124 Charleston Church revived under Whitefield's Preaching.

good old age of 84 years. He is said to have been the original proprietor of the land, on which Georgetown is built.

After the death of its first pastor, the Charleston church underwent a number of changes, as to numbers and harmony. His successors in office were Messrs. Peart and Simmons. Previous, however, to the settlement of the first of them, Mr. White and others preached occasionally with them. Rev. William Peart came hither an ordained minister, but from what place I cannot learn, about the year 1717, and continued the pastor of the church, until he died in 1728. He married Sarah, widow of Paul Grimball, but had no children. She afterwards married a Mr. Smith, and under that name gave a legacy to the first Baptist church in Philadelphia, of about 900 dollars. Mr. Peart's successor was Rev. Thomas Simmons, who was born in England, but came to Charleston from Pennsylvania, where he had been ordained. His father gave him an academical education, and then bound him to the carpenter's business, which he did not like. He, therefore, came to America, that he might be free to follow his inclination, which was towards the ministry. He had two children, Thomas and Hannah. The son died childless; the daughter married Dr. Thomas Dale, and had many children, who removed to England after their father's death.

Mr. Simmons published one piece, entitled, "Some Queries concerning the Operations of the Holy Spirit, answered." Under his ministry, the church passed through a series of trials, occasioned by the schism and encroachments of the General Baptists, and by disputes among themselves; and towards the close of it, was reduced to the verge of extinction, there remaining but one man and two women, who were communicants. But when Mr. Whitefield first visited Charleston, there was a great revival under his ministry, and this church sharing largely in its salutary influences, soon received the addition of about a hundred members. Mr. Simmons died January 31, 1747, and was succeeded by Rev. Oliver Hart. His settlement in Charleston was an important event to the South-Carolina churches. His unexpected arrival, while the church was destitute

of a supply, and immediately after the death of the excellent Mr. Chanler, who had occasionally officiated for them since Mr. Simmons's death, was believed to have been directed by a special providence in their favour. He undertook the pastoral office with much seriousness, and soon entered on an extensive field of usefulness. His ardent piety and active philanthropy, his discriminating mind, and persuasive address, raised him high in the esteem of the publick, and gave him a distinguished claim to the affections of his brethren. (For an interesting account of Mr. Hart, see his biography.)

Mr. Hart having, for his safety, retired to New-Jersey at the beginning of the American war, this church was for many years destitute of a pastor. But in 1787, it had the felicity to settle among them Rev. Richard Furman, D. D. who yet continues their much-esteemed and affectionate pastor.

Dr. Furman was born at Esopus, on the Hudson-river, in the State of New-York, about 1748 :* his extensive and successful exertions for the benefit of his own church, of the Baptist interest in South-Carolina, and the cause of Zion generally, will furnish interesting articles for some future biographer; but pursuant to the maxims we have adopted respecting the living, they cannot here be minutely detailed.

The Charleston church has now (1813) existed 180 years, and is among the largest in South-Carolina. It is remarkable for its hospitality to visiting brethren, and its abundant charities to those who are in necessitous circumstances.

ASHLEY RIVER.

THIS was the second church which was formed in South-Carolina. From about the time the Baptists first settled in this vicinity, they had stood connected with the Charleston church, as a branch of that body. But on May 24, 1736, the members here, to the number of twenty-eight, were constituted into a distinct church by

I am not certain about the time of Dr. Furman's birth; but I suppose that he is now about sixty-five years of age, and that would bring it as above stated

126 Character of Rev. Mr. Chanler and Rev. Mr. Stephens.

a special covenant, under the pastoral care of Rev. Isaac Chanler. The constituents were Isaac Chanler, pastor, William Cater, John Bullein, Richard Bedon, jun. Benjamin Child, John Sheppard, jun. Charles Barker, Charles Filben, Francis Sheppard, Alexander Sheppard, Jacob Bradwell, John Angell, Thomas Ramsay, Richard Bedon, sen. Sarah Baker, Mary Cater, Susannah Bradwell, Christiana Brown, Ann Maam, Elizabeth Chanler, Elizabeth Bullein, Joyel Griffin, Elizabeth Bedon, Elizabeth Salter, Susannah Baker, Elizabeth Marrion, Mary Sheppard, and Ann Peacock.

Mr. Chanler was born at Bristol, England, 1701; came to Ashley-river about 1733, and continued the much-esteemed pastor of this church, until he died, Nov. 30, 1749, in the 49th year of his age. Mr. Chanler was a man of distinguished talents, piety and usefulness. He was the author of a treatise in small quarto, esteemed an able defence of the Calvinistick doctrines, and entitled "The Doctrines of Glorious Grace unfolded, defended, and practically improved." He also published a "Treatise on Original Sin," and a Sermon on the death of Rev. William Tilly. The late Isaac Chanler, M. D. was his son.

