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 21
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On the third charge against Mr. McGill, the following question was asked Mrs. McGill: "Who was the person that extorted the promise, and from whom was it ex- torted?" Answer, "George Mccutchen was the person that extorted it and Leonora Montgomery was the person from whom it was extorted and violated it." The fol- lowing is Miss Leonora Montgomery's evidence on third charge. "Did George McCutchen take you out at George
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Cooper's and have a talk with you respecting dancing?" Answer, "Yes." "Were you not badly scared?" Answer, "Yes." "Did you not make a promise to him that you would not dance?" Answer, "Yes, I was so scared I hardly knew what I said." "Did you break that promise again?" Answer, "Yes." "Did you impute the blame to Mr. Mccutchen?" Answer, "He did not attempt to frighten me into a promise." "Did he extort a promise?" Answer, "No."
Samuel McGill was found guilty of the crime of danc- ing and excommunicated. He appealed and his appeal has an interesting history. For all practical purposes, it was not sustained. "Whereupon, the Moderator read to him the decision of that judicatory and asked him if he were ready to receive the admonition and rebuke passed by this body on him. The censure itself he did not absolutely refuse, but gave the Session sufficient answer to believe that being interrogated as to his convictions of guilt or as to his penitence that he was still impenitent. The Moderator then proceeded to inflict censure so far as the Session judged expedient, but in so far as it could perceive, no satisfactory effect was produced on the offender."
The following letter shows some of the subsequent history in the case, "April 28th, We, the undersigned, El- ders of the Indiantown Church, having for some years past been contending against a prevailing practice in the Church, which we deem unchristian, and when bringing discipline to bear upon offending members, we were plainly told by a member of full standing that he knew the mind of the congregation two times better than we did and that there were not three individuals in Indian- town Church that would sustain our proceedings, and, having received very little support or countenance from the congregation, we were induced to believe his state- ments measurably correct; and, moreover, at a house in
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the immediate vicinity of the Church (the heads of the family in full membership) at which a large number of the congregation attended a wedding, on the night pre- vious to a three-days' meeting, at which the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, these practices were introduced and persevered in through the night, and to much excess that we believe it hopeless to proceed farther against such determined opposition, and as we cannot conscientionsly serve the Church as ruling elders, seeing the practices of dancing, excessive drinking, and their accompanying evils cannot be suppressed by us, and judg- ing from the efforts already made that our influence is insufficient for this, or to promote the purity and edifica- tion of this Church; and, therefore, after mature reflec- tion, we have unanimously resolved that we claim the constitutional privilege of ceasing to act as officers of this Congregation, (Confession of Faith, Book 1st, Chap- ter 13, Sec. 6 and 7), and now we earnestly pray the Great Head of the Church, the efforts of those who may be called to succeed us in His Providence, may be accom- pained with His Almighty power of blessing and make theirs more successful than ours have been." Signed, S. James Wilson, George Barr, George Mccutchen, and David D. Wilson.
Early in the following year, 1835, the Indiantown Con- gregation met and elected William Daniel and Samuel Scott as Elders of the Church, the former board of elders having resigned. The Reverened Mr. Ervin also resigned as minister of the congregation. The new board of el- ders called the Reverened A. G. Peden to the charge. He accepted and was installed as its pastor. Samuel Mc- Gill was reinstated in the Indiantown Church and died in 1840 a communing member.
This trial of Samuel McGill for dancing was one of the most important and far-reaching events in the his- tory of Williamsburg County. It shows the fundamental
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character of the people of Williamsburg, a character which has grown out of the same root for more than a thousand years. After this powerful session of elders with all the force that Puritanism could muster had spent all of its fury on Samuel McGill, his wife testified that "he remained much the same." Samuel McGill is Wil- liamsburg.
It may have been expected that after this trial of Samuel McGill for dancing had resulted in a full and ef- fective defeat for the forces of ultra-Puritanism in the dominant church congregation, Williamsburg District, that its people would have reacted into a season of riotous living such as occurred during the reign of the "Merrie Monarch" in England, but it was not so. Williamsburg remained "much the same." The records in old Indian- town Church continued to show births, baptisms, mar- riages, communion celebrations, and session meetings.
In 1836, the Williamsburg Church made application to the Indiantown Church for part of the services of the Reverened A. G. Peden. Mr. Peden was allowed for six months to preach twice each month in the Williamsburg Church.
