USA > Delaware > Sussex County > Some records of Sussex County, Delaware > Part 28
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July 1784 the Rev Mr Tingley had accepted a parish in Mary- land In a letter dated May 11, 1784 Somerset Co. Maryland he informs the Society that he left the Mission in Sussex Co on Dela- ware, the middle of December 1783.
Mr Sydenham Thorne writes from Philadelphia 16th of September 1782 that it is now almost two years since he resumed the public exercise of his profession. A church is to be erected in St Johns Town in Sussex Co. about 12 miles from where Mr. Thorne lives. It is to be of brick, 50 feet by 35 & the work is now in such a state that he thinks the building will be finished in the course of next Summer. Has regularly officiated at Dover since Mr. Magaw left, although 21 miles away. Wishes to remove to New Castle.
In 1808 Parson (?) Weems was here. I do not think he was a clergyman, notwithstanding his story about the Bishop of London having ordained him. If he had been ordained, he could have shown his credentials, his Letters of Orders from the Bishop of London. He certainly was very clever.
The following was copied from Rev. Horace E. Hayden's "Virginia Genealogies:"
Fanny4 Ewell, (Jesse2, Charles3, Charles",) b. Prince William county, Va., Aug. 28th, 1775; d. Aug. 28, 1843, ae. 68; m. cir. 1790-5. Rev. Mason Locke Weems, b. St. James Par., Ann Arundel county, Md., 1759; d. Beaufort, S. C., May 23, 1825, ae. 66, son of David and Margaret Harrison Weems.
Mason Locke Weems was educated in Edinburg, Dr. Allen says, "in the church;" was ordained Deacon pro. in Eng. by the Lord Bishop of London.
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Returning to Md. he became Rector of All Hallow's Par., Md., 1784; had a Female seminary there; was Rector of Westminster Par., 1791; went to Va., 1793; he wrote and published "The Philanthropist," Dumfries, Va., 1799, 9th ed., Phila., 1809; "The Life of George Washington," 1800, reached cir. 50 editions; "The True Patriot," 1802; "The Life of Genl. Frances Marion," 4th ed., 1816; "The Drunk- ard's Looking Glass," 1816; "The Life of Benj. Franklin," 1817; "The Life of Wm. Penn," 1829; "The Old Bachelor," etc. All of these works passed through more than one edition.
His "Life of George Washington" was for many years a household work. It is the sole authority for the famous stories of "the hatchet and the cherry tree," and of the seed sown and growing in the name of Washington. These in- cidents which Weems records of the youth of Washington have in them nothing that is marvellous or even uncommon. They are ordinary events incident to the life of many a well raised boy. And yet, because Weems has been discredited by some writers, and was a man with noticeable peculiarities, and these incidents have no other recorder than Weems, they have been ridiculed and denied by even historical writers. Whatever may have been the character of Weems his pretty and natural anecdotes of the boyhood of Wash- ington are much more easily ridiculed than disproved. It was the intention of the Rev. Philip Slaughter, D.D., Histor- iographer of the Diocese of Va., to write an historical sketch of the Rev. Mr. Weems, but his death prevented the com- pletion of so desirable an undertaking .*
Bishop Meade knew Mr. Weems personally. He devotes two pages to him in "Old Churches," &c. (II., 234-5.) But he paints him in with such opposite colours that it is not easy to form an impartial estimate of his character. In order that some future writer may do Weems justice, a paper is reproduced here, from the Southern Churchman, (1888),
* The Weems family of Md. claim descent from David Weems, son of James, youngest son of the Earl of Wemys. James having been killed fighting for Charles Edward at Preston Pans, his son David was brought to Md. by Dr. Locke. He m. Margaret Harrison and had 5 sons, Capt. George, the youngest, b. May 23, 1784; d. Mar. 6, 1853; had-i. Thomas. ii. Margaret. iii. Mason Locke. iv. Gustavus. v. George. vi. Theodore.
Rev. M. L. Weems was of this line. Rev. Jno. Weems was ord. Deacon by Bp. White, June 24, 1787; d. 1821. Joannes Weems, Mary Landis, grad. M.D., Univ. Edinburg, 1792. Thesis "De Amenorhoea." Mason Locke is a common name in the family. Wm. Black Weems of Md., b. cir. 1730-5; m. Amelia Chapman, b. July 4, 1735; dau. of Nathaniel and Constance (Pearson) Chapman. (R. S., 4, 30, 81; 5, 7, 81.) David Locke Weems had Rachel, m. Jesse Ewell, No. 43, p. 340. Capt. William Weems, m. Nancy Ewell, No. 45, p. 340.
