Orangeburg County, South Carolina - The whole text, 1898 (part 2 of 9)

'"Read the humble petition of the German and English inhal)itants of Orangel)urg hikI the adjoining plantations, showing to his Excellency, to whom it is directed, that the petitioners heartily congratulate his Excellency on his auspicious ascension to the government of this Province, hoping that by his judicious care and power not only their present grievances, but likew^ise all other misfortunes may evaporate and vanish. And ye said petitioneers humbly beg leave to acquaint ye Excellency, that above five years ago. the German minister happening to die, Mr, John Gies- .sendanner. by the consent and approbation of your said German petitioners, went to Charlestown with the intention to make his application to the Rev. Mr. Alexander Garden, Commissarj^ to admit him into holy orders, to preach in German in this township: and when the said Mr. John Giessendanner came to Charlestown aforesaid, he accidentally met wnth one Major Christian Motte, who acquainted him that he ought not to trouble the said Rev. Alexander Garden with the affair, but to go with him to some certain gentlemen, who, if they found him suflBcient, would directly give him orders according to his desire; upon which the said Mr. John Giessendanner, being then a stranger to the English method of proceeding in such cases, accompanied the said Major Christian Motte. and was by him introduced to an Assembly of the Presbytery, who, after examination, presented him with orders to preach, which he has since done in German constantly for the space of five years to the inexpressible satisfaction of the congregation at Orangeburg; and about two years ago your said English petitioners, being fully sixty miles from any other place of divine worship, some of whom had not been favored with an opportunity of hearing a sermon in the space of seven years, observing the said Mr. .lohn Giessendanner to be a man of learning, piety, and knowledge in the Holy Scriptures, prevailed with him to officiate in pi-eaching once every fortnight in

Enp^lish, which he hath since pei-foiiiied very articulate and intelligible to the entire satisfaction of ye said English petitioners, and always hehaves himself with sobi'iety, honesty, and justice, encouraging virtue and reproving vice.

"'And the said Mr. John (liessendanner lately observing great irregularities and disorders being committed almost every Sabbath day by some wicked persons in one part of the township, publicly reprimanded them for the same, which reproof so exasperated them that they threatened to kick the said Mr. John Giessendanner out of the church if he offered to preach there any more, and have lately sent for one Bartholomew Zauberbilhler, a man who not long ago pretended to preach at Savannah town, but, as your said petitioners are informed, was soon obliged to leave that place and a very indecent character behind him. The last week he arrived at Orangeburg, and upon the last Sabbath, he, the said Bartholomew Zauberbilhler and his wicked adherents associated together, and pretended that the said Bartholomew Zauberbilhler had brought with hirn a power from the Hon. William Bull, Esq., late Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, his Majesty's Hon. Council, and the Rev. Mr. Alexander Garden, Commissary, an order to expel the said Mr. John Giessendanner from the church, and to preach there himself, and some of ye said petitioners demanded a sight of his said authority, but he refused to produce it, which occasioned great animosities and disorders in the congregation, and when the said Bartholomew Zauberbtihler niakes his second ap[)earance at or near ()rangel)urg, which he declares shall be at ye expiration of three weeks, there will certainly be more disturbance and <*onfusion than before, unless some powerful means be used to obstruct it.

beg that your Excellency will be pleased to interpose with your authority, and direct the said Mr. Alexander Garden, if he hath given or granted any such orders, to countermand them, and to permit the said Mr. John Giessendanner still to officiate for them in divine service, free from any further disturbance or molestation, &c.

"'Ordered by Council that the consideration of this affair, and of the above petition, and those of Mr. Zauberbiihler, be deferred until Mr. Zauberbiihler's return from England, and that ye Clerk acquaint them therewith in writing.'

"Fortunately, however, Mr. Zauberbiihler had not yet departed on his journey to England as the Council had supposed, but had been lurking for awhile in Orangeburg District, and as soon as he returned to Charleston he once more made his appearance upon the floor of the Council chamber.

"Journals of Council, Vol. XI, p. 143: 'Bartholomew Zauberbiihler, being returned from Orangeburg Township, attended his Excellency in Council, and laid before him two written certificates from justices of ye peace there in his favor, and which were read, representing his sobriety and good behavior, whereupon Mr. Zauberbiihler was by his Excellency directed to wait again on Rev. Mr. Garden, and to learn if he has any objections to his receiving orders in England, and to report the same.'

"Journals of Council. Vol. XI, p. 152: 'Bartholomew^ Zauberbiihler attended his Excellency, the Governor, in Council, according to order, whom the Governor gave to understand that he had not acted well in the exhibiting a certificate from the Township of Orangeburg, read at this Board on November 13th. 1742. seeing that under the notion of having an invitation to the ministry by the majority of that Township, there was, on the contrary, a later memorial laid before the Board, signed by near ninety of the inhabitants, and by far the majority of the Township, praying that Mi-. Giessendanner, their present minister, might be continued to preach among them, and that Mr, Zaul)ei'- biihler's going to preach in the said Township, and his design to be settled there as a minister, was not by their desire, on the contrary, had occasioned no small disturbance in the said Township. That his proceedings with the Lieutenant-Ciovernor and Council in ye said affair had not been with that candor that might have been expected from one who designed to take on him holy orders, and that, therefore, he ought to be contented with at least one-half of what had been paid him by ye Treasurer, and return the other £250, or, at any rate, to procure a joint se(Hirity of one residing in Charlestovvn that he would return the mone}' in case he did not bring over the Protestants mentioned, but that if he did bring them over the whole £500 should be allowed him; whereupon Mr. Zauberbiihler withdrew.'

"After this action of the Governor and Council we read nothing more of Mr. Zauberbiihler in the .Journals of Council, and the Rev. John Giessendanner w-as permitted to continue his labor as pastor in Orangeburg without further molestation.

"That the Rev. John Ulrick Ciiessendanner, Sr.. who w^as the first pastor at Orangeburg, depai'ted this life during the close of the year 178S, having labored there but little more than one year.

"That his nephew, the Rev. John Giessendanner, became his successor some time during the year 1739, and that he was *a man of learning, piety, and knowledge in the Holy Scriptures"; he was probably educated for the ministry, but left Europe before he had been ordained; that, although a Lutheran in his religious persuasion, as we learn from other documents, he applied for ordination at the hands of any Protestant ministry who were empowered to impart the desired authority, there being at that time no Lutheran Synod in all the American colonies. That he was ordained by the Charleston Presbytery is certain, but that he was not a Presbyterian in faith is evident also, else he would not have endeavored first to obtain ordination at the hands of the Protestant Episcopal authority, and only (dianged his purpose of becoming Episcopally ordained at the suggestions of Major Christian Motte. and doubtless to avoid an expensive and wearisome voyage to Europe, which he would have been obliged to undei'take had he insisted upon obtaining the requisite authority to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments eithei- in the Lutheran or Episcopal Church.

"That the first Orangeluirg Church must have been built some time before the aljove-mentioned petition was written, A. D. 1743, as it is therein spoken of. as being then in existence.

"That Rev. John Oie^sendanner lal)()red faithfully as a good servant of his Master, even Ininging enmity upon himself for reproving vice; likewise, that he preached in the (lerman and English laiiguages.

"That the counti-y in the vacinity of Orangeburg must have been sadly deficient at that time in the enjoyment of the usual means of grace, as many persons were living sixty miles fi-oni any other church, some having not heard a seiiiioii [)reached for seven years;

"That Rev. (Hessendanner must have had a considerable congregation, inasmuch as the petition drawn up in his defence was signed by nearly ninety male persons, who were either all members of his congregation, or mostly so, and the remainder his friends and adherents.

"That Rev. Bartholomew Zanberbiihler must have sadly degenerated in the latter period of his ministerial life, as the Ebenezer pastors give us a very favorable account of him several years previous in the Urlsperger Reports, wdien he first came to this country.

"Rev. Giessendanner was affectionately remembered by the Church in Europe. Rev. Bolzius, in the I^rlsperger Reports, Vol. Ill, p. 875, states: '1 also wrote a letter to-day to young Mr. Giessendanner, the present minister in Orangeburg, informing him that a donation of about nine guilders had been collected for him in Switzerland, of which a respectable merchant in Zurich writes, that as old Mr. Giessendanner had died, this amount should be paid over to his nephew- Also, that we will send him, as soon as possible, those books collected for him in Switzerland, which are sent in the chest for us, and which has not yet arrived.

'-'T would have been pleased to have sent him this money sooner had any safe opportunity presented itself. T entreated him, likewise, to write to me occasionally, and inform me of the transactions of the departed (liessendanner. which may be of great service to him.'

"The name (liossendiinner occurs in several other [)aragra})hs of the sam<' iiejiorts. but only in connection with the books and nmiioy above-mentioned; but nothing further is said conccining himself and his ministry, or that of his predecessor. He was probably prevented i'roni imparting the desired information on account of the want of connnnnication between Ebenezer and Orany;eburg.

''Rev. John Oiessendanner labored ten years as a Lutheran minister, after whi(di. in 1749, he went to London to receive Episcopal onlinatioli* at the hands of Kev. Dr. Sherlock.! Bishop of London. The reasons for making this change in his Church relationship are not known; however, it is presumable that, as he was then the only Lutheran pastor in South Carolina, he preferred to enjoy a more intimate connection with some ministerial organization than the one that was then afforded him in the bosom of his own Chundi; and although the Ebenezer pastors were also then laboring in the South, nevertheless they were somewhat distantly removed from him, and dwelling in another Province. He doubtless also had his fears that some other Zauberbiihler difficulty might hai'ass him again, and thus, by taking this step. he would have all legal preferences in his favor, as the Chundi of England was then virtually the established Church of the Province.

"'He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Hug. and became the father of several children, one of wdiom, a son named Henry, born duly 8d, 1742, was still living in 182(1 as he is mentioned in 'Mills' Statistics;' and his widow spent the (dose of her life with one of tier (diildren residing in Ceorgia.

"Henry (liessendanner was married to Miss Elizabeth Humpf. Febriiary 25th, 1707; he I'ecorded the birth of but one child, Elizabeth, in his father's (diurch-l)ook.

