| Capt. James Henry Breaker
was born ca. 1820 in Camden, South Carolina to Lewis Frederick and
Martha Cantey Breaker. James Henry's grandfather, George
Broecker, brought his family from Prussia [Germany] to the United
States, via Barbados, in ca. 1790. George being a Loyalist sought
protection in Barbados until the end of the Revolutionary War and while
in Barbados he had three children, one being Lewis Frederick Breaker,
James Henry's father. After settling in the United States George
changed the spelling of the
families name from the Prussian spelling of Broecker to the spelling of
Breaker. On March 3, 1807 Lewis Frederick Breaker married to
Martha Cantey and began to raise a family of his own.. About 14
miles from Camden, South Carolina Lewis established a plantation and
summer home with the proceeds from his merchant business where he sold
boots and shoes to the local residents while George Breaker, his
father, was operating a local Inn and tavern. By ca. 1820 Lewis
Frederick and Martha gave birth to James Henry Breaker while living in
Camden, South Carolina. Sometime in 1828 Lewis and Martha moved their family to Key West, Florida where he invested in a project to extract salt from sea water, James Henry was about 8 years old when they moved. The little salt project didn't work, at the time, so Lewis fell back on his previous knowledge as a merchant and soon engaged in the business to support his family. By 1836 Lewis Frederick Breaker had accepted a position as Key West Justice of the Peace. Since Martha still had family back in South Carolina the decision was made to send James Henry's younger brother, Jacob M.C., back to the Carolina's where he could attend school and receive an education; James Henry being older, remained in Key West with his parents. In July and March of 1842 both Martha and Lewis had died, only a month apart, both being buried in Key West. After receiving his education in South Carolina Jacob M.C. Breaker, James Henry's brother, was ordained a minister and he soon became the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Greenville, South Carolina in 1845. While Jacob was establishing the First Baptist Church in Greenvile, his brother James Henry was spending his time on the waters around Key West. In addition, during this time, James Henry married to Abby Kesiah whose family was from Connecticut. After his brother became an ordained minister James would soon follow his lead in joining the Baptist movement and the church. According to Key West, on December 20, 1842 was recorded the earliest meeting of Baptists on the island, this meeting was for the purpose of worship. After service, prayer and deliberation the brethren met at the residence of James Henry Breaker for the purpose of ordaining Brother Charles C. Lewis to the gospel ministry. Prayer was offered by Brother James Breaker on behalf of the candidate, during which the laying on of hands was performed by Brethren Wolfe, Eldridge and Braman. Charge was then given by Brother James Breaker and Brother Asa Sawyer, and the right hand of fellowship by all the brethren present. This method of ordination was not strictly in accord with Baptist usage. As there were no other Baptist Churches in Florida with which the Key West Church could be associated, they applied for membership in the North Stoneington, Connecticut Association and were willingly accepted. The old fathers after mature consideration, decided that Brother Lewis was spiritually and regularly ordained and thus placed the stamp of regularity on the acts of the little band of Baptists on the Island of Key West, with Brother Lewis acting as their first pastor. On December 23, 1842 the band of baptist believers met at the residence of Brother James Henry Breaker for their covenant meeting, where Breaker was chosen clerk. Articles of faith and covenant were read and ten persons examined and received for baptism, these ten were baptized on Christmas Sunday in 1842. These were the first baptisms by immersion performed on the Key West Island and likely in the State of Florida. The formal constitution of the Key West Church occurred on March 11, 1843 when James Henry Breaker, along with several others, solemnly entered into a covenant as the Key West Baptist Church. The Key West Baptist Church had its first celebration of the Lord's Supper on March 26, 1843. In April of 1843 Pastor Charles C. Lewis was called north on the account of his wife's ill health, leaving the church without a pastor. Over the next few years the little Baptist Church of Key West would have some difficulties but it would be Brother James Henry Breaker who would help lead the believers through these rough times, never leaving the small church and always offering support in every way that he could and knew how. In November of 1844 Elder Tripp assumed the pastoral cares of the church and once again the believers would again have regular meetings, which were held twice on Sundays at the Courthouse. In April of 1844 movements towards building an actual house of worship were made. Pastor Tripp was sent north to solicit building funds where he was met with little success. As a result Pastor Tripp abandoned the work and he never returned to the Key West Baptist Church. Still with no building and now with no pastor the small church continued to hold regular prayer meetings but not services. It