Friendship Primitive Baptist
Church
Was located on Hwy. 57.
Organized 1815(?) Dissolved after tornado did heavy damage to building
in May 1953
Tradition
says the first meetings of this church were held in a house near Claymont
and later on the Lingo Place on Hwy. 57 near the Whitaker Cemetery.
It was moved to Irwinton and known as the Irwinton Church. Dissension caused
it to be moved it's present location. Shortly after it's removal it was
changed to Friendship. In 1836 the church united with the Primitive Baptist
Association. Due to a dispute over the question of members joining the
secret order of Patrons
of Husbandry in 1874, the church was disfellowshipped from the Ebenezer
Association of Primitive Baptist and united with several other Baptist
churches and formed a new association. However in 1886 it joined the Towaliga
Association.
Early pastors: David
Smith, Lamkin Vandiver, John Evers, William M. Cooper.
Early members (1815-1830): James Herndon and wife, Benjamin Maculler, Richard
Lewis, Jesey Moor, Green W. Meadows, Joniah Bennett, William Picknin, John
Usrey, Elbud Lee, Joseph M. Burk and wife, Richard Whitaker, Thomas Poot
and wife, Joseph Bryant and wife, Lewis J. Ramsey and wife, William W.
Spivey and wife, Nathaniel Cobb and wife, Lamkin Vandever and wife, Timothy
Bloodworth, Lewis Etheredge, James Moore, Moses Dykes, Nathaniel Shepherd,
Nanthan Bush and wife, Welcom Usrey, Silvey Herndon, Betsey Lewis, Sally
Bennett, Zanna Moore, Elizabeth Mayo, Agga Herndon, Susanna Meadows, Mrs.
Charity Gray, Winney MacNeal, Flora Leathers, Mary Burk, Fanny Whitaker,
Nancy Fort, Sally Bryant, Nancy Ramsey, Elizabeth Spivy, Mary Cobb, Nancy
Vandever, Elizabeth Bloodworth, Lucinda Etheredge, Rebecah Thompson, Nancy
Bush, Nancy MacMurran, Lydia Barbee, Mary Dykes, Cassey Kinmon, Maryan
Shepherd, Nicy Faircloth, Elizabeth Lavander, Sarah Bloodworth, Seaches
Fairchild, Elizabeth Herndon, Mary McCardell, Hannah Vandivere, and Nancy
Allen.
Source:Wilkinson County Georgia Historical Collections by Joseph Maddox