Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Walsh, Thomas circa 1800 - 1833
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 31, 2005, 4:50 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell

THOMAS WALSH,

  Of Irish descent, was born in Savannah, Georgia, about 1800, and was
apprenticed to the printing business. He united with the Methodists, but
expressed scruples about their baptism. He was licensed to preach, and sent to
Athens to prepare for college, sustained by the Georgia Education Society. While
at Athens, his previous convictions of duty about baptism returned, and he could
not be silent. He writes his wife, (then in Savannah,) who it seems had long
been convinced of the duty of following the Saviour, and she entreats him to
return to that city, that they may both be baptized together.

  Mr. Walsh was attempted to be dissuaded from joining the Baptists by a
distinguished Methodist minister, who represented the Calvinistic faith in most
horrible colors. This for a while staggered the young disciple. He desired
baptism from an authorized administrator, but he could not adopt the Baptist
faith with its supposed decrees and partial election. Soon after this, Fuller's
works fell into his hands. After reading them, be found no difficulty, for, said
he, "If these be the views of the Baptists, I can adopt them with all my heart."

  After his baptism in Savannah, by Rev. H. 0. Wyer, he removed his family to
Athens, was taken under the patronage of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and
advised to take a regular collegiate course. But he was poor, and the support he
received was not actually sufficient to relieve his wants. One day he went to
purchase a little sugar with the last dollar he possessed. He expended
three-fourths of his all, and returning to the post-office in a despairing state
of mind, was told there was a letter for him—postage twenty-five cents. He
hesitated about expending his last cent, but, on opening the letter, found
enclosed twenty dollars. The kind donor was never known to him.

  After remaining a year or two in college he returned to Savannah, where he
acted for a time as city missionary. In this sphere he was eminently useful, but
continued in it only about a year, when he was called to the pastoral charge of
Robertsville church, South Carolina. To this enlightened and wealthy church he
greatly endeared himself; yet, owing mainly to the state of his health, he was
induced to remove hence to Coosahatchie. While in South Carolina he received
ample support, and was thus enabled to devote all his energies to the
improvement of his mind. The consequence was, he rose rapidly in reputation and
was soon considered one of the ablest ministers in the Savannah River
Association, and, indeed, in the State. He had been to attend a session of that
body in 1833, was taken sick at Dr. Ayre's, and lived only some two weeks. His
remains were taken back to Coosahatchie.

  He was accused after his death of leaning towards the Episcopalians, and the
report went out that if he had lived he would, have joined that denomination.
The only ground for this report was the friendship between Mr. Walsh and the
Episcopal minister of Coosahatchie. He was a man of an amiable and affectionate
disposition, and was a speaker of rare talents. Few men of his age were so
eloquent.


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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