wasn't until 1845 that the Rev. Doolittle took charge of the Key West Baptist Church. Pastor Doolittle held services twice on the Sabbath, which were held at the Episcopal Church. Two years later in April of 1847 Rev. Doolittle, like those before him, returned to the north leaving the church, once again, without a pastor. The Key West Baptist Church had annually corresponded with the North Stoneington, Connecticut Association, which they were apart of, until it was ascertained by the association that the Key West church had a member who owned a slave. The Key West Church was then notified that if they permitted slave owners to be members of their church, than they could not continue their membership in the association. The Key West Church saw no reason to exclude membership of a person who was holding property sanctioned by the constitutional laws of the United States and further by the State of Florida and upon their refusing to comply they were dropped from the association. Subsequently the church sent their new pastor-elect, James Henry Breaker, to Mobile, Alabama for regular ordination becoming Reverend James Henry Breaker. As Rev. J.H. Breaker took charge of the Key West Church he preached regular meeting at the court house and in the Methodist Chapel. Rev. James H. Breaker affectionately took charge of the church and in the later part of 1848 he set out to complete what those before him had abandoned. Rev. James Breaker offered contract for the building of a church building, the price $600. On January 2, 1849 the doors were opened on the completed frame building of the new Key West Baptist Church. Unfortunately from 1852 to 1890 church records were lost and we do not know what further occurred under Pastor J.H. Breaker. Its believed that Pastor Breaker allowed those slave owners to hold regular membership in his church and possibly opening the doors to the slaves themselves. Sometime ca. 1852 Pastor Breaker left the Key West Church and its said by the outbreak of the "Civil War the church building was taken possession by the Negro Baptist Church." In October of 1850 Camden, South Carolina newspapers reported the death of Abby Keisha Breaker, wife of the Rev. J.H. Breaker. Abby died on October 1, 1850 in Portersville, Connecticut where her family was still living. After Abby's death Rev. James Henry Breaker left Key West and he headed north, however he didn't leave the state and decided to settle in Hernando County. Upon arriving in Hernando County sometime around 1852 Rev. J.H. Breaker acquired 122 acres of property through private acquisition, the exact location of this property is unknown but Breaker had settled in the small community known as Pierceville [Brooksville]. With the acquisition of his new property the Rev. James Henry Breaker soon engaged in the new occupation of farming, in addition to his work as a minister. That same year, 1852, the Rev. James Henry Breaker began the laymen work through the organization of a new church, which the small town of Pierceville lacked at the time. This small group of believers began to hold regular meetings and soon began calling themselves the Union Baptist Church of Pierceville [Brooksville], with Rev. J.H. Breaker serving as their pastor. These early meeting were likely held at the residence of Pastor James H. Breaker. Sometime shortly after arriving in Hernando County Rev. James H. Breaker was also married for a second time. This second marriage was to, A.C. Spencer, the daughter of William S. and Emily Spencer. William S. Spencer went on to serve as the Hillsborough County Sheriff in 1860. Through the next few years the Union Baptist Church increased in size and membership as most of the local residents considered it their church, among these new members was resident Joseph Hale. In 1855 Hale gave the church an acre of property, then located on North Main Street, which is now called Howell Ave. Following the acceptance of this acre of property, the church would construct their first church building under the direction of Pastor J.H. Breaker. On May 5, 1855 it was reported that, "the Union Baptist Church near, Pierceville Hernando, has under the direction of the Rev. J.H. Breaker, raised the frame of a large, and what is to be when completed, a fine church building." This modest yet handsome and fine house of worship would serve the Union Baptist Church congregation for many years. With Hernando County being an area full of staunch planters and plantation owners the Union Baptist Church membership was comprised of many local plantation slave owners. Just as with the Key West church, the issue of slavery in the Union Baptist Church soon became an issue, however it was not met with resistance as it was in Key West. Since most of the Union Baptist Church's membership was comprised of local slave holders the African American people were accepted into the church as members themselves. Church records indicate that on March 2, 1856 the Union Baptist Church accepted its first African American member, this was "Tom a slave of Joseph Hale." Throughout the year of 1856 and 1857 the church would receive and accepted several other slaves into their membership, increasing its African American membership. With open arms the Rev. J.H. Breaker accepted these folks into his church as they too had spiritual needs, sometime more so than the church's