USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. I pt 1 > Part 33
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310
DEATH OF MR. HUTSON.
[1760-1770.
tions and their extensive magazines of corn, and drove four thousand of their people to wander in the forests without a home. They were completely humbled, and sued for peace. They continued still to inhabit their territories in what is now Anderson, Pickens, and Greenville districts, down to the war of the Revolution.
Of all the settlers, we apprehend the Presbyterians suffered the most deeply from these Indian cruelties, for the upper and frontier settlements of the European colonists were composed most largely of them.
We will now proceed to give such facts connected with the history of the several churches as we have been able to gather. THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH in Charleston was still served by Rev. James Edmonds and William Hutson. The diary of the latter, his many expressions, either of penitence or religious enjoy- ment, manifested ever his sincere devotion to his ministerial work. At the opening of the year 1760, he speaks of having long survived his expectations. "Behold," says he, "I am still a monument of sparing mercy. However, I have cause enough to be still mindful of my mortality, for I am in a de- clining state, and 'tis very likely that this year I may die." He, however, outlived this year, which still was one of deep affliction to himself. In February he removed his family to James Island to escape the small-pox raging in the city, but Mrs. Hutson, his second wife, there sickened and died within a week. There are many allusions in the diary of Mr. Hutson to passing events, to the places at which he preached, some- times to " the blackening clouds gathering over this and the neighboring provinces," and then to the " victory and triumph of the British arms." Josiah Smith is alluded.to as still occu- pying the pulpit occasionally, although his paralytic affection must have rendered his ministrations at this time unedifying. Mr. Edmonds is spoken of, and other clergymen whom he heard in his excursions abroad. The journal of this good man terminates abruptly. The last entry is Lord's-day, the 8th of March, 1761. He died of apoplexy, on the 11th of March in the same year. "His first wife was the widow of Mr. Isaac Chardon," the daughter of Mr. Woodward, and grand-daughter of Hon. James Stanyarn, member of the Com- mons House under the proprietary government. By her " he acquired a considerable estate," and had several children. His daughter Ann married Gen. John Barnwell of Beaufort ; Esther married Major William Hazzard Wigg ; Elizabeth married, July, 1765, Isaac Hayne, the martyr of the Revolu-
311
DEATH OF MR. HUTSON.
1760-1770.]
tion ; she died shortly before his execution : Mary married Arthur Perroneau, merchant, June, 1761. One of his sons, Richard, was one of the first chancellors of South Carolina, and a signer of the Articles of Confederation : also prisoner at St. Augustine in 1780 : he never married. His son Thomas Hutson was colonel of a regiment in Marion's Brigade ; born January 9th, 1750, died May 4th, 1789, and was a much re- spected and esteemed planter in Prince William's parish, where a numerous posterity survives. Rev. Mr. Hutson mar- ried a second time, October 10th, 1758, Mary, widow of Hugh Bryan, who died early in 1760. His remains were interred in the burial-ground of the Congregational church in Charleston.
The following is the epitaph of Mr. Hutson, on a tombstone in the cemetery of the church :
Notent omnes hic positas esse Reliquias Rev. GULIELMI HUTSON, Qui, a vitiis, (quibus juvenis illectus est) Gratia Divina, Reclamatus officio sacro ministri se dedit, A. D. 1743, quo Et domesticis clare et integre fungentis perduravit, ideo ut erat Conjux charus, amans, fidelisque parens, et benignus herus vitam Prosperam eget, et (ad Deum Vocatus) reliquit populum, Liberosque lugentes, A. D. 1761, AEtatis sua, 41. Here are deposited The precious remains of the Rev. WILLIAM HUTSON, the five last years of his life one of the Pastors of this Church, being of a Truly noble Catholick spirit, an affectionate husband and parent, Sincere friend and kind master, endeavored to adorn the doctrine Of God our Saviour in all things, exchanged this for a better life, April 11th, 1761, in the 41st year of liis age ; and has a monument erected for Himself in the hearts of his acquaintances, hearers and friends. Hinc fugit spiritus de corpore morte revulsus, Incolum ad Gloriam quin iterum veniet, Charo hoc pulvere ne semperque manebit Felix in Jesu gaudia pura fruens, How joyful was his flight Up to the blest abode, f Guided by troops of angels bright, To meet a smiling God. Grief no more assaults him now, Nor any tears annoy, Safe landed on the heavenly shore, He doth liis God enjoy.
312
REV. ANDREW BENNET AND JOHN THOMAS.
