Sketch of the Covenanters
of Rocky Creek, South Carolina
about 1750-1840

Transcribed by Phyllis J. Bauer

Written by Miss Mary Elder in 1886, dictated by her father Mr. Matthew Elder, Yorkville, SC. (The first part taken from a Sketch on the Covenanter written by D. G. Stinson, Esq. of Cedar Shoals SC. an uncle of Miss Elder; see the Chester Reporter, March 23, 1876, Chester, SC.) The editor has taken the liberty to use more paragraphs than the original, in order to improve readability.

The earliest settlement of this part of Chester District took place In 1750-51 by a few emigrants from Pennsylvania and Virginia. [Editor's note: It was at that time Camden District] Among these were Hugh and John McDonald with their families. Hugh settled where Mrs. Moore now lives, on Little Rocky Creek, five miles from Catholic Church. [This is not the same as Roman Catholic]. John settled a plantation known as Davis Wilson's at the south of Bull Run on Big Rocky Creek.

He [John McDonald) and his wife were both killed in 1761 by the Cherokee Indians, and their seven children carried off. (See Mrs. Eliet's 3rd Vol. Women of the Revolution article by Catherine Steele: "The night succeeding this--the scalping of Barbara McKenny -- preparations for hostile action was going on also at Steele's Fort. The Cherokees had passed over to Rocky Creek and still intent on rapine and bloodshed, had stopped at the house of John McDaniel whom they killed, with his wife, and carried away captive seven children, the eldest a girl fifteen years of age. The outraged settlers were not slow in collecting a party of 10 or 12 men to pursue them. Thomas Steele, the leader, was well calculated for the service, having been an Indian Trader and being acquainted with their language. The party followed the trail almost to the borders of the Cherokee nation. They came upon the savages at length. In dead or the night, assaulted and completely routed them.  One of the white men, Thomas Garett of Rocky Creek, chanced to kill the Indian who had tomahawked Mrs. McKenny and found the scalp in his shot. Other bloody trophies were recovered to carry back to the friends of the murdered, and then placing the children on their horses, the men retraced their steps homeward. The joy of the poor little captives at the sight or familiar faces was more than reward enough for their deliverance. They had no parents to welcome them home, but their uncle, Hugh McDaniel [McDonald] received them.")

In 1755 'there was a considerable increase in the settlement by correspondence to Ireland and there commenced an emigration by way of Charleston. The settlers were a mixed mass as to religion; they were Associated Reformed, Presbyterians and Seceders. Rev. William Richardson of Waxhaw was the only minister within a hundred miles, and they applied to him to supply them with preaching. He consented and directed them to build a church, as he would preach to them weekdays: the first preaching day was Monday. He named the church, which they built according to his directions, Catholic. It is situated 15 miles southeast from Chester Court House, near Rocky Mount Road. See Dr. Howe's History Presbyterian Church.

Rev. William Martin emigrated from Ireland at least as early as 1772: he was the first Covenanter preacher in the settlement. I have a letter in my possession from Henry Malcomb and Margaret Malcolm, written to his son-in-law, John Lin, in which they refer to Mr. Martin as being over here in this Rocky Creek Settlement; this letter is dated May 30, 1773, In answer to one from his son-in-law; the reference to Mr. Mar- tin is In these words, "We hear It reported here that Mr. Martin and his Covenanters had ill getting their land and that John Cochran was the occasion of all their trouble." I suppose the reason of this trouble about land was that they expected to settle all down close together in a colony, but such was then the situation of the country that they had to scatter and select lands at a considerable distance from each other. They were entitled to bounty lands, 100 acres to each head of a family and 50 to each member. Those who had means bought from the old settlers. Rev. William Martin bought from William Stroud a plantation of a mile square, 640 acres, on the north side of Big Rocky Creek, on which he built a rock house and a rock spring house. The place selected for a church was 2 miles east of Catholic on the Rocky Mount Road near the house now occupied by Mr. James Barber Ferguson. It is described as a log building, was burnt down by the British in 1780. See Women of the Revolution 3rd Volume, Art. Nancy Green. Also, Dr. Howe's History Presbyterian Church Art. "Lebanon Church". Mary Barkley.

