contributed by Sharon Ashcraft By Robert J. Stevens, June 1990 “The Bulletin” Volume XIV - No. 1 Chester District Genealogical Society Captain W.H. Edwards served as Clerk of the Chester County Baptist Association for over forty years after the Civil War and until just before his death in 1920. He had been born into the congregation of Hopewell Baptist Church in 1833, as had his father, John Joseph Edwards, in 1800. When Captain Edwards was six years old, his mother died and the next fifteen years of his life was spent occasionally living in the home of Daniel Green Stinson, the great histographer of Chester County, where his interest in area history flourished under Mr. Stinson. When Mr. Stinson died in 1879, Captain Edwards began to record and write area history and there can be no doubt that much of his knowledge on the subject had come from Mr. Stinson, especially that concerning the early period of the county. It is also an established fact that Captain Edwards spent much time with Mr. Stinson during the period of 1865-1879 in the form of friendly visits, but it is certain their main topic of conversation was Chester County history. Later, Captain Edwards became a well known historical writer and accepted authoritative historian of the area. Captain Edwards, sometime after the Civil War, joined Harmony Baptist Church, as did his father. He left many records that are important to the history of that church and, until now, never before made public. It is my intention to present these records and letter to Betty Edwards Thomas, the present Historian of Harmony Baptist Church, for preservation. However, there were three lists that should be published due to their genealogical interest and are the motive for this article. Two of the lists are titled, but the third was a mystery until recently. Because of the first entry on the list, there can be no doubt it concerned Harmony, but the name of at least one person appears that was dead before the recorded formation date of the church, 1839. In recent years, Miss Janie Rice published a history of the Chester Baptist Association and its churches, a well written and valuable history. Working from the records of Harmony Baptist Church, Miss Rice wrote that the church dated back to 1839 when a presbytery of ministers, including Reverends James M. Thomas, D. Duncan, and William Perry, met at Republican Meeting House and examined thirty-three members of Hopewell Baptist Church. The members of Harmony then met at Republican Meeting House for the next fourteen years until a church was built in 1853 on land gained from the Reeves estate. In a more recent history of the church, published last year [1989] under the guidance of Betty Edwards Thomas, the same basic facts are presented. The mystery of the [third] list was solved by a writing of Captain Edwards. In writing of Reverend Samuel McCreary, the long-time Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, who died in 1834, Captain Edwards casually mentioned that Reverend McCreary was instrumental in forming Harmony Baptist Church! Thus, we have a record that dates Harmony much older than thought, loosely formed before 1834, unlocking the mystery of the [third] list, which seems to be contributors to a building fund. In a recent meeting with William Boyce White Jr., of Rock Hill, S.C., a very knowledgeable area historian, I passed the list to him with no introduction and asked his opinion. After only a few minutes of study, he titled it a list of contributors to a building fund! I present the three lists here verbatim. … Bear in mind that these lists are verbatim, exactly as written by Captain Edwards, except for the identification. HARMONY BAPTIST CHURCH, EDGEMOOR, CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. NAMES