Elder Elisha Perryman
1769 – 1856
State Itinerant Missionary Evangelist
Elisha Perryman was born on February 6, 1769 in Halifax County, Virginia. Although his ancestry can be traced back to Wales, Perryman's parents were natives of Virginia. He was the second of eight children born into this family. In Perryman's own words, "my grandparents, so far as I know, were plan homespun, old-fashioned, orthodox, predestinarian Baptist"
In Perryman's early childhood, he experienced the horrors of the Revolutionary War. His father was a Captain in a volunteer company from Virginia, which he established to aid in fighting the British. General Cornwallis had set up camp within six miles of the Perryman home place. Perryman stated the British played havoc on the county in which he lived. They also carried off whatever personal belongings they could carry and then destroyed some of what they could not carry. The British would eat the local cattle, hogs, corn and anything else they could get their hands on.
In the Spring of that same year, the Perryman family headed south to Georgia. They settled on Big Kiokee Creek in Richmond County just about twenty-two miles north of Augusta, Georgia.
In November of 1787 he married Ruth Cobb, a nice young girl that did not live very far from his father and together they set up housekeeping in the country running a farm. Mrs. Perryman died May 24, 1825. He married a second time the following year to Martha Watson.
For several years, Perryman would become troubled because of his sins. He stated "these troubles would soon wear off". But in 1792, his convictions became so great, he began to invite ministers to his home so he could gain knowledge on how to deal with his sins. Perryman, for several years, could not find peace with God and that at one time he would be eternally lost.
It got to the point where Perryman could not sleep at night, and he thought that he would never be saved from his sins. In May of 1799, while plowing one morning in a corn field, he stated "something like a flash of lighting came all in me and around me; and I had such a view of the fullness and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the worth of his pardoning love and mercy to a poor sinner like me, that I broke out into a great cry of joy and praise"
On the third Sunday in August of 1801, he was baptized by Elder Abraham Marshall into the life of Kiokee Church. His first wife, Ruth was also baptized into the church about six months later.
Perryman was a self-educated man. As a child, he did not have the opportunity to attend the local schools and he considered himself to be very ignorant. He had a burning desire to learn more about God's word. After a hard day's work providing for his family, he would sit by the fire for light to obtain the knowledge he desired. He walked, as much as, eight miles to a church service. Perryman worked his fields very hard in order to finish by Friday evening of each week so he could attend services on the weekend.
After Perryman's conversion, he would sit under the preaching of Jesse Mercer and Abraham Marshall. He gained a lot of spiritual knowledge from these two men of God. He held Prayer Meetings in the homes of his neighbors to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Perryman never thought of himself as a pastor but as an evangelist.
In January of 1810 he and his family moved to Warren County on the Briar Creek, not far for the Sweetwater Meeting House. As an evangelist, he would travel to the counties of Montgomery, Emanuel, Tatnall and Bullock spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He considered this part of the state to be destitute to the knowledge of our Lord. He also traveled through Richmond, Burke, Jefferson, Screven Counties; sometimes he would travel into South Carolina and even Alabama. Although Perryman continued to preach mostly in the central part of East Georgia, he preached at the Georgia Baptist Associational Meetings in the Sarepta Association in the fall of 1816. The associational meeting lasted for more than four days.
According to his great great-grandson, Rev. Andy Perryman, Elisha Perryman was one of the original 11 men "seated" at the first session of the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1822. Read more in the book entitled "A History of the Georgia Baptist Association 1784 - 1984" written by Waldo Harris.
He also was instrumental in estiblishing three church in the area. He started Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Mount Horeb Baptist Church and Reedy Creek Baptist Church.
Even into his late eighty's, Perryman preached the good news of Jesus Christ as an evangelist calling his congregation to "fly from the wrath to come". He died on August 17, 1856 and is buried in a Perryman Cemetery located in McDuffie County, Georgia. He stated he traveled more than 120,000 miles preaching during his lifetime.
