378 LIBERTY COUNTY. 



posts in the ground, and the sides filled up with poles. The 

 present meeting-house was built in 1792. The body of the 

 house measures 60 feet by 40. Its gallery is large and com- 

 modious. Near the foot of the pulpit stands a marble font 

 presented to the church by the Rev. Dr. McWhir. There is 

 a large cemetery connected with this church. 



List of the pastors of the Midway church, from its organ- 

 ization to the present time : 



Rev. John Osgood, Rev. Moses Allen,* Rev. Abiel Holmes, 

 D. D,, Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, Rev Murdock Murphey, 

 Rev. Robert Quarterman, Rev. J. S. R. Axon, 



Mounds, Minerals, &c. — In many places in the county 

 are to be found mounds, and in, and around them, various 

 instruments for domestic and warlike purposes, such as ar- 

 rows, spear-heads, pottery, &:c. In various places, a few feet 

 below the surface, oyster shells may be found. 



Marl occurs in many localities, and sometimes it is very rich 

 in carbonate of lime. Beautiful crystals of the sulphate of lime 

 have been found in Bulltown swamp. Petrified wood is dug 

 up at various depths, and on the North Newport and Medway 

 rivers, the stumps and trunks of cypress trees and arrow-heads 

 are found at the depth of four feet. 



Remarkable Seasons. — On the 15th of August, 1752, oc- 

 curred one of the severest hurricanes ever experienced in 

 the United States, and this county had its share of the calami- 

 ties resulting from it. On the 8th day of September, 1804, 

 another great hurricane occurred. The last great hurricane 

 took place on Wednesday night, the 14th of September, 1844. 

 Dr. Harden says : " It commenced to blow from N. E. about 

 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and gradually increased until pro- 

 bably 1 o'clock at night, when its violence was greatest. The 



* This gentleman was born in Northampton, Mass., Sept. 14, 1748. About 

 1777 he was established at Midway. At the reduction of Savannah by the 

 British troops, Mr. Allen was taken prisoner. The Continental officers were 

 sent to Sunbury on parole, but Mr. Allen, who was Chaplain to the Georgia 

 Brigade, was denied this privilege. He was sent on board a prison-ship, and 

 in attempting to recover his liberty by swimming to land, he was drowned. 

 His body was washed on an island, and was found by some of his friends. 

 They requested of the Captain of a British vessel boards to make a coffin, but 

 were refused. 