Go The History Of

though he may have had more children, whose name? were not entered there. This record-hook likewise informs us that Rev. John Giessendanner had a hrother ^ and sister living in Orangeburg, named George and I Elizaheth (afterwards married to a Mr. Krieh), and that the whole family were natives of Switzerland: hence also the money sent llev. Giessendanner came from this country, as mentioned in the Urlsperger Reports. This concludes the history of the Giessendanner family, as far as it is necessary for our purpose, and until recently it was not know^n that these two pastors were the first Lutheran ministers that labored in South Carolina - even their very names had become almost obliterated in the annals of the Lutheran Church. Dr. Dalcho yet adds this information, that Rev. John Giessendanner departed this life during the year 1761.*

"The Orangeburg settlers at first clustered together near the banks of the Edisto River, and built their dwellings near each other in the form of a small tow^n. supposing that the adjacent stieam would be advantageous in forming an outlet for them to Charleston, in the transportation of lumber to market. A year later other German emigrants arrived, who located themselves on lands adjoining their predecessorvS, and thus this tide of immigration continued until the entire district became mostly colonized with German and Swiss emigrants. The present town of Orangeburg is located very near the spot where this original German village once stood. In this village the first [jutheran church in the Carolinas was erected,}- and there also the first. Lutheran pastor of this congregation lived and died; his nephew and successor, as is supposed by some of the present inhabitants, had his home several miles from the village, where he died and was buried.*

"Some half a mile from the centre of the present town of Orangeburg and towards the Edisto River there is a graveyard, which presents the appearance of having been a long time in use for the interment of the dead, and where the entombed generations. of the present day are silently slumbering with those of the past. It is still styled 'the old (jnincjiard' although there are many new-made graves to be seen in it: and here, doubtless, repose the remains of the first Lutheran pastor in the Carolinas.

"During the evening twilight of autumn the writer visited this hallow^ed spot, in order to commune with the dead; the seai'ed and faded leaves of October overhanging his head or rustling beneath his feet; the peculiar sighing sound of the winds of autumn, passing through the foliage of the Southern long-leaved ,pine trees, produced Nature's sad and fitting requiem for the dead. He sought for records of the past upon some dilapidated tombstone, but his search was unavailing, and, like the fallen leaves of many years pasl, even these mementos of a former age were no longer visible.

"What lessons of the vanity of all human greatness. namely: the power of wealth, the pride of family, t\w pleasures and gayeties of life! All end at last in the grave - all alike blend in oiie common dust.

*Mr. Lucas said liis wife was also l)iiri«-(l there, Ixit it is more likely that she was hmied in (ieoiiiia, where Dr. Ileniheini says she "spent the close of her life".

described by a correspondent: 'The OrangeI)iir<? cimrcb was built of wood and clay, in much the same manner as chimneys are when made of clay: the old graveyar<l is still used as a burial-j^round common to all: and tlie site of the church is still plainly seen - it is in the village, and was at that day in the centre of it. I have learned this likewise from an old gentleman who remembers hearing his father saying this as above. It fell to ruins at the time of the Revolution: but the spot has never been built upon since that day, and is now known as 'the old churchyard.' This church was the one used by the Rev. John Giessendanner as an Episcopal church, and no doubt used likewise bj' him at first as a Lutheran church: its dimensions were - say thirty by fifty feet.'

''The time when the old church edifice was erected is now no longer known, and can only be a matter of conjecture: however, it is possible that this event occurred during the elder Giessendanner's ministry - the records do not positively state this to have been the case, nevertheless several indications are given which make it very probable that this was the time.

"It became changed into an Episcopal house of worship in 1749. when the pastor, the younger (Jiessendanner, took orders in the Church of England, as he continued to labor there to the close of his life. At the time this change was effected, the congregation numbered 107 communicants, and on Whitsunday following 21 persons more were admitted to the Loid's Supper.

''In concluding the history of this congregation, we would simply add. that after Rev. (liessendanner's death nothing further is known concerning it until 176S. when a new Episcopal chapel was ordered to be erected, and the Rev. Paul Tunjuand ]>reached there in connection with another coni>re<T;ition.

'^During the Revolutionary War, Rev. Turquand was absent,"^ and labored in tbe valley of the Mississippi, but returned in 1788, when he resumed his labors in Orangeburg, and died the following year: since then no trace is left of the history of the church and its congregation.

"The pieseut Episco[)al Church in the town of Orangeburg is of recent organization, and their house of worship is comparatively new, indicating that the old church edifice, the still later erected chapel, and the former congregation have long since become entirely extinct.

'*The existing Lutheran church and congregation in Orangeburg are of a still more recent date; both the organization and church edifice have no historical connection with the past, made up of material in membership who have })ecome citizens of the place not many years ago."

It is evident, from an inspection of tlie Giessendanner record, that Rev. Mr. (nessendanner regular served the townships of Orangeburgh and Amelia, after his return from England, as Episcopal minister, and that he also held services occasionally in Saxe-Gotha Township. In Saxe-iiotha he usually held services at the house of Mrs. Elizabetl) Haig, afterwards Mrs. Elizabeth Mercier. From 1741) to 175() the services for Amelia Townshi[) were held at the houses of Mrs. Mary Russell, William Martin, Moses Thomson, Capt. William Heatly, Ann and Charles Russell. In 1757 the services were held in a (diapel, which had probably just been built, and the late Mr. Lucas wrote: 'T am under the impression that Amelia Chapel was in the neighborhood of the above persons* habitations for we see that no service was hehl in any of their houses after the Chapel was built." It seems that after the erection of St. Matthew's Parish in 1765, and the subsequent employment, in 1766, of Rev. Paul Turquand as minister of the Parish, that this chapel went by the name of '*the old church." (Minutes of the Vestry, 1767.) At a later date another chapel was built in Amelia Township* near Mr. Campbell's and still later another was built at "Bellville," the plantation of the Thomsons.!

The late Mr. John Lucas made extensive researches into the history of the old church and grave-yard above referred to by Dr. Bernheim, and as what he has written on the subject will be of interest to many. I will h re give it:

"The original plan of Orangeburg:^ shows that the old grave-yard, now known as the village grave yard, and used as such by all denominations in common for both white and black without leave or hindrance, being free to all, was at the time the original plat was made, then known as the church yard, and as such was so marked on the plat.

"This said old grave yard now in use and corresponding as to situation as per plat annexed is situated on the East side of the Bull Swamp Road, North of the street marked as Russell Street on plat, which is the f'Afrreed that a chappel be built at Belvelle that tlie old chureli neer half way s\vain]i be rep^ured Also the Ciiappel neer Campbells l)e rei>air'd that Subscriptions be made for each respectively and tiiat service be perforni'd in each alternately". - Miiuitesof Vestry, April ITth, 17S(i.

:i;Mr. Sanniel 1'. .Jones iuid a cojty of tliis plan made from the orif>iiial in the oflice of the .Secretary of State, from this Judge Cllover made a copy and fro?n .Judge (ilovir's copy Mr. Lucas made a copy which is now in tiie record Ixiok of tlu' Church of tiie Iledeemer in Orangetnu'tr.

same street as that on which the present brick Court House now stands say feet. There is a lot between the grave yard and the Bull Swamp Road* which corresponds with the space marked for public square. This said lot is now owned by the Town Council of Orangeburg.

"The old Court House of wood and jail of brick occupied the second square North of the said street on which the new Court House now stands. The jail was destroyed & another, built.f The Court House still stands having had many changes and uses. First as a church for first one and then another denomination, a masonic Lodge, black-smiths's shop, and it is at this present time in good order and repair, & is owned and used as a residence by Mr. John Marchant. This said square (C. H. «S: Jail) is on the West side of the Bull Swamp Koad or street known on map as Broughton street. There is no other grave yard nor has there been any other known in this village except this one & those recently opened by the Methodist ch., Lutheran, & Baptist and not as yet used for burials.;]: The Catholic, Presbyterian & this Episcopal Church of the the Redeemer has grounds in use not older than 10 to 12 years.

"Tradition, as well as facts, has marked this old village grave yard as the grave yard and the spot on which stood the Prot. Epc. Church known in the Book of Record of the Revd Jno. Giessendanner as the Church & Churchyard of Orangeburgh and in which he officiated.

marks the spot on which the church stood. Many old persons recollect hearing this called the Episcopal Church yd. & show this mound as the spot on which the church stood. Mr. Peter Rowe, an old gentleman near 86 years old, says he remembers his father's pointing out this yard & mound as the Chuich & church-yard of this Book of Record by Jno. Giessendanner's church, and said it was built of wood »fc clay in same manner as chimnies are done. I, J. Lucas, have examined the foundation & think it must have been built in some such manner as described, as no signs of brick I found, & should think it to be about 30 by 60 feet. The mound I cannot account for except it must have been used as a raised earth floor having some sort of foundation to keep in the earth so raised. Dr. W^} Rowe remembers his grandfather years to say that this was the Episcopal church «^' church yard as per Book of Record. He also remembers & so does Capt. John C. Rowe and also D. Rowe a bell which belonged to this Church of Giessendanner to be in possession of their grandfather & father also. From them and through the Rev. Dr. J. W. Tayler I learn that this bell was borrowed from Mi'.

for use therein. Mrs. Caroline Gramling. formerly his* widow says Mr. Edward Spencer who married her sister's daughter got it from her first husband and hung it in a window at the Methodist Church from which it fell and was broken so as to be useless. It lay for many years where it fell. Mr. James Harley remembers seeing it so lying in a broken condition iV: thinks it was made away with by a blacksmith. Mrs. (iramling (maiden name Stroma n.) says she remem- beis that the said grave yard was the Episcopal church 3'ard and that it went' by that name. Her father told her the bell was never hung owing to a brake in the holding part or head.

''Mrs, J. W, Taylor, an old lady, wife of the Rev. J. W. Tayloi', remembers that this ground w^as known as the Episcopal churchyard. Her family was Episcopal. There are relics of the former Episcopal Church in the shape of Prayer books. &c. Mrs. Arant, an old lady, now living has her mother's Prayer book. (Engll). The said Mrs. Arant was born in 1776 & was baptized in the Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Rowe were her sponsors. Mr. Donald Rowe and also his brother, Capt. J no. C. Rowe, remember hearing their grandfather Jacob Rickenbacker say that this was the gi-ave yard and the spot on which was built the Episcopal Church of this Record of the Rev*^ J. Giessendanner. The said Jacob Rickenbacker was the son of the first Rickenbacker that came to this country from Germany. The lands owned by their fathers are still in the possession of the Rowe family, situated by and near this village in which the family live as their fathers did before them. Other families are still living in and on the same places as their forefathers before the Revolution. This district was changed but slightly in many instance.^ of family names & residences.

"In tlie grave yard of Orangeburgh Church of this Record as above were buried Michael Christopher Rowe and his wife and many of his family after him. Mr. Peter Kowe has also informed me that he remembers the bell mentioned before, and that he was born before Michael Chi'istopher Rowe died and that nunil)ers of the members of families still continue to use this grave yard as the place for family burials k as the ancient phice of rest of their forefathers.

"The Revd J. W. Taylor of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and assistant minister of this Church of the Redeemer in Orangeburg-, was buried in this old village church yard. His obituary was written by the Rev. D. X. Lafar, of the Presbyterian Church, and who for some time was the Paster of the Presbyterian Church of Orangeburg, in which he calls the grave yard 'The Old Church Yard.'

