Organized about 1751 in Cabarrus County, formerly Mecklenburg, Rocky River Presbyterian Church called Alexander Craighead as regular pastor in April 1758. He instilled principles of civil and religious liberty in the people he served, and in 1771-1775 they announced to the world their idea of independence. All delegates to the celebrated convention in Charlotte in May 1775 were from the seven churches of Mecklenburg County, of which this was the mother church.