After Martin was released by Cornwallis at Winnsboro, owing to the state of the country, he went to Mecklenburg, NC. There he met a Mr. Grier, a refugee from Georgia, whose son, Isaac, he baptized; he was said to have been the first Presbyterian child born In Georgia. This Isaac Grier was afterwards the Minister at Sardis; was the father of Robert Calvin Grier, who was President for many years of Erskine College, Due West. -- and his son, William Moffatt Grier, is now the President of that College.

After the war, when Mr. Martin returned to Rocky Creek, he was employed as supply at Catholic for 3 years: he was dismissed by the people of Catholic on account of becoming intemperate; he however, did not quit preaching; he preached at a Stand of Schoolhouse at Ed McDaniel's about a mile or two west of the place at which the brick church was afterwards built.

He [Mr. Martin] also went down to Jackson's Creek in Fairfield County and preached there. I recollect that Richard Gladney was a Covenanter in that neighborhood and doubtless there were others. He was also in the habit of crossing the Catawba River and preaching at the house of William Hicklin, who had moved from Rocky Creek to Lancaster. He frequently preached at other places, often at private homes. The congregation afterwards built him a church 2 miles from the site of the one formerly burnt, near the Rocky Mount road, on a beautiful hill in rear of what is called Earle's House, a fine grove of trees; the lands are now all cleared up and there is a negro's house now on the top of that hill where the church once was; in that hill and dale country it can be seen for miles.

He [Mr. Martin] must have continued to preach there until near his death. I have frequently heard him preach at that place as well as at my father's. Some two years before his death his rock house was burnt down, it was in the early part of the night. I suppose most of his property was saved. He after that lived in a log cabin. He sold his plantation for six hundred dollars, one hundred to be paid yearly. After his death his widow received this payment. He had been three times married, but left no children living.  His only daughter, married to John McCaw, had died before him.

Shortly after coming to this country, he [Mr. Martin] took up about 400 acres of vacant land, which he made a present to his nephews. David and William Martin, now Mrs. Gaston's. Mr. Martin often stayed at my father's for days or a week at a time. I do not remember ever seeing him under the influence of liquor but once, that was one day he came in company of some wagons. It was a wet day. My mother, with the assistance of two Negro women, her servants, got him to the back door, and bringing him in put him to bed. She came out, I remember, with a long face. The last visit he ever made to my father's, after crossing the creek at Stroud's mill, in some way he got his horse's head turned up the creek by the path. He fell off in the water, being old and feeble, he was unable to rise. He was found by a Mr. Thralekill, was said to be in the act of praying when found. Mr. Thralekill understood from him where he wanted to go. My father sent for him and had him brought to the house. He had fever, and lay there for more than a month, in the delirium of fever he constantly quoted scripture, and spoke of the crossing of Jordan.  My mother becoming alarmed sent for my father, thinking Mr. Martin was near his death, But he recovered, and became able to walk. My father mounted him on a horse and took him home. He soon became again became confined to his bed and died in about six months, in 1806. He was buried in a graveyard near his own house: whether there is a stone to mark It, I do not know, though I have seen the grave.

He [Mr. Martin] was a large, heavy man, by those who knew him said to have been an able divine. He came here from county Antrim, Ireland. In the same party with him came my father, his brother, James Stinson then called Stevenson, Wm. Anderson, his wife, Nancy, Alex Bracy and wife, Elizabeth, I think the Lins and possibly the Kell's. Mr. Martin owned two Negroes, I recollect Savannah and Bob by name.  My father owned three, so did some others of the congregation. Some who owned slaves refused in 1800 to submit to the regulations made by Mr. McKinney and Wylie, believing that the scriptures justified possession of the heathen, whom they as teachers were civilizing and Christianizing; it would be, they thought, to free them as to turn a child out to buffet with the world.

After writing this and the following sketches, a pamphlet was sent the author of the sketches purporting to be Reminiscences of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in South Carolina, written by Mr. Farris, a son he supposed of the Rev. James Faris, a native of South Carolina. These Reminiscences were published in the Reformed Presbyterian Covenanter, a monthly, from Pittsburgh, PA. This article he revises, exposing the many errors it contains. In this article it is asserted that Mr. McGarrah married himself. It was Mr. Martin, who married himself, not Mr. McGarrah. This was a legal marriage according to the laws of South Carolina. "Those whom God has joined together let no man put asunder," found an easy acceptance here. Divorces were never granted until after Reconstruction. We close this with an anecdote related to Mr. Martin. When the "Red Coats" evacuated South Carolina, he was east of the Catawba River preaching. As he was returning home, when nearing the residence of Mr. Lynn in Chester, he saw the lady of the house passing through the yard and called out in true stentorian style, "Good news, great news, glorious news, woman, the British have sailed from Charleston for England, and may the devil go with them!"