"Capt V. de V. Jamison, a brother of Genl D. F. Jamison, said to me that his brother, Gen'l D. F. Jamison, had, & and perhaps still has, in his possession a prayer book belonging to the late Revd John Giessendanner which was presented to him by the Bishop of London,

"The Amelia Chapel, it is believed, was situated somewhere near the plantation of Mrs. Mary Russell. Its exact location may be yet discovered. The Chapel ordered to be built by an act passed April 12, 1768, (See Dalcho's Church History) in that part of the Parish called Orangeburg Township was never built, no evidence remains that it was.*

"From the close of Dalcho's History service Episcopal was very seldom held here & few and far between until about the year 1848, at which time Rev. R. D. Shindler became a missionary at this place & resided in this village. * * * n; * * *

is very strong evidence that it w;is huilt. Frojii tlie niimites of the vestry of St. Matthew's Parisli \ve learn that at a meeting of the vestry and wardens iiehl at tlie parish ehureii, Oetoher 10, 177(1, it was "agreed tliat wlien Mr. Tunjiiand receives tliealnive lie do purchasia Folio liihle & (|uarto eonnnon Prayer Book for tlie use of the ehap- |>el at Orangehurgh". And Mr. Lneas hinisi'If stated that Mrs. Arant had a prayer hook used by her inotiier at Orangehurgh, and tliat Mrs. .\rant herself was baptized in the Protestant Episcopal ('lunch, and that she was born in 1770; which was eight years after 17(iS. Again, my grandmother, Mrs. A. S. Salley, tells me that she remembers a part of an old church stan<ling in the old cliurch yard when she was a small girl, which was about is;^").

It is singular how much the descendants of the first settlers of Orangeburg have neglected this old grave yard in which the bones of their ancestors lie buried, and in which stood the first Lutheran church in the Carolinas, and likewise the first Episcopal church in Orangeburg, and in which also stood the Episcopal rhapel that succeeded the old church. As an instance of this indifference, it is related by Ex-Governor Perry in his ''Sketches," p. 113, that when Hon. A. P. Butler was a young man he went to Orangeburg with an idea of locating there. He put up at a little tavern, and finding it quite chilly, he ordered the negro boy who waited in the house to bring him some lightwood. The boy went out and in a few minutes returned with an armful of grave markers. "Where did you get those?", asked Mr. Butler. "Pull 'em up out de grave yahd", answered the negro. Mr. Butler thereupon decided that he would not locate among people who had so little reverence for the dead, and went elsewhere.

When Orangeburgh District was formed in 176S Saxe-ftotha Township, now Lexington County, was included in that district: so that in giving the history of Orangeburgh District it is proper to include the history of Saxe-Gotha Township up to the time when it was separated from Orangeburgh District Mud was included in Lexington District.

and of these eleven townships two were laid off on the Santee. Or, more propeily, on the Congaree, a branch of the Santee, and the Santee. These were Amelia and the township which up to 1736 was called Congaree Township, but which in that year was called Saxe-Gotha by Governor Broughton.

It is possible that there were a few unsettled traders and members of the- former garrisons of the Congaree fort settled in this township previous to 1736. The following account of the settling of Saxe-Gotha Township is taken from Rev. C L). Beriiheim's History of the German Settlements in the Carolinas; Section 11: (p. 126.)

"In Mills' Statistics of South Carolina, page 611, we have the following statement in reference to Lexington District (now County): 'This District, when first settle'l, was merged in Orangeburg precincts. A parish and township were laid out in about the year 1750. and named Saxe-Gotha, in compliment to the first settlers of the country, who came from that part of Germany.'

"An entirely different statefnent may be found on pages 25 and 26 of Dr. Hazelius' History of the xAmerican Lutheran Church; from which we learn that the name Saxe-Gotha originated in Queen Anne's time, and that the first settlers of that county "came from the neighborhood of the Rhine, Baden, and Wiirtemberg,' kingdoms consideiably removed from Saxe- Gotha.

"But from the Journals of Council, in the office of the Secretary of the State, the date of the settlement of Saxe-iiotlia by Germans is unmistakably fixed to be 1737, and that few, if any, of the first settlers of that county came from Saxe (Jotha.

Casper Clieger and family, John Shalling and family, Abraham Gie^er and family, Jacob Liver and family, Julius Gredig and family, Caspar Fry and family, Conrad and Caspar Kiintzler (now Kinsler), John Jacob Bieman and family, Herrman Gieger and family, Elizabeth Shalling and family, showing that, as they arrived and settled in his Majesty's Township of Saxe- Gotha, even since the year 1737, and received his Majesty's most gracious bounty of provisions and warrants for lands in Saxe-Gotha Township, but that they could not find in what office they are, therefore they huml)ly pray his Honor, the Lieutenant-Governor, and his Majesty's honorable Council, that they would be pleased to order that search may be made," &c., &c.

"Again, under date 1744, 'John Jacob Gieger arrived seven years ago, is now married, and prays for one hundred acres of land over against Santee River, opposite Saxe-Cirotha, where he has already begun to clear ground and almost finished a house. Granted'. Subtract seven years from 1744, and we have again the date 1737, the time of the first settlement of that township by Germans.

''From the above reliable source of information we evidently perceive that Mills' statement is entirely incorrect, and that Saxe-Gotha Township was laid out and received its name long before the year 1750, as it is spoken of in the Journals of Council as early as 1742. as being then a township and known by the name Saxe-Gotha, and may have been so called, according to Dr. Hazelius' statement, during Queen Anne's time, previous to the year 1714, the time of her Majesty's death. However, the Council Journals likewise prove the Doctor to have been mistaken in stating that these lands were wrested fVom the GeriHdiis, for thev settled there, and their descendants are there still, occupying the very lands which their forefathers had received l)y warrant from the king of England, showing conclusively that, inasmuch as their titles came directly to them fiom the first legal authority, these lands had not yet passed into other hands.

"But it is possible that, as in the State of New York, the benevolent Queen Anne did make grants of land for church and school purposes in Saxe-Gotha Township, which, however, could not be occupied at the time, as the settlements in South Carolina had then not been extended so far inland; the Indians were still in possession of that portion of the province, and the grants and good intentions of the Queen were eventually lost sight of and forgotten. Afterwards, when the Germans did actually locate themselves in Saxe-Gotha. new w'arrants were issued and secured to them by the authority of the then ruling sovereign, his Majesty George II.

"Independent of the actual account and dates of the settling of this township, we have before us the general rule that 'Westward the star of empire takes its way,' and that the farther westward or inland the settlements were made, the later will be the dates of such settlements. This is the result of natural causes, and admits of no exceptions to the well-known rule: the first settlers of America necessarily located themselves along the seashore, afterwards a little more inland, whilst the aborigines, living in the forest, gradu- -d]\y receded from the march of civilization; then further encroaches were niade upon their territory, and so on. gradually, until the Appalachian chain of mountains was reached. After the Revolutionary Wai' even the mountains formed no bai-rier to the settlements of the whites, and thus, in a short tinu\ nearly all of America became populated, even bf^yond the valley of the Mississippi.

''Oningeburg, South Carolina, was settled by Germans in 1735; Saxe-Uotlia, further inland, of necessity was settled still later; hence common sense will admit ot no date of permanei'it settlement earlier than, or even as early as, that period of time.

"Saxe-Gotha comprised nearly all that portion ot territory eml)raced at present in Lexington County, it is not many years since the name was changed, in honor of tlie battle of Lexington. Massachusetts, by an act of legislature, which was a most unfortunate exchange of names, being less euphonic, very inappropriate, and altogether unhistorical.* Give us back the the old name, and may the citizens of old Saxe-Gotha, in South Carolina, never be ashamed of their German names and German extraction.

''How the name originated, as applied to this township, it is in)i)ossible to state. It certainly was not so called in compliment to the Germans who settled there, as they came from a different section of Germany; it is possible that the name, 'Saxe-Gotha', was applied to this scope of territory during Queen Anne's reign, as intimated by Dr. Hazelius, and thus, even by name, it was to be distinguished as a future home for German emigrants.

"The following record of this settlement is made in the Urlspergei Reports, vol. iii, p. 1791: 'Wednesday, December 2d. 1741. We had heard nothing before of Saxe-Gotha in America, but we have just received the intelligence that suidi a town (township) is laid out in South Carolina, twenty-five German miles (100 Engglish miles) from Charlestown. on the road which l)asses through Orangeburg, and settled with German pef)ple. Doubtless the majority of them were German Reformed, as they have a Reformed minister among them, with whose character we are not yet acquaint- ed\ This minister was the Rev. Christian Theus, of whom we shall say more hereafter. He comnienced his labors in Saxe-Ootha as early as 1730.

"The Geiger families and their neighbors were not compelled to remain a long time as isolated settlers in their new homes; the name Saxe -Gotha sounded so agreeably familiar to the ears of the Germans that they florked in numbers to this Germany in America.

''Besides, a certain German, named Hans Jacob Riemensperger, contracted with the government to bring over a number of Swiss settlers, many of whom he located in this township, as we learn from Urlsperger, vol. iii. p. 1808, and from the Journals of Council, on several different pages. In addition to these settlers, this same Riemensperger, in company with a Mr. Haeg, brought a number of orphan children to Saxe- Gotha, for which service to the province, as well as; for the boarding of the children, they brought in their accounts to the Council for payment. Vol. viii, pp. 69 and 70."

The following extract from the South Caro/iiw Gazette of November 13th, 1736, should settle the question as to how this township got its name, and set at rest the differences in statements given by various South Carolina historians on this point:

"His Honour the Lieut:Governour* having been desired to visit the Townships of Amelia Orangeburgh & Saxe-Gotha. so named by liis Honour, k before known by the name of Congaree Township, in ordeito settle some Inconveniences complained of by the [nhabitants of those Townships, did after the adjournment of the Genera] Assembly ^ when the Business of the Council was dispatched, set out for the said Townships on the 10 October, settling all matters to the entire satisfaction of the inhabitants A: re-

As Brougiiton did not become Lieutenant-Governor of South Carolina until 1735, the tbeory advanced by some historians that the township received its name in Queen Anne's time is fallacious. The paragraph from the South Carolina Gazette given above should settle the point as to how Saxe-Gotha Township got its name, but just why Governor Broughton should have given it that name is a point yet to be decided.

Dr. Bernheim, on p. 131 of his history, writing of the settlement of Redemptioners, says: "Some of our best and most useful settlers in the South were persons, w^ho, too poor to pay their passage-money across the ocean, were sold by the captains of the vessels, that brought them to America, to any one of the settlers who felt inclined to secure their labor. The price for which they were sold in Carolina was usually from five to six pounds, sterling money, and both men and women were thus alike sold to service; and then, by hard labor, which extended over a period of from three to five years, they eventually redeemed themselves from this species of servitude.

