Matlocke Regular Baptist Church of Christ

Summary "Matlock Church" 

by Susan Aldridge at susanaldridge2000@yahoo.de Dr William Webb of Aiken and Jackson SC asked me if I could help him find "Matlock SC" because he and his father Avery Alexander Webb belonged their whole lives to the "Matlock Chruch" and he was really interested to find out its history since it was supposed to be an off-shoot of the Silver Bluff Church when it split up in 1773. It was built by a white man named Matlock. The original church records had burned and the church may have been built in "Matlock SC " on Hallow Creek. I have found no evidence linking it to Hallow Creek, but I have found where extensive records are stored in 1840. I also found records linking the Matlocke plantation to an area connecting it to Back Swamp. Andrew McElmurry also owned land at Cracker Neck sometimes associated with "Winton Co. Barnwell District" Other associations with the McElmurray family have been Four Mile Swamp. If Patrick, Andrew's father bought land before 1798 and after 1769, it would have been called Orangeburg District. After that it became Barnwell District. Before 1769 it was called Granville.

Hankerson family history:

Hankerson family original started on the Cracker Neck and Hankinson Plantation in Silverton, Barnwell Co., SC - now known as Jackson, Aiken Co., SC. Simon Hankerson had two wives, first wife unknown, and his second wife, a free mulatto. After he married her, he became free which was between 1820-1830.

From Dodrill family history:

Land sale records in South Carolina reveal that the Daughdrill land in the Barnwell District of South Carolina was on the Indian Branch and Back-Swamp Waters of the Savannah River, known as "Cracker's Neck."Since there were no fences to keep the cattle from straying, men were hired to "ride herd." It was here that a special whip was designed and made and first used to help the men on horseback to control the herds. It was made with a short strong handle and an extremely long leather strip with a knot on the end. An expert whipman could snap this whip in the air above the cattle and make a loud crack that could be heard, over the noise of the herds, for an incredible distance. These were America's first cowboys, and the name spread all over the United States wherever cattle were raised. This part of the Savannah River area is still known as "Crackers Neck."

Searching in the SC Archives revealed the fact that the real name of Matlock Church is Matlocke Regular Baptist Church of Christ and was petitioned 22 November 1840 by the citizens of Barnwell District to be incorporated as a church. Many times in those old days, churches has existed on land for decades without being incorporated. And many times the property had never been formally turned over to them till the 1800s even thought the church had existed in 1769, as in the "Hardy Meeting House" on Stephens Creek in Edgefield. 

Examination of on-line SC Archive files revealed that here are at least 2 sets of papers at the SC Archives and consist of at least 16 pages, as well as an article in the Hamburg Journal as evidence in the files. Hamburg SC no longer exists. Neither does "Matlocke" except in the memories of those buried there. Matlocke SC has probably been replaced with the name "Jackson." 

The Matlocke Regular Baptist Church existed before 1840 according to available information. There is a recording on a tombstone at Beech Island which says a man was baptized in 1832 at "Matlock Church" and there is a recording somewhere which says John Miller Beggs (son of James Beggs and Anna Walker Goodwin b 1785) was born at "Matlock SC" in December 1822. John's mother Anna W. Beggs born 1785 was probably the daughter of Judge Charles Goodwyn and Elizabeth Williamson who bought half of Silver Bluff from Thomas Gauphin. Anna's aunt, Mary Anne Williamson, was first married to a Walker before she married Ephraim Ramsey in 1790 in Charleston. Anna W. Beggs is a widow in Barnwell in the 1850 census. Her property is near "Peters Pond."

According Dr. Webb, the present George McElmurray property is the "Old Beggs" property. No source for that. But there is a source (see 1843 Will below) for the fact that the old "Matlock place" was occupied by Andrew McElmurry and that it included part of Back Swamp. Taking these old Orangeburg/Barnwell names and looking in the archives for Wills and census data, I could establish the area of Matlocke SC. 

Matlocke himself may have been a trader connected to Gauphin. At any rate it seems he had moved on by 1790. In order to be sure of this, I would have to examine by hand each name in both the 1790 Orangeburg census and the 1800 Barnwell and 1810 Barnwell. Many names are misindexed and his name may actually turn up. There is a recording in 1788 in GA that a Stephen Matlock, age 14 his father was dead. That he was from Orangeburg District which in 1788 would have included Barnwell. In 1798 Orangeburg was divided into 2 districts to include the newly formed Barnwell. Orangeburg Court House will have information, if it was not burned.

In fact, according to a hand written page Dr Webb has acquired and not known to whom the source should be credited, it seems when the Matlocke church board decided to move or build a new church and decided that the most beneficial method of doing this would be to "give away" the old church and let it be transported by unamed black people who had 3 days to take it down and move it. That church had a slave Gallery which of course it would - since it was built before 1832 (at least). The building following that dismantling was the Jane ----Fellowship Hall. The original church may have only been a log cabin, as was the custom in the 1700s in the back country, but there must have been a replacement at some point. It would have most likely have been on land at a Matlocke plantation and on a well used road. This unknown Matlocke stayed long enough to make a name for himself and to build a church after which the area around it was named Matlocke SC. The Thomas Newman and James Beggs plantations were in this Matlocke area, and according to the Will of Andrew "McElmurry," his plantation was called "the Matlock place" -meaning he bought it from Matlocke? Deeds should be researched to find the name of the men who owned it before he did. The Matlocke plantation probably backs up to "Back Swamp" and is near Thomas Newman (his father John bought 400 acres which was originally surveyed in 1766 near Back Swamp) and Cracker Neck, otherwise known as Cracker Jack Neck. Back Swamp is mentioned in relation to the free Mulatto Galphins (George and Bryant/Brian) who were born at Back Swamp, as well as where the free Mulatto Hankersons / Hankersins lived. Was Back Swamp the name the free negros called their area and Matlocke what the whites called their area- after their church? In the 1825 map of Barnwell District at the Aiken Library, there is "MH" (Meeting House) which is unnamed on the fork of the road running to the right of Back Swamp- Old Jackson Highway and now Atomic Road. What MH is this? Canaan Fair Chruch or Matlocke Regular? 

