In 1749 Rev. John Giessendanner, who had been a Dissenter minister in Orangeburgh Township theretofore, went to England in order to be ordained to the Episcopal ministry. In order to strengthen his case a petition in his behalf was presented to His Majesty’s Council of South Carolina by citizens of Orangeburgh Township. A copy of this petition was made by William Backshell, acting Secretary of the province, for Mr. Giessendanner to take with him. It bears evidence that Backshell was the poor copyist that Gov. Glen characterized him as on several occasions. This copy is now in Fulham Palace, London, and the following transcript thereof was procured therefrom by Mr. E. Alfred Jones, of London, for A.S. Salley, Jr.

“To his Excellency James Glen Esqr. Captain General Governor and
Commander in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of South Carolina
and to the Member of His Majestys Honourable Council.
The Petition of the Inhabitants of Orang’burgh Humbly Sheweth
That your Petitioners have been now upward of Eleven Years Inhabitants
of this Province and increaded to about ninety Famelys besides an agreable
Prospect of growing youth and under the expectiona of Enjoying the same
Priviledges and Imunitys in Society which their Fellow Subject do Enjoy
have at all time Willingly and Chearfully contributed their assistance
toward the Support and preservation of the Government–
That they hetherto have had the misfortune of being deprived of having a
Parson Qualifyed by his Lordship the Bishop in order to be duly authorized
to promote true Religion and Virtue among them and to instruct their
Younger ones in the Principles of their Christian Religion–
That John Giessendanner hath these Nine Years Employ’d his time and
Study to Officiate in the ministerial office and to Preach the Gospel to
their great Satisfaction–
That the same is a man of Piety and Knowledge in the holy Scriptures and
always behaved himself with Sobriety Honesty and Decency, Encouraging
Virtue and reproving Vice–
That Your Petitioners knowing his Merit and Commendable Character have
unanimously consented to gather to give him a Vocation to the Ministerial
Function among them–
That one Mr. Bartho. Zuberbuller having some years agone obtained a
Vocation to this Township and met with favourable Assistance from the
Government hath since his arrival from England in Carolina not shewn his
Person here but Engaged himself to the Service of the Coloney of Georgia
very much to Your Petitioners disappointment–
That the said John Gessendanner being now resolved by the leave of
Providence with the approbation of Your Excellency and Honours and the
Assistance of His Friends to Embark for London in Order to be duly
quallified for that Purpose–
Your Petrs. therefore humbly Pray Your Excellency and Honours to
take their above Grievance into your serious Consideration and to
be pleased to grant the said John Gessendanner such recommendation
and Ratificaiton of this our Vocation as Your Excellency and
Honours will think requisite and Necessary for his better
Succeeding in the Same And Your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall
every Pray &ca.&ca.

Examin’d May 27, 1749 at ye Council Chamber in Charles Town So Carolina– a True Copy–
Wm. Backshell P.S. Endorsed: Petition of the Inhabitants of Orangeburgh in So. Carolina
Datd. May 27, 1749

The Township of Orangeburg South Carolina in Favour of Mr. John Giessendanner.
13 Septemr: Answered to Govr: Glen”

EF: South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. pgs. 48-51.