They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Records of the Walthourville Presbyterian Church, 1855-1863

Walthourville Presbyterian Church on map
Walthourville Church Records book cover
Walthourville Presbyterian Church
Photo by Bubba73 (Jud McCranie)

A digital copy of these records were supplied to TheyHadNames.net by Brian D. Hecker, Columbia Theological Seminary’s C. Benton Kline, Jr. Special Collections and Archives public services archivist, from the records donated to the Archives by Dr. Erskine Clarke, author of Dwelling Place. They are described as the record book & diary, vol. 1855-1865, of Reverend Robert Quarterman Mallard, who was the pastor of the Walthourville Presbyterian Church from 1856 to 1863. The records consist of the names of the White and Black (mostly enslaved) members of the church from its founding in 1855 through 1860. 

The Walthourville Presbyterian Church is in the National Register of Historic Places and has a Georgia Historical Society marker that reads: “This church was the first colony to go out from old Midway Congregational Church. The first building was erected in 1820 on land donated by Andrew Walthour. The present one, constructed near the original site in 1884, replaced buildings destroyed by fire and storm. Walthourville Presbyterian Church was organized in 1855. First pastors were the Rev. John Jones, supply, the Rev. Robert S. Mallard; elders, William Q. Baker, Thomas S. Mallard; deacons, David A. Miller, Thomas W. Quarterman. Second in size in Georgia Presbytery in 1861, this church led in benevolent gifts. The original site for Walthourville Cemetery nearby was donated by William D. Bacon in 1872.”

Following is a transcription of the records. I am working on researching the names of the Black members of the church and will post that when finished. In the meantime, please contact me if you are interested in someone mentioned here, and I will be happy to pass along what I have done so far. 

The names are transcribed as seen. 

[Begin Transcription]

102,558

Robert Quarterman Mallard
Record Book & diary
Vol. 1855-1865

Walthourville, Ga
Jan. 1856 – Supply – Apr 13, 1856 – installed – to sometime in 1863
Central Presbyterian Church Atlanta, Ga
Sept. 20, 1863

[Page 1 of the Book]

Pastor’s Book

History: On the 27th day of July 1855, thirty white persons together with three coloured persons were by a committee of ministers from the Presbytery of Georgia organized into a Presbyterian church in Walthourville. A letter had been previously written to the Midway Congregational Church for a dismission to form a separate organization. This letter was signed by Messrs Eugene Bacon, W. Quarterman Baker, David A. Miller, Thomas W. Quarterman & Robert Y. Quarterman. This letter through some mistake was not answered until March 25, 1856 although the request had been acted upon & granted.

Meeting to determine the form

[Page 2]

This was held May 19 1855 Rev. Jno. [John] Jones presiding & resulted in the choice of the Presbyterian form. Votes Presb[yterian] (22) Cong[regational] (2) afterwards declared unanimous.

Names signed to the application to Presbytery for an organization.

Mrs. Thos. Quarterman
Mrs. Sarah H. Quarterman
Miss H.A. Quarterman
Miss Claudia C. Quarterman
Mrs. James N. Jones
Mrs. Harriet S. Handley
Mrs. Jane A. Fleming
Miss. L. Matilda Baker
Mrs. S.L. Quarterman
Mrs. M. R. Miller
Miss Mary E. Miller
Mrs E.R. Winn
Mrs Mary Bacon
Mrs Sarah S. Way
Mrs. Lydia Laing + Feb 12, 1861
Mrs. Sarah M. Quarterman
Mrs. Sarah J. Way
Mrs. Sarah M. Walthour
Miss C. Kalendar
Mrs. C.A. Fleming
Mrs. H.A. Newell

Mr. W. Quarterman Baker
Mr. Thomas Quarterman
Mr. Eugene Bacon
Mr. David A. Miller
Mr. Joseph N. Miller
Mr. Robt [Robert] Y. Quarterman

[Page 3]

Alexander S. Quarterman
Thomas S. Mallard
Thomas W. Quarterman
Dublin, Judy & Lilly svts [servants] of Mr. David A. Miller

First Session: July 28th 1855 9 A.M.
Rev. Jno [John] Jones Moderator

Officers:

Pastors:

1855 Rev Jno [John] Jones having preached for several months before the organization continued with the church not quite to the close of the year 1855.

