following taken from Frances C. Miller; “Republican Baptist Church;” Hortense Woodson, editor; History of Edgefield Baptist Association 1807-1957. Edgefield Advertiser Press, Edgefield, SC; 1957; pp. 321-333.
On February 19, 1805, “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 have also chosen a Presbytery and called them to meet the third of May to look into the State and Standing of the said enrolment and on the day agreeable to appointment meet in order for Constitution.”
Presbytery consisted of Enoch Brezeal; Samuel Cartlege; Sam Marsh, and Jno. Landrum. A total of 47 names appeared on the church roll. They were:
Males: --
George Delaughter, chosen supply
Drury Adams, ordained deacon
Ozias Morgan, ordained deacon
Sam’l Mosley, chosen clerk
Wm. Roberts
Robert Carson
Sam’l Stringer
-----hls? Mims
-----th Devore, Sr.
[James?] Carson, Jr.
Jas. Carson, Sr.
David Quarles
Roger Williams
Jer. Johnston
Mat Devore
Reuben Lee
Martha Stokes
Allen Hawls,
Jesse Flowers
James Delaughter
Females: --
Charity Delaughter
Eliz’th Morgan
Eliz’th Raincroft
Sarah Carson
Mary Carson
Mary Carson, wife of Jas. Carson
Mary Devore
Sooky Mosley
Rebecka Devore
Susanna Watson
Charlotte Lee
Priscilla Murrah
Sarah Stringer, Bap.
Elizabeth Howard, Let.
Amia Collier, Letter
Sarah Adams, Letter
Black Members: --
Math, belonging to Widow Rochs
Catoe and Will, belonging to Mrs. Doolittle
Crase, belonging to Widow Whatley
Cloe, belonging to Henry Ware
Umphrey, belonging to Callitt Garrett
Pompey, belonging to Martin Hill
Charles, belonging to Wm. Garrett
Hannah, belonging to Sister Howard
Old Dug, belonging to James Gardner
Molly, belonging to Stephen Garrett
Colliers quad. The nearest major town is Clarks Hill, SC.
The first business that came before this church was Saturday before the first Sunday in June, 1805. George Delaughter was chosen supply pastor. The first ordained deacons were Drury Adams and Ozias Morgan. The first clerk was Samuel Mosley.
The above notes were all that was left of the earliest records of the church. It is possible that services were held in this building prior to 1805, because there are references to “the New Republican Meeting House” which was given as a land boundary in old land deeds some years before that date. No one seems to know where the name “Republican” originated. Lewis Holloway, an ancestor of the Hammonds, Culbreaths, Prescotts, and others, migrated to this section after the Revolutionary War, and purchased the land surrounding Republican. He and others came here from Brunswick, Halifax, Charlotte, and Lunenburg counties in Virginia. There are towns in those counties which bear the names Republican Grove, Redoak, and Rehoboth. There is also a place called Paces. Rev. Samuel Pace Getzen and Rev. John Pace Mealing, who were pastors of Republican a long time ago, were descendants of the Pace family. It is entirely probable that these names were brought here from Virginian. (Editor’s note: A very plausible reason for the name, as suggested by the church historian, is that the members came originally from Republican Grove and other places in Virginia; that the latter place was so named because of the fact that a New Republic had followed the colonial status after the Revolution, assuring the newly established republic a “Republican” form of government.) [Josiah Lanham migrated to this section from Maryland in 1789.]
At any rate, Lewis Holloway purchased a tract of 385 acres, the plat for which was dated April 17, 1799. Other tracts were described as follows: “That tract whereon Wm. Phillips now resides, - - lying on the South side of the road leading from Cambridge to Augusta, and binding on lands on the South side of P. Pursell, and on the north side by the Republican Meeting House, and on all other sides by land held by W. Lewis Holloway..”
After Lewis Holloway’s death most of this land was sold to George Getzen, who was later related to the Mealings by marriage. It is thought that a deed to Republican Church was given in those days but was never recorded. No record of such a deed has been found.
In August, 1916, the deacons of the church were appointed to make a settlement with Mr. Getzen for the cemetery. Nothing was done until September 12, 1946, when a deed for 4.91 acres was recorded. A plat of a survey of Republican Baptist Church Property was recorded in Plat Book 8, page 25, in the Office of the County Clerk, Edgefield, S. C., September 13, 1946. The land was given by the Drew Mealing family.
We know that Rev. George Delaughter was chosen first supply pastor of the church. There are only a few pages of torn and fragmentary records, so we don’t know too much that happened between 1805 and 1844. Rev. M. M. Abney was pastor at that time, but he was old and in ill health. He served until his death on September 29, 1846. Among those who supplied in his place were Rev. Wm. Bullein Johnson, who was also Moderator of the Edgefield Baptist Association from 1831-1841 and again from 1845-1851, Bro. William Watson, Bro. Joseph Morris, Bro. Robert Walker, Bro. McCan, Bro. Getzen, and Bro. Trapp. [A John Trapp served as Moderator of the Edgefield Baptist Association from 1869-1871.] From the minutes of November, 1846, we find that the church was ordered to meet on Friday before the 4th Lord’s Day - “to fast and offer Thanksgiving to our beloved Father in remembrance of our departed minister and brother, M. M. Abney.”
