and enlargement, and received large additions in the
time of the great revival about 1 802.



Oakmulgee Association. 173

The churches of this Association are situated along
t^e south side of the Savannah river, and extend from
the mourh of Broad river of Georgia, which empties
into the Savannah about fifty miles above Augusta, to
the highest settlements in the State in that direction,
They also extend out into the country as far as the river
Oconee. They are scattered over many counties, but
most of them are in those of Elbert, Oglethorpe, Jackson,
and Franklin. Two of them are over the Savannah in
South-Carolina.

OAKMULGEE ASSOCIATION.

A FEW years since, a large tract of land, high up in
Georgia, was purchased of the Indians, and their claim
to it forever extinguished. This tract is called by the
Georgians the New Purchase. Being a healthy and fer-
tile country, it was settled with great rapidity, and the
seat of government has been removed from Louisville
on the Ogechee to Milledgeville, which has here been
erected.

Many Baptist churches were in a short time gathered
in the New Purchase. They united with the Georgia
Association ; but many of them were very remote from
the centre of that body, which led them to think of
forming an Association among themselves. According-
ly, in Oct. 1810, about twenty churches petitioned the
mother body for a dismission, which was granted. A
number of newly constituted churches, which had not
associated, united with them ; and in November of the
same year, they organized a body to which they gave
the name of the Oakmulgee Association. The next
year, six more newly established churches were added
to this confederacy; so that now (1811) it contains
thirty-four churches and 1885 communicants. The
churches of this Association are situated between the
Oconee and Oakmulgee rivers, and are scattered over
an extent of country of from thirty to thirty-five miles
wide, and from sixty to seventy miles in length, and
are mostly in the counties of Randolph, Morgan, Putnam^
Baldwin, and Jones,



180 Some of the Orphan-bouse People become Baptists.

It is now about forty years since Daniel Marshall set-
tled in Georgia ; and in this time it appears that the Bap-
tists, which proceeded directly or indirectly from the
Separate connexion, have increased to about a hundred
and forty churches, and not far from eleven thousand
members.

We shall now proceed to treat of our brethren in the
low country, and also to give some account of the Savan-
nah-river Association.

Unfortunately for this part of our history, Mr. Ed-
wards's sixth volume of Manuscript Materials, which re-
lated wholly to the Baptists in Georgia, has all been
destroyed, except one leaf and part of another. This
volume must have been small, as it was written about
forty years ago, when the Baptists had never flourished
much in the province. From the defaced and perishing
remains of this volume, I find the following sketches.
" About the year 1759, eight families of the Seventh-day
Baptists settled near Tuckaseeking." More will be
said respecting them in the history of that people.

" In the year 1757, Nicholas Bedgegood, of the Or-
phanhouse, embraced the sentiments of the Baptists,
and was soon after baptized by Oliver Hart, of Charles-
ton. In 1763, he baptized Mr. Benjamin Stirk and wife,
Thomas Dixon, and one Dupree ; these, with a few oth-
er Baptists, had the Lord's Supper administered to them,
at the Orphan-house, by Mr. Bedgegood. But Mr.
Stirk removing to Goshen, Dupree dying, and Dixon
going to England, the society broke up, to the no small
satisfaction of Mr. Whitefield, whose righteous soul had
been so vexed with the matter, that he spake unadvisedly
with his lips." From the time of this dispersion, there
always have been Baptists in this region, but no church
was formed until a number of years after. Accord-
ing to Mr. Edwards, there were, in 1772, "about forty
Baptist families, scattered over the southern parts of
Georgia, and amongst them were about fifty baptized
persons, most of whom were emigrants from other colo-
nies, and some from the old country."

In the year 1771, Rev. Edmund Botsford, now of
Georgetown, South-Carolina, who was then young, be-
gan to preach at Tuckaseeking, and continued to labou*



Mr. Botsford preaches in Georgia. 181

with much success in different parts of Georgia, for the
space of about eight years ; but the distractions of the
American war obliged him to make a precipitate flight
from the country, with the loss of about 300 ster-
ling, which he had but a little while before received from
England.

