Category Archives: –BRANTLEY COUNTY GA–

October 22, 2013 · 8:41 AM

Crawfordite Meeting Houses of Southeast Georgia

Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church (Interior), Raybon, Brantley County

In his fascinating thesis, The “Gold Standard” of the Wiregrass Primitive Baptists of Georgia: A History of the Crawford Faction of the Alabaha River Primitive Baptist Association, 1842-2007, (Valdosta State University, 2009), Michael Holt makes special note of the architectural distinctions of the Crawfordites: “[An] aspect of the Crawfordite tradition that remains today is the construction style of the meeting houses. While other Primitive Baptist Churches, including those in the Bennettite faction of the Alabaha Association, have begun to use brick, mortar, carpet, and other modern construction techniques, Crawfordite churches remain exactly as they would have appeared over a century ago. They are still fashioned from unfinished pine, with no electricity, carpet, or running water…this austere architecture helps keep the connection with the past strong. It should be noted that in recent years, 0ne part of the church grounds has adopted more modern conveniences. The outhouses that adorned the grounds of all the churches in the association have now been replaced with outdoor restroom facilities with running water, though this change was made primarily to bring the restroom facilities in line with public health regulations. However, this addition has not encroached on the overall intended affect of the architecture…“

Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church, Bachlott, Brantley County

Emmaus Primtive Baptist Church, St. George, Charlton County

High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church, Schlatterville, Brantley County

Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church, Raybon, Brantley County

Pilgrim’s Rest Primitive Baptist Church, Waynesville, Brantley County

Sardis Primitive Baptist Church, Folkston, Charlton County

Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church, Blackshear, Pierce County

Smyrna Primitive Baptist Church, Lulaton, Brantley County

Wayfair Primitive Baptist Church, Cox, McIntosh County

The Crawfordites are named for Elder Reuben Crawford. Dr. John G. Crowley, the leading authority on the history of Primitive Baptists notes in his article “The Sacred Harp Controversy in the Original Alabaha Primitive Baptist Association,” Baptist Studies Bulletin July 2004 “[they] emerged as a subset of the Primitive Baptists in the 1860s and 1870s. During the Twentieth Century the “Crawfordites” became the most austere and conservative Primitive Baptists in Georgia, eschewing radio, television, neckties, painted and heated meetinghouses.” Michael Holt further notes in his thesis: “Whereas every other Primitive Baptist association has altered somewhat from the original tenets of the denomination, the Crawford Faction of the Alabaha has remained unchanged since the time of its founding in 1842…“

Dr. Crowley’s article can be accessed here. Just scroll down to Primitive Baptists.

PHOTOGRAPHER’S NOTE: This is not a complete photographic record, as there are more Crawfordite churches in the area I’ve not yet visited. They will be added as they are documented.

High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church, Schlatterville

Originating on a high bluff of the Satilla River near Raybon in 1819, this congregation is one of the oldest and most historic in Brantley County. Mrs. Martha Mizell Puckett’s history of the church highlights much more information. There is no consensus as to why these early settlers left Raybon, but Judge Folks Huxford, South Georgia’s best-known genealogist, suggested they came to the Schlatterville area around 1822 to escape a cholera outbreak.

For a time, the congregation was known as Big Creek, but restored the name of High Bluff Church between 1878-80.

Still active, High Bluff is the largest congregation in the Alabaha Primitive Baptist Church Association.

Seat cushions and funeral home fans are the only “modern conveniences” to be found at High Bluff.

What moved me the most at this location was the magnificent cemetery, one of the largest in the area and the final resting place of many pioneers of South Georgia. I think of it as a sort of rural Bonaventure and could spend countless hours wandering its historic lots. A comprehensive guide to interments has been compiled for researchers and those with an interest in locating ancestors.

Lydia A. Stone (27 June 1864 – 4 January 1938)

In a lot near the front of the church can be found the burial place of Lydia A. Stone, who was known as the Queen of the Okefenokee for her vast land holdings and business successes. Also buried here is her first husband, D. G. Stone (19 October 1878 – 18 August 1926), her second husband and heir, John Melton Crews (17 August 1906 – 7 January 1970), as well as his second wife, Kissie (8 September 1913 – 15 November 1947), and Mrs. Stone’s parents.

Adjacent to the Stone plot are two picketed enclosures retaining what appears to be the original woodwork, quite a rarity in the coastal climate of Brantley County.

John Ammons, NC & GA Militias Revolutionary War (1760 – 1852) One of Marion’s Men

This headstone, placed by the Sons of the American Revolution, is of great significance to genealogists and students of the American Revolution for its connection to General Francis Marion, better known as the Swamp Fox.

Daniel F. Gill, Sr. (15 September 1905 – 18 December 1981)

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Filed under --BRANTLEY COUNTY GA--, Schlatterville GA

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October 20, 2013 · 10:34 AM

Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church, Raybon

The cemetery at Oak Grove would suggest that this congregation is a bit younger than other Hardshell churches in the area. The earliest headstones date to the turn of the last century.

The architecture is the board-and-batten vernacular style emblematic of the Crawfordite meeting houses.

The beautiful interior is smaller than most but equally awe-inspiring.

The pulpit, or “the stand’ as it’s known by these congregations, is always oriented at the side of the meeting house.

An infant burial of 1901 is the earliest I could located in the cemetery, but there are many Brantley county pioneer families represented here.

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Filed under --BRANTLEY COUNTY GA--, Raybon GA

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October 18, 2013 · 3:42 PM

Log Tobacco Barn, Bachlott

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October 18, 2013 · 10:57 AM

Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Chuch, Bachlott

This church was founded in 1842 and joined the Alabaha Association (Crawfordite) in 1905. They joined the Satilla River Association in 1969. The congregation disbanded in 1991. I’m not sure when the present structure was built.

Below is a good representation of the old-style shuttered windows.

The interiors of all of the Hardshell churches are beautiful testaments to faith and good carpentry.

Bethlehem Cemetery is large and well-maintained, as are all of the Hardshell cemeteries, but is unique in that it contains a pair of grave houses, a real rarity in South Georgia.

Adult Grave House

Child’s Grave House

Note the gopher hole at the edge of this lot. Gopher holes are a sure sign of rattlesnakes, too.

For cemetery and genealogical information:

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gabrantl/cemlistbethlehem-1.html

Some references list this church’s address as Bethlehem Road in Hickox, but if you attempt to take that road from U. S. Highway 301, you will find an overgrown field road that leads to an inaccessible bridge. Since I had to access it from Bachlott, and due to the fact that it’s closer to that settlement, I listed Bachlott as its location.