"1. Our infant colonies stood in need of a useful population which would prove a defence to the country in case of the execution of the continued threatenings of a Spanish invasion, and the sudden attack of hostile Indians.

"2. Besides, labor was greatly needed for the cultivation of the virgin soil, and these poor Germans - many of them excellent farmers, some of them useful artisans, and all of them hard-working people - furnished this labor, and at very cheap rates.

"3. The country also needed permanent settlers who would become habituated to the soil and climnte, who would learn to love their adopted country, by being compelled to remain until they had fully tested all the advantages of the same; these the Redemptioners abundantly supplied in their own persons.

"4. Nor were the advantages to them of slight importance. They had nothing to risk in the shape of property, as they possessed nothing of this world's goods, and thus they never became a prey to those landsharks which often despoil the less sagacious immigrants of much of the possessions which they brought with them to America.

"5. Besides, they were the poorer class of people at home in Europe, and would always have remained in this condition, had such an arrangement not existed: but now they enjoyed the flattering prospect of receiving competency and wealth at some future day.

"6. Then again, their servitude became their apprenticeship in America; in the meantime they learned the English language, they became acquainted with the laws and customs of the new country, they discovered by silent observation what would in future be to their advantage, and thus in every w^ay did thej' become qualified by sagacity^ industry, and economy, for their new and independent sphere of life.

"Yet it must be confessed that they had to endure many hardships; often were they rigously treated by their ship captains: ill and insufficiently fed on their voyage across the ocean, and on shore before thes were purchased for their services; exposed publicly for sale as the African slave: often treated harshly by their masters who purchased them, and compelled to labor in the broiling sun of a southern climate, and many, by disease and death. fre(|uently closed their short earthlv career.

^'However, when our country had become sufficiently popuhited, the government interposed and put an end to this kind of servitude, on account of the severity of the lot of these unfortunate laborers, and thus abandoned this source of colonization. In confirmation of these facts, the follov^inj? extracts will furnish abundant proof, and are herewith submitted:

'Mournals of Councils, vol. xiv, p. 37, January 24th, 1744: *Read the petition of a considerable number of Protestant Palatines, most humbly shov^'ing that the poor petitioners have been on board the St. Andrew's, Captain Brown commander, these twenty-six weeks past, and there is as yet no likelihood for them to get free of her, because there are none of us yet who have purchased their service; they therefore humbly pray his Excellency and ^Honors that they may find so much favor as to their passages that a sum equivalent to discharge the same be raised by the government, for which they promise to join in a bond to repay the same within the term of three years, with lawful interest; and that if any of them shall not be able to pay the above sum within that time, that the government in that case shall have full power to dispose of them and their families as they shall think proper, &c. Ordered to make investigations, and report.'

"Vol. xiv, pp. 62 and 63: 'Several Protestant Palatines, who arrived hither on Captain Brown's ship, and whose services have not as yet been purchased, sent a complaint, by their interpreter, to the governor, that the said Captain Brown had often withheld their diet from them on board his ship, and that they had been several days without meat or drink; particularly that last Friday they were the whole day without any, the least, sustenance, and had lieen the like for several days before, and not only they, but all the rest of the (Jermans that still remain on board Captain Brown's ship.

"'Captain Brown being .sent for and interrogated whether he had used those foreigners in the manner they had represented, answered, that if they had asked him for food in their language he would not have understood them.

"'His Excellency oi'dered the captain's steward to be sent for, who attended accordingly, and the original contract between Captain Brow^n and those Palatines in Holland was also ^^eiit for and laid before the Board, which being read and the particular species of of diet that was allowed for every day of the week specified, his Excellency asked, in particular, if the said Germans had been fed last Friday in the manner contracted, for?

" 'The steward replied that the Cermans would sometimes reserve the taking of diet on certain days in order to have double allowance another. But his Excellency gave Captain Brown to understand that as he was by virtue of his contract bound to maintain those foreigners till they were disposed of, if anjshou'ld die for want while aboard his ship, he must answer for their lives; after w4iich they withdrew.'

"The accounts of the trials and hardships of these persons, as narrated in the Urlspergei' Reports, are entirely too numerous to be inserted in these pages: those who feel inclined to search for themselves aie referred to the volume and page of those lieports. where they can find all they desire to know concerning the Redemptioners. Vol. i. p. 10: vol. ii. pp. 2472. 24S2, 2508. How the Redemptioners conducted themselves can l)e learned from vol. ii, pp. 211)3, 2200, 2218, 2221. 2404, 2418.^'=

*'The following extracts indicate that many such servants were sold and located in Saxe-Gotha, and after their legal discharge from servitude they obtained the king's bounty and tracts of land, the same as other settlers.

"Journal of Council, vol. xi, p. 486: 'Petition of John Wolfe and wife, natives of Berne, Switzerland, too poor to pay passage-money, entered into the service of Anthony Stack, of Saxe-Gotha, for three years, being now discharged from service, prays for his quota of land and bonnty-money. Granted, on evidence of his written legal discharge.'

"Vol. xi, pp. 142 and 143: 'Fullix Smid, of Switzerland, servant of David Hent, lately deceased, discharged by his executors, applied for and received 150 acres of land and bounty in Saxe-Gotha.'

"It is useless to multiply instances, which could easily be done; these extracts will fully show the correctness of all the foregoing statements, and that Saxe- Gotha, with many other settlements, received her full share of this class of useful settlers, who proved to have been upon the whole a great benefit to their adopted country.

"During the period that intervened between the years 1744 aiid 1750, Saxe-Gotha received a large influx of population, and much of the available land of that township was then occupied. The vessel which bore them across the ocean was the ship St. Andrew, Captain Brown, commander, who doubtless treated his paying passengers well, although he acted so unfeelingly to those who were to be sold for their passagemoney. Mention is likewise made of a Captain Ham. who brought other tilerman settlers to South Carolina, but whose passengers chiefly located themselves in Orangeburg, whilst others settled in Saxe-Gotha.

provinces bordering on the Rhine, such as Switzerland, Baden, the Palatinate, and Wiirtemberg. They excelled as tillers of the soil, and were accustomed to the culture of the vine, and thus they constituted tlie very class of people which did become greatly serviceable to the prosperity of C'arolina, but whose influence upon the physical welfare of their adopted county has been as yet little noticed by the various historians of the South.

"The Saxe-Oothans were fortunate and blessed in obtaining the services of a pious and faitliful pastor; all the records extant speak in the strongest terms of praise concerning him, but, at the same time, all agree in stating that he had a hard life of it, that he was not appreciated, that he was often persecuted for righteousness' sake, and this treatment he received at the hands of the very people for w hose good he labored and prayed. Two years after the first settlers set foot upon the soil of Saxe-Gotha, the Rev, Christian Theus arrived and labored in their midst; and as these settlers were not neglected in the administration of the means of grace, which unfortunately was the case with many others of the early colonists, they really had no excuse for their conduct, and should have treated their pastor in the most friendly manner.

" 'October 22, 1774. This afternoon I had an acceptable visit from the Reformed minister, the Rev. Theus. of the Congarees (C'ongaree River), in South Carolina. 120 miles from Charleston. His brother Theus. a painter, lately deceased, received me as a stranger most kindly into hi;^ house, when, thirty-two years ago, 1 travelled through here on my journey fioni Savannah to Philadelphia, and afforded me an opportu- nity to preach on Sunday to the then yet few German faniilies. The Lord requite his love in eternity! The aforesaid pastor, Theus. canie with his parents into this countiy from Switzerland as a candidatus theolo- (jice, w^as examined and ordained by the Reverend English Presbyterian Ministerium, and since 1739 has performed the duties of the ministerial office in the scattered country congregations among the German Reformed and Lutheran inhabitants, and has conducted himself with the propriety and fidelity due his station, according to the testimony of capable witnesses. We had agreeable conversation, and he promised me a written account of church matters in these country congregations, which, moreover, he is best able to furnish, having lived longest in this country, and being an erudite man.'

"It is to be regretted that this 'irritten accoimf of rinnr/f n/fdters\ if Dr. Muhlenberg ever received it, has never been published; what interesting material it could now furnish the Church, w^iich must forever be buried in oblivion!

"The Doctor continues: 'He also furnished me with a more detailed description of the sect mentioned October 5th, the members living near him. At a certain time he came unexpectedly into their meeting, and found Jacob Weber contending that he was God, and the said Smith Peter (or Peter Schmidt) insisting that he himself was Christ, and that the unconverted members must be healed through his stripes. Pastor Theus, opposing such blasphemy, the leaders became enraged and threatened his life, and couriselled with the rabble whether to drown or hang him. He escaped, however, from their hands, fled to the river, and fortunately found a negro with his canoe at the shore, spi-ang into it, and was conveyed across.'

Muhlenberg, gathered from 'capable witnesses', of the parentage, ordination, date of ministry in Saxe-Gotha, piety and learning of the Kev. Christian Thens, up to the period immediately preceding the Revolution. This brief narrative, coming fi'om such a source, is not only entitled to our entire credit, but speaks as much of that devoted man of God as though a volume were written to perpetuate his name and memory.

"Rev. Theus lived to be an aged man, for we discover his name in the list of members of the 'Corpus Evangelicum\ and present at every meeting of that body until the year 1789,* the last meeting of which the records are still extant. How much longer he was spared to do good we know not; but from the dates which are in our possession, he had at that time been half a century in the ministry of his Savior.

"His resting-place is still pointed out to the stranger, and is located in a field along the state road, between Columbia and Sandy Run, about eight miles from Columbia. It is the only grave that can still be seen there, and tradition says that his dwelling was located not far from that graveyard. Mr. Abraham Geiger, now also in eternity, erected the tombsome, at his own expense, at the head of liev. Theus' grave, to

*This fact seems Mot to have l)een taken eojiiiizance of bv the Provincial Assembly in ITW, for on the 27tli of January of that year, an Act was passed for paying the ministers of tiie several parishes in South Carolina, and in the third section of that Act the followingprovision occurs: "Whereas, the iniiabitants of the Congrees, and the inhabitants of the Waterees, have never had any minister of the gospel to preach and perform divine service among them, Br It there/on reacted by the authority aforesaid, that the public treasurer of this Province for the time being shall pay to such minister of the gospel of the established church as shall statedly preach and perform divine service at Saxegotha, or such other centrical place in the Congrees as the commissioners hereinafter named shall direct, and six times a year at least, at tlie most populous places within forty miles of the same, the sum of seven hundred jjounds current inone.N jier annum". - Stats, of S. C, Vol. IV., p. iM.

perpetuate his inemory. Had Mr. Geiger not performed this labor of love, the church and the world would never even have known where the first pastor of Saxe- Gotha, the contemporary of Giessendanner, Bolzius and Gronau. had been laid down to rest. The inscription is now much defaced by the hand of time, and can scarcely be deciphered; nevertheless, we are thankful for this much, and would wish that we could gather similar mementoes of the resting places of all of the first German ministeris in the South.* The inscription reads as follows:

"'This stone points out where the remains of Rev. Christian Theus lie. This faithful divine labored through a long life as a faithful servant in his Master's vineyard, and the reward which he received from many for his labor was ingratitude.'

