High Bluff Primitive Baptist
Brantley County | Organized in 1819
High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church was organized in 1819 by Isham Peacock, a legendary figure among the Wiregrass Primitive Baptists. Elder Peacock began his religious life in 1802—at the remarkable age of sixty—and retired from Providence Church in Ware County in 1844 at the age of 101. Like many Primitive Baptist preachers of the early 19th century, he was not a man of formal letters, but he had the ability to reach and convert the rough frontier cattle drovers who roamed this part of Georgia in great numbers.
Read more...The religious doctrine they practiced was strict, influencing not only their beliefs but also their architecture, dress, worship services, and every other aspect of life in the hard and often unforgiving environment of Wiregrass Georgia. Remarkably, much of that tradition still exists today, as reflected in the unpainted wooden sanctuary pictured above. These unpainted Wiregrass Primitive Baptist churches are found almost exclusively in this small region of southeast Georgia and in a few locations in north Florida. The similarities in their construction—inside and out—are striking. For those interested in learning more, John Crowley’s Primitive Baptists of the Wiregrass South remains one of the few in-depth references on the subject.
High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church began in a small settlement perched on a high bluff, hence its name, on the south bank of the Satilla River. While the exact origins of the settlement are unknown, history suggests the pioneers arrived by boat and may have previously been members of Little Satilla Church, whose location is now lost. Eventually, these settlers established a permanent community and saw the need for a church. High Bluff was constituted in September 1819 with nine members, and the presbytery included Isham Peacock and Fleming Bates, two ministers who would go on to help establish other churches throughout south Georgia and north Florida. The first meeting house included a cemetery, and beginning in 1821, Fleming Bates served as pastor.
In 1823, thirteen members of High Bluff were granted letters of dismissal to form a new church at Kettle Creek. A few years later, the congregation moved to become part of Big Creek Church. The minutes do not explain the move, but tradition holds that a cholera outbreak in the High Bluff area forced the community to relocate, as the only known “cure” at the time was to leave the affected area. The original church on the bluff was abandoned, and today, few traces of it remain. In the late 1870s, the name of Big Creek Church was changed back to High Bluff.
Today, High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church remains an active congregation and is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in this part of Georgia. Its cemetery is equally historic, though, as is common with such old burial grounds, many of the earliest settlers’ graves have been lost to time. Among the tallest remaining headstones is that of Lydia Stone, remembered as the “Queen of the Okefenokee.” Lydia was an unschooled, fiercely independent woman of the swamp, whose colorful character and sharp business instincts made her a self-taught entrepreneur who died a millionaire.
The Satilla River brought many of the early settlers to this region, and its banks hold the stories of their struggles and triumphs, their sins and redemption. The story of High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church is one chapter in that larger narrative—one that continues to this day.
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17 responses to “High Bluff Primitive Baptist”
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Do you have any contact info for the High Bluff Church? Many of my Mercer ancestors are buried there and I visit often but would like to get a hold of the burial records and also see if there are any more spots available in the Mercer section of the cemetery. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’ve tried for years to contact someone and have even left hand written letters inside the church for someone to contact me and have yet to hear from anyone. It’s really frustrating especially considering my Mercer family were some of the early pioneers of that area.
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Pamela Fewox Kimes pfkimes@gmail.com
I have been researching some of the original Primitive Baptist Churches which were included in the Piedmont Baptist Association which was constituted in October 1816, convening at Jones Creek Church, Liberty County, GA. The maternal side of my family are Griffins, Stricklands, Lees, Dowlings, and Millers who are counted among the early Wiregrass Pioneers. Many of my Griffin, Strickland and Dowling ancestors are buried at High Bluff BPC, Lees at Mt.Olive PBC (whose graves are shown on this website), Antioch Church, Bethany Baptist (Boney Bluff) in Fargo, Clinch Co., GA., Kettle Creek in Waycross, Ware Co., GA.
Some of your readers might be interested in the following information.