1856 Jan Rev. R.Q. Mallard became the slated supply.

1856 April 18. Ordained & installed as pastor

Elders —- Ordained

1855 July 27
W. Quarterman Baker
Thos. S. Mallard

[Page 4]

John Boyd Mallard

Deacons —- set apart

1855 July 27 David A. Miller
1855 July 27 Thomas W. Quarterman
1855 October 13 Robert Y. Quarterman
The last mentioned officer died [in 1857]
1858 April 11 James McCollough Sen[ior]

First Communion July 29, 1855

Review of History for Four Years ending with Jan 7 1859 extracted from New Years Sermon preached on communion sabbath. At the organization of this church four years & six months

[Page 5]

Ago its membership stood thus:

White Members

Males 9
Females 21
Total of white members 30

Coloured members 3

Total of membership 33

In the few months following of Mrs. Jones labour’s 4 white persons, females & 2 coloured persons were added making the membership.

When I became slated supply
Males 9 Females 25 & Coloured 5
White membership 34
Coloured membership 5
Total members 39

Deducting the losses by death & otherwise so far as known, the membership stand thus in January 1860.

White members
Male 28
Female 46
Total 74
[Page 6]

Coloured members 38

Whole membership 112

How received:

On certificate 19 white members & 9 coloured members making 28 &
On examination 30 white persons & 27 coloured making 57.

Infant baptisms in this time all except three in the period of my connection with the church
White 27 Col’d [coloured] 24 – total 51

Losses
Death
Robert Y. Quarterman
Mary Bacon
Corinne McCollough
Lindy svt [servant] Eugene Bacon

Change of church
Harriet Newell

Contributions — Systematic [word] introduced in 1857

April 1857 – April 1858 $361.12
[Page 7]
& a box of clothing for the Seminary in Columbia – value $35.00
Total $330.18

The above statistics of contributions were taken from our reports to Gen[eral] Assembly.

[No page 8]

[Page 9]

White Adult
Members of our church
In the year of our Lord 1860 February 20.

Mrs. Thomas Quarterman

Mrs. Sarah H. Quarterman

Miss Claudia A. Quarterman

Mrs. Harriet A. Freeman

Mrs. Sarah Jane Jones

Mrs. Harriet S. Handley

Mrs. Jane A. Baker

Miss L. Matilda Baker

Mrs. S. Lous. Quarterman

Mrs. Margaret Miller

Miss Mary E. Miller

Mrs. E. Rebecca Winn

Mrs. Sarah S. Way

Mrs. Lydia Laing

Mrs. Sarah M. Quarterman

Mrs. Sarah J. Hines

Mrs. Sarah M. Walthour

Miss C. Kallendar

Mrs. Amand [Amanda] Fleming

Miss Mary Elizabeth Baker

Miss Eloise Baker

Mrs. Elizabeth Jones

Miss Sarah M. Baker

Mr. W. Q. Baker

Mr. Eugene Bacon

Mr. David A. Miller

Mr. Jos. [Joseph] N. Miller

Mr. Alex. [Alexander] Quarterman

Mr. Thos. [Thomas] Sam. [Samuel] Mallard

Mr. Thos. [Thomas] W. Quarterman

Mr. Jno. [John] B. Mallard

Mrs. Sarah W. Mallard

Mrs. Carrie McIver

Mrs. Ann Quarterman

Mrs. C. W. Quarterman

Mr. Wm. [William] B. Fleming

Mrs. E. A. Fleming

Mr. E. Payson Miller

Mr. Jas[James] S. McCollough

[Page 10]