"When Mr. Botsford began his ministry in Georgia,
Daniel Marshall was the only ordained minister in the
State ; but besides him, there were Abraham Marshall,
Saunders Walker, and Solomon Thompson, who were
not ordained. Between Mr. Botsford and these men,
there was not, at first, a very intimate connexion. The
reason was, that they were of the Separate order, and 'he
was a Regular Baptist ; and besides, the scene of his labours
was generally much lower down the country than theirs.
But the suspicions of the Separates gradually subsided ;
Mr. Botsford was by degrees admitted to their fellow-
ship and affection ; and before he fled from the country,
the hindrances to their union were so far removed, that
they zealously and successfully co-operated in their evan-
gelical exertions.

During five years of Mr. Botsford's residence in Geor-
gia, that is, from 1773, when he was ordained, to 1779,
he baptized 148 persons, and founded two churches;
the first was called New Savannah, and was organized in
1773. This church now belongs to the Hephzibah As-
sociation, under the name of Botsford Old Meeting-House,
Mr. Botsford preached here but a short time ; for the
next year after the church was formed, a war broke out
with the Creek Indians, which obliged him to leave the
place. He next settled on Briar Creek, at some distance,
where another church was soon founded, which also be-
longs to the Hephzibah Association. A number of the-
constituent members of this church had previously united
with the Ewhaw church, in South-Carolina, then under
the pastoral care of Rev. Francis Pelot.*

* The following anecdotes of Mr. Botsford, while he laboured in George,
may not he unacceptable to the reader. Once on a journey up to the Kioka,
wh'ere he had appointed to preach, he called at a Mr. Savidge'g to inquire
the way. This Mr. Savidge was then a. bigotted churchman, but was hope-
fully acquainted with the truth. Alter he had given the stranger proper di-
rections, the following conversation ensued : " 1 suppose \ on are tne paptist
minister, who is to preach tc-duy at the Kioka." ' Yes, Sir ; will you go ?*
M No, I am not fond of the Baptists ; they think nobody is baptised but them-



182 Anecdotes of Mr. Botsford.

Before Mr. Bedgegood left the Orphan -house for
South-Carolina, he baptized a number of persons besides
those who have been named, and among them was the
mother of Rev. Thomas Polhill, of Newington. There
were about this time a few Baptist members at Goshen,
Tuckaseeking, and other places ; and Benjamin Stirk ap-
pears to have been the most distinguished and active
character among them. He was a native of Leeds, York-
shire, England. Mr. Whitefield took him under his

selves." "Have yon been baptized?" "Yes, to l>e sure." "How do 5-00
know ?" " How do I know ? v hy, my parents have tnld me I was." " Then
you do not know, only by infcrmutiou." On this Mr. Rotstbrd left him, but
" How do yon know ?" haunted him, till he became convinced of his duty ; he
was baptized by Mr. Marshall, and lx>gan to preach thn same day he was bap-
tized, and still continues a useful minister amongst the Georgia Baptists. Bnts-
ibrd's " How do you know ?" says Mr. Savidge, first set me to thinking about
baptism.

In the parts of Georgia where Mr. Botsford lalxnired, the inhabitants were
a mixed multitude of emigrants from many different places ; most of them
were destitute of any form of religion, and the few who paid any regard to it
were zealous churchmen and Lutherans, and violently opposed to the Baptists.
In the same journey in -which he fell in with Mr. Savidge, he preached at the
court-house in Burk county. The assembly at first paid a decent attention ;
but, towards the close of the sermon, one of them bawled out with a great oath,
" The rum is come." Out he rushed, others followed, the assembly was soon
left small, and by the time Mr. Botsford got out to his horse, he had the un-
happiness to find many of his hearers intoxicated and figUting. An old gentle-
man came up to him, tcx.k his horse by the bridle, and in his profane dialect
most highly extolled both him and his discourse, swore he must drink with him,
and come and preach in his neighbourhood. It was now no time to reason or
reprove ; and as preaching was Mr. Botsfcrd's business, he accepted the old
man's invitation, and made an appointment. His first sermon was blessed to
the awakening of his wife ; one of his sons also became religious, and otliers in
the settlement, to the number of fifteen, were in a short time hopeiltUy brought
to the knowledge of the truth, and the old man himself became sober and
attentive to religion, although he never made a publick profession of it.

