History of Williamsburg; something about the people of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the first settlement by Europeans about 1705 until 1923., Part 13

Author: Boddie, William Willis, 1879-1940
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Columbia, S. C. : The State Co.
Number of Pages: 678


USA > South Carolina > Williamsburg County > History of Williamsburg; something about the people of Williamsburg County, South Carolina, from the first settlement by Europeans about 1705 until 1923. > Part 13


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46


2


3


7


Mouzon, Henry


.3


2


5


4


Manning, James


.1


3


4


. .


.2


2


3


52


Mccullough, William


1


2


2


21


McCants, Thomas


2


4


4


17


Matthews, John


1


1


4


42


Marner, Charles


1


1


2


. .


McConnell, Thomas


1


6


3


15


Murphy, Archibald


1


2


6


McKee, Joseph, and James


Stephenson


2


.


2


14


Matthews, Isaac


1


2


6


35


. .


1


. .


.


1


McKindru, John


Malpess, Joel


.


March, John


1


1


. .


.


Montgomery, Hugh


164


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Heads of Families


Males over 16


Males under 16


Females


Slaves


(For Abraham Matthews, Est.) ... 1


. .


. .


1


13


Maxwell, Samuel, and Margaret McCarty 1


5


3


3


McClary, John 3


1


4


4


McGill, Samuel


1


2


2


11


McConnell, Robert


1


2


4


33


McConnell, George


1


1


2


3


McCrea, Susanna, and


Samuel Panton


1


2


3


54


McConnell, Mary


2


2


2


12


McConnell, James


1


3


3


S


McCants, Alexander


.1


. .


2


1


Mccutchen, George


.1


4


2


11


McKnight, Allen


.


1


5


58


McKee, James


1


1


. .


McGill, Roger


2


2


3


24


McCutchen, James


2


. .


4


8


McCrea, Thomas


1


3


26


McCrea, James


1


. .


1


..


McElveen, William


3


2


4


12


Mulhollen, Jeannet


1


4


3


Marlowe, Charles


1


1


3


. .


McKnelly, James


1


. .


5


4


McElveen, William, Jr.


.1


1


1


12


McGee, William 2


1


2


1


McDowell, John


1


7


McDowell, William


1


8


1


. .


McKnight, John


1


3


3


17


Miller, Moses, Jr. 1


3


3


14


Marlow, William


4


1


4


.


Moore, William


1


3


3


4


Mccullough, Elizabeth


1


. .


3


Messers, John


1


3


4


. .


McFadden, Robert


1


1


1


. .


Michau, Paul


1


. .


Perdreau, John (Est. of)


Guerry, Lydia


1


3


5


Michau, Manassel


2


3


5


25


Mccullough, John


1


. .


. .


. .


Murfee, Moses


1


3


2


87


McBride, John


1


2


3


4


McKissick, Archie


1


. .


:


2


Mason, John, and John Paisely. .2


. .


2


. .


. .


3


. .


McAlister, John


.


. .


S


21


· ·


14


Marsden, Elizabeth


WILLIAMSBURG CENSUS, 1790


165


Heads of Families


Males over 16


Males under 16


Females


Slaves


McCottry, Robert


2


. .


6


30


Michau, Peter


.2


. .


. .


..


1


2


20


McCrea, John


1


2


3


9


McElroy, William


.1


2


3


1


Miller, Moses


.2 .


.


2


45


Meerse, Daniel


2


1


2


11


Mccullough, Hugh


.1


4


1


12


McGinney, Samuel


1


. .


1


12


Michau, Peter


.3


. .


.1


. .


2


..


Morris, William


1


..


. .


. .


McAllister, Charles


2


1


3


9


McKnight, Robert


1


. .


17


Moore, William


1


3


3


4


Marler, Richard


1


. .


2


. .


McKable, Alexander


.1


. .


.


. .


McMelly, Mary


2


1


2


16


Murray, John


1


1


4


17


Mccullough, John


2


.


2


S


March, John


1


1


5


Matthews, Jonas


1


. .


·


. .


Marlow, William


.3


2


5


. .


McClary, John


.1


. .


. .


Morris, John


.1


1


1


. .


