828, Elijah 16 years later in 1843.  Elijah would have been in his seventies.  He could have married but further research would be needed to prove this.
Military: Served 2 years in Gen. Washington's army, in Capt. Morrell's Co, in Col. Spencer's Co, in 1st Reg., Essex Co., Militia.    Elijah was a color Bearer ar surrender of Cornwallis.  Family: History of Warren Co. OH p. 715
FHL, ANCESTRAWL FILE, FAMILY GROUP RECORDS
ON JANUARY 20, 1790, COLUMBIA BAPTIST CHURCH-THE FIRST REGULARLY CONSTITUTED PROTESTANT CHURCH IN OHIO AND THE NORTHWEST TERRILTORY- WAS ESTABLISHED AT COLUMBIA, IN WHAT IS NOW CINCINNATI.  tHE FOUNDERS HAD ARRIVED IN 1788, LED DOWN THE OHIO RIVER BY BENJAMIN STITES.  THEY LANDED NOVEMBER 18TH NEAR WHERE THE LITTLE MIAMI RIVERFLOWS INTO THE OHIO.  COLUMBIA BAPTIST WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCOTCH PLAINS BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEW JERSEY, OF WHICH SIX FOUNDERS WERE MEMBERS.  THE FIRST MEETING TOOK PLACE IN THE LOG CABIN OF BENJAMIN DAVIS.  DANIAL CLARK, WHO WAS NOT YET ORDAINED SERVED AS PASTOR UNTIL MAY 1791.  THEN JOHN SMITH ARRIVED TO TAKE OVER PASTORAL DUTIES.  THE FIRST PEOPLE BAPTIZED WERE ELIJAH STITES ANDHIS WIFE, RHODA BROWN, ON JANUARY 21,1790.  Rebecca Goodman, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 20, 2003.