Hardys Chapel in Edgefield SC and other SC Baptist Meeting Houses: 1768 Horns Creek Church in former Edgefield, now Saluda SC

Horns Creek Baptist Church founded in 1768 was the church of the men and women who fought the Revolutionary War. It is in the neighborhood of Millie Odum's husband Capt. Benjamin Ryan.
Horn-Creek-Baptist-Church

The historic church where this marker rests is Horn's Creek Baptist Church. The church, founded in 1768, was the centerpoint of the rural South Carolina religious movement during its time. It was founded by Reverend Daniel Marshall as the first Baptist Church in upstate SC. The marker also speaks of a skirmish near there. In 1781, a group of American soldiers headed by Le Roy Hammond under the command of Captain Thomas Key attacked and defeated a group of Loyalists under Captain Clark near this marker. Le Roy Hammond founded New Richmond on the Savannah River.

The roads leading up to this place are logging roads. Be very careful when driving out there. Don't go when it's wet or about to rain. The red clay is quite dangerous. 33° 43.267′ N, 81° 56.183′ W. Marker is in Trenton, South Carolina, in Edgefield County. Marker is on Old Stage Road, on the right when traveling south. Click for map. Marker is to the right of the church's front entrance. The church is located just south of the intersection of Old State and Yarborough Roads (both dirt roads). Marker is in this post office area: Trenton SC 29847, United States of America.

The church itself is old and abandoned. The building is not kept up and has been vandalized over time, but it's still worth seeing the inside and out. There are holes in the floor. The cemetery in the back is also in disrepair, but well worth seeing. Some headstones are totally disintegrated, some have just fallen, and some are in perfect shape. BE CAREFUL that you don't damage anything. The cemetery has excellent iron work including a cast iron gate at the Bettis plot which has a design that incorporates a Palmetto tree flanked by lambs and roses. A wooden fence next to the Bettis plot surrounds fieldstone markers.

Bettis Rainsford, of the Historical Society, said the society is set to begin construction of a caretaker’s cabin for the church. “We’ve received some recent gifts, one today,” Mr. Rainsford said, “and we should begin building it shortly, within the next few weeks.” After its completion a restoration project for the church is slated to begin to restore the church to its original condition.

If you go, please report on the state of the creepy RV that's parked on the private property right behind the marker. If you go at night, the RV is the scariest part of the visit. The last two times we visited, we spent most of our time trying to figure out if somebody lives there or not.

1810 Rev. Samuel G. Marsh who married the widow of Capt. Benjamin Ryan Sr 1815. She was born Emelia /Amelia "Milly" Odum who assaulted a man and her husband was sued and had to pay damages. After Capt. Ryan died she married Rev Samuel Marsh but she got shot inside her house while Samuel Marsh was the only one home, but the murder was not solved. She never had children. rev. Marsh quickly married a second widow, the widow of Michael Blocker. if one goes by court records, rev. Marsh was foten sited for mismanagement and absconding with funds. Eventually he went west, as soon as he sold the widow Blocker's estate.