Unknown County GaArchives Church Records.....Georgia Baptists Introduction Copyright Date 1874
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INTRODUCTION OF BAPTIST SENTIMENTS INTO THE STATE.

  THE first account we have of any Baptists in the province of Georgia was in
the year 1757. Mr. Nicholas Bedgewood, who was employed in the capacity of agent
to Mr. Whitfield's Orphan House, near Savannah, had several years previously
been convinced of the truth of Baptist sentiments. In that year he went over to
Charleston, and was baptized by Rev. Mr. Hart, the pastor of the Baptist church
in that city. He was soon licensed to preach, and his ordination to the ministry
took place in 1759. In 1763, he baptized several persons in and about the Orphan
House, among whom was Mr. Benjamin Stirk, who afterwards became a minister of
the gospel. To these persons, who were probably a branch of the Charleston
church, Mr. Bedgewood administered the Lord's Supper, the first Baptist
communion ever held in the province.

  Mr. Stirk, having lost his wife while at the Orphan House, married the mother
of the late Rev. Thomas Polhill, of Newington, in the vicinity of Goshen,
eighteen miles above Savannah, to which place he removed in 1767.

  He appears to have been a man of good learning, fine natural parts, and
eminent for piety and zeal. As there was no Baptist church in Georgia, he united
with the church at Euhaw, S. C. He soon began to preach, and set up places of
meeting, at his own house, and at Tuckaseeking, twenty miles higher up the
country, where there were a few Baptists, and who constituted a, branch of the
Euhaw church. But of the useful labors of this faithful servant of Christ, they
were soon deprived, as he was called to his reward in the year 1770. This was
the second bud of a Baptist church in the State; indeed, it is not certainly
known that they ever became a regular church.

  In the meantime, Mr. Botsford, a young licentiate of the Charleston church,
while on a visit to the Euhaw church, received an invitation to come over and
help this feeble and destitute branch. Encouraged by the mother church, and
accompanied by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Pelot, he came and preached to them his
first sermon, on the 27th of June, 1771. His labors being highly acceptable, he
yielded to their solicitations, and remained with them for more than a year. But
his anxious spirit would not permit him to remain in one place. He traveled
extensively, preaching in all the surrounding country; and towards the close of
the next year, he went still higher up the river, and commenced an establishment
at what was at first called New Savannah, but now Botsford's Old Meeting-house,
about twenty-five or thirty miles below Augusta, Here he had the pleasure of
seeing the work of the Lord prosper in his hands.

  A little previous to Mr. Botsford's coming over to Tuckaseeking, Rev. Daniel
Marshall, with other Baptist emigrants, arrived and settled on the Kiokee
creeks, about twenty miles above Augusta. Mr. Marshall began forthwith to preach
in the surrounding country. His principal establishment was on the Big Kiokee,
and from this circumstance it received the style of the Kiokee Meeting-house. It
was located on the site now occupied by the public buildings of Columbia county,
called Applington.

  Although Mr. Marshall was neither profoundly learned nor very eloquent as a
preacher, yet he was fervent in spirit and indefatigable in labors, and the Lord
working with 'him, he soon had the happiness of receiving and baptizing many new
converts; these, together with the emigrant Baptists in that section, were
constituted into a regular church in the year 1772. THIS WAS THE FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH EVER CONSTITUTED IN GEORGIA. At this time, Mr. Daniel Marshall was the
only ordained Baptist minister in the State; but, besides him, there were
several zealous licentiates, i. e., Abraham Marshall, Sanders Walker, Solomon
Thompson and Alexander Scott. By these the word of the Lord was proclaimed
through all the up-country, and the scattered sheep of Christ were gathered into
this fold from the remotest frontiers. Thus the word of the Lord ran and was
glorified, believers abundantly multiplied, and the church greatly enlarged.

  By this time, Mr. Botsford had received ordination by the church in
Charleston, that he might be more fully qualified to enter the large and
interesting field of usefulness that lay before him. He had already visited
Augusta, Kiokee and other places, which at that time lay along the frontiers of
Georgia and South Carolina. He became acquainted with Mr. Marshall, and though
there were at th^ir first acquaintance certain slight differences between these
ministers with respect to externals, Mr. Botsford being of what was then called
the regular, and Mr. Marshall of the separate order, a more intimate
acquaintance soon destroyed these distinctions, and these devoted servants of
the Most High became perfectly united in their efforts to disseminate the truth
and to build up the Redeemer's kingdom. Previously to the ordination of Mr.
Botsford, Mr. Marshall baptized for him, but subsequently, he baptized himself
many of the happy converts who believed under his ministrations at New Savannah
and in the surrounding country; and in the year 1773 he had the additional
satisfaction to see a chnrch regularly constituted in that place. THIS,
BOTSFORD'S CHURCH, WAS THE SECOND CHURCH IN THE STATE. It is still a highly
respectable body, and is a member of the Hephzibah Association.