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written by Mr. A. P. Gray, giving Dr. Jesse Ewell's recol- lection of his kinsman:
"Nestling close under the shadow of the Bull Run Moun- tains, in the extreme upper part of Prince William county, is 'Dumblane,' the quaint old fashioned home of Dr. Jesse Ewell, who, regardless of his eighty-six years, still attends his suffering neighbors night or day, sunshine or storm, rejoicing in the possession of all his faculties. His estimable wife, a most devout andstaunch Churchwoman, is two yearshis senior, and for more than sixty years they have travelled earth's pil- grimage together, and now side by side are going down the hill, nearing the great river and in view of the Eternal City.
"Many a charming hour have I spent by their hospitable fireside listening to personal reminiscenses of Bishop Clag- gett, Dr. Walter Addison, Bishop Moore, the early days of Washington City, the war of 1812-15, and the noted men of seventy years ago. But the theme on which the Doctor most loves to dwell, and one which he always finds in me an attentive listner, is 'Parson Weems,' for the Doctor, being a nephew of the Parson's wife, lived for twenty years in his family, and knowing him well, loved and esteemed him for his piety, his benevolence, his earnest devotion to his work, his intelligence and his gentleness. Believing that others will be interested in one who has often entertained us in our childhood hours, I give what I could collect. The family seat of the Weemses, who came early to this country from Scotland (when the name was spelled Wemyss), was 'Bil- lingsley,' Prince George's county, Md. The birthplace and early home of Mason Locke Weems was at Herring Bay, Anne Arundel county, on the Chesapeake. His mother's family name was Locke. He had two brothers, both older than he, David Locke and William Locke Weems, each of whom commanded trading vessels plying between the Old World and the New. Mason must have travelled with them occasionally, perhaps often, for he used to tell of his being on the Mediterranean in a turtle shell. He always had a great fondness for water and a roving disposition, both of which may be attributed to his early training.
"Says the Doctor: 'Even in his old age he never missed an opportunity for a plunge, and I verily believe he would soil his hands for the pleasure of washing them! Once in his later years when travelling from Leesburg back to Dumfries, just after a snow and a big thaw in early spring, finding a
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stream he wished to ford very much swollen, he deliberately disrobed and waded through to measure the depth and see if his wagon could cross without wetting his precious books.
"He first chose medicine as his profession and with this purpose went to Edinburgh to prosecute his studies, but while there determined to become a physician of souls, a minister of the gospel, and went to London to study theology, where he was ordained by the Bishop of London. Of course the Doctor could give no proof of his ordination, except Mr. Weems' own word, and also that Mr. Weems had a black silk gown, which he (Weems) said he had worn at his ordi- nation and for which he had no further use. He left Eng- land at the breaking out of the Revolution, and returned to this country in his brother's ship in 1776.
"He married Frances, daughter of Col. Jesse Ewell, of 'Bel Air,' Prince William county, Va., who must have been many years his junior, for the family records show she was born in 1775, and died on her birthday, August 28th, 1843, aged sixty-eight. The 'Parson' died in 1825, at Beaufort, S. C., and was buried there.
"It was, of course, to the later part of Mr. Weems' life that the Doctor bears record. He describes him as of me- dium height, well-built figure, clad always neatly but simply in black, cut after the manner of the times, with a little horn of ink tied to the lapel of his coat and a quill pen in his hat. His eyes were dark (not black), his features regular and pleasant, his face clean shaven, his head, very bald on top, was surrounded with pure white hairs, giving him a most venerable and pleasant expression, true index of his character.
"Besides the lives of Washington, Franklin and Marion, he wrote or edited a number of other books and pamphlets, viz., 'Allan's Alarm to the Unconverted,' 'Dodd's Reflections on Death,' 'Davies' Sermons,' 'The Life of Conaro, a converted Italian,' 'The Drunkard's Looking Glass,' 'The Gambler's Looking Glass,' 'The Adulterer's Looking Glass,' etc.
"The life of Franklin was edited from Franklin's auto- biography, and the manuscript of Marion's Life was given him by Major Horry (Marion's chief officer), to do with as he pleased. These he touched up in his own inimitable style to make more interesting and to teach a moral; for in every work he strove not only to interest, but to instruct in true virtue. Mathew Cary, of Philadelphia, was his publisher, and so successful was Weems in selling his own
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books that Cary gave him $50 per month to sell other books published by him. He had a two-horse Jersey wagon, cov- ered, but without springs, except that the seat was swung on leather; into his wagon he had fitted a bookcase, so ar- ranged it could be taken out, placed on the ground and opened to display the books without disturbing them.