Not long after, Mr. Botsford preached at Stephen's Creek, a little over the
Savannah river, in South-Carolina, where he was called upon to baptize Sarah
decker, the wife of an ignorant, wicked Dutchman. The woman observ-
ed, she did not know that her husband would consent to her being baptized.
Being informed he was present, Mr. Botsford called him up to him, and ad-
dressed him as follows : " Mr. Clecker, I have reason to hope that your wife is
a believer in Christ, and she wishes to be baptized ; but she is unwilling to go
forward, unless you give your consent. I suppose you do not object, Sir." " No,
710, Got forpit I shoult hinter mv vive, she was one goot vive." While they were
preparing tor the water, the little man fell into a great rage, and cursed the

preacher for " a goot for netting son of a . \ aut, to ax me pevore all de

beble, if he may tip my vive." But this Mr. Botsford did not hear of till after-
.vards. Returning from the water, he saw Mr. Clecker leaning against a tree,
apparently in great trouble. He stepped up to him, and asked him what was
he matter ? " Vaut was de matter ? why, Sir, my vive is going to hefeu and
I am going to the tivel. I am a boor lost sinner : 1 cant be forgiven : I fear de
ground will open and let me down to de hell, for I cursed and swore you vas

one goot for netting son of a -. Lort have mercy on me." This was in

July ; the miserable man found no comfort till he was brought into the liberty
*f the gospel j and the September following, Mr. Bctsford baptized him.



The Mother cf Mr. Polbill'. 183

patronage, and settled him in his employment at the
Orphan-house, about 176O, or perhaps earlier. He was
brought up a Presbyterian, and continued in the belief
of pedobaptisrn until 1763, when he became what he was
wont to call a Bible Christian, and was baptized as before
related. He remained at the Orphan-house about four
years after his baptism, where he lost his first wife, and
married for his second the widow of Nathaniel and the
mother of the present Thomas Polhill, who possessed a
plantation in the neighbourhood of Goshen, about eigh-
teen miles above Savannah on the Augusta road, to
which he removed in 1767. As there was no Baptist
church in that vicinity, and indeed not one at that time
in Georgia, he united with the church at Ewhaw, South-
Carolina, about twenty-five miles from him. Mr. Stirk
began to preach soon after he settled at Goshen. He set
up a meeting at his own house, and another at Tucka-
seeking, upwards of twenty miles still higher up the
country. He also preached occasionally at the Ewhaw j
and it was on his way to that church, that he fell from
his horse into the water, and received an injury under
which he languished for a time, and of which he died
in 177O.

Mr. Stirk was a good English scholar, and possessed a
small share of classical learning. He was endowed with
good natural parts, and was eminent for piety and zeal.
Having a desire to promote the interests of learning, he
became a benefactor to Rhode-Island College.

As Mr. Stirk's second wife was a woman honourable
and eminent in her day among the few Baptists who were
then scattered in this part of Georgia, it may be proper
to give a short account of her.

This lady is remarkable for having been the wife of
two Baptist ministers, and the mother of a third. She
was born in South-Carolina, in 1732, of pious and reputa-
ble parents, of the Presbyterian persuasion. Her name
at first was Hannah Barkersdale. She was four times
married. Her husbands* names were Miller, Polhill,
Stirk, and Scott. The first was a merchant of Charleston,
with whom she lived but about a year. The second was
a preacher in Mr. Whitefield's connexion, a pious and
worthy man. He embarked for England in 1761 . to ob-



184 Nnuington Church.

tain Episcopal ordination. But before he left Charleston
harbour, a violent whirlwind divided the river so that
the channel was seen, and the ship and all onboard were
swallowed up by the returning waves. Mr. Stirk has
been mentioned. Her fourth and last husband was Rev.
Alexander Scott, for many years pastor of the church at
Black Swamp, in South-Carolina. With him she lived
about seven years ; and then, after lingering some time,
died in peace, March 1O, 1780, in the 48th year of her
age. Mr. Scott, about three years ago, removed to the
Missisippi country, where he died shortly after.

Rev. Thomas Polhill, the only surviving child of this
venerable woman, is of opinion that she was the first
person who was baptized in Georgia. While the Bap-
tists were but few in the parts where she lived, her house
was a home for preachers, and her active benevolence
was extended to all around her.

Besides the persons already mentioned, there were bap-
tized in these times a Mr. Cox, and a Mr. Williams and
his wife, and others whose names are not known.

Having thus prepared the way, we shall next proceed
to relate the history of some of the churches in this part
of Georgia.

