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Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church History
Any errors in spelling and grammar found within are intentional, as this is the exact way the booklet reads.
Submitted by Kelli Mallard
Compiled by Elder Wilmer Lynn
Brief History of Georgia’s Oldest and first Primitive Baptist Church.
This booklet contains a brief history of Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church. It is the first effort that the writer has attempted to write anything for publication. I have tried very hard to place together two hundred years of history in a way in which I hope everyone who reads will understand and benefit by it; realizing that every word contained in this might not be stated plainly enough to be understood by everyone to their own satisfaction. However, our prayers are that none will wrongly interpret or incorrectly apply. As I am human and subject to human error, error probably can and will be found, but it is not intended purposely; therefore we ask that a mantle of charity might be cast over our imperfections and pray for us. May God bless each one who reads and understands.
Humbly submitted
Elder Wilmer Lynn
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Nevils Creek Church was constituted on the 17th day of May, 1790 of the Primitive Baptist faith and order. If there is any doubt in the minds of anyone as to the authenticity of the date of constitution, a record from the office of the Secretary of State of Georgia, Department of Archives and History in Atlanta shows the date as being the 17th of May, 1790. We quote from the minutes when the constitution was done. We, the Church of Christ at Nevils Creek was constituted the 17th day of May, 1790 by Alexander Scotte (Lotte) and other helps, unquote. The other helps probably means other persons, such as preachers and deacons forming a presbytery for the constitution of the church. We would like to especially note the wording of the records regarding the constitution and establishment of the church, and the humble expressions they stated which are orthodox and orderly for any church members, and again we quote:
We whose names are underwritten have been baptized upon the profession of our faith in Christ, and believing it to be our duty to walk in all the ordinances of the old and new testaments, preferring the explanation of them by the Author of the Baptist confessions of faith, and such as agree with them to any that we know of anywhere. We are very conscious that our conduct and converstation, both in the Church and in the world, ought to correspond with the sublime and Holy System of Divine Truth. We believe we should exercise a conscience void of offense towards God and man, and live soberly and righteously and piously in the present world, endeavoring by all lawful means to promote the peace and welfare of society in general. As to our regards for each other in all humility and brotherly love, to watch over each other’s conduct. To stir up one another to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as oft as we have the opportunity to worship God, according to His will, and when cases require such means as suffering, to symphathize with each others’ weaknesses and imperfections, forbearing one another in live. We deem it absolutely necessary to our
peace and prosperity, and the honor of God, to carefully maintain a strict gospel discipline to all duties, together with those who respect the most peaceful and charitable conduct towards all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and a zeal according to knowledge, for the propogation of the gospel. We desire to perform according to our humble abilities through the gracious assistance of God. We both admire and adore the grace wherewith he hath given us a name in His house so much better than Sons and Daughters, unquote. In testimony of our unanimous consent to the aforesaid doctrine, we most cheerfully subscribe our names. (This listing of names is not found and is presumably lost or destroyed as well as the records for the next 20 years.)
The Church records show that the original meeting house building was erected on a high bluff near Bonnell Creek in Effingham County on a plot of land that appears to have belonged to James Young. No deed or record is available that distinguishes if this small plot of land was given to or bought by the Church at that time. In the year of 1793, a restructuring of the boundaries of the counties of this section of Georgia was done and the site on which the church was became Screven County, and again in 1796 another restructuring resulted in the establishment of Bulloch County, so that Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church, being the only established church in the newly organized Bulloch County became the Mother Church of all Bulloch County churches and also the oldest and first Primitive Baptist Church in the State of Georgia.