Mrs. Elizabeth McCollough

Miss Elizabeth McCollough

Mr. John E. Baker

Mr. Henry H. Jones

Mr. Wm. [William] John Winn

Dr. Jos. P. Stevens

Mrs. Abby S. Jones

Mr. A. Maybank Jones

Mrs. Eliza Cay

Mrs. Ann L.C. Stevens

Miss M. Catharine Fleming

Mr. N. Pratt Quarterman

Mr. C. Augustus Baker

Mrs. Almira E. Way

Miss Susan Ann Way

Miss Ellen Barret Fleming

Mr. K. Axson Quarterman

Mr. Josiah S. Fleming

Mr. T. Quarterman Fleming

Mrs. Mary S. Mallard

Mr. J. Edgar Way

Mr. John Sydney Fleming

Mrs. Ann H. Bacon

Mrs. Malvina H. Thomas

Miss Mary J. Thomas

Miss Laura Y. McCollough

Miss H. Elizabeth Miller

Mr. W.Q. Bacon

Mr. B.S. Screven

Mr. Walter L.C. Stevens

Mr. Benj. S. Baker

Mr. Thos. [Thomas] Eliott Quarterman

Miss Augusta Walthour

Miss Ella F. Stevens

Miss Julia Miller

Robt [Robert] Q. Baker

Hellen L. Jones

1861 April

Jno. ??? Quarterman

Florence Estelle Winn

Fl??? Quarterman

Adult members white 1863

Mrs. Russell Walthour

Mr. Wm. [William] Quarterman

Miss Ellen McCollough

July 12 1863

Miss Harriet Eliz. Quarterman

Rubie Williams Hickman

Sarah Margaret Miller

 

[Page 13]

 

Whites   Feb. 20, 1860

 

Infant Members – Baptized children & youth

 

Unconverted

 

 

Robert Baker + p10

Charles Baker

George Baker

Samuel Baker

Daniel Baker

Alonzo Baker

Jane Ann Baker (dead) July 27 1860

Eliza Winn Mallard

John Boyd Mallard

Sarah Lydia Mallard

Ellen B. Mallard

Charles O. Mallard

William Mallard

Sarah Holmes Mallard

W??? Quarterman

Huss Quarterman  p:10

Flavel Quarterman

Louis Quarterman

Iowa Quarterman

Ellen McCollough

Margaret Miller

Mary Moultrie Quarterman

Matilda Louisa Quarterman

Eleanore Eulalie Cay

Charles Alfred Cay

Nathalie Alexine Cay

Robert Harrison Jones

Martha Louisa Rowland

Florence Estelle Winn

Theodore Winn

James Winn

Fanny Augusta Winn

Mary Tallulah Baker

Mary Jones Mallard

William Walthour

George Walthour

Andrew Maxwell Walthour

Josiah Law Walthour

[Page 14] Infant members – white continued

Ann Barnard Quarterman

Robert Quarterman

Henry Cumming Quarterman

Mary Tallulah Baker

Martha Thomas

Houston Thomas

Sarah Anderson Jones

Joseph Maxwell Jones

Eliza Law Jones

Josiah Percy Stevens

Louis Olivia Stevens

Mary Sumner Way

Charles Wm. [William] Screven

Edward Maxwell Screven

Benjamin Baker Screven

Matilda Louisa Quarterman

Geo. [George] Hardcastle Bacon

Chas. [Charles] Edward Bacon

Jane Dawsey (?) Bacon

Thomas Shaffer Baker

Henry Walthour McIver

Charles Colcock Mallard

Stewart Dowse Jones

Joseph Charlton Hines

James E. Hines

   Bacon (W.D.R’s)

*Almira Ellen Way

Anna Louisa Stevens

Cynthia Fleming Quarterman

John William Jones

Sarah Eliza Rowland

William Darwin McConnell

Mary Caroline Fleming

Mabel Caroline Stevens

Mary Caroline Walthour

Should have recorded before the above May 31, 1863  Eliza Burnley Mallard [NOTE: possibly means should have recorded it before Almira Ellen Way, beside whose name an asterisk was written]

