Wilkinson County  Georgia New Providence Baptist Church

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Wiregrass51528@aol.com  Elizabeth H. Taylor

Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/wilkinson.htm
Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm


Historical Sketch of New Providence Baptist Church

By Walter M. Lee, A.M., Th.D.
Pastor First Baptist Church
Cochran, GA
Picturesquely located upon an oak-clad knoll in southern
Wilkinson, near the border of Twiggs, stands the stately
edifice of the New Providence Missionary Baptist Church. 
The date of its organization is unknown. It was a charter
member of the Ebenezer Association, which was formed in
1814. The fact that the name does not appear in the
Hepsibah Association records would indicate that the
church was organized about 1813, just prior to the
formation of the Ebenezer Association. The oldest records
of the church were lost as early as 1858.  Information
herein contained is secured from the minutes of the
church of February 27, 1830-January 27, 1866, these
records having been secured from former clerk, H.F.
Rutland of Dublin, Ga.

Descendants of the members of this church now people
large sections of South Georgia and portions of other
states. Among the family names mentioned in the records
as constituting the membership are the following: Hardy,
Willis, Smith, Dye, Huges, Whipple, Burney, Mitchell,
Fitzgerald, Welch, Davidson, Gilbert, Wimberly,
Boatwright, Dixon, Terrell, Morgan, Crocker, Barnet,
Methvin, Matthews, Cox, Hooks, Porter, Hardison, Wommack,
Harrison, Barlow, hinton, Buchins, Nobles, Hatcher,
Alday, McMurray, Moore, Beland, Collins, Calhoun, Fann,
Rutherford, Suffield, Shivers, Meadows, Waller, Jones,
Merritt, parks, King, Wall, Patterson, Russell, Brack,
Martin, Carswell, Wells, Burke, Hays, Manson, Page,
Braziel, Bell, Mallary, Griffin, Brown, Wright, Lee, etc.

Of the above, many prominent families of Wilkinson and
other counties contiguous received their origin.  Much of
the moral stamina and religious initiative of many
sections known to the writer can be traced to the
influence of New Providence spiritual life, as
transmitted through children and grandchildren.

The Collins family has numerous descendants now in the
local territory. The Burke family, originating with
Nimrod Burke, an early settler, who married Miss Morgan,
who is said to have been related to the celebrated Nancy
Morgan Hart, has representatives throughout the state.
Daniel Burke was son of Nimrod. The Carswells, Merediths,
Butlers, Lees, Chapmans, and others married into the
Burke family.

The Whipple family, who came from New England, has
prominent representatives through South Georgia, as have
also the Mitchell family. The Terrell family have been
prominent in Georgia social and political life, and the
Russells and Carswells have blessed the world through
their descendants.

The Hughes, Burney, Smith, Dye, and Willis families have
been useful and prominent in social, religious, and
commercial life. The Methvins have populated large
sections in Southwest Georgia.

Many slaves belonged to the church before the Civil War.
Among the owners of these slaves were Jas P Guerry,
Walter Washington Lee, John Gallimore, Wm Hatcher, James
Hatfield, Isaiah Dikes, Wm E. Carswell, the Hatchers,
Calhouns Parks, Collins, S.M.C. Lamar, Allen and S.D.
Whipple, T.W. Terrell, A. Fraseur, etc.

Among the visiting ministers prior to 1850 were Davis,
Echols, Threlkel, Matthews, E. Hammack, Jas. Williamson,
J. DuPree, Horne, Harvell, etc.

Irwinton church received its first members from New
Providence among whom were J.T. Porter and wife, J.R.
Porter, W.O. Beall, and L.B. Porter who were granted
letters June 8, 1843 for the purpose of organizing a
church in Irwinton. The church at Jeffersonville was
largely formed from the constituency of New Providence.
About 1840 it appears that New Providence owned deeds to
a lot in Jeffersonville, and it was proposed to remove
the church to Jeffersonville and unite with another
church near that town in forming a strong church. This
met with disapproval. In November 1849, nine members were
granted letters as we judge to form a church in
Jeffersonville, as messengers from the Jeffersonville
church the next year included some whose letters had been
granted viz; John Barksdale, and later on Brethren
McCollum, Wimberly, Sharp, Steely, Horn, DuPree, etc.