*'Rev. J. B. Anthony, one of the late pastors of Sandy Run Lutheran Church, adds yet this information, published in the Lutheran Observer. A. D. 1858: 'Among the octogenarians of this vicinity we have not been able to learn much more of Mr. Theus than the rude stone,: now standing in a vast cotton-field, records. Few now living recollect to have seen him. No records of those early times are known to exist.f The small school-house, which is said to have stood near his grave, has long since disappeared. A few other graves are said to be here, but as no stones can be found in this sandy section to place at the head and foot, lightwood knots are frequently substituted by the poor, hence, when these decay, there is nothing left to mark the place."

''The spiritual and moral condition of the Saxe- (rothans is not very highly extolled in the Urlsperger Reports. Rev. Bolzius, who gives us the account, may have been somewhat prejudiced, inasmuch as his Ebenezer colony had lost some runaway white servants, who probably concealed themselves in the neighborhood of the Congaree River, and in several pages of his diary he berates both the Saxe-Gothans and the government of South Carolina that they were not returned; thus, perhaps, his human feelings were too much enlisted on the side of prejudice and interest whilst speaking of these people. We insert the following extract:

''Urlsperger Reports, vol. iv, p. 672: 'Wednesday. April 25, 1750. - The German Evangelical Lutheran inhabitants of Congaree, in South Carolina, which new settlement has been named Saxe-Gotha, had besought me, several months ago, to come to them and preach for them, and administer the Lord's Supper. I sent them books suitable for the edification of adults and the instruction of children, and wrote them that my circumstances did not permit me to make so long a journey. Now I have received another letter, in which the former request is renewed, and in which they likewise beseech me to assist them in the erection of a church and in obtaining a pastor. They have a congregation of about 2S0 souls, who could attend church if the house of worship were erected in the midst of their plantations.

'-'The Reformed have received 500 pounds. Carolina currency, from the government, which amounts to something moi'e than 500 guilders, for the building of a church, but no one is interested for the Lutherans, unless I would do something in theii' behalf. They live with the Reformed in great disunion, at which 1 showed my displeasure in my former letter. A few families have removed from this place among them, who might have supported themselves very well here: afterwards three adult youths were persuaded to leave their service here, and two (white) servants ran away, all of whom are harhored in the Congaree settlement. The citizens themselves, as a Cai-olina minister once wrote me, lived disorderly among each other, and estimate their Reformed minister very low. I have no heart for this people. If they were truly concerned about God's word, then so many unworthy people would not have located in their midst, as there are other places where good land and subsistence may be obtained.

'"In this very letter they inform me that they have built both a saw-mill and a grist-mill, and expect to build more of the kind. Why then should they be unable to erect a house of worship if they were sincerely in earnest?'

"The above record in Bolzius' diary, published in the Urlsperger Reports, is in strict accordance with the testimony of Dr. Hazelius on the Weberites- - which sect arose some ten years later, - with Dr. Muhlenberg's account, with the inscription on the tombstone on Rev. Theus, and with several living witnesses, who were contemporaries with many old citizens of a former day. whose narratives they still well remember.

"Whilst many of the Saxe-Gothans were not devoid of blame, and deserved censure in those days, there were others whose life and conduct were praiseworthy, and others who were devotedly pious, and who were anxious to enjoy the blessings of the means of grace, and it is sad that Rev. Bolzius permitted his feelings of interest for his own colony to cause him to act so unfriendly toward this people, and to send no kind wo](l of encouragement to them, when they besought him to visit them and break to their hungry souls the bread of life. Who knows what good he might have accomplished by a friendly visit? Who knows what future evil, e. g., that Weber heresy, he might have been the instrument of preventing? Besides all this, he, a minister of the Gospel and of like persuasion with these people, had no right to withhold his influence and sympathy from iwo hioidred and eightif souls, (we are surprised at so large a number) who extended such a Macedonian call to him, and besought him twice to interest himself in their behalf in procuring a minister for them, who were almost as sheep without a shepherd. Who could calculate the influence the Lutheran Church would have exerted in those regions, had this large congregation been properly cared for, and supplied with the means of grace? Besides, had Rev. Bolzius been instrumental in securing a pious and efficient pastor for them at that early period, and this pastor, laboring side by side with Rev. Theus, how much that faithful servant's hands would have been strengthened, and how^ much good seed might have been sown, springing up to everlasting life, v^diich would have entirely changed the spiritual and moral condition of this people. Deprive men of the Gospel and the Sacraments, take away or refuse to give them the benign influences of Christianity, and we need not be astonished at 'disorderly living' and heresy in doctrine.

"The present citizens of old Saxe-Gotha, now Lexington County, are an entirely different people: their forefathers could not prevent unworthy settlers from locating themselves among them. Many of those depraved men met an untimely death in the war with the Cherokees; a few perished miserably at the hand of adniinistrative justice; others were cut off h\ dis- ease and an earl 3' death: whilst a number moved to other parts of the country. It is exceedingly doubtful whether many of those reprobates left their descendants behind them in Saxe-Gotha, ^s all traces of Weber and Schmidt have entirely disappeared.

"We have seen that Rev. Theus came to the Congaree settlement in the year 1739. In what building he first preached is unknown, but arrangernents were soon made for the erection of a church. As early as 1744-5 John Jacob Riemensperger petitioned the government of South Carolina to do something toward the erection of churches and school-houses for the German settlers in various localities; otherwise they would continue to do what many had done hei-etofore, move with their families to Pennsylvania, where all these advantages could be enjoyed. That the government entered into such arrangement we have already seen from the Urlsperger Reports, for five hundred pounds currency was donated for the building of a German Reformed Church, w-hich, we presume, had been completed at that time, A, D. 1750, and the people were enjoying the means of grace in their new" house of worship. Tradition informs us that this Ger- ' man church stood near the spot where the remains of Rev. Theus are deposited, but it has long since been no more. We now turn to an ancient map of South Carolina, originally published in 1771 and 1775. and recently reprinted in 'Carroll's Collections". Near the Congaree River, a short distance below the confluence of the Saluda and Bioad Rivers, and in the township of Saxe-Gotha. a church is laid down, bearing the name St. John's, This substantiates all the abovementioned records and traditions, gives us the exact locality of that church, which, in the proper proportion of distances, would be the very spot where the grave of Rev. Theus can still he seen, and fuiiiishes.

furthermore, the name by which that church was known. This house of God njust have been destroyed during the Revolutionary War, as all traces of the same after that period appear to have been lost; it is not mentioned in the general act of incorporation of all the German churches, passed by the legislature of South Carolina in 1788.

"During the years 1759 and 1760. the people of Saxe- Gotha suffered greatly from the ravages of the Cherokee war. During the time that the French and English were at war with each other in the colonies of America, which however did not reach as far South as the Carolinas; the French instigated the Cherokee Indians to make war upon the peaceful settlers of the two Carolinas, who murdered the white inhabitants at midnight, whilst they were wrapped in their j^eaceful slumbers, and committed atrocities at which humanity shudders. The Congaree and Fork settlements were then mostly exposed to the fearful inroads of the savages, as but few settlers were living further in the interior than the Germans were at that time. Bolzius informs us, that many were compelled to take refuge among the Germans at Ebenezer and Savannah, whilst others fled for safety to Charleston, Purysburg, and other places, until those Indian hostilities were ended, and peace and security was again restored."*

*It appears from certain passages in tlie (iiessendanner record that the inhabitants of Oranj>eburg^li Townsliip also liad some fears of Indian ontrages, and that many of them collected toj^ether in forts or block-houses; (See baptismal entrys Nos. (ill, (il(>, (517, (i24.) and that at least one ({erman citizen of ()ranfie))nrfih Townshij), John Whetstone, .Tr., served in tln' exitedition ajiaiiist the Cherokces. (See No. lOo on burial list. ) were mostly all descendants from the original German settlers in Saxe-Gotha 'Township, with an occasional addition from the German settlements of North Carolina and Virginia." Dr. Bernheim should have placed Orangeburgh Township along with Saxe-Gotha. An examination of the Giessendanner record will show that many of the names thereon obtain in Newberry and Saluda counties to-day.

During the Revolutionary War many of the Hessian hirelings of the British army deserted and became permanent settlers in this country. Dr. Bernheim says, p. 174: "Among these Hessian deserters was one who afterwards became a Lutheran minister in South Carolina, named John Yost Miitze, known better as Rev. -J. Y. Meetze, and whose history was obtained from one of his sons. He deserted near Charleston at the time the British army was besieging that city from the othei- side of Ashley River; he was pursued some thirty miles, but finally made his escape over Bacon's bridge, where he was safe within the American lines. He located himself in Saxe-Gotha Township, now Lexington County, six miles above the present countyseat, and became the forefather of a large and influential family in that section of the country. The following tablet inscription marks the spot where his remains now repose:

That portion of Orangeburgh District, afterwards embraced in Barnwell District, also received a share of the German settlers, as Dr. Bernheim says, by the breaking up of the Dutch colony on James Island, the gradual absorption of the unsuccessful German and Swiss colony at Purysburg, aud the influx of other German settlers from Orangeburg County."

The same section also received many settlers from Virginia. In this connection the following extract from "Memoirs of Tarleton Brown."" p. 8, will be of interest: "Flattering inducements being held forth to settlers in the rich region of South Carolina contiguous to the Savannah River, and my uncle, Bartlet Brown, having already moved, and settled himself two miles above Matthew's Bluff, on the Savannah River; my father brought out some negroes, and left them with his brother to make a crop: and in 1769. a year afterwards, my father and famil3% consisting of eleven persons, emigrated to this country and settled on Brier's Creek, opposite to Burton's "Ferry. We found the country in the vicinity very thinly inhabited. Our own shelter for several weeks to protect us from the weather was a bark tent, which served for our use until we could erect a rude dwelling of logs."'

General Johnson Hagood is authority for the statement that Tarleton Brown probably has more descendants in Barnwell County to-day than any other man who ever lived in that county. Among the other natives of Virginia, early settled in the same section, were the Wriaht and Erwin families.

