CHAPTER V

DOZIER THORNTON--VAN'S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH--THOMAS

MAXWELL--DOVE'S CREEK CHURCH--FALLING

CREEK AND BETHEL CHURCHES--FIRST GEORGIA METHODIST

CONFERENCE--DR. RICHARD BANKS--BEAVERDAM

PREACHING HOUSE.

While Petersburg and the Savannah River section were fast developing the remainder of the territory comprising the new County of Elbert also began to flourish. Settlements sprang up almost over night, and with this mecurial activity horse racing, cock fighting, turkey shoots, gaming and fox hunting became the order of the day. Briefly, and very briefly indeed, did such a state of affairs continue unchallenged, for in 1784, when General George Mathews came to Georgia he was accompanied by the Reverend Dozier Thornton.

Perhaps in all the annals of Georgia Baptist history there has never been a more interesting character than Dozier Thornton. In a degree he was, perhaps, fanatical, but his sincerity cannot be questioned. He was born in Virginia in the year 1765, the son of Mark Thornton and Susannah Dozier (daughter of Leonard Dozier, born 1710, will probated in Lunnenburg County, Virginia, 1787).

His father was a staunch member of the Church of England, or as it became known in America, the High Church. His mother was an early convert to the Anabaptist Society.

While still a young man he left his home in Virginia to seek his fortune in the newer colony of North Carolina. Shortly after his arrival there he was converted to the Baptist faith by a preacher named Lunsford.

For a time, wavering between his conscience and the teachings of a stern father, he declined baptism, but immediately began preaching, a minister without a pulpit, to anyone who would listen.

In a few weeks, however, his conscience proved victorious over the training of his father and he was immersed by Lunsford to enter the ministry of the Baptist Church in which he spent the remainder of a long life. He established several churches in North Carolina and they grew with startling rapidity. Shortly after the close of the Revolution, in which he fought with bravery, he migrated to Georgia. He married Miss Lucy (Elizabeth) Hill who accompanied him on his perilous journey. Throughout the entire trip he preached in every settlement through which he passed and made many converts.

Before the act of the Georgia Legislature was passed creating the County of Elbert, Dozier Thornton was busily engaged in preaching throughout the entire area of Wilkes County.

For a time he and Middleton Meeks served as missionaries to the Cherokee Indians. Neither Thornton nor Meeks evidenced the least fear upon entering the most hostile Indian town and never once were they molested. It was during this period that David Van, the famous Chief of the Cherokees, was converted by the preaching of Thornton and they became fast friends.

The first important act of Dozier Thornton, in Georgia, was the establishment of Vans Creek Baptist Church, named in honor of his Indian friend. This event took place early in 1785, and Van's Creek became the sixth church of the Baptist faith to be established in all Georgia. It was antedated by Kiokee in Columbia County, established by David Marshall in 1772; New Savannah, established 1773; Little Brier Creek, established 1777; Fishing Creek, in Wilkes County, established 1783, and Upton's Creek, established 1784. In point of continuous service Van's Creek is the oldest church of the Baptist denomination in Georgia.

The original members of Van's Creek were: Dozier Thornton Sr., Lucy (Elizabeth) Thornton, Elizabeth Thornton Jr., William ffirnold, first deacon and clerk; Susan Arnold, Nathan Morgan, Elizabeth Morgan, Thomas Gilbert, John White, and Milly White. John White was a licensed Baptist preacher, but had not been formally ordained at this period.

In October, 1788, Thornton established Dove's Creek Baptist Church, four miles west of Elberton, and in the same year Thomas Maxwell was the moving spirit in the raising of Falling Creek Baptist Church which is still flourishing three miles south of Elberton.

Thomas Maxwell, while a resident of Virginia, was a number of times imprisoned for preaching the doctrines of the Baptist faith, but he was dauntless in his determination. On one occasion while in prison, after the manner of St. Paul, he converted the keeper of his jail together with his entire family. Maxwell not only fought the army of the devil with fiery zeal, but played a conspicuous part in the American Revolution. It is a family tradition that he rubbed away a portion of his prominent nose by preaching through the bars of his cell. Reverend Thomas Maxwell was born September 8, 1742, and died December 12, 1837.

On February 27, 1802, a separate constitution was granted to the following named members of Van's Creek Church:

Frederick Crowder Sr. and wife, Frederick Crowder Jr., Minnie Hales, Winny Hales, William Arnold Jr., Thomas Head and wife, Fanny Head, Elizabeth Head, John Dingler and wife, Sally Woldridge, Zachariah Smith, Mrs. Zachariah Smith, Prudence Richardson, Susan Hubbard, Cassy Childers, Haley Childs, Peggy Childs, Nancy Childs, Nathan Childs and wife, Hannah Walker, Elizabeth Swilevant, Patsy Swilevant, Sally Colber, and Elizabeth Nix. This church was constituted in the home of Nathan Childs. There is