Hannah, a slave of George I Galphin and the wife of George II, is listed in George I's Will as the mother of Brian. In the Will, Galphin frees Brian, who is in reality the son of George II and his grandson. He does not free Hannah, but gives her to his son, along with other slaves. Brian was also to receive 200 acres of Galphin land in the Back Swamp area behind Crackers Neck. So Back Swamp is associated with Gauphins and free negros, but their church was Canaan Fair Church. But the area is also associated with Matlocke Regular Baptist Church and Matlocke SC. The family names most associated with Matlocke are Andrew McElmurray, Thomas Newman, Jack (John) Wimberly and Jacob Foreman. John Newman bought 400 acres on Back Swamp in 1796, recorded at the SC Archives and surveyed in 1766 by Minor (Minors Bridge). There is a reference to Stephen Matlock in GA records relating to Orangburg District, but that is all. The following census pages are people who are living in Matlocke SC.

References:

1830 Barnwell SC for James Beggs

1840 Barnwell SC for Anna Walker Goodwyn Beggs family (John born in Matlock SC 1822)  based on James Beggs family site

Series: S213190 Volume: 0032 Page: 00598 Item: 002 Date: 1796 C.  Description: NEWMAN, JOHN, PLAT FOR 400 ACRES ON BACK SWAMP, GRANVILLE COUNTY, SURVEYED BY ISAAC PERRY ON DECEMBER 17, 1766.  Names indexed: NEWMAN, JOHN; NEWMAN, THOMAS; PERRY, ISAAC Locations: BACK SWAMP; GRANVILLE COUNTY; SAVANNAH RIVER; SILVER BLUFF

Back Swamp is a place name where Thomas Newman 

lived in Granville Co 1710-1766 -later Orangeburg 1769 -later

Barnwell 1798 near Silver Bluff and this was near the 

Andrew McElmurry place who lived on the old Matlock Place

which is undoubtedly where the 

Matlocke Regular Babtist Church of Christ 

was located. It is now located in its new home at 980 Main St 

in the town now called Jackson SC 29831

__________________________________

Matlocke Regular Baptist Church of Christ Records at the South Carlolina Archives:

Series: S165015 Year: 1840 Item: 00031 Date: 11/22/1840 Description: CITIZENS OF BARNWELL DISTRICT, PETITION TO BE INCORPORATED AS THE MATLOCKE REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST. (6 PAGES)  Names indexed: ARDIS, HENRY Z.; BATES, ANDREW J.; BATES, J. S.; BEGGS, JOHN M.; BRADFORD, R.; BROWN, G. L.; BROWN, JAMES; FOREMAN, JACOB; FOREMAN, JOHN; LYNS, BENJAMIN; MCELMURRAY, A.; MEYER, DAVID W.; MEYER, J. J.; MEYER, JOHN W.; MEYER, THOMAS; MEYER, W.; RAMSAY, JOSEPH B.; SCOTT, G. T.; TURNER, A. B.; WIMBERLY, E. Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT Document type: PETITION

Topics: BAPTIST CHURCH; MATLOCKE REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST

Series: S165015 Year: 1840 Item: 00012 Date: 11/22/1840 Description: CITIZENS OF BARNWELL DISTRICT, PETITION, WITH SUPPORTING PAPER, TO BE INCORPORATED AS THE MATLOCKE REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST, WITH AN ISSUE OF THE HAMBURG JOURNAL AS AN EXHIBIT. (10 PAGES)  Names indexed: ARDIS, HENRY Z.; BATES, ANDREW J.; BATES, J. S.; BEGGS, JOHN M.; BRADFORD, R.; BROWN, G. L.; BROWN, JAMES; FOREMAN, JACOB; FOREMAN, JOHN; LYNS, BENJAMIN; MCELMURRAY, A.; MEYER, DAVID W.; MEYER, J. J.; MEYER, JOHN W.; MEYER, THOMAS; MEYER, W.; RAMSAY, JOSEPH B.; SCOTT, G. T.; TURNER, A. B.; WIMBERLY, E. Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT Document type: PETITION Topics: BAPTIST CHURCH; HAMBURG JOURNAL (NEWSPAPER); MATLOCKE REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST

___________________________________________________________

Andrew MacElmurray / MacElmuurah / McElmuury lists the Newman part of "Back Swamp" as being by his property and he mentions the "Matlock place" as being where he lives. Back Swamp may also have been called Carolina Swamp, perhaps meaning the Carolina side of the swamp thru which the Savannah River flowed? The Jack Wimberly Place and the "Cracker Jack Neck"  are near by. Mary Wimberly signs, as well as Thomas Beggs and T.B. Newman.

Series: S108093 Reel: 0005 Frame: 00602 Item: 000 Date: 2/6/1843 Description: MCELMURRY, ANDREW OF BARNWELL DISTRICT, WILL TYPESCRIPT (MSS WILL: BOOK D, PAGE 38; ESTATE PACKET: BDL 84, PKG 1) (2 FRAMES).  Names indexed: ALBERT (SLAVE); ALIC (SLAVE); AMOS (SLAVE); ARDIS, HENRY Z.;BEGGS, THOMAS; BIT (SLAVE); CHARLOT (SLAVE); CLAYTON, MARTHA; EMMA (SLAVE); HANNAH (SLAVE); HARRIET (SLAVE); HATFIELD, FRANCES; ISAAC (SLAVE); JACK (SLAVE); JERRY (SLAVE); MARGARET (SLAVE); MATLOCK; MATLOCK place; MCELMURRY, ANDERSON; MCELMURRY, ANDREW; MCELMURRY, ANN CAROLINE; MCELMURRY, CORNELIA; MCELMURRY, JAMES ANDREW; MCELMURRY, MARY ANN; MCELMURRY, MINAS H.; MCELMURRY, PATRICK; MCELMURRY, RICHARD; NEWMAN; NEWMAN, T. B.; WIMBERLY, JACK; SOPHIA (SLAVE); TYMAN (SLAVE); WINGERLY, MARY (dau of MACKELMURRAY, PATRICK OF BARNWELL DISTRICT-Mary Wimberly, formerly Newman, widow of William Newman, CHildren are Patrick and Letty Newman) Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT; CRACKERS NECK SWAMP; GEORGIA; SAVANNAH RIVER Document type: WILL (TYPESCRIPT)

John Miller Beggs, son of James and Anna Walker Goodwin was born Dec 1822 in Matlocke, SC in Barnwell District.  Anna W. born 1785 may have been the daughter of Charles Goodwyn/Goodwin, Esq.  and Elizabeth Williamson.   Judge Ephraim Ramsey married Elizabeth's sister Mary Ann Williamson.  There is a recording of Ephraim Ramsey's marriage to "Mary Ann Walker" in Charleston on 22 Feb 1790 which means she was first married to a Walker.  There is ample evidence that Mary Ann was a Williamson in the court records of her father's estate in which Ramsey and she are named in 1791.  Ramsey was admitted to the Charleston bar 28 May 1784 and bought Silver Bluff from Thomas Gulphin as part owner with his brother in law Charles Goodwin. They had both married the daughters of brig. General Andrew Williamson (a Tory) of Ninety-six who died 21 March 1786 near Orangeburg in St Pauls Parish near Charleston, His estate at Cambridge, Abbeville, Ninety Six District had 90 slaves valued at 2,600 pounds and was in litigation with Ephraim Ramsey and Mary Ann Ramsey, as well as Charles Goodwin and wife Elizabeth. 