Chapter Ii The Giessendanner Record

Almost every South Carolina historian who has mentioned Orangeburg has spoken of the Giessendanner Church record-book, but Dr. Bernheiui is the only writer who has gone beyond a mere mention of the fact that this record-book existed. What Dr. Bernlieim has said of this interesting work has already been given in these pages.

After the death of Rev. John Giessendanner in 1761, his son Henry cahie into possession of the book, and a fevv^ scattering records were made by him. After his death the book fell into the hands of his second wife, who, previous to her marriage to Henry Giessendanner, was the widow Larey; and through her it fell into the hands of her son, Daniel Larey. Daniel Larey left it to his daughter, Mrs. M. B. Tread well, of Orangeburg. Mrs. Treadwell, after keeping it for many years, turned it over to the late Mr. John Lucas, Senior Warden of the Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) at Orangeburg, and Mr. Lucas, after making a copy of it, turned it over to the Diocese of South Carolina, and it was deposited in the Episcopal Library in the small building in the rear of St. Stephen's Chapel, on Anson Street in Charleston. It was there that the M^riteitirst saw the book, and copied it by permission of Rev. A. R, Mitchell, Secretary of the Diocese of South Carolina. Since then Bishop Capers has had the book returned to Mrs. Treadwell at her request.

sendanner, or 8ome subsequent keeper of the hook, had stretched a raw-hide binding and sewed it on with thick, twisted, white chord. It is in a very dihipidated condition; some of the pages being torn in half, and numerous pages have been lost.

It is evident that the first Oiessendanner, who began to keep the record in the fall of 1737, and kept it until his death, the latter part of 1738, kept it in a different book; for when his nephew began to keep the record in 1739 he says that the record kept by his uncle has been copied from the old book into the new, and after giving the record kept by his uncle, he begins his own record. The record kept by the elder Giessendanner and most of that kept by the younger before his trip to England for ordination was written in German, and the records here given for that period are from translated notes made by Dr. Bernheim, and others, for Mr. Lucas; and possibly some of them were made by Henry Giessendanner, as the papers appear to be of different ages, (some appeal' to be very old) and in different handwritings,*

The parts, preserved and translated, of those records kept up to the time when the younger Giessendanner went to England are very meagre and scattering, but those kept after his return are very complete. It is doubtful if there was a church record-book kept in the Province at that time, that is as complete.

The 3'ounger Giessendanner started to keep all of the records of marriages, births, and deaths in one book and divided the book equally into three parts and kept the marriages in the first part, the births in the second part and the deaths in the third part. His record before his departure for England only covered a few pages in each part. After his return from England he continued with the record, but the record of one part usually took up more than its allotted space, so that he would have to run it over a few pages beyond the record of the next part and continue it therefrom. On this account it requires some patience to get the records straight.

I give the record as nearly like the original as I can, with the style of spelling, punctuation and abbreviations unchanged. The following is the imperfect translation of the incomplete record kept in German by Rev. John Ulrick Giessendanner, and by Rev. John Giessendanner l)efore his departure for England:

"Catalogus Conjugatorum. "This Book contains the names of all those who were Married and Baptized by me in Orangeburgh in Public as well as in Private & herein accurately Re-

"This Book should be carefully preserved that those who may wish to know of their family may find it in the Book of Record." - John Giessendanner, the younger. Then follows a quotation from Genesis 2 Chap. 18 v. "And the Lord said it is not good for man to be alone 1 will make a help meet for Him": then follows anothei' passage from 12S Psalm and another from Hebrews 13. 4.

"Here follows a Register, or List of such persons as were married and joined together in matrimony by my predecessor cV: Uncle, deceased, and now in Heaven. This register is copied from the old Book into this new one - word for word accurately - as he wrote and kept it.** jstiy. J have on 24 Oct|^ by request of Major Motte - & two Englishmen - who are Majors - and at their own Risk and Responsibility Married in the house of M^i' Price a widow - in the Village of Beystein - a Possession of the English Crown. Joseph Russel to Mrs. Margaret Russel. Her maiden name was Price. The Major read the marriage service in English in my presence.

3^">' Nov. 15 I John Ulrick Oiessendanner got married - in presence of many witnesses - to my house keeper who for 26 years served in our house &: who from affection and to escape family troubles followed me over the ocean - & to prevent obviate any cause offence or scandel I married her. privately. Major Motte read the marriage service. May Jesus unite us closely in love, as well as all faithful married people, and cleanse and unite us with himself. Amen.

[5] 31 Jany 1738 Following Persons married Peter Grimmer to Dorothea Huber Lawful daughter of Johannes Huber - In Zim merman ns Daughters house.

[8] 12 April. 1 have married in presence of English & (ilerman witnesses - after 3 times i)ublishing the Banns (t in presence of the congregation of our Church Christian Meyers - Johannes Meyers* Lawful son to Rebecca Young - William Youngs daughter fi-om Holland - Johannes Myers from Switzerhmd.

21' Privately, Mr. Conrad Alder to Mrs. Anna Burgin, widow, in Her own House - Her former Husband was Henry Ricken baker - after the Banns hath been 3 times published.

3 - Privately in Her own house in presence of several witnesses - Jacob Pier Hans Fridig and Jacob Kuhn - The following two persons were married - Mr. Benedict Kollerto Magdalina Springin - Mr. Johannes Springin's law^ful daughter.

(4) 3 Jany that is on Thursday after 3 times publ. publicly in a large congregation. Banns, Mr. Richard- Horsfort & Miss Barbara Diedrick, that is Mr. John Diedrick's lawful daughter.

(5) The 14 Jany. at sun set in Mr. Henry Schnell's house after 3 times publication in German; & once in English language Mr. Benjamin Carter in Amelia Township to Rebecca Murphy.

(6) The 3^1 Feby. The following persons were after Pul)lication John Julius Tapp son of Christian Tapp to Anna B. Hergersperger widow - maiden name Kesebirnger.

(24) Tuesdaj^ 19, Novbr. njarried privHt after once publishing (Jhrist. Schwartz to Elizabeth Fustei'in. widow, in presence of Kilinn Abecklin, John Fuster and 2 children.

(27) Wednesdey 1. Jany in Amelia Tovvnshi[», married Joseph Joyner to Miles Jackson, ("see book") Witness John Hanimelton. John Fairchild, Richard Hasfort. William Martins. Thomas -lackson.

(31) Sunday IS. (duly) married John Jacol) Straumann to Anna Margaretta S(duiumloifel Witness. Henry Wurtz, Henry Straumann, Peter Hurger, & Hans in the village.

(1) Dec. 25, The following children were Baptized: Johannes Stetzel, son of George & Maria-Linden Stetzel. Sponsors John Diedrick & Miss Barbara Hueden. Born Octob 27, 1739.

(2) Anna Hugin - Legitimate ch of Theodore Hugin & Magdalin Balmarin - Spons. Johannes Dolch, & Sn^ Barbara Heinein formerly Hoeffertin - Mrs. Agnes Diebuebdin formerly Ininjlin - Born on the 12 of Nov. 1789.

^aret Kollerin - child of M^ l^enedk't Kollei- & Mrs. Magdalin Spriugen. Sponi: Mr. Jacob Thieren & Mr^ Regina Kricheii formerly Mrs. Brant Mr« Margretta Frydigin foriiiei-lv ^li.ss Bolleriii - was Born 14 Nov. 1739.

(5) In Mr Hemy I{i<-kenl»ac-ker's house privately baptized - on the 7 Mar<di - Henry Rickenbarker child of Henry Hickenba(dver A: Mrs Anna Denl. Spon:: .Josei)h Robinson - Atina Maigerett * «t others.

(6) On Sunday 25. Api'il - by baptism admitted into the church Margaretta Legt (diild of Henry Hauscig & his wife Spons - Margretta Bachrden. & Magdelin Acker.

(7) Monday *2() A })ril - Privately Bajttized t]dward Freeman Shnellgrove. L son of Fi-eeman Shnellgrove his wife 8pons Peter Horger - Johannes Wettstein Anna Wettstein.

(S) April 27 Tuesday was baptized Pegina Barbara Legt child of Mr. Christopher Rowe (t His wife. Spons Henry Sneller, John Bi-uderer, Regina Jutsig S: Miss Barbara Ho nig.

(10) On the Eastei- Sunday - were baptized in presence of the whole congregation John Meyer. Legiti- "niate child of Hans Jacob Meyer »t Anna Huester - Spons - John Frittstein »t Ulrick Buester «t Mis Barliara Horsfort, formerly Miss I)iedrick>.

(11) On the Sunday 24 May was W_ Hans Henry Strauman Legit (diild of Mr. Henry Straiiman ^- Mrs. C'atharin Strauman formerly ^liss Horger in [n-esencc of Spon':. Mr. Simon Saenger. Verona Freydig.

(13) On Snnday 5 July was Bapt^l Willian) Robinson. Legil child of Mr. Kobinson & wife. Spons - Mr Hans Danners, David Rnnipfer Elizabeth Rothig - according to the rules of the Church of England & Book of Co mm (HI Prayer.

(14) Monday 14 Sept^was Baptized Privately Anna Maria Margretta Diedricks - Leg child of Mr. Johannes Diedricks & His Wife - Sponi: Henry Wuertzer Peter Hurger, Margret Koenig, formerly Hessig - & Margretta, Laehryig - formerly Bodenerig.

(16) 27 Sept on Sunday - was Publicly in the English Language Baptl John Jones - Leg child of Mr. John Jones & wife Spons. John Pearson Richard Hasfords & Barbara Hasford.

(17) Oct<^ 15. On Thanksgiving day Baptized on Barnard Elliott's Plantation. Elizabeth Linder, Legt child Mr. Ludwig Linder & wife - Spons. Mr. Ulrick Giessendanner Elizabeth Reigchig.

(18) Dec'; 30 was baptized by me in Amelia Township Privately William Harrys Legt child William Harrys and Mary Brood Spon^. Elias Teat Benjamin Carter & Rebecca Carter.

Monday 26 Apiil Privately Baptized Edward Freeman Snellgrove LeglH son of Freeman Snellgrove and bis wife Spons Petei- Hogan Johanna Wettstein and Anna Wettstein.

April 27 Tuesday was baptized Regina Barbara Leg"it ebild of Mr Mi<'bael Christopher Row and his wife - Sponsors Henry Sneller, John Bruderer Regina lutsey Miss Barbara Honig

June 25 on Sunday. I Baptized. Henry my own Leg. child. Ulrick Giessendanner & my wife Barbara formerly Miss Hugg. Spons-Mr. Henry Wurtz. Michael 1 - - - ^''.v Anna Rohrig formerly Miss Diedricks w'hich child came to ligliton Saturday afternoon June 1742. In the Sign of the Twins.

