When the first settlers arrived in 1808 Kingsboro (also spelled Kingsborough), Kings County, Prince Edward Island, Canada, the area was known as West River. During 1823, desiring to organize a local house of worship, Mrs. John Kennedy and Mrs. James MacDonald walked a distance of fifty miles to seek the support of a preacher of the Gospel. They traveled through virgin wilderness experiencing storms and other dangers of wilderness travel. They took a route which had settlers scattered along the way so they could benefit from their generous hospitality. They spent some time with Christian friends and had the opportunity to hear Rev. Alexander Crawford preach. Rev. Crawford's godliness and quality of preaching impressed the ladies. They invited him to accompany them on the return journey. He agreed. They enjoyed the benefit of sharing a horse on their homeward journey. They took turns walking and riding. They also were fortunate to get aboard a sailboat for part of the trip. Walking the last leg of the journey, the two women and Rev. Crawford were treated to a celebration when they reached Kingsboro.Rev. Crawford discovered the people had a hunger for God's message. He began preaching and lives were immediately changed. Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. MacDonald were the first to receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour and were baptized in the South Lake. Although this first body of believers did not identify themselves as Baptists they were following Baptist tradition of baptizing by immersion. The location of the source of water (whether a pond, stream, river or lake) is not important for it is the symbolism of the act that is most meaningful - that of identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ -death to one's old self, being washed clean of past sins and rising to their newness in Christ. Their husbands accepted salvation and followed them into the waters of baptism. Others were converted and joined the local body of believers.Although Baptists are sometimes chided for their insistence on baptism of the Christian by full immersion, baptism is of less significance to Baptists than the infant baptism practiced by most of the denominations of the Christian Church. Those that practice infant baptism take the position that baptism is a perquisite for salvation through Church membership. Baptists take the position that the individual must become a Christian before baptism can be meaningful.