https://johnsonvilleschistory.org/files/original/3aaf3bfe33bac33041d410e90f68e9f0.pdf a0c1fec80f64deb5aa358b777408a7dc PDF Text Text ----------------------· ~--------------------------------------~·-~----.-.,--~--.--- .. r------- -~···--v ..... .-.. _...,_..., •-·--•-,·r-----~~ Called 'Sedition Shop' In Revolution res • er1an (Picture is courtesy of Williamsburg Cou11ty Historical Society) •. Indiantown Presbyterian Church in Year 1900 r's Note: This is the first of a two series on the Indiantown terian Church and its place in • The first part focuses on the Ing of the church and its part in volutlon. second part, next week, will trate on its revival after the Ion and its continued growth. ¥ CARL ELLIOTI', JR. • town Presbyterian Church, ed structure, stands at the way 261 as you round a · es from Hemingway. pee stands in the center lirdl'a view as you approach. t. )'l!U glimpse a wide, homey supported by white columns tall brick steps. Tbe side of J to the highway reveals simple windows with green shudders and one stained glass toward the back . It is one of the longest surviving churches in an old district. The first church in the district, Williamsburg Presbyterian , was founded in 1736 and Indiantown is acknowledged as its first daughter church, founded in 1757 . The present structure was constructed in 1830 after the Bristish burned the original building to the ground. The name Indiantown (which has always intrigued me ) is derived from the Mingo Indian Village, which stood in the fork of the Mingo and Indiantown Swamp, where the church now stands. When roads were nonexistent the area, Black Mingo Creek was the most important stream inside 'Williamsburg district. It was navigable almost all the way up to Indiantown at one time. The church was built one and a half miles from the head of naviga tion on Black Mingo Creek. With the coming of roads, its importance as a means of transport diminished. Indians still lived in the area when the Scotch and Irish imigrants settled there , but they were mostly migratory and not hostile . In the spring they would come in great numbers to hunt in the rich woodlands and swam plands fat with game. There is no known record of the founding of Indiantown Presbyterian Church. The year of the church's founding is based largely on a letter by Dr . J . R. Witherspoon, written in 1849 and recorded in Howe's "History of the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina," in which Witherspoon recollects events 20 years before his urc birth, known to him only through heresay. Wi lherspoon was born near Kingstree in 1774 and was a member of the Williamsburg Church. Another letter dated June 28, 1757, refers to, in addition lo Williamsburg Church , two churches in the area being buil l the prev ious year. Since Indiantown is regarded as Williamsburg's earliest offspring, it is certai n that it was one of the two churches referred lo. Therefore the date 1757 is probably very nearly correct. Colonists who were members of dissenting denominations were at a disadvantage since churches of the established Church of England were built at government expense, paying their clergy through the state. Presbyterian congregations, such as Indiantown , were forced to raise their own buildings, pay their pastors and transact their business through trustees. The indigo trade accounted for a moderate prosperity in the Indiantown area . This trade soon led to the introduction of black laborers . Among the first elders of the church was Major John James , the Revolutionary hero. Through he had acquired little education during his early life, Jam es became an expert horseman and a skilled woodsman . He was a lso among those \vho by a loan 1nade possible the erection of the first house of worship. 1'he Wil lian1 sb ur g district was largely unaffected by the early part of the Revolution . Their moderate prosperity and freedom from oppression makes it understandable that they had little enthusiasn1 for the Revolutionary cause in the beginning . Nol until the fall of Charleston in May , 1780, did the Williamsburger's become concerned about the British troops who had sudd enly turned their military campaign toward the South. With the defeat of Charleston, it appeared that South Carolina lay al the mercy of English conquerors. For a short time the people of Williamsburg still did not wish to do battle, for England at first offered generous terms. The militia were paroled to their homes and civilians were invited to renew their loyalty to the crown . ' Within a few weeks however, another proclamation superceeded the original conditions. It demanded that those declaring their allegiance actively help in restoring English rule to the land. Ci tizens of Williamsburg called a meeting to consider the situation and Major James, who had previously commanded his neighbors in the field and was later to represent them in the legislature was selected to go down to Georgetown and talk to the English commander there, Captain Ardesoif. He was to ask what the new proclamation meant to the people of the district. James rode to Georgetown dressed as an ordinary planter and upon reaching the town was escorted to Ardesoif's lodgings. James asked the captain if the people of Williamsburg might not be allowed to remain on their plantations in peace and quiet as was originally offered . Andesoif replied, " although you have rebelled against his majesty, he offers you a free pardon, of which you are underserving , for you ought all to be hanged; but as he offers you a free pardon,' you must take up arms in support of his cause." James said that the people he came to represent would not submit to such terms. This angered Ardesoif, especially the idea that James came representing a group of people, a revolutionary sentiment to the captain. He said, ''you damned rebel, if you speak in such language, I will immediately order you to be hanged up to the yard-arm." The major was unused to being assaulted with such harsh language and seeing that Andesoif wore a sword and he had none, James grabbed a chair and bandished in the face of the captain. He then retreated through the back of the house, mounted his horse and made his escape through the country. When James got back to Williamsburg and recounted his story to his countrymen, they became extremely angry and decided to fight to the death if need be. James was asked to lead four companies of 200 men under captain& William McCottry, John McCauley. Henry Mouzon and John James of th Lake, cousin of the major. James refused to take command because of a speech impediment. This led the group to request the American General Gates, · who was heading southward to fight Cornwallis at Camden, to appoint them a commande?. Lt. Col. Francis Marion agreed to lead the group which was the beginning of the famous Marion brigade. James also had two sons who fought with Marion, Capt. John James and 17· year old William James, who later wrote a "Life of Brig. General Francis Marion." The British calvary officer, Banastre Tarleton was then dispatched with about 100 dragoons to qu.ell the uprising in Kingstree under James. But reaching the city and hearing through a female informant of an American Continued to Page 9 Continued from page 1 nee under McCottry whose rs were greatly exaggerated, on decamped in the night and ted. owever the Bristish sent another tlate in August of that year (1780) Maj. Wemyss. Wemyss led a h through the area around msburg stretching 70 miles long 5 miles wide, from Salem the h of the county, between Lynches ·and the Black. :very house on most of the !ltions was burned to the ground, !gro servants were carried off, the 1itants plundered, the stock ially sheep killed and all provisions could be come by destroyed. was during this sweep that 'SS burned Indiantown Church, because he said, ''It was a sediti shop." Maj. James' home was also burn~ after his family was barbarous1 treated. His son, Capt. John James, o parole after being captured . 1 Charleston was· threatened . wi hanging. Wemyss tried to induce the serva to testify that he had broken his pato thus giving excuse to hang him. Nos evidence was received, however and was released. Following the disaster of 1780, public worship at Indiantown came to end. The church had been burned, men of the congregation were w Marion; mere survival was ' preoccupation of the day with familie home. •• Revolutionary Hero � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Weekly Observer Description An account of the resource The Weekly Observer was published out of Hemingway, SC from 1973 until printing ceased in 2012. The paper continues as an e newpaper on scnow.com Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1973-2012 Subject The topic of the resource Local Newspaper covering the Johnsonville and Hemingway communities. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Weekly Observer Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Indiantown founded 1757 WO 9-18-75 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Weekly Observer News Newspaper Weekly Observer