Gen. Andrew Williamsonwas the brother in law of Samuel Hammond a patriot, which fact saved Williamson's life, as he was almost hung twice. Ephraim Ramsey was named a guardian to John Hammond's children should Hammond's wife to die early.  

Source for the Williamson girls:  

Culler, Daniel Marchant,

Title: Orangeburg District 1768-1868 History & Records Publication: Name: The Reprint Co; Location: Spartenburg, SC,; Date: 1995; Note: ISBN 0-87152-482-1, pgs 737 Page: page 293 

Also the History of Edgefield County printed 1897 written by John A. Chapman available for sale at Edgefield Historical Society in Edgefield.

SC Archives

Series: S213192

Volume: 0043 Page: 00040 Item: 002 Date: 5/7/1811 Description: BEGGS, ANNA WALKER, PLAT FOR 42 ACRES NEAR PETERS POND, BARNWELL DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY J. E. C. STARPHEN.  Names indexed: BEGGS, ANNA WALKER; BUTLER; CARNEY, JESSEE; HARKINSON; HOLMES, DAVID; MINOR, WILLIAM; STARPHEN, J. E. C. Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT; PETERS POND

Source: South Carolina Department of Archives and History Series: L10018 Year: 1804 Item: 0994A ignore: 000 Date: 6/16/1804 Description: MCCRACKEN, FRANCIS, ASSIGNEE OF JOHN MATHIAS EHRICK VS MARY ANN RAMSAY, ADMIX. AND JOHN RAMSAY, ADMINTR. OF EPHRAIM RAMSAY, JUDGMENT ROLL. (8 PAGES) Names indexed: EHRICK, JOHN MATHIAS; MCCRACKEN, FRANCIS; RAMSAY, EPHRAIM; RAMSAY, JOHN; RAMSAY, MARY ANN Locations:  

Document type: JUDGMENT-ROLL

Series: S213192 Volume: 0044 Page: 00495 Item: 003 Date: 1/15/1818 Description: BEGGS, JAMES, PLAT FOR 53 ACRES ON HOLLOW CREEK, BARNWELL DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY PHILIP LAMAR.  Names indexed: BEGGS, JAMES; BUTLER; HANKERSON; LAMAR, PHILIP; TAYLOR, WALTER Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT; HOLLOW CREEK; SAVANNAH RIVER; SILVER BLUFF Document type: PLAT

Series: S213003 Volume: 004P Page: 00039 Item: 000 Date: 1/29/1818 Description: EASON, SUSANNA TO JAMES BEGGS, GUARDIAN FOR JANE LOUISA BEGGS, BILL OF SALE FOR A SLAVE NAMED LUCKY, ALIAS SUSAN, ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD.  Names indexed: BEGGS, JAMES; BEGGS, JANE LOUISA; EASON, SUSANNA; LUCKY (SLAVE); SUSAN (SLAVE) Document type: BILL OF SALE

EVidence that Thomas Beggs lived near Edgefield or in Edgefield next to the Barnwell Co Line... at the least he was intereated in the Augusta- Coosewhatchie Road improvement inside of Edgefield.

Series: S165015 Year: 1844 Item: 00019 ignore: 000 Date: 11/29/1844 Description: CITIZENS OF BARNWELL DISTRICT, COUNTER-PETITION ALTERING PART OF THE AUGUSTA-COOSAWHATCHIE ROAD IN EDGEFIELD DISTRICT. (4 PAGES)  Names indexed: BEGGS, THOMAS; BUSH, DAVID; BUSH, ISAAC B.; BUSH, JOHN D.; BUSH, S. S.; CLAYTON, EDMOND; COCHRAN, JAMES; DUNBAR, SAMUEL; DUNBAR, WILLIAM;FOREMAN, ISAAC; FOREMAN, JACOB SR.; FOREMAN, JOHN; HAMMOND, J. H.; HAYNES, H.; KNIGHT, WILLIAM W.; MINOR, J.; NEWMAN, WILLIAM W.; STALLINGS, JOHN; SYMS, BENJAMIN; WILLIAMS, E. J. Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT; EDGEFIELD DISTRICT Document type: PETITION Topics: STREETS, ROADS, AND HIGHWAYS

Where Thomas B. Newman of the Back Swamp  lived

Series: S213192 Volume: 0046 Page: 00197 Item: 001 Date: 12/1/1819 Description: NEWMAN, THOMAS B., PLAT FOR 300 ACRES ON TIMS BRANCH, BARNWELL DISTRICT, SURVEYED BY JOHN K. JOHNSTON.  Names indexed: ANTHONY, JOHN; BUSH, JOHN; FOREMAN, JACOB; JOHNSTON, JOHN K.; JONAKIN, JONATHAN; NEWMAN, CAROLINE; NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; TURNER, JOHN M. Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT; SAVANNAH RIVER; TIMS BRANCH; UPPER THREE RUNS Document type: PLAT

Series: S165005 Year: ND00 Item: 04891 Page: 000 Date: 1857 C.  Description: COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, REPORT ON THE PETITION FROM SUNDRY CITIZENS OF BARNWELL DISTRICT ASKING THAT THE ESCHEATED ESTATE OF THOMAS B. NEWMAN BE VESTED IN ELLEN SWEAT. (4 PAGES)  Names indexed: NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; SWEAT, ELLEN Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT Document type: REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Topics: ESCHEATS; JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Series: S165015 Year: ND00 Item: 05100 ignore: 000 Date: 1857 C.  Description: OWEN, W. A., PETITION FOR ELLEN SWEAT ASKING FOR THE ESCHEATED BARNWELL ESTATE OF HER BROTHER, THOMAS B. NEWMAN, DESPITE ELLEN AND NEWMANS ILLEGITIMATE STATUS. (4 PAGES)  Names indexed: DUNBAR, F. F.; FOREMAN, DAVID; FOREMAN, JACOB; NEWMAN, ALEXANDER; NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; NEWMAN, WILLIAM; OWEN, W. A.; SWEAT, ELLEN; SWEAT, GIDEON Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT Document type: PETITION Topics: BASTARDY; ESCHEATS

