Andrew Bryan, Savannah, Georgia, to John Rippon, Southwark, London, 23 December 1800.

A note in the Baptist Annual Register in “Extracts of Letters from America,” vol. 3, p. 263, would indicate that a letter previous to the one residing now in the Rippon Letters at the British Library had :

With much pleasure I inform Dr. Rippon, that the cause of our common Lord is seriously regarded by many, of different denominations here [Savannah], as of the highest importance. The poor blacks, for whom you have manifested so benevolent a concern, are still under their old minister, Andrew Bryan,* increasing in number, and, I trust, in knowledge and virtue. He has lately baptized twelve. Their present number is about 700 members. We contemplate the constitution of a seond church of them; and especially since several friends to religion and humanity, in this place, have lately conferred the noble gift of freedom on Henry Francis, a man of colour, who has for many years served Colonel Hammond, and has handsome ministerial abilities.

*A christian negroe – his people are of the same description.

Bryan’s letter below of 23 December 1800 appeared in the Register, vol. 3, pp. 366-67, titled, “A Letter from the Negroe Baptist Church in Savannah, addressed to the Rev. Dr. Rippon.” Rippon added a note after Bryan’s signature that the letter was “written perhaps by Rev. Mr. Holcombe,” who had recently arrived in Savannah from the church in Eutaw, South Carolina (possibly dictated to Holcombe by Bryan) to pastor a new work in Savannah. After comparing Bryan’s letters to Isaac Backus in Massachusetts from the 1790s, the letter is clearly not in Bryan’s hand. Rippon, as was usual in the letters he published in the Register, edited the letter slightly, putting omissions in square brackets. The omissions have been added (in brackets) in the letter below.

Savannah-Georgia. U.S.A. Dec. 23, 1800.

My dear and Rev. Brother,

         After a long silence, occasioned by various hindrances, I sit down to answer your inestimable favour by the late dear Mr. White, who I hope is rejoicing, far above the troubles and trials of this frail sinful state, [in glory]. All the books, mentioned in your truly condescending and affectionate letter, came safe, and were distributed according to your human directions. You can scarcely conceive, much less can I describe, the gratitude excited by so seasonable and precious a supply of the means of knowledge and grace, accompanied with [so many kind enquiries, &] benevolent proposals of further assistance. Deign, dear sir, to accept our united, and sincere thanks for your great kindess to us, who hae been so little accustomed to such attentions. Be assured our prayers have ascended, and I trust will continue to ascend to God, for your health and happiness, and that you may be rendered a lasting ornament to our holy Religion, and a successful Minister of the Gospel.

         With much pleasure, I inform you, dear sir, that I enjoy good health, and am strong in body, tho’ 63 years old, and am blessed with a pious wife, whose freedom I have obtained, and an only daughter and child, who is married to a free man, tho she, and consequently, by ^under^ our laws, her seven children, five sons and two daughters, are slaves. By a kind Providence I am well provided for, as to worldly comforts, (tho’ I have had very little given me as a minister,) having a house and lot in this city, besides the land on which several buildings stand, for which I receive a small rent, and a fifty-fix acre-tract of land, with all necessary buildings, four miles in the country, and eight slaves; for whose education and happiness, I am enabled, thro’ mercy to provide.

         But what will be infinitely more interesting to my friend, and is so much more prized by myself, we enjoy the rights of conscience to a valuable extent, worshiping in our families, and preaching three times every Lord’s-day, baptizing frequently from 10 to 30 at a time in the Savannah, and administering the sacred supper, not only without molestation, but in the presence, and with the approbation and encouragement of many of the white people. We are now about 700 in number, and the work of the Lord goes on prosperously.

         An event which has had a happy influence on our affairs was the coming of Mr. Holcombe, late pastor of the Euhaw church, to this place, at the call of the heads of the city, of all denominations, who have remained for the 13 months he has been here, among his constant hearers, and liberal supporters. His salary is 2000 [dollars] a year. He has just had a baptistery, with convenient appendages, built in his church ^place of worship^, and has commenced baptizing.

         Another dispensation of Providence has much strengthened our hands, and increased our means of information: Henry Francis, lately a slave to the widow of the late Col. Leroy Hammond, of Augusta, has been purchased, by a few humane gentlemen of this place, and liberated to exercise the handsome ministerial gifts he possesses amongst us, and teach our youth to read and write. He is a [lusty] strong man, about 49 years of age, whose mother was white, and whose father was an Indian. His wife and only son are slaves.

         Brother Francis has been in the ministry 15 years, and will soon receive ordination, and will probably become the pastor of a branch of my large church, becoming ^which is getting^ too unwieldly for one body. Should this event take place, and his charge receive constitution, it will take the rank and title of the 3d Baptist Church in Savannah.

         [I had lately the pleasure to receive a letter from Brother Jesse George, son to David, & Brother John Cuthburt, whose affairs prosper, & who mention in general that religion is much regarded by the poor blacks.]

         With the most sincere and ardent prayers to God for your temporal and eternal welfare, and with the most unfeigned gratitude, I remain, reverend and dear sir, your obliged servant in the gospel.

                                                         Andrew Bryan.

[Doctor John Rippon – London]

[Mr Holcombe sent Mr Rippon a number of copies of the enclosed sermon, but fearing they have miscarried, with his letter, he begs the doctor’s acceptance of this.]

[P. S. I have never had the pleasure to receive[?] every thing from my worthy friend, but what is mentioned above.]

P. S. I should be glad that my African friends could hear the above account of our affairs.

Text: John Rippon Letters, Vol. 1, British Library, Add. Ms. 25386, fols. 160-61.