 

[Page 15]

 

Coloured Members – Adult  Feb 1860

 

 

Dublin *died Aug 31, 1860

To Mr. David Miller

Judy

To Mr. David Miller

Lilly

To Mr. David Miller

Abner

To Col. Joseph Quarterman

Joe

To Alexander Quarterman

Betsey

To Dr. J.P. Stevens

Hagar

To Mrs. Lydia Laing

Sam

To Mrs. Norman Way

Cinder

To Mrs. Norman Way

Nanny

To Mr. W.Q. Baker

Sophia (*)

To Mr. David Miller

Sibby

[left blank]

Toby

To Dr. Wright

Catharine

To Mrs. Anne A. Baker

Nancy

To Mrs. N. Way

Nancy *

To Dr. J.P. Stevens

Maria

To Dr. J.P. Stevens

Boston

Free

Jim

Mrs. Y. Quarterman

(*) Died April 9, 1860

 

[Page 16]

Coloured Members – Adult – Continued

Tenah

To Mr. Y Quarterman

Betty

To K.A. Quarterman

Sampson

To J.E. Baker

June *

To Mrs. S.M. Quarterman

Isaac

To Edward Quarterman

Sambo

To Edward Quarterman

Lindy * (dead)

Blank

Stephen

To T. Quarterman

Emma Jane

To Mr. G.W. Dunham

Emmanuel

To Mr. Eugene Bacon

Delia

To Mr. W.Q. Baker

Margaret

To Mr. John B. Mallard

Ishmael

To Henry Way

Susan

To Mrs. Ann McConnell

1860

 

Chloe

To Axson Quarterman

Mary

To Mrs. Geo. [George] Dunham

Cornelia

To. Capt. P.W. Fleming

Cinder *

To Mrs. Robert Quarterman

Chaney

To Mrs. James McCollough

Lindy

To Mr. David Miller

[Page 17]

1860 Coloured Members – Adult – continued

Sary

Mr. Jones Jones  April 9

Mary

Judge Fleming  April 9

Celia *

Mrs. T. Quarterman  April 9

Ellen

Mrs. McConnell  April 9

Ben

To Mr. Edgar Way   July 8 [probably Way, Joseph Edgar]

 

 

 

October Communion

Elvira

To Rev. R.Q. Mallard

Rosella

To Mr. Columbia Harris

 

 

 

1861

 

January Communion

Will

Svt [servant] of Dr. ???? Savannah

Rosetta

Svt [servant] of Mrs. Chalmers

Julia

Svt [servant] of Mrs. T. Quarterman Sen.

 

April Communion

Margaret

Svt [servant] of Mr. W.L. Walthour

 

July Communion

Harriet

Svt [servant] Mr. Egar [Edgar] Way

 

October

Cate

Mr. Edward Way & Cate my servant

 

Jan[uary]

Eve

On certificate about this time [see Eve as mother of Ben, Alfred, and Rosa, belonging to Mrs. McConnell. She was on certificate from the Midway Church.]

Caty

Estate of James Winn

 

 

Infant Members – Coloured in 1860

 

 

Chaney

“Chaney, Rosena & Miley children of Tenah, Svt [servant] of Mr. T. Quarterman”

Rosena

“Chaney, Rosena & Miley children of Tenah, Svt [servant] of Mr. T. Quarterman”

Miley

“Chaney, Rosena & Miley children of Tenah 16, Svt [servant] of Mr. T. Quarterman”

Dye

“Dye, Samson, Nancy, Isabella, Daphne, Charlotte Children of Betty, servant of Mr [or Mrs] Axson Quarterman”

Samson

“Dye, Samson, Nancy, Isabella, Daphne, Charlotte Children of Betty 16, servant of Mr [or Mrs] Axson Quarterman”