The USGenWeb site had Archives of the Piedmont Association and churches who were united and/or dissolved during the early pioneer years. Charles Westberry transcribed several years worth of Minutes of the Association. His email several years ago was listed as gslat@uswest.net, but I do not know if this is accurate today.Many of the churches on this site are mentioned in the transcribed Minutes mentioned above. Delegates to the yearly Meetings are included, and this was helpful to me while researching my ancestor John Lee, Rev. Soldier, NC, an early pioneer in Georgia and listed as a delegate for Beards Creek Baptist Church, a Piedmont Association Church, Tattnall Co., GA , and later the Little Satilla Baptist Church on the Satilla River in Appling County,. GA. during the years of 1817-1820, and 1823. In his last few years, John Lee’s home was in Ware Co., GA, now Clinch Co., and he is buried at Boney Bluff Baptist Church Cemetery at Fargo. His grave was marked by the John Floyd DAR Chapter in 1961, as being a Revolutionary Soldier serving in the 2nd Regiment of North Carolina in Martin’s Company. I already have Census proof of his residency, but additional proof in Church records or Bible records are significantly important to have.
I am searching for records of the Boney Bluff Church to note John Lee’s membership, and also to determine if his wife, whom I believe to be Elizabeth Jordan Lee of North Carolina, was buried in the cemetery. Some have said she is, but I need proof if it can be found. If Elizabeth is buried there, it is unmarked , but I am interested in finding a record of any information about her in church records. I do have a copy of their Marriage License/Bond from North Carolina. Their son George Lee is discussed briefly below.
Catherine Miller Lee was daughter of WIlliam Miller, R.S. NC and Amey Barker Miller, Ware County, who helped establish Kettle Creek Church in Waycross, and she was mother of several Lee children including my great grandmother Mary Lee Griffin, wife of P.D. Griffin, both of whom were High Bluff PBC members. James Lee, son of George Lee, grandson of John Lee, R.S. and his wife Catherine Miller Lee are my ancestors who are buried at Mt. Olive PBC, and their grave markers are described in the caption under the photos included in this website.
George Lee was a member of Waycross, GA, Antioch Baptist Church and he is buried there. His second wife Rebecca Griffis Lee is the mother of my ancestor James Lee. I am also searching for Rebecca’s grave site which may be at Antioch PBC. Any records from that church which mentions George and Rebecca Lee would be valuable to me.If anyone else is researching any of these ancestors of mine and their kin, please contact me at the current email given above.
Also, I am interested in any information on any of the other Wiregrass region PBC Associations and their churches, to add to my knowledge and family research. I am particularly interested in Church records of members.Thank you in advance for any help or information relevant to my queries.
Keep the faith.
Pamela F. Kimes
pfkimes@ gmail.com
4/2/2023-
Many of my Mercer ancestors are buried at HighBluff and married with the Griffins and Lees too. I have tried for years to get the burial records from the church I’ve even left handwritten letters inside the church for someone to contact me regarding burial records or even attending a service at the church and no one has ever got back to me. Its so frustrating!!
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Good afternoon, and thank you for the work that you are doing to preserve our history. While not a Wiregrass Primitive Baptist, this church is very close to our family home, and many generations of my family are buried there.
Within the last year, the members of the church replaced the walls, windows and doors to the church, and for a while it lost the blackened exterior. It was strange to see it more of a yellow pine color, but it is quickly returning to the way it looked before.
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We’re glad to hear that members have taken the time to keep up with the maintenance of this old structure. Thanks for the update, Steven.
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Hello,
I hope that you are doing well. Do you have a phone number, website, or e-mail address for the church?Thank you in advance.
Respectfully,
James-
James,
Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will find a map with a link to directions.
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I have family there be there a saw the old church
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Is there a point of contact for the High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church that I can speak with?
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Paul, sent you an email.
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I would love contact info for the church too. I’ve tried for years to get burial records of my Mercer family buried there.
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Does this church still meet regularly?
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Yes. We think so. At least it was active when the photographer did his work.
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Who were the members around 1822?
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We do not have this kind of information. If it exists at all, it would be within the original church minutes, and they are probably lost to time.
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https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uga1.32108009929509&seq=9
This may help you find what you are looking for and anyone else searching for someone in this area at that time. There was a Wiley Vickers on the original map of the area and after 1825 he shows in Coffee County.
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Hi,
Do you know where copies of the High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church are located? Thank you.
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