The next Minister of the Covenanters was William McGarrah. In 1791 he settled on the North side of Beaver Dam, a branch of Big Rocky Creek. His first wife died shortly after his coming, leaving one daughter, who was married to Henry Lynn. Mr. McGarrah's marrying badly the second time was the cause of his being for a short time suspended.   His second wife was Miss McCann; she was the mother of an illegitimate child, born before her marriage. She called it the child of her sorrow and named it John Kirkpatrick. By the second marriage he had sons James, William, Joseph and David, all long since removed to the northwest. Mr. McGarrah died about 1816, was buried in what was called Paul's graveyard. His wife died soon after and was buried at the same place, that graveyard is on the road above

Mount Prospect, a Methodist-Episcopal Church, south, on the plantation Rocky Creek, 15 or 16 miles east of Chester Village. More Covenanters are buried here than at any other place in the South.

Rev. Mr. King arrived here in 1792. He settled on the South side of beaver Dam, near Mount Prospect Church, on the plantation now owned by Mrs. Backstrom. He died in 1798 and is buried at the Brick Church. He left two children, both daughters, one of whom married Abram White, and was the mother of Rev. W. G. White, who is now pastor at Tirzah and Douglass Churches in Lancaster County. The other married to Archibald McGurken and emigrated to Illinois. Hugh McQuiston married the widow of Rev. King; they had three children, a son and two daughters -- they moved to Ohio.

Rev. James McKinney was the next in order. Where his residence was, I do not know. He was pastor of the congregation at the Brick Church and died in 1803, August, and was buried at the Brick Church.

Rev. Thomas Donnelly was licensed to preach at Coldingham, June 1799 -- he settled first somewhere near little Rocky Creek. He afterwards bought Stephen Harman's place on the north side of Big Rocky Creek -- a plantation now owned by Mr. George Heath. I recollect hearing him preach at a stand near his house some time in the year 1804. From this date he was the only minister until the arrival of Mr. Riley in 1813, and preached at most of the churches that will hereafter be mentioned. After the Covenanters had generally removed from the country, Mr. Donnelly preached at Old Richardson, a Presbyterian Church -- a portion of the time at his own house, there being some of his people scattered in the country. He and the elder Thomas McClurken married two of the sisters of David Smith this connection was numerous on little Rocky Creek. Mr. Donnelly's eldest son, Samuel, became a Presbyterian minister -- now residing in Florida (deceased), his father frequently visited him when he lived at Liberty Hill, and preached in his son's church. Mr. Donnelly died in 1847 -- his family, after his death removed to Illinois. It consisted of John, Thomas (who married to John Cathcart's daughter) and Nancy, who married in Illinois, Riley Linn, the son of Henry Linn. Mr. Donnelly was buried at the Brick Church by the side of McKinney and King. His wife was also buried in the same place.

The next minister, Rev. Jno. Riley, came into South Carolina in 1813, settled on the south side of Big Rocky Creek, about a half-mile of Martin's first church, the one burnt. He was a popular preacher. His places of preaching were the Beaver Dam Church, the Brick Church, and Richmond. He died in 1820, is buried at the Brick Church, some distance from the other ministers.  All have appropriate tombstones.

The Brick Church situated three miles from Pleasant Grove, on the plantation now owned by John Hood, has all been removed, nothing but the graveyard left.  There was a considerable immigration to this country after 1785, but whether this church was built before Mr. King came or not, I do not know. It was first a log building. The brick building was built about 1810.

Hugh McMillan came to the section of country after '85. His brother Daniel [McMillan] came at the same time.  Daniel and his family went into the Associate Reformed Church, Hopewell. Hugh had sons, Daniel a merchant, John, David, James, Gavin and Hugh. The last two were ministers of the gospel -- all Covenanters. There was a family of Coopers, McKelveys, Robert Hemphill -- brother to the Rev. John Hemphill -- Darrande Woodburne, Montfords and Nebitts, were some of the names composing a part of this large and flourishing congregation of covenanters.

