William Tennent III facts for kids

William Tennent III (1740 – August 11, 1777) was an important Presbyterian church leader and a politician in South Carolina. He was born and went to school in the northern parts of America when it was still a British colony. Later in his life, he moved to South Carolina.

William Tennent III strongly believed that the government should not support any single religion. He also spoke out against British rules for the colonies. He wrote many articles to support the American Revolution. In 1775, he traveled to the "back country" of South Carolina. His goal was to convince people who supported the British (called Loyalists) to join the American cause. In the state assembly, he worked hard to make sure that religious freedom was included in the new state laws.

Early Life and Education

William Tennent III was born in Freehold, New Jersey. His father was William Tennent Jr. and his grandfather was William Tennent. Both were well-known ministers.

He went to the College of New Jersey (which is now Princeton University) and finished in 1758. He then earned a master's degree from Harvard University in 1763. He became a licensed preacher between 1761 and 1762. He was officially ordained as a minister between 1762 and 1763 by the Presbytery of New Brunswick.

His Work as a Pastor

After becoming a minister, William Tennent III preached for about six months in Hanover, Virginia. Then, he moved to Norwalk, Connecticut. There, he was an assistant minister at the Congregational Church for over six years.

He later moved to Charleston, South Carolina. From 1772 until he died in 1777, he was the pastor of a church in Charleston called The Meeting House. This church did not have a formal name back then. It was known as the Independent, Congregational, or Presbyterian Church.

After his death, no one took his place as pastor until 1783. During the Revolutionary War, the British army used the church building as a storage place. Today, this church is known as the Circular Congregational Church.

Fighting for Religious Freedom

William Tennent III was a strong supporter of religious equality in South Carolina. At that time, the Anglican Church was the official state religion. This meant it received special support from the government.

On April 27, 1776, different church groups met and chose Tennent to represent them. He was to go to the state assembly and ask for religious freedom in the new state constitution. The 1776 constitution did say that the Church of England was no longer the official church. However, it still kept South Carolina mostly Anglican.

On January 11, 1777, Tennent spoke to the South Carolina General Assembly. He asked them to officially recognize that all religious groups should have equal rights. He demanded an end to any state-supported religion. He also wanted the government to stop giving money to established churches.

He supported the new constitution that was passed in 1778. This constitution made Christianity the state religion but gave equal rights to all Christian groups. This was a big step towards religious freedom.

Political Involvement

William Tennent III was a Patriot. This meant he was against the rules and policies of British colonial rule after 1773. He was a member of the South Carolina General Assembly. This group acted as the rebel government for the colony. He also wrote political speeches.

Even though he was a pastor, he kept his political views separate from his sermons. However, he strongly believed in both religious and civil liberty.

Supporting the Revolution

After the Tea Act and the Intolerable Acts were passed, Tennent wrote articles to support the Patriot cause. His efforts to encourage patriotism earned him the nickname "Firebrand Parson."

Tennent was first elected to the Assembly in 1774. He wrote a strong anti-British speech called An Address, Occasioned by the Late Invasion of the Liberties of the American Colonists by the British Parliament.

In 1775, the Committee of Safety in South Carolina sent Tennent and Oliver Hart, a Baptist minister, to the rural areas. Their job was to speak against the Loyalist movement. They wanted to encourage settlers to support the Patriot side. This mission was planned by Colonel William Thomson. The goal was to explain why the colonists were rebelling. They also wanted to gain the support of local leaders and militia groups. The mission was led by rebel leader William Henry Drayton.

The Committee chose Tennent for this mission because he was very influential and respected. He was highly educated with two master's degrees. Also, as a Presbyterian, he could connect with many people in the rural areas who were also Presbyterian.

Tennent and Drayton arrived at a trading post near Granby in early August 1775. They had traveled about 130 miles. Tennent held a church service for a group of unhappy militia members there. Then, Tennent traveled north towards Rocky Creek. He preached to Scotch-Irish settlers who were thought to be ready to join the Patriot cause.

Tennent's speeches helped convince more men to form militia groups loyal to the provincial congress. In just three days, he helped enlist over four hundred men.

In July 1776, Tennent went on a mission to North Carolina. He tried to convince some Tories (people who supported the British) to switch sides. On this trip, his companion, Francis Salvador, was attacked and shot by Loyalists. Salvador was the first Jewish Patriot to die in the revolution.

Family Life and Death

In 1764, William Tennent III married Susan Vergereau. They had five children. These included John Charles Tennent (born 1774), Charles, and William Peter Tennent (who died in 1816).

Tennent died on August 11, 1777, at High Hills of the Santee near Stateburg. He developed a fever. He had just returned from New Jersey, where he had gone to bring his recently widowed mother back to South Carolina.

A historical marker was placed near where he died on Highway 261. It says that Tennent was a Presbyterian preacher who died in 1777. It mentions he was born in 1740 into a famous family of ministers. It also states that he prepared the upcountry for the Revolution. He also fought for equal religious rights for all.

He is buried in the cemetery of the Unitarian Church in Charleston. This cemetery is close to The Meeting House. The Unitarian Church was formed by a group called the Society of Dissenters. They needed more space and built a second building next to The Meeting House.

An inscription on his grave reads:

In Memory Of the Rev William Tennent A.M. Pastor of this church; (And principally instrumental in the Erection of this building. Dedicated to the worship of Almighty God;) Who died at the High hills of Santee Aug 11th 1777; In the 37th year of his age. He was distinguished for quickness of perception and solidity of judgement; for energy and firmness of mind; for inflexible patriotism and for ardent public spirit; For sincere and zealous piety, for the boldness with which he enforced the claims of the Deity and vindicated the rights of man. As a preacher he was prompt, solemn, instructive, and persuasive of every social virtue he was a bright example.