Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Botsford, Edmund 1745 - 1819
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 30, 2005, 4:44 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell

EDMUND BOTSFORD.

  THOUGH this State was not the principal theatre of his labors, yet as he was
one of the first gospel ministers that sowed good seed within our borders, it is
meet that his name should occupy a prominent position in these sketches. He was
an Englishman—was born at Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 1745—was left an orphan at
seven years of age, his father and mother having both died. God provided for
him, in answer to his mother's prayers, by placing him under the care of a Mrs.
Osborn, an aunt of his. By her he was sent to board with Mrs. Barnes, an
intimate friend of his mother, with whom he attended meeting at a Baptist
church. He was frequently the subject of strong religious impressions at this
early age, and was fond of reading the Pilgrim's Progress, Holy War, Watts'
Hymns for Children, etc. These impressions were deepened by an extraordinary
dream which he had in his eighth or ninth year.

  After this, however, his habits became irregular; and he was almost dispaired
of by his friends. Indeed, all seem to have forsaken him except "the good Mrs.
Barnes." He had great desires for a seafaring life, and as he failed in that,
his waywardness led him to enlist in the army as a common soldier. Here he
suffered many hardships, and in several instances narrowly escaped death. The
army at length disbands, and he once more finds a home and a friend with the
good Mrs. Barnes. At the age of twenty he sails for Charleston, South Carolina,
where he arrived in January, 1766.

  In the New World, among strangers, he encountered misfortunes which had the
effect to deepen the religious impressions which he had occasionally experienced
during his youth, even in the midst of his greatest follies and wickedness, and
which were, doubtless, the effects of divine influence. His distress was so
great as to attract the notice of the members of the family in which he lived,
and also of the boarders. On a certain day one of them told him he was under
conviction, and advised him to go and hear a Baptist minister in the place,
assuring him he was the only preacher in the city who could be of any service to
him. Accordingly, he went to hear Mr. Hart, (whose name is dear to South
Carolina Baptists,) whose ministry was sanctified to his conversion. On this
subject he writes: "I do not remember that at that time I had any very
distressing fears of hell; but it cut me to the heart that I had sinned against
such a good God, and that I was such an unholy, deceitful creature. The first
day of November, the day on which I was twenty-one years of age, was a day never
to be forgotten. It was a day of light, a day of peace and joy. That day I had
clearer views than formerly of sin, holiness, God and Christ, and different
views from all I had ever before experienced. I think I was enabled to devote my
whole self to God as a reconciled God. I think I then so believed in Christ as
to trust in him, and commit my all into his hands. At that time, and from that
time, I considered myself as not my own, but his; his, and not the world's; his
and no longer Satan's; his, for time, and his for eternity." His soul was
greatly comforted by the following passages: “Call upon me in the day of
trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Come unto me, all ye
that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. My grace is sufficient
for thee." He says: "My guilt was removed; my sorrow was turned into joy, and I
had peace through believing in the fullness and freeness of this great
salvation. I was indeed like a new man; every thing in me, all around me,
appeared new. A new song was put into my mouth, even praises to ray God and
Saviour. I could not but express my joy to the family where I lived, though they
were strangers to every thing of the kind, and some of them really thought I was
deranged. This unspeakable happiness continued without any intermission for two
whole weeks; and I then thought it would continue forever. But, alas! I soon
found I was mistaken."

  On the 13th of March he was baptized—soon afterwards was licensed to preach,
and entered upon a course of study, preparatory to the ministry, under his
pastor, Rev. Mr. Hart. Having enumerated many of God's mercies and several
interesting scenes through which he had passed, he adds: “So I have been groom,
footman, painter, carpenter and soldier; and had now commenced preacher." He
continued with Mr. Hart until the following June.

  He finally concluded to leave Charleston. A gentleman made him a present of a
horse, saddle and saddle-bags; his friends furnished him with clothing. Leaving
Charleston, he traveled on to Euhaw, where he remained with Rev. Mr. Pelot to
the end of July. Near Tuckaseeking, a settlement about forty miles from
Savannah, in Georgia, were a few Baptists, who constituted a branch of the Euhaw
church. The death of Rev. Mr. Stirk, a zealous Baptist minister, had left this
little band destitute of the gospel. Hearing of Mr. Botsford, they invited him
to come over and help them. With Mr. Pelot he visited them and preached his
first sermon to them on the 27th of June, 1771. At this time there was not a
regularly constituted Baptist church and but one ordained minister* in the whole
province of Georgia. His labors here were highly acceptable, and in compliance
with their wishes he agreed to remain with them one year. He met with no
opposition, was much followed and caressed, and some would travel twenty miles
to attend his ministry. He did not confine himself to Tuckaseeking, but preached
extensively in many contiguous regions, both in Georgia and South Carolina.