"His home was at Dumfries, but he travelled continually . from Philadelphia to Georgia and back again, attending the various courts along the route, selling his books to the crowds there collected, frequently giving them away to those who could not or would not buy, always having a word of exhortation for each; preaching every Sunday, or other day that opportunity offered, in church, court house or private residence, wherever he could get an audience, and generally having good ones. His long solitary rides gave him plenty of time for thought and meditation, and he seems to have used it well; for besides his numerous publications and frequent preaching, he memorized the most part of the Prayer-book services, Collects and Psalms and a large part of the Bible; so that at times he could go through the whole Morning or Evening Services, including Lessons and Psalter, without opening a book. He was always on the alert to pick up information, and prepared to note it down, and with his long experience as a traveller, his constant asso- ciation with all classes of people, more especially the prom- inent men of his day, we may well conceive the fund he had to draw from, how entertaining he could be as a guest, and how welcomed he was wherever he went. Indeed, with what eagerness his books, his news, his company and his preaching must have been received, considering the scarcity of all these things in those days, and we can readily believe the Doctor's accounts of his immense popularity.
"Though he supported his own family comfortably, he gave freely and generously to the needy, and as at that time the country was full of French refugees (Huguenots), he found many an opportunity to act the good Samaritan, nor was he ever known to fail. One of those to whom he had been kind in adversity and sickness, being an artist, insisted on painting his portrait in return for his kindness. This portrait was kept for a long time in his parlor, but seems to have disappeared in the mutation of affairs. An- other one, to show his gratitude, presented him with a violin, which, though plain, was a wonderfully fine one.
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"The Parson was very fond of music, and a good violinist, but the Doctor repudiates with indignation the old story of his playing for a dancing party behind a curtain, etc., as altogether foreign to the nature and character of the man. He never carried his violin with him on his travels, but kept it carefully at home. Indeed it was difficult to get him to play anywhere but at home. He supposes the origin of the story to be in the fact that one evening while at a friend's house a party of young people returned from a wedding, and one of the young people having a violin persuaded the Parson to play a few Scottish airs, but there was no dancing.
"The Doctor has vivid recollections of the gentle ad- monitions he used to receive from the Parson, but says he never heard him utter a hasty reproof. It was his daily habit when at home to gather his family together morning and evening for family prayers, when they would sing a song or hymn, the Parson would recite a portion of Scripture and then offer prayer to the Heavenly Father.
"The name of Weems was early associated in my mind with the two books (Washington and Marion) which most fascinated me in my boyhood days and stirred my impres- sionable mind with admiration for noble and virtuous con- duct, as well as pride in our countrymen, and I confess to being much disappointed with the brief and disparaging account given of the author by the venerable Bishop Meade.
"Now when, by the light of one who knew him well, I consider this historian of our infant republic, writing up its noblest men so as to stir the hearts of the rising genera- tion to noble and virtuous conduct, this pioneer in American literature disseminating good seed broadcast over fallow ground, this missionary of the Church supporting himself at a time when many of the clergy were either deserting their posts or squabbling over their tithes, preaching and writing against drinking and gambling when many of the brethren were doing the same, speaking the word in season and out of season from Philadelphia to Georgia, burying the dead, baptizing the children, and ministering to the needy, laboring even unto the end, my opinion of the man is not only restored, but raised, and I can better appreciate his books. I hope this may be the case with others too, and that the name of a good man may be redeemed.
"ARTHUR P. GRAY."
THE REV. JAMES WILTBANK, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Lewes, Del., 1795.
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ST. PETER'S VESTRY BOOK RECORDS.
At a meeting of the Trustees, incorporated persuant to law, for St. Peter's Episcopal Church at Lewes, in the County of Sussex; on Wednesday, the thirtieth day of June, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety: Members present, Messrs. John Wiltbank, Esq., Reece Wolfe, John Russell, Phillip Kollock, Hap Hazzards and George Parker. . Absent, Anderson Parker. When, on motion of Mr. Hap Hazzard, seconded by Mr. Reece Wolfe, John Russell was proposed to be appointed Chairman of the Trustees afrd; And thereupon the said John Russell was chosen and appointed Chairman, by the unanimous voice of the Trustees afrd. then and there present.