white members. On March 21, 1858, "After the preaching of our pastor the Rev. J.H. Breaker, the attention of the church was called to an application made by the colored members of the church to hold communion separate from the white members of the church." After being stable members in the church for more than two years now, in 1858, the African American members brought forth to their pastor a desire to hold a separate communion for them. Prior to this request the African American members of the church were to attend and participate in services and communion when their masters did so, in no way did they have a say so or decision in the church or their spiritual needs. However, this was a separate communion and NOT separate church services and the African American members still had to attend regular church services with their masters. After much deliberation of the white church members and Pastor Breaker the request was granted unto the African American members and for the first time they were permitted to a very small fraction of freedom in their spiritual lives. Throughout 1859 and 1860 the African American membership of the Union Baptist Church continued to increase. By 1860 Rev. J.H. Breaker is shown as owning 2 horses and a carriage with which to travel with. In addition Breaker was the owner (1) slave as well as 32 head of cattle and 122 acres of property, a portion of which was in cultivation with crops. In 1860 Rev. James Henry Breaker was also appointed and accepted a new position and was named as a delegate to the Florida Baptist Convention. With his new position Rev. Breaker was asked to preach at Baptist churches throughout Florida. On December 18, 1859 Rev. Breaker was a welcomed guest at the Tampa Baptist Church and as it was announced that he would preach their services. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 Rev. J.H. Breaker remained loyal to his church and in fact the better part of his congregation remained with him. Throughout 1861 Pastor Breaker continued to hold regular services at the Union Baptist Church but there is no doubt that the rumors of war were on the lips of the congregation. With the war came an increase in the African American membership of the Union Baptist Church and according to church records on December 15, 1861 there were 9 new African American members accepted. After regular church services "the congregation was dismissed & the colored people were called in after a short exhortation by our Pastor. The door of the church was opened & 9 came forward presenting themselves to the church. After the Pastor examined them they were received as candidates for Baptism." The names of these African American members were listed in records but have been retained for this writing. On December 21- 22, 1861 there were another 11 slaves or African American members added to the Union Baptist Church membership, again names and owners have been retained. With the new year of 1862 came another new year of fighting and war in the South. With the issues of states rights and slavery fueling the Civil War in 1862 a very interesting and important event takes place within the Union Baptist Church, under the direction of Rev. James Henry Breaker. According to church records, on March 1, 1862, "after preaching by our pastor, the Rev. J.H. Breaker, conference was opened for church business. It was moved & carried that one Sabbath in each month should be assigned to the colored people for preaching. The 3rd Sabbath was appointed to them by the pastor." After allowing the African American members to hold separate communion services for more than a year it was decided that they were permitted to hold separate services and giving these members more spiritual freedom within the church. This is the earliest records showing the formations of the first African American Baptist Church in Hernando County and Brooksville. On March 2, 1862 church records indicate that there would be a separate set of church records held for the African American members, as though they were a separate church all together. As the Civil War raged on the call for more men came to the State of Florida. While Hernando County had already contributed the companies of Capt. Saxon and the local home guard of Capt. Parsons there was still a call and need for more men on the home front. Being a staunch supporter of States rights, in March of 1862, the Rev. James Henry Breaker answered that call and formed a local company of men, mostly comprised of church membership. This new company formed in Brooksville, under the direction of James Breaker, was comprised of not only church membership but these men were seasoned veterans of the Florida Seminole Indian Wars. This was within two weeks of the white church members meeting and deciding to allow their slaves to hold separate church services. By March 20, 1862 the company had been formed at which time they elected the Rev. James Henry Breaker as their Captain and calling themselves "The Old Guards", reflective of the ages of the men in the company. On March 29, 1862 Breaker's Old Guards were officially mustered into Florida services performing regular military duty by scouting in Hernando and Hillsborough County as well as protecting their own interest and plantations. Being mustered into service as a local home guard Breaker was able to remain close to home