Series: S165015 Year: ND00 Item: 05101 ignore: 000 Date: 1857 C.  Description: SWEAT, ELLEN AND INHABITANTS OF BARNWELL DISTRICT, PETITION ASKING FOR HER TO BE VESTED WITH THE ESTATE OF HER DECEASED BROTHER, THOMAS B. NEWMAN, GIVING PROOF THAT SHE WAS NOT ILLEGITIMATE AND ASKING THE ESTATE NOT ESCHEAT. (4 PAGES)  Names indexed: AARON, JOHN; ASHLEY, JOSEPH; BROWN, G.; BROWN, JOHN; BUSH, DAVID; DUNBAR, F. F.; DUNBAR, G. R.; FERGUSON, CHARLES; FREEMAN, J. W.; GRAHAM, S. B.; HAMMOND, E. D. S.; HARLEY, J. R.; HUTTO, J. N.; MARTIN, J. V.; NEWMAN, ALEXANDER; NEWMAN, STEPHEN; NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; SWEAT, ELLEN; WALKER, N. G. W.; WOOD, W. R. Locations: BARNWELL DISTRICT Document type: PETITION Topics: BASTARDY; ESCHEAT

 S165005 Year: 1857 Item: 00309 Page: 000 Date: 12/19/1857 Description: COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, REPORT ON THE PETITIONS FROM ELLEN SWEAT AND FRANCIS AND DICKS ASKING TO BE VESTED WITH THE ESCHEATED ESTATE OF THOMAS B. NEWMAN. (2 PAGES)  Names indexed: BOYLSTON, ROBERT B.; DICKS, FRANCIS ANN; NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; NEWMAN, WILLIAM; SWEAT, ELLEN Locations:  Document type: REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Topics: BASTARDY; ESCHEATS; JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Series: S165005 Year: 1858 Item: 00297 Page: 000 Date: 12/13/1858 Description: COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, REPORT ON THE PETITIONS FROM ELLEN SWEAT, JACOB FOREMAN, AND DAVID FOREMAN ASKING TO BE VESTED WITH THE PROPERTY OF THOMAS B. NEWMAN. (2 PAGES)  Names indexed: FOREMAN, DAVID; FOREMAN, JACOB; NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; SWEAT, ELLEN; TALLEY, WILLIAM H. Locations:  Document type: REPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Topics: ESCHEATS; JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Series: S165015 Year: 1856 Item: 00071 ignore: 000 Date: 1856 Description: FOREMAN, DAVID AND JACOB FOREMAN, PETITION AND SUPPORTING PAPER, ASKING HALF OF THE ESCHEATED ESTATE OF THOMAS B. NEWMAN BE VESTED IN THEM AND THE OTHER HALF IN ELLEN B. SWEAT AND HER CHILDREN. (8 PAGES)  Names indexed: BROWN, JAMES; BROWN, JOHN W.; DICKS, FRANCIS ANN; DICKS, THOMAS; DUNBAR, F. F.; FOREMAN, DAVID; FOREMAN, JACOB; GRUBS, ANN; GRUBS, JAMES; GRUBS, MARY; HELTON, ELLEN; MCDANIEL, WILLIAM; MCLENDON, ELIZABETH; NEWMAN, ALEXANDER; NEWMAN, THOMAS B.; NEWMAN, WILLIAM; PARKER, WILLIAM; SWEAT, ELLEN B.; SWEAT, GIDEON; TOBLIN, CORNELIUS Locations: GEORGIA Document type: PETITION Topics: BASTARDY; ESCHEATS; ESTATE DISPOSITIONS

Directions to Hardys Chapel

http://big-stephens-creek.blogspot.com 

The way I see to go to this Hardys church or chapel is this- north of Sweet Water branch is Hardys branch. There is the new Big Stephens Church  which is now past Stevens Creek Dr coming from Augusta, and just on the left side of the road coming from Augusta after crossing over what is now the Hardys Branch Creek . Near Birch Dr which circles the 5 acres of church property.  

However, even though that was Covington Hardy land, from my old plat, the actual John Hardy family white plantation house was across the road on the right (coming from Augusta)on  W. Martintown Rd (which used to be Five Notch Road) By the way, coming from Abbeville Five Notch stops in some woods in Sumter Forest and picks up at some unknown point in Edgefield. I saw it suddenly today. John Hardys white plantation house was on the right side of the road coming from Augusta and was not far south from Hardy Creek over which you pass to get to the new church coming from Augusta.  Sweet Water Creek is near where there is a Sweetwater Drive to the left coming from Augusta, but the plantation house may have been approximately across from Stone Creek Dr..

 Hardy Plantation today

Terrain map of Hardy Plantation.

It is very hilly so the cotton fields must have been going up and down hills. The house must have been quite a ways back from the river on a rise near Sweet Water Creek It may have been 30 feet desent to the Creek. If you click to satilite, it looks lke the original house site is covered by hundreds of acres of woods on the right side of W. Martintown Rd which was called Five Notch.

Republican Rd must be named after Republican Church. It also is called alternately  Five Notch Rd in McCormick Co and  used to pass the John Hardy Plantation on the road to Augusta passing near what was New Richmond on the Savannah River. The land where the Hardy Chapel or church stood- is Covington Hardy's share of the old John Hardy  plantation- through which  Five Notch Rd. (now W. Martintown Rd) ran and is not far from North Augusta.

1766 Meeting House- now the Big Stephens Creek Church, New Richmond, Edgefield SC

The Hardy Chapel, called Hardys Meeting House in the 1800s, is the nickname because of the land being donated by Covington Hardy, son of John Hardy. This Big Stephens Creek church existed before John Hardy and his family are known to have come South on horseback, after the war in 1784 from Virginia (Lunenburg/Mechlenburg). When John Hardy and wife Ann Williams Hardy came to Carolina on horseback, the family settled in Granville/Old 96th /Edgefield near the town founded by a Virginian named Le Roy Hammond and was called at that time New Richmond, north of Campbellton, both of which no longer exist. I read this in a history book in a library when I visited this summer. The Meeting House plot was included in the land bought by John Hardy. When he died in 1799, his sons received portions.