OF SOME OF THE CHARTER MEMBERS AND OTHERS OF A LATER DATE Rev. William Perry Mrs. Eliza Perry John Pittman, Sr. First Deacon D.H. Pittman Abijah Pittman First Clerk Joshua Swett Joel Ashcraft Mrs. Patsy Ashcraft C.J. Key Mrs. Matilda Key W.P. Brock Ignatius Hines Thomas Orr, Sr. Mrs. Julia Hyatt Dr. Samuel Eccles McFadden Moses Lemon Mathew Lemon Samuel Lemon J.A. Lemon Samuel Lemon William Lemon Josiah Davis Augustus Bridges Robert McFadden A. H. Johnson Medder White Benjamin Lock Edwin McLemon Robert Lemon James Hartgroves Jerry Rowell James White John Hillingsworth Penolope Pittman Lydia McCants Ruth Pittman Drucilla Walston Mrs. Mary Brock William Brock Eliza Horn Sarah Swett Jane Pittman Mary Lemon Patsy White Ellen Hamilton Rhoda White Ann Compton Susanna Sims Sarah Lemon Laura Anderson Elizabeth Roddey Jane Heffley Jane Riggins Jane Burton Minerva Ferguson Greene Ferguson Sarah White Francis E. Lemon Emily C. Fudge Mary Garrick Cynthia Duke Jane Buchanan Mary A. Campbell R.C. Lemon Mary A. Ashcraft Martha M. White Thomas Nichols, Sr. Elizabeth Simpson Mary Taylor Rocinda Bridges Melissa Horn B.M. Roddy Elizabeth Lemon Lucinda J. Spray James Simpson Frederick Drury W.G. Reid Margaret Marion W.C. Reid Martha Allen Nancy Sanders John Thompson Margaret S. Bradley Margaret Benson Daniel Drum Isom Ferguson (1) R.G. Mann Julia Parish Samuel Campbell, Sr. Dorothy Allen Mary Campbell Margaret Lemon Thomas J. Mann Susana White William Woods Euginia Watters Lafayette White William A. Wren Thomas Wren (2) Joseph Swett (3) Eliza Westbrook Mary Ferguson Tirzah Sexton Alice Sexton Susan White Amanda Polk Elizabeth J. McFadden Milly Conrad Amelia Horn Josiah Ferguson Mary L. Ferguson J.J. Perkins W.L. Sexton (4) (1) Killed in battle, Aug. 30, 1862. (2) Died in prison at Elmira, N.Y., 1864.  (3) Killed in battle, Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864.   (4) Killed in battle, Aug. 30, 1862. For the benefit of those not familiar with the customs of slavery, all slaves entering the church were recorded with the surname of their master. The reader is asked to keep two things in mind. First, just because the slave was a member of a church, it did not mean the owner was also, although he generally was. This list then gives us an indication of the number of slaves a family of the area owned. Secondly, when a slave was sold, he took the surname of the new owner. There are two names on the list that reflect the practice, Jack White Oliver and Ben Wylie Johnson. HARMONY CHURCH NEGRO MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO WERE SLAVES IN ANTE-BELLUM DAYS Talbert McFadden Sam Pittman Eliza Heffley Aniston Rives Julia Rives Salina Rives Albert Rives Wilson Culp Juliann Culp George Culp Rachel Culp Mallie Lee Patsy Wylie Winnie Ferguson Lem Rives Jack White Oliver Sam White Charles Walker Lewis McFadden Eliza Hamilton Rena McFadden Sukey Morrison Charles Rowell Armstead Rives Patience Rives Syller Culp Eliza Rowell Matilda Rives Charley Rives Dave Pride Harvey Rives Ben Wylie Johnson Dave Rives Caroline Rowell Cloe Culp Maggie Rives Mary Buchannan Eliza Rives Judy Rives Lumpy Rives Matilda Rowell Sallie Rives Harry Rives Wilson Pride Clarrissa Nunnery Jackson Spencer Bell Rives Isaac Walker Allen Spencer Delila Culp Susan White Lucy Wylie Rose Perry Viny Cherry Turner McFadden Elly Heffley Susan Spencer Lilly Perry Lizzie Beckham Elsey Sturges Nellie Boyd Philip Ellis Elva Strait Martha Miller Mandy Wilson Mingo Wherry Hester Westbrook Amelia Ann Smith Peggy Sturges Elizabeth Crain The following is the list of building fund contributors. Many of the persons were not members of Harmony Baptist Church. Captain Edwards, in this list, grouped families together. Number and letters following