As the records are missing for the next 20 years, we come to the next record of anything involving the Church. In 1810, we find a deed given by James Jones, and we quote, “To all to whom these presents shall come, I, James Jones of the County of Screven, State of Georgia, do certify that, for and in consideration of the love, good will and affection which I have and do bear to God and his people, namely the Baptist Church on Nevils Creed in Bulloch County, have given and granted, and by these presents, do freely give and grant unto the deacons of said Church, namely Luke Mizell and Joseph Lewis, and their successors in office, for the use of said Church all that square or lot of land, laid off where the meeting house now stands, containing one acre and one half, (the dimensions, corners and borders are then listed) said land or lot so described, I have and do deliver and warrant, and forever defend with the rights hereunto, and appurtenances thereof, belonging on or to said lot, to the said deacons and their successors in office, for the only proper use of as the Church of Christ, for them and their religion, care and services, and this is absolutely without any manner of donation whatsoever. In witness whereof, I hereunto affixed my seal, and set my hand, this 20th day of December the year of our Lord in 1810.” This deed was witnessed by Frances Jones and Williford Strahan and Robert Donaldson, J.P., was recorded on the 17th day of February, 1813, in the Bulloch County Clerk’s Office by Ely Kennedy, Clerk of Su0perior Court of Bulloch County. Sometime after the establishment of Bulloch County, for which there is no official record to establish a=the exact time, the name of Bonnell Creek was changed to Nevils Creek, in honor of John Nevils, a soldier in the Revolutionary War. This creek is today still known as Nevils Creek. A marker at the front of this building today stands with the inscription of John Nevils on it.
Sometime before the Civil War and Sherman’s March to the Sea, a deed which is recorded the 20th day of February, 1845, stating that one and one half acres of land was traded to the then present deacons of Nevils Crddk Church, and to their successors in office, namely, Moses Wilson and James Hendrix for the acre and a half of land that was then situated on. This deed of exchange appears to be personally written by the grantor, James, James, witnessed by William Franklin and notarized by W.M. McLane, Justice of Peace.
It is believed that the original meeting house, after being moved a short distance and a little closer to the public dirt road, was still standing when General Sherman made his famous march to the sea. History states that he and his troops left Atlanta after burning it about November 15, 1864, heading for Savannah. When they came to this point in their march, indications are that they encamped in or near the church building, perhaps overnight or longer. During the time of their encampment, and it being in the month of December and probably cold weather, the pews and pulpits of the church were cut up and used for firewood to warm and cook with. The record of this also states that the people’s effects were also destroyed, which probably means that the outdoor privies of the church were also torn down and used for wood, even some of the weather-boarding was destroyed. However, it is believed that the main structure of the building was left standing though badly ravaged and damaged beyond use. There are no minutes for a space of almost three years. Even though the war had ended and taken its toll and left the people without a place to meat and worship, it can, without any doubt, be said as the scripture says about Noah when God commanded him to build the Ark, “Noah moved with Fear”, that these people moved with fear, the fearing of God in Love, and began to put things back together as much as possible. It was agreed to start having their “Meetings” at Finch’s Old Mill, a few miles to the west of the church site. The minutes show that these meetings were held at this site until about the turn of the century or later. They were begun about the fall of the year in 1887 and lasted until around the year 1915.
The minutes of June 1915 states that there was a move and second to “move the Church from this place down the creek some two or three miles to another location.” A committee was appointed consisting of W.J. Blackburn, A.R. Newton, M.R. Hendrix, R.R. Hendrix, and T.H. Hendrix for the purpose of choosing a place and looking after the building. A warranty deed filed in Bulloch County Courthouse in October 1915 shows that J.T. Hendrix conveyed to W.J. Blackburn, R.R. Hendrix, T.B. Hendrix, and M.R. Hendrix one acre of land in the 46 District and bounded by lands of J.T. Hendrix, Bay Gall Creek, and Olliff Bay School to be used for Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church. It is upon this site that the church building stands today.
As it has been stated earlier about the care that the members of Nevils Creek did have for one another, when you read and observe the minutes as they are recorded you will find that their expressions of brotherly love and sisterly affection was more than simple expressions. Occasionally you will find that the rules of the church were kept very strictly within the memberships. There are cases on record where some brother or sister were reported to the church as living disorderly and sometimes immorally. When these cases were made known to the Church, satisfaction was commanded by the Church upon the member. They were called upon to make acknowledgements before the Church publicly. If the church was not satisfied that the person acknowledging their wrong’s did not appear to be truly sorry for their wrong’ and truly repentant enough to beg forgiveness and forbearance of the Church within, the Church would not accept their half hearted acknowledgements, then a charge was made against the offending brother or sister for not living above reproach and they were dismissed or excommunicated from the Church membership. As you continue on in reading these church records, you later find that in many cases the person who had been excluded from membership would later come back and give a satisfactory acknowledgement, of true repentance and Godly sorrow and ask for reinstatement into the fellowship of the Church and would be gladly received back into the Church. The disciplinary actions of Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church is admired among the membership today and also amoung the Primitive Baptist family in general. Each member knows that loose living will not be tolerated because the Church stands upon the same principles of faith, order, and practice as it always has and will exercise disciplinary actions when it becomes necessary.
