History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. I pt 2, Part 11

Author: Howe, George, 1802-1883
Publication date: 1870
Publisher: Columbia, Duffie & Chapman
Number of Pages: 724


USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. I pt 2 > Part 11


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449


MOUNT ZION SOCIETY.


1770-1780.]


prisoners were tried as traitors. Seventy were condemned to death, but their leaders only were executed. This second in- surrection of the Tories was thus quelled. In all these con- flicts our Presbyterian brethren suffered either by wounds, disease, imprisonment, or death, and the houses and planta- tions of those who lived in the march of the invading and retreating enemy were plundered and desolated.


Yet in the midst of these scenes of conflict our people were by no means neglecting the interests of learning and reli- gion. The Mount Zion society was established in the city of Charleston January 9th, and incorporated February 12th, 1777, "for the purpose of founding, endowing, and supporting a public school in the district of Camden for the education and instruction of youth." The preamble of the constitution is prefaced by Isaiah, lx. 1, and ixi. 3-" Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. To ap- point unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; that they might be called the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." The very language is jubilant with hope and courage, and the quotation may have suggested the name the society adopted. Its members were dispersed over the State. It was to have weekly, quarterly, and annual meetings, and these, for the convenience of the most numerous body of members, were held in Charleston. It was to have local com- mittees in the country, and thirteen governors or directors, seven in the country and six in the city. The first president was Col. John Winn, and its wardens Gen. William Strother and Capt. Robert Ellison. . Col. Thomas Taylor, Capt. Thomas Woodward, and other patriots, were among the first signers of its constitution. Its membership the first year was fifty- eight in number. In 1778 ninety-six were added; in 1779, eighty-seven ; so that at the close of this decennium two hundred and sixty-four names were found upon its roll. In the second year of its existence we find among the names Andrew Pickens, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, four sons of Anthony Hampton, Henry, Edward, Richard, and Wade, and the brother of Anthony, John Hampton. About this time a school was taught in Winnsboro by William Humphreys, who, it is believed, was placed there by the Mount Zion society. This Mr. Humphreys was a member of the society and owned lots in Winnsboro, which he sold about 1800. At what time this school was discontinued is not known, but it


29


450


SANGUINARY CONFLICTS.


[1780-1790.


was probably about the time when Lord Cornwallis moved his headquarters to Winnsboro, in 1780. What connection this society had with the interests of the church will be seen here- after.


BOOK TWELFTH.


1780-1790.


CHAPTER I.


THE period on which we now enter covers that of Carolina's greatest suffering. The three first years of this decade to the peace of Paris, on the 30th of November, 1782, and more especially the two first of these years, were filled with san- guinary conflicts of greater or less importance, bringing un- told calamities to this afflicted State. From the seaboard to the mountains its soil was stained with the blood of its sons. The mere enumeration of the various battles and contests shows how replete with alarms and how full of deeds of en- durance and heroism were these days of trial. The battle of Lenud's Ferry, the fall of Charleston, the battle of Beckham- ville, and of Mobley's Meeting-house in Chester district, of the Waxhaw in Lancaster, of Hammond's Store, of William- son's in York, of Rocky Mount, of Cedar Springs, of Hanging Rock, of Wateree Ford, of Camden, of Fishing Creek, of Mus- grove's Mills, of Nelson's Ferry, of Stallions, of Fort Corn- wallis at Augusta, of Wahab, of Bigger's Ferry, of King's Mountain, of Tarcote Swamp, of White's Bridge, of Fish-dam Ford, of Blackstock, of Rugely's Mills, of Cowpens, of George- town, of Socastee Swamp, of Friday's Fort, of Thompson's on the Congaree, of White's Bridge near Sampit, of Wiboo Swamp, of Mount Hope, of Big Savannah, of Scape Hoar, of Sampit Bridge, of Fort Balfour on the Pocotaligo, of Fort Watson, of Hobkirk Hill, of Orangeburg, of Fort Motte, of Nelson's Ferry, of Fort Granby, of Fort Galphin, the siege of Ninety- Six, the battle of Georgetown, of Congaree Ford, of Watboo, of Parker's Ferry, of Eutaw, of Fair Lawn, of Black Mingo, of Haye's Station, of Strawberry Ferry near Monk's Corner, of Combahee, of Wombaw, of John's Island,-all these engage- ments, in many of which, it is true, large numbers were not involved, spread as they were over the whole State, show the


451


1780-1790 | INDEPENDENT CHURCH, CHARLESTON.


agitations of the times and the severe trials of our revolu- tionary fathers.