On July 4, 1836, an education society was formed in Indiantown Church. The following officers were ap- pointed : Reverend A. G. Peden, president; Colonel David D. Wilson, vice-president; Dr. Lee, recording sec- retary ; and George Barr, treasurer. At this time, a col- lection was taken and from the proceeds, a substantial increase was made in the Church Library. At the end of this year, the Church increased its Session of Elders by electing the following: Colonel David D. Wilson, Captain Samuel J. Snowden, Alexander Knox, and John M. Fulton. It will be seen that the Church regarded the services of Colonel Wilson of great value and would not permit him to remain outside its official body.
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About this time, the Indiantown Church began a pro- gressive program. The congregation was wealthy and inclined to liberality. Collections were taken in the Church for various causes and much contributed to edu- cation and to foreign missions. On February 5, 1837, the ladies of this congregation gave $50.00 to constitute their pastor, the Reverend A. G. Peden, an honorary mem- ber of the Southern Board of Foreign Missions.
In 1840, the Reverend H. B. Cunningham was elected and ordained minister of the Church. During the pas- torate of Mr. Cunningham, the Puritanic element in the Church began another campaign against dancing, as will be seen from the following entry of June 3, 1843: "In as much as some of the members of this Church are charged by common fame with dancing, the Session had conversed with them privately and some of them expressed a desire to make acknowledgment before the Session and it was agreed that they should have an opportunity of doing so. The following persons appeared, J. W. Scott, Miss Rebecca C. Scott, Miss Rebecca E. Gordon, and Miss Martha McCants, who acknowledged that they had danced, professed repentance, and promised to abstain from this practice in the future. Whereupon it was re- solved that they be admonished by the moderator, and if they submit to this censure that their standing be de- clared regular. All of this was attended to immediately. Mr. John T. McCants also appeared and acknowledged that he had danced but said that he did not consider it a sin and therefore was not sorry. Whereupon it was unanimously resolved that he be suspended from the privi- leges of the church until he gives evidence of repentance."
Under date of February 18, 1844, the following entry is found, "Lisbon, belonging to Mr. A. J. McKnight, ap- peared before the Session on a charge of adultery, that is, keeping two wives, both of whom were present. Lisbon acknowledged that he was guilty and said he was sorry
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but did not seem to be really penitent, and, of course, he was suspended until he gives satisfactory evidence of repentance. Hagar, belonging to J. M. Fulton, one of the women implicated, said that whereas Lisbon came to see her, he told her he intended to make her his wife again, they having been separated several years, and believing him sincere in his professions, she had lived with him as his wife. In view of these statements, the Session did not think her case worthy of church censure. Candice, belonging to George Cooper, the other woman in the case, said that she lived with Lisbon as his wife because he solemnly declared to her that she was his wife and that he had no other.
"Believing these statements to be in the main correct, the Session did not feel that she should be debarred from church privileges ; but, in as much as they had good reason to believe that she was visiting Lisbon at night, contrary to the wishes and orders of her master, she was required to promise faithfully that she would do so no more, with which requisition she complied. It was ordered that Lisbon's suspension should be published to the colored congregation this afternoon."
Another entry after the Reverend J. P. McPherson became pastor of the Church in 1844 follows: "Mr. Mc- Pherson stated to the Session that he had been requested to baptize the children of Mr. James and Mrs. Mary Ann Cooper, and that he had declined complying with that request because one of these children was seventeen years old and nearly, if not quite, grown, and therefore he deemed it proper that the Session should determine whether that member of the family was entitled to in- fant baptism according to our standards. Whereupon, after mature deliberation, it was resolved that in as much as the said child had arrived at that period of life when, according to our views of the Bible and of our Confes- sion of Faith, an individual becomes a moral agent, it
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is in our judgment not proper that this member of the family should be entitled to infant baptism."
Here follows the entry of April 16, 1848. "A communi- cation was received from Dr. H. L. Byrd, a member of our Church, dated Georgetown, S. C., March 30, 1848, giving a statement of a 'late unpleasant difficulty between Mr. Shakleford and himself' and referring to the cor- respondence which had been recently published in the Winyah Observer, and asking in the judgment, the honor of religion, and the interests of the Church might seem to require, and at the same time declaring his readiness to submit to any censure that we might think necessary to inflict and likewise most deeply deploring his connec- tion with such an unfortunate affair and promising here- after to 'keep all points guarded against difficulties of whatever characters.'
