USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Historical notices of St. Ann's parish in Ann Arundel county, Maryland, extending from 1649 to 1857, a period of 208 years > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
107
OF ST. ANN'S PARISII.
stg. per annum, and Priscilla Farris renewed the oth- er at £4. stg. making £12.5s. equal to $57.78.
On the 23d of October, 1811, Mr. Judd gave to the vestry his resignation of the parish, which took effect at the end of his fourth year.
Mr. Judd had been very much respected in the church. He was a member of the Standing Committee every year of his ministry here. In 1810, he had preached the Convention Sermon, and in 1811 in the absence of the Bishop was the President of the Convention.
Upon his removal from St. Ann's, he went it is said to North Carolina. But in 1818, he had return- ed to Connecticut. In 1828 he removed to Ithaca, N. Y., before which, he had received the degree of - D. D. In 1848 he became a missionary to St. Au- gustine, Florida, while residing there on ac- count of health. He returned in two years to Western N. Y., and is still living at Rochester.
On the 23d of December, 1811, the vestry directed Mr. Ridout, to write to Bishop Claggett, that $700 per annum had been raised in the parish for a clergy- man for three years; at the same time offering the parish to him, or in case he could not accept it, he was asked to recommend them a minister, and to such a one as he would recommend, they would give $500 per annum.
The Bishop felt, that on many accounts, it was de- sirable he should accept the vestry's offer, but was obliged to decline it, knowing that he could not live in Annapolis on the salary offered him. The clergy had many fears about the parish at this time, and Dr. Bend at this date, writing to Dr. Kemp said, "De- mocracy and Fanaticism will destroy this parish." Nevertheless the prophecy proved not true.
On the 6th of January, 1812, the Rev. Mr. Handy of Havre de Grace was elected to the parish by the vestry, but he declined their call.
IHISTORICAL NOTICES
On the 20th the Rev. Mr. Gibson was offered the parish again, but he too declined. Soon after, the Rev. Mr. Nind was appointed Rector, but on the 23d of March, the parish was declared by the vestry to be still vacant, and Mr. Nind was directed to be so informed. They gave him however an opportunity of making application for it. It was not found so easy to fill the vacancy, as they had imagined. And the character of those elected, shows that a prodigi- ous reaction had come over the parish since Mr. Hig- ginbotham's time, in favor of a different ministry from his.
At the next meeting of the vestry, March 30th, the Rev. Messrs. Nind, Gibson and Bowen were each nominated in that body-and on taking the votes it was found that Messrs. J. Pinkney, Golden, Randall and Denny, were for Mr. Nind-Messrs. Ridout, N. Pinkney and Hyde, were for Mr. Gibson, and A. C. Magruder for Mr. Bowen, who was afterwards Bish- op of South Carolina. Although Mr. Nind thus at first had but half of the votes, he was now declared by the vestry to be the Recter elect of the parish.
REV. WILLIAM NIND, THIRTY-SECOND MINISTER.
Mr. Nind was ordained deacon by Bishop Claggett in 1808, and was engaged in teaching an Academy in Baltimore. But in 1810, he had become the Rec- tor of St. Margaret's, Westminster parish, across the Severn from Annapolis.
The only entries on the vestries records which we have noted as indicating what was passing at the time, are the following :-
109
OF ST. ANN'S PARISH.
June 10th, 1812, Mr. Nind proposed to have the afternoon services at five o'clock instead of half-past three, which shows that there was then such a service.
July 24th, we learn that a lottery had lately been drawn for the benefit of the church, a somewhat fre- quent mode at that period, for raising money for church purposes. But how the proceeds were used is not indicated.
March 14th, 1814, the old play house, (theatre,) was rented for the use of a charitable society for £20 per annum. It seems now to have fallen into the hands of the vestry. It stood on ground as we have seen, belonging to the parish, and soon after this was taken down. The theatre had. ceased to flourish and be sustained in Annapolis.
At what precise date, Mr. Nind resigned his charge here does not appear, but probably carly in 1816, at the end of his year.
Leaving Annapolis, he returned to his Academy in Baltimore, and there continued till in 1817, when he became rector of St. Stephen's, or North Sassafras Parish, Cecil County, There he continued till the 13th of September, 1822, on which day he died, after a short illness, æt. 45. He is remembered as rather tall and slender in his person, and very scrupulous about his dress. He had a low voice, and a precise and somewhat embarrassed manner. He is spoken of as an humble and faithful minister of the gospel, universally beloved and respected by all who knew him. His death was greatly regretted by those over whom Providence had placed him in the pastoral charge. A widow and six children were left to mourn their bereavement. For the four successive years in which he was in St. Stephen's, he was one of the Standing Committee. Some of his correspondence with Bishops Claggett and Kemp still remains.