[1760-1770.
" He was," says Dr. Ramsay, " an eloquent preacher, an exemplary Christian, and an accomplished gentleman." "He has left few such behind him in this province," says Mr. Simpson, who preached in his own church, which was founded by Mr. Hutson, and where he had labored for twelve years, a funeral sermon from Matth. xxiv. 36-" But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."
After the death of Mr. Hutson, the Rev. Andrew Bennet was chosen co-pastor. "He was a native of England, and edu- cated under the Rev. Drs. Conder and Gibbons, in London. He came to Charleston from Philadelphia, where he had been an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Cross, of the Presbyterian church in Market-street." He was preaching in Dorchester in June, 1760. In 1762 he obtained leave of absence, on account of his health, and in 1763 resigned and went to Bermuda, and afterwards to Barbadoes, on account of ill health, and there died in 1804. "He was esteemed," says Dr. Ramsay, "a pious, able, and eloquent preacher ; but bad health greatly obstructed his ample capacity for usefulness. Having no family, he bequeathed two thousand dollars to the society established in Charleston for the relief of elderly and disabled ministers, and of the widows and orphans of the Independent or Congregational church in the State of South Carolina."
In 1763 the congregation wrote to Mr. Thomas Gibbons and Mr. Samuel Pike, that with Mr. Bennet's advice they should send them a pastor. They say they have not the least encouragement to send to the northern colonies, it being extremely difficult, if not impossible, " to find one who would be suitable to this place, and whose sentiments would accord with ours both in doctrine and discipline." On the 24th of March, 1765, they resolve, at the counsel of Mr. Whitefield and Rev. John Martin, to invite Rev. John Rogers of Philadelphia, and offer him £150 sterling, or £1050 currency. The Rev. Josiah Smith appears to have been present at these meetings. On the 22d of May, 1766, they write to Dr. Gibbons and Dr. Conder, Dissenting ministers of London, to send them a suit- able minister. Rev. John Martin, of Wappetaw, seconded their application. In pursuance of this, Mr. John Thomas was sent out there a licentiate. He was ordained early in 1767 by 'Messrs. Smith, Zubly, and Edmonds. On the 22d of May he was elected pastor, and was installed by Mr. Smith June 7th in the same year. A letter from Nathaniel Russell to Dr. Stiles of Yale College, March 18th, 1767, speaks of the
313
WAPPETAW .- DORCHESTER.
1760-1770.]
favorable change in the congregation, which, from being " a very thin meeting, is now got to be very full and crowded," which argues well for Mr. Thomas's success. Mr. Edmonds resigned the pastoral charge in the same year, and removed to Sunbury, in Georgia. This church lost some conspicuous and useful members during this period. Solomon Legare, the emigrant who came to Carolina in 1696, died on the 8th of May, 1760, in his eighty-seventh year, having been sixty- four years in America; and a Mr. Moody, spoken of by Mr. Simpson as a gentleman of great worth and influence, and eminently pious, who had been much engaged in the religious instruction of the negroes, died a happy and peaceful death in May, 1766.
The Congregational church at WAPPETAW was still served by Rev. John Martin. That at DORCHESTER had become well- nigh extinct by the removal of the pastor and congregation to Georgia. Yet there was still a congregation worshipping there, to which Mr. Hutson preached April 27th, 1760. He preached again at Beech Hill, May the 4th. Again at Dor- chester, in exchange with Mr. Bennet, on the 8th of June, as his diary informs us. It is probable that Mr. Bennet was the stated supply at Dorchester at this time. These are all the items we have been able to collect respecting the people worshipping at this ancient church during the period of which we now treat. Some particulars respecting the congregation which had removed to Midway, Georgia, will appear on an- other page.
CHAPTER II.
THE STONEY CREEK Independent Presbyterian Church con- tinued to enjoy the faithful labors of the Rev. Archibald Simp- son, whose diary furnishes us with most of the notices we can obtain of neighboring churches and the passing times. On May 18th, 1761, he is called to a people on the Altamaha, in Georgia. On the 6th of June a call is forwarded to him through the presbytery from the Williamsburg church, which he afterwards visits, as he does also the people on the Alta- maha. On the 8th he is " set upon to settle at Wilton." In 1764, Mr. Richardson pleads the destitutions in the new set- tlements above the Waxhaws, and urges his removal there, partly on the score of health. Long Canes earnestly desires
314
STONEY CREEK.
