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: ?
her 2m. to William Nichols (d.
by 1796)
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 (b. 1773 Monaghan,
Ireland d. Dec 14, 1848 Newberry, SC) widow of
Rev. David Emanuel Bothwell (d. 1801 Newberry, SC) her parents were
John and Mary Lowther Wright
|
| Mary Anne Renwick |
b. 8 Jun 1773 |
d. 18 Jan 1801 Newberry Dist. SC
buried: Cannon's Ck Cem, Newberry Dist. SC |
m. John Cary Boyston
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 1767, or roughly a hundred years later. He apparently
had a congregation in Antrim before coming to South Carolina and
brought part of his congregation in 1767. He made a trip again in
1770 when he brought another group including his wife who gave birth to
their son, John Renwick Jr. on ship board. John Renwick did
come to carry on the mission of the Presbyterians by establishing
several
churches in Newberry County, South Carolina. He worked as an itinerent
preacher in the Cannon's Creek and King's Creek Churches.
His son, John
Renwick Jr.,
who follows his father's work,
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, ]
1763-1775 - The
Annals of Newberry give a history of the churches in Newberry along
with the important ministers.
"From the years 1763 to 1775 the elements of Cannon'a
Creek and King's Creek Churches, from which grew Prosperity and Head
Spring, came from County Antrim, Ireland, and settled in the fertile
region between Enoree and the Dutch Fork, centreing near the creeks
from which the churches took their names. In the year 1767 a
portion of Rev. John Renwick's congregation came from Ireland and
settled in Newberry County. In 1770, a larger portion, with their
pastor, came over and settled near the others; and in 1772 there came a
third colony. We thus see that the first Associate Reformed
preacher and pastor of the churches in Newbery was the Rev. John
Renwick, was born at sea on the passage over, December 31st, 1770. The
Lord's Supper was first administered to these Christians in Newberry,
in Patrick Carmichael's barn, near what is now known as Boyd's Crossing
between Newberry and Prosperity. This Rev. John Renwick is believed to
have been a descendant of the family of Rev. James Renwick, the last
martyr of Scotland, who suffered February 18th, 1688.
Rev. James Renwick preached
at Cannon's Creek and King's Creek Churches, which were founded at the
same time, in 1772. He died August 20th, 1775. After his death
there was little preaching, owing to the troublous times, until the
year 1790. In that year, or the year before, the Revs. David
Bothwell and James Rogers arrived, and they were also present at that
time Revs. Thomas Clark, Peter McMullen and John Boyce, ministers, with
James McBryde and William Dunlap, elders.
Mr. Rogers became pastor of
Cannon's and King's Creek Churches on the 23d of February, 1791, and
served in that capacity for twenty-four or twenty-five years; for
though the pastoral relation had been formally dissolved in 1801, yeat
they having no settledd pastor, he continued to serve them in so faar
as he was able, until the year 1814.
In 1802 Prosperity Church
was built and the congregation organized, with Abram Carmichael and
Abram Youn, elders.
Rev. John Renwick, son of
the first pastor, and who, as has been already mentioned, was born at
sea, December 31st, 1770, was licensed to preach January 1st, 1807 --
missionated two and a half years and settled at Gilder's Creek-- was
five years pastor and continued to preach there and elsewhere as long
as he was able, until he was superannuated a few years before his
death, which occorred about the close of the year 1836. " [O'Neall.