"After a careful reading of this communication in con- nection with the correspondence referred to by Dr. Byrd, and having heard statements from some members of the Session, who had learned all the facts in the case from persons residing in Georgetown, who may be considered as unprejudiced, the Session came deliberately to the following conclusion, viz. :
"That whilst Dr. Byrd's conduct is somewhat palliated by the peculiar circumstances of the case, yet we are con- strained to feel, that he has acted very improperly and to an extent that cannot be justified by the laws of Christ's house; and while we fully believe that he has committed a great sin, for which he should humble him- self in the dust before God; yet in as much as he volun- tarily brought his case to the notice of this body and professes to be sincerely sorry for his conduct; and in as much as he has given us a promise to be more guarded in the future; whereupon, it was unanimously resolved that in as much as the ends of church discipline seem to have been accomplished, our pastor be directed to
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write to Dr. Byrd, setting forth our views on this whole subject and giving him such advice, counsel, and ad- monition as the case seems to require; and if he submit to this decision, his standing in the Church be declared regular. To this decision, Dr. Byrd cheerfully sub- mitted."
The following entry was made for February 25, 1849. "In entire accordance with the views and wishes of Dr. S. D. McGill, the academy under his care was received under the supervision of the Session as a parochial school ; and it was resolved that the pastor of the church visit said school frequently to catechize, talk to, and pray with the pupils and that he report its state and prospects to his body."
The following entry was made for July 22, 1849. "Ses- sion met and was constituted by prayer. Present, J. P. McPherson, Samuel Scott, D. D. Wilson, William Daniel, S. J. Snowden, and W. F. Blakely; and took into con- sideration the recommendation of the President of the United States that the first Friday in August next be kept as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, calling upon all religious denominations to abstain as far as practicable from all regular occupations and to assemble in their respective places of worship, to acknowledge the infinite goodness of God which has watched over us as a nation and to implore His Almighty aid in His own good time to stay the destroying pestilence which is now wasting our land.
"The Session highly approving the said recommenda- tion, resolved that the day be kept by the members of this congregation as a day of solemn fasting, humilia- tion, and prayer, that they abstain from their usual avocations, and that they urge it upon their servants to attend on that day the sanctuary of Almighty God. It was further resolved that the Sacrament of the Lord's
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Supper be administered at this place on the Sabbath suc- ceeding the first Friday in August, next."
This entry was made for April 5, 1851. "A communi- cation was received from W. F. Blakely tendering his resignation of the office Clerk of Session and also resign- ing his office as an acting elder of this Church on the ground of his unacceptability to a portion of the church. Whereupon, it was resolved: 1st. that his resignation of the clerk's office be accepted and that the moderator be requested to act as temporary clerk. On motion of Colonel D. D. Wilson, it was resolved: 2nd. that his resignation of the office of ruling elder be accepted. On motion of Colonel Wilson, it was also resolved: 3rd. that his letter to the Session be inserted in our Session Book. Session adjourned, closed with prayer.
"April 6th. An extract of W. F. Blakely's letter to the Session of Indiantown Church. Gentlemen: From a sense of duty which I owe to myself and possibly the Church over which you so worthily preside. I am con- strained to tender to you my resignation as Clerk of the Session. This step has not been taken hastily or unad- visedly; but after mature deliberation and much prayer for guidance on the issue. It is not that I have ever thought that the duties it devolves on the incumbent are onerous or burdesome; however responsible they may be, that has induced me to arrive at this conclusion. No, far from it. On the other hand, I have ever felt gratified when it has been in my power to contribute so far as in me lay to the general good of either Church or State.