During the remaining seven years of this period the State was organizing its civil government, and the church spreading itself more and more over that field of usefulness which it has ever since occupied.


In resuming our history of the churches, we commence as before with the INDEPENDENT CHURCH IN CHARLESTON, it being the oldest in the State, except the Episcopal church of St. Philip's, for which the priority is claimed. In our last notice we found the congregation vacant, and inviting, July 18th, 1779, Rev. Mr. Edmonds and Dr. Percy, an Episcopalian of liberal views, to preach for them till the following October. They had two places of worship, the "White Meeting," in Meet- ing-street, and the church in Archdale-street, originated in 1772 by the energy and influence of Rev. William Tennent. The walls of this house of worship had been completed, the whole covered in, and most of the pews put up; but it re- mained in this unfinished state during the eight years of the Revolution and for some time after its termination. The venerable Josiah Smith, the former pastor of this churchi, was still living, though disabled from ministerial duty, and it is most probable that the pulpit continued to be filled in the early months of 1780 by Rev. James Edmonds. On the 11th of February the British army landed within thirty miles of Charleston. The General Assembly of South Carolina being then in session, clothed John Rutledge with almost dictatorial powers, commissioning him to see that "the Republic sus- tained no harm." At Wappoo, on James Island, Sir. Henry Clinton formed a depot and erected fortifications. On the 1st of April he broke ground at the distance of eleven hundred yards from the city, and at successive periods erected five batteries on Charleston Neck. The garrison were equally as- siduous. They strengthened and extended the works thrown up in the spring of 1779, and continued the line of defence from the Ashley to the Cooper river. A deep moat filled with water and an abbatis extended from river to river. These lines were on the ridge of land where St. Paul's [Episcopal] church, the orphan-house, the citadel, and the second Pres- byterian church now stand. The bombardment of the city commenced on the 12th of April, and was carried on with great pertinacity. The enemy threw sliells, fire-balls, and carcases, ingeniously contrived with combustibles, loaded pistol barrels, &c., by which many buildings were set on fire, and


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1


452


SIEGE OF THE CITY.


[1780-1790.


some few lives were lost. The families living in the city sought protection in their cellars, and only about twenty are known to have been killed. One case of peculiar interest was that of a man serving at his post in the defence. He had been re- lieved, had just entered his house, and was just then embraced by his anxious wife with tears of gladness, when a ball passed through the house and instantly killed them both .- (Johnson's Traditions of the Revolution.) The Rev. Mr. Edmonds continued to perform divine service in the church, to a few worshippers, mostly women and invalids; for the men were by night and day on the lines. While on one occasion he was engaged in this duty, a bombshell fell in the churchyard ; the worshippers instantly dispersed and retired to their usual places of abode. Divine service was wholly intermitted from that day, for the two years and eight months that followed .- (Ramsay's Hist. of the Circular Church.) At last the third parallel of the enemy was completed, the parties were within speaking dis- tance of each other, and every object shown above the lines was riddled with bullets. On the 11th of May the British crossed the wet ditch by a sap which had drawn off its water, the city was no longer tenable, and on the 12th of May capitu- lated to the British general.


The Rev. Mr. Edmonds was sent with others on board the prison-ship Torbay, in May, 1781. In consequence of the war, the church was temporarily disorganized and dispersed. For six years it remained without a settled minister, and divine service was discontinued for half that period. The church building was used by the British as a hospital for their sick, and afterwards as a store-house for their provisions. The pulpit and pews were taken down and destroyed to make room for these purposes. Even the right of sepulture in the cem- etery was denied to the families of worshippers who were in Charleston after their capitulation as prisoners of war. About thirty-eight heads of these families were exiled, partly to St. Augustine, in 1780, and partly to Philadelphia, in 1781, in direct contradiction to the terms of capitulation. Their influ- ence doubtless restrained many from exchanging their parole as prisoners for the protection and privileges of British sub- jects. And Lord Cornwallis, soon after his victory at Camden, gave orders to send out of the province a number of the prin- cipal citizens. It had before been promised that they should remain in Charleston until exchanged or otherwise released from parole. Now the British claimed it as the right of victors to remove their prisoners wherever they pleased. They


453


TREATMENT RECEIVED.