Nancy

“Dye, Samson, Nancy, Isabella, Daphne, Charlotte Children of Betty, servant of Mr [or Mrs] Axson Quarterman”

Isabella

“Dye, Samson, Nancy, Isabella, Daphne, Charlotte Children of Betty, servant of Mr [or Mrs] Axson Quarterman”

Daphne

“Dye, Samson, Nancy, Isabella, Daphne, Charlotte Children of Betty, servant of Mr [or Mrs] Axson Quarterman”

Charlotte

“Dye, Samson, Nancy, Isabella, Daphne, Charlotte Children of Betty, servant of Mr [or Mrs] Axson Quarterman”

Albert

Grandchild of Cinder, servant of Mrs. Norman Way

Charles

Child of Lilly, svt [servant] of D.A. Miller

Phebe

“Phebe, Chloe children of Nancy, servant of Mrs. E. Stevens”

Chloe

“Phebe, Chloe children of Nancy, servant of Mrs. E. Stevens”

Mary *

“Mary, Prince  children of Lindy, svt [servant] of Mr. Eugene Bacon”

Prince

“Mary, Prince  children of Lindy, svt [servant] of Mr. Eugene Bacon”

Ben

“Ben, Corinne, Matilda, Joseph, Sallie  children of Catharine, servant of Mrs. J.A. Baker”

Corinne

“Ben, Corinne, Matilda, Joseph, Sallie  children of Catharine, servant of Mrs. J.A. Baker”

Matilda

“Ben, Corinne, Matilda, Joseph, Sallie  children of Catharine, servant of Mrs. J.A. Baker”

Joseph

“Ben, Corinne, Matilda, Joseph, Sallie  children of Catharine, servant of Mrs. J.A. Baker”

Sallie

“Ben, Corinne, Matilda, Joseph, Sallie  children of Catharine, servant of Mrs. J.A. Baker”

*Died July 23, 1860

 

[Page 19]

Infant Members Coloured 1860

Niger

“Niger, Windsor, Florida, Abby  children of Chloe, svt [servant] of Mr. Axson Quarterman”

Windsor

Niger, Windsor, Florida, Abby  children of Chloe, svt [servant] of Mr. Axson Quarterman”

Florida

Niger, Windsor, Florida, Abby  children of Chloe, svt [servant] of Mr. Axson Quarterman”

Abby

Niger, Windsor, Florida, Abby  children of Chloe, svt [servant] of Mr. Axson Quarterman”

 

July 1860

Charles

[Charles & Caroline were bracketed together across from Sary, Mrs. S.J. Quarterman, and Alfred, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones – perhaps indicating that they were their parents]

Caroline

[Charles & Caroline were bracketed together across from Sary, Mrs. S.J. Quarterman, and Alfred, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones – perhaps indicating that they were their parents]

 

April 15

Susan Lorenna

“Susan Lorenna, Marie Esther, William Wallace, John Francis [children of] Chaney, est. of Deacon McCollough”

Marie Esther

“Susan Lorenna, Marie Esther, William Wallace, John Francis [children of] Chaney, est. of Deacon McCollough

William Wallace

“Susan Lorenna, Marie Esther, William Wallace, John Francis [children of] Chaney, est. of Deacon McCollough”

John Francis

“Susan Lorenna, Marie Esther, William Wallace, John Francis [children of] Chaney, est. of Deacon McCollough”

Prime

Child of Mary, Judge Fleming’s

 

1861

Ben

“July 28  Ben, Alfred & Rosa children of Eve servant of Mrs. McConnell”

Alfred

“July 28  Ben, Alfred & Rosa children of Eve servant of Mrs. McConnell”

Rosa

“July 28  Ben, Alfred & Rosa children of Eve servant of Mrs. McConnell”

 

1862

Mary Elizabeth

Child of Mrs. Quarterman’s Samson & Mrs. Winn’s Caty

Emma Adeline

Of Mrs. T.Q.’s Julia

 

[End Transcription]