McCrea, Joseph


. 1


2


3


McCrea, Farquher


3


2


2


. .


Mills, John .1


. .


1


Miller, Stephen 2


1


1


. .


McDowell, Forgas


1


1


1


. .


McBane, Daniel .1


2


4


. .


McDonald, Jane


1


2


2


10


Mammon, John


1


1


4


. .


Night, Thomas


.1


3


. .


Nelson, Letitia


1


. .


4


40


Nalton, Caleb


.1


. .


. .


Nesmith, Samuel


5


1


9


Nesmith, Drew Nathaniel


1


1


3


1


Nesmith, Samuel


2


.


. .


3


21


Nesmith, John


1


2


3


5


Nesmith, Samuel


1


. .


·


Nesmith, Elizabeth 1


. .


2


1


Nesmith, Robert


1


. .


1


10


Nettles, Isham


.1


2


2


. .


Nesbit, James


1


. .


1


. .


31


McKee, John


2


32


May, Enoch


.


.


.


.


1


.


.


166


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Heads of Families


Males over 16


Males under 16


Females


Slaves


Orr, John


1


3


1


3


Orr, Mary


O'Neill, John, and Lachlen McIntosh


2


1


2


5


Owens, James


1


1


3


. .


Orr, William, Sr.


3


1


2


4


Orr, William, Jr.


1


1


1


Owen, Lewis


1


1


1


5


Owen, James


4


6


4


Ogelby, Lewis


1


.


3


. .


Owens, Zacheriah


1


. .


1


. .


O'Brian, John


1


1


2


. .


Owens, Peter


1


. .


3


7


Ogelby, Daniel


1


4


5


. .


Pritchard, Simon


1


. .


1


1


Porter, John


1


1


2


4


Perkins, Mary


1


. .


3


. .


Poston, John


1


3


3


. .


Port, Francis


.3


1


5


26


Perkins, Lewis


1


. .


. .


9


Pilkenton, DuRay


1


. .


2


. .


Pritchard, Stephen


.1


3


2


. .


Pilkenton, John


1


1


1


. .


Perritt, James


1


1


3


5


Price, Henry


2


1


1


11


Patterson, Andrew


4


·


3


1


Paisley, Thomas


1


1


5


11


Paisley, William


.1


·


1


8


Paisley, Robert


2


5


25


Pell, Gilbert .1


. .


2


1


Perrit, Abraham


1


2


4


29


Potts, Thomas


1


3


5


28


Potts, William


1


1


1


17


Perkins, David


1


. .


3


11


Perrit, Francis


1


3


1


15


Porter, William


1


. .


4


9


Pettigrew, James


2


3


1


11


Port, Benjamin


1


:


.1


2


3


. .


Pigott, Nathaniel


2


1


2


3


Parsons, Amos


3


1


5


1


Patterson, Andrew


.1


. .


3


1


Parkerson, John


2


3


5


. .


Paisley, Hugh


.1


. .


1


13


.


2


9


Payne, John


..


3


11


Poston, James


1


8


WILLIAMSBURG CENSUS, 1790


167


Heads of Families


Males over 16


Males under 16


Females


Slaves


Paisley, William, Jr.


1


. .


. .


3


Parsons, William


1


..


. .


Porter, Benjamin .3


3


67


Porter, John


1


. .


2


1


. .


Parker, John


.2


3


4


. .


Paidey, Peter


.3


1


3


Poston, Joseph


1


. .


1


. .


Russell, Thomas


.


. .


. .


Rawls, Elisha


2


4


5


..


Rodgers, Isaac


1


1


3


. .


Rodgers, Shadrach


1


2


3


. .


Rhodes, John


1


5


3


·


Roberts, Peter


1


. .


Rhodus, Solomon


1


. .


1


5


Russell, Andrew


1


. .


1


·


Reed, Hugh


1


. .


2


7


Rodgers, Micajah


.1


2


. .


Rowlin, Margaret


.2


2


3


. .


Roland, Elizabeth


1


5


18


Riche, Anthony


1


1


1


. .


Rambart, Joachem


1


2


2


. .


Roland, Abraham


1


. .


2


..


Raney, Herbert


1


. .


3


. .


Riche, James


1


2


3


1


Reaves, Benjamin


1


2


4


.


