Heart of the Community Marker

HMdb.org

THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE “Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”

Home — My Markers — Add A Marker — Marker Series — Links & Books — Forum — About Us

Word or Phrase

Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print

Near Van Wyck in Lancaster County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Heart of the Community

By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009

1. Heart of the Community Marker

Inscription. Scotch-Irish Presbyterians called their worship places Meeting Houses to emphasize that the structure is a building and that the church is the body of believers. The community came to the Meeting House not only to worship, but also for recreation, community benevolence, and political discussion. The Jackson family were members of the Waxhaw Meeting House, the oldest in the South Carolina Backcountry. Andrew Jackson's exposure to this unified body of strong-willed individuals forged his character for life.

Erected by South Carolina State Park Service.

Location. 34° 50.448′ N, 80° 48.372′ W. Marker is near Van Wyck, South Carolina, in Lancaster County. Marker is on Andrew Jackson State Park Road 0.5 miles east of U.S. 521. Click for map. Marker is in Andrew Jackson State Park. Marker is in this post office area: Van Wyck SC 29744, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Birthplace of Andrew Jackson Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); School Days in the Waxhaws (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); Jackson Comes Home (about 400 feet away); The Boy of the Waxhaws (about 400 feet away); Birthplace of Andrew Jackson (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Birthplace of Andrew Jackson (approx. 0.3 miles away); Major Crawford's Home (approx. 0.6 miles away); Boundary Line (approx. 0.9 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Van Wyck.

Meeting House Photo, Click for full size

By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009

2. Meeting House

Fishing Creek Presbyterian Church was founded in 1752, about 20 miles west of Andrew Jackson's home. This image is of the congregation's second sanctuary, built in 1785. The building in front of you reflects these traditions of architecture and community.

More about this marker. There is also a small picture of a tombstone near the center of the marker.
The tombstone shown here marks a grave in the Old Waxhaw Presbyterian Cemetery. Hearts were a common decorative motif in the 18th century Carolina Backcountry.

Shops of sedition Photo, Click for full size

By Michael Sean Nix, October 28, 2009

3. Shops of sedition

During the American Revolution, Meeting Houses were called "shops of sedition" because a number of ministers preached against the British Crown. In 1780, William Martin, a Presbyterian minister in the Fishing Creek area, was arrested for "preaching rebellion from the pulpit".