~Brinson's of Russell County~

 

The Russell County Brinson's are descended from one of the four Brinson brothers who, tradition has it, came into Georgia from North Carolina and settled in different adjoining counties because each one was determined to be "the big man in his county."

Adam Brinson II, one of brothers, was a Revolutionary ancestor of Stephen Sheppard ("S. S.") Brinson, born in Burke County, Ga., came to Russell County, Alabama from Macon County, Alabama, shortly before the War Between the States.  He had lost his first wife, Martha Elizabeth Bowles, and married Mary Ann Williamson, descendant of another pioneer of Russell County family in 1852.

The blood of great men and women flowed in Stephen Sheppard's veins.  Recorded history of his family goes back to Charlesmagne (Charles the Great), through Charles' fifth child, Pepin Carolman, Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in December 800.  From Pepin through Bernard King of Italy, one comes in the line to Hugh Magnus (The Great) Leader of the First Crusade.  This entitles his descendants to belong to the order of the First Crusade.

Then to Robert the Bruce of Scotland, whose body is buried at Dunferline, but whose heart is buried at Melrose Abbey.  His daughter, Princess Marjorie, married Walter, Lord High Steward (Foundation of House of Stuart or Stewart).  They had Robert II, King of Scotland.  The line comes down to William Ruthven, who was custodian of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her imprisonment in Loch Leven.  He was the last custodian of the famous silver casket containing the letters alleged to have been written by Mary to Bothwell.  William refused to comply with Queen Elizabeth's request for the letters and was executed for treason in 1584.

Ruthven's son, William, escaped to France and then to America, where he changed his name to Ruffin.  He was the eminent ancestor of the "Ruffin's of Virginia."  Four generations later, Benjamin Ruffin of Princess Anne County made his descendants eligible for the Society of Colonial Dames.

Two generations after this, Sarah Ruffin married Benjamin Sheppard.  He fought in the Revolution, making his descendants eligible for the C.A.R., D.A.R., and the Sons of the Revolution (See No. 238805).  The daughter, Mary Sheppard, brought in the Brinson name by marrying Adam Brinson II.  Two generations passed and Stephen Sheppard Brinson, pioneer Russell County, came into being.

From this family descended the Brinson family of Jefferson County, Ga.: Moses Brinson, 1796-1859 and his wife, Agnes Wright Brinson, 1758-1828.  Moses Brinson was a large land owner in Jefferson County off Quaker Road. 

The Jefferson Reporter

 

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05/25/2008
Stapleton Baptist Church History - The Jefferson Reporter

On April 13, 1889, 31 members of Reedy Creek Baptist Church met after their regular services to constitute a church to be known as Baptist Church of Christ at Stapleton.  Meetings were to be held on the fourth Sabbath and the Saturday preceding.

The Baptist Church of Christ of Spread, Georgia, now known as Stapleton Baptist, was established that year, mainly due to the generous contributions of David Denton.  Its Presbytery consisted of the Rev. W. M. Verdery and the Rev. Edmond Morris.

The Rev. Verdery was elected as pastor and T. J. Dickson served as church clerk.  In conference on July 13, 1889, the "decorum" was offered by Verdery and was read and adopted.  That same year, the church applied for membership in the Hephzibah Baptist Association, as well as the Georgia Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention. 

In July 1891, a house of worship was dedicated.  The building was of wood and red carpeted aisles and was neatly painted white both inside and outside.  David Denton was instrumental in both the organization and building of the Stapleton Baptist Church through generous contributions of money, time, and labor.  Since then, the building has undergone renovations, a parsonage has been built along with an annex which is used both for Sunday School and church.  Land has been acquired for the cemetery, as well.   More on David Denton. 

Photos of what the church looks like today-Sept-2006.

The Cemetery behind the church. The Stapleton United Methodist Church also shares this cemetery.

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05/25/2008