A new church building was perhaps erected at new
Providence as early as 1834. Then again in 1846 an effort
to build a new house was begun. This culminated about
1850 and the present building was dedicated in 1851.

The clerks in the church followed one another in the
following order: John Hughes, 1830; Andrew Jackson, 1831;
Wm Huges, 1832; Thos W. Terrell 1833-35; John Veazey
Chewning 1836-48; John Barksdale, 1849; S.K. Long 1850-
58; S.B. Whipple, 1859-61; John Burke 1862-66.

Among the deacons of the church were Wm Hughes, Wm
Manson, John T. Porter, J.V. Chewning, Daniel Fann, W.W.
Pierce, S.M. Carswell, Nimrod Brown, John Rutland, S.
Carswell, and G.B. Hughes.

Collections for domestic missions began in the church as
early as 1845, at least. This was during the pastorate of
Rev. C.D. Mallary, who gave the lots upon which the new
church was erected about 1850.  As early as 1843 an
attempt had been made to enlist the church in the
activities of the Georgia Baptist convention, but the
matter was laid on the table until in the fall of 1843
the church agreed to unite with the Convention in its
missionary projects. The constructive hand of Mallary is
to be seen in this.

Among the subjects for discipline in the early history of
the church were Sabbath breaking, lying, adultery,
drinking spirits, rebelling against and running away from
the overseer, communing with pedobaptist, etc. A member
who asked to have his name dropped or erased was promptly
expelled and his name expunged from the records.

A certain case of discipline in the year 1830 deserves
special mention.  Bro. Ross (presumably Rev. John Ross,
pastor), "Brought an accusation against Brother Methvin
on the grounds of a report that he drew a picture and
drove a nail into it and his negro man George was taken
sick and died and from some circumstance he thought what
he did was the cause."

"Took up the case of Brother Methvin, and after some
debate, he was excluded".

Revivals were notable during the pastorates of Revs.
Tharp, Mallary, Campbell, Sharp and McCall. New
Providence and Jeffersonville church co-operated very
beautifully, during the first years of the existence of
the latter, in evangelistic effort. Richland and New
Providence also aided one another in their protracted
meetings, by sending good congregations to attend.

These churches were located in a very fertile section,
and much wealth and aristocracy were in the territory.
Fine equipages, fashionable dresses, flashing harness,
ebony coachmen, and other evidences of wealth and display
were evident on these great occasions when the populace
gathered to hear the celebrated and scholarly McCarr, or
Campbell, or Mallary. Few churches in the state could
secure their equal in scholarship, evangelistic fervor,
or pulpit eloquence.

Among the visitors at New Providence on these occasions
of the protracted meetings were the following: From
Richland, John Graddy, James Harrison, Marmaduke Hart, J.
Hanson, H. Huges, the Hornes, the Asbels, the Radfords,
etc. From Bethel, Wright Manning, L. Joiner, Whitfield
Huges, G.B. Huges, W. Willis, Dr. Chappel, etc. From
Woods Meeting House: J.J. Chappel, the Everetts the
Boazmans, the Blackshears, J. Wood, the Evans, Thomases,
and Shivers.

The Ebenezer Association was held with the New Providence
church in 1818, 1830, 1840, 1868. Stands were erected for
preaching on the grounds, vast congregations assembled to
hear the gospel, and households were busy for weeks
beforehand fattening and preparing chickens, port, stall-
fed calves, etc. Biscuit made from home0raised flour and
cakes sweetened with long sweetening, tarts covered and
tart uncovered, and innumerable other delicacies were
spread before the assembled multitude in the olden times.