part II, p674-5]
1770 - 80 - John Renwick
was a
Covenanter and an Associate minister at the Canon Creek, Head Spring
and Prosperty churches in Newberry Dist. of South Carolina about
1770-1780. [Hanna p. 130]
1770 - John Renwick is listed as minister of the Presbyterian Churches
on a ship to South Carolina. One researcher indicates that he is
bringing with him a number of parishsoners to settle in South Carolina
area of Newbery from Antrim, Ireland. page 67 [Marshall page 67]
"During
this period (1763 -1775) the original elements of what has been long
known as Cannon and King’s Creek Churches, out of which Prosperity and
Head Springs subsequently sprang, came from the vicinity of Ahoghill
and Randallstown, County Antrim, Ireland, and settled in this fertile
section of country lying between Enoree and what I’ve familiarly known
as the Dutch Fork, and centering near the creeks from which these
churches took their names. From information furnished me by your
committee appointed for the purpose of collecting facts and forwarding
them to the speakers on this occasion and William Renwick, Esq., it
appears that a portion of Rev. John Renwick's congregation came to
America and settled in Newberry County in 1767. In 1770 a larger
portion of the same congregation, with their pastor, came and settled
in the vicinity of those who had proceeded them. And in 1772 a third
colony. This date has been satisfactorily and unmistakably determined;
for a letter from Rev. T. Thompson of North Ireland, regarded quite an
antiquity, and now in the possession of Mr. William Renwick after
giving some account of the former life and labors of this pioneer
minister of the Gospel (to which we shall again refer) says of his
removal “that when there was much going to America, he removed there
about or after 1770.” [Rev. Sloan]
1775, Aug 20th - Rev. John Renwick dies
in Newberry Co., South Carolina. He is buried in the Cannon's
Creek Old Cemetery, Newberry County. The photo of the stone is
from the Newberry Genealogy Trails. The
cemetery was surveyed and photographed by Donna Brummett. I have
not been able to contact her for permission to use her photo, but
thanks in advance.
"Here lies the Body of The Reverend John Renwick who died
August 20th A.D. 1775 “Aetatis Suae 40”
(his age 40 - Latin)
Old Cannon
Creek Cem
for ARP Mission Church is three
miles southeast of Newberry at these cordinates n34 16.717
, w81 32.167.
1790
- The
Bothwell family
may have come over with Renwicks. This family is still under
study but David Bothwell is found to be a minister of the Cedar
Springs Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Abbeville Co., South
Carolina in 1790. He could be a brother to John Renwick Jr.'s wife Jane
Wright Bothwell. The church had five hundred members by
1802.
[Seller, Hazel Crowson. p. 111]
1796 - Elizabeth
Nichols makes a will in Newberry County, S. C.
Will of Elizabeth
Nichols.
In the name of God amen
I Elizabeth
Nichols of Newberry County in
the district of Ninety six and state of South Carolina widow being of
perfect mind & memory make this my last will & testament in
which I bequeath & dispose of my Temporal Estate in the folowig
manner. Afer the payment of my funeral charges & all my debts
To my eldest daughter Agnefs Renwick
I bequeath one Negro child named
sarah, twenty guineas one good feather Bed well furnished & one
hald of my Body cloaths & likewise to my eldest son John Renwick I
bequeath one negro fellow named prince one Bay horse and one feather
Bed well furnished And like wise To my
son William Miller I confirm the
conveyance of Solomon Nichols my
deceased Husband (made to me &
said William Miller my son & to be confirmed to said William Miller
at my deather viz The conveyance of this tract of land on which I live
a Negro Winch named Bet one Black mare & sorrel horse & two
Cows & calves & I further bequeath unto said William Miller one
good fether Bed well furnished. And Likewise to my sone in law
John Cary Boyston I bequeath five shillings sterling like wise to my
daughter Anne Boyston I bequeath five shillings and one half of
my Body
cloaths. To Jabus Gault son of
said Anne Boyston & my
grandson I bequeath fourteen pounds and likewise to Solomon Boyston my
grandchild I bequeath fourteen pounds. The residue of my
estate
goods chattel arrears or debts with all other property I allow to be
divided into four equal parts one of which part I bequeath to Agnefs
Renwick my eldest daughter, Another of said part I bequeath to my
eldest son John Renwicdh, The third of said parts I bequeath to William
Miller & the fourth of the above memtioned parts I bequeath to
Jabus Gault & Solomon Boyston my
grand children to be equally
divided between them to be left in the hands of my executors til the
said children come of age to be by the executors put into their
pefsefsion with all the profits thence resulting. I do hereby
appoint John Renwich my eldest son
& My son William Miller as
Executors ## of this my last will & Testament & do hereby
utterly revoke difallow & disanull all former bequest wills &
legacies by me here to fore in any wise left or made declaring
Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last will
& Testiment I witnefs whare of I have here unto set my hand &
seal this fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred & ninety six
Signed sealed published &
declared by
the within named Testatrix
Elizabeth
Nichols as & for her
last will & Testiment in the presence
of us, who at her request & in her presence & in the presnce of
each otehr have signed the same as witnefses
The word Son being interlined
Test
her
William
Taylor
Elizabeth X Nichols
(SEAL)
James Hays
John Martin Taylor
No Record Date
Proved Jan. 15 - 1807
Samuel Lindsey. Ordinary of Newberry
District
Box.