10
110
HISTORICAL NOTICES
!
His family removed to Lyons, Wayne County, N. Y., and were there in 1824.
REV. HENRY LYON DAVIS, D. D., THIRTY-THIRD MINISTER.
On the 29th of May, 1815, the Register was direct- ed to write to Mr. Davis to ascertain whether he would take charge of the parish. But the date of his election or acceptance is not recorded.
Mr. Davis had been educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., and at the age of nineteen, he was ap- pointed there, Professor of the Latin and Greek lan- guages. In July, 1796, he became the Vice-Princi- pal and teacher of Mathematics at the Charlotte Hall School, where he continued till in November, 1802. Meanwhile, in 1796, he had been ordained deacon by Claggett, and became the Rector of All Faith Parish, St. Mary's County. In 1801, he appears to have had the charge of King and Queen Parish in that county. In 1802, he became the Rector of Trinity Parish, Charles County. In May, 1804, he was in charge of St. Stephen's, Cecil, and there continued till the pres- ent time, 1815.
In June, 1816, he appears in Convention, as Rec- tor of St. Ann's Parish, and for the first time, the number of the Communicants in it appears in the journal, it was 37. He was now placed in the Stand- ing Committee, as a member from the Western Shore, as he had been the previous twelve years from the Eastern, and so continued to be for the following eleven years. He was also elected for the second time delegate to the General Convention and Secretary of the Diocesan Convention. On the 22nd of Septem-
1
111.
OF ST. ANN'S PARISH.
ber, 1819, he was married to Miss Jane Winter in Fredericktown. Her family it is believed was of his parish in Charles County.
It is noted in the vestry's records April 21st, 1817, that Mr. Davis and Col. Maynadier were appointed a committee to wait on the parishioners, to obtain sub- scriptions to the fund for employing missionaries in the Diocese, and for educating young men for the min- istry. What their success was we cannot particular- ly state, but it is believed to have been very good. Thus early was a movement made in this direction.
At this same date, application was directed to be made to the Bishop of the Diocese, to license Alexan- der C. Magruder Esq., to act as lay reader in the pa- rish. He was accordingly appointed, and we learn, that he used to officiate regularly every Sunday after- ternoon, certainly during 1820-1821, by reading prayers and a sermon. Sometimes the Rector read prayers. Generally however, about that period, he did not attend in the P. M. Mr. Magruder was now also appointed the delegate to the Diocesan Conven- tion, and so indeed he had been with but few inter- missions since 1809. At the Convention of this year Messrs. Davis, Magruder, and Tench Tilghman, were appointed a committee to prepare and publish an ad- dress to the Diocese, for raising funds for the support of Missionaries and the endowment of a Theological Seminary. This movement originated as we now see, in the vestry of St. Ann's. The manuscript of the address is in the hand-writing of Mr. Magruder, with Mr. Tilghman's corrections, and is still preserved, and shows well how the laity of Maryland then came forward to aid in the church's work.
This year on the 2nd of August, Bishop Claggett died, and Bishop Kemp became the Bishop of the diocese.
On the 30th of March, 1818, it was resolved by
112
HISTORICAL NOTICES
the vestry, that the fee simple of the lot held by the Farmer's Bank, be sold for seven shares of bank stock ; that sold to T. Brown, be sold to George Shaw for five shares of bank stock and $120; that the theatre be sold for $1700, and that the vacant pews be also sold. The theatre however, could not be sold for the sum specified, and on the 4th of May, it was deter- mined to sell it for not less than $600, and that the fee simple of the lot be offered to J. Golden for $350, being $750 less than was first fixed on.
Here we part with the vestry's records, not hav- ing been able to examine them further down. Nor is it very necessary this should have been done, as most that it may be desirable to be stated concerning the parish, is accessible from other sources, more con- venient to be consulted, and furnishing what even perhaps need be inserted here.
In obedience to a call made upon the parishes by the Convention of 1819, St. Ann's reported in 1820; thus :-
St. Ann's, Ann Arundel, has two houses of wor- ship, the one, is about twelve miles from the city of Annapolis, and is not yet completed. (This, was to take the place of the old chapel at the head of Sev- ern, built in 1730,) it will contain about 150 persons. Service is often performed there. We learn from the report of the Rev. Henry Aisquith in 1839, that it was built principally by churchmen, but that the deed gave the Methodists a right of using it half the time. It was not built on the site of the old chapel, but a mile and a half distant. This was a sad connection, as in such cases it always is, and led to its being aban- doned, and a new church in its stead, built in 1840, near the head of South river. At that time, all the adjacent country became an independent parish.