*Mr. Daniel Marshall.

  The manner in which he commenced his labors at Ebenezer, a large settlement of
Dutch Lutherans, was sufficiently amusing. It is thus related by Mr. Botsford:
"At the lower part of this settlement was a Dutch church, which was only
occasionally occupied by the Lutherans, and was convenient to a few Baptists and
others. I was asked if I had any objections to preach in it, if leave could be
obtained? "By no means." Application was made to the minister, a Mr. Robinhurst,
(as the name was pronounced,) and he referred the applicant to the deacon. The
deacon's reply was: 'No, no; tese Paptists are a very pad people; they begin
shlow at forst—py and py all men follow dem. No, no, go the minister, Mr.
Robinhurst; if he says breach, den I kiff you de keys.' 'The minister says, I
have no objection, and leaves it with you.' 'Den take de keys I will come and
hear myself.' The house was opened, and I preached the first time on October 1,
1771, from Matt. ix. 13. When. I had preached, the old deacon said: 'Dat peen
pad poy, put he breach Jesus Christ; he come again and welcome.' "

  In 1772, he enlarged the sphere of his labors, and traveled and preached
almost incessantly. He visited Augusta, Kiokee, and several other places, which
at that time stretched along on the frontiers of Georgia and South Carolina. In
one of these excursions he became acquainted with the famous Daniel Marshall,
who a short time before had removed to Georgia and settled upon one of the
Kiokee creeks. Mr. Botsford gives the following account of their first
interview: "By him (a Colonel Barnard,*) I was introduced to Mr. Daniel
Marshall, as a gentleman originally from Old England, but last from Charleston.
“Well, sir,” said Mr. Marshall, 'are you come to preach for us ?' 'Yes, sir, by
your leave, but I confess I am at a loss for a text.' 'Well, well, look to the
Lord for one.' I trust I did so, and preached from Psalms lxvi. 16. When I had
done, the good old gentleman took me by the hand and said, 'I can take thee by
the hand and call thee brother, for somehow I never heard convarsion better
explained in my life; but I would not have thee think thou preachest as well as
Joe Reese and Philip Mulkey;^ however, I hope you will go home with me.' I did
so, and from that time a friendship commenced between the good old gentleman,
his son, Abraham Marshall, and myself, which I trust will never be dissolved."

  *This was the very individual before whom Daniel Marshall appeared for trial
when arrested for preaching in the parish of St. Paul. Soon after this, Colonel
Barnard, though he retained his connection with the Church of England, became a
decided friend of Mr. Marshall and the Baptists. He spoke of them very favorably
to Sir James Wright, the Governor. He invited Mr. Botsford to his house, and was
the one who first requested him to preach at Kiokee. Though he was an eccentric
character, yet Mr. Botsford regarded him as a good man, and observes that he
died in a most triumphant manner.

  ^Distinguished Baptist preachers of the Separate Order.


  Mr. Marshall was of the Separate and Mr. Botsford of the Regular Order of
Baptists. Their friendship no doubt contributed to bring about that lasting and
happy union of the Orders, (especially in the Southern States,) which was
effected soon after. During the year 1772, Mr. Botsford's labors were blessed in
several instances to the conversion of souls. Some of these individuals were
baptized by Mr. Marshall, others by Mr. Pelot, of Euhaw. It was during this year
that one or two occurrences took place which may be a little amusing to the
reader. I give them in the language of Benedict, who probably derived his
information from Mr. Botsford himself: "Once, on a journey up to the Kiokee,
where Mr. Botsford had appointed to preach, he called on a Mr. Savidge to
inquire the way. This Mr. Savidge was then a bigoted churchman, but was
hopefully acquainted with the truth. After he had given the stranger proper
directions, the following conversation ensued: 'I suppose you are the Baptist
minister who is to preach to-day at the Kiokee.' 'Yes, sir; will you go? “No; I
am not fond of the Baptists; they think nobody is baptized but themselves.'
'Have you been baptized?' 'Yes, to be sure.' 'How do you know?' 'How do I know!
why my parents have told me I was.' ‘Then you do not know only by information.'
On this Mr. Botsford left him; but "how do you know?' haunted him until he
became convicted of his duty. He was baptized by Mr. Marshall, and began to
preach the same day he was baptized, and was a useful minister among Georgia
Baptists. 'Botsford's how do you know?' says Mr. Savidge, 'first set me to
thinking about baptism.' "

