William Gaines (1824–1865) was a freed slave, minister, and community representative in Savannah, Georgia. He was one of the 20 Black church leaders—alongside Garrison Frazier and Ulysses L. Houston—who met with Major General William Tecumseh Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in Savannah on January 12, 1865 about 3 months before the end of the American Civil War.[1] This meeting (what would later be called the "Savannah Colloquy") took place at the Green–Meldrim House, and their discussion directly led to Sherman's Special Field Orders No. 15, which included the famous Forty acres and a mule land allotment.[2]

Gaines was born into slavery in Wilkes County, Georgia. He was owned by Robert Toombs, who served in the United States Senate, and his brother Gabriel Toombs. Gaines was freed by the Union Army during Sherman's March to the Sea.[1]

Gaines was a preacher at the Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church (Andrew's Chapel).[1] He later moved to the A.M.E. church with split off over the issue of slavery. As of 1865, he had ministered for 16 years and was 41 years old.[1] Fellow A.M.E. church leader and bishop Wesley John Gaines was his brother. He was involved in the foundation of Jackson Chapel, and family members have continued to live in the area.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Minutes of an interview between the colored ministers and church officers at Savannah with the Secretary of War and Major General Sherman, Headquarters of Major General Sherman in the City of Savannah, Georgia January 12, 1865 at 8 p.m. available online at the Freedmen & Southern Society Project
  2. ↑ Lawton, Laura (2015). Legendary Locals of Savannah. Arcadia Publishing. p. 62. ISBN 9781467101981.
  3. ↑ "Jackson Chapel to celebrate 150 years in special service with Bishop Jackson - www.news-reporter.com - News-Reporter".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.