Sources and for further study:
Sketch of the Life, Labors, Adventures of Elder Elisha Perryman, 1856 by a friend, Steam Power Press of William S. Jones, Augusta, Georgia
History of Baptist Denomination in Georgia on openlibrary.org
1769 – 1856
State Itinerant Missionary Evangelist
Elisha Perryman was born on February 6, 1769 in Halifax County, Virginia. Although his ancestry can be traced back to Wales, Perryman's parents were natives of Virginia. He was the second of eight children born into this family. In Perryman's own words, "my grandparents, so far as I know, were plan homespun, old-fashioned, orthodox, predestinarian Baptist"
In Perryman's early childhood, he experienced the horrors of the Revolutionary War. His father was a Captain in a volunteer company from Virginia, which he established to aid in fighting the British. General Cornwallis had set up camp within six miles of the Perryman home place. Perryman stated the British played havoc on the county in which he lived. They also carried off whatever personal belongings they could carry and then destroyed some of what they could not carry. The British would eat the local cattle, hogs, corn and anything else they could get their hands on.
In the Spring of that same year, the Perryman family headed south to Georgia. They settled on Big Kiokee Creek in Richmond County just about twenty-two miles north of Augusta, Georgia.
In November of 1787 he married Ruth Cobb, a nice young girl that did not live very far from his father and together they set up housekeeping in the country running a farm. Mrs. Perryman died May 24, 1825. He married a second time the following year to Martha Watson.
For several years, Perryman would become troubled because of his sins. He stated "these troubles would soon wear off". But in 1792, his convictions became so great, he began to invite ministers to his home so he could gain knowledge on how to deal with his sins. Perryman, for several years, could not find peace with God and that at one time he would be eternally lost.
It got to the point where Perryman could not sleep at night, and he thought that he would never be saved from his sins. In May of 1799, while plowing one morning in a corn field, he stated "something like a flash of lighting came all in me and around me; and I had such a view of the fullness and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the worth of his pardoning love and mercy to a poor sinner like me, that I broke out into a great cry of joy and praise"
On the third Sunday in August of 1801, he was baptized by Elder Abraham Marshall into the life of Kiokee Church. His first wife, Ruth was also baptized into the church about six months later.
Perryman was a self-educated man. As a child, he did not have the opportunity to attend the local schools and he considered himself to be very ignorant. He had a burning desire to learn more about God's word. After a hard day's work providing for his family, he would sit by the fire for light to obtain the knowledge he desired. He walked, as much as, eight miles to a church service. Perryman worked his fields very hard in order to finish by Friday evening of each week so he could attend services on the weekend.
After Perryman's conversion, he would sit under the preaching of Jesse Mercer and Abraham Marshall. He gained a lot of spiritual knowledge from these two men of God. He held Prayer Meetings in the homes of his neighbors to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Perryman never thought of himself as a pastor but as an evangelist.
In January of 1810 he and his family moved to Warren County on the Briar Creek, not far for the Sweetwater Meeting House. As an evangelist, he would travel to the counties of Montgomery, Emanuel, Tatnall and Bullock spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He considered this part of the state to be destitute to the knowledge of our Lord. He also traveled through Richmond, Burke, Jefferson, Screven Counties; sometimes he would travel into South Carolina and even Alabama. Although Perryman continued to preach mostly in the central part of East Georgia, he preached at the Georgia Baptist Associational Meetings in the Sarepta Association in the fall of 1816. The associational meeting lasted for more than four days.
According to his great great-grandson, Rev. Andy Perryman, Elisha Perryman was one of the original 11 men "seated" at the first session of the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1822. Read more in the book entitled "A History of the Georgia Baptist Association 1784 - 1984" written by Waldo Harris.
He also was instrumental in estiblishing three church in the area. He started Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Mount Horeb Baptist Church and Reedy Creek Baptist Church.
Even into his late eighty's, Perryman preached the good news of Jesus Christ as an evangelist calling his congregation to "fly from the wrath to come". He died on August 17, 1856 and is buried in a Perryman Cemetery located in McDuffie County, Georgia. He stated he traveled more than 120,000 miles preaching during his lifetime.