  "In the same journey in which he fell in with Mr. Savidge, he preached at the
court house in Burke county. The assembly at first paid a decent attention, but
towards the close of the service one of them bawled out with a great oath, ‘The
rum is come.' Out he rushed; others followed; the assembly was left small, and
by the time Mr. Botsford got out to his horse, he had the unhappiness to find
many of his hearers intoxicated and fighting. An old gentleman came up to him,
took his horse by the bridle, and in his profane dialect most highly extolled
both him and his discourse, swore he must drink with him, and come and preach in
his neighborhood. It was no time to reason or reprove; and as preaching was Mr.
Botsford's business, he accepted the old man's invitation and made an
appointment. His first sermon was blessed to the awakening of his wife; one of
his sons also became religious, and others in the settlement, to the number of
fifteen, were in a short time hopefully brought to a knowledge of the truth; and
the old man himself became sober and attentive to religion, although he never
made a public profession of it."

  At the close of the year 1772, Mr. Botsford concluded to leave Tuckaseeking;
he accordingly preached, as he says, a kind of farewell sermon. He speaks of
this as an affecting time. He continued, however, to favor the neighborhood for
some time with his occasional services.

  The church in Charleston, hearing of the success of the ministry of Mr.
Botsford, concluded to call him to ordination. He was accordingly ordained on
the 14th of March, 1773; Oliver Hart and Francis Pelot assisting on the
occasion. During this year and the year following, his labors were abundant and
his success considerable. Soon after his ordination, he commenced baptizing, and
by the middle of the following November, he had baptized forty-five. "In the
month of August, 1773," says Mr. Botsford, "I rode six hundred and fifty miles,
preached forty-two sermons, baptized twenty-one persons, and administered the
Lord's supper twice. Indeed, I traveled so much this year, that some used to
call me the flying preacher."

  This year he married his first wife in Augusta. Her maiden name was Susanna
Nun. She was a native of Ireland, but had lived in America from her childhood.
Previous to her marriage, she had been baptized by Mr. Marshall.

  For some time after Mr. Botsford left Tuckaseeking, he does not appear to have
had any particular place of residence; but in May, 1774, the flying preacher
perched upon Brier creek, in Burke county. Here he purchased some land, built
him a house, and "was settled, as he thought, for life." He received "but little
pecuniary aid from the people whom he served; but having obtained, about this
time, between three and four hundred pounds sterling from the estate of his
brother in England, recently deceased, he was enabled, by a prudent disposition
of the money, to live comfortably. From this tabernacle which he had pitched on
Brier creek, he darted out into many surrounding regions and preached the gospel
with his accustomed fervor and success.

  His time was thus occupied for several years, till in the spring of 1779, he
was compelled to make a precipitate flight from his home and the State, on
account of the horrors of the revolutionary war. He and his family departed in
such haste that they had only time to take off with them two horses and a cart,
containing a single bed, one blanket and a sheet. Thus, after having carried the
gospel into many benighted neighborhoods, sown much precious seed, baptized one
hundred and forty-eight persons, reared up a flourishing church, and prepared
materials for future churches, so that he might be justly regarded (if we except
the indefatigable Marshall) as the principal founder of the Baptist interest in
Georgia, Mr. Botsford hurries from the province, an unprotected fugitive, no
more to find a permanent abode in the region of his early labors.

  During the remainder of the revolution, he had no very permanent abode. Was, a
part of the time, chaplain in the American army—the balance of it, in South and
North Carolina, and in Virginia. He finally settled in Georgetown, South
Carolina, as pastor of the church.

  In 1803, he was seized with that most distressing disease, the ticdouloureux,
the painful stroke or twinge, which, with the exception of a few short intervals
of temporary relief, continued to rack his frame and prey upon his constitution
until it terminated in death. This event, which happens alike to all, took place
on the 25th December, 1819, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. Dr. Furman
says: "Rev. Mr. Botsford was of a good personal appearance, and of a vigorous
constitution before it was broken by disease. With respect to his talents, if
not of the most splendid kind, they were yet highly respectable; and he was a
man of the most excellent spirit, candid, humble, friendly, affectionate and
faithful."





Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.




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