USA > South Carolina > History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, Vol. I pt 2 > Part 18
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
fervor. Being called on by one of his brother elders to pray, he said, 'Good Lord, our God that art in Heaven, we have great reason to thank thee for the many favors we have received from thy hands, the many battles we have won. There is the great and glorious battle of King's Mountain, where we kilt the great Gineral Ferguson and took his whole army ; and the great battles at Ramsour's and Williamson's, and the ever memorable and glorious battle of the Coopens (Cowpens), where we made the proud Gineral Tarleton run doon (down) the road helter-skelter ; and, good Lord, if ye had na suffered the eruel Tories to burn Belly Hell's (Billy Hill's) iron-works, we would na have asked ony mair favors at thy hands. Amen.'"
If this aneedote is authentie, it is an instance, of which we have known. others, of the irresistible humor which belongs to some men bursting forth uneonseiously and inappropriately amid their most solemn thoughts.
33
514
BULLOCK'S CREEK.
[1780-1790.
which the women of this and other congregations, rendered at this trying period entitle them to the admiration of all. The language, probably of Mr. Simpson himself, in a brief contemporary history of this church found among the General Assembly's papers, is the following. "In the year '80 the . sword raged in South Carolina, and a considerable number of the enemy fixed their camp in the bounds of the congregation. The people around were vastly plundered and distressed. Num- bers were killed, and the aforesaid Simpson was obliged to take refuge in another place. His property was destroyed, his house burned, not so much as a farthing's worth was left ; the family were turned out all but naked. In the year 1781 matters seemed a little quieter, and a number of the congre- gation began to collect again. In this shattered condition we continued till the public affairs were settled. As soon as op- portunity would serve we took into consideration the state of the congregation. We found a great alteration. Numbers were killed, numbers were gone, and others were ready to go, so that the congregation was reduced to a small number. These few were willing to support the gospel, and the said Simpson was ready to sympathize with them. Though dis- tressed, himself to a very great degree, and though he could not look for much assistance from a distressed people, he hoped for the best. In this state we continued for some years. The congregation instead of growing stronger became weaker. Every year some moved to the new settlements, and those that came in their room were of different denominations, so that the remainder became unable to support the minister, and Mr. Simpson was at length compelled to leave. This congregation was incorporated March 22d, 1786, under the style of 'The · Presbyterian Congregation of Fishing Creek.'"
CHAPTER V.
BULLOCK'S CREEK in York district, on the waters of Bullock's and Turkey creeks, continued through this entire period to .enjoy the able and faithful services of Joseph Alexander. We know little of its condition. He became distinguished as a teacher, and many were educated by him. His educational labors had already commenced ere this period was closed, and the academy taught by him and that at Waxhaw have per-
515
BEERSHEBA .- BETHESDA.
1780-1790.]
formed an important part in preparing men for their public duties. A number that were fitted here as well as at Waxhaw entered Mount Zion College at Winnsboro and became min- isters of the gospel. In the act of incorporation of the Bul- lock's Creek church, passed March 26th, 1784, it is termed " The Presbyterian or Congregational Church on Bullock's Creek in Camden District."-(Statutes, vol. viii., p. 126.) The character and history of Dr. Alexander, which would be espe- cially appropriate here, will be found elsewhere. .
BEERSHEBA, in the northwestern part of York district, was a small society, and had a somewhat feeble existence through these ten years. It had no stated ministry, but received supplies from the Orange presbytery and from that of South Carolina, after this was organized. It petitioned for supplies from the latter in 1786, 1787, and 1788. That unity in senti- ment, represented as prevailing among the congregation of. Bullock's Creek, was said to be wanting here.
BETHESDA CONGREGATION was much more flourishing. The members were more numerous, better able to support the gospel, and were well organized as a church. They lost their house of worship in the year 1780, which was burnt accident- ally by the firing of the adjacent woods. A new house was built a few feet south of the site of the present one. It was a framed building with its sides covered with split clapboards, and it stood for nearly forty years. During the earlier portion of this period, Bethesda enjoyed the labors of Rev. John Simpson for one year, one half of his time, for which purpose he withdrew his services from Lower Fishing Creek, or Rich- ardson, as it was also called. The church, however, was vacant in 1785, '86, '87, and petitioned the presbytery of South Carolina for supplies. Presbytery held its sessions at Bethesda in October of 1786, and April, 1789. It was during some portion of this time that a man, by the name of William McCarra, was engaged to preach for them. He opened pres- bytery, by permission, at its meeting at Bullock's Creek, on the 9th of October, 1787. He was a man of considerable brilliancy of mind, of pleasing and fascinating manners, and at times truly eloquent in the pulpit ; but, as the event proved, a stranger to converting grace. After laboring here a year or more, developments of character began to be made, which excited the suspicion, and caused him to forfeit the confidence . of a large section of the church. But, by the misplaced charity of some, who still adhered to him, and his own ambi- tious efforts to retain his position, even after his character was
516
HUCK AT BRATTONSVILLE.