a person’s name refer to Captain Edwards’ notes that follow the list. Mrs. Polly Rives gave the church lot. William Allen Mrs. Margaret Allen Matilda Allen Fudge Allen Asa Bradley Mrs. Nancy Bradley Mrs. Susannah Bradley Dr. Green Blake Mrs. Mary Blake Charles Brunson Mrs. Harriett Brunson Mrs. Ina Bell Mrs. Mary Bruce Nathan Bigham Mrs. Mary Bigham Mrs. Sarah Boyd Mrs. M.M. Blanks J.H. Culp, Sr. Mrs. Caroline Culp John Rives Culp (1) Mrs. Sarah Culp Miss Emily Culp Maxey Culp Lattie Culp Jeannette Culp Charley Culp Irene Culp Ernest Culp Mrs. Mary Curry Mrs. Fannie Curry Mrs. Fannie Allen Curry Mrs. Mary H. Culp Martha J. Culp Mary McCants Collins Capt. E.H. Cherry Mrs. Mary H. Cherry Mrs. Mary M. Culp Mrs. Jane Collins (H) J.F. Chambers (O) R.L. Crook (A,L,M,N,O,P) Mrs. Ester Crook [A,L,M,N] Mrs. Sarah Campbell Mrs. Ellen Campbell Ida Campbell Miss Oma Cornwall Mrs. Anna Crook (A,K,L,M) John Dye Mrs. Jane Dye J.J. Edwards, Sr. Mrs. Delilah Edwards John L. Edwards W.P. Ferguson (B) Mrs. Lucy Wylie Mrs. Sallie E. White Mrs. Martha N. Ferguson Elijah Ferguson Mrs. Rebecca Ferguson John B. Ferguson James A. Ferguson Turner Ferguson (C) Ira Ferguson (D) Mrs. Rhoda Ferguson Mrs. Patience Ferguson (E) Elizabeth H. Ferguson Mrs. Mary E. Ferguson James L. Ferguson Mrs. E.C. Ford Joseph Ferguson, Sr. (F) Mrs. Holly Ferguson (F) Mrs. Elijah Glasscock Elizabeth Hunter Mrs. Matilda Holcomb Mrs. Charlotte Heath Isaac M. Hyatt Elizabeth Hayes Mary Hamilton Mrs. Mary Hudson Mrs. Nancy Holcomb Miss Laura Jordan Mrs. Jane Jordan Mrs. Martha A. Key Mrs. Rhoda Kizer William Kitchens (G) Mrs. Dorothy Locke Henry Lee Josiah Locke (2) Miss Bettie Locke Sallie Lemon Dr. A.P. McNeil C.W. McFadden Mrs. Melinda McFadden Willie McFadden Mrs. Katie McFadden Hamilton Maxwell Mrs. Betty Maxwell C.T. Minors Miss Minnie Minors Mrs. Ross McFadden Robert H. McFadden R.M. McFadden Hiram McCully Thaddeus McFadden Elizabeth M. McFadden W.L. McCullough Amos Nunnery Mrs. Elizabeth Nunnery Mrs. Rebecca White Mrs. Sallie Workman (A,L) Mrs. Dorothy Nunnery Mrs. Sallie Nunnery Miss Martha Nunnery Miss Sarah Nunnery W.A. Nunnery Cheatham Nunnery Mrs. Mary S. Nunnery Mrs. Eliza Nichols Mrs. Lexia Nelson Mrs. Catherine Orr Mrs. Priscilla Orr William Orr Mrs. Mattie Orr James Parish Hilliard Pittman, Sr. Mrs. O.C. Pittman Isaac A. Rowell (I) Mrs. Spain Reid Mrs. Polly Rowell (J) Mrs. Sallie Robinson Rebecca Reid Mary Rawls Mrs. Sophronia Sledge C.R. Sibley D.W. Steedman Mrs. Aramintha Steedman Robert Sexton Mrs. Sarah E. Shack Peggy Sexton Mrs. Lizzie Gray Smith Mrs. M.E. Turner Capt. J.A. Thomas Rev. C.C. Vaughn Mrs. Bittie Vaughn Sarah Vaughn (Q) Miss Betsy Vaughn W.E. Waters Mrs. Elizabeth Waters W.J. Waters James H. White David White Robert White, Sr. Miss Mary Ann White Mrs. Betsy Wren (A,K) Mrs. Helen Westbrook Mrs. Mary White Mrs. Holly Workman (A,M) Mrs. Minnie Woods (N,P) Captain Edwards’ Notes [1] John Rives Culp, killed in battle in Virginia, 1864. [2] Josiah H. Locke, killed in battle, July 17, 1864 Petersburg, Va. Robert J. Stevens’ Notes [A] Anna Crook, born 1791, wife of Joseph Crook, was a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Martin) Ferguson, Joseph and Anna had: Martin, went to Miss.; Robert Leroy, an attorney, married Esther Ferguson; Wylie, married Narcissa; Martha Nancy, married William P. Ferguson; Betsy, married William Wren; Margaret, married an Agnew; and one daughter that married a Rodman and went west.. [B] William P. Ferguson married to Martha Nancy Crook (see note A). [C] Turner Ferguson, born 8/2/1816, died 6/24/1842, a son of Henry and Sarah (Rives) Ferguson, and first husband of Rhoda Hyatt. [D] James Ira Ferguson, born 1819, died 7/13/1854, a son of Joseph M. and Ruth (Woods) Ferguson, and second husband of