Newington. This church appears to have been the
oldest of white people which was formed in the region
now under consideration. It took its name from that
of a plantation on which the meeting-house was erected,
in the neighbourhood of Goshen, in the county of Effing-
ham, eighteen miles from Savannah, and was constituted
in 17 ( J3. But since that time the seat of the church has
been removed to the adjoining county of Scriven. This
church is small now, and has never been large, and no
very remarkable things can be said respecting it. It was
one of the three churches which formed the Savannah-
river Association.

For the origin of this church, we must go back about
fifty years ; for it appears there have been scattered Bap-
tist members in this vicinity ever since the dispersion of
Mr. Bedgegood's disciples from the Orphan-house. The
first Baptist minister who preached here was Benjamin
Stirk. After him were Mr. Botsford and Mr. Scott ; but
no special effects attended the ministry of either of these



Savannah Church. 185

men. In 1789, a black man preached in the neighbour-
hood in a negro yard under some peach-trees. Curiosity
led some white people to hear him, and among the rest
was Major now Elder Thomas Polhill and his wife. They
were both convicted by the discourse of this poor sable
preacher, and in a short time were brought into the lib-
erty of the gospel, and baptized by Mr. Scott. From the
time of his conversion, Major Polhill became a patron of
the Baptist cause, and a promoter of meetings in his
neighbourhood. He invited Baptist ministers to preach
in his house : God blessed their labours ; and in 1793, a
sufficient number had been baptized to form a church,
which, as soon as it was organized, chose Mr. John Gold-
wire for their pastor, who had been ordained t\vo years
before. Mr. Goldwire still continues the pastor of the
church, although very aged and infirm. Mr. Poihill also
became a preacher of the gospel, and is now an assistant
to the aged and venerable Gnld\\5re.

Savannah. This city contains three Baptist churches,
one of white people, and two of Africans. The history of
the African churches will be related in the account which,
we propose to give of that people. The church of white
people was founded by its late pastor, Dr. Holcombe,
now of Philadelphia. It was constituted in J 8OO, but
was begun six years before that time, in the following
manner. In 1794, Messrs. Jonathan Clark, George
Morse, Thomas Polhill of Newington, and David Adams,
one of the deacons of the church in Charleston, propo-
sed the erection of a house of worship for the Baptists
in this city. But as the Baptist members were few in
number, and these generally poor, there appeared but lit-
tle prospect of success. About this time, Mr. Rees from
Wales, the same man who led out the company of Welsh
people to the mountains in Pennsylvania, visited Savan-
nah, and with much zeal and address encouraged the
design of building the house, which had been proposed.
A plan for it was drawn up by Dr. Furman of Charleston ;
aid was solicited by the above-named gentlemen and oth-
ers ; and so great was their success, that in 17^5, a house
fifty feet by sixty was erected. It was at first merely inclo-
sed. The next year it was rented to the Presbyterians,
who had lately lost their house by fire. They occupied

VOL. 2. 24-



186 Dr. Holcombe removes to Philadelphia.

it three years. Such was the posture of the affairs of the
Baptists in Savannah, in 179b>, when Mr. Holcombe,
who was the pastor of the church at E \vhaw, but lived at
Beaufort, by the invitation of the pew-holders in their
meeting-house, came to reside in the city. So much suc-
cess attended his ministry, that in 1 8OO it was judged
proper to organize a church in the place. The constitu-
ent members were Henry Hoicombe and wife, George
Morse and wife, Elias Roberts and wife, Rachel Hamilton,
Esther M'Kenzier, Elizabeth Story, Martha Stephens,
Eunice Hogg, and Mary Jones, widow of the late Lieu-
tenant-Governor of the State. Not long after the church
was formed, Mr. Holcombe was invented with the pas-
toral care of it, and continued in that office about eleven
years. Under him, the church was built up to a flour-
ishing and respectable body, the meeting-house was well
finished, and to it were added a bell, clock, baptistery,
and other appendages of ornament and convenience.
But Dr. Holcombe having resided a long time in a de-
bilitating climate, found it necessary to retire to a more
ealthy situation. He accordingly announced to the
church his intention of removing, and wished them to
look out for a successor. He retired to Mount Enon,
about fifteen miles from Augusta, where he intended to
spend the remainder of his days in retirement, and in
preaching as he was able to the neighbouring churches.
But by the affectionate importunity of the first church
in Philadelphia, he consented to leave this retreat, and
become its pastor.