[1780-1790.
under censure, if not actual blight, there were apples of dis- cord in the congregation, where bitterness was felt for many a long year. After his final dismission from the church, which occurred, says Rev. John S: Harris (from whose MS. history these facts are taken), " in 1785, this man sank from view, and nothing more is known of him." Mr. Harris was mistaken in these dates. The first meeting of South Carolina presbytery was in 1785. Mr. McCarra is first mentioned in the minutes October 9, 1787. There was an order, April 14th, 1785, that no congregation should invite any man to preach unless he shall have obtained liberty from some member of presbytery, or shall procure satisfactory credentials, that he is a member of the synod of New York and Philadelphia. On October 18th, 1788, a letter was ordered to be sent to the people of Bethesda, and read there by Rev. Thomas H. McCaule, and sent also to the people of Beersheba, where McCarra had been some time preaching, warning them of his character. Subsequently, charges were tabled against him, and the presbytery warned the churches that they would be debarred from church privi- leges, if they should encourage or hear him. This occurred on the 16th of April, 1789. After these exposures of Mr. McCarra, who had preached in several of the vacant pulpits of the presbytery, he was obliged, in this very disgraceful manner, to quit the country.
At Brattonsville, within the limits of Bethesda congregation, was the scene of Huck's defeat. A party of Whigs, under the command of Colonel Bratton, Major Winn, and Capt. McClure, had defeated a party of Tories at Mobley's meeting-house, in Fairfield district. News of this being conveyed to the British post at Rocky Mount, in Chester district, Capt. Huck or Huyck, was ordered to proceed with his cavalry to the fron- tier, collect the royal militia, and push the rebels. A party of his men liad committed the atrocities we have before re- ferred to, p. 511, and exceedingly incensed the people against them. Cols. Bratton, Lacey, and Captain McClure, joined by Cols. Hill and Neil, went in pursuit of Huck, who was at the head of about four hundred cavalry, and a large body of Tories. The evening preceding the battle Huck arrived at Col. Bratton's house. Huck tried to induce Mrs. Bratton to persuade her husband to join the Royalists, promising him a commission in the royal service. This she indignantly repelled. Dr. John Bratton was at that time sitting on Huck's knee, for he had taken up the child while addressing the mother. At her reply he pushed the child from him, and one of his soldiers
517
HUCK'S DEFEAT.
1780-1790.]
seized a reaping-hook and brought it to her throat with the intention to kill her. The officer second in command com- pelled the soldier to desist. She provided them supper at their command, and retired with her children to an upper apartment. After they had supped, Huck and his men went to James Williamson's, about half a mile distant, to pass the night. His troops lay encamped around the house. A fenced road passed the enclosure of the yard, forming a lane along which sentinels were posted. The Whigs had not more than two hundred and fifty men when they approached the spot, many having dropped off on the march. They formed themselves in two detachments, one led by Bratton and Neil, the other, according to one account, by Col. Lacey. Bratton himself had reconnoitred the position during the night. The two parties advanced at either end of the lane, and com- menced firing upon the enemy at about seventy paces dis- tant. The British platoons rapidly forming under Major Ferguson, charged bayonets three times, but fell back from the unerring aim of the American rifles, the fence furnishing the patriots with a kind of breast-work. Huck sprung from his bed, mounted his horse without his coat ; and while charging backwards and forwards to rally his men to a new attack, re- ceived a mortal wound, and fell dead. With this, the word passed along the Whig ranks, " Boys, take the fence, and every man his own commander !" No sooner said than done. They leaped the fence and rushed upon the foe, who, after a feeble resistance, threw down their arms and fled. Some on their knees cried for quarter. This was refused to Major Ferguson, a Tory who had commanded the party that killed young Strong. In the pursuit the conflict raged around Bratton's house, and the inmates were in danger from the shots. Mrs. Bratton forced her little son to sit within the chimney for shelter. Here a ball struck against the opposite jamb, which he secured as a trophy. The Whigs mounted their horses and pursued the flying royalists thirteen or fourteen miles. Only one Whig was killed ; of the British, thirty or forty, and fifty wounded. Mrs. Bratton opened her house for the wounded on both sides, attending them with the utmost kindness. The officer next in command under Huck was among the prisoners, and they determined to put him to death. As a last resort, he asked to be conducted into the presence of Mrs. Bratton, who recognized him as the officer who had interfered to save her life. At her eloquent entreaties he was spared, and kindly entertained at her house till he was exchanged. The following
518
EBENEZER .- UNITY .- BETHEL.