Rhoda Hyatt. [E] Patience Collins, wife of Pleasant William Ferguson, both of whom had come from Pennsylvania and were of no relation to the other Fergusons of Chester County. [F] Joseph Ferguson, Sr., married Holly Ashcraft before they migrated to Arkansas*. [G] William Kitchens, born 1830, a son of James and Jane (Bradford) Kitchens, was a member of Company A, 17th Regiment, S.C.V. He was wounded and captured at the Battle of Fort Steadman, Va., March 25, 1865, and died in a Washington, D.C., prison in April 1865. Captain Edwards wrote, “he was a brave soldier and a man of fine Christian character.” [H] Mrs. Jane Collins was born 1844, died 1889, a daughter of Charles and Rachel (Klein) Fudge, who had married John D. Collins. Charles Fudge had been first married to Rhoda Nunnery, a daughter of J. Lemuel and Mary (Culp) Nunnery. [I] Isaac A. Rowell was a son of Jeremiah and Mary Rowell. [J] Mrs. Polly Rowell was the wife of Jeremiah Rowell, Jr. Jeremiah Rowell, Sr., was from Va. and a S.C. Revolutionary soldier. [K] Mrs. Betsy Wren was married to William Wren. She was a daughter of Joseph and Anny (Ferguson) Crook. [L] Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Workman, first wife of R.P. Workman, was a daughter of Robert Leroy and Esther (Ferguson) Crook. [M] Mrs. Holly Frances Workman, second wife of R.P. Workman, was a daughter of Robert Leroy and Esther (Ferguson) Crook. [N] Robert Leroy Crook, an attorney in Rock Hill, S.C., born 1826, died 1891, a son of Joseph and Anny (Ferguson) Crook, married Esther Ferguson, a daughter of Pleasant William Ferguson. [O] J. Frank Chambers had married Margaret Rebecca Crook, a daughter of Robert Leroy and Esther (Ferguson) Crook. [P] Mary “Minnie” Aurarillas Woods, a daughter of Robert Leroy and Esther (Ferguson) Crook, had married William C. Woods. [Q] Sarah Vaughn was a daughter of Rev. C.C. Vaughn by his first wife. * No evidence has been found to indicate Joseph and Holly (Ashcraft) Ferguson moved to Arkansas. Holly, born about 1802, was a daughter of John Ashcraft and his second wife, Rebecca. Holly’ siblings were Tilatha, Agnes, Joel, Jesse, and Esther. John Ashcraft had nine children by his first wife, Mary Brown. - Sharon Ashcraft, February 3, 2008 There was another list of more recent time by Captain Edwards that should be included in this article.............. “A List of the Names of Contributors to the Baptist Church Building at the Eureka Cotton Mill”   D.P. Crosby $20.00 Sam E. McFadden 20.00 Mrs. J.G. White 10.00 C.C. Edwards 10.00 Dr. J.G. Johnson 10.00 John C. McFadden 10.00 Mrs. V.T. Walker 10.00 W.L. Ferguson 5.00 Mrs. M.M. Stewart 5.00 John C. Stewart 5.00 H.C. Boney 2.00 Lindsey Mer. Co. 2.00 R.L. Morris 2.00 G.R. Ball 1.00 M.A. Carpenter 5.00 B.T. Byers 1.00 J.C. Moore 1.00 Dr. T.S. Lietner 2.00 T.W. Higgins 1.00 S.T. Proctor 1.00 W.F. Stricker 5.00 Miss Barbara Stahn 1.00 John H. McGee 5.00 E.L. Pressley 2.00 Collected by J.L.B. 11.00 John M. Wise 5.00 W.A. Corkle 5.00 R.L. Horne 1.00 C.S. Ford 2.00 T.M. Sanders 2.00 Dr. W.B. Cox 1.00 G.M. Shannon 5.00 W.A. Newbold 10.00 J.S. Snyder 5.00 S.M. Jones & Co. 5.00 W.F. McCullough 2.00 J.H. McDaniel 1.00 D.E. Colvin 5.00 G.W. Gage 5.00 J.T. Perkins 2.50 Jos. Wylie & Co. 10.00 W.D. Bewly 5.00 J.Y. Murphy 5.00 W.A. Cauble 1.00 A.C. Lynn 1.00 J.T. Collins 5.00 C.M. Whisonant 2.00 Hamilton Book Co. 2.00 (paid by J.L.B.)   Excerpt from a Southern Baptist Newspaper published in Charleston SC 1847-1860 issue dated July 25, 1855: "Died, at her residence in Chester District, on the 21st of May last, Mrs. Mary Rives, the oldest member of the Harmony Baptist Church. This church has lost Ira Ferguson, Sister White, Joel Ashcraft and Hilliard Pittman." Back to Chester County South Carolina Genealogy Trails