Keller in Bryan County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church

By Mike Stroud, April 21, 2009

1. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This church, the oldest congregation in lower Bryan County, was certified by the Presbytery of Georgia in 1830. Its founders included rice planters on Bryan Neck, among them Thomas Savage Clay, Richard James Arnold and George Washington McAllister. The first meeting house was constructed in 1839 three miles north of this site on the Bryan Neck Road. The current sanctuary, the oldest public building in Bryan County, was built in 1885 after the first building burned. The cemetery, known as Burnt Church Cemetery, remains at the original site and includes the graves of the church's prominent early members.

Erected 2001 by The Georgia Historical Society, Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, and Richmond Hill Historical Society. (Marker Number 15-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Landmarks • Notable Places. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 31° 50.521′

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Marker, looking west along Belfast-Keller Road image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, 2009

2. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Marker, looking west along Belfast-Keller Road

Click or scan to see
this page online

N, 81° 15.671′ W. Marker is in Keller, Georgia, in Bryan County. Marker is on Belfast-Keller Rd, on the left when traveling west. 8 mi E of Richmond Hill on Ga 144. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richmond Hill GA 31324, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bryan Neck Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 2 miles away); George Washington Carver School (approx. 2.1 miles away); George W. McAllister (approx. 2½ miles away); The Clay Family of Bryan Neck (approx. 2½ miles away); Burnt Church Cemetery (approx. 2½ miles away); Richard James Arnold (approx. 3.1 miles away); Fort McAllister (approx. 3.3 miles away); Kilpatrick on Bryan Neck (approx. 3.3 miles away).

Regarding Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church. National Register of Historic Places :
Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church (added 2000 - Building - #00000193)
♦ Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
♦ Architectural Style: Colonial Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman
♦ Area of Significance: Architecture
♦ Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
♦ Owner: Private
♦ Historic Function: Funerary, Religion
♦ Historic Sub-function: Cemetery, Church School, Religious Structure
♦ Current Function: Funerary, Religion
♦ Current Sub-function:

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, 2009

3. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church and Marker

Cemetery, Church School, Religious Structure

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. the relationship, marker shown.

Burnt Church Cemetery as mentioned on Marker image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, April 21, 2009

4. Burnt Church Cemetery as mentioned on Marker

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Burnt Church Cemetery, as mentioned: Grave of Thomas S. Clay image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, April 21, 2009

5. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Burnt Church Cemetery, as mentioned: Grave of Thomas S. Clay

Sacred
to the Memory of
Thomas S. Clay
Born Feby. 19 1801
Died Octr. 24, 1849

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Burnt Church Cemetery, grave of Col. G.W. McAllister, image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, April 21, 2009

6. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Burnt Church Cemetery, grave of Col. G.W. McAllister,

Sacred
to the Memory of
Col. G.W. McAllister
born
December 21, 1781
Died
March 18, 1850

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Burnt Church Cemetery, grave of Eliza Clay image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, April 21, 2009

7. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church Burnt Church Cemetery, grave of Eliza Clay

Eliza Caroline Clay
1809-1895
Sister of Thomas Savage Clay

Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church and its Burnt Church Cemetery image. Click for full size.

By Burnt Church Cemetery, April 21, 2009

8. Bryan Neck Presbyterian Church and its Burnt Church Cemetery

( Left Picture )
Thomas Savage Clay
1801-1849
Son of Joseph Clay, Jr. 1764-1811 and
Mary Ann Savage Clay 1770-1844
Joseph was a graduate of Princeton, a lawyer and a Baptist minister
After Joseph Clay died the family returned to Boston until the children were educated
Thomas, his mother and 2 sisters came back to Bryan County in 1821
Thomas bought "Dublin" tract and renamed it Richmond. He also aquired Tranquilla, Tivoli, Piercefield, Ricedale, Frugality Hall, Thoroughgood on the Canoochee
He was an Elder of the Bryan Neck
Presbyterian Church
He died suddenly at age 48.
Matilda Willis McAllister Clay
1818-1869
Married Thomas Savage Clay
Daughter of George W. McAllister and
Mary Bowman
She was the mother of five surviving children
G.W. Clay
1842-1844
Son of Thomas and Matilda Clay

( Right Picture )
George W. McAllister
1781-1850
Father of Matilda Willis Clay who married Thomas Savage Clay
Owner of Strathy Hall which originally belonged to James Mackay as grantee He was married four times. He died suddenly from a fall from a horse.
His son Joseph inherited Strathy Hall He gave the land for Fort McAllister to the Confederacy in honor of his father.
Eliza Caroline Clay
1809-1895
Sister of Thomas Savage Clay
Managed the plantations and took care of the children of Thomas and Matilda after
Thomas died.
She was deaf from scarlet fever
Evelyn Washburn
1879-1884
Son of Ingersoll and Anne Clay Washburn Grandson of Thomas and Miltilda Clay

Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,996 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on May 5, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.