1780-1790.]


were thus secluded from their wives and families, could not correspond with them without subjecting every letter to the inspection of their conquerors, were cut off from communica- tion with their countrymen, and without funds. Others were debarred from trade and from exercising those professions by which a livelihood was obtained, and from " all mechanic arts, business, or occupation." And even when these prisoners were released, it was not to return to their own homes and. meet their families in peace. The prisoners of St. Augustine were sent to Philadelphia, their families were banished thither also, and thrown on the charity of strangers for their support. Thus a bitter hatred was engendered by this war against the British people for their gratuitous cruelty.


" Three days," says one who was a sufferer, "three days after the exchange of the St. Augustine prisoners had been ratified in Charleston, the commandant of that place issued a proclamation ordering all those families to leave the city and the State by the 1st of August whose fathers had not taken protection. This was the unkindest cut of all. The fathers in St. Augustine did not know of this order and could not pro- vide for the exigencies of their families. The mothers had all suffered great privations ; many were destitute of support when their husbands were abroad, and were obliged to sacri- fice their furniture, ornaments, and other property, for the means of removal. None knew when they might again meet their husbands, if ever, or find means of making known their situation and necessities." Among these was Mrs. Mary de Saussure, wife of Daniel de Saussure, of whom we have written, one of the most respectable merchants of Charleston, and one of the most exemplary citizens of the State. A copy of Mrs. de Saussure's petition to the commandant for per- mission to sell her furniture to obtain the means of removal has been preserved by her children and grandchildren.


On the 25th of July many of these families embarked for Philadelphia, in a brig commanded by Capt. Downham New- ton, with a passport making her a flag of truce. "Among them," says the informant, Joseph Johnson, M. D., Traditions of the Revolution, pp. 331, 332, " were my mother and family ; of the others, we can only recollect the families of Mr. Josiah Smith, in which was included his venerable father, the min- ister, so aged and infirm that he required constant personal attentions ; also the families of Messrs. George A. Hall, Sam- uel Prioleau, William Lee, Logan, Cripps, Axson, and North. They had a prosperous voyage, entered the capes of Delaware


454


DEATH OF REV. JOSIAH SMITH.


[1780-1790.


on the 2d of August, and, with a fair wind, continued their course up to Newcastle. Another brig had been in sight all day, pursuing the same course a little behind them. As they anchored in the evening the other brig anchored close along- side. My father being on the deck of this last brig, hailed the other without the use of the trumpet, and was answered 'from Charleston,' in the well-known voice of the captain. They immediately recognized each other. 'Is that you, Downham Newton ?' 'Aye; is that you, William Johnson ? . We have your family on board.' Many other manly voices immediately and anxiously inquired each for his own family, and a joyful meeting then took place of many dear ones, thus providentially brought together. The pious effusions of their gratitude were offered up to Him who had so unexpectedly effected the meet- ing of relatives and friends, without preconcert or provision on their part."


The Rev. Josiah Smith, to whom allusion is above made, as we have seen in the earlier pages of this volume, held a con- spicuous place among the ministers of South Carolina, until in God's mysterious providence he was stricken down by par- alysis. The closing period of his life is thus described by Dr. Ramsay, who was contemporary with him long enough to know his worth and to be familiar with his history :-


" When independenee was declared his age and infirmities put it out of his power to render his country any active service, but his heart and his prayers were with the friends of America in every period of the Revolution. When Charleston surrendered he became a prisoner of war, and was paroled as such. He discovered no disposition to return to his allegianee as a British subject, but honorably observed his parole. In the year 1781 the royal com- manders compelled Mr. Smith, with his son's family, of which he was one, though in the seventy-seventh year of liis age, to leave Charleston. He was with them safely landed in Philadelphia, and shortly after, in the month of October of the same year, died there. In the worst of times he repeatedly expressed a cheerful hope that he would live to see the troubles of America ended. This was so far realized that he survived for a short time the sur- render of Corn wallis.


"His venerable age, distinguished eminenee in the church as a man of learn- ing and piety, his steady patriotism and personal sufferings in the cause of liberty, excited a general sympathy in his behalf. Though he died a stranger, in a strange land, he was particularly honored. His funeral was respeetably attended by the citizens of Philadelphia, and by most of the Carolina exiles then in that eity. The Presbyterians of Philadelphia directed that his body should be buried within the walls of their Areh-street church, and between the remains of his two friends, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent and Samuel Finley, D. D., late president of Prineeton College.


" Mr. Smith left two sons, Josiah and George, and two daugliters ; one of the latter married Capt. Edward Darrel, the other Daniel Bordeaux, Esq. The issue of these four children of the Rev. Mr. Smith, now, in 1814, living, is forty-nine."


