Page 4 - 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

Carolina, on the 20th of February 1779. The country was wild and times and life
uncertain — and his wife Ann died' nine days after the birth of their daughter Ann,
who was born January 11,1870. The mother died Jan. 20th 1870.

”ln December 1784 The Methodist Episcopal Church of AMERCIA was
organized and in the spring of 1785, the first Methodist preacher was sent to Georgia ”
It is not known to the writer the exact date John was converted to the Methodist faith,
but in 1789 it was stated that he was among the FIRST METHODISTS in Georgia. He
was the FIRST TRVEL- ING MINISTER, and started first on the Cherokee Circuit in
South Carolina, with Ruben Ellis. Next he was in Burk County, Georgia, and later
was on the Washington Circuit. It is not known where Ann Andrew lived at this time
but is seems that she was living with a member of the Lambright family in South
Carolina. She married ABRAM. ISAAC ROB- ARTS, March 19, 1795. She later gave
her Bible to Ann Mary Robarts COLLINS as a wedding gift in 1816. “A gift from her
mother—Mrs. Ann Robarts, January 1816 Coosawhatchie” was inscribed in it.
Coosawhatchie was the old “Indian Land” mentioned in TI1E SOUTHERN
FRONTIER by Verner W. Crane- Also, in HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS of
SOUTH CAROLINA, Coosawhatchie is said' to be the first place southern Indians
ever say “whites.” ABRAM. ISAAC, moved to the vicinity of “Old Bethel” Church
soon after the purchase of Florida territory from Spain, in 1819, from the United
States Government.

“OLD BETHEL” GRAVEYARD

According to information given me by MR. JAMES T. GOODBREAD “Old
Bethel” graveyard is the oldest in Columbia County, Florida. “Old Bethel” Church
was built of logs.

“In 1925 during the Florida Realestate Boom, greedy promoters gained control
of the land adjacent to Aligator lake, with a complete disregard for property, and the
rights of the dead, they took bull dozers, plowed up the cemetery, stones and all, and
then proceeded to lay out streets for a new boom city. The headstones and marble
grave covers were stacked like corwood in a clump of oak trees. Many were taken
away to be used as table tops, doorsteps and foundations of houses. Needless to say
this boomtown, like so many others of that era, was a complete failure. All that
remains of that once peaceful cemetery today is a few pitiful broken stones in the
middle of an overgrown and deserted field, underneath some large stately oaks.” (Mr.
James T. Goodbread).

HEADSTONES NOW EXISTING IN PITIFUL REMAINS OF
“OLD BETHEL CEMETERY”

Mrs. Ann Mary (Robarts) Collins, who was bom December 25, 1795 in South
Carolina; daughter of Abram Isaac and Ann Andrew Robarts; wife of Charles II. B.
Collins; died at Tustenuggee, Florida, June 13, 1870. Her headstone still remains at
“Old Bethel” Cemetery.

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