Biographical info on Rev. Moses Westberry, Sr - gslat
Subject: Biographical info on Rev. Moses Westberry, Sr
From: gslat
Date: December 28, 1999

I extracted this data from some church records that I have.

Granpa Moses was the first pastor for abt 48 years, (looks like he had a 
sideline on selling booze too), then Hopkins Bennett (of SC) took it over.

Come to think of it, I have a picture of Hopkins Bennett.

You will see John Goldwire.  In 1782, he was adjudged guilty of Treason, 
along with a host of others, and was 'amerced', punished, with a heavy fine 
on his property.
He aided the British.

Charles

CHAPTER IV

SHEPHERDS OF THE FLOCK

REV. MOSES WESTBERRY


   Moses Westberry, the first pastor of Jones Creek Church, was born near 
Stateburg in the High Hills of Santee in South Carolina on March 2, 1772. 
He moved to Edgefield County and settled on Cuffytown Creek, and before 
1799 to the upper end of Liberty (after 1801, Tattnall) County, Georgia.
Upon a profession of faith, he was baptized in the waters of Beard's Creek 
by the Rev. David Hennessey in August 1804, and on December 29 of that 
year, he helped to organize the Beard's Creek Baptist Church, and was 
ordained a deacon. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Robert Brown. 
 (Second wife was Elizabeth Bennett). She was baptized a member of Beard's 
Creek in March 1809. He was ordained to the ministry on July 19, 1809, by 
the Reverends Hennessey, John Goldwire, and John Stafford. While traveling 
through the western part of Liberty County, he felt called to establish a 
church there; erected a brush arbor on the west side of Jones Creek, and 
conducted services until the church was formally organized in April 1810. 
Along with several other members of Beard's Creek, he was dismissed on July 
14, 1810, to organize Sarepta Church in Tattnall where he and his wife were 
members until transferring to Jones Creek. He was called to the pastorate 
of Jones Creek when it was formed and served until December 23, 1848. He 
also served churches in Liberty, Tattnall, McIntosh, Wayne and Appling 
Counties for more than half a century.
Though somewhat intemperate in his habits at times, he was a great 
churchman and community leader. He was a justice of the peace for Tattnall 
County, 1803-08, and for Liberty County after 1815.
He was among a small group that met at Little Canoochee Church and 
organized the Piedmont Association on October 20, 1815, the first Baptist 
association formed in South Georgia. He was its first moderator and later 
its clerk, serving several terms in the first capacity between 1815 and 
1848, and in the latter several terms between 1818 and 1829.
After about ten years residence in Liberty County, he moved to Appling and 
was later placed in Wayne when a portion of the former was added to the 
latter. He died in 1864 at the venerable age of 92 and was buried at 
Bethlehem Church in Wayne County.

This is taken from the book, "A History of Jones Creek Baptist Church, Long 
County, Georgia, 1810-1985", by Elmer Oris Parker.  Not having access to 
the book, I obtained the following from Mercer University.

CHAPTER I

A BODY OF BELIEVERS

'A pine log church
And a pine bark steeple
	A grog-selling pastor
And a drunken people."

A stranger passing along the old Darien Road in Liberty County, Georgia in 
the 1820's came upon the Jones Creek Meetinghouse, stopped, camped for the 
night, and the next morning before departing wrote this little bit of 
doggrel and attached it to the plain pine church door, or so goes the 
story. The stranger's characterization seems unfair, though the records 
show that the church was beset with all the common frailties and 
shortcomings suffered by mankind. If he could pass this way again today, 
there can be no doubt that his comments would read differently, for looking 
back 175 years it is evident that the consecration of this church and its 
performance have made it a shining light in the community, ever pointing 
the way onward and upward to God's Eternal Kingdom that awaits all who 
choose to follow Him.
Although it has been said that Jones Creek is the ninth oldest Baptist 
church in the state, there were at least that many formed in Georgia before 
the United States Government was established in 1789. In any event, it is 
one of the older churches of this denomination in the region.
It was constituted on April 22, 1810, by the Reverends John Goldwire and 
Moses Westherry and thirteen members from Beard's Creek Church, then in 
Liberty, now Long County, who had been dismissed a week earlier for that 
purpose.
Their names were:
Charles and Martha Flowers, James and Abigail Clark, Levi and Sarah Morgan, 
John and Mary Hall, Henry and Fanny Lowry, John and Lydia Bohannon and Mary 
Chapman.