Sources and for further study:
Sketch of the Life, Labors, Adventures of Elder Elisha Perryman, 1856 by a friend, Steam Power Press of William S. Jones, Augusta, Georgia
History of Baptist Denomination in Georgia on openlibrary.org
Elder Elisha Perryman
1769 – 1856
State Itinerant Missionary Evangelist
Elisha Perryman was born on February 6, 1769 in Halifax County, Virginia. Although his ancestry can be traced back to Wales, Perryman's parents were natives of Virginia. He was the second of eight children born into this family. In Perryman's own words, "my grandparents, so far as I know, were plan homespun, old-fashioned, orthodox, predestinarian Baptist"
In Perryman's early childhood, he experienced the horrors of the Revolutionary War. His father was a Captain in a volunteer company from Virginia, which he established to aid in fighting the British. General Cornwallis had set up camp within six miles of the Perryman home place. Perryman stated the British played havoc on the county in which he lived. They also carried off whatever personal belongings they could carry and then destroyed some of what they could not carry. The British would eat the local cattle, hogs, corn and anything else they could get their hands on.
In the Spring of that same year, the Perryman family headed south to Georgia. They settled on Big Kiokee Creek in Richmond County just about twenty-two miles north of Augusta, Georgia.
In November of 1787 he married Ruth Cobb, a nice young girl that did not live very far from his father and together they set up housekeeping in the country running a farm. Mrs. Perryman died May 24, 1825. He married a second time the following year to Martha Watson.
For several years, Perryman would become troubled because of his sins. He stated "these troubles would soon wear off". But in 1792, his convictions became so great, he began to invite ministers to his home so he could gain knowledge on how to deal with his sins. Perryman, for several years, could not find peace with God and that at one time he would be eternally lost.
It got to the point where Perryman could not sleep at night, and he thought that he would never be saved from his sins. In May of 1799, while plowing one morning in a corn field, he stated "something like a flash of lighting came all in me and around me; and I had such a view of the fullness and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the worth of his pardoning love and mercy to a poor sinner like me, that I broke out into a great cry of joy and praise"
On the third Sunday in August of 1801, he was baptized by Elder Abraham Marshall into the life of Kiokee Church. His first wife, Ruth was also baptized into the church about six months later.
Perryman was a self-educated man. As a child, he did not have the opportunity to attend the local schools and he considered himself to be very ignorant. He had a burning desire to learn more about God's word. After a hard day's work providing for his family, he would sit by the fire for light to obtain the knowledge he desired. He walked, as much as, eight miles to a church service. Perryman worked his fields very hard in order to finish by Friday evening of each week so he could attend services on the weekend.
After Perryman's conversion, he would sit under the preaching of Jesse Mercer and Abraham Marshall. He gained a lot of spiritual knowledge from these two men of God. He held Prayer Meetings in the homes of his neighbors to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Perryman never thought of himself as a pastor but as an evangelist.
In January of 1810 he and his family moved to Warren County on the Briar Creek, not far for the Sweetwater Meeting House. As an evangelist, he would travel to the counties of Montgomery, Emanuel, Tatnall and Bullock spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He considered this part of the state to be destitute to the knowledge of our Lord. He also traveled through Richmond, Burke, Jefferson, Screven Counties; sometimes he would travel into South Carolina and even Alabama. Although Perryman continued to preach mostly in the central part of East Georgia, he preached at the Georgia Baptist Associational Meetings in the Sarepta Association in the fall of 1816. The associational meeting lasted for more than four days.
According to his great great-grandson, Rev. Andy Perryman, Elisha Perryman was one of the original 11 men "seated" at the first session of the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1822. Read more in the book entitled "A History of the Georgia Baptist Association 1784 - 1984" written by Waldo Harris.
He also was instrumental in estiblishing three church in the area. He started Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Mount Horeb Baptist Church and Reedy Creek Baptist Church.
Even into his late eighty's, Perryman preached the good news of Jesus Christ as an evangelist calling his congregation to "fly from the wrath to come". He died on August 17, 1856 and is buried in a Perryman Cemetery located in McDuffie County, Georgia. He stated he traveled more than 120,000 miles preaching during his lifetime.