We now make mention of the affiliation of Nevils Creek Primitive Baptist Church and associational memberships. It cannot be definitely established what date that she became a member of the Hepzibah Association, but the minutes of 1828 show that some of the Churches in Emanuel and Bulloch Counties withdrew from the said Hepzibah Association and formed Canoochee Association because of their opposition to the mission movement that was invading the ranks of the Primitive Baptists in Georgia. In November 1853, the Church moved and seconded not to recognize and use nor allow missionary preachers to preach from their pulpits because of the said mission movements and that those who were of this movement were just “hirelings” and not true shepherds. In August 1863, the Church agreed not to represent at the Lower Canoochee Association being held at Mill Creek Church. In 1864, they chose to represent at the Association which was held at Lower Lotts Creed Church.
The membership of the church has fluctuated up and down through the years. As some of the records do not give the number in memberships each year, yet the records show that there was 79 members in 1814, 77 is 1824, 36 in 1840 and in 1850 there was 61. During the years from 1875 to 1878 Daniel L. Rigden was the only white male member of the church. During this time he served as deacon, church clerk, messenger to the Association as well as handling any correspondence necessary.
In another reference regarding Associations, etc., Lotts Creek Primitive Baptist Association was formed in 1905, at which time Nevils Creek was still in the Lower Canoochee Association. Along about 1912 she asked for and was granted admittance to the Lotts Creek Association. In the early 1920’s, there arose a condition in the Association that Nevils Creek felt like was a disorder and agreed to withdraw from the Association. The minutes show that in July 1926 Nevils Creek wrote a letter to the Lotts Creek Association Churches admitting that what they had done was in error and asked to be received back into the fellowship of Lotts Creek Association Churches and all orderly Primitive Baptist everywhere. Her admittance was granted and she is still in this association at this time. There has been other things that came up in which the steadfastness of the church was tested. In 1934 the Towaliga Situation arose and brought discord in the Association. This situation took a long time, but has finally been resolved in the last few years. Again in 1949, a controversy about Labor Unions arose in the Association but Nevils Creek stood fast, believing that the trial of her faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, thought it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
We now would like to list the names of the members of Nevils Creek Church, keeping in mind that much of the writing in the minutes has faded some through the years and the spelling of the names, both male and female, might not have been spelled then as they might be today: John Stanford, Luke Mizels, Frances Akins, Robert Donaldson, Charles James, William Kerby, John Fleeton, William Parker, Joseph Lewis, Arvhibald Miller, Garrett Williams, Bugal Graham, Patrick Dicky, Eldred Faircloth, William Brannen, David Hart, David Hurley, Benjamin Miller, Barrett Mical, John Millar, Phillip Griner, James Thomas, David Summerland, Jacob Tarver, Samuel Williams, Jessy Slater, David Goodman, Zacheriah Cowart, Jesse Aycock, George Chisum, Jessie Mizels, Henry Melton, Daniel Lester, Elhannon McCall, Mary Ann Bonnell, Sarah Prigian, Mary Hendrix, Milly Prigian, Susannah