The Savannah church, after remaining destitute of a
pastor about a year, obtained William B. Johnson, who is
now agreeably settled among them. Mr. Johnson had
been a few years pastor of the church in Columbia,
South-Carolina. He was bred to the law, but was con-
strained to leave that profession, and engage in the less
lucrative one of preaching the gospel.

Simbury. -At this place, which is some distance
below Savannah, there is a very respectable church un-
der the care of Mr. Charles O. Scriven, a graduate of
Rhode-Island College ; but I have not obtained any par-
ticulars respecting its origin.



Sav&nnah-rivfr Association. 187

Of the remaining churches in this part of the State, I
have not procured sufficient materials to form any in-
teresting narratives ; I shall, therefore, pass on to other
matters.



SAVANNAH-RIVER. ASSOCIATION.

THIS body was organized in Savannah in 1802. It
was composed at first of only three churches, which
were the two in Savannah and the one at Newington. But
not long after, a number of churches belonging to the
Charleston Association were dismissed from that body,
and united with this. The new churches, which have
been raised up in this part of Georgia and the neighbour,
ing parts of South-Carolina, have become members of
this Association. It has progressed with harmony and
prosperity, and has increased to almost thirty churches.,
and upwards of five thousand members,

The GENERAL COMMITTEE of the GEORGIA BAPTISTS.

This Committee was formed in 1803. Its plan and
operations are much like the General Committees in the
other southern States. It was intended to be composed
of representatives from all the Associations in the State,
But this representation was never full, which is not to be
much wondered at. In the first place, many are prejudic-
ed against the establishment. "And again, but few minis-
ters can find time, after attending their respective Associa-
tions, to travel from one end to the other of their wide
State to attend a Committee, which has never had and
cannot consistently find much business to do.

An account of the Mount Enon Academy will be given
in the history of Literary Institutions.

From the preceding sketches it appears, that great suc-
cess has attended the exertions of the Baptists in Georgia.
And no embarrassments, worth mentioning, have been
thrown in their way by the civil power. The Church of
England was the established religion of Georgia before
the war. But dissenters of every denomination have,
from first to last, enjoyed as much liberty as they could
desire. I do not find that any Baptist was ever molested



Baptists and Methodists numerous in Georgia.

in a legal way for preaching the gospel, excepting Dan-
iel Marshall, and he was soon discharged, as is related in
his biography. The Episcopal church does not appear to
have flourished much in Georgia at any time, and it is
now very small. And indeed there are but a few con-
gregations of any denominations in the State, besides
the Baptists and Methodists : both of these are very nu-
merous ; and we are sorry to say, that instead of striv-
ing to walk together as far as they are agreed, many of
them on both sides spend too much time in disputing
about Calvin and Wesley, perseverance and falling from
grace.

The great increase of the Baptists in Georgia has
been occasioned partly by the emigration of Baptist pro-
fessors from other parts ; but mostly by the great and
precious revivals of religion, which have at different times
been experienced in almost every part of the State.

In the year 1793, Mr. Abraham Marshall wrote as fol-
lows to Dr. Rippon of London. " In 1 787 there was a
glorious revival : thousands attended on the word. The
Baptists have great influence, and are the most nume-
rous of any denomination in this State. We are in-
creased (that is, the Georgia Association) to upwards of
three thousand three hundred, in about twenty years
past."

Some account of the share which Georgia had in the
great revival in l<soo and onward, has already been
given. Many thousands, during the progress of this re-
vival, were added to the Baptist churches. Mr. Jesse
Mercer, of the Georgia Association, in the course of two
years baptized about three hundred persons. In 1809,
another revival began in the upper part of the State, in
the bounds of the Georgia and Sarepta Associations,
and many hundreds were hopefully born into the king-
dom of God, and united with the churches of his saints.

In 1812, there was a very extensive revival in many
different parts of the State. By the four Associations of
Oakmulgee, Sarepta, Georgia, and Savannah, it appears
that three thousand and eight hundred were added to
them ail, in the course of the year. To the Savannah
were added about fifteen hundred, and to the Sarepta
ver twelve hundred and fifty.



First Coloured Baptist Church in Savannah. 1 89
CHAP. XIII.

An Account of four Baptist Churches of Africans in Geor-
gia, and of two in the West-Indies ; together with some
general Observations respecting the Circumstances of the
African Slaves in the Southern and Western States.

A MYSTERIOUS Providence has permitted a large por-
tion of the sable sons of Africa to be transported from
their native country to this western world, and here to be