[1780-1790
toast was drank at a celebration of Huck's defeat at Bratton- ville, on the 12th of July, 1839: "To the memory of Mrs. Martha Bratton. In the hands of an infuriated monster, with the instrument of death around her neck, she nobly refused to betray her husband; in the hour of victory she remembered mercy, and as a guardian angel interposed in behalf of her in- human enemies. Throughout the Revolution she encouraged the Whigs to fight to the last, to hope on to the end. Honor and gratitude to the woman and heroine, who proved herself so faithful a wife-so firm a friend to liberty." The defeat of Huck revived the spirits of the patriots, and contributed much to the victory on King's Mountain, which happened two months after.
INDIAN LAND (afterwards EBENEZER) was at this period a small church and congregation which was organized in 1785, in the heart of the Catawba reservation. The reservation consisted originally of one hundred and eighty square miles, or one hundred and fifteen thousand two hundred square acres, on both sides of the Catawba. In the first settlement of the State the Catawbas could muster some fifteen hundred fight- ing men. They had two villages, Newton on the river, and Turkey Head on the opposite bank. These Indians rapidly degenerated and diminished in numbers. They leased their lands to the whites for ninety-nine years, renewable at from ten to twenty dollars per annum for each plantation. The church received supplies from the presbytery.
UNITY, a small congregation in the northeast corner of York district and of the Indian reservation, put itself under the care of South Carolina presbytery at its meeting, March 18th, 1788, and was organized.
BETHEL, in the northeast part of York, in the early part of this period received supplies from the presbytery of Orange, among whom were the Rev. Mr. Cossan, James McRee of Mecklenburg, and Rev. Francis Cummins, who became their pastor. He was born near Shippensburg, Pa., in the spring of 1752, and was the son of Charles and Rebecca ( McNickle) Cummins, the first of whom was from the county of Tyrone, and the second from the county of Antrim, Ireland. They belonged to the "New Side," and were admirers of Whitefield, the Tennents, and others of that school. In his nineteenth year his father removed to Mecklenburg, North Carolina. He was a student in the "Queen's Museum," under Dr. McWhorter, who had recently removed thither from New Jersey, and was graduated about the year 1776. He was several years engaged
.
519
REV. FRANCIS CUMMINS, D.D.
1780-1790.]
in teaching, first as preceptor of Clio Academy, a respectable German seminary in Rowan, now Iredell county. He was present at the meetings of the Mecklenburg Whigs of 1775, and mingled in the exciting scene when the celebrated Declaration was read at Mecklenburg court-house. While teaching, he pur- sued theological studies under Rev. (afterwards Dr.) James Hall, and was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Orange, at Rocky River church, Mecklenburg, December 15th, 1780. In the year 1781 he preached at Hopewell and other places; and in the spring of 1782 accepted a call from Bethel church, where he was ordained towards the close of that year. About 1783, says a MS. account prepared by Dr. Alexander and Mr. Davis, he took charge of this congregation. (For this, see Minutes of Presbytery of South Carolina, April 15, 1793, pages 62, 65, 69.) In the spring of 1788, while residing at Bethel both as a pastor and a teacher of youth, he was elected by the people of York as a member of the convention of South Carolina, called to decide upon the Constitution of the United States ; and though his colleagues were for reject- ing it, he voted in its favor. During the revolution he was several times in the army, and was engaged in several bat- tles .- (Sprague's Annals, vol. iii., page 418.) Bethel church was incorporated by the legislature, March 22d, 1786, under the name "The Presbyterian Church of Bethel Congregation." At this period Bethel embraced a section of country extending for ten miles in every direction .- (History, by Rev. S. L. Wat- son, Yorkville Enquirer, Nov. 5th, 1855.) During Dr. Cum- mins' residence in Bethel, he ordained Joseph Mckenzie, Alexander Eakins, William Davis, and Andrew Floyd as elders. In 1789 he was released from his pastoral charge over this church, and accepted a call from Hopewell and Rocky river.
