Chatham County GaArchives History .....The 1st African Baptist Church, Chapter II 1925
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CHAPTER II.

   The history of Rev. George Leile is so intimately connected with the early
history of the church itself, and so much has already been said concerning him,
that further reference might appear redundant. But a man who has wrought so
grandly for God and fellowmen cannot be too intimately known. Indeed it is left
to some other generation to accord him his rightful place in history and honor
him with his due meed of praise.

   This man of destiny was born a slave in the State of Virginia on a plantation
of a Mr. Leile in the year 1750. He was later brought to Georgia and sold to a
Mr. Henry Sharpe in Burke County. Mr. Sharpe was a deacon of Kiokee, the first
white Baptist church organized in Georgia. Attending this church, then pastored
by Rev. Matthew Moore, George was convicted of sin. After seeking the Lord for
six months, he was happily converted and began at once to tell the good news to
his fellow slaves. Mr. Sharpe induced him to unite with the church, which it
seems he had hesitated to do because of his color. He was soon licensed to
preach the gospel which he was already delivering with power, and he was
permitted to go from plantation to plantation preaching to both white and black,
many whites being converted through his ministry. His tours soon took him up and
down the Savannah River as far as the city of Savannah, where he preached in
Yamacraw and at Brampton's plantation.

   His success was so pronounced and conversions were reported so frequently,
and there were so few white ministers to minister to them that in 1775, he was
ordained that he might baptize and commune those hi need of such service.

   After a few years, his kind master died and his heirs attempted to reinslave
George. He was arrested and imprisoned in Savannah. Colonel Kirkland, who was in
command of the British forces here and was enlisting all Negroes possible for
military purposes, secured his release and sheltered him at Port Tybee. During
the "evacuation of Savannah" from 1778 to 1783, Rev. Leile remained at Tybee and
devoted his ministerial activities exclusively to the church here. The good Lord
blessed his labors and the number of communicants increased. Among others he
baptized Andrew Bryan, his wife Hannah, Kate Hogue, Hagar Simpson, Samson Brown,
and his own wife.

   After the close of the Revolution and the return of Savannah into the hands
of the Americans, fearing reinslavement, Rev. Leile departed with the British,
in 1783, to Jamaica, West Indies. Thus his labors in Savannah came suddenly to a
close. The good work he had done, however, was wonderfully blessed and is still
bearing luxriant fruit.

   His departure to another land failed to dampen the ardor of this wonderful
servant of God. Going into a new field seems to have inspired him with new zeal
for his Master. Here also was virgin soil. There was not a Baptist church of any
race upon the island. He also found his own race men in bondage even here. With
tact, zeal and industry, he faced the situation like a hero. He cultivated the
friendship of the ruling classes, and gathered about himself many anxious
hearers. In 1784, he organized the first Baptist church of Jamaica at Kingston,
and pretty soon undertook the task of building a decent house of worship for them.

   Reports of his generous labors soon reached England. Dr. John Rippon, an
eminent Baptist pastor of London and editor of the Annual Baptist Register,
wrote inquiring of Rev. Leile and details of his work. They became fast friends
and Rev. Leile wrote him many intensely interesting letters which were
reproduced in the Register and still form the basis of what is accurately known
of him and his work after going to Jamaica. With the aid of British Baptists,
influenced by Dr. Rippon, Rev. Leile succeeded in erecting for his church a
substantial brick edifice. His membership in 1791 numbered 500 souls.

   Organizing the First African Baptist Church of North America and the First
African Baptist Church of Jamaica, besides sowing seed for numerous other
churches through his evangelistic efforts, Rev. George Leile holds a record not
duplicated by any other slave boy in the world.

   He was a great man, working with his hands for the support of himself and
family, by either farming or driving one of his wagons, hauling goods from place
to place. He was a man of great integrity, humble, courteous, and very devout.
Neat in dress and practical in judgment, he won the love and admiration of all
classes, white and black. He was a skillful wielder of the sword of the Spirit
and built several different churches on the island both in the villages and in
the interior.

  The following quotation from one of his letters, written to Dr. Rippon in
1791, gives a deep and beautiful insight into his amiable character: "I cannot
tell what is my age, as I have no account of the time of my birth; but I suppose
I am about 40 years old. I have a wife and four children. My wife was baptized
by me in Savannah, and I have every satisfaction in life from her. She is much
of the same age as myself. My eldest son is 19 years, my next is 17, the third
14, and the last child a girl of 11 years. They are all members of the church.
My occupation is a farmer, but as the seasons in this part of the country are
uncertain, I also keep a team of horses and wagons for the carrying of goods
from one place to another, which I attend myself, with the assistance of my
sons, and by this way of life I have gained the good will of the public, who
recommend me to business and to some very principal work of the Government. I
have a few books, some good old authors and sermons, and one large Bible that
was given me by a gentleman. A good many of our members can read and all are
desirous to learn. They will be very thankful for a few books to read on Sundays
and other days. I agree to election, redemption, the fall of Adam, regeneration
and perseverance, knowing the promise is to all who endure, in grace, faith, and
good works to the end, shall be saved.

  "There is no Baptist church in this country but ours. We have purchased a
piece of land at the east end of Kingston, containing three acres, for the sum
of 155£ [pounds sterling], currency, and on it have begun a meeting house, 57
feet in length and 37 in breadth. We have raised the brick wall eight feet high
from the foundation, and intend to have a gallery. Several gentlemen, members of
the House of Assembly, and other gentlemen, have subscribed to the building
about 40£ [pounds sterling]. The chief part of our congregation are slaves, and
their owners allow them, in common, but three or four bits per week for
allowance to feed themselves, and out of so small a sum we cannot expect
anything that can be of service from them; if we did, it would soon bring a
scandal upon religion; and the free people in our society are poor, but they are
all willing, both free and slaves, to do what they can. As for my part, I am too
much entangled with the affairs of the world to go on as I would, with my design
hi supporting the cause. This has, I acknowledge, been a great hindrance to the
gospel in one way; but I have endeavored to set a good example in industry
before the inhabitants of the land, it has given general satisfaction another
way. And Rev. Sir, we think the Lord has put it hi the power of the Baptist
societies in England to help and assist us in completing this building* which we
look upon will be the greatest undertaking ever was in this country for the
bringing of souls from darkness into the light of the gospel. And as the Lord
has put it into your heart to inquire after us, we place all our confidence in
you to make our circumstances known to the several Baptist churches in England,
and we look upon you as our father, friend, and brother. Within the brick wall
we have a shelter in which we worship until our building can be accomplished.

   "Your letter was read to the church two or three times, and did creat a great
deal pf love and warmness throughout the whole congregation who shouted for joy
and comfort to think that the Lord had been so gracious as to satisfy us in this
country with the very same religion with our beloved brethren in the old country
according to the scriptures; and that such a worthy _______ of London, should
write in so loving a manner to such poor worms as we are. And I beg leave to say
that the whole congregation sang out that they would, through the assistance of
God, remember you in their prayers. They all together give their Christian love
to you and all the worthy professors of Christ in your church at London, and beg
the prayers of the churches in general and of your congregation wherever it
pleases you to make known our circumstances. I remain, with the utmost love,
Rev. Sir, your unworthy fellow laborer, servant and brother in Christ.

                                              "GEORGE LEILE."

   May we ever cherish in fervent love the sacred memory of this venerable man
of God—the first pastor of the First African Baptist Church of North America and
Jamaica.


Additional Comments:
From:

THE FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA

BY REV. EDGAR GARFIELD THOMAS, A. B., B. D.
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Copyright, 1925
By E. G. Thomas, Author.


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