  These devoted heralds—missionaries of the cross—may well be considered the
founders of the Baptist interest in Georgia. They continued, each in his sphere,
aided by licentiates, to labor incessantly for the up-building of the churches,
and to publish throughout the widely extended frontier settlements the gospel of
the Son of God with a success that furnished unequivocal evidence that the Lord
was with them. Tet it does not certainly appear that any other churches were
constituted by them, though materials for several others were prepared.

  Mr. Botsford married and settled on Briar creek, in Burke county, in the year
1774. But although he purchased land, stuck down his staff and built for himself
a house, and for a time thought that he would enjoy his peaceful home for life,
his heart was so fully set upon his work that he could not rest. He suffered not
the charms or cares of domestic life to abate his fervent-desire for the
salvation of his dying fellow-men, nor to diminish aught from his activity in
the cause of his blessed Master. For, as Iris biographer says, "From the
tabernacle which he had pitched upon Briar creek, he darted out into many
surrounding regions, both in South Carolina and Georgia, and preached the gospel
of the kingdom with his accustomed-fervor and success." During this time, the
church on the Kiokee was multiplying. Mr. Samuel Cartledge, Loveless Savidge and
Silas Mercer were added to the number of her licensed ministers.

  But about this period, the Creek and Cherokee Indians became very troublesome
on the frontiers, and by their frequent incursions greatly harrassed the
inhabitants, and at length quite broke them up. Soon after, the deeper horrors
of the revolutionary war began to fill all with dismay—Savannah fell—Sunbury
surrendered—General Ash was defeated, and at length the whole country was
brought to submit to the British arms. Many sought safety in flight. Among these
were Mr. Mercer and Mr. Botsford. These gentlemen were refugees in the interior
States till the close of the war. But the intrepid Marshall stood his ground,
and never deserted his post; like an apostle, having his dear people in his
heart, to live and to die with them. Though the din of war was heard, rapine and
violence and bloodshed filled the land with consternation, the zeal and
perseverance of this brave soldier of the cross were not in the slightest degree
abated. Assisted by a few licentiates who remained on the field with him, the
good work went on; the spirit of pure religion was progressive, and even in
those times which tried men's souls, very many were converted to God.

   During the troubles above mentioned, it does not appear that many churches
were constituted, yet the foundations for them were laid. Indeed, it is possible
the Red's creek (now Aberleen) church, was constituted within that period. The
Rev. Loveless Savidge, who was pastor of this church, was one of the early
licentiates of the Kiokee church, and it is natural to suppose, that he soon
succeeded in raising the church; but of this, we have no certain information.
There was also constituted a church on Little Briar creek, in 1777, which still
exists, but under whose labors we cannot now ascertain; probable by the zealous
efforts of the Rev. William Franklin and Joseph Busson, who were resident in
this section at the close of the war. They were useful ministers in their day,
abundant in labors and good fruits, and their praise was in all the churches.

  Shortly after the termination of hostilities, when peace spread her balmy
wings abroad, and prosperity began to bless the country with her genial smile,
the refugees returned; and those who had remained, both ministers and common
members, who had been very much scattered, depressed, and almost estranged from
each other, now became animated, arose in various settlements simultaneously,
flowed together as by one common impulse, and were soon constituted into many
churches.

  The Rev. Sanders Walker, who by way of distinction has been called the meek,
residing at that time on Fishing creek, five miles north of Washington, in
Wilkes county, having been ordained to the gospel ministry in the mother church,
preached the gospel of the grace of God in the regions round about him. There
were in his vicinity a number of Baptists, who either had emigrated thither, or
were the fruits of the labors of Mr. Walker, himself and others. Among these
brethren was Mr. John Milner, Sr., a most zealous and fervent exhorter, who
afterwards became a preacher, and was very successful in his efforts to advance
the cause of God and truth amongst his people. These were soon gathered
together, and in 1783, were formed into a regularly constituted church, under
the style of the Fishing creek church.

  The following year, 1784, Upton's creek church was constituted. This was
situated in the lower part of Wilkes, and went by the name of Upton's creek for
some time, but upon building a new and convenient meeting-house some miles
below, in a pine wood, surrounded by evergreens, it received the style of
Greenwood, by which it is still known. By whom this church was founded we know
not, but doubtless it was constituted of members from the Kiokee church, and
formed under her auspices. Here the Rev. Peter Smith was settled soon after the
war closed, and it is altogether probable that he was instrumental in the
formation of the church. He was the first pastor. In a short time, however, Mr.
Smith removed to the State of Ohio, where he ended his earthly career.

  These were the churches in the State when the Georgia Baptist Association was
organized, arid it would seem, were the constituent members of the body.


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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