Reverend John Renwick

Reverend John Renwick Family
Ireland and South Carolina

Reverend John Renwick
b. 1735 Dervock, Co. Antrim, Ulster, N. Ireland
d. 20 Aug 1775 Newberry, S. C.
buried: Aug. 1775 Cannons Creek A. R. P. Church Cem., S. C.

m. Elizabeth Simpson c1767
b. c1740's Ulster, N. Ireland
d. 23 Aug 1806 Newberry Dist., S. C.
buried: 24 Aug 1806 Cannons Creek A. R. P.Church Cem., Newberry, S. C.
her father: ? her mother: ?

his father: unknown, ? Renwick
his mother: unknown

Children
Agnes "Nancy" Renwick	b. 2 Oct 1768 Ulster, N. Ireland	d.1835	m. ?
John Renwick Jr.	b. 31 Dec. 1770 on ship board 2 days before landing in Charleston, S. C.	d.20 Nov 1836 at home, Newbery Dist., S. C.buried: King's Ck Cem, Newberry Dist. SC	m. Jane Wright Bothwell
Mary Ann Renwick	b. 8 Jun 1773	d. 18 Jan 1801 Newberry Dist. SC buried: Cannon's Ck Cem,Newberry Dist. SC	m. John Cary Royston Newberry Dist., S. C. (b. 1769)
James William (Miller) Renwick	b. c1775	d. 18 Mar 1816 Newberry Dist. SC buried: King's Ck Cem, Newberry Dist. SC	m. Elizabeth Abrams 27 Dec 1810, Kings Creek Church, Newberry, S. C. (dau. of James & Mary (Telford) Abrams) (b. 29 Dec 1782 Newberry Co., SC- d. 18 May 1863 Newberry Co., SC)

Reverend John Renwick was apparently born of a very religious family that had been very involved at one time in the religious wars of Scotland. His relative was James Renwick the last covenanter leader martyr of Scotland. Due to this fact the Renwick families along with many other supporters were forced out of Scotland, some were put onto ships and exiled to the colonies. Others took refuge in northern Ireland, as ours relatives were said to have done according to the family history written below. There are still a number of Renwick (pronounced "Renick" by the Irish) in areas of Belfast. They are probably still the protestant "Orange Men" that the Irish Catholics have long fought against.

There was a John Renwick, "convenanter" that was exiled out of Scotland for the colonies as early as 1684, which is four years before James Renwick was to have been martyred. Our particular relative was not supposed to have come to the colonies until 1770, or roughly a hundred years later. John Renwick did come to carry on the mission of the Presbyterians by establishing a church in Newberry County, South Carolina. His son, John Renwick Jr., marries Jane Bothwell. The Bothwell family was also very prominent in the Scottish history around the time of the Convenanter Raising.

More on the Convenanters of Scotland This tribute to John Renwick was given in Newberry County, South Carolina in a 1988 article in the Newberry County newspaper.

"Born in Ireland of Scottish Ancestry. Family of James Renwick, last Covenanter martyr of Scotland, 1688. Brought his Anti-Burgher congregation from County Antrim, Ireland to Newberrry County, South Carolina in 1767-1770. founder of King's Creek and Cannon's Creek Churches. Elizabeth, his wife, buried beside him.
The Reverend Timothy Hood, Pastor of Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, N. C., presided over the service. In his introductory remarks, "Why Gather," he stated the purpose of the dedication.

The Reverend Robert Carlisle, Pastor of Startex United Methodist Church, Startex. S. C., offered prayer.

Mr. Renwick Bradley of Savannah, Georgia, delivered an address "Concerning James Renwick." He stated that it was most appropriate to gather here in this 300th anniversary year of the death of James Renwick, the last of the covenanter martyrs of Scotland, for it was on February 17, 1688 that the 26 year old Renwick "glorified God in the Grassmarket of Edinburgh by there laying down his life for Christ's Crown and Covenant.'

Mr. Dan Titus of Atlanta in colorful regimental Highland uniform, played "Foures of the Forest" on the bagpipes, setting the Scottish tone for the service. The main address, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness-- A Tribute to John and Elizabeth Rewick", was presented by Dr. Charles H. Carlisle, Vice President of Business Administration, Erskine College, Due West, S. C., who is a great-great-great-grandson of Reverend John Renwick Sr.

... of Renwick's congregation arrived in the same community. The first Communion service held for the congregation in America was in Patrick Carmichael's barn near Boyd's Crossing between Newberry and Prosperity.

John Renwick, Sr. was an Anti-Burgher pastor. In Scotland and Ireland this was of great importance. An Anti-Burgher was one who believed it was wrong for any of their number to swear the oath of office to become a Burgher ( that is a town councilman) if that oath had a religlious claus in it. In America, this was not so important and soon the Presbytery that was formed had both Burgher and Anti-Burgher pastors. Dr. Thomas Clark of Cedar Springs was a Burgher pastor.

According to the A. R. P. Centennial History, John Renwick, Sr. died August 20, 1775 at the age ...

...that her (Elizabeth Renwick) estate shows that she owned four Negro slaves means that she had accumulated some financial assets. She willed one slave to Agnes, one to John and one to William. She also gave each one a good feather bed which shows the value of feather beds. Why the second daughter, Anne, didn't get a slave or a feather bed and makes one think that she was well provided for by her husband. Elizabeth had cows, calves, hogs, horses, sheep, and household goods.

There were four children of John and Elizabeth Renwick. The oldest was Agnes (sometimes called Nancy) born in Ireland in 1768. She married and had a daughter named Leah. I do not know her husband's name. Her daughter married John Machen of Greenville, S. C. and the family moved to Alabama. "
["Memorial Marker Dedicated At Cannon's Creek Cemetary", Newberry S. C. Newspaper, Friday, June 24, 1988, ]

"On this site stood the first log structure called the "Old Irish Church." this congregation of Scotch-Irish Seceders from County Antrim, Ireland was organised who followed Renwick to South Carolina in 1767, 1770, & 1772, is interwoven with the turbulent years of the Revolution. Renwick served both Kings's Creek and Cannon's Creek A. R. P. Churches, until his death, in 1775. (He was buried at Cannon's Creek churchyard.) About 1790 rev. David Bothwell, and probationer James Rogers came from Scotland to the churches, and Rogers succeeded to the pastorate, until 1814." [Renwick, Robert M., History of King's Creek A. R. P. Church, Newberry Co., S. C. ]

A memorial stone has been erected by his relatives at the Cannon Creek Cem. with this inscription.

"Rev. John Renwick, 1735-1775. Born in Ireland of Scottish Ancestry. Family of James Renwick, last Covenanter martyr of Scotland, 1688. Brought his Anti-Burgher congregation from County Antrim, Ireland to Newberry County, South Carolina in 1767-1770. . Founder of King's Creek and Cannon's Creek Churches. Elizabeth, his wife died 1807 and is buried beside him."

Elroy's Covenanters History | Brian Orr's Covenanter History Sources :

"Memorial Marker Dedicated At Cannon's Creek Cemetary", Newberry S. C. Newspaper, Friday, June 24, 1988,
1993-95 Renwick Bradley, 1430 North Camden Circle, Savannah, GA 31406,(912) 354-4527
Renwick, Robert M., History of King's Creek A. R. P. Church, Newberry Co., S. C.

Return to Renwick Index || Return to Ancestoral Chart #16 || Scottish History

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web pages created by Elroy Christenson- echriste@sccd.ctc.edu - last updated 12/04/07