The church in Annapolis is in good condition. The number of the congregation about 250. Here, divine
113
OF ST. ANN'S PARISH.
service is performed three times a week. The salary of the Rector, about $800, is derived principally from subscription. The vestry have about $600, vested in bank stock-$535 loaned to an individual, and a ground rent of $18.90, making an annual revenue from these sources of $86, which constitutes a part of the rector's salary. The vestry also hold a dwelling house, garden and separate lot in Annapolis, which are occupied by the Rector.
On the 8th of June, Dr. Davis had resigned the parish. He had been the Vice-Principal of St. John's College from his coming to Annapolis to 1821. In the previous year, he received the honorary degrec of D. D. from Dickinson College, Pa. He had been a member of the Standing Committee for twenty-two successive years, eleven of which, he was its President. For eight years, he was the Secretary of the Conven- tion. Twice he had been delegate to the General Convention, and in 1803 he preached the Convention sermon. He had great influence with both Bishops Claggett and Kemp, and gave his advice in a rather dogmatic . manner, as his correspondence shows, of which we have upwards of forty letters. During his last year in Annapolis, he had for his assistant, the Rev. John G. Blanchard.
On leaving St. Ann's, he removed to Delaware, and became the President of the College at Wilmington, (he removed to Cecil County, and officiated subse- quently 1834, at Elkton, and at Georgetown in Kent County.) In 1831 however, he was residing at Pop- lar Springs on the Baltimore and Frederick road, some 28 miles from the city, and officiated occasion- ally at the chapel of St. Thomas' Parish, now Holy Trinity, in Carroll County. But as he could not ob- tain letters demissary from Delaware, he never be- came a member of the Diocese after his leaving An- napolis. He was a man of much learning, of vigor- 10*
114
HISTORICAL NOTICES
ous mind and of commanding personal stature. He died -, leaving a son, the Hon. Henry Winter Davis now member of Congress, and a daughter, Jane Cunningham, now the wife of the Rev. Mr. Syle, Mis- sionary to China.
REV. JOHN G. BLANCHARD, THIRTY-FOURTH MINISTER.
Mr. Blanchard was a native of Massachusetts, and graduated at He was ordained deacon by Bishop Kemp, October 13th, 1824, and became assist- ant to Dr. Davis ; and in 1826, on Dr. Davis's leav- ing, he became his successor in the rectorship of the parish. He found here fifty-eight communicants, and a Sunday-School of twenty-six females, white. In his report to the convention of 1826, he said, during the past year, our congregation has more than doub- led, important repairs have been made upon the church and parsonage, partly by subscription, and partly by the sale of church property. This year, 1827, Bish- op Kemp died. But there was no appointment of a successor, till Bishop Stone was consecrated to the Episcopate, in 1830.
At the end of a ten years' connection with St. Ann's, Mr. Blanchard resigned the parish in 1836, leaving seventy-four communicants. Incited by the spiritual wants of a large and increasing population, in the western part of the city of Baltimore, he deter- mined to seek his field of usefulness there. Under the advice and direction of the Bishop, he was just about to enter on his labors, having removed there, and took his lodging at a boarding house, S. W. cor- ner of Saratoga and Calvert, but two days after his
115
OF ST. ANN'S PARISH.
arrival, he was attacked by a bilious fever, which ter- minated his life, in little more than a week, on the 8th of October, 1834, æt. 35, leaving behind him, a widow who is still living, the daughter of Bryan Philpott, Esq., of Baltimore County, three sons and a daughter. The elder son Edward Wyatt, is now a member of the Baltimore bar, and the daughter is the wife of Alexander Randall, Esq., of Annapolis.
To a mind naturally strong and well directed, Mr. Blanchard had the advantages of a liberal education. The high sense of his ability and integrity entertain- ed by his adopted diocese, was manifested in placing him in the Standing Committee eight times, and in making him delegate to the General Convention in 1832.
In the early part of his illness, as we are informed by one who was his constant visitor, he was not aware that his end was nigh. He met his deliverer howev- er, having become aware of his situation, with a firm trust in the efficacy of the Redeemer's merits, express- ing a devout sense of refreshment from the consecra- ted elements he had partaken. He strove to soothe her whom he was about to leave a widow, and for- gave all, as he hoped to be forgiven, commending his spirit into the hands of a faithful Creator. He was of a retiring disposition, and averse to ostentation. His friends and the community were witnesses, that his preaching was Christ and him crucified, that his labors were unwearied, and attest his piety and at- tachment to the services and institutions of the church. Much of this is from the Churchman of Noveinber 8th, 1834.