"I hold the maxim, no man should live for himself alone, but causes of which none of you are ignorant and, of course, unnecessary for me here to enumerate or men- tion have influenced me in this matter. When an indi- vidual, however exalted he may be, or however humble be his condition, is called upon by others to perform services of any kind and fails to give the necessary satis-
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faction to those by whom he is employed or who may be disagreeable to all or any of those with whom he is as- sociated, he should forthwith decline his position and give way to some more desirable than himself, is a duty so plain that it requires no sophistry to prove. Being convinced of the justness of my argument, I cannot in reason expect to exempt myself from doing that which I think to be the duty of another. I regret exceedingly that circumstances compel me to adopt the course I have; and that I no longer can consistently cooperate with you, nor share with you the responsibility. With my best wishes for you individually and for the Church over which you preside, I pray God to have you and it in His holy keeping and to build it up and strengthen it and deliver me from sowing the seeds of discord and con- fusion amongst His people. I now respectfully take my leave and again repeat that you have my best wishes and shall ever pray that the Almighty disposer of all events will ever bless you and graciously smile upon your labors. Hoping you may select from your respected body some one better qualified to discharge the duties of Clerk of the Session, I remain very respectfully, W. F. Blakely."
Mr. Blakely is still remembered as Squire Blakely of Indiantown Church. He was Clerk of the Indiantown Session of Elders for many years and his handwriting makes the pages, whereon he placed the records, strik- ingly beautiful.
Partly from the Session records and partly from abundant tradition, it seems that Nero, a slave, belong- ing to Captain S. J. Snowden, and a member of the Indiantown Church, gave the learned and austere Ses- sion food for thought. Nero was being tried for stealing two of his master's hogs, killing them, and concealing and eating the meat. Nero confessed his "crime" and thus sought to excuse himself. "It wuz dis way, Massuh
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Colonel Wilson. Nero wen' to ole marster and axes ole marster for sum meat. Ole marster he say 'Nero, you go git sum meat from ole missus.' Nero he wen to ole missus and she say 'Nero, you have ter git dat meat from ole marster!' Den Nero wen to de Lord, case Nero wanted sum meat. De Lord say 'Nero, old marster got plenty ob hawgs down dar in de swamp. Ole Nero is marster's nigger and dem is marster's hawgs.' Nero wen down to de swamp dat nite and killed two ob marster's hawgs and et dem up." About that time, the Moderator of the Session looked into the eyes of its several members and, without waiting for a word from them, said, "Nero, you go home."
In 1852, the Reverend Daniel Baker, D. D., held a protracted meeting at Indiantown and one of the results was that the following persons were admitted to full communion : William J. Graham, Robert F. Blakely, J. M. Graham, Samuel J. Graham, E. P. Blakely, Eliza- beth L. Blakely, Sarah J. Blakely, William S. McCon- nell, L. M. McConnell, Robert M. Cooper, Thomas Cooper, Samuel Cooper, James McCutchen, Thomas M. Britton, Janet Cooper, Amelia Burgess, Mary Nesmith, Joanna Nesmith, Sarah B. Hanna, and Joseph Fulmore.
On December 26, 1852, the following persons were granted certificates of dismission for the purpose of con- necting themselves with the White Oak Church: Minto W. McGill, Sarah Elizabeth McGill, James Burgess, Janet D. Burgess, Amelia E. Burgess, Andrew J. Murphy, Mary Ann Murphy, Mary M. C. Burgess, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Cooper, Mrs. Thermutas Cooper, and Mrs. E. W. Montgomery. At the same time, Messrs. George, John, Robert, and S. G. Cooper asked for certificates to unite with the White Oak Church, but these men were under the charge of "fighting" some time previous and their certificates were not granted at this time.
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This fight was between the Messrs. Cooper and Messrs. S. J. Snowden, Jr., Italy Wilson, and others, opposing. It seems that both sides in the fight had acted strictly according to the Irish code and the whole of Williams- burg District became interested. The Indiantown Ses- sion of Elders investigated the matter for a long time and finally decided that it could not arrive at a just and righteous decision and dismissed the case against the Messrs. Cooper and they were given certificates for uniting with the White Oak Church.
On February 24, 1856, J. C. Dye, a member of the Indiantown Church, was charged before the Session as neglecting the ordinances of the Church; secondly, selling ardent spirits ; third, permitting intemperance at his store, and cited to appear before the Session for trial. Mr. Dye appeared before the Session and confessed that he had sold ardent spirits and that he did not regard the selling of whiskey as wholly sinful in itself but led to sinful or bad consequences. Mr. Dye, having promised to abstain from selling ardent spirits in the future ex- cept for medicinal purposes and likewise having ex- pressed his sorrow for the past error, was, after being ad- monished by the Moderator, restored to his former stand- ing in the Church. This is the first recorded church op- position to the sale of whiskey in Williamsburg District. Until this time, whiskey had been sold by practically all merchants and without criticism by the religious bodies of the district. Some time prior to this, a chapter of the "Sons of Temperance" in the Indiantown community had been organized and this trial of Mr. Dye was one of its results.