Rasberry, Nathaniel


1


1


1


. .


Reaves, James


1


2


1


·


Royals, James


2


1


3


. .


Raphield, James 1


. .


1


. .


Reed, William


1


2


3


.


Richardson, David


.1


4


2


Robinson, John


1


3


3


. .


Roland, Benjamin


1


. .


2


. .


Stevens, Ruben


1


1


1


2


Spring, Ann


1


2


2


Stone, William


1


2


2


3


Scarf, Edward


2


. .


6


. .


Smith, John


1


. .


Shackelford, Jean


3


5


. .


Stapleton, Levi


1


.


. .


Stapleton, Sarah


4


. .


Swab, John George


1


1


1


. .


Smith, James


1


. .


1


. .


. .


14


Plat, Elizabeth


.


1


. .


Rigden, Ephraim


. .


2


24


1


168


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Heads of Families


Males over 16


Males under 16


Females


Slaves


Staggers, Barbary


1


2


1


. .


Smith, Adam


1


. .


1


. .


Scarf, William


1


. .


1


Scott, James


.3


5


4


20


Scott, Joseph, and William


Reed


3


1


3


34


Scott, Joseph (for his


father's estate)


2


2


2


26


Smith, Henry


1


3


4


. .


Smith, Hugh


1


1


2


Scison, Ebenezer


1


4


3


Singletary, Ebenezer


1


4


4


12


Spring, Robert


1


. .


1


. .


Smith, James


1


. .


2


. .


Small, Christopher


1


3


5


1


Sessions, John


3


2


5


. .


Sessions, Wm., and Francis Martin


3


1


6


. .


Sullivan, Joseph


1


2


4


Smith, Thomas


.1


. .


3


. .


Staggers, John


2


2


135 3 1 5


. .


Snow, James


1


1


·


. .


Snow, William


4


2


7


43


Spears, William


1


Skrine, Thomas


1


2


. .


9 0 ~ 00 7 8


Scott, Alexander


2


4


2


Smith, Abner


1


1


5


Scott, John


1


3


1


10


Sparkman, Richard


1


1


3


. .


Smyth, Thomas


1


. .


3


. .


Sheed, John


1


2


1


. .


Shealds, John


3


1


2


. .


Swinton, Hugh


2


2


3


. .


Smith, Benjamin


1


2


1


. .


Simons, Due


1


3


1


. .


Smith, William


1


3


. .


Starnes, Charles


1


4


2


Smith, John


1


2


1


. .


Tomson, James


1


3


3


1


Turner, John


1


1


1


:


Tomson, George


3


2


3


8


Tyler, Samuel


1


. .


7


Thomas, David


1


. .


4


Thomas, Jesse


1


1


1


. .


Savage, Nathan


.3


2


22


Stone, Austin


2


4


·


WILLIAMSBURG CENSUS, 1790


169


Heads of Families


Males over 16


Males under 16


Females


Slaves


Timmons, John


3


3


4


6


Timmons, James


.1


. .


2


1


Timmons, Levi


1


.


. .


Turner, Amos


.1


2


5


. .


Tucker, John


.1


4


Tisdale, James


1


. .


1


5


Thorp, Samuel


.1


2


2


5


Thomson, Alexander


1


4


4


2


Tucker, John


1


. .


1


Thomson, Ruben


.1


. .


. .


Thomson, James


2


1


1


1


Tyler, Benjamin .1


1


2


5


Taylor, Ruffin .


1


2


1


15


Thomas, Alexander


1


·


. .


. .


Thomson, John


1


2


1


4


Turner, Ruben 1


1


4


Turner, Benjamin


1


1


2


Watrous, Abner 1


.1


2


1


11


Wickham, Thomas J.


1


. .


1


13


Wilson, Robert .1


2


3


2


. .


Williams, Hannah


.1


1


2


Wilson, Captain William


2


3


2


. .


Wilson, William


1


. .


3


. .


Wilson, John


1


1


5


. .


Ward, James


.1


2


2


. .


Watson, George


.3


2


. .


11


Witherspoon, John 1


. .


3


Witherspoon, Sarah


1


. .


