Rev. Elijah Linch

The Rev. Elijah Linch was the son of David Linch and Ester Embry. He was born June 28, 1773 in Newberry County, SC and passed away August 10, 1842. He is laid to rest in the tranquil Chapman Summers Cemetery in Prosperity, SC, next to his wife Elizabeth Chapman.

His death announcement states "Rev. Elijah Linch of Newberry District, SC, died on Wednesday morning the 10th of August, 1842, aged about 67 years and seven months". 

The subject of this notice was no ordinary man. At an early period of his life he embraced the doctrine of Universal Grace, under the preaching of Rev. Giles Chapman, of Newberry, and commenced the work of the Ministry of reconciliation, in the year 1799, having for 43 years opened his mouth publicly in defense of the Glorious Gospel of the blessed God, With holiness of spirit yet with the unassuming meekness of the humble disciple of Christ, did this venerable man for that long period, raise his voice in behalf of the truth, for much of the time being the only herald of unlamented salvation In the whole South. Fifty years ago, he married a niece of Rev. Giles Chapman, with whom he lived 49 years on the same place, and had a family of 12 children, 6 of  survive. His wife also survives. The last discourse he preached was on the 4th Sunday of June last, at Fredonia Meeting House. During hio last illness he dictated to his son what may be considered his dying testimony to the truth, from the passage in 1 Thesu. 11.19. "For what is our hope, in which he has given evidence howsustaining was the hope  which he possessed, on the near approach of death, and effectually rebuked the slanderous report, already circulated, that he had renounced hie faith, and burnt his books, His remains were committed to the tomb on Thursday, the 11th of August, in the burial ground where stood the church in which he received his first religious impressions of Universal Love, and where repose  the remains of the venerated G Chapman, from whose lips those impressions were received. Peace to his ash my last and be like his "Lot me die the death of the righteous, and let my last and he like his. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. L. F. W. Andreas, and a diocourae preached at the grave from  Psalm lxvlii.20: "He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belongeth the issues from death."