The old building, completed nearly seventy-five years
ago, still stands at New Providence. The once fertile
lands are now washed into gullies, the antebellum
homesteads are now occupied by freedmen of the race which
was once in slavery, the old fields cultivated three
generations ago are grown up in short-leaf pines, and the
large-eyed owl sits blinking in the old oak adorned with
pendant Spanish moss, as he mourns in doleful cadence
concerning days agone.  The whip-poor-will's plaintive
voice is heard in the thickets surrounding the old church
of an evening. The fresh sweet notes of the swamp
sparrows are heard in the deep foliage of the ancient
trees that adorn the cemetery, and a sacred quietness and
stillness hovers over the scene like a benediction.  In
these sacred precincts the shouts of new born souls were
heard in the forties of last century.  The grandchildren
of these converts are now shaping the commercial and
intellectual development of the Wiregrass. Some of these
descendants are housed in mansions in the cities. some of
them are directing the destination of thousands of
carloads of merchandise throughout the state. Others are
among the common multitudes which make up our common
life.

Blessed by the memory of New Providence, here sainted
constituencies, and her blessed accomplishments. The
writer had the pleasure of serving as pastor here abotu
the year 1902, when the church allowed him an eight month
leave of absence to complete his course in the Seminary
at Louisville, Ky.

It appears proper to quote from the records of August 12,
1837, the tribute paid by the church to its former
pastor, Rev. John Ross, who was prominently associated
with all the early movements of the organized life of
Georgia Baptists.

"Resolved, That we as a church and as individuals
consider the death of the Rev. John Ross, late of Upson
County, as a public calamity. That we cherish the
recollection of his residence among us and love to think
of him as our affectionate friend, a kind neighbor, and a
faithful and laborious minister of the gospel. Nor will
we forget who have had the privilege of sitting under his
ministry, the pleasant smile, the tearful eye, the
thrilling voice, which gave evidence of his deep
solicitude for the salvation of those to whom he preached
the gospel of his blessed Lord. His favorite theme was
the cross of Christ, and the tidings of a revival, the
conversion of sinners, the restoration of a backslider,
or any mark of the presence of the Lord among his people
never failed to touch his heart. And while he listened to
the pleasing communication, the tear would steal down his
cheek, and again and again would we hear the hear the
expression which he often used: 'Blessed be God Almighty
for that".  In the public effort of the church to spread
teh gospel and do good to man he stood of the foremost,
and long will his zeal and humility and devotedness be
remembered by those who labored with him in advancing the
cause he so much loved. Truly it may be said of our dear
departed brother that like his Master he went about doing
good, and seemed to love the work. "Resolved, That we
sympathize with his bereaved family and a copy of this
resolution be forwarded to them. Entered according to
order of conference. J.V. Chewning, Clerk From New
Providence went out Rev. Green B. Hughes and Rev. Daniel
Fann to aid in establishing many town and country
churches throughout central and southern Georgia. James
and W.R. Steely were early associated with this church
also. The mother of Dr. P.A. Jessup was a member of New
Providence. She was a descendant of John Lee, who died
while moving from Jefferson or Burke Bounty to settle on
the lands owned later by the James Knight family, located
on the north bank of Maiden Creek, where the road from
Allentown and Pleasant Plains church to Irwinton crosses
the Creek. John Lee was father of seven children - Lewis,
Needham, Lovard, John, and Godfrey; and Winnie and Sarah.


The sons and daughters of Lewis Lee and his wife Jane
Triplette Lee were Walter Washington, Greenberry, Darling
Peeples, Elizabeth, Susan, Rachel, Sarah, Martha, and
Mary Jane. Lewis Lee moved to near Georgetown, GA about
1841. He is buried near the J.F. Hogan place. Elizabeth
Lee married Mr. Russell, and was the mother of Rev.
Gustavus Russell, a Methodist preacher of Louisiana, and
of Emiline Russell, who married W.S.c. Jessup, a Baptist
deacon, the father of Rev. P.A. Jessup. South Georgia is
greatly indebted to this celebrated and untiring advocate
of secondary education. For fifty years he has been a
leader of the denomination in South Georgia.