1


14


Witherspoon, Gavin, and John


Perry


2


2


3


27


Do. for James Witherspoon's est. 1


3


3


31


Do. for Hugh Macauley


1


.


1


. .


Watson, Hugh 1


4


3


12


Wimper, John .1


1


1


2


10


Do. for Grace Wilson's


.1


1


1


15


Witherspoon, Elizabeth


1


1


3


38


Witherspoon, Elizabeth


2


5


Do. for James Witherspoon's est. 1


3


1


21


Do. for James Grier


1


. .


Walters, Jacob 1


2


2


Wilson, Samuel


1


1


1.


15


Williams, Thomas


1


3


2


26


.


.


.


. .


. .


..


White, Daniel


.


.


. .


. .


Whitfield, William


.


.


. .


..


1


. .


..


Wilson, John


.


3


2


170


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Heads of Families Males ofer 16


Males


Females


Slaves


Wood, William


.1


. .


1


3


Winters, Robert, and John


Patterson


3


2


2


40


Wilson, William


1


·


. .


1


White, George


1


1


2


22


Windom, Jesse


.1


2


2


Wilkes, Ester


1


3


2


7


Whitacre, Isaac


1


1


3


· ·


Williams, William


1


1


3


1


Walker, James, and Benjamin


Kuel


2


1


4


18


Whitfield, Thomas


1


2


2


Witherspoon, William


1


. .


1


. .


Walter, Patrick


1


1


3


..


Weaver, William


.1


. .


2


Wilson, David


1


1


5


19


Weatherly, Isaac


1


2


2


5


Wilson, Robert


3


2


2


21


Walker, James


1


. .


4


37


Witherspoon, John


.1


1


1


40


Wilson, William


.2


3


2


14


White, Anthony


.3


6


8


73


Witherspoon, Gavin, Jr.


1


4


7


38


Williams, John George


1


3


5


9


Westberry, William


1


4


2


5


Williams, William


.3


1


2


1


Wilson, Charles


3


Winter, Robert


2


2


2


47


Walters, Priscilla


1


. .


1


. .


Wilkes, Lemuel


.1


2


2


10


Young, Elizabeth


3


2


4


. .


Young, William


1


1


3


. .


Zuill, James


2


. .


3


4


.


.


2


under 16


CHAPTER XV.


PRESBYTERIANISM REGNANT.


Whoever would understand the history of Williams- burg and its present life must first know its religious history. The dominant element among the original set- tlers of Williamsburg comes from a peculiar people whose spirit has remained unchanged in fundamental principles for more than a thousand years. In the sixth century, a colony of Irish-Scots migrated to North Britain, settled in the County Argyle, subjugated the Pictish tribe, and established there their kingdom. Ancient Caledonia has been since that day Scotland. These ancient Caledonians held the Presbyterian belief more than a thousand years before Calvin and Knox were born. Later, these Scots fell under the influence of Rome but never have until this day surrendered to its authority. Talliessin, a Latin poet who lived about 620 A. D., thus expressed the feeling of these Presbyterians in those far off ancient days: (Translation English of about a thousand years later).


"Wo be to that priest yborn, That will not cleanly weed his corn, And preach his charge among. Wo be to that shepherd, I say, That will not watch his fold alway, As to his office doth belong. Wo be to him that doth not keep From Romish wolves his erring sheepe, With staff and weapon strong."


Calvin and Knox were both born, trained, and educated under Roman Catholic influences and were mature men before they partially embraced Presbyterian principles. The second wife of Knox was Lady Margaret Stuart, a militant Romanist. Both of these men undertook to color


172


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Presbyterianism with their own views. Neither one of them accepted the ancient Presbyterian faith as he found it. Both of them had a wonderful influence on Pres- byterianism, although results did not reach great propor- tions until more than a century had passed. There are yet in Scotland and in Williamsburg County, South Caro- lina, two factions in the Presbyterian Church, one of which is distinctly the ancient Presbyterianism, and the other the Presbyterianism growing out of the influence of John Knox and of John Calvin.


