REV. JAMES FOWLER AND THE SANDY RIVER CHURCH
From The Quarterly, September
1989
| Upper Sandy River Church, Cemetery Roster | Prepared by T. J. Caldwell and J. E. Hart, Jr. |
|---|---|
| James Anderson | Died July 24, 1835, age 77 |
| James Anderson | Born Aug. 14, 1789, died Apr. 7, 1844 |
| George Conn | Died Mar. 1841, age 83 |
| Jane L. Coln Wife of R. S. Coln and daughter of James L. Gaston |
Died Mar. 11, 1869, age 62 years, 2 mo., 10 days |
| T. L. C.Issabell Sofrona | Died Mar. 6, 1838, age 6 years |
| Hugh B. Haffner | Died Sept. 19, 1855, age 3 years, 5 mo., 22 days |
| Infant Hall, Son of James A. & Mary J. Hall | Born Apr. 20, 1873, died Aug. 20, 1873 |
| Ann H. Hall ,Wife of Dr. John Hall | Born Aug. 16, 1807, died Sept. 14. 1868 |
| Eliza Ann Hall, Daughter of James A. & Mary J. Hall | Born Feb. 19, 1871, died Sept. 15, 1872 |
| Mary Hetherington ,Wife of Wm. Hetherington | Died Sept. 7, 1839, age 70 |
| Robert Latham | Died July 10, 1829, age 70 |
| Margaret Latham | Died June 1797, age 34 |
| James Latham | Died Jan. 10, 1816, age 22 |
| Royal Love | Died Nov. 14, 1817, age 4 |
| Jacob Lucas | Born Nov. 28, 1798, died Feb. 18, 1880 |
| Infant McFadden, Son of R. & R. McFadden | Died July 6, 1846, age one mo. |
| Rachael McFadden, Wife of R. McFadden | Died Feb. 27, 1848, age 33 years, 4 mo., and 26 days |
| John Ratchford | Died Jan. 20, 1827, age 70 |
| Mary Ratchford | Died Feb. 3, 1816, age 43 |
| Rebecca Ratchford | Died Feb. 3, 1816, age 21 |
| Sarah Ratchford | Died Feb. 3, 1816, age 17 |
| Elizabeth Robison, Wife of James Robison | Born August 24, 1797., died March 22. 1856 |
| Ira M. Robison | Born April 7, 1824, died December 19, 1897 |
| James Robison | Born September 5, 1789, died October 13, 1871 |
| James F. Robison | Born August 15, 1821, died August 21, 1854 |
| Mary Ann Robison | Born October 18, 1826, died May 4, 1844 |
| Margaret E. Robison | Born June 1, 1829, died April 5, 1844 |
| William Robison | Born October 18, 1818, died May 28, 1879 |
Rev. James Fowler made visits to the Pacolet (Skull Shoals) church to preach until February of 1790. From 1796 to1800 he often preached on Saturdays at the Flint Hill Church in what is now the Fort Mill area. Rev. William Woodward came to the Sandy River Church and assisted the pastor from 1791 to 1792 and became the pastor in 1803 when the church was without a pastor. In 1791 Sandy River became part of the Bethel Association and in 1803 was referred to as the Upper Sandy River Church.
Rev. Fowler was often called up to add his intelligence and peace-making spirit to grave situations involving the local church. In June of 1801, Rev. John Williams, having already been warned by the Cedar Springs Church to preach the doctrine of election more carefully, was brought to trial because of his membership in the Freemasons. Reverend Williams chose Reverend Fowler and Rev. Joseph Camp to represent him. Regardless of Fowler's assistance, when Williams was found to be a Mason, he was suspended from his duties. Later, Reverend Williams went to trial again and this time was excluded.
Reverend Fowler died in 1802 and all that is left of the Baptist Church above Turkey Creek is the stone-walled cemetery. The site of the church and cemetery is located about 100 yards east of Highway 322 where it intersects with Burris Road.
Sources: Bailey, Rev. J. D. Reverends Phillip Mulkey & James Fowler.
Townsend, Leah. South Carolina Baptists, 1670-1805.
King, Joe M. A History of S. C. Baptists.
Hart, J. E., Jr. and T. J. Caldwell. "Cemetery Roster."
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