Covington, Richard and Robert's father John Hardy bought at New Richmond on Big Stephens Creek after the Revolution ended. John Hardy also fought in the war and may have served in SC and had seen the country and liked it. Many men had been killed and Tories had land being sold. John Hardy's brother Thomas Hardy had served under Washington and had bought land in the northern part of Edgefield District- later called Newberry, and his brother Richard Hardy had bought land in the Saluda section of Edgefield District.

Was the original church burned in the Revolutionary war? It is not know if the land the Hardys bought in 1784 had buildings already standing. But if the church was already founded in 1762, maybe it did already have the building or foundation. It is known that Moses Stephens across the Savannah River in Wilkes Co GA is thought to have come from Edgefield about 1762 and to settle in the area the Quakers were settling not far from Wrightsborough GA founded 1773. Stephens Creek may have been named after him. Although not all the residents who took part in the experiment in Wrightsborough were not Quakers, there is some significance to the fact that Quakerism was an influence. Ogelthorpe had the King's grant got GA (good timeline) and was was anti-slavery, and this may have been seen as a good reason to move to GA for the Quakers. The English Oglethorpe did not want slavery in Georgia. Quakers believed in equality for all men and women and called their churches Meeting Houses. Their places for worship were one story and unadorned. blacks who came to the Meeting were treated with respect. They called each other "friend" which reminds me of the Primitive Baptists calling each other "brother and sister." In a way you could think of them as the revolutionary churches of their day, likening them to the flower children of the Hippie years, trying to create a new world of love for all.

At the time of Indian massacres in Wilkes Co. GA, the residents fled across the Savannah River to Edgefield SC for protection until the end of the Rev. War. When they moved back to GA, perhaps Stephens sold his land to John Hardy. Quaker Meetings for worship which are mentioned as reporting to Bush River Monthly Meeting in Columbia include Bush River, Raburn's Creek, Tiger River, Padget's Creek, Mud Lick, Allwoods', White Lick, Edisto, Charleston and Rocky Springs. SOuthern Union Co near Edgefield's northern line Quakers established two churches in the mid 1750s: Padgett's Creek (at Sedalia) and Cane Creek (at Santuc).

The following information courtesy Baptist Project

Michael Vaugh Sims
3 August 2003
Big Stephens Creek Church (Hardy’s Chapel) photo by Margaret Stringer Lambert
Big Stephens (Stevens) Creek Church, Edgefield District SC

(Hardy’s Chapel)

by Claude M. Hill, 1983
Copied August 3, 2003
from photocopied pages in collection of Margaret Stringer Lambert

As explained in Ancestoring V, Big Stephens Creek (Hardy’s) Baptist Church was originally a “Separatist” church; in fact, it was the leading exponent of the Separatist movement in the area. From 1766 to 1803, Big Stevens Creek Church had open communion, open membership, no donations of money, no missionary societies, and church officials kept no records whatsoever. Everyone was “Brother” and “Sister” regardless of status. Frequent meetings were held under trees, along Big Stevens Creek banks and sometimes in private homes. Settlers who had never frequented church previously returned again and again to hear the fiery eloquence of Daniel Marshall, sometimes not realizing why they so returned. Marshall himself had an ideal in the Apostle Paul maintaining that he had a message for everyone. Marshall taught the simple philosophy that all men won their salvation by grace, a gift from God and that each one should use this God-given grace for Good.

As pressure mounted to join an “Association,” Marshall counselled that Big Stevens Creek should at least attempt to form its own association of Separatists. The resulting association was known as the Sandy Creek Separatist Association; it was of course led by Marshall and his converts but it was short-lived. Membership in other associations, even Georgia’s, was equally short-lived and unsatisfactory.

The death of Daniel Marshall, the end of the Revolutionary War, the establishment of the new Nation and continuing pressure from some hard-shelled Baptists at Hardy’s caused the church to contemplate organization as requested by association officials.

In a series of church meetings the Hard Shells won out. In swift succession, the church made a complete roll in 1803, set up a hierarchy of deacons, set up discipline for church members with punishments for infraction, closed the rite of communion to all except members, began to keep voluminous records, and began to talk about money. The metamorphosis was now complete! In 1807 it was taken into the strict Edgefield Baptist Association where it remains today.

The following membership list is derived from two sources: (1) a list made by Miss Katherine Mealing, late President of the North Augusta Historical Society, in 1967 and given to the author; and (2) microfilm copies of minutes of Hardy’s in the Augusta Genealogical Society’s Library as interpreted by Alberta Wilson.

[membership list follows; not copied; photocopy returned to Margaret Stringer Lambert]

When Daniel Marshall came into the “back country” of South Carolina in 1762 and founded Big Stephens Creek Baptist Church, South Carolina Was still a colony of England and was to continue so for 14 years. The Stars and Stripes of the United States flag had never been heard of. The Union Jack floated over public buildings in such places as Williamsburg in Virginia and Charleston in South Carolina and from the mast of ships plying to and from England and the New World. There were scarcely fifty families living on plantations in Western South Carolina, along the Savannah River and the tributary streams that emptied into it.

A few families had settled in the area that later became Edgefield County as early as 1740. By 1760 there was a greater influx of families coming from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, through North Carolina into South Carolina and Georgia. Some came directly from Europe to Charleston and took up land grants in the interior and western section of the state.

Daniel Marshall, his wife, Martha Stearns Marshall, and a group of followers who came into South Carolina represented the Separate wing of Baptists, brought into being by the preaching of George Whitfield, English evangelist, along the Atlantic Seaboard. His preaching also awakened and rekindled the flames of piety among the already existing Baptist bodies.

Marshall was born in Windsor, Conn., in 1706. He was converted when he was 20 years of age and joined the Presbyterian Church. He came to South Carolina in 1760. He was married twice, a son of his first marriage being Daniel Marshall, Jr. He later married Martha Stearns, sister of Shubal Stearns, who was an outstanding early Baptist preacher. Martha Stearns Marshall was noted for her zeal and eloquence and added greatly to the interest of the meetings conducted by her husband. She bore him six sons, one of who[m] was Abraham Marshall, who assisted his father in promoting churches.

