Saturday, November 8, 2008

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. PhotobucketIf 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.
Photobucket
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
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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
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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, SAMUELDUNBAR, WILLIAM;FOREMAN, ISAACFOREMAN, 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