At the Same time Baptized Hans Michael Legt child of Re . . . vs & his wife Feldgnig Spons. Hans Iindorfl'. Michael Barry <t Regenia Kuchin.

Sunday, The U) Haynionth (July) is baptized in the (Hi Bottes a (diild called (Hiristian. lawful child, Mr. Henry Fausseii »t his wife Anna Maria (by witness) John Julius Tappier. Christian Roth ^ Maria Christianna his wife

Sunday the IP'' Fallnioiith (Sept.) is admitted by baptism to the holy Coujuiunioii in the ( 'liurcdi Pottes. Maria Elizabeth, lawful child of Mr Jacob Strauman

Sunday 14 April 1745 is baptized in the Church Bottes - Elizabeth, lawful child, Mr Henry Giessendanner, & bis wife Barbara, maiden name Hurger. Witness are Johann Chevillette. Mrs. Barbaj-a Zangerin, maiden name Straumann k Mrs Margareth Inabinet, maiden name Negely. 'llw cliild was horn Sunday morning about one hour before day the 27 day of January 1744/5 in the syn of the Ram.

Anno 1745 The 2\^ August is baptized in the Church Bottes, Henry, lawful Child, Mr. Henry Faust. & Anna Maria (witness. Henry Heim. Joseidi Krauter & Anna Roth, his wife.

xAdmitted to the holy Connnunion in the presence of the Congregation the following infants, Maria, lawful daughter of Mathias & Maria Keller, (Witness) Henry Reich man n & wife Mrs Anna Mai'ia Markly k Mrs. Elizabeth Reich.

John lawful son of Mr, (leorg Hessys and his lawful wife Anna Catharina (Witness) Michael Christopher Row, Nicolas Shuler c^- Mrs Anna liickenba«d\('rin. ».V: Mrs Magdalena of the village.

Joseph, lawful son of Jo8e[)h K renter & his wife Susannah (Witness) Jacob Porter. Joseph Huber, & Mrs. Elizabeth Rothin & Mrs Anna Elizabeth Biegehnann.

Dl> Margaretha lawful daughter of Louis Reichen & his wife Elizabeth (Witness) Jacob Giessendanner & Mrs Agues (xiessendanuer it Mrs Margaretha Row.

Febry 8. At Mr. Thonias Jones's House. Thomas, son of Johu Jones, and Hannah his wife, Deceased, he was before lawfully baptized by private Baptism by

Feby 3 1747 In the House of Ml Thomas Jones. Eugenia daughter of John Jones and Hannah his wife deceased. Goss. Joseph Jones, Patience Faure & Eugenia Faure.

March \^ In the house of Mr Thomas Foi-t, Jcdm son of Leonhard and Sarah Warnedow Goss John Fitz Mrs Lammons and foi- w^ant of another the mother

March 20 1747 Baptized BaUlhasar bwful Child of Mr John Inabnet and his wife xMargai'et Born March I21]2 Spons Hans Balsiger. Hans of the Village Mrs Verona Wartzer

Thursday 14 April Baptized ii] Henry Scdinell house Catharina Magdalene, Adan] k Margaretta Schnell lawful Child Spons George Kotgen iV: Jacob (liessendanner Miss Magdalene Hoi-ger and Mrs (.'atharina Wanamaker

1747 Tuesday April 14 Baptized in the House of Henry Schnell Henry son of Jacob & Catharina Wanamaker Spons. Henry Schnell Sen'' & Johannes and Mrs Margaretta Schnell.

Ditto - Catharina Barbara George and Christina Barbara Kotgein lawful daughter Sponsors Henry Schnell & Barl)ara Schnell «.V: Jacob and Catharina Wannamaker

Sunday 19 April at Holy Easter Baptized .\nna ( 'hristine Barbara Ni<'olas and Christine Law4"ul daughter Sponsors Jacob Kuhnen Mrs. Anna Hickenbacker iV: Mrs Barliara Heini hail 11 Ulrick d! lessen dan iier &, wife Barbara maiden name Hiigg (Witness) Johannes A maker Geo Giessen- <hiuner cV: Mrs liegel Larey, maiden name Kochin. The child was born Friday morning about 2 hours by day the first day in May Anno prodicte in the syn Twins-

On W^ednesday August 3 1748 Baptized George Henry son of Leopold Clausand W. A his wife Goss Henry Snell Sen'" George Giessendanner JunI Phillipina Regina Yutzy and Fritchman.

174S Septeml)er 25^'' Baptized Felder: Ixn-n Sept 8 son of Henry and Maria Elizabeth uxorsegas sponsoi's Jacob Giessendanner, Jacob & Lovisia Horger.

This closes up the record kept by Rev. John Giessendanner before his departure for England. The following list, made out in English in the handwriting of Rev. John Giessendanner, is recorded in the hook: and was doubtless made out by him shortly after he returned from England, as it is evident from the position it occupies in the book that it was njade out at an early day, as the recording preceeding it caught ui? with it; thus placing it in the midst of the record of births kept in English after his return from P^ngland, By comparing it with the translated i-ecord, already given, of the mairiages performed by Rev. John Giessendanner before his trip to England, it will be seen that it is made up from those records. It contains some marriages not given in the German record - probabl\^ because the pages containing the record (in German) of those particular marriages have been lost. At any rate this list, translated as it was by the Rev. John Giessendanner himself, is a valuable snpplenuMit to the translated record already given:

Here follows the record of marriages which IJev. John (liessendanner kept after his retniii iVom England, where he had been ordained as an Episcopal minister. This record was kept in English. That kept before his voyage to Kngland w^as all kept in German, as already stated.

At the head of each of the five pa£);es containing the entries from 6 to 24 is written "A List of Persons n]arr3^ed per Jn^ Giessendanner. V. D. M."; at the head of each of the remaining seven pages containing the entries from 25 to 69 is written "Register of Marriages pet' John Giessendanner. V. D. M.":

A list of Persons marryed in the Church of Orangeburgh and on Sundry other places since my return from England according to the Liturgy of the Church of England and the Form prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer Per

(3.) On Tuesday, June 5t\» In the Church of Orangebui'gh by Ditto: Jacob Morff and Christina Hessy, both of this Township: Being present: Michael Christopher Rowe. Hans George Hessy.

(4.) On Monday, June IP'.' In yf Church of Orangeburgh by Ditto. David Griffith and Hannah Middleton, both of Berkly County, l^eing present: Michael Chris-

(5.) On Sunday, June I7f'>- In the Presence of the Congregation in the Church of Orangeburgh. by Ditto: Jacob Stauber and Miss * of this Township.

(6.) On Sunday, June 24*1'- In the Church of Orangeburgh in presence of the Congregation - By Banns: John Frederick Ot and Magdalene Wechter, late wife of George Wechter, deceased, both living in Amelia Township.

(7.) On Thursday June 28^''- In the House of these married Person by Ditto: Casper Kuhn and Anna Barbara Ernst, late wife of Ceorge Adauj Ernst, of this Township, deceased; Being present: Valentine Yutzy, John Fritchman, John Friday Jnn'; etc. etc.

(8.) On Wednesday, July 11^'- In tlie Church of Orangeburgh By Ditto: Kobeit Andrews of Saxa- Grotha Township, and Mary Carney of Amelia Township, Being present: John McCord. Sam'l Bright. Robert Sea Wright etc. etc.

(9.) On Thuimiay, July 19fi^- In y*' Church of Orangeburgh By Ditto: Joseph Markis and Ann Pickings, both living down this River: Being present: Joseph (iriffis, David Jackson.

(10.) On Tuesday August 7*'' In the Churcii "o Ditto. By Ditto John Frederick Huber and Barbara Kreyter. both of this Township: Being present Martin Binsky. John Friday Sen'"- et Jun'- Henry Heyin.

(11.) On Saturday, September 22'"'- In y*'Chni'chof Orangeburgh. By Banns. Miles Hiley and Elizabeth Weekly, widow of Thomas Weekly, of Amelia Township, deceased. Being present: \A'illiani Cannnel. William Coopei-. Caspar Ott.

(13.) On Thursday, December fith. In the Church of Orangeburgh. By Ditto: William Mecket & Ann Roth of this Township: Being present Henry Haym, George Giessendanner, Jun^ Charles Hottow etc. etc.

(14.) On Monday, Dec. 24tii- in the Church of Orangeburgh, by Ditto: Henry Wetstine & Barbara, widow of Hans Ulrick Morff, deceased, both of this Township: Being present, Henry Haym, Caspar Kuhn, Peter Moorer, Junr. etc. etc.

(15.) On Tuesday. February b^^^- at the house of Mrs. Mary Russell in Amelia, by Licence, John McCord of Saxa-Gotha & Sophinisba Russell of Amelia Township, Being present Samuel Bright, Charles and John Russell.

(16.) On Tuesday April 2"f^- In Orangeburgh Church By Banns Peter Murer, Jun^; To Magdalene Horguer; Both of this Township. Being present Valentine Yutzy, Samuel Suther. etc.

(17.) On Tuesday April BO^ii- in Ditto. By Ditto. John Harresperger To Elizabeth Frichman, both of this Township. Being present Nicolas Shewler. Conrad Yutzy, Jacob Ott etc. etc.

(18.) On Tuesday, May 28tii- In Ditto. By Ditto. Robert Lammon to Barbara, wddow of Jacob Brunzon. deceased. Both living upon Edistoe River. Being present Michael Christopher Rowe. Joseph Griffons, Samuel Davis.

(19.) On Thursday September 5ti>- In Ditto. By Ditto. James Lewis to Esther, widow of John Jones, late of Amelia Township. Deceased. Being present Robert (lossling. Christian Minnick, Michael Christopher Rowe. etc. etc.

(20.) On Thursday, September 26th- In Orangeburgh Church, Freeman Snellgrove of Amelia Township to Ann Jenkins, widow, Being present: Miles Riley, John Fairy, Joseph Duke. 1752.

(21.) On Sunday, February 2"d- In Ditto. By Ditto. Peter Roth to Agnes, late widow of George Giessendanner. Deceased. In presence of the Congregation.

(22.) On Sunday, February 23''^- In Ditto. By Ditto. Christopher Stehely to Elizabeth, widow of Christian Schwarz, Deceased. In piesence of the Congregation.

(23.) On Friday December 27^1'- 1751. In Ditto. By Ditto. Gotli6b Ebert to Anna Amacher. Being present: Henry Wartzer, Martin Binsky, Michael Larry, etc.

(24.) On Tuesday, March Sl^'t- In Ditto. By Ditto. Emanuel Miller to Mary, widow of Andrew Inabnet, of this Township, Deceased. Being present: Henry Wartzer, Henry Ricken baker, etc. etc.

