Kingston in Adams County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

In Memory of Samuel Swayze

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 10, 2024

1. In Memory of Samuel Swayze Marker

Inscription. The first Protestant minister to settle in Mississippi. He established the first Protestant church near Kingston.

Erected by Reverend Samuel Swayze Chapter, Colonial Dames of XVII Century.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Colonial Dames XVII Century, National Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1773.

Location. 31° 23.386′ N, 91° 16.717′ W. Marker is in Kingston, Mississippi, in Adams County. It is on Hutchins Landing Road ¼ mile east of Hillside Plantation Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1090 Hutchins Landing Rd, Natchez MS 39120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Mississippi and in Natchez Trace Corridor.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Kingston (within shouting distance of this marker); Jersey Settlers (within shouting distance of this marker); Kingston Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Jersey Settlers (approx. one mile away); Wirt Adams's Raid (approx. 6.8 miles away); Mt. Plain B.C. (approx. 7.4 miles away); The Forest Plantation (approx. 7.8 miles away); a different marker also named Kingston (approx. 8.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kingston.

Regarding In Memory of Samuel Swayze. From The Descendants of the Jersey Settlers of Adams County, Mississippi:

The first church in the settlement was a Congregationalist Church, organized around 1773 by Rev. Samuel Swayze who had been a Congregationalist minister in New Jersey. This church continued until his death some 12
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 10, 2024

2. In Memory of Samuel Swayze Marker
The old Kingston United Methodist Church, built in 1856, is in the background. It was the second church founded in the Kingston settlement, after Rev. Samuel Swayze's Protestant congregational church founded in 1773.
years later. There was no meeting house, but the congregation met in homes, sometimes secretly for fear of the Spanish, who did not allow freedom of worship. Tradition states that Rev. Samuel hid his Bible in a hollow tree on the banks of a small stream still known as Sammy's Creek.

Also see . . . The First Congregational Church. A history of the church in Chester, N.J., where Rev. Swayze was a minister before forming a Separatist congregational church in town. He later led a colony of congregants in settling in what is now present-day Mississippi. (Chester Historical Society) (Submitted on March 25, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 399 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.