Rev. Daniel Marshall was one of the strongest of the New Light missionaries coming from the New England States. Being one of a group who looked for the immedieat Second Coming of Christ, he sold all he had and went among the Mohawk Indians to preach regeneration. Mr. Marshall later transferred his missionary efforts to the back country settlers of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. In the meantime he had become converted to the Baptist faith.

He moved with a group of his followers to Beaver Creek, near Broad River in South Carolina in 1760, but remained there only to 1762, when he and his family moved to the Stevens Creek section. While the name of the creek was spelled “Stevens,” the church was constituted as Big Stephens Creek Church. The simplified spelling is now used to denote the church.

Morgan Edwards, historian, was in the section writing the history of this and other churches in 1772, and gives 1762 as the date of founding of Big Stephens Creek Church. He described the meeting house as 30 by 26 feet, erected in 1766 about ten miles from Augusta, Georgia on Martintown Road. This became the center of Mr. Marshall’s activities, which extended to two branch churches in Georgia and the church at Beaver Creek. Many members of Beaver Creek followed Marshall to Stevens Creek and to Georgia. The congregation was formally constituted in 1766 as “Stephens Creek Church” under the care of Rev. Daniel Marshall. He may thus be designated as founder and first pastor. Stephens Creek was tenth on a list of 19 Baptist Churches listed by Edwards as being in existence in South Carolina that year.

Morgan Edwards said there were 130 baptized communicants of Big Stephens Creek Church. Communion was celebrated at no set time. There was no established salary for the pastor but he receive about 70 pounds sterling. The church observed the love feast, washing of feet, and imposition of hands. There were ruling elders and deaconnesses.

Thus Daniel Marshall came into this section and founded a church that has weathered two full centuries; that has witnessed the birth and growth of a nation that has become the most powerful on earth, and the growth of a denomination in South Carolina from ten churchers in 1762 with less than 400 members to almost 1500 churches in 1962 with membership of approximately half a million.

Ever reaching out to found other churches, Marshall and his assistants founded Horn’s Creek Church in 1768. That church, too, has had a lasting influence and has become in turn a “Mother of Churches.” Ministers assisting Marshall in founding Horn’s Creek were his son, Abraham Marshall, Benjamin Harry and Hezekiah Walker. Within a few years Marshall had established as branches of Big Stephens Creek Church two preaching stations in Georgia, Quakers Settlement and Kioka or Kiokee as it is more generally known.

Churches stemming from Big Stephens Creek in addition to those were Bethany at Republican, know now as Republican; Mt. Zion Baptist Church; and Mount Lebanon, now known as Sweetwater Baptist Church.

Republican Church was organized in the year 1805. The first verified business of the church took place in June, 1805. On February 19, 1805, according to the minutes of that church, “a part of Big Stephens Creek Church of the Baptist Society, for convenience and other purposes enrolled their names in order and full fellowship to form a Constitution or Church at the New Republican Meeting House, Horn’s Creek, and also have chosen a Presbytery and called them to meet the third day of May to look into the State and Standing of the said enrollment and on the day agreeable to appointment to meet in order for Constitution.” The presbytery consisted of Enoch Brezeal, Samuel Cartledge, Sam Marsh, and Jno. Landrum. A total of 47 names appeared on the church roll.

Samuel Cartledge was one of the trophies of grace of Marshall’s ministry. As a Britis officer about 1770, he had arrested Marshall as he knelt in prayer at St. Paul’s Paristh (Augusta) and was present at his trial. It was said that Mrs. Marshall spoke with such vehemence on that occasion that Carledge was impressed and later became a Baptist preacher, seving the Edgefield Baptist Association for 50 years.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church was organized in 1829 and that same year sought admission to the Edgefield Baptist Association. About 1900 it withdrew from the Edgefield Association and entered the Aiken Association. However, in 1909 messengers were again present at the meeting of the Edgefield Baptist Association and presented application for membership. While the membership of that church has never been large, much fine work has been accomplished, and the church continues to the present day in faithful service and witness.

The Mt. Lebanon (Sweetwater) Baptist Church was constituted in 1832. There were 25 constituen charter members, white, and eight colored. Some of the same pastors who served Big Stephens Creek likewise served as pastor or supply for the churches that grew out of Big Stephens Creek. The Sweetwater Church is now in Aiken Baptist Association.

When the slaves were freed those who had been members of Big Stephens Creek asked for letters of dismission to form their own churches. One such church was Spring Grove.

Possibly the first great revival occured at Big Stephens Creek when Edmund Botsford visited the section in 1773 and held a protracted meeting, baptizing a number of persons. The church had evidently declined in membership since Danile Marshall had moved into Georgia, and it took on new life under Botsford’s preaching. Following the awakening of 1773 under Botsford there were other seasons of revival, in 1800, 1812, 1821, 1822, 1831, 1832, when hundreds were added to the church. In 1860 the meeting continued for six weeks with the exception of three days when the Edgefield Baptist Association held its annual meeting there. As a result of that meeting over 50 whites joined and a large number of Negroes.

Stephens Creek Church affiliated first with the Sandy Creek Baptist Association in North Carolina that was composed of Separate Baptist Churches. When the Congaree was formed in South Carolina, Stephens Creek became a constituent member of that body and continued as a member during the bried span of that association’s history. In 1788 the church joined the Georgia Association, remaining a member with them until 1802 when it joined the Bethel Association in South Carolina. It was one of the churched asking dismission from the Bethel Association in 1807 to form a new association that was to become the Edgefield Baptist Association. In 1886 the church became a member of the Ridge Association that was formed that year. Later it again joined the Edgefield Baptist Association and has continued as a member to the present.

The wooden church building has been standing since the early part of the Nineteenth Century, it is thought. It was evidently the building referred to in a deed made by Covington Hardy to the deacons and pastor in 1818 conveying the land to the church. That deed, in Deed Book 35, page 149 in the Probate Judge’s office in Edgefield, reads in part as follows: 

“Know all men by these present that I, Covington Hardy, of the State and District aforesaid, for and in considertaion of the good will and affection I bear to religious society in general, and that of the Baptist in particular, whereof I am a member, do hereby freely give and of my own free will and accord do bestow unto Willis Whatley, Jonathan Limbecker, James Day and James M. Scott, Pastor and Deacons of the Church known in the Baptist Minutes by Big Stephens Creek at Hardy’s Meeting House and their successors in office, a piece or parcel of land whereon the meeting house now stands containing one acre, bounded on all sides by land ownded by said Covington Hardy, for the sole use and exclusive benefit of the Baptist society or church now at the said Hardy’s Meeting House, or that may be there hereafter, relinquish to them, the aforesaid Pastor and Deacons and their successors in office, all my right, title or claim to the same forever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18^th day of April in the year of Our Lord 1818.” 
 It was witnessed by John Hardy and Christian Limbecker.