Rev. John Stephens succeeded Mr. Chanler. He was born on Staten-Island, in the State and near the city of New-York. Of his early life, I can learn no more, than that he settled first at Horse-Neck, in Connecticut, where he gathered a little church in 1747, having been ordained at Oyster Bay, on Long-1 land, the same year. He came to Ashley-river in the month of May, 1750, and shortly after was invested with the pastoral care of the church. In this office Mr. Stephens continued with high reputation, for a number of years; but by an unhappy fondness for strong drink, he was obliged to quit both the church and ministry in 1769.* From this dreadful fall he never fully recovered, but professed and was believed to

* In Mr. Edwards's account of this unhappy affair, I find the following curious remarks: "Has not a dumb spirit, a deaf spirit, an unclean spirit, &c. been cast out? and who knows but Jamaica spirit will one day be exorcised out of this country, where it makes such dreadful havock? The Indians themselves lament its being brought hither, though they are excessively fond of it. Surely if any creature of God were not good, rum would be it."

MS. &c. p. 15.

be penitent, and was improperly admitted again to preach. He died suddenly at Black-river in 1785. The defection of Mr. Stephens was a circumstance peculiarly painful to the friends of Zion, and happened about the time Mr. Bedgegood, another celebrated minister, was disowned for a crime which will be mentioned in the

history of the Welsh Neck church. From this period the Ashley-river church declined, and in the revolutionary war became extinct. Its property, consisting of the lot on which the house of worship was built, about fourteen miles from Charleston, a valuable parsonage, church plate, several negroes, and some hundred pounds in fund, were seized by a sacrilegious individual, and converted to his own use.

EWHAW CHURCH.

The Welsh Neck church, as to its constitution, is older than the Ewhaw; but as this originated from the Charleston church, we shall give its history first.

The foundation of the Ewhaw church was laid in the year 1683, when, it is said, that some Baptists from England, in company with those who settled at Ashleyriver, and founded Charleston church, arrived here with the lord Cardross. They were visited by Mr. Screven and the succeeding ministers of Charleston, until God raised up a minister among themselves, whose name was William Tilly. The names of the original emigrants were William Fry, Thomas Grimball, Providence Grimball, Ephraim Mikill, Joseph Sealy, Joseph Perminter, Isaac Perminter, Thomas Perminter, and some others, whose names are not known. These persons settled on EdistoIsland, where was the seat and centre of the community, which stood as a branch of the Charleston church. About forty years after this settlement was made, the Baptist families here began to remove their habitations, some to Port-Royal, an island to the south of Edisto, on which the town of Beaufort now stands, and others to Ewhaw, otherwise called Indian-Island. But the brethren who went to Port-Royal soon followed those who had gone to Ewhaw, and by this means the seat of this body was removed from Edisto to the place where it now is.

This church has built three meeting-houses. The first was erected on the island of Edisto, in 1726; for before this time they met in a common meeting-house, which they were turned out of in 1722, by their overbearing brethren, the Presbyterians. The meeting-house at Ewhaw, which is 36 feet by 30, was built in 1751; and it so happened, that as soon as it was finished, Mr. George Whitefield came along, and preached in it for the first time. Besides these, they built a house at Hilton Head, on the island, about 18 miles off, where was formerly a branch of the church.

It has already been mentioned, that the first minister which this people had to live amongst them, was William Tilly. He was a native of Salisbury, in England; was called to the ministry, and ordained by the church in Charleston. He resided on Edisto until his death, which happened April 14, 1744, in the 46th year of his age. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Chanler, wherein he thus speaks of the deceased: "A minister he was, able and faithful to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. Some of you were ear and eye witnesses of his steadfast faith and hope on his death-bed. With what composedness of mind and solid satisfaction received he the awful summons! How free from all slavish fear of the king of terrors! How affectionately recommended he you to the blessing and protection of God! and with what cheerful resignation gave he up his spirit to the hands of a dear Redeemer! He lived and died in the Lord."

Mr. Tilly died two years before the Ewhaw church was constituted. This people, for upwards of 60 years after their settlement here, remained a branch of the Charleston church, and for reasons which are not known, took much pains to be considered in that relation,though solicited by the mother body to become a distinct church. But in May, 1746, they were dismissed and organized into a church, by the assistance of Rev. Isaac Chanler, of Ashley-river.

Rev. Francis Pilot, A. M. was the first minister they had after this period. He was born at Norville, in Switzerland, March 11, 1720, of Presbyterian parents, where he received a good education. He arrived in South