Organized in 1833, Shiloh’s earliest members are some of the first settlers of this section of Georgia.
The congregation is still active today; storm windows have been placed inside to give some protection against weather, and new restrooms with modern plumbing are adjacent to the church.
Shiloh’s large cemetery suggests an old and active congregation.
Isham Peacock was one of the most influential early Baptists in Georgia, and certainly the most influential of the Primitive Baptists. After first joining Lott’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church in Bulloch County around 1802, he went on to establish Black Creek, Beard’s Creek, Salem, and most notably, High Bluff at Schlatterville. As to Peacock’s theology, it was decidedly Calvinistic. Historian Michael Holt notes that he was quick to speak out against the proper “discipline” of the Baptist faith. “In 1830, he was able to get Beard’s Creek Church to adopt a resolution forbidding Missionary and temperance speakers from taking the pulpit there. However, they rescinded the resolution as soon as he moved to Pierce County. Though he was alleged to be sober, he was known to demonstrate his aversion to temperance societies by carrying a cane full of whisky he used to refresh himself while preaching…The disgust Peacock showed toward organized attempts to regulate public morality was typical of frontier Baptists.”–Michael Holt, [Thesis: The “Gold Standard” of the Wiregrass Primitive Baptists of Georgia: A History of the Crawford Faction of the Alabaha River Primitive Baptist Association, 1842-2007, Valdosta State University, 2009]. In addition to these activities, Peacock founded the first Baptist church in present-day Florida in 1821 [Pigeon Creek Primitive Baptist Church near present-day Boulogne]. It represented an extension of Baptist theology into a foreign territory, as this was still part of Spanish Florida at the time and therefore was technically against the laws of Spain regarding the establishment of non-Catholic churches. Elder Peacock’s last church was Providence Primitive Baptist in Ware County, where he was preaching at age 101; blindness ultimately ended his life of preaching and he moved to the Jacksonville area. On a trip to visit family members in Pierce County in 1851, at the age of 107, Peacock died and was buried at Shiloh.
The very first peacher was Ruben Crawford who was my 4 times great grandfather
And one of my gr ge uncles I’m pretty sure.
Debbie, he was my 4 times great grandfather too! 😁
Mine, too. Elder Tom Crawford was my grandfather. I’m still Primitive Baptist to this day.
My name is Serena Crawford my grandfather, grandmother Ava Lou and AJ Crawford & my father Walter m Crawford & sister Sabra ann Crawford are buried at Shiloh ! My grandmother’s maiden name is Bennett!
Both sets of my grandparents are buried there, along with LOTS more ancestors, including the Thomas’ above and my brother. I used to go to this church with my grandmother sometimes.
My mother was a member here until she died. My sister still attends. My Great Grandfather, Joseph Thomas, was the moderator here for many years in the early 20th century.
The current pastor is Daniel Drawdy. He lives in Blackshear. I’m sure you can find him in the phonebook. He’s also on facebook. He would be your best source.
Louise, You and Alice Thomas, my girlfriend, are 2nd Cousins. Joseph was her great grandfather as well. Her grandfather was Lewis Rance Thomas, 1836–1914, a Civil War veteran. He’s buried at Mount Horeb Cemetery near Ft White Florida.
where is this place at in Blackshear?? my daughter would love to have this as her senior picture back ground.. if thats ok would really make beautiful picture please let me know thanks craselaura32@yahoo.com
From the main traffic light in Blackshear (McDonald’s) take hwy 84 east toward Patterson, Georgia. Go a few miles and turn left toward Pierce Co High School, then start looking to left for Shiloh Rd, turn left and you will see church and cemetery after a few yards.
I think we could find out the parents’ names because the Stricklands were early settlers in Georgia.
All this history is just so fascinating! Thank you for sharing your talented photos and stories with all of us. ~:)
I am James Strickland’s great-great granddaughter. He was born June 1, 1789. Your paragraph is very interesting. Do you know his parents? James Strickland was married to Eleanor Smith. Eleanor had James B. Strickland, and in your paragraph another son, is Allan James Strickland.
Thank you, Brian for all the work you do. I’ve been following your photos and websites for several years.
James Strickland was born in North Carolina in 1789. He migrated with his parents Joel and Elizabeth Strickland to Georgia, where he married Eleanor Smith in Wayne County on January 3, 1817. He was active in the Wayne County community until he moved in 1831 to the area of Ware County, which would later be called Blackshear in Pierce County. His mother, Elizabeth Strickland, born in 1773 in North Carolina, is also buried at Shiloh. She died in 1842, but I don’t think her gravestone is still there. Her husband, Joel Joseph Strickland, who was also her first cousin, died in 1835 and is buried in the Old Raulerson Cemetery. We haven’t located that grave yet. James and Eleanor’s first daughter, Nancy Strickland married Elias Fort Stewart. That is her gravestone you have right below the one for James Strickland.
James Strickland is my husband’s great great great Grandfather. He is descended through James B. Strickland, then Alonzo James Strickland to his grandfather, Parker Strickland. If you have any more information, I would be glad to hear from you.
I am James Strickland’s great, great grandson. James’s son Allan James Strickland was the owner of Strickland Cotton Mill in Remerton, Georgia ( Valdosta township). He married Minnie Adams. Minnie was a distant relative of John and John Quincy Adams. Minnie was the daughter of Sofia Broward of Broward County, Florida. Call if you are interested in more of the story 404-374-3731.