14 Pkg.
30 Est. No. 326
[South Carolina Will Transcripts, Newberry County, Ninety Six Dist. ,
Estate packet: box 14, Pkg. 21, record #S108093, ]
"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."
1800 -
David Bothwell was assigned a ministry at the Cedar Springs Church in
Abbeville. He was also minister of Buckhead and Big Creek along with
churches in Jefferson and Burke Counties in Georgia. He died in
1801 and John Renwick Jr. apparently marries his widow, Mary Wight
Bothwell. She is buried at the Kings Creek Church cemetary. David
Bothwell 's parents were David and Margaret Bothwell. He was
educated at University of Edinburgh where he studied divinity then
moved to Mohanagan, Ireland from which he emigrated to Georgia. [Rev.
H. T. Sloan p. 64]
1807,
January 1 - "Rev.
John Renwick, Jr., son of the first pastor, born at sea, as already
mentioned, December 31, 1770, was licensed to preach January 1st,
1807, missionated for two and a half years, then settled at Gilder's
Creek in Laurens Co. as its pastor for five years and continued to
preach there and
elsewhere as long as he was able, until he was superannuated a few
years before his death, about the year 1836." [Brown, W. C. A Short Sketch of the Cannon's Creek
Church]
1812- John Renwick, Jr is a minister for Warrior's Creek(now
Bethel) until November 11th, 1825 and Gilder's Creek until March 1st,
1814 when it was dissolved. [Sloan p. 334 and 606]
1850 - US
Census, Newberry Co., Newberry. page 250.
J. A.
Renwick
36
m
Physician $5000
So., Caolina
next door
J. S.
Renwick
35
m
Farmer
$800
" "
Mary
Renwick
30 f
J. W.
Renwick
11 m
Hugh
"
7 m
Marcilla
"
5 m
Rosanna
"
2 m
next door
Elizabeth Renwick 70
f
So. Carolina
John
Glenn
53 m
Nancy
"
47 f
Rosanna
"
22 f
William
"
21 m
Casey
"
8 f
John G.
"
14 m
James
"
5 m
1857, Nov. 13th. Died, Mrs. Mary Renwick, wife of James Renwick, Esq.
and daughter of John Cunningham elder of the Mt. Olivet concregation,
Ky. .... She leaves a husband and one infant child. [SC Magazine.
Vol. VIII., No. 4, Fall, 1980. Asso. Reformed Presbyterian Death &
Marriage Notices, 1843-1863. page 77]
1860 - US Census, Newberry Co.,
Newberry. Series M653, Roll 1224, page 258.
James A
Renwick 48
m
Physician
$10, 000 $115,000
John
Glenn
25 m
Overseer
Newberry Co., Newberry. Roll 124, page 279
Jas
A Renwick (? Murther) 50 m w
Farmer $25,400
$39,700 So. Carolina
William
Clamp
23 m w Overseer
Katharine
"
40 f w
Newberry Co., Newberry. Roll 124 Page 262
John S.
Renwick
47 m
Farmer $14,000
$144,000 So. Carolina
Mary
Renwick
43 f
Hugh
T.
"
16 m
Marcella
"
14 m
Rova
"
12 f
Emma
"
10 f
Lattella
"
7 f
Miss
Fannie E.
Johnson
21 f School
mistress
Georgia
Elizabeth
Renwick
78
f
-
$13,000 So. Carolina
Newberry
Co., Newberry. Roll 1224, page 274
John S.
Renwick
(no age listed)
(no occupation)
--- $20,000 So. Carolina
Union Co., Goshen Hill PO, Roll 1227,
page 185
Sarah
Renwick
68
f
farmer
S. C.
Jane
"
44 f
Semetress
(sic)
S. C.
Nancy
"
39 f
Semetress (sic)
S. C.
Sarah
"
25 f
Semetress
(sic)
S. C.
same page
W. W.
Renwick
49 m
farmer
$30,000 $40,000 So. Carolina
John
"
12
m
S. C.
James
"
12 m
S. C.
unoccupied
unoccupied
1865- A
description is written of Dr. James A. Renwick, physician of Newberry
in 1895.
