e Peter's pastorate at Silver
Bluff were such that he did not reside at his old home, but came and
went as a stated visitor. Accordingly, Jonathan Clarke, writing from
Savannah, Georgia, December 22, 1792, says, "Jesse Peter (whose
present master is Thomas Galphin), is now here, and has three or four
places in the country, where he attends preaching alternately."[30]
George Liele, writing from the West Indies, in 1791, had said to
Joseph Cook, of South Carolina, "Brother Jesse Galphin, another black
minister, preaches near Augusta, in South Carolina, where I used to
preach."[31] Referring to him, George White speaks as follows: "On the
20th of January, 1788, Andrew, surnamed Bryan, was ordained by Rev.
Abraham Marshall, and a colored minister named Jesse Peter, from the
vicinity of Augusta."[32] Benedict, referring to Andrew Marshall, in
the same connection, states that "he was accompanied by a young
preacher of color, by the name of Jesse Peter, of Augusta."[33] From
these testimonies, it is evident that Jesse Peter was a nonresident
pastor of the Silver Bluff Church from 1788 to 1792, if not for a
longer period.

During the first period of Jesse Peter's pastorate at Silver Bluff,
another slave, who lived in that locality, began to preach. Andrew
Bryan, writing from Savannah, Georgia, December 28, 1800, refers to
him in the following manner: "Another dispensation of Providence has
greatly strengthened our hands and increased our means of information:
Henry Francis, lately a slave of the widow of the late Col. Leroy
Hammond, of Augusta, has been purchased by a few humane gentlemen of
this place, and liberated to exercise the handsome ministerial gifts
he possesses amongst us, and teach our youth to read and write." He
adds, "Brother Francis has been in the ministry fifteen years, and
will soon receive ordination."[34] According to Andrew Bryan, Henry
Francis was a half-breed, his mother being white, his father an
Indian, but I find in a letter, written by another from the city of
Savannah, May 23, 1800, that he is characterized as "a man of color,
who has for many years served Col. Hammond, and has handsome
ministerial abilities."[35]

The question easily suggests itself, was Henry Francis a member of the
Silver Bluff Church when, in 1785, he began to preach? We infer that
he was, from certain known facts as to his place of abode, and his
opportunities for church membership. In the first place, he lived in
the immedi