116
HISTORICAL NOTICES
REV. GEORGE MCELHINEY, D. D., THIRTY-FIFTH MINISTER.
Mr. McElhiney was a native of Ireland, but was educated mainly in the Academy of the Rev. Dr. Barry in Baltimore, where also he was an Assistant. He was ordained deacon January 6th, 1820, by Bish- op Kemp ; and in July of that year, went to Pitts- burg, Pa. But he very soon returned and took charge of St. James's Parish, Baltimore County. In 1826,
he accepted the rectorship of Trinity Parish, Charles County, but at the end of the year, he returned again to St. James. In 1831, he removed to Somerset Pa- rish in Somerset County, and became its Rector. It was from thence that he came to St. Ann's in the fall of 1834, In he received the degree of D. D. from
During his ministry here, his convention reports being merely statistical; we only learn, that in 1840 the number of communicants was about ninety. The Sunday-School had one hundred children, and $245 had been contributed during the year, to missionary, and other objects connected with the advancement of religion.
.
At the previous Convention, he had been appoint- ed to procure subscriptions for a permanent Episco- pal fund. But it was not till after the election of Bishop Whittingham in 1840, that he entered on his mission, to any material extent. . He then did so, with very promising success, procuring subscriptions to the amount of $62,000. It was while he was pros- ecuting this work that he was seized with the conges- tive fever, at Leonardtown, in St. Mary's County, and died on the 2nd of May, 1841, æt. 42. He left behind
-1
117
OF ST. ANN'S PARISH.
him a widow, a son, and a daughter, who still reside in Annapolis.
He was a member of the Standing Committee for the ten years previous to his death, and preached the Convention Sermon in 1834.
In his address to the convention, which met a few days after Dr. McElhiney's death, Bishop Whitting- ham spoke of him, as the noble hearted, honest, up- right man, the humble, single-minded christian, the ardent, zealously devoted minister of the gospel of salvation, and servant of the church of his Redeemer.
SEVERN PARISH.
In 1838, it appears from the report of the Rev. Henry Aisquith, that with the consent of the Rector, he had for some months officiated in the upper or chapel part of the parish, and organized an independ- ent congregation, by the name of the Severn Church, but it was not till 1845, that it was made a parish, having metes and bounds. This, then, materially lessened the territory of the parish, taking off all North West of a line drawn from J. Iglehart's land- ing on the Severn, to Broad Creek on South River. This was the second diminution of territory suffered by St. Ann's Parish.
REV. GORDON WINSLOW, D. D., THIRTY-SIXTHI MINISTER.
Mr. Winslow came here in 1741, from the Diocese of Western New York .. He had been a minister in connection with the Congregationalists, and was or-
118
HISTORICAL NOTICES
dained to the diaconate in May, 1836, and settled in Troy, N. Y. From thence it seems he came here.
His convention report of 1842, shows us that the number of communicants was steadily on the increase, that large repairs were made on the parsonage, amounting to $450, that a bell had been placed on the church at the cost of $200, and that, including these, the contributions of the parish during the year had been $1,032.
In Mr. Winslow's report for 1843, we are shown that the communicants now numbered 108. The Sun- day-School had not increased, but the contributions for the year had been $912. Services had been per- formed not only twice on the Sabbath, but also on every Wednesday morning, and every Friday even- ing.
Mr. Winslow appears to have continued here, till the spring of 1844, when he resigned the parish and removed to the diocese of N. Y. He has since, re- ceived the degree of D. D., and is residing on Staten Island.
REV. EDWIN M. VAN DUESEN, D. D. THIRTY- SEVENTH MINISTER.
Mr. Van Deusen entered on his duties here on Eas- ter Sunday, May 12th, 1844. He is a native of Mas- sachusetts, so it is stated, and was ordained deacon, by Bishop Stone, June 2nd, 1837, and took charge of St. John's Parish, Prince George's County. From there he came to Annapolis.
In his report at the Convention of 1846, he states that the church had been thoroughly repaired and materially improved, at an expense of about $1100.
119
OF ST. ANN'S PARISII.
The exterior and interior wood work was painted, and the tower roof renewed, the tomb stones, so long used as stepping stones, were placed in suitable positions in the yard, and granite steps substituted. The aisles were carpeted, the chancel enlarged, the pulpit chang- ed in its form, and a marble communion table substi- tuted for the old one. The system of pew rents was now adopted and but two or three pews remained un- occupied. Besides the Sunday, Wednesday, and Fri- day services, the Fast and Festival were regularly observed.