"Dr. James A. Renwick, a descendant of
the old Scotch Covenanters, than
whom the world never produced a braver or more liberty-loving race,
after a not very long but useful career as a physician and a man, died
on the 13th of March 1865. He was a brother of Col. John S.
Renwick, and like him, a consistent member of the Church of his
fathers. "
[John Belton O'Neall, The Annals of
Newberry, p. 833]
Colonel John S.
Renwick p.605
"This very excellent man, a native of Newberry
County, and who spent
his long life as one of its citizens, was of Scotch descent, and a not
very remote descendant of James Renwick, the last Scotch martyr.
He became a member of King's Creek Church in early manhood and remained
in connection with it until the day of his death. The
circumstances of his early life prevented him from acquiring a
first-rate education, but he knew its worth and gave his sons and
daughters the best that could be obtained. He was the first to
suggest to Dr. Bonner, then in charge of the Female Academy at Due
West, the propriety of converting that institution into a Female
College. He had no politcal asperations, but was content to do
his duty as a private citizen, a farmer and member of the Church, in
which he was a Ruling Elder for nearly the whole of his life.
This good man died March 19th, 1889, in the 76th year of his age. "
[John Belton O'Neall, The Annals of
Newberry, p. 605]
1872 - p. 193 William W. Renwick was born c. 1812 and died
in 1872. He was the sone of the Reverend John S. Renwick Jr.
(1770-1836) of the Kings Creek A. R. P. Church area of Newberry County
and the grandson of the Irish pioneer to this country (1735-1775).
Renwick married Rosannah P. Rogers (19 January 1812- 4 January 1850),
daughter of John A. Rogers Jr. (1764-1847) and Rosey M. Rogers
(1778-1841) of Orange Hall plantation. They were all members of
Kings Creek Church and, like the local Reids and Caldwells, all
descended from Scots-Irish dissenting Prestyterian emigres frm County
Antrim, Ireland. [Kibler p. 422]
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,
Bradley, Renwick (1993-95), 1430 North Camden Circle, Savannah, GA
31406,(912) 354-4527
Brown, Dr. W. C. A short Sketch of
the Cannon's Creek Church. printed 1942. Newberry Asso.
Reformed
Brumett, Donna. photo from genealogytrails.com/newberry/cemeteries
Presbyterian Church web site. http://newberryarp.org/
Dobson, David. The Original Scots
Colonists of Early America, 1612-1783. Gen. Pub. Co., Inc.,
Baltimore, MD
1989
Hanna, Charles. Scotch-Irish or The
Scot in North Britain, North Ireland and North America. Vol. II.
G. P. Putnam & Sons, New York 1902
Kibler, James E. Our Father's
fields, A Southern Story. University of South Carolina Press,
1998
Marshall, William Forbes. "Names of Some Ministers, Licentiates,
Students, or Emigrants Who Went from Ulster and Served in the Ministry
of Presbyterian Churches in North America during the Period 1680-1820,
with the Presbytery of Oversight, or District of Origin Where These
have Been Ascetained, The Date or Approximante Date of Arrival, and the
Provinces or States Where They Excercised Their Ministry." in Ulster
Sails West. Belfast(Ireland): The Quota Press, 1943, pp.61-67
Renwick, Robert M., History of
King's Creek A. R. P. Church, Newberry
Co., S. C.
O'Neall, John Belton. The
Annals of Newberry," originally
pub. Newberry, S. C., Aull & Houseal, 1892, reprinted Gen. Pub.
Co., MD.
Sellers, Hazel Crowson. Old South Carolina Churches.
Crowson Printing Co., Columbia, SC 1941
Sloan, Rev. H. T. Centennial Address
in 1872 at Cannon's Creek. on the Cannon's Creek Presbyterian
Church web site. http://newberryarp.org/
South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Reseach, Vol. 1-20.
South Carolina Will
Transcripts, South Carolina Archives and History
online records. -www.archivesindex.sc.gov
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Index || Return to Ancestoral
Chart #16 || Scottish History
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