NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH CEMETERY, OLD (1818), Oconee County, SC A.K.A. Walhalla, SC Version 2.3, 4-Jan-2006, C036.TXT, C36 **************************************************************** REPRODUCING NOTICE: ------------------- These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Paul M Kankula - nn8nn Seneca, SC, USA Oconee County SC GenWeb Coordinator **************************************************************** DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Jul-2002 G.P.S. MAPPING . : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Jul-2002 HISTORY WRITE-UP : Rev. C.L. Freeman of New Hope Baptist Church IMAGES ......... : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Jul-2002 TRANSCRIPTION .. : Gary Flynn at (visit above website) in Jul-2002 CEMETERY LOCATION: ------------------ > Latitude N34 46.178 x Longitude W82 58.559 CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY: ------------------------ New Hope Baptist Church, located today just north of Seneca, began its existence in 1795 as Shoal Creek Baptist Church. It was located then near the Isaiah Hammond home on the east side of Little River near Robinson Shoals on the road leading from Old Pickens to the Jarrett Bridge on Tugaloo River. James Morgan owned the land where the church stood. The church was constituted by "Head of Enoree Church" in Greenville County, which later changed its name to Reedy River Baptist Church prior to 1827. Shoal Creek was constituted with thirteen members. Most of them had been members of "Head of Enoree." The charter members are as follows: George Tubb, Soloman Taber, Jacob Waldon, William Taber, Mary Tubb, Susannah Taber, Sarah Tubb, Elizabeth Tubb, Mary Taber, Anne Reed, Lyda Shepperd and Anne Flor. Shoal Creek Church entered Bethel Association in 1800 with 29 members, with James Courtney and George Tubb as delegates. Nothing is known of the early pastors; however, it is known that Isaiah Stephens was a member in 1800 and later became a pastor. In 1818 the church body moved to Bugaroo Field, located about four miles from West Union and the name changed to New Hope. A cemetery known as Old New Hope marks the area of location. In 1835, Brother Chastain was pastor. The same year there were "twelve colored females" and "six colored male," the total membership being fifty-five. A new church was built in 1844 and came into its present property in 1869. In 1964, William B. Dodgens gave acreage for the erection of the present-day church. Early names in the church were the following: Morgan Morgan, Henry Head, Benjamin Lawrence, Rev. A. A. Cobb, Johns S. Cobb, Henry Cobb, Thomas Morgan, Brewers, Hunnicutts, Moses, Garrets, Cannons. Deacons in 1835 were the following: J. Hubbard, J. Garrett, Joseph Gresham, J. Ferguson, Martin Moss, James Cameron, Benjamin Seago, E. Hunnicutt. o----------o One article says: The roots of New Hope Church appear to stem from the Chauga Church, located in Franklin Co. GA. and known as Shoal Creek. (USGS mapping does not show a Shoal Creek/Chauga church/cemetery in Franklin County - only a Shoal Creek cemetery located in Hart County, right below the SC I-85 Welcome Center. Franklin County is next to Hart.) This is now SC and on hwy. 123 going out of Westminster toward GA and SC state line. Also, the article mentions Head of Enoree, a church est. in 1789, later named Reedy River, also, named Shoal Church. In 1818 the name of Shoal Creek was changed to New Hope. Jennie Boggs o----------o TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES: ------------------------------ a. = age at death b. = date-of-birth d. = date-of-death h. = husband m. = married p. = parents w. = wife The cemetery is contained within a large fenced area and its gate is laying on the ground. The area is now covered with a 4" thick blanket of Pine tree needles. It appears that many field-stone grave markers may be laying flat on the ground and are currently covered up - about 6 grave markers were found.