** the Hunters, the Holliday's, William Harbison, Munford. McQuiston and many others -- I do not remember, these however, composed part of the Covenanter's Congregation. James Wilson an elder was also a worshiper here.**

The Beaver Dam Church on a branch, on the north side of Big Rocky Creek -- on a plantation now owned by Stephen R. Ferguson. The church was about a mile distant from Mr. Kings' and Mr. McGarrah's when organized I do not know, but probably about the time that Mr. McGarrah arrived in [17]'91. In the bounds of this congregation were the Kells, the McHenrys, the Ervins/Ewins, the Orrs, the Littles, the Rodmans, the Lynns, the Bells, the Ewings and the Blairs, John Rock, Paul Guthrie, the Gellespies, the Steeles, the Martins, the McFaddens, the Simpsons and many others. In Mr. Riley's time that congregation was very large. The church and people have all long since disappeared.

The Richmond Church was situated near the dividing line between Chester and Fairfield. This was Mr. Martin's church, and was removed three miles south to a more convenient situation for the neighborhood. Members of this church were the Dunns, Daniel Wright, the Hoods, Sprouls, Hugh Henry, James Stormont, the Cathcarts, John and William McMillan, and the Richmonds.

*****Probably built before 1800, here worshipped the elder James Cathcart and his son John, the Marshalls, Richmonds, Jim Hood, Alexander Kell, Sprouls, Hugh Henry, McMaster, Dan Wright, David McMille, James Stormont, with others. Rev. Madden was their pastor.

The McNinch Church was situated three miles east of Chesterville, built after 1813, by John McNinch himself. Of the congregation, which I think was numerous, I now can remember but one name, Andrew Crawford.

The Smith Church was on Little Rocky Creek, on the south side about five miles southwest of Catholic Church. In that congregation were several families of the name of Smith who were relatives of Rev. Thomas Donnelly.

A church, called the Turkey Creek Church in York County was situated about two miles west from McConnellville, on the Chester and Lenoir Railroad.  In the bounds of the congregation of this church were some families of Wrights and Wilsons.

We will now go back to the close of the Revolutionary War, Martin's church being burned down, he preaches a supply to the congregation of Catholic, through the years [17]'82, [17]'83 & [17]'84, at the same time visiting and preaching to different societies of his own people, as heretofore stated, in the year [17]'87, Matthew Lynn of the A. [Associate] R. [Reformed] Church, came out as a missionary.

The next year Rev. Jas. Boyce of the A. R. church likewise came and commenced preaching at the schoolhouse near E. [Edward] McDaniel's; afterwards at the stand where the Hopewell Church now is. A large majority of the Covenanters at this time went into the A. R. Church -- leaving a few still scattered over the bounds of the different congregations. From the year 1785 until 1812, there was a considerable immigration corning every year from Ireland, filling up the congregations.

At the time that Mr. Alley came, in 1813, the congregations were pretty numerous. The restrictions on the subject of slavery took some covenanters out of the church. Mr. Alley, however, received into the church, Mrs. Isabella Hemphill and her sister, Mrs. Jane Cloud and her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Hicklin. These ladles had been members of Mr. Martin's church. He had baptized their children, and each of them had a son called for him.  They were received in the Richmond Church; notwithstanding their families were large slaveholders.

Mr. McGarrah, after he was restored, preached for a few years at the Beaver Dam church, but not after the arrival of Mr. Riley in 1813.

Mr. King preached at the Brick Church and probably at other small societies scattered over the country. After the arrival of Mr. Alley at the Brick church, Mr. John McNinch was tried in the session, and the congregation became dissatisfied with Mr. Donnelly, which was intrinsically the cause of the churches Smith and McNinch, being built.

John Orr immigrated to the United States after 1790. He was a classical scholar and had taught in Ireland before corning out here. It is said the Rev. Sam'l B. Wylie and Rev. John Black of Pittsburgh commenced their literary course with him in Ireland. After corning here he continued to teach. A good many young men started the classics with him, among them, Jas. A. Hemphill and Alex Curry, both afterwards physicians. Rev. John Kell, after being prepared by John Orr, went to Scotland and graduated there. Judge John Hemphill, of Texas, was among his scholars. Mr. Orr had a numerous family of sons and daughters. He removed from the State to Ohio in 1832. It was said that although over eighty years of age, he walked every step to Ohio, refusing to ride.