Rev. Samuel Getzen supplied until Rev. John Trapp was called in February, 1847. Benjamin P. Tillman was clerk at this time. No mention made of a treasurer in those days. Most of the early pastors were large slave and land holders, so they were not dependent upon the churches for support, until after the War Between the States when everyone alike was poverty stricken.
The pastors traveled about, on horseback usually. Each one had a group of churches, and made his circuit about once a month. It was a point of pride, to “put up” the visiting pastor.
Old Uncle Tom Simpkins, who lived to be over a hundred years of age, was once a slave of the Getzen family, and was a member of Republican Church. He loved to tell of being a water boy for the church, carrying water from the nearby spring, entering the church by the “back door” (back where the pulpit now stands.) and placing the bucket of water on a stand just inside the door.
At that time, all slaves were admitted to full membership. They were taught “to praise de Lawd as well as to whup de old Debble.” They were seated in a reserved section of the church, and were regularly called before “Conf’rence,” just as were their white brethren.
The Committee on Discipline, or the Standing Committee, as it was sometimes known, played a very important part in the affairs of the community back in those God-fearing days. Any member who allowed dancing in his home, or became disorderly, or intoxicated, made false statements, or was absent for three successive times, was cited and ordered to appear before the church and make a satisfactory statement, or be expelled. Almost every meeting had someone up before it.
[48 paragraphs omitted from this transcription -- MVS]
Pastors and Officers
Republican Church has been blessed with the services of many good men, including pastors, deacons, treasurers, and clerks. The following list may not be complete; and all the dates may not be accurate.
Pastors
Rev. George Delaughter -- 1805
Rev. Sammie Getzen --
Rev. M. M. Abney -- 1836-1846
Rev. John Trapp -- 1847
Rev. W. A. Gaines
Rev. J. L. Ouzts -- 1887
Rev. Getsinger -- 1888
Rev. E. W. Sammons -- 1889-1892
Rev. John Pace Mealing -- 1892-1893
Rev. John Lake -- 1893-1894
Rev. J. V. Kreps -- 1896-1897
[remainder of pastors, clerks, deacons, and treasurers omitted from this transcription -- MVS]
On February 19, 1805, “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 have also chosen a Presbytery and called them to meet the third of May to look into the State and Standing of the said enrolment and on the day agreeable to appointment meet in order for Constitution.”
Presbytery consisted of Enoch Brezeal; Samuel Cartlege; Sam Marsh, and Jno. Landrum. A total of 47 names appeared on the church roll. They were:
Males: --
George Delaughter, chosen supply
Drury Adams, ordained deacon
Ozias Morgan, ordained deacon
Sam’l Mosley, chosen clerk
Wm. Roberts
Robert Carson
Sam’l Stringer
-----hls? Mims
-----th Devore, Sr.
[James?] Carson, Jr.
Jas. Carson, Sr.
David Quarles
Roger Williams
Jer. Johnston
Mat Devore
Reuben Lee
Martha Stokes
Allen Hawls,
Jesse Flowers
James Delaughter
Females: --
Charity Delaughter
Eliz’th Morgan
Eliz’th Raincroft
Sarah Carson
Mary Carson
Mary Carson, wife of Jas. Carson
Mary Devore
Sooky Mosley
Rebecka Devore
Susanna Watson
Charlotte Lee
Priscilla Murrah
Sarah Stringer, Bap.
Elizabeth Howard, Let.
Amia Collier, Letter
Sarah Adams, Letter
Black Members: --
Math, belonging to Widow Rochs
Catoe and Will, belonging to Mrs. Doolittle
Crase, belonging to Widow Whatley
Cloe, belonging to Henry Ware
Umphrey, belonging to Callitt Garrett
Pompey, belonging to Martin Hill
Charles, belonging to Wm. Garrett
Hannah, belonging to Sister Howard
Old Dug, belonging to James Gardner
Molly, belonging to Stephen Garrett
Clarks Hill Topo Map in McCormick County South Carolina
The first business that came before this church was Saturday before the first Sunday in June, 1805. George Delaughter was chosen supply pastor. The first ordained deacons were Drury Adams and Ozias Morgan. The first clerk was Samuel Mosley.