(25.) On Tuesday June 9th. 1752. In Orangeburgh Church. By Banns: Henry Crummy to Magdalene Zorn; both of Orangeburgh Township. Being present: William Bari-ie, Henry Felder, Luke Patrick.

(26.) On Tuesday, July 2nd. 1752. In Orangeburgh Church. By Banns: William Young of Edisto Fork to Mary Linder, below Orangeburgh Township: Being present: Michael Christopher Rowe, Johanes Wolfe. Lewis Linder.

(27.) On Monday, July 13, In Am.elia at the house of Mr. William Martin: By Banns. Thomas Cryer and Elizabeth Powell; both of Amelia Township; Being present John McCord, Charles Kut^spll. William Thompson.

(31.) John Frederick Ulmer to Mary Barbara Shuler; all of Orangeburg Township. Being present: John Miller, Henry Rickenbaker, Lewis Golsen, etc.

(32.) On Tuesday October S''^^- In Orangeburgh Church. By Banns. John William Ley sath to Ursula Giessendanner, of this Township: Being present: Henry Wartzer, Jacob Ott, Peter Roth, etc. etc.

(35.) On Tnesday December 26th. in Ditto. By Ditto. Christopher Monheim to Catharine Fry; both lately arrived from Germany in Orangeburgh Township. Being present: John Shaumloffel, John Friday, Jun. Jacob Roth. 1753.

(36.) On Sunday, March 25th. In Ditto. By Ditto. George Frederick Knobel to Elizabeth Fichter. both lately come into this Township from Germany: Being present: .Henr}^ Felder, Bai'nard Snell, Jacob Giessendanner.

(37.) On Tuesday, April KHi'- At the house of Moses Thompson. Esqr. In Anjelia. By Ditto. Thomas Ballew to Ann Cox. Being present: Moses and William Thompson. Thomas (\)urtonne.

Church Miirryed by Banns. Greorge Jacob Kiirner to Ann Catliarina Larry wecht, widow, both lately arrived in this Province from Germany, Being present: Michael Christopher Rowe, III rick Raber.

(39.) On Tuesday, April 24^1- In Ditto. By Banns. Henry Mell to Mary Catharina, widow of Isaac Huttow, late of Orangebui-gh Township, deceased.

(40.) Bernard Zeigler to Anne Mary Wedlin, widow, both lately come in from Germany. Both couples in presence of John Amacher, Senr., Frederick Huber, John William Leysaht, etc.

(41.) On Tuesday June 7^1'- In Ditto. James Elerson to Elizabeth Elerson; both near Orangeburgh Township. Being present: Henry Crummy, Michael Larry, The Banns been' published at Orangeburgh May 27tii; et 3lst., June 3^1.

(44.) On Tuesday September 27*^'- In Ditto. By Banns. Edward Brady to Rachael Whiteford of Amelia. Present: William Powell, John Burdell. etc.

(46.) On Sunday. November 4t''- In Oratigeburgh Church. By Banns. Christopher Miller to Angelia Zeigler. widov^-. In presence of the (Congregation.

Theiis, conimonly called Monk's Corner, in St. John's Parish, hy virtue of Licence derected to me, Simon Thens of the said Parish to Elizabeth Mackey of Amelia Township. Present: John Lloyd, Robert Rawlins, Clerk of the Crown, etc. etc.

(4S.) On Tuesday, February W^^- In Orangeburgh Church. By Banns. Jacob Beck to Brigitta Smith, both of Amelia Township. Present: Christopher Rowe, John Friday, Senr. & Junr.

(49.) On Sunday. March IQth- In Amelia. At the house of Charles Russell. By Banns. Christian Reichart to Catharina Peterman; both of Amelia Township. In presence of the Congregation.

(50.) On Thursday, March 14th. j^^ Orangeburgh Church. By Banns. Daniel Linder to Sarah Hill of Berkeley County. Present: James Tilly, Alexander McCord, John Burdell, etc., etc.

(51.) On Monday, April 9th. j^^ Orangeburgh Church. Manyed By Banns. Henry Young of Edisto Fork to Ann Hill of Orangeburgh Township. Present: John Burdell, David Hall, etc., etc.

(52.) On Sunday, May 12tii. In Amelia. By Banns. Benjamin Spurlock to Mary Elizabeth Smitzer, both of Amelia Township. Pi-esent: Moses Thompson, John Chevillette, John Lloyd, etc.

(53.) On Tuesday, July 16*''. In Orangeburgh Church. By Banns. Conrad Yutzy to Magdalene Warner; both of Orangeburgh Township. Present: Henr}^ Snell. Senr. & Junr., Christopher Rowe, etc.. etc.

(54.) On Tuesday, August 6th. |n Orangeburgh Church. By Banns. John Henry Shilling to Ann Margaret McLennen; both of Orangeburgh Township. Piesent: Henry Rickenbaker. Henry M<'11, Sam Suther.

(56.) Od Thursday, August'2'2<i- In Amelia. By Licence. Charles ]?us8ell to Ann Dargan; both of Amelia, Township. Present: John McCord, John Lloyd etc. etc.

(57.) On Sunday, October 27"'- In Orangebnrgh Church. By Banns. Marryed: p]n]anuel Mineor to Rachel Hatcher, both of Edistoe Fork. Present: The Congregation, Samuel Suther,* David Hall &c.

*Frojii the History of Rowan County, North Ciirolinn, by Rev. Jetliro Riimi)U', the followinj; sketch its taken: "Rev. Samuel Sutlier was one of tlie early Gernian Reformed ministers in Guilford, Rowan and Cabarrus. In the Journal of Gov. Tryon for 17()8, he relates that while he was at Major Phifer's in Mecklenl)urg (now Cabarrus) on Sunday, the 12st of .July, he 'heard Mr. Luther, a Dutch mitiister, preach.' No doubt this is a misprint for Mr. Sulher, since there is no evidence that such a minister as liUther was here, and there is evidence of the presence of a Rev. Mr. Suther. He was sent out from the old country to preach to thi> (Jcnnan Reformed jx'ople in the Carollnas, and w.ms pastor of the (JniU'ord cbarjic durinjj the Revolutionary war. Ml', Suther was a man of learning?, and an unconil)romisiii<,' patriot during;- the stru^-yU' for American freedom. His residence was a mile from the battle nroun<l of the Regulators in Alamance, May Kith, 1771. During' the lU^volution he was an outspoken pjilriot, and so obnoxious to the tories that he was often compelled to hide himself from their vengence. It is said tluit there was but one single tory in his entire charge. Capt. Weitzell, a niember of Mr. Suther's church, commanded a company in the battle of Guilford Court House that was made up of members of the Reformed Church. The records of Lower Stone Church mention Sanuiel Suther as its pastor in 1782, and that he had removed thither from Guilford tJounty. This was in the days of tory ravages, when Col. David Fanninjr and his trooj) of marauders struck terror into the region that extends from Guilford to Cumberland county. As he had many enemies around him, he found it exiK-dient to remove to a jnore peaceful region. The date of his death and the j)lace of his burial are unknown to the writer. There are a number of families by the name of Suther residing in and near (^oncord." This is probably the same Sanuiel Sutlu>r mentioned l)y (Ticssi-udanncr, and he probably sojourneil awhiU- in ()i-nugeburgli bdorc ncfiving his license to preach in this countrv.

(60.) On Sunday, December 22"d. In Ditto. By Banns. Jacob Dirr of Amelia and Eva Catharina Keyser of Orangeburgh Township. Present: John Frederick Huber, & Henry Felder, &c.

(61.) On Monday, December 23id- In Ditto. By Banns. John Joyner, Junr. to Naomy Bunch, both of Amelia Township. Present: Henry Snell, Senr., Christopher Rowe, etc. 1755.

(62.) On Monday, February 17*^. In Ditto. By a Licence directed to me. Josiah Evans to Margaret Larkins, of Prince Frederick Parish. Present: James Tilly, Senr. & Junr.

(68.) On Tuesday, February 18th- i^ Ditto. By Banns. Barnard Hertzog to Anne Mary, late widow of Warner Ulmer, of Orangeburgh Township. Present: Col: John Chevillette, Henry Wartzer, &c.

(64.) On Thursday, August 14tii. at the house of Capt. John Lloyd in Amelia Township, Marryed^ - By Licence; William Thompson to Eugenia Russell, both of the Township aforesaid. Present: John M<'Cord, Edward Barwicke, &c.

(65.) On Sunday, August 24^^. ii^ Orangeburgh Church. By Banns: John George Hayner to Eva Cathai'ina Barrin; both of Orangeburgli Township. Present: Jacob Giessendanner, Henry Felder, &c.

(66.) On Monday, December 29^1'- In Ditto. By Ditto. John Ofi.ll to Elizabeth Rice, both of the Saltketchers in Colleton C(»unty. Piesenl : Isham Clayton. Samnc] Pickings. &c.

(67.) On Tuesday, January 27^''- In Orangeburgh Church. By Ditto. .John Jacob Wymer to Anne Diedrick, both of Orangeburgh Township. Present: Samuel Suther, John Jennings. &c,

(68.) On Monday, Fel)ruary 2"fi- In Ditto. By Ditto. John Anding to Margaret, late widow of Rudolph Brunner, both living beh)w Orangeburgh Township in Berkly County. Present: Henry VVuitzer, Lewis binder, John Aberly, &c.

The remainder of the marriage record kept by Rev. John Giessendanner is lost from the book, but several fragmentary records were entered b}^ later custodians of the book, as follows:

The following is also recorded among the later items: "Jacob Kooney Come to me to Live With me til 26 of Septr 1771 and Movd a Way again the 16 of November 1771." W hat that meant is not explained.

Following the record in English of marriages, is the record in English of the baptisms performed by Rev. John Giessendanner after his return from England. At the head of each of the thii-teen pages containing the entries from 11 to 97 is writr<Mi. "A list of (Miildren baptized per J. Giessendanner. V. D. M."; at the head of each of the forty-two pages containing the entries fi'OQi 9S to 422 is written, ''Register Book of Baptisms per Jn" Giessendanner. V. 1). M."; at the head of each of the four pages containing the entries from 423 to 482 is written, ''Register of Christenings by John Giessendanner. V. D. M.'*; and at the head of each of the remaining twenty-five pages containing the entries from 4S3 to 639 is written, "Register of Births & Christenings by John Giessendanner V. D. M." The following is the baptismal record:

A List of Children Baptized by me in the Church of Orangeburgh and in Sundry other places Since my return from England according to the Liturgy of the Church of England and the forms prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer

(11.) Christian, son of John and Margaret Inabnet; born March the 17t'i- a. c. Susceptr. Hans Jacob Stroman, Henry Wetzstine, and Mrs Mary Inabnet.