Ordered that the Chairman give notice by letter to Burton Waples. Esqr., and the other Trustees of St. George's Epis- copal Church in Indian River hundred; requesting that the said Burton Waples with as many of the other Trustees as may by a majority thereof be appointed, attend a meeting of the Trustees of this Church, at Lewes, on Saturday, the twenty-fourth day of July next, and that they shall bring with them the deed said to be in possession of Peter Rob- inson, Esqr., and all other papers and accounts respecting the Glebe lands, that order may be taken for securing the title thereof; and that the accounts for rent in arrear may be settled and adjusted and such other orders taken therein, as may be thought right and most advantagious to the Churches afrd.
At which day a majority of the Trustees of St. Peter's Church met to wit: Messrs. John Wiltbank, John Russell, Anderson Parker and Philip Kollock, who together with Burton Waples, Esqr., proceeded to endeavor to settle and adjust the accounts of the rent of the Glebe, but for want of some of the vouchers for monies paid, could not finish and complete the same. Wherefore posponed the business until Monday, the twenty-sixth instant, when a majority of the Trustees met and on a motion appointed Messrs. Reece Woolf, Philip Kollock, Hap Hazzard, and George Parker, a committee, who, together with a Committee from St. George's
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Chappel, are to settle with Burton Waples formerly ap- pointed a Trustee for the Congregation of St. George's, and with Anderson Parker and John Wiltbank, also formerly appointed Trustees for the congregation of St. Peter's Church, at Lewes, for the purpose of renting out the Glebe and receiving and accounting for the profits thereof, and also ascertain each churches Coto of the Ballances due and like- wise to consult and agree on such measures as may be by them though best for securing the title of the Glebe lands and plantation, for the use of the afrd. two churches.
At a meeting of the majority of the Trustees of St. Peter's Church at Lewes at the house of Mr. William Brereton, on Thursday, the ninth day of June, 1791, John. Wiltbank, John Russell, Anderson Parker, Reece Woolf, Hap Hazzard and Phillips Kollock, absent George Parker, the Committee heretofore appointed for to settle and adjust the accounts of the rents and profits of the Glebe lands to the Churches of St. Peter's, at Lewes, and St. Georges, at Indian River, reported that they had settled the accounts, with the Trus- tees of St. George's, by which settlement it appears each church's coto of the rents of the Glebe, after deducting ac- counts for repairs, &c., was Sixty-four pounds two Shillings and Seven Pence half Penny, as may more particularly appear by an account stated and filed; and thereupon the afrd. Trustees proceeded to appoint a Treasuror for St. Peter's Church when John Russell was proposed and unanimously appointed. Afterwards Reece Wolfe, Hap Hazzard, Phillips Kollock, three of the four Trustees, (George Parker being the other who was absent) appointed to settle the accounts of the rents and profits of the Glebe belonging to St. Peter's Church with John Wiltbank, Esqr., and Anderson Parker, gentlemen, late Trustees for that purpose, who reported a balance due the church from the late Trustees afrd. of Four pounds Eight Shilling and one-half penny as may appear by an account stated and filed. Afterward it was considered and ordered by the Trustees that the execution of the deed from John Evans to Benjamin Burton and others dated the first day of December, 1769, for the Glebe lands be proved in Court by one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and that afterwards the said deed be recorded. And it was further considered and ordered by the Trustees that William Harrison with a sufficient number of advertisements giving notice of the sale of the Glebe at Public Vendue on the Wednesday
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of August Court next at Lewes. And it was further or- dered that the Trustees of this Church meet on Saturday, the twenty-fifth of this instant, in order to settle and adjust any accounts which may be rendered against this church; and also with the administratrix or heir of John Road, decd., for and on account of the purchase money of a lott of land; by the said John Road sold and conveyed by a General Warrant, &c., to Daniel Nunez, Jun., decd., and by him devised to this Church; which lott of land was under a mortgage to loan office of Sussex County, and by virtue thereof sold; and it was ordered that John Russell, chairman of the Trustees aforesaid, give notice in writing to the ad- ministratrix of the said John Roads to appear on the day afrd. before the said Trustees, and also to Thomas Mcham to render his account for repair on the Church, and to ac- count for the rent of the Church lott and afterwards the Trustees adjourned to the day afrd.
At a meeting of a majority of the Trustees, to wit: John Wiltbank, John Russell, Reece Woolf, Phillips Kollock, and George Parker, at the house of Mr. William Brereton, in Lewes, on Saturday, the twenty-fifth day of June, 1791, Mr. Hinman Roads, son and sole heir of John Roads afrd. decd., in pursuance of the notice given to his mother (and on her behalf as well as his own) appeared before the Trustees afrd. and after some conversation had on the subject of the lott of land, by his father sold to Daniel Nunez, and by him devised to the use of this Church, he requested that the Trustees would give four weeks or thereabouts, to inform himself and consider the matter; to which requisition the Trustees agreed.