The above notes were all that was left of the earliest records of the church. It is possible that services were held in this building prior to 1805, because there are references to “the New Republican Meeting House” which was given as a land boundary in old land deeds some years before that date. No one seems to know where the name “Republican” originated. Lewis Holloway, an ancestor of the Hammonds, Culbreaths, Prescotts, and others, migrated to this section after the Revolutionary War, and purchased the land surrounding Republican. He and others came here from Brunswick, Halifax, Charlotte, and Lunenburg counties in Virginia. There are towns in those counties which bear the names Republican Grove, Redoak, and Rehoboth. There is also a place called Paces. Rev. Samuel Pace Getzen and Rev. John Pace Mealing, who were pastors of Republican a long time ago, were descendants of the Pace family. It is entirely probable that these names were brought here from Virginian. (Editor’s note: A very plausible reason for the name, as suggested by the church historian, is that the members came originally from Republican Grove and other places in Virginia; that the latter place was so named because of the fact that a New Republic had followed the colonial status after the Revolution, assuring the newly established republic a “Republican” form of government.) [Josiah Lanham migrated to this section from Maryland in 1789.]
At any rate, Lewis Holloway purchased a tract of 385 acres, the plat for which was dated April 17, 1799. Other tracts were described as follows: “That tract whereon Wm. Phillips now resides, - - lying on the South side of the road leading from Cambridge to Augusta, and binding on lands on the South side of P. Pursell, and on the north side by the Republican Meeting House, and on all other sides by land held by W. Lewis Holloway..”
After Lewis Holloway’s death most of this land was sold to George Getzen, who was later related to the Mealings by marriage. It is thought that a deed to Republican Church was given in those days but was never recorded. No record of such a deed has been found.
In August, 1916, the deacons of the church were appointed to make a settlement with Mr. Getzen for the cemetery. Nothing was done until September 12, 1946, when a deed for 4.91 acres was recorded. A plat of a survey of Republican Baptist Church Property was recorded in Plat Book 8, page 25, in the Office of the County Clerk, Edgefield, S. C., September 13, 1946. The land was given by the Drew Mealing family.
We know that Rev. George Delaughter was chosen first supply pastor of the church. There are only a few pages of torn and fragmentary records, so we don’t know too much that happened between 1805 and 1844. Rev. M. M. Abney was pastor at that time, but he was old and in ill health. He served until his death on September 29, 1846. Among those who supplied in his place were Rev. Wm. Bullein Johnson, who was also Moderator of the Edgefield Baptist Association from 1831-1841 and again from 1845-1851, Bro. William Watson, Bro. Joseph Morris, Bro. Robert Walker, Bro. McCan, Bro. Getzen, and Bro. Trapp. [A John Trapp served as Moderator of the Edgefield Baptist Association from 1869-1871.] From the minutes of November, 1846, we find that the church was ordered to meet on Friday before the 4th Lord’s Day - “to fast and offer Thanksgiving to our beloved Father in remembrance of our departed minister and brother, M. M. Abney.”
Rev. Samuel Getzen supplied until Rev. John Trapp was called in February, 1847. Benjamin P. Tillman was clerk at this time. No mention made of a treasurer in those days. Most of the early pastors were large slave and land holders, so they were not dependent upon the churches for support, until after the War Between the States when everyone alike was poverty stricken.
The pastors traveled about, on horseback usually. Each one had a group of churches, and made his circuit about once a month. It was a point of pride, to “put up” the visiting pastor.
Old Uncle Tom Simpkins, who lived to be over a hundred years of age, was once a slave of the Getzen family, and was a member of Republican Church. He loved to tell of being a water boy for the church, carrying water from the nearby spring, entering the church by the “back door” (back where the pulpit now stands.) and placing the bucket of water on a stand just inside the door.
At that time, all slaves were admitted to full membership. They were taught “to praise de Lawd as well as to whup de old Debble.” They were seated in a reserved section of the church, and were regularly called before “Conf’rence,” just as were their white brethren.
The Committee on Discipline, or the Standing Committee, as it was sometimes known, played a very important part in the affairs of the community back in those God-fearing days. Any member who allowed dancing in his home, or became disorderly, or intoxicated, made false statements, or was absent for three successive times, was cited and ordered to appear before the church and make a satisfactory statement, or be expelled. Almost every meeting had someone up before it.
[48 paragraphs omitted from this transcription -- MVS]
Pastors and Officers
Republican Church has been blessed with the services of many good men, including pastors, deacons, treasurers, and clerks. The following list may not be complete; and all the dates may not be accurate.
Pastors
Rev. George Delaughter -- 1805
Rev. Sammie Getzen --
Rev. M. M. Abney -- 1836-1846
Rev. John Trapp -- 1847
Rev. W. A. Gaines
Rev. J. L. Ouzts -- 1887
Rev. Getsinger -- 1888
Rev. E. W. Sammons -- 1889-1892
Rev. John Pace Mealing -- 1892-1893
Rev. John Lake -- 1893-1894
Rev. J. V. Kreps -- 1896-1897
[remainder of pastors, clerks, deacons, and treasurers omitted from this transcription -- MVS]
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