Big Stephens Creek Church has sent out ministers to serve in other fields. A large proportion of her earlier membership emigrated to the more western states where they were instrumental in founding other Baptist churches, so it might be said that the influences that went out from the Mother Church are today felt in far removed places.

When Rev. William Curry was ordained by the church in 1860 as ne result of the six weeks’ revival of that year, Rev. Richard Furman (grandson of the first Dr. Richard Furman) preached the Ordination sermon and in his charge he admonished the young preacher: “My dear Brother Curry, you preach the Gospel; preach it in its purity; preach it in its simplicity; preach it in its strength.”

Early pastors or supplies included Sanders Walker, Benjamin Harry, Charles Bussey, Drury Pace, Elisha Palmore, George Delaughter, Robert Carson, James M. Scott (licensed), Thomas Norris, William Lloyd, Iverson L. Brooks, S. P. Getzen, J. S. Mathews, W. B. Shaw, J. P. Mealing, H. F. Oliver, H. A. Whitman, E. W. Sammons, J. M. White, W. H. Simpson, J. W. Kreps, George Bush, up through the close fo the nineteenth century. . .

MEMBERSHIP ROLL

Males:

John Day - Dec. 1806; Deacon

Jonathan Limacker ; Deacon

John Sullivan - Clerk

Elisha Palmer - dism May 1809

John Pasly

John Pierce

Robert Gardner - Dec. 1806

Richardson Bartlet - dism Augt. 1809

Derrick Holsomback - dism by letter, 1805

Jacob Gleckler - dism by letter 1806

William Brewer - dism by letter Jan 4 1807

Fedrick Whatley

Wallace Whatley

George Getzen

Edward Wood - dism by letter Nov 1810

John Gentry - dism by letter Nov 1810

Nicholas Wood - exc. Oct 1807

Stewart Miner - dism by letter 1808

Isom Bivins - decd March 1808

Darling Linear - dec March 1807

Micael Shannon

Spencer Minor - d. by letter May 1807 and wife dismist

Tomas Lee - by let. Dec. 1809

Auther Rhodes d. by l. Feby 1810

Randol Roberson - d. by l. 1806

John Grumbles

Richard Hardy - dism by letter 1805

Daniel Hardy - " " " June 1808

Thomas Phillips - exc. 18 Aug. 1819

Levinsworth Gardner

Joshua Thorn

Henry Melan Senr - exc. June 1811

Shurly Whatley - exc. June 1806

William Kelly

Benjamin Grumbles - exc. Jan. 4, 1809

James Day

Shirrley Whatley - exc. Jan 4, 1809 restor Aug

Nicholas Wood - dism Jan 4, 1804 res. Apr 1808

Thos Traylor - by letter Sept 1808

Shurley Whatley - restored July 1809 exc. June 1813

Jonathan Melon - rest. Aug. 1809

Daniel Hardy - rest. by letter Aug 1809

James M. Scott

Willis Lanham

Jeremiah Burnett - d. by l. Mar 1810

Pressley Sullivan

William Whatley

Lewis Whatley

Ezekiel Crane - exc. Mar 1810

John M. Jamieson - d by let. 18^th Nov 1809

Joshua Key

Rheubin Cooper

John Barns

Samuel Roper

Robert Long

Cammel Cooper

John Doby

Henry Hoffman - dism by letter May 1811

William Phillips - dism by letter 10^th Dec 1809

baptize 10 Sept. 1809

Joseph Milon

William Hawl

Chrisjohn Limbacker

William Day

Hiram Howard - dism by letter Dec 1810

Joseph Prince

Thomas Howl

John Delany - exc. May 1810

Moses Pierce - baptized Oct 1809

Thos Carter - dism by letter Dec 1810

Bosdel Gardner

Hamblin Quarles

John Hardy

Moses Ross

John Curry Senr

Cader Curry - exc. Oct 1811

Benjamin Long

Martin Hitt

Nathaniel Day - dism by letter Dec 1810

Zachariah Day

Richard Stephens

Henry Melon

William Cannon - exc. June 18

Ellis Murphey - dism Feb. 1810

Henry Brigs

William Glover - exc. Feb. 1810

Baptize Nov 1809

Samuel Parker - dism by letter Jan

Covington Hardy

Charles Jones - exc. Nov. 1811

William Atkins - Oct. exc. 1810

Robert Long

Cilos Day

Thomas Norris - rec’d by letter Feb.

James Mathis - dism. by letter Nov.

Jeremiah Johnson - received by letter Jan

Females:

Elizabeth Day

Susanna McOrmack - recd by letter Apr 1807

Rebechah Limbacker - baptised May 1808

Peggy Traylor - recd by letter Sept 1808

Elizabeth Prince [or Pierce] - recd by letter July 1809

Nancy Minor - restored July 1809

Bapt 20 Aug 1809 decd Jan 1810

Gracy Hatch - dism by letter March 1811

Kitty Scott

Metildy Doby

Jemimah Day

Martha Limbacker - bapt 19 Sept 1809

Margret Robertson

Elizabeth Limbacker

Elisabeth Melon

Amey Roper

Sarah Sullivan

Susannah Quarles

Nancy Melon

Martha Howington

Margret Morgan

Rebeckah Huffman - dism by letter May 1811

Martha Cooper

Margret Bagwell

Sarah Prince

Sarah DeLony

Winnyfred Butler - dism by letter Oct 1810

baptised Oct 1809

Mary Carter - dism by letter 1810

Clary Hardy

Sharlott Howard - exc. Sept. 1810

Elisabeth Bagwell

Sarah Long

Mary Gentry - dism. by let. Nov 1810

Sarah Quarles - dism. by let. Dec. 1810

Martha Hancock

Nancy Whatley

Sarah Quarles

Mary Hardy

Joncy Delany

Elisabeth Howington

Elisabeth Hawl

Martha Glover

Nancy Doolittle

Rebeckah Phillips - dim. by let 16^th

Elisabeth Whatley

Mary Whatley

Elisabeth Ingram

Linney Ross

Martha Frazer

Ludy Murphey - dism. by letter July 1810

Amey Thorn

Harriett Wood - dism. by letter Nov 1810

bapt. Nov meeting

Elisabeth Sullivan

Elisabeth Gentry - dis. by lett. Nov. 1809

Martha Quarles

Penelopy Bussey - decd Nov 1807

Sarah Hill

Mary Whatley

Susannah Melan

Elisabeth - dism by letter 1806

Elisabeth Pearce

Rachel Sigler - dis. by let. Sept 1807

Catiriner Day

Elisabeth Curry

Elisabeth Dearham - exc. 18 Aug 1809

Jane Martin - dism by let Nov 1810

Agness Bozeman - dism by let.

