Today in Savannah history September 22, 1762 Rev. Dr. Henry Holcombe was born. He was the son of Elizabeth Buzbee and Grimes Holcombe from Prince Edward County, Virginia. He fought against the British in the American Revolution although he was just a boy at first. Men of Mark in Georgia states that he made “his first religious address on horseback at the head of his command.” He was ordained September 11, 1785 at the age of 23. He was asked to Savannah to be the pastor of the Baptist congregation in Savannah. He would be the first pastor of the Baptist Church which now stands on Chippewa Square as the oldest standing house of worship. The original building was on Franklin Square. The church was organized in November of 1800 however the congregation had roots in Savannah as early as 1795. Henry Holcombe baptized the first white person in Savannah on September 11, 1800 according to J. Campbell. He was the pastor of that the Baptist Church for two years making $2,000 a year. He spoke out against capital punishment for small crimes and for this some consider him the instigator of the state prison system. He, his wife and thirteen ladies of the Presbyterian Church founded the Savannah Female Orphan Asylum. He died on May 22, 1824 spreading his faith with his last breath.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:26:12 +0000
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