Sources and for further study:
Sketch of the Life, Labors, Adventures of Elder Elisha Perryman, 1856 by a friend, Steam Power Press of William S. Jones, Augusta, Georgia
History of Baptist Denomination in Georgia on openlibrary.org
1769 – 1856
State Itinerant Missionary Evangelist
Elisha Perryman was born on February 6, 1769 in Halifax County, Virginia. Although his ancestry can be traced back to Wales, Perryman's parents were natives of Virginia. He was the second of eight children born into this family. In Perryman's own words, "my grandparents, so far as I know, were plan homespun, old-fashioned, orthodox, predestinarian Baptist"
In Perryman's early childhood, he experienced the horrors of the Revolutionary War. His father was a Captain in a volunteer company from Virginia, which he established to aid in fighting the British. General Cornwallis had set up camp within six miles of the Perryman home place. Perryman stated the British played havoc on the county in which he lived. They also carried off whatever personal belongings they could carry and then destroyed some of what they could not carry. The British would eat the local cattle, hogs, corn and anything else they could get their hands on.
In the Spring of that same year, the Perryman family headed south to Georgia. They settled on Big Kiokee Creek in Richmond County just about twenty-two miles north of Augusta, Georgia.
In November of 1787 he married Ruth Cobb, a nice young girl that did not live very far from his father and together they set up housekeeping in the country running a farm. Mrs. Perryman died May 24, 1825. He married a second time the following year to Martha Watson.
For several years, Perryman would become troubled because of his sins. He stated "these troubles would soon wear off". But in 1792, his convictions became so great, he began to invite ministers to his home so he could gain knowledge on how to deal with his sins. Perryman, for several years, could not find peace with God and that at one time he would be eternally lost.
It got to the point where Perryman could not sleep at night, and he thought that he would never be saved from his sins. In May of 1799, while plowing one morning in a corn field, he stated "something like a flash of lighting came all in me and around me; and I had such a view of the fullness and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of the worth of his pardoning love and mercy to a poor sinner like me, that I broke out into a great cry of joy and praise"
On the third Sunday in August of 1801, he was baptized by Elder Abraham Marshall into the life of Kiokee Church. His first wife, Ruth was also baptized into the church about six months later.
Perryman was a self-educated man. As a child, he did not have the opportunity to attend the local schools and he considered himself to be very ignorant. He had a burning desire to learn more about God's word. After a hard day's work providing for his family, he would sit by the fire for light to obtain the knowledge he desired. He walked, as much as, eight miles to a church service. Perryman worked his fields very hard in order to finish by Friday evening of each week so he could attend services on the weekend.
After Perryman's conversion, he would sit under the preaching of Jesse Mercer and Abraham Marshall. He gained a lot of spiritual knowledge from these two men of God. He held Prayer Meetings in the homes of his neighbors to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Perryman never thought of himself as a pastor but as an evangelist.
In January of 1810 he and his family moved to Warren County on the Briar Creek, not far for the Sweetwater Meeting House. As an evangelist, he would travel to the counties of Montgomery, Emanuel, Tatnall and Bullock spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He considered this part of the state to be destitute to the knowledge of our Lord. He also traveled through Richmond, Burke, Jefferson, Screven Counties; sometimes he would travel into South Carolina and even Alabama. Although Perryman continued to preach mostly in the central part of East Georgia, he preached at the Georgia Baptist Associational Meetings in the Sarepta Association in the fall of 1816. The associational meeting lasted for more than four days.
According to his great great-grandson, Rev. Andy Perryman, Elisha Perryman was one of the original 11 men "seated" at the first session of the Georgia Baptist Convention in 1822. Read more in the book entitled "A History of the Georgia Baptist Association 1784 - 1984" written by Waldo Harris.
He also was instrumental in estiblishing three church in the area. He started Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Mount Horeb Baptist Church and Reedy Creek Baptist Church.
Even into his late eighty's, Perryman preached the good news of Jesus Christ as an evangelist calling his congregation to "fly from the wrath to come". He died on August 17, 1856 and is buried in a Perryman Cemetery located in McDuffie County, Georgia. He stated he traveled more than 120,000 miles preaching during his lifetime.
Sources and for further study:
Sketch of the Life, Labors, Adventures of Elder Elisha Perryman, 1856 by a friend, Steam Power Press of William S. Jones, Augusta, Georgia
History of Baptist Denomination in Georgia on openlibrary.org
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