After the War of the Revolution had closed, in 1783, there were three Presbyterian Congregations functioning in Williamsburg. In two of these, the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and the Black Mingo Presbyterian Church, the majorities held to the ancient Presbyterian idea, while in the other, the Indiantown Presbyterian Con- gregation, the Calvin-Knox majority obtained. These three Presbyterian Churches were the only religious or- ganizations existing in Williamsburg in 1783. There were a handful of Episcopalians and Baptists in the Black Mingo community and a few Episcopalians along the San- tee River, but more than ninety-five per centum of the people in Williamsburg were Presbyterians.


After South Carolina had adopted the Constitution of the United States in 1788, the Presbyterian Church had in Williamsburg, for the first time in its history, an un- hindered opportunity to work out its own salvation. It had here, in all probability, a fairer field than it had enjoyed theretofore at any time or place in the world.


In 1783, the Williamsburg Church had sent to it, out of the patronage scheme of the Church of Scotland, the Reverend Samuel Kennedy, a native of Ireland. He was employed for a term of three years. The faction in his Church that inclined to the ancient Presbyterian doctrine of Scotland enjoyed his ministry. The Calvin-Knox faction of the congregation declared that he preached Socinianism,


173


PRESBYTERIANISM REGNANT


that he denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and that his sermons were more blasphemous than the sayings of in- fidels. During his first three years ministry, these two factions became sharply defined and each of them was enthusiastic in promoting its own idea in the matter.


When the three years time for which Mr. Kennedy had been engaged expired in 1786, the issue was drawn as to whether or not Mr. Kennedy's services as minister to the congregation should be retained. The "auld lichts" were in the majority in the congregation and so Mr. Kennedy was re-elected to serve the Church for another term of years. The "new lichts," or the minority faction, im- mediately withdrew and declared that no longer would it listen to a man who profaned by atheistic preaching the sanctuary which its fathers had built. The minority element said that the majority element was composed largely of settlers who had but lately come into the com- munity, and did not represent the faith of the original founders of the Church. Since the voting in the con- gregation at that time was done by pew holders and many of the pew holders were not members of the Church, the mi- nority element also charged that it had been voted out of the Church, which its fathers had founded, by men who did not even profess the true faith. The minority element could not be reconciled nor would it participate in wor- ship in the old church. The majority element attended services conducted by the Reverend Samuel Kennedy in the old church and, while it said nothing, evidently en- joyed the situation.


Among the "auld lichts" were the Mcculloughs, Strongs, Nelsons, McClarys, Flaglers, Hamiltons, Maxwells, Mc- Cants, Macauleys, Porters, Pressleys, Burgess', McGills, McKnights, McIntoshs, McDonalds, Flemings, and Mc- Elveens. Among the "new lichts," or minority faction, were the Friersons, Bradleys, Grahams, Wilsons, Wither- spoons, Mcculloughs, Blakelys, McBrides, Dickeys,


174


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Ervins, Scotts, Matthews, Hendleys, and McClellands. It is interesting to note that the Witherspoons, Wilsons, Fultons, Ervins, and Blakelys of this minority element were all lineal descendants of the Reverend John Knox.


The minority element, immediately after its withdrawal from the old congregation, erected another church on the same plot of ground about fifty yards east of the old church. For some months, these two congregations, that of the old Williamsburg Church and that of the new church, worshiped in their respective buildings. These two congregations held their services at the same hour every Sunday morning, and while no member of either congregation would defile his feet by touching a grain of sand on the ground by common consent controlled by the other, yet when the congregation in one of these churches began to pray, the congregation in the other would immediately begin to sing an old familiar hymn,- and those were days when hymns were sung. One old sinner, who lived more than a half mile from the church at this time, when reproached by his minister for not attending, replied, "I sit on my piazza every Sunday morning during the services and can hear distinctly every word preached, prayed or sung."


The feeling between these two congregations, within a very few months, grew so intense, that one night in August, 1786, the minority element took about one hundred slaves to the old church, tore it down, and removed even its foundations from the spot. They carried the pulpit of the old church three miles in the country and hid it in Samuel McClelland's hay loft. The minority element claimed that its fathers had built this old church and its act in tearing it down was an act of virtue, for that within its sacred walls the name of Christ was being notoriously profaned. Just exactly what the "auld lichts" said when early that morning they saw nothing where their church had stood is left to the imagination.


