Charles Woodmason's Journal

Charles Woodmason was an itinerant Anglican minister who served along the Carolina backcountry in the years preceding the War for Independence.  As an Englishman who had moved to America and lived in the Charleston area, Woodmason became a planter and civil official prior to leaving behind that life to minister to the people who lived along the frontier.  Woodmason kept a journal of his travels and observations, and this journal is especially important to scholars for in it Woodmason describes in detail the dress, mannerisms, and attitudes of those who settled the colonial backcountry.  His journal is by no means unbiased; Woodmason views everything from the perspective of a conservative English gentryman and so one may wonder if hyperbole or exaggeration colors his observations.  Nevertheless, we get a glimpse of the colonial frontier as we read his accounts.

I recently purchased The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution: The Journal and other Writings of Charles Woodmason, Anglican Itinerant, edited by Richard J. Hooker.  I’ve only just started reading but I’ve already found several items from Woodmason’s journal that piqued my interest.  Here’s a couple:

 Sunday 21st (September 1766)

 Officiated in the Presbyterian Meeting House to about 200 hearers, Chiefly Presbyterians. Offered to give sermon twice on ev’ry Sunday. Rejected.

Beside this Meeting House, there is another of Quakers with a large Congregation. -- But they have neither Pastor or Teacher of Speaker at Either.

The people around, of abandon’d Morals, and profligate Principles -- Rude -- Ignorant -- Void of Manners, Education or Good Breeding -- No genteel or Polite Person among them -- save Mr. Kershaw an English Merchant settled here. The people are of all Sects and Denominations -- a mix’d medley from all Countries and the Off Scouring of America. Baptized 20 Children this Week and rode about 40 Miles -- Miles Brought over 220. ¹

 Notwithstanding the fact that Woodmason may be a little harsh in his criticism, I have to wonder what he might say were he to visit our country today.  If there is any people that has truly abandoned moral principles it certainly must be our American people.  There are many sects and denominations within what is called Christianity today (not to mentioned the many cults and false religions), just as in Woodmason’s day, but how many of those people within those religious societies are truly Christ’s sheep?  I fear many may be goats in reality.

 Sunday January 25th 1767

A Congregation at the Cheraws of above 500 People.  Baptiz’d about 60 Children -- Quite jaded out-- standing and speaking six Hours together and nothing to refresh me, but Water -- and their Provisions I could not touch -- All the Cookery of these People being exceeding filthy, and most execrable.

Next Day, I returned and preached the 27th in my Way back at Lynch’s Creek to a great Multitude of People assembled together, being the 1st Episcopal Minister they had seen since their being in the province- They complain’d of being eaten up by Itinerant Teachers, Preachers and Imposters from New England and Pennsylvania -- Baptists, New Lights, Presbyterians, Independents, and a hundred other Sects - So that one day You might here this System of Doctrine -- the next day another, next day another, retrograde to both. Thus by the Variety of Taylors who would pretend to know the best fashion in which Christs Coat is to be worn none will put it on. And among the Various Plans of Religion, they are at Loss which to adapt, and consequently are without any Religion at all. They came to Sermon with Itching Ears only, not with any Disposition of Heart, or Sentiment of Mind. Assemble out of Curiosity, not Devotion, and seem so pleas’d with their native Ignorance, as to be offended at any Attempts to rouse them out of it. -- 40 miles

I was almost tir’d in baptizing of Children -- and laid my Self down for the Night frozen with the Cold-- without the least Refreshment, No Eggs, Butter, Flour, Milk, or anything, but fat rusty Bacon, and fair Water, with Indian Corn Bread, Viands I had never before seen or tasted. -- 1340 total 
miles  ²

Again Woodmason mentions the proliferation of religious denominations and yet what was (to his reckoning anyway) a lack of sincere worship.  I guess I have to look at my own self and assess my own walk with the Lord.  Am I guilty as well, guilty of “assembling out of curiosity, not devotion”?  Am I more zealous for a doctrinal system than I am for Christ?  Have I tired myself out in serving the Lord?  Lord Jesus, forgive me for my faithlessness!!!

 On a note of historical interest, it’s interesting that Woodmason mentions having nothing to eat but bacon and corn bread and nothing to drink but water.  For those who engage in living history events portraying colonial frontier folk, this would be the meal of choice.  It is also interesting that Woodmason had never seen these primitive dishes before; this gives us some idea of the disparity between the established coastal regions and the primitive settlements of the backcountry.

This is a fascinating book that I believe I’m really going to enjoy.

Christ, not man, is King!

Dale

1)   Richard J. Hooker, ed., The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1953), p. 6-7.

2) Ibid., 13.