[1760-1770.
a visit from him. Mr. Richardson's request ripens into a call from a congregation near him, received on Thursday, the 27th of September, 1764, which he declines. In 1765, Mr. White- field insisted on his removal to the north, and promises his influence in his behalf in Philadelphia and New York. On the 29th of July, 1765, he receives propositions from Halifax, which he deems it his duty to accept. This purpose is frus- trated by the death of his wife. He is solicited also by many poor negroes not to leave the parish. The subject of a removal to the north weiglied upon his mind for a twelvemonth. The reason which prevails most with him is the disturbed state of the entire country : " the whole provinces in British America being in open opposition to the government, refusing to submit to an act of Parliament of Great Britain for laying a stamp duty on the colonies, which is thought to be contrary to our liberties, and very oppressive in its nature. And thus all public business is at a stand, and the northern colonies, which are very populous, threaten to oppose the government with arms." He still, however, was troubled about staying in the province, being strongly influenced by the overtures from Halifax.
The colonies met in congress on the 7th of October, and were bound together, " a bundle of sticks which could neither be bent nor broken." The resistance increased ; the Stamp Act could not be enforced. Under the lead of Pitt in the House of Commons it was repealed, to the great joy of the colonies, South Carolina herself voting a statue in honor of Pitt, which still stands in front of the orphan-house in Charleston .*
The church of Stoney Creek owned, with its other property, several negroes, which were hired annually, and their hire con- stituted a part of the income of the church for the support of its pastor. They were not always as well cared for as if they had individual masters. February 7th, 1765, one had died, one had been drowned, and there were nine remaining. Mr. Simpson notices several meetings of the trustees as occurring to attend to this and other business of a like nature.
* The South Carolina Gazette of July 28th, 1766, advertises " A Sermon on the Repeal of the Stamp Act, preached at Savannah, Ga., on the 25th of June, 1766, by J. J. Zubly, V. D. M., from Gal. v. 13, 15-' For, brethren, we have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed of one another.'
" In this discourse the New World is considered as a Divine Theocracy. And the justness of the author's comparisons of the present with past events, with the eloquence of thought, design, and expression, render it worthy to be transmitted to posterity."
315
MR. WHITEFIELD.
1760-1770.]
The following relates to Mr. Whitefield, between whom and himself there had been serious differences. " Wednesday, December 5th, 1764 :- Between nine and ten, Mr. Whitefield (his old friend or enemy, he will not say which) stopped with him on his way to Georgia, in a coach and four with several servants." "On account of Mrs. Simpson's sickness he could not entertain him, but pressed him to go to Mrs. B[u]ll's, in our neighborhood, which he would not, but insisted on going to Mr. McLeod's, about four miles distant. He is prodigiously corpulent, but has for two years been in a bad state of health, and not able to preach as much as he used to do. Seemed still holy ; his conversation not so much in the clouds nor so flighty, but more solid and weighty, and more like an inhabit- ant of this world. I asked him much to stay and preach here, as it would be agreeable to many." He then makes some comments on his equipage, and cannot forbear saying, "how unlike he was to his Master in this respect !" It was a source of great gratification, doubtless, to both parties that this estrangement was removed. On Tuesday, January 28th, 1765, he "spent this evening and part of the night with Rev. Mr. Whitefield in a very friendly way. Blessed be God, who has lifted me up from the very humbling circumstances I was in the first time Mr. Whitefield was in this country."; On Friday, February 22d, Mr. Whitefield preached in his meeting-house. " The auditory large, serious, and well-behaved, which gave me mucli pleasure, and which is not always the case in his auditories in this province, many taking occasion from his peculiarities to behave very indecently. He preached, from Phil. i. 21, first clause, a good sermon on the very vitals of Christianity. After sermon he dined at my house, renewed his professions of friendship, and went for Charleston on his way to Philadelphia. The more I compare times past with the present, the more my soul is humbled in the dust, praising, blessing, and adoring the Lord for all his great and wonder- ful goodness."
Soon after the visit of Mr. Whitefield, and while he was still contemplating a removal to some more northern province, both he and Mrs. Simpson were taken desperately ill with fever, and brought to the brink of the grave. After lingering for some days, with a presentiment that her attack was a mortal one, and after much and satisfactory intercourse with her husband, and expressions of joy at her release from the flesh, she expired on the 7th of August, 1765, leaving three children-Jean, Susy, and Eleanor ; four years and four
316
MEETING OF PRESBYTERY.