The celebrated battle of King's Mountain was fought within the verge of this congregation. The battle-ground is about twelve miles from Yorkville and a mile and a half south of the line of North Carolina. Here Major Ferguson, with about 1300 men, 500 of whom were Tories, was attacked by our forces, 1390 strong, of whom four hundred were Virginians, under Colonel William Campbell-maternal ancestor of the late William Campbell Preston, of Columbia, South Carolina ; 510 were North Carolinians, under Cols. McDowell and Cleveland and Major Winston, and 480 men from Washington and Sullivan Counties, North Carolina, now included in Tennessee, under the lead of Cols. Sevier and Shelby. The right was led by Major Winston, Cols. Sevier, Campbell, Shelby, and Major McDow-
520
KING'S MOUNTAIN.
[1780-1790.
ell; the left by Cols. Hambrite, Cleaveland, and Col. Williams of South Carolina. These troops were from Presbyterian settlements, and of Scotch and Scotch-Irish origin. Col. James Williams was an elder of Little river Presbyterian church in Laurens district. His last meeting with his friends was at a communion season, where he officiated as elder. He fell mortally wounded in this engagement. Colonel, afterwards Governor Shelby, was an elder in the latter part of his life, and tradition says that two of the other officers were elders of the Presbyterian church. Ferguson is reported to have said when he encamped on this spot, "Here is a place God Almighty cannot drive us from." The next day, October 7th, 1780, he was slain bravely contending at the head of his forces. Our troops won the battle, and the tide of war was turned in our favor. The following account of the battle from the Charleston Courier gives a description of the part taken by Col. Williams in this engagement. "The ascent was commenced at once by Williams' party, whilst Campbell and Shelby moved towards the base of the line of their respective routes. Ferguson in the mean time formed for action, and moved down- wards to meet the Americans at their coming, and the conflict commenced about mid-way of the slope. Never, was harder fighting done, or more gallantry and daring displayed than on this occasion.
"The patriots fought every inch of their way up the steep and rugged ascent, driving the enemy before them, and to a more contracted position. Step after step up the rugged sur- face was marked with blood, and the whole mountain side kept enveloped in flame by the constant and rapid firing of the patriots below, and enemy above, who fell back towards the summit after every volley, whilst the Americans sprang up- wards and upwards after them, as they became more and more heated and maddened by the fight. Balls now flew thick and fast, and whistled over and around in every direction, tearing through the trees and under brush-wood like one outpouring of the driving hail-storm, cutting off limbs and leaves, and scattering them as a Fall on the ground-scaling up the rough- ened bark from the larger growth, and sending the splinters like locusts flying through the air. On and on the patriot lines moved, mounting upwards and upwards along the slippery slope, like some huge envenomed serpent in its windings after its prey, hissing fire and death. Ferguson saw his fate as the lines approached faster and faster, and nearer and nearer, and fought like an infuriated demon. He rode here and there,
521
DEATH OF COLONEL WILLIAMS.
1780-1790.]
urging his men to the fight in tones of angry passion, enforced by violent gestures.
" The centre line under Williams and Hammond were now within less than thirty yards of the British front, pouring in a terrible and deadly fire, before which the enemy fell back in confusion. At this moment Ferguson rushed in front of his men, sitting with bare head on his horse, his hair streaming in the wind, and his countenance bloated with rage, as he turned in his saddle towards his men, who now hesitated to advance. Just then, Williams' horse, wounded, and snorting with foam and blood at every bound, dashed forward. Fergu- son turned to receive him ; their swords crossed, nothing more, for at that moment a deadly volley came from both sides, and the two combatants fell mortally wounded. At the same mo- ment the enemy broke ground and fled up the mountain, the Americans rushing after them with a yell of concentrated rage. Col. Hammond dismounted and hastened to the side of his wounded friend, received his commands (never to give up the hill), and farewell, then gave orders for his safe and careful removal to the cot in the valley below, and stopping just long enough to see him off, hastened after his men. As he passed where Ferguson fell, he saw that he was not dead ; and stoop- ing down, took him gently under the arms and raised him to a sitting posture, placing his back against a tree, by the side of which he had fallen, received the dying man's thanks for his attention, and hastened forward after the flying enemy.
