William Anson Halbert

This information about William Anson Halbert is from Southside VA Families, by John Bennett Boddie, Southern Historical Families Vol IX, by John Bennett Boddie, Research by Grace Thomas of 4600 S. Wellington, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 and Karen Halbert Moore of 8999 Hillsboro H>S> Rd., Hillsboro, MO 63050, also from Boddie's Historical Southern Families, Vol. 9, and Southside VA Families, Vol. 1

William Anson Halbert was a Justice of the Peace. He was a Lieutenant in the Henry Co., Virginia Militia during the American Revolution. He served with Capt. Henry Lee's Troop, 1st Regiment, Light Dragoons. He was a member of the Provincial Congress from Surry Co., NC in 1775 (The Compendium of American Genealogy, page 208) He was given a land grant of 486 acres of land on Russell Creek in SC, issued by Thomas Jefferson, for his service in the Revolutionary War. He had a red beard, blue eyes and was of stout build. William Anson Halbert seems to have been a resident of Surry County, NC, in 1777, when he bought 150 acres of land in Henrico County, Virginia, for the deed then described him as of "Surry Co., NC." He served in the Revolutionary War as a Second Lieutenant in the Henry County Militia in 1779 and 1780. His name is on a placard of officers now hanging in the courthouse. William Anson Halbert's grave marker seems to indicate that he may have been part of Lighthorse Harry Lee's Legion. Lee's cavalry operated in the Surry County, and Henry County areas. Land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, granting William Halbert 486 acres in Henry County, Virginia "in consideration of the ancient composition of fifty shillings sterling paid by William Halbert into the treasury of the Commonwealth.” The land survey of the land on Russell's Creek defined the bounds of the tract by a persimmon tree, a Post Oak, and a White Oak tree. In 1788, William and Elizabeth Halbert with their ten children, Joel (who was already married), Martha, John, Enos, Arthur, James, Susannah, Frances, William, and Joshua, moved from Caroline County, Virginia, to the Pendleton District of South Carolina. They settled on the Saluda River about ten miles from Fork Shoals, in what is now near Williamston, in Anderson County. After they arrived in South Carolina, their other three children were born. This land had opened to white settlement after a May 1777 treaty with the Cherokee Indians. The subsequent influx of families from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina into the piedmont region of the Palmetto State would lead, in 1790, to the moving of the State Capitol from Charleston to Columbia. The first priority upon arrival was the making of shelter for themselves and the clearing of sufficient land from which they could make a living. Log cabins were first constructed. William built a saw mill on the Big Creek, which he operated until his death in 1808. Once established on their new land, lumber from the mill was used to built a substantial plantation home. William Halbert was calm and deliberate in his manner and actions, and precise in his business transactions. He acquired large land holdings in Anderson County along the Big Creek and along the Saluda River.. William Halbert's arrival coincided with the arrival of many other families, including the Harper's, Berry's, Gambrell, Leavell, and Williams' families. Establishing a church was an important priority to these pioneers. A Baptist preacher from Virginia named Moses Holland also settled in the community. In 1788, the Big Creek Baptist church was organized. Rev. Holland became its first pastor and continued to serve as its pastor until his death about 40 years later. Joel Halbert, the son of William, would serve as a deacon of the church for more than a quarter of a century. Big Creek was one of the strongest churches in this section of the state and was responsible for establishing missions, or "arms," in the surrounding communities. These arms would later become churches in their own right. Elizabeth, daughter of William Halbert, and her husband Peter Acker were active in the establishment of the Shady Grove Church. Their son, Alexander Acker, would serve several years as their pastor. The church was the center of the educational, social, and religious life of the Halbert family and those around them. The pastor and deacons held a rather strict rein of discipline over their membership. Unethical business dealings, drunkenness, and failure to observe the Sabbath would result in expulsion or suspension of membership. Slaves, who, in a few years, would outnumber the white population of the area, were admitted to Big Creek on an equal footing with white members. Of the several active slave members, one named Caesar, was a preacher. In 1802, the Saluda Baptist Association was formed with Big Creek as one of its central members. Annual meetings were held in August and people traveled for miles to attend the four day event. As many as six sermons were preached during the Sunday meeting. The Halbert's and Berry's were always in attendance. The liberal support of the Halbert's was reflected in the entire congregation of Shady Grove Baptist Church observing the Lord's Supper at the plantation home of Elizabeth Halbert on June 23, 1833. He and his wife are buried on land "three miles south of Big Creek Church, between the waters of Toney Creek and Broadmouth." Elizabeth's marker can no longer be found.