[1760-1770.
months, two years and nearly eight months, and eight months of age. The record of her religious character and exercises, during her last illness, is one exceedingly touching. Mr. Simpson greatly mourned her loss, but says, " The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away : Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Under date of Friday, March 28th, 1766, we find mention made of Mr. Robert McMordie, who was appointed at the meet- ing of the synod of New York and Philadelphia, May, 1765, as a missionary to visit the destitutions of the southern colo- nies. The appointment was in consequence of supplications for supplies from the congregations of Bethel and Poplar Tent, in Mecklenburg county, and from New Providence and Six Mile Spring, Hawfield and Little River, and from Long Canes in South Carolina. In consequence of this the synod appointed Messrs. Nathan Kerr, George Duffield, William Ramsay, David Caldwell, James Latta, and Robert McMordie, to go there as soon as they can conveniently, and each of them to tarry half a year in these congregations, as prudence may direct .- (Minutes of the Synod of New York and Philadel- phia, p. 346.) " About the middle of the day," says Mr. Simp- son, "was sent for to Sheldon, where found the Rev. Mr. McMordy, from Pennsylvania, who has been travelling along our back settlements. In the evening brought home Mr. McMordy and his companion with me, and, having looked into his testimonials, invited him to preach for me on Sab- bath." "Monday, accompanied him on his way to Charleston ; saw him and his companion safely over Combahee ferry ; per- ceived he was a well-read scholar, of good ability ; wrote to a friend at Pon Pon to arrange that the Willton people might hear him, and call him if they thought proper, and to Mr. Gordon to the same effect."
Mr. Simpson had attended a meeting of presbytery, April 21st, 1760, held at Pon Pon, on account of the prevalence of the small-pox in Charleston; again in Charleston, November 22d of the same year. But we find him attending less fre- quently-his feelings becoming more and more estranged from his brethren on account of a difference of opinion, or perhaps because of his connection with a church not under presbyterial control. His journal introduces us again to the presbytery, which he attended in May, 1766. From his own account, it was far from being a harmonious meeting. He had questioned the perfect orthodoxy of a minister lately from Ireland, whose name he does not fully mention, and whom the presbytery sustained. He is disposed to charge
317
MIDWAY CHURCH, GEORGIA.
1700-1770.]
the majority with having a leaning toward error in doctrine. It was Mr. Richardson who was the author of the queries in respect to this minister's soundness, and who proposed them out of zeal for the truth, and the honor of his Master. It is not improbable that the Moderatism of Scotland and the evangelical views of its opponents were both represented in this body. But it is to be hoped that the vague charges of Arminianism, Arianism, and Socinianism, made by Mr. Simp- son, were far from being justified. Yet it was the prevalence of these opinions abroad which gave rise to the action of the synod of Philadelphia in 1739, and of the General Assembly since, down to 1849, which demands the probation of foreign ministers before they are entitled to full credentials with us.
During these ten years Mr. Simpson made two journeys to the people on Sapelo and Altamaha, who had invited him to settle among them as their pastor. His journal of these visits is interesting, as throwing light upon the condition of the country, and the circumstances and character of the people he met with. One of these journeys was performed in March, 1761, the other in November, 1769. His route lay by the way of Purysburg, Ebenezer, Savannah, Liberty county, as far as Darien, Georgia. He speaks of Purysburg, even then, as a poor, deserted place. He praises Mr. Zubly, in Savannah, as a most eminent scholar and great divine, as possessing extra- ordinary talents for writing on subjects whether religious or political, and as an excellent Christian. On one occasion he heard him preach in the German to the " Dutch people," and describes him as a holy preacher in every tongue he speaks, the French, German, and English. On his visit he was greatly surprised at the great and beautiful improvements made in the Midway settlement-the fine plantations, the large and well-finished meeting-house, the good public roads, in what seven years before was looked upon as an almost impenetrable swamp. Reaching Major John McIntosh's house on Sapelo, he finds it the most beautiful situation he had seen in America, with the largest orange orchard in those parts. The people on Sapelo were Scotch Highlanders, mostly very poor, their situation for many years, for want of the gospel, very melan- choly. Those on the Altamaha were chiefly North Ireland people, who were just moving in from Williamsburg, Soutli Carolina. He addressed them in a pole-house or shelter, where Mr. Osgood had sometimes preached. He also visited old Captain, afterwards General, Lachlan McIntosh, who had spent most of his days in the army, and most of whose children
318
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND DR. HEWAT.