Mr. Thomas Mcham also appeared and rendered his account for repairs done on the Church, amounting to Seven Pounds, Ten Shillings and Seven pence, which amount was examined by the Trustees, but not fully settled and adjusted, after which said amount was filed amongst other papers belonging to the Church with inside of the lease for the Church lott. It was also considered and ordered by a majority of the Trustees afrd., that the four pounds, Eight Shillings and one-half penny, in the hands of John Wiltbank, Esqr., due for rent of the Glebe, be by him paid to Mr. Daniel Rodney in part of his amount, for materials by him furnished, for the repair of the Church. And afterward the Trustees adjourned without day.
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August 3d, 1791, a number of the Trustees of St. Peter's and St. George's Churches met and agreed to adjourn the sale of the Glebe untill Saturday, the twenty-seventh instant. At which day pursuant to the afrd. adjournment, John Wilt- bank, Esqr., John Russell, and Reece Wolf, the Committee heretofore appointed in behalf of St. Peter's Church, at Lewes, and Peter Robinson, Esqr., Robert Burton, and Woodman Stockley, the Committee for St. George's met on the Glebe and exposed all the right of the Churches afrd. in the same to public sale by way of vendue, when the same was purchased by the afrd. Peter Robinson at the sum of two hundred pounds under the incumberance of the lease of Mrs. Davises thirds-one half of the purchase money to be paid on the first day of January next ending the sale at which time the possession of the lands are to be given, and the remaining two-thirds parts thereof to be paid in one year with interest, from the afrd. first day of January; and that a deed be made to the afrd. Peter Robinson in fee, by the surviving grantees in the deed dated the first day of December, 1769, from John Evans. Mr. Robinson paid to Thomas Wilson, the Vendue Master, Seven Shilling and Six pence which is to be allowed him out of the purchase money.
At a meeting of a majority of the Trustees of St. Peter's Church, at Lewes, the fifteenth day of October, 1791, Road Shankland, Esqr., applyed to have his bond recd. by the said Trustees for the payment of £22 12s. 0d. for so much paid for and on account of Peter Robinson, Esqr., in part pay for the Glebe; also at the same time Mr. Daniel Rodney proffered to pay £27 8s. 1d. and give his bond for the payment · of Fifty Pounds in full discharge of the said Peter Robinson, for and on account of this Churche's Cotoa of the money arising from the sale of the Glebe, which was considered and agreed to by John Wiltbank, John Russell, Reece Wolf, Phillips Kollock and George Parker, Trustees then present, and on the nineteenth instant the bonds were taken and the above sum of money recd. by J. Russell.
Do give and devise to the Wardens of St. Peter's Church in Lewes- town and their successors forever, &c., adjoining lot of heirs of Wm. Piles and adjoining land of Rev. Matthew Willson "which lots I purchased from John Rhoads shall expend and apply rents issues and profits hereafter annually arising out of said lots towards keeping the said church of St. Peter's and the burying ground thereunto belonging, in good repair.
DANIEL NUNEZ.
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At a meeting of a majority of the Commissioners or Trus- tees of St. Peter's Church at Lewes the seventeenth day of April, 1794, it was agreed that Samuel Paynter, George Parker, and Daniel Rodney, Esquire, be appointed managers to provide materials and employ workmen to put a new ruff on the Church and that they should draw orders on John Russell, Treasurer, for monies as so much thereof as may be in his hands for that purpose.
And at the same time, Mr. Elijah Cannon, junior, and Mr. Cornelius Wiltbank, Junior, was by the Congregation then present, chosen Trustees in the room of Anderson Parker, Gentleman, and John Wiltbank, Esqr., deceased.
And it was further agreed at the same time by the Trus- tees that Thomas Mcham's garden be taken on rent for one year, at the sum of Thirty-five Shillings.
At a meeting of the Trustees and Vestry of St. Peter's Church, at Lewes, on the eighth day of November, 1794, present Reece Wolf, Phillips Kollock, Cornelius Wiltbank, Elijah Cannon and George Parker. The Trustees afrd. went into the appointment of a Trustee in the room and stead of Philip Kollock, who was about to move to George Town, and Daniel Rodney, Esq., was unanimously appointed and chosen.
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