175


PRESBYTERIANISM REGNANT


The Kennedy faction brought action in the Courts at Georgetown against the individuals composing this minor- ity element that had destroyed its church. The Courts held that the title to the property of the church obtained in the Kennedy faction and the seceding faction that had destroyed the church was forced to pay in full for the damage it had done. The old Williamsburg Congregation then rebuilt its church on the same spot the original had stood.


From 1786 until 1789, the Reverend Samuel Kennedy was minister of the ancient Williamsburg Church, from which time until 1792 the congregation was unsupplied. In that year, the Reverend James Malcolmson of Belfast, Ireland, was called. He served the Williamsburg Church until 1804, when he went to Charleston. Dr. Malcolmson had received the title of Doctor of Medicine from the Uni- versity at Edinburgh and was a licensed physician. He practiced medicine in his congregation. In addition to his pastoral charge and his practice of medicine, he taught a large grammar school at Kingstree and was the moving spirit in the establishment of the Academy in Kingstree. The Reverend James Malcolmson, Theodore Gourdin, Robert Witherspoon, James Davis, John Nesmith, and John Frierson were incorporated by the General Assembly of South Carolina, December 19, 1795, as trustees of the Williamsburg Academy and were empowered to raise by lotteries a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars to defray the necessary building expenses of the school. From this money raised by lotteries, this board of trus- tees erected an academy building at the head of Bay Street. Dr. Malcolmson possessed a pleasing personality and was probably one of the ablest men who ever preached in Williamsburg. He died of yellow fever in Charleston in 1804, in the thirty-sixth year of his age.


From 1804 until 1819, the Williamsburg Church re- mained without a minister, although the Reverend Wil-


176


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


liam Knox, of the Black Mingo Church, and other minis- ters of the Church of Scotland preached in the church and the Elders kept up the organization. In 1819, the Rev- erend John Covert, a native of New York and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, who had been serving the Indiantown and the Bethel Congregations most ac- ceptably for two years, withdrew from the Presbytery of South Carolina and resigned as minister of the Bethel and Indiantown Churches. He was then ordained by the Congregational Association of South Carolina "in the In- dependent Order" that he might be qualified to become the minister of the old Williamsburg Congregation.


This reordination of Mr. Covert "in the Independent Order" after he had been ordained by the American Pres- byterian Church, that he might become minister of the old Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, is a most signifi- cant fact. It throws much light on the controversy existing between the two factions in the Williamsburg Congrega- tion. Mr. Covert brought life and vigor into the old Williamsburg Congregation, although he died in 1822 after having served the congregation for but a short period. He was a young man of force and played well the difficult part he had. After the death of Mr. Covert, the old Williamsburg Church had no minister until 1828.


The minority faction that had seceded from the old Williamsburg Church in 1786, on account of the retention of the Reverend Samuel Kennedy as minister and which had built its church across the road about fifty yards from the original church, called its organization the Wil- liamsburg Presbyterian Congregation until 1803. So, from 1786 until 1803, there were two Presbyterian churches at Kingstree, within fifty yards of each other, each one claiming the rights of the ancient Williamsburg Congrega- tion and denominating itself by the original name.


The minority element, immediately after its secession in 1786, united with the Presbytery of South Carolina


177


PRESBYTERIANISM REGNANT


and petitioned that body for the services of a minister, and the Reverend Thomas Reece was secured for this Church one Sunday in each month. In 1788, Reverend James Edwards, Reverend Robert Mccullough, and the Reverend Thomas Reece each preached one Sunday in a month at this church. In 1789, the Reverend Robert Finley preached one Sunday each month. In October, 1789, the Reverend James W. Stephenson became minis- ter for this church at the King's Tree and the Indiantown Church. This faction in the Williamsburg Church and the Indiantown Church belonged to the Presbytery of South Carolina and were united in their efforts as well as their faith in the Trinity.


Dr. Stephenson served this part of the Williamsburg Congregation, known after 1803 as the Bethel Congrega. tion, and the Indiantown Congregation, for nineteen years, and was possibly the most influential minister who ever lived in Williamsburg. He was born of Scotch-Irish stock in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1756. Soon after that time, his parents moved to the old Lancaster Dis- trict, South Carolina, and settled near old Waxhaw Church. He was educated at Mount Zion College and taught school in the vicinity of old Waxhaw Church. Pres- ident Andrew Jackson was one of his pupils. He was a valiant soldier under General Sumter in the Revolu- tion and participated in the battles at Blackstock, Hang- ing Rock, and other engagements.