[1760-1770.
were settled in those parts. The people resolved to forward a call to South Carolina presbytery for his services, and to seek aid to build a meeting-house and parsonage. The next Sabbath he preached to a very considerable and attentive congregation. On his next visit, in 1769, he has more to say of Mr. Osgood and his people. He attended a sacramental season at old Midway church, which seems to have been con- ducted much as in later years. He finds Mr. Edmonds as colleague with Mr. Osgood, but residing at Sunbury. He is charmed with Mr. Osgood as a "Nathaniel, an Israelite indeed, much of a gentleman, and yet with the most primitive and plain simplicity in his beliavior, by nature and grace of a most mild, meek, and pleasant disposition, and withal a most edifying, delightful, and instructive preacher." The three ministers officiated on the Lord's-day, the congregation was large and genteel, attentive and tenderly impressed, and the whole occasion reminded him of the many sweet seasons of communion he had enjoyed in Scotland. Thus early had the Dorchester church, which removed from Ashley river in 1754, taken root and sent forth its branches at Midway, in what since 1777 has been called Liberty county, Georgia.
The FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in CHARLESTON, which by its metropolitan position is, in many respects, the most impor- tant church of this period, is without any record by which we can gather its history, during this decennium. We have seen that the Rev. Philip Morrison was installed its pastor on the 19th of March, 1757. We are not able to say how long his ministry continued. The South Carolina Gazette for Novem- ber 5th and 12th, 1763, notices the arrival of Rev. Mr. Hewitt for the Scotch Church. The true orthography of his name, as spelled by himself, was Hewat ; Mr. Simpson, in his diary, writes it Huet ; Mr. B. R. Carroll, in the Historical Collections of South Carolina, spells it Hewit ; Watt, in the Bibliotheca Bri- tannica, gives Hewatt as author of the sermons, and Hewit as author of the history published by him. His name was prob- ably enrolled by himself in the St. Andrew's Society in the city of Charleston, on the 30th of November, 1763, shortly after his arrival. This was the day of the patron saint of Scotland, and the pastor of the Scotch church has generally officiated as chaplain of that society .- (Hon. Mitchell King, quoted by Dr. Smyth, Sprague's Annals, iii., 253.) Judge King, however, says that "the records of the church, in Dr. Hewat's own hand- writing, show that on the 20th of March, 1763, he presided as moderator at the meeting of session." These discrepancies Mr.
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319
WILTON.
1760-1770.]
King is unable to reconcile. All we know is that Rev. Alex- ander Hewat was pastor of this church from some time in 1763. In a note appended to his sermons, vol. i., p. 386, he informs us that his early education was obtained in Kelso. He attended faithfully to his pastoral duties during the period of which we now speak, not, however, without some interrup- tion from ill health. Mr. Simpson, speaking of the destitution of ministers, February 17th, 1766, says of Mr. Gordon, "he is very low, is trying to get off to the Bermudas. Mr. Huet, minister of Charleston, has already gone off in a very bad state of health." On the 6th of January, 1768, he was at Mr. Huet's in town, with. two other Presbyterian ministers, Mr. Tait of North Carolina and Mr. Knox lately from Ireland. He was "not greatly pleased nor edified with this night's con- versation, it being mostly against Mr. Whitefield and minis- ters of his stamp. As I felt myself pointed at," he says, " I thought it my duty to speak freely, and stand up for the preaching warmly and zealously the doctrines of grace, the necessity of regeneration, the Catholic practice of preaching in all pulpits, employing pious ministers of every denomination, and holding occasional communion with all sound Protestants, with all Christians who held of the glorious Head, and both lay and ministerial communion." On June 1st he was again at Mr. Huet's, where he met with the Rev. Mr. Lathrop. "They rallied me," he adds, " about not attending presbytery, and told me that at the last general meeting, about two weeks ago, all the members attended, except Mr. Richardson and me, and that they looked upon us as incorrigible, and left us to ourselves. Mr. Huet told me seriously that Wiltown call would certainly be offered me, and that the brethren were resolved to have me out of the Independent congregation, that I might have no excuse for not attending presbytery. I told him I hoped they would give the Indian Land people (Stoney Creek) notice before they offered the call, that they might have a hearing against it if they desired. He said, no doubt but they would be informed before it was presented to me, but that he should insist on my accepting it." We see from this extract the general views which Mr. Hewat advo- cated, and the influential position held by him in the presby- tery of Charleston.
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