"The conflict was soon terminated, and returning down the mountain on his way with the glorious intelligence to Williams, Col. Hammond passed where Ferguson had been left and found him fallen over on his face, and dead. The ball that robbed him of life had entered the breast, passing entirely through the body. On reaching the hamlet where Williams lay, Col. Ham- mond found him unable to speak, but conscious, and told him the battle was over and the victory won-saw his dying smile, received the pressure of his icy hand, and then departed. Soon thereafter the gallant spirit quit forever the fields of carnage and blood below, for realms of peace and life above. The Amer- ican arms had been successful, gloriously successful, but it had cost another 'Joshua in the fight.' The brave Williams was gone ! He was not brilliant, but good and firm and true ! Whenever, and as often as he took a measure in hand, his iron will and nerve allowed no relinquishment until accom- plished. Such was the Christian soldier and patriot." Fergu- son was an officer of great merit, and for marshalling the
522
SHILOH .- INDIAN CREEK.
[1780-1790.
royalist militia and control over them had no equal in the army of Cornwallis. His defeat was a great loss to the British cause, and the first decisive step in our deliverance.
There was also a small church, originally called CALVARY, and subsequently changed to SHILOH, on the edge of Bethel con- gregation, its house of worship being within the North Car- olina line. In the first part of this period it received supplies from Orange presbytery, but when the South Carolina presby- tery was formed in 1785, became dependent on it, and was formally received under its care on the 10th of October, 1786.
INDIAN CREEK, in Newberry district, is one of the affluents of the Enoree, running in a northeasterly direction and empty- ing into that river near where the boundary between Union and Newberry districts strikes it. On this creek, as we have seen, the people formed a society and built a church. We cannot trace the organization down on presbyterial records previous to the formation of South Carolina presbytery in 1785, those of the presbytery of Orange having been destroyed by fire. From that time Indian Creek was an applicant to that body for supplies. James Templeton was appointed to preach to it in 1785, Robert Hall and Robert Mecklin in 1786, Thos. H. McCaule and Robert Hall in 1787, James Templeton in 1788, and James Wallis and Francis Cummins in 1789. It appears also that the Rev. Joseph Alexander frequently visited this settlement, for the Presbyterian population extended on both sides of the Enoree, and between that and the Tyger. A circle whose radius should be five or six miles, and whose centre should be at the mouth of Indian Creek, would include at that day a large Presbyterian population on both sides of the river, probably known as the congregation of Indian Creek.
Another minister, wholly independent of the presbytery of South Carolina, and whom we have mentioned already (page 414), was preaching to Indian Creek, to Concord church in Fairfield, and to Rocky Spring in Laurens, viz., the Rev. Robert McClintock. His register, which is before us, com- mences with Nov. 20th, 1787, but says this is the third year of his ministry to these churches. It began therefore in Nov., 1785. He seems to have visited these churches rather oftener than once a month, and to have exchanged with or been assisted by Mr. Hugh Morrison and John McCosh. He was connected with the presbytery of Charleston, if with any. If the people of Indian Creek, to whom he ministered, were not the same who applied to presbytery, they were probably a congregation in the same neighborhood.
1
523
REV. ROBERT M'CLINTOCK.
1780-1790.]
The following document, before alluded to, written on parch- ment, and preserved by his son, Robert McClintock, of Clinton, Laurens district, gives the date of his coming to this country.
" At a meeting of the presbytery of Bangor, at Belfast, September 19th, 1783, Mr. Hull produced a letter from Mr. Mcclintock, dated Santec, June 13th, 1788, intimating that the credentials signed by the presbytery, November Gtlı, 1781, liad gone to pieces, being written upon paper, and requesting that we would order a duplicate to be made out upon parchment and sent to him the first opportunity .- Resolved, That we heartily congratulate our brother and friend on his safe arrival in the happy and wished for States of America, and order our clerk to make out a copy of Mr. McClintock's credentials, as for- merly signed by us, according to his request.
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.