tending to the needs of the Union Baptist Church and holding regular services. (click here to view a complete list of member) Three months after being mustered into service, on May 17, 1862, Breaker's Old Guards were mustered out of service at Brooksville, FL by General Order No. IX given by Capt. Joseph M. Taylor. According to a former member of the Old Guards, William Hope, "the company was mustered out because most of the men wanted to join other companies throughout the state." As the "Old Guards" were mustered out of service most of the men mustered into regular service with other local companies being formed, however Breaker didn't enlist a second time and turned his attentions to the church. The day after being mustered out of the Confederate Army, on May 18, 1862, Rev. J.H. Breaker was already busy at work with his church congregation, church records indicate that there were another 10 African American members accepted into church membership. Between July 10 and October 19, 1862 there were another 15 African American members received by the church as members. Throughout the Civil War the Union Baptist Church of Brooksville prospered and membership increased significantly. In the winter of 1862 it is said that between 150 and 200 members were added to the church membership, most of these being slaves and African American members. As the Civil War came to a close in 1865, followed by the abolishment of slavery, things became very tense within the Union Baptist Church. Records indicate that after the war white membership of the Union Baptist Church was in decline with there being "147 colored and 80 white members." According to James H. Breaker himself the decline in the church membership was a result of "the depressing influence which the isence of the war had brought upon the minds of the people." Pastor Breaker "labored arduously to counteract" this influence "and to urge a highe estimate of the rich provisions of the Gospel, which should be manifest to the believer from the vale of adversity. But intreaty and argument alike failed with many who were too much engaged, I fear, with the “cares of life and the deceitfulness of richness,” to allow the word of divine truth to grow and flourish in their hearts. The seats of many were vacant in the house of God, at the hour appointed for divine worship, and the Pastor was compelled to preach to a large population of empty seats that those occupied by the congregation." In addition Pastor Breaker felt that there was still a need to preach to separate white and black congregation within the same church and without forming separate churches. Breaker was against the formation of African American churches, however the influences of the white members on the African American members caused a division within the church. Perhaps this was the real under lying issue in the decline of white members after the war. Regardless of the true issues within the church, the outcome was the dismissal of Rev. James H. Breaker from his pastoral duties. In addition Breaker declined to hold an further positions with the Union Baptist Church. After being dismissed from the Union Baptist Church Rev. Breaker accepted a call to preach to the African American people of Brooksville. By July of 1866 a new African American church congregation was formed with Rev. Breaker acting as their pastor, this congregation soon called themselves the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Brooksville. (click here to read a July 1866 reply of Breaker to the Union Baptist Church) By November of 1868, after starting a church in Key West, two in Hernando County and being closely affiliated with the Baptist Church in Tampa, Rev. J.H. Breaker had enough of Florida and decided to move his family to St. Louis, Missouri. Breaker was so well liked by Hernando and Tampa residents that local newspaper announced him leaving on November 7, 1868 for his new home. Upon moving to Missouri James Breaker didn't engage in church business for sometime but rather turned his attention to his family and he engaged in farming as an occupation. Once settled in the small town of Carondelet Breaker would once again engage in his spiritual duties as a pastor. By 1880 the Rev. Breaker was once again working on building and establishing a new baptist church in his town. Under the leadership of Rev. James H. Breaker the Pacific Baptist Church was organized in St. Louis. In 1882 the Pacific Baptist Church laid the cornerstone during the construction of a new building, which was completed in 1883 under Pastor Breaker. James Breaker continued to live in the St. Louis, Missouri area, along with his family, until the time of his death; date unknown at this time. In his lifetime Rev. James Henry Breaker was responsible for many great works and most if not all the churches that he started are still organized and serving their communities today. Breaker saw the importance of the church in the early community of both white and African Americans. James Henry Breaker should be remembered and recognized for his early works in Hernando County and throughout Florida. While we have documented his involvement in several churches its believed he had a hand in the organization of many others as he likely worked as an early itinerant or circuit minister. (Research by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008) |