82.

Of this distant colony, G. Winfred Hervey remarks: "The first settlers
of Sierra Leone were what they needed to be, men of bravery. They
consisted of about 12,000 colored men who had joined the British
forces in the American Revolution. At the close of the war they were
sent to Nova Scotia, but the climate proving too unfriendly to them,
they were, in 1792, transported to Sierra Leone."[26] One of the first
things that David George did, after reaching Africa, was to plant a
little Baptist church, which was composed of Negroes from America who
had arrived in their fatherland by way of Nova Scotia.

In order to stimulate in the English people an intelligent interest in
the colony of Sierra Leone, and secure for the Baptist cause in
Freetown the sympathy and aid of English Baptists, David George took a
trip to London, England, shortly after establishing himself on the
continent of Africa. It was this visit to the metropolis of the world
which doubtless, more than anything else, facilitated the collection
and publication of many facts then existing and ascertainable in
regard to Negro Baptist preachers and their churches in the eastern
and western hemispheres.

In visiting Europe, David George took with him letters of commendation
from persons of recognized standing in England. John Rippon, the
distinguished London divine, thus speaks of David George, after
investigating his standing: "Governor Clarkson, in the most unreserved
manner, assured me that he esteemed David George as his brother, and
that he believes him to be the best man, without exception, in the
colony of Sierra Leone."[27] Had the Silver Bluff Church done nothing
more than produce this one earnest Christian man, this faithful
preacher of Christ, this potent factor in the planting of a colony
under the English flag, it would not have existed in vain, but it did
more.

THE SILVER BLUFF CHURCH REVIVED

When peace had been restored, and the Revolutionary forces had been
disbanded or recalled, Silver Bluff resumed once more the aspect of
social distinctions between master and slave in colonial times. Once
more, too, the Galphin place became a center of religious activities,
and the Negro Baptists of Silver Bluff were more numerous than ever.

The man who was instrumental in resuscitating the work at Silver Bluff
was Jesse Peter, who, according to an old custom of applying to the
slave the surname of the master, was better known as Jesse Galphin, or