During the late fifties, many of the men who had been leaders in the Indiantown Congregation for more than half a century, began resigning their offices in the Church and soon thereafter passing away. The first of these was Samuel Scott, who wrote, "My age and infirmity
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admonish me that I can be of little or no service to the Church by continuing to act any longer, now in my seventy-eighth year, and I therefore tender my resigna- tion as an Elder and Clerk of the Session." Later, Captain S. J. Snowden was deprived of the power of speech by a stroke of paralysis and he resigned. Within a few years, William Daniel, James McCutchen, George Barr, and Captain R. H. Wilson, all men of long and valuable service in the Church, died.
Robert Strong united with the Williamsburg Presby- terian Church in 1799, and in 1830 was the oldest living communicant in point of church membership. There were then living the following members of the Church who had been enrolled prior to 1822: Daniel Frierson, Jane Frierson, Henry Frierson, Martha Mouzon, Nancy Mou- zon, Elizabeth McGill, V. Tyson Fulton, James Bradley, Cecelia Bradley, Mary S. Wilson, Ezra Greene, Eliza Fulton, Joseph Scott, Sr., Mary Scott, Sarah Bradley, Martha Greene, Samuel Fluitt, Catherine McLean, Caro- line Scott, Amelia Scott, D. R. McClary, Ann McClary, Charlotte Fleming, Elizabeth Knox, William Douglas, Mary H. Duke, E. M. Cantey, Mary McClary, Elizabeth Tisdale, William Lifrage, Nancy Lifrage, Mary Watson, Francis Gowdy, Martha Barrineau, Joseph Chandler, Susannah Chandler, Sarah Salters, R. G. Ferrell, Elvira Chandler, and Martha Graham.
The following joined the Church during the ministry of the Reverend John Covert in 1822: Eliza Brockinton, John Murphy, Margaret Strong, Margaret Scott, H. D. Shaw, Agnes Shaw, William Camlin, Elizabeth Camlin, Mrs. M. Davis, William G. Flagler, and Mary Flagler.
The following joined the Williamsburg Church after the union of the Williamsburg and Bethel Congrega- tions had been effected in 1828, and during the ministry of the Reverend John M. Ervin; Samuel R. Mouzon, Sarah Devers, J. M. Fulton, James E. Fulton, T. D.
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Singleton, Hester Singleton, M. M. Singleton, Susannah Staggers, Nancy Witherspoon, William R. Scott, J. T. Scott, Sarah Murphy, Emerline Burrows, Sarah E. Mc- Clary, D. S. McClary, M. M. McClary, J. H. Fleming, S. A. Knox, Joseph A. Scott, William D. Scott, Martha Troy, G. H. Chandler, John A. Gordon, Margaret Smith, Elizabeth Douglas, John Watson, Emma Watson, Isaac Nelson, Jr., Rebecca Scott, George Barrineau, Priscilla Barrineau, Caroline Troy, Albert Scott, A. F. Graham, J. C. Graham, Jane Miller, John Knox, and S. E. Graham.
Mr. Ervin gave most of his attention during his four years service in Williamsburg to the Indiantown Con- gregation. However, from the above, it will be seen that a large number of substantial members were added to the Williamsburg Church during his ministry.
The Reverend Alexander Mitchell, a native of Argyle- shire, Scotland, succeeded Mr. Ervin in 1832. Mr. Mitch- ell contracted fever a few weeks after his arrival in Kingstree and died November 4, 1832. He was buried near Mr. Covert in the Williamsburg Cemetery.
The Reverend John McEwen succeeded Mr. Mitchell as minister of Williamsburg Church, but he served only a few months when he died on May 31, 1833.
In February, 1835, the Williamsburg Church secured the Reverend George H. W. Petrie, a native of Charleston and a graduate of the College of Charleston and of the Theological Seminary, as its minister. He served four years. The officers of the Church at that time were, Elders, Daniel Frierson, Isaac Nelson, Henry D. Shaw, David McClary, and James E. Fulton. Mr. Fulton was clerk of the Session and Mr. Nelson treasurer of the con- gregation. A great many persons united with the Church during his ministry.
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