Mr. Van Deusen resigned the parish in the Sum- mer of 1847. At the Convention of that year he re- ported 138 communicants. This was one hundred more than were reported by Dr. Davis, the first time there is any record of their number, thirty-one years before. The increase had been constant and gradual.
Mr. Van Deusen removed to Delaware and took charge of the church in Wilmington, in the year 1853. He has since removed to Pittsburg, Pa., and become rector of a church there.
At the commencement of St. John's College in July, 1856, the degree of D. D. was conferred on him. And he had previously published a 12 mo. volume of Sermons.
REV. CLELLAND KINLOCK NELSON, THIRTY- EIGHITHI MINISTER.
Mr. Nelson took charge of this church on the 1st of October, 1847. He is a native of Virginia, the son of the late Hon. Hugh Nelson, a graduate of Jeffer- son College, Pennsylvania, and of the Theological Seminary of Virginia in 1839. He was ordained dea- con by Bishop Moore of Va., in July of that year.
120
HISTORICAL NOTICES
On the 15th of January, 1845, he entered on his duties here, having previously been rector of Trinity Church, Upper Marlboro', Prince George's County. He found here but 122 communicants.
At the Convention of 1848, it appears that collec- tions had been made for Foreign and Domestic Mis- sions, Bibles, Prayer-books, Sunday-School, the poor and other church purposes, amounting to $750.
In 1849, he had for his. Assistant, the
REV. WILLIAM W. LORD.
Mr. Lord came to this diocese, from New Jersey- he continued here less than a year, and then became the Assistant of the Rev. Dr. Atkinson, St. Peter's, Baltimore. After which, he officiated for a while in 1851 in Hagerstown, and in 1852 removed to Missis- sippi, and is now rector of the church in Vicksburg in that Diocese.
This year, Mr. Nelson reported the various contri- butions for church purposes at $1,084. The parson- age was now also undergoing repairs, and the Sun- day-School had 20 teachers and 130 scholars.
This year, 1850, the Rector had for his Assistant, the
REV. SAMUEL K. STEWART.
Mr. Stewart is a native of the Eastern Shore, Ma- ryland, and was ordained deacon by Bishop Whit-
121
OF ST. ANN'S PARISII.
tingham, December 24th, 1848. He then became the Assistant of the Rector of Coventry Parish, Somerset County. From thence he came here, and in addi- tion to the duties rendered by him as a deacon, he taught the parish free school.
In 1851, on being ordained priest, he became the Rector of Worcester Parish, Worcester County, and is still in charge there.
The collections and offerings of St. Ann's, as re- ported at the Convention this year, 1850, for purposes within and without the Parish, aside from the support of the Rector, are stated $1,483. In 1851, $2,275.
In 1852, Mr. Nelson reports, that the repairs upon the parish church begun more than two years ago, are at length completed ; and we have now the great satisfaction of meeting for worship in a beautiful, comfortable and fitting, instead of a ruinous, church edifice-and it is all paid for. The congregations were stated to be regularly full, and steadily increas- ing, and a gradual improvement was visible in the interest taken in the services of the sanctuary. There had been collected for various church purposes $1,660. In 1853, $1,867. In 1854 Mr. Nelson was appoint- ed by the Convention, one of the Trustees of the Gen- eral Theological Seminary.
In 1856, the communicants are now reported at 186, an increase of 64 during Mr. Nelson's Rector- ship. The amount contributed this year other than pew rents, was $3,048. The rector's salary is now $1200.
At this Convention, Mr. Nelson was appointed by its unanimous vote, to visit the Diocese to obtain an endowment for St. James's College. But the vestry of St. Ann's declined to dispense with his absence from the parish.
11
122
HISTORICAL NOTICES
We have now passed over in review, the territory of this parish for a period of 207 years, and of the parish itself for 164 years.
We have noticed the ministry here of more than forty clergymen-the erection of the two successive church edifices-the diminution of its territory by or- ganizing two new parishes-one partly and the other wholly within its bounds. We have seen something of its various vicissitudes, and its now present condi- tion. The whole furnishes much instruction.
St. Ann's Parish has emphatically a Maryland pop- ulation, and yet perhaps, retains less of the heredita- ry influences of puritanism, than do the other parishes where it was originally prevalent. This is owing no doubt, to the fact of its having been so long the seat of Government, and subject to its uniformly demor- alizing influences.
There can be no doubt, that it would be of great advantage, if the church in the city, were made an independant parish; and the remaining part of its territory be also made a separate parish. The min- ister of St. Ann's will always find as much as he can do well, in connection with that church. The rest of the parish must consequently be more or less neglect- ed, and occupied by others. So it has been, and is still as elsewhere.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.