CHURCH COVENANT

April 22nd, 1810.

State of Georgia

Liberty County	We the inhabitants of the vicinity of Jones Creek Holding to 
particular Election Believes Baptism, the imputed righteousness of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ, Progressing Sanctification by the Holy Spirit; 
and the final perseverence of the Saints to Eternal Glory, Do Covenant and 
agree in a Solemn Gospel engagement to give ourselves up to God and to one 
another,  to walk together in the fear of God and in Christian Love one 
with another, bearing with one another's weakness and common human 
imperfections, watching over one another in love, endeavoring to keep the 
unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace, to stir up one another to love 
and good works, to attend regularly on Gospel ordinances, and we do agree 
to the Baptist Confession of faith and Discipline to any rule or thing of 
that kind we have hitherto seen.
In witness whereof we have hereunto in a Solemn manner interchangeably set 
our hands the day and date above written.


	LEVI MORGAN	MARTHA FLOWERS
	JAMES CLARK	ABIGAIL CLARK
	REUBEN STRICKLAND	FANNY LOWRY
	RICHARD STRICKLAND	SUSANNAH STRICKLAND
	JOHN BOHANNON	SALLY MORGAN
	CHARLES FLOWERS	SARAH LOWRY
	HENRY LOWRY	MARY CHAPMAN
	JOHN HALL	LYDIA BOHANNON
	LIGHT TOWNSEND	LETTY CARTER
	JAMES THOMAS	SARAH THOMAS
		HANNAH HUNT

This is to certify that this church at Jones Creek, called Jones Creek 
Church, was established on the 22d of April, 1810, by the Rev. Brethren 
John Goldwire and Moses Westberry.


1846
July 27. A charge of slander was brought by Brother G.W. Parker against 
Brother R.H. Peacock, and Brother John Cribb was appointed to see Brother 
W.T. Chesser in regard to the slander.
August 22. The Articles of Faith printed in the Piedmont Association 
Minutes of1844 were adopted by the church.
October 24. Resolved that the day appointed by Governor George W. Crawford 
for fasting, humiliation and prayer be observed by the church.

1804---------------------Beards Creek
Beards Creek Church being orderly constituted by the Revs, John Goldwire, 
John Stanfield, Isham Peacock and David Hennessy, orderly Baptist ministers 
on the 29th of December, 1804 which was carried into effect by a sermon, 
ably defended by the Revd John Goldwire on the 13th second Cor. and part of 
the 5th.  Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith.
	Then was Jacob Dees and Moses Westberry ordained as Deacons after which 
the Lords Supper was administered and Bro. Hennessy called as the pastor of 
said church.  The answer was, when obtained, as long as they could agree.

September 19, 1807
Conference opened in order.  Resolved that we continue in the Hepzibah 
association.  Moved that Brother Westberry and Brother Lane give 
satisfaction to the church for their joining the Masonic Lodge---They both 
confess they were sorry for what they had done and begged pardon of the 
church, which was granted.

July
No Conference.  But on the 19th of this month, Brethren John Stanford and 
John Goldwire came according to the request of the church, and after 
heaving and examining Brother Moses Westberry, they together with Brother 
Hennessey proceeded to his Ordination on the 19th of this month.

August 19, 1809
Conference opened in order.  Resolved that Brother Westberrys Credentials 
be recorded at the next conference.  On the 20th of August Brother Jacob 
Dees was restored to fellowship into this church again.  Resolved the 
Brethren Thomas Griffen and Jeremiah Slade go as messengers this year to 
the association.  From the 20th of August to the 17th of February 1810, was 
little or nothing transacted in the church, and no records have been kept 
during this time.

February 17, 1810
Conference opened in order.  Received a few lines from Brother William 
Whiddon which laid in an accusation against Brother Hobbs for swapping 
horses on the Lords day and for giting drunk.  Brother Hobbs confessed his 
faults and the church forgave him.
2nd The church appointed Brother Ellis and Brother Smith to request Brother 
Dees to attend our next conference in order to examine into affairs that 
lay rather neglected.

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