The above named John Lee, through his father Furney Lee,
who emigrated from Virginia to South Carolina, was
related to Richard lee of Virginia, the ancestor of
Richard henry, Light Horse Harry and Robert Edward Lee.
The descendants of John Lee are scattered from Georgia
and Florida to Louisiana. Many reside within a radius of
fifty miles of Eufaula, Ala, both in Georgia and Alabama.
Some of the most prominent political leaders of Alabama
have issued from this stock. Lovard Lee's descendants
drifted into Florida.  Barbour County, Alabama, has many
of the descendants of Needham Lee. Sarah Burke Phillips
Lee, the wife of Walter Washington Lee, was a member of
New Providence church as early as 1855.  John C. Lee,
wholesale grocer of Augusta, GA and a deacon in the First
Baptist church of that city, was a member of this family.
Other members married into the families of Tilly,
Tutherford, Collins, Wililams, Davidson, Howard,
Moncrief, Morgan, Burke, McCant, Henry, Fishburne, etc.
It may thus be seen how extensive an area may be covered
within the space of a century by the descendants of one
men.

The influence of New Providence church throughout South
Georgia can not be tabulated. many deacons, ministers,
church trustees, treasurers, Sunday School
superintendents, educators, college graduates, lawyers,
and otherwise prominent citizens have issued from the
stock which was instructed in the doctrines of God's word
by Mallary, Campbell, Ross, Tharpe, McCall, the pulpits
giants fo former years.

New Providence, Evergreen, and Richland churches located
as they were in the midst of plenty, culture, and
superior social surroundings, furnished leaders for the
Georgia Baptist Convention in the middle of the last
century.  These churches contributed to the erection of
the first building of the First Baptist church of
Atlanta, when that city was a village called
Marthasville. mercer University is indebted to the
products of these churches in many ways. The fruitage of
the labors of a good minister of Jesus Christ never
ceases. The prayers and ministries of pious mothers bear
fruit into following generations. Let us therefor abound
in the works of the Lord, knowing that our labors are not
in vain in the Lord.

This is the conclusion of the New Providence Pamphlet.
Wish we had some of the others that he wrote. I have been
very impressed about how he talked about families as well
as the actual history of the church organization. It was
just wonderful that Elizabeth had this history and went
to the extra trouble to share it with all of us.

Notice: In the course of his studies in Southern Baptist
history, the writer has printed the following booklets of
from 20-50 pages each. Sketches of the following churches
in the Little River Association in Georgia: Friendship,
Tippettville, Blue Spring, Pleasant View, Antioch, Mt.
Pleasant, Ocilla, Rochelle, Fitzegerald, Abbeville, Cedar
Creek, Mt. Zion, etc.

Sketches of the following association Georgia:
Summerhill, Pulaski, Little River, New Ebenezer or Dodge,
Rehoboth, Washington, Ebenezer and Houston associations.

Also sketches of the following churches - Cochran,
Evergreen (Bleckly Co) Richland (Twiggs); Dublin
(Laurens); First church Macon, Ga, Cordele and Vienna
churches, fitzgerald, Moultrie, Eastman, Ashburn, Arabi,
Pinehurst, Hawkinsville, Mt. Calvary (Bleckley Co) Sketch
of Baptist Church Moore Haven, Fla, and sketch of Daniel
Marshall. Any one of the above willb e sent on receipt of
ten cents in stamps, the money to be used in the payment
of the expenses and postage incident to the preservation
of the sources of Southern Baptist history.

As Corresponding Secretary of the Southern Baptist
Historical Society, the writer has been instructed by the
Southern Baptist convention and the S.B. His. Society to
endeavor to arouse interest throughout the South in the
subject of historical preservation. The archives of the
Southern Society are located in the fireproof library of
the Seminary of Louisville, Ky. The wrtier request all
who have valuable documents bearing on Baptist history to
send to him for preservation in the above archives such
materials as they are willing to donate.

As President of the Georgia Baptist historical Society,
the writer asks all Georgians to donate to the Library of
the Ga. Bapt his Society such materials as they have or
can secure. Following is a list of desired materials: Old
copies of the Christian Index; old associational minutes,
minutes of defunct churches, manuscript letters of
deceased denominational leaders; rare Baptist
biographical and historical publications bearing on
Baptist life, photographs of Baptist ministers, leaders,
churches, schools, colleges, historic sites, etc.

Baptist historical societies are now organized and at
work in the older states of the South, and our people are
asked to aid in the gathering of valuable materials. Fire
proof protection will be provided and any material may be
loaned to either society to be returned to the lender on
request. Walter H. Lee Cors Sec Sou Bap Historical
Society
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