LIBERTY COUNTY. 377 



ancient and modern history. He was particularly skilled in 

 the sciences allied to his profession, as chemistry and botany, 

 and had made great progress in astronomy, geology, con- 

 chology, zoology, &c. &c. 



Liberty county claims several other eminent men, but the 

 plan of this work will not allow an extension of the list. 



Original Settlers. — Benjamin Baker, Samuel Bacon, 

 Parmenus Way, John Stevens, Richard Spencer, Richard Ba- 

 ker, Josiah Osgood, Samuel Way, John Elliott, John Quarter- 

 man, Rev. John Osgood, Sarah Mitchell, John Mitchell, Sam- 

 uel Burnley, Edward Way, Edward Sumner, William Baker, 

 and others. 



Dr. Stevens, in his History of Georgia, says : " The acces- 

 sion of such a people was an honour to Georgia, and has ever 

 proved one of its richest blessings. The sons of that colony 

 have shown themselves worthy of its sires ; their sires were 

 the moral and intellectual nobility of the Province." 



Character of the People. — The character of the people 

 generally is upright and virtuous, and they are unsurpassed for 

 the great attention paid to the duties of religion. 



Miscellaneous Observations. — It may be gratifying to 

 many of our readers to be made acquainted with the history 

 of the Midway church, in this county, and we take pleasure 

 in giving the following abridged account, for which we are 

 indebted to John B. Mallard, Esq. 



The first house for public worship was erected on Midway 

 Neck, near the plantation of Mr. Thomas Mallard. About 

 1754 measures were taken to build a new meeting-house. Mr. 

 James Maxwell was employed to saw the lumber, and the Rev. 

 Mr. Osgood, Samuel Burnley, Richard Baker, Ed'vard Sum- 

 ner, and Benjamin Baker, to determine its size and form. It 

 was erected at the Cross Paths, on the north side of the north 

 branch of Newport swamp, 44 feet by 36, with a gallery 18 

 feet in its story, and pitched roof, hipped at one end, and a 

 small steeple at the other. The steeple was placed west, and 

 the pulpit north. This house was destroyed by fire in 1778, by 

 a body of armed men, under the command of Col. Provost. At 

 the close of the Revolution a coarse building was put up near 

 the place where the old meeting-house stood, 40 feet by 30, with 