Mizels, Sary Hendrix, Nancy Duglas, Mary Mills, Rachel Standord, Martha Bowen, Sary Blunt, Mary Hendrix, Elizabeth Fleeton, Milly Armstrong, Sary Parker, Neomy Bezaley, Elizabeth Lewis, Rebecca Bonnell, Elender Kerby, Pheriby Beazley, Sary Williams, Sary Slater, Flory Graham, Sary Dickey, Unity Faircloth, Elizabeth McDowell, Mary Swet, Sary Dun Elizabeth Brannen, Mary Akins, Elizabeth Franklin, Hannah Jordan, Ann Hart, Ann Lanear, Susanna Williams, Clarisa Williams, Lydia Hurley, Mary Miller, Civil James, Agnes Edmison, Jamimah Miller, Pheby Marthews, ______Cravy, Sary McCall Mazy Holly, Selette McCall, Mary Monk, Mary Donaldson, Faraba Hunt, Jain Mical, Elizabeth Jones, Zelphie Mincey, ______Rodgers, ______Mizels, Mary Williams, Mary Lester, ______Rogers, George Chisom, Abram Mincey, Elener Burnett, James Jones, William Cook, David Lee, Burrel Slater, Peter Rogers, Joseph Hagins, John Barber, Fereby Shepherd, Luke Prigian, Louisa Loves, Elizabeth Stewart, Jemmia Scarboro, Sarah Stewart, Susannah Dumas, ______Suymmerlin, Joshua Cox, Rutha Hendrix, Delina Jane Hendrix, Mariah Hendricks, William Bonnell, Elizabeth Bonnell, Mary Mallard, Elizabeth Bishop, Rebecca Lee, Jane D. Daughtry, Marie Williams, Louisa Cates, Daniel L. Rigdon, Rebecca Newton, Louisa Roberts, Emma Hendrix, Oliver Finch George Cornelius, Ellen White, Mary Jane Rigdon, Emily Beasley, Susan Finch, Margin Rogers, Calvin Marsh, Enoch Beasley, Steven Beasley, James W. Roberson, T.E. Billings, Mary Tailor, Elizabeth Hollansworth, Elizabeth Hagins, Mary Griner, Dicy Mikell, Ann Lee, Christianna Hill, Mary Goldin, Sarah Kirby, Ruth Cole, Sarah Lee, Sarah Evert, Nathan Roberts, Matthew Donaldson, Amelia Prigden, Elizabeth Donaldson, Jane Beasley, Nancy Wommack, Mary Hendrix, Emmaline Beasley, Sary Ann Hendrix, Dicy Barber, Arthur Kirby, Cass Summerland, Winifred Summerland, Mary Summerland, Jennie Beasley, Junie Hendrix, Synthia Hendrix, Ethel Hendrix, Florence Barton, Ernest Blackburn, R.R. Hendrix, L. B. Barton, Farley Akins, Jack Alderman, Joseph Marsh, B.T. Beasley, E.W. Powell, Bertha Hendrix Sindy Lee, Mrs. Lew Roberts, Mrs. Cassie March, Mrs. E.W. Powell, Hattie Pelote, Ephie Barton, John Pelote, Elbert Sims, Robert Lee, Frank Lee, Adeline Beasley, Jasper Blackburn, Caroline Marsh, William T.G. Woodrum, Mary Blackburn, J. N. Wilson, Mary P. Wilson, Laura Woodrum, Abraham Newton, Mary Jane Newton, Naomi Sills, Harriett Newton, John T. NeSmith, Mary Jane NeSmith, Lucinda Lee, Frances Clary, Mary Jane Sills, Mary Jane Finch, Idas Rogers, T.B. Hendrix, Donnie Brannen, Dennis Garvin, Emmie Hendrix, Lucy Lee, Sarah Hussey, Frances Tucker, Charles Mikell, Fannie Mikell, J.E. Sims, Cleveland Hendrix, Mattie Lee, Lucindy Lee, T.H. Hendrix, Balty Woodrum, Melissa Barnes, Laura Newton, Ida Mallard, Claude Beasley, Bertie Rea Beasley, Mamie Hendrix, Fannie Mae Barnes, Frank T. Daughtry, Emaline Daughtry, Pearl Hendrix, Bennie Woods, Kitty Woods, Lillie Marsh, Joe Beasley, Jim Beasley, Ethel Mae Newton, F.G. Blackburn, Ben NeSmith, Kitty Parker, Willie Blackburn, Lillie Blackburn, Maud Beasley, Eula Beasley, Cynthia Hendrix, Sarah Joyce Hendrix, Joette Hendrix, Margarette Mallard, Pat Beasley, B.F. Hendrix, Jimmy Daughtry, Elizabeth Barnes, Bennie Hendrix, Jack Mallard, Jenelle Hendrix, Calvin C. Hendrix, Bonnie Hendrix, Lorea Hendrix, W.L. Barnes, A.H. Bub Hendrix, Josh Lee, Delmar Hendrix, Esther Best, Olin Best, George Barnes, Peggy Skinner, Jimmy Mallard, Barbara Ann Mallard, Betty Barnes, Mildred Barnes, Bobby Mallard, Geneva Mallard, Jeannette Barnes, Margie Williams, and Herman Beasley.