Ann Whatley

Ann Hancock - decd Jan 1809

Mary Brown - dism by let May 1810

Fanny Getzen - died July 1811

Mary Sullivan - decd

Cely Devore

Ann Woods - dis by let Jan 1809

Rachel Brown

Elisabeth Baker - dis. by let March 1810

Sarah Roper - dis by let June 1808

Martha Whatley - dis by let 1811

Sarah Smith

Sarah Daughely - exc. 18 Aug 1809

Susanna Linear

Milly Palmer - dismist May 1809

Olive Quarles

Sarah Hancock - exc. 18 Aug 1809

Martha Hancock

Patience Carter - exc July 1805

Mary Rhodes

Ann Ragler - exc. 18 Aug. 1809

Sarah Cunningham - dis by let 1805

Mary Limbacker

Lucrecy Roberson - dec. 1819

Mary Darling - dism by let Nov.

Fanny Grumbles

Marget Turnuge [?] - dis. Oct. 1807

Elisabeth Beving - dis Nov 18

Barbary Hardy - dis by let 1805

Carry Bulter

Rebeckah Gardner - d. by let Nov.

Sheriba Roberson - dis by let 1806

Ann Quarles

Ann Molton - exc. 18 Aug 1807

Elinder Devore - dis by let.

Peggy [?] Thorn

Nancy Curry

Mary Kelly

Frances Delaughter - exc. Aug. 1

Penelopy Bussy

Sarah Hill

Charrity Delaughter

May Casson

Mary Whatley

Rebehak Devor

Susanna Mealing

Elizabeth Presley

Elizabeth Pierce

Martha Evins - dismist 1802

Rachel Seaglar

Mary Price - dead 1805

Catheron Day

Elizabeth Curry

Ann

Elizabeth Derham

Maryan

Mary Walker

Susanna Watson

Jane Morton

Ruth Pierce

Agnes Bosman

Elizabeth Melam - dead 1804

Ann Whatley

Rebekah Whatley

Ann Hancock

Susanna Moseby

Mary Brown

Hody Morgan - dis 1804

Anna Gitzen

Mary Cosson

---ary Sullivan

---lan Devore - dismist May 1823

Ellender Devore - dismist 1804

Ann Woods

Frances Delaughter - excom. 1804

Rachel Brown

Rebekah Martin - dismist 1804

Elizabeth Baker

Elizabeth Ravennloft [?]

Sarah Roper

Martha Whatley

Sarah Smith

Susanna Linear

Milley Palmer

Olive Quals

Sarah Hancock

Marth Hancock

Patience Carter - exc. 1805

Mary Rhodes

Ann Raglen

Sarah Cunningham - dismist by letter 1809

Mary Limbecker

Lucrosy Robertson

Mary Pace

Fanny Grumbles

Margret

Elizabeth Bivving

Mary Devore

Barbary Hardy - dis. by let 1805

Elizabeth Morgan

Cary Butler

Rebeckah Gardner

Pheriba Roberson

Ann Quals - Aug. 1803 (Susannah Quarles?)

Charlott Lee

Ann Maldon

Pheba Carter - exc. N 1803

Elisabeth Thorn

Mary Parker - dism. by let. Jan 1810

Fanney Brigs

Jemimah Hardy

Lucy Traylor

Anney Butler

Elisabeth Day

Lucy Day - dism. by let Oct 1810

Elisabeth Key - dec. recd. by bapt

Winnfred Gardner

Prissilley Pond - 1810 March recd by bapt

Rebeckah Wood - dism. by let Dec. 1810

1810 Apriel recd. bapt

Milley Atkins - dis by let Dec. 1810

Winney Gardner - 1810 June baptd.

Edy Hammond

Sarah White

--nney Lee

Abelgail Loyd

Mehaney Harrel

Susanna Bartlet 19

Lizy Hancock 20

Sarah Hancock 21

Elizabeth Traylor 22

Susanna Delaughter 2

Mary Limbacker

Bartlet

Linnear

William Miller

Soloman Delaughter

michaelvsims@nyc.rr.comDear Susan:

Thank you for the corrections you have given me for the family of John Browning. Except for church records and tombstone records, everything I have is second hand information, and I have had no real way to judge true from false.

I am not related to this family; rather, my interest is in the church which was founded in John Browning's settlement at Lowndes (originally Montgomery) County, AL - Mount Gilead Baptist Church. The church has been gone a long time, and in recent years, I have tried to clean the cemetery and salvage bits of the broken tombstones from the tall grass. Many Brownings and Peebles are buried in this cemetery.

I have corresponded a great deal with Carolyn Golowka, who is decended from these Brownings, and much of what I have comes from her. I think you posted some emails you received from her.

Also, the land on which my parents house now stands was originally purchased from the government by Robert Hardy, son-in-law of John Browning. This land is about a mile from the Mount Gilead site, and was at one time the location of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The association with Robert Hardy is what led me to your material online. I have not yet completed a title search to the property to know how it changed hands, but in the 1840s, one John Adams gave the same property to the Episcopal Church. In other words, I don't know how it passed from Robert Hardy to John Adams.

You stated that my list of children for John Browning and Nancy Peebles contains several errors. I did not quite understand which children should be designated as "fake" and "real." When you have time, would you please elaborate and help clarify my errors? If the complete correct list is already posted online, can you direct me to it? I appreciate your help and effort.

If you would be interested in a transcription of the Mount Gilead Church minutes, membership roll, and cemetery, I will be happy to send it to you via email. It is a fairly large file, over 2 MB, in case that makes a difference to you.

Yours truly,

Michael