Rev. Hugh McMillan commenced preaching in the year 1822, at the Brick Church were he had a large school for a number of years also one third of his time he preached at the Turkey Creek Church in York, about the same date Rev. Campbell Madden commenced preaching at the Richmond Church and at a stand at Jonnie Orr's, he also taught a school, he had studied medicine before he came out here -- he spent a winter at Lexington, Kentucky where he received a diploma, he commenced the practice of medicine but did not live long: had married a Miss Cathcart, left children, a son and two daughters now living in Winnsboro.

Rev. Hugh McMillan and Robert Mondford were gradates of the S.C. College. McMillan commenced preaching in 1822 at the Brick church where he had for a number of years a large classical school.  He preached one third of his time at the Turkey Creek church in York County. About the same date Rev. Campbell Madden commenced preaching at the Richmond church and at the stand at John Orr's. He also taught a school near Gladen's Grove. He had studied medicine before he came out here. He spent a winter at Lexington Ky, where he received a diploma. He commenced the practice of medicine, but did not live long. He married Miss Cathcart, and left children, a son and two daughters, now living in Winnsboro.

Rev. Hugh McMillan must have left the country as early as 1831, removing to the North West. The Covenanters commenced emigrating soon after the death of Mr. Riley and continued to do so from year to year until the congregation became weak. Revs. Fisher and Scott supplied the Church in [18]'32, that is during the winter of that year. Revs. Black and McMaster in the winter of [18]'33; these were Licentiates. Rev. Gavin McMillan was here in the spring of [18]'32, and held communion assisted by Fisher and Scott. John Kell in the spring of 1833 held communions, assisted by Black and McMaster.

[Ed. Note: The microfilm copy was very poor for the next paragraph.]

The few Covenanters that remained went Into the A. R. Church. ______________ some who never _____   ____ church.  Hugh Henry is the only one I now recollect who remained a covenanter until his death, which took place in 1867.  His family _______ in the A. R. Church.  He has now a grandson in his second year in the Theological Seminary at West.  Mrs. Madden, her son and two daughters have within a few ____  connected themselves with the _____ Church.

Remarks

In 1801 Mr. McKinney and Mr. _____ with other ministers and Elders the church held a Presbytery at the house of John Kell.  One of the Kells owned a Negro, at this time he freed her.  He probably was the only Covenanter that owned a Negro except those heretofore mentioned.  Mr. Martin was asked what he thought of slavery.  His answer was that he had owned a boy Bob, who was unmanageable and for that reason he had sold him.

Rev. Samuel W. Crawford was raised within three miles of Beaver Dam church until he was nine or ten years of age.  In a letter directed to me he states that while living at John Wyllie's, he went to the spring to bring up a pail of water. While there, he heard a cowbell, and looking up he saw a Negro driving a cow. In great terror he ran to the house as fast as his feet could carry him. He says you may imagine what I thought it was. I got no sympathy; they merely said It was a Negro belonging to some one lately moved into the neighborhood. Since I had never before seen an African, you may know they were not numerous in that section. At that period, but few of the sons and daughters of Ham had cast their dark shadows over the country; instead thereof it was thickly settled by an industrious and energetic white population.

In the bounds of 20 square miles there were four Presbyterian churches, two Associate, three Covenanter, one Baptist, and Smyrna, an Associate church.  In every neighborhood there was a good school. The schoolmaster was abroad then. The Bible and Testament were the principal schoolbooks. The catechisms were also taught. 

(Note by D. M. Little, re-typing the above in 1977: Hugh McMillan, brother or Gavin, born in Chester District, SC, Feb. 1794, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Returning home, he was elected Professor of languages in Columbia College. Determining to consecrate himself to the ministry, he entered the Philadelphia Reformed Presbyterian Seminary, and in 1820 was licensed to preach. After doing missionary work from Ohio to South Carolina, he was ordained and installed pastor or Rocky Creek Brick Church in 1821. He was married in 1822 to Mary Ann McClurg of Pittsburgh and was the father of three children, of whom two died in infancy. He taught classical literature at the Brick Church for a number of years as well as ministering to the congregation there.  He preached one third of his time at the Turkey Creek Church. He was a man of great ability and his antipathy to slavery soon made his location untenable. In the fall of 1828, on his return from Synod, he visited his brother, Gavin, at Cedarville, Ohio and assisted in serving the Lord's Supper. The congregation was so pleased with him, and since Gavin was spending only one-fourth of his time with them, gave Hugh a call, understanding that he wished to remove from Rocky Creek with as many of his congregation as would accompany him and settle in the free states.)

See also Latham article