Reuben JOHNSON

Other Events:

• _UID: 2454582050E04863A0A5BB4E0EE75C67D1BE

Notes:

Reuben and his son-in-law Jeremiah had warrants issued aganist them in 1782 in Cumberland County, NC for pilfering from the loyalists. They were to have appeared in court in April of 1782. However they fled to Georgia, which had no extradition, to escape being tried on these charges. Ref: Cumberland County, NC Court abstracts. Copy of will from Oglethorpe County, Georgia signed 1-18-1823 and probated 5-5-1824

Reuben Johnson was a charter member of Cloud's Creek Baptist Church (chartered 1788) in the part of Wilkes that became Oglethorpe. Below is the inscription of a marker that was erected in 1999 at the church.

CLOUD'S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH

In 1785, following the Revolutionary War, pioneers from North Carolina -- including the Hendons, Hartsfields, Standifers, Johnsons, Lawrences, and Olives -- settled near Big Cloud's Creek on the Georgia frontier near the Creek and Cherokee nations. Olive's Fort was soon constructed and Cloud's Creek Baptist Church was constituted within its walls in 1788. The church was later moved 2 1/2 miles south to its present location on land deeded by Thomas Hendon in 1798. The second and current sanctuary on the new site was constructed in 1909 and continues in use today.

Erected by The Georgia Historical Society, Cloud's Creek Baptist Church, Descendants of Robinson and Elizabeth Hartsfield Hendon, and Historic Oglethorpe County.

Cloud's Creek Baptist Church constituted September 20, 1788

Charter Members

Robinson Hendon * Elizabeth Hartsfield Hendon * William Hendon * Elizabeth Standifer Hendon * Thomas Hendon * Cassander Standifer Hendon * Kerenhappuch "Happy" Hendon Olive * Benjamin Standiford/Standifer * Rachel Forrest Standiford/Standifer * Thomas Johnson * Penelope Sanders Johnson * Reuben Johnson * Lydia Johnson * William Lawrence * Rhoda Lawrence * Joseph Embry * Rachel Embry * Timothy Carrington * Abel Gower * Isaiah Haile * Adam Simmons * Jimmy Sims * Benjamin Tribble * Mary Bradford Bridges * Tabitha Simillion

Erected by Descendants. Dedicated September 19, 1999.

A Brief History of Cloud's Creek Baptist Church

compiled and written by Alice Hughes

After the Revolutionary War, land grants for military service were given in Georgia. Certain pioneers arriving in the northern portion of Wilkes County (later to become Oglethorpe County) were a close-knit group of families from Wake County, North Carolina. Interconnected by blood and marriage, they included Hendons, Olives, Johnsons and Hartsfields. Beginning in 1785, they formed a community near Big Cloud's Creek.

The Cherokee and Creek Nations overlapped in this area, and tensions between the two tribes erupted -- fully directed against the settlers. For protection, Anthony Olive built a two-storied blockhouse and stockade known as Olive's Fort. His wife, Kerenhappuch, was a younger sister to three Hendon brothers: Robinson, William, and Thomas, who along with their families used the fort for refuge.

Olive's Fort became the community's spiritual center on Saturday, September 20, 1788 when Cloud's Creek Baptist Church was constituted within its walls. The congregation joined the Georgia Association (Baptist) the following month.

In less than a decade, the church site was moved two and a half miles south to its present location. Legend states timbers from the old fort were used in the construction of the first church building. Thomas Hendon deeded the land and the existing structure to the church on May 12, 1798. Cloud's Creek united with the Sarepta Association of Baptists in 1800. William Hendon was ordained on July 11, 1807, and served as minister for more than four years thereafter. During these early years, Robinson Hendon acted as mediator for the congregation.

In a thicket beside Cloud's Creek Church are burial plots of early church members. Marked only with field stones, time has obscured the identities of specific graves.

The second sanctuary on this site was completed and dedicated on October 31, 1909, though the congregation had been meeting in the unfinished building as early as 1907. This structure continues to function as the place of worship.

Reuben married Lydia "Liddie" in North Carolina. Lydia was born in in North Carolina; died about 1811 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia; was buried in Clouds Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. ? JOHNSON died before 1823.
2. Reuben JOHNSON was born in in North Carolina; and died.
3. Vicey JOHNSON was born in in North Carolina; and died.
4. William JOHNSON was born in in North Carolina; died after 1824.
5. Elizabeth JOHNSON was born in 1757 in North Carolina; died after 1843 in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
6. Sarah JOHNSON was born about 1766 in Johnston County, North Carolina; died on 16 Dec 1850 in Fulton County, Georgia; was buried in Georgia.
7. Cary JOHNSON was born in 1767 in North Carolina; died between 23 May 1854 and 13 Dec 1855 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia; was buried in Clouds Creek Baptist Church, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Reuben married Sarah MURRAY on 23 Feb 1812 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Sarah was born about 1750 in North Carolina; died after 4 May 1824 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia; was buried in Clouds Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]