The history of Mr. Thomas Legare belongs both to the con-


455


1780-1790.]


THOMAS LEGARE AND OTHER EXILES.


gregation of the John's Island Presbyterian church and the Independent or Congregational church of Charleston. He was a worshipper in both, his summer residence, as in the case of his son of the same name, was in one congregation, his winter residence in the other. Mr. Legare had returned to Charleston to join his fellow-citizens in defending the town, and was there during the siege. After the fall of Charles- ton he first became a prisoner on parole, and his case illus- trates the vicissitudes which befell the men of his day. As a paroled prisoner he was permitted to return to his plantation in St. John's, Berkley, near Monk's Corner. There they were visited and plundered by Tarleton. He removed his family to Charleston, and as his town residence was occupied by the British, he took refuge in the upper story of Mrs. Ellis's house, subsequently occupied by the Misses Ramsay, the British having possession of the lower. Dr. Ramsay was taken to the Provost prison, which was the basement or cellar story of the exchange, and Mr. Legare was made to rise from a sick bed and occupy the same place. In the autumn he was confined on board one of the prison-ships, with his son James, John B. Holmes, John Edwards, Rev. James Edmonds, Job Palmer, and others, until exchanged, when they were to be sent to some port on the Chesapeake or Delaware. Just as they were moving away from the shore, Miss Martin, after- wards Mrs. Ogier, ascended one of the fortifications, waved her bonnet in the air, and exclaimed, " Courage, my country- men ; keep up your spirits ; better days ahead." She was answered by three cheers from the prisoners; but the British officers and soldiers were enraged, some of whom were for pro- ceeding to violence, but were restrained by others. In May, 1781, a general exchange was agreed to. The prison-ship was ordered to Virginia in June, 1781. Mr. Freer visited Mr. Le- gare and endeavored to persuade him to take British protec- tion. He told him of the illness of his wife and daughters, and that he probably would never see them again. Mr. L. was firm, and Mr. Freer got leave for him to make a hurried visit home before he left. They had scarcely recovered when they were ordered to Philadelphia, with other families, among them the family of Job Palmer, Mrs. P. being in hourly expectation of her accouchement. After a stormy, unpleasant passage in an unseaworthy vessel, they reached Philadelphia, where shortly after Rev. Dr. B. M. Palmer, sen., was born. When the prison- ship in which Mr. Legare was confined reached the mouth of James river, the prisoners were all landed on a desolate sand-


.


456


THOMAS LEGARE AND OTHER EXILES.


[1780-1790.


bank (probably Craney Island, on which a fort has since been built), separated from the main by a wide channel. The pris- oners remonstrated, but the captain declared that such had been his private instructions, and there he left them, without a drop of water or a morsel of food. Having nothing before them but the horrors of starvation, most of the party sat down in despair. But Mr. Legare went searching about and discovered the end of a boat projecting out of the sand on the beach. This, with the help of his son James and Job Palmer, he dug out, and found to be sound, except a hole in the bottom, made by a ball fired through her. They caulked the hole with a part of their clothing, and conveyed them- selves and associates to land. Mr. Legare, his son James, Mr. Palmer, and J. B. Holmes, obtained horses and set out for home, and had reached Goose Creek, where, meeting with Mrs. Wm. Elliott, she informed them that their families were in Philadelphia. They then retraced their weary way, meeting many singular adventures and surprising providences. He at last reached Philadelphia and found his family, but reduced to want. Here he was supplied with funds by Mr. Robertdean, on one occasion by Mr. Gilbert of New Jersey, whom Mr. Legare had permitted to build a ship from timber cut on Mr. L.'s land free of charge, then by a sum of money sent by Mr. Freer, who had claimed the crop on L.'s place, which was appropriated by the British, and made them pay for it, and now sent on the money. The news of the surrender of Corn- wallis at Yorktown was received late at night. Congress was then in session. The messenger of that body, on receiving the despatches with the news, ran to deliver them in the highest excitement and joy. He had scarcely entered the hall when he fell dead with apoplexy .- (Medical Lectures, by Dr. Rush.) Mr. Legare first heard the news by the cry of the city watch- men, who were all Dutchmen : "Half-past twelf o'glock, and Gornwallis es daken." Legare threw up the window and cried out, " What, ho ! friend, do you say Cornwallis is taken prisoner ?" " Yaw, Gornwallis es daken," and burst out into a Dutch song .*


But the exiles in Philadelphia, while the royal army yet


* MS. account of the Legare family, compiled by Mrs. Flud, a great-great- grand-daughter of the Huguenot emigrant, Solomon Legare, from statements collected by her mother, Mrs. Burden, her uncles, James and Thomas Legare, Mrs. Thomas Ogier, senior, Mrs. Bascom, and others; also from files of papers searched out by Hugh S. Legare. See also Johnson's Traditions of the Revolution, p. 370.


