Page 3 - history-related-to-methodism-and-early-settlement-in-florida-(esther-bernice-howell-haworth)-1961

History Related to Methodism and Early Settlement in Florida (1961) Esther Bernice Howell Haworth

“OLD BETHEL” AND SOME OF IT’S OLDEST SETTLERS

It seems from the things known about ANN ANDREW ROB ARTS, daughter of
JOHN ANDREW (who according to records of Old MIDWAY CHURCH of
Georgia) that “OLD BETHEL” was organized at a very early date. Bishop Andrew
who was the son of JOHN ANDREW and a half brother to ANN ANDREW states in
LIFE AND LETTERS of BISHOP OSGOOD ANDREW by Rev. George G. Smith
that he visited his sistei’ in July of 1813. This was stated in answer to a letter to his
father dated July 3, 1813. In 1829 Rev. Isaac Boring stated that he wrote to Brothers
Roberts in Alligator settlement that if spared he would hold a two day meeting on the
15th and 16th of August. This is thought to be ABRAM- ISAAC ROBARTS, who
was the son of John Robarts, descendant of Rev. Pierce Roberts of South Carolina.
John changed his name from Robert to Robarts and this spelling is used by his
descendants. To further substantiate the fact of early settlement of ANN ANDREW
ROBARTS and ABRAM. ISAAC ROBARTS as pioneeer Methodists and
establishers of “OLD BETHEL,” Bishop Andrew states in a letter written to his
mother (Polly Crosby Andrew) September 9,1832, “I expect in visiting Florida to visit
my sister (Mrs. Robarts).” lie left home in October with a little negro boy who lived
with him whose health had been poor for some time. The little negro boy was thought
to be consumptive, and the Bishop thought that a horseback ride through the mild
Florida claimate would be of benefit to his health, and so he purchased a horse for
him and took him along with him. Bishop Andrew- made his trip in a “Sulky.” (On a
later visit he is said by MRS NORA ROBARTS WOODELL to have baptised
William Henry Fitzgerald Robarts, John C- C. Robarts and George Robarts who were
the children of William Henry Robarts. William Henry Thomas was the son of
Abram Isaac and Ann Andrew Robarts). Abram Isaac had died in January of 1832 and
the Bishop states that “time and trouble had made some inroads upon her looks” but
that he found her the same affectionate sister she had always been, and that she was at
that time looking forward to meeting her Creator.

The ancestors of ANN ANDREW ROBARTS emigrated from Dorchester,
England, to Dorchester, Mass., and after 50 years a Colony was sent from their
Church to establish the town of Dorchester, South Carolina, on the Ashley River;
Georgia was settled and as they were cramped for lands, they secured from the
Colonial Government a large grant of land in Georgia (22,400 acres).

They crossed the Savannah River and settled at a place called Midway where
Old MIDWAY Church was built. This was about fifty miles from Savannah. There
were two Andrews among these settlers, James and Benjamin Andrew and according
to records of Old Midway Church, Liberty County, Georgia, JOHN was the son of
James and Esther Andrew. James died Dec. 5, 1770 and Esther died July 6, 1773. John
was bora Sept- 14, 1758. He was about 17 when the Revolution broke out, and was
said to have been married when he moved in to Columbia County, Georgia, or
married soon after while still riding for Sera ven as a Partisan Ranger (this was
probably his second wife who is said to have been a sister to his first wife Ann
Lambright. He was an educated man and helped in educating many early settlers. He
married first Ann Lambright, who possibly emigrated with this Colony to South

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