Orangeburgh Citizens Petition in Behalf of Rev. John Giessendanner

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. Ulrick Roth Jacob Giessendanner Henry Letstine Michael Larry Henry Stratemann Johannes Acker Junr. Thomas Puckeridge Geo. Geessendanner junr. Wm. Barrie John Peter Roth Peter Huber Peter Nagely Joseph Kryters Peter Hug Henry Hayn Joseph Doramas Henry Hayn Godens Jennins John Balsieger Joseph Deramas James Tilley Joseph Robinson Geor. Shooler junr. Benj. Payton Rob. Carter John Shaumloffel Jacob Wannenmaker John Gieg'lman Seth Hatcher John Churchwill Jacob Giegelman David Rumph Jacob Tshudy Martin Tshudy Jacob Horger Martin Sally Peter Grieffous Hans Jacob Myer Ulrick Baber Leo Claus Martin Egly Adam Snell Hen. Salley Junr. Jacob Roth John Chevillette John Amacker Nicho. Yonn Jacob Kuhnen Barnd. Snell Nichs. Shuler Christn. Minnick Jacob Ott Lewis Linder Peter Larry Casper Ott Benj Stedham Isaac Gottows Hans Frydig Peter Hottow Joseph Huber Peter Stehely Martin Kichren Philip Jennins Gionnes Wolffy Ulrick Brunner Michl. Chr Row John Jennings Gian Loi Wolf John Wetstein Melchior Ott Johan Wolffy Hans Imdorff Henry Rickenbacker Jacob Rumph Hans Jacob Strauman Adam Frolich Jacob Wolfy Hen. Snell John Fritchman Peter Mauer Junr. John Diedrick Hans Frydig Junr. Hen. Wurtzer Charles Stotton John Harrisperger Heny. Felder Abra. Ussenhut Abraham Rumph Josep Grieffous John Cleaton John Huber John Fairy John Roth John Inabnitt Andr. Inabnit Francis Kuhnen Hans Jacob Hessy Jno. Valentine Yootsy Heny. Sally Francis Kuhnen Johannes Wolf John Nagely Christian Roth Peter Moorer George Giessendanner 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"
REF: South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. pgs. 48-51.