457


THEY CALL A MINISTER.


1780-1790.]


occupied Charleston, anticipating a speedy departure of the foe, took provisional measures for the supply and reorganiza- tion of their church. The following procedure is found in the records of the congregation, under date March 25th, 1782 :-


" The exiles in Philadelphia, ' having through the good hand of God, a pros- pect of returning to our country again,' made out a kind of circular call, to be presented first to the Rev. George Duffield; if lie deelines, then to the Rev. James Greer of Deep river; if he deelines, then to the Rev. Mr. Wil- liam Hollingslicad of Cohansie, New Jersey, promising, in consequence of their altered cireumstanees, one hundred pounds as salary and a house as parsonage." This call was signed by


Josialı Smithı, Trustee,


William Wilkie,


Thomas Legare,


Charles McDonald,


Edward Darrel,


James Wilkins,


David Ramsay,


J. H. Thompson,


James Fisher,


Thomas Hughes,


Isaac Holmes,


Job Palmer,


Anthony Toomer,


S. Smith,


Samuel Miller,


Samuel Baldwin.


Dr. Ramsay, one of the signers, was at this time one of the delegates to Congress, of which he continued a respected member till 1786, being for one year the president of that body.


An interesting letter of Josiah Smith's to Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Hollingshead is on record, dated January 1st, 1783 .- (Records of Circular Church, p. 257.) Mr. Hollingshead de clined this call under the recommendation of the presby- tery.


The remnant of the church in Charleston, from the time of the evacuation by the British army, December 14th, 1782, began to devise means for the repair of their desecrated sanc- tuary. On the 1st of June, 1783, at the suggestion of Dr. Ramsay, they renew their call to Mr. Hollingshead and offer the salary given to Mr. Tennent before the war. Mr. Hol- lingshead accepted their call, and was dismissed by the first presbytery of Philadelphia in consequence of this acceptance, in July of that year .* He arrived in Charleston on the 22d


* William Hollingshead was born in Philadelphia, October 8th, 1748, and was the son of William Hollingshead, who was distinguished in eivil life at the commencement of the Revolution. His father, Daniel Hollingshead, eame from Lancashire, England, to Barbadoes, early in the eighteenth een- tury, where he married Miss Hazell, daughter of a wealthy sugar planter, and some time after eame to New Jersey and settled in the neighborhood of New Brunswick. William Hollingshead was the eldest of fifteen children. He became a member of the church at the age of fifteen, and was graduated at the university of Pennsylvania in 1770. He was licensed to preaeli by the presbytery of Philadelphia in 1772, and ordained and installed pastor of the


458


REV. DR. HOLLINGSHEAD.


[1780-1790.


of November. The repairs of the church had been completed by a general subscription, to which members of other denom- inations contributed, at a cost of $6,000, and the renovated edifice was opened and consecrated anew to divine worship on the 11th of December, 1783, with an excellent and appro- priate sermon by the newly-arrived pastor, on the very day appointed by Congress as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings of peace and independence.


On June 11th, 1784, the Rev. Mr. Hollingshead received his full induction as pastor of this church, in their own peculiar way, Mr. John Scott addressing him in the name of the church, acknowledging him as their minister, the church giving him at the same time the right-hand of fellowship.


On the 25th of September, 1786, the congregation wrote to Rev. Ashbel Green, who had been licensed by the presbytery of New Brunswick the February before, to become the col- league of Mr. Hollingshead, and were encouraged to address him again, using the same argument before used with Dr. Mc- Whorter. Shortly after, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Green received a similar invitation from the Second Presbyterian church of Philadelphia to settle there as colleague to the Rev. Dr. Sproat. In view of the difference of age between the two men, Mr. Green, acting under the advice of Dr. Witherspoon, accepted the Philadelphia and declined the Charleston call. As they did not hear immediately from Mr. Green, they wrote to Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Morse, then of Liberty county, Georgia, to pass a few Sabbaths with them.




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