When Dr. Stephenson served the Bethel faction of the Williamsburg Congregation, he found a most difficult task. His congregation and another congregation of the same name had been at daggers' points for about four years. The individuals composing these two congregations lived in the same community, but a member of one would have no rela- tions whatsoever with a member of the other. This condi- tion continued all during Dr. Stephenson's ministry in


178


HISTORY OF WILLIAMSBURG


Williamsburg. He showed great tact and discretion in handling the complicated condition.


"In the reproval of vice, as well as its removal, Mr. Stephenson was not less successful than in the more wel- come functions of his office. A number of pernicious practices were found prevalent in the congregations when he entered upon his duties in them, which he felt con- scientiously bound to correct, trusting to God for the consequences. The principal of these were dancing, horse- racing, and treating at funerals. In the last century, the practice of drinking at the burial of the dead prevailed to a melancholy extent; and not a few instances are given of ministers being disciplined for indulging too freely on such occasions. And too frequently the living were not sufficiently sober to follow with becoming decorum their departed friends to the grave. The people, convinced by the warning voice of their pastor, put an end to the prac- tice. Another monster evil which he was successful in opposing was horse racing, usually followed by music and dancing, and kindred amusements. Regarding these as wholly inconsistent with Christian character, he ceased not to denounce them as such until they were mostly discon- tinued. And it is but justice to state, that to Mr. Stephen- son belongs the honor, so far as it is known, of commenc- ing, in this part of the country, the benevolent work of evangelizing the negroes and preventing them from labor- ing on the Sabbath for themselves as they had to gen- erally been permited to do." (Howe's History of the Presbyterian Church, page 586.)


Indiantown Presbyterian Church and the Bethel fac- tion of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Congregation both promoted American Presbyterian principles and had the same minister from 1790, until 1828. These two churches were so closely related in faith and works for all this period that they may be considered together. It will be recalled that the Indiantown Church was destroyed by


179


PRESBYTERIANISM REGNANT


the Tories under the command of Major Wemyss in 1780. The congregation assembled for worship until 1783, the close of the War, under bush arbors where the original church had stood. One of the first cares of this congre- gation at the close of the War was the rebuilding of its church. The Reverend Thomas Hill supplied it in 1783 and 1784; the Reverend Thomas Reese in 1787; the Rev- erend Robert McCollough in 1788, and the Reverend Robert Finley in 1789, when Dr. Stephenson took charge of the congregation. Under the ministry of Dr. Stephen- son, the Bethel Church and the Indiantown Church grew in numbers and influence. In 1802, the Bethel Church had one hundred and four communicants and the Indian- town Church had ninety-six.


In 1803, the Bethel faction secured three acres of land from the estate of James Witherspoon, Jr., on the north side of the road leading from Kingstree to Cedar Swamp, one mile east of the present Williamsburg Court House, whereon it built the Bethel Church. When this building had been completed, this faction abandoned the Church it had built in 1786 across the road from the old Wil- liamsburg Church and worshipped thereafter in its new sanctuary. The heads of families of the Bethel Congrega- tion in 1803 were as follows: Joseph McKee, Robert Frierson, Sr., James Bradley, John Graham, Samuel Wilson, John Wilson, John Frierson, Sr., Robert P. Witherspoon, Gavin Witherspoon, William Frierson, Sr., James McBride, Elias Frierson, Joseph Witherspoon, Wil- liam McElroy, William McCullough, William Dobbin, James Blakely, James Witherspoon, John Blakely, Jen- nett Blakely, Margaret Frierson, Samuel Frierson, Wil- liam Frierson, Mary Fleming, James Armstrong, Moses J. Frierson, Robert Frierson, Jr., John Arnett, John Frier- son, Jr., William Frierson, Jr., David Frierson, John Dickey, Paul Fulton, Joshua Frierson, George Frierson, David McClary, Jane Ervin, John Scott, William Wilson,



Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.