USA > Virginia > Westmoreland County > Westmoreland County > A sketch of Yeocomico Church (built 1706) in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, Va. : with a reference to the bicentennial celebration on July 15, 1906, and the movement to raise an endowment fund for the preservation of the church > Part 1
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.
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 03585 0541
GC 975.501 W52s Mayo, Wat Tyler, 1870- A sketch of Yeocomico Church (built 1706) in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County. Va.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/sketchofyeocomic00mayo
A SKETCH OF
YEOCOMICO CHURCH
(BUILT 1706)
COPLE PARISH
WESTMORELAND COUNTY - VIRGINIA
A SKETCH
OF
YEOCOMICO CHURCH (BUILT 1706) IN COPLE PARISH
WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VA.
With a Reference to the Bicentennial Celebration on July 15, 1906, and the movement to raise an endowment fund for the preservation of the Church
BY
Wat Tyler Mayo Walter Randolph Crabbe S. Downing Cox Committee of the Congregation
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
RIGHT REVEREND ROBERT A. GIBSON Bishop of Virginia
BISHOP GIBSON RICHMOND, VA.
April 4th, 1906.
It gives me great pleasure to commend the work of endowing Yeocomico Church.
Our Colonial Churches are historic landmarks of the very highest interest.
Yeocomico has a romantic story and one which is in many of its aspects pathetic.
I trust that the care of the old building may be ensured. We of this generation can do our part in one way, and in one way only: that is by collecting money for the preservation of the Church, and providing for the wisest possible expenditure of the fund thus secured.
ROBERT A. GIBSON,
Bishop of Virginia.
REVEREND JOHN POYNTZ TYLER Archdeacon of Virginia
HE object of the following publication is to call attention to a movement recently inaugurated by Rev. John Pontyz Tyler, Archdeacon of Virginia, to raise a memorial fund for the preservation of Old Yeocomico Church in Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, Va.
This fund will be placed in control of the Diocesan Board of Trustees to be permanently invested, and the proceeds used to keep the old building and inclosure in repair.
In this connection it is proposed to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of its erection by appropriate exercises, beginning on the 15th day of July, 1906.
On another page will be found a letter from Right Reverend R. A. Gibson, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, commending the movement.
The present members of the congregation of Cople Parish earnestly desire that this sacred edifice, once the worshipping place of so many whose names are indelibly associated with the leading events of Virginia's history, should be preserved from decay. They welcome this movement on the part of Mr. Tyler, and will willingly contribute to the extent of their abilities. They are poor, however, and have three other churches besides Yeocomico to maintain.
They have appointed the following gentlemen : William H. Fairfax, M. D., Wat Tyler Mayo, William J. Carey, S. Downing Cox, Walter R. Crabbe, Robert H. Gawen, John R. Gray, Frederick Griffith, Augustus Davisson, a committee of general arrangements to assist in this celebration and provide entertainment for visitors, and have selected the undersigned committee to prepare a sketch of the church and the people who have worshipped within its walls, hoping that it may serve to bring this matter to the attention of some who will be willing to contribute to the cause.
The committee wishes to express its thanks to Rev. George William Beale, D. D., without whose kindly aid it would have been impossible to have prepared the historical data here given.
WAT TYLER MAYO, S. DOWNING COX, WALTER R. CRABBE, Committee.
YEOCOMICO CHURCH Built 1706
ANCIENT PORTAL WITH WICKET
THIS QUAINT RELIC of Colonial Virginia has stood through two centuries of changing scenes, and has - experienced a variety of usages little contemplated by those whose pious hands laid its foundations. For three- quarters of a century loyal subjects of his Britannic Majesty were required to assemble here each Sabbath and perform Divine Services under penalty of the forfeiture of a goodly quantity of tobacco. The forbears of many who have been prominent in the annals of this State and Nation were among the worshippers here during this period. With the rise of Republicanism the sins of its fathers were visited upon it, and it fell into neglect and decay.
In turn it became a soldiers' barrack, a school house by day, the nightly resting place for beasts of the field, the roosting place of the birds of the air, and the habitat of all creeping things-its sun-warm bricks the striped lizard's paradise. Later it was the scene of conflict between rival sects that fought for the right of exclusive occupancy ; and during the Civil War it afforded shelter for the valiant home guard, whose heroic efforts to guard and protect were suddenly and violently terminated by the appearance of the conscript officer of the Confederacy upon the scene, whose unexpected arrival seems to have made it incumbent upon them to seek the seclusion of the nearby forest.
The following account of a visit to the old church is from the report of Bishop Meade in 1838:
"On Monday I went, in company with Mr. Nelson, to Yeocomico Church, in Westmoreland, where I preached and administered the rite of confirmation to three persons. "Yeocomico Church, so called after the river of that name, is one of the old churches, being built in the year 1706. The architecture is rough, but very strong, and the materials must have been of the best kind. Its figure is that of a cross, and, situated as it is, in a little recess from the main road, in the midst of some aged trees, and sur- rounded by an old brick wall which is fast mouldering away, it cannot fail to be an object of interest to one whose soul has any sympathy for such scenes. It has un- dergone but little repair since its first erection, and indeed
A WINTER SCENE The stone shown near the tree is the remains of a inonument erected to the memory of the builders of the Church by Peter Moon and Johnt Cogger. At the east gable of the Church is the vault of Daniel McCarty, now in ruins.
-
INTERIOR VIEW AS IT NOW APPEARS
has needed little. It is not known or believed that a single new shingle has ever been put upon the roof, and the pews and whole interior are the same. During the late war it was shamefully abused by the soldiers who were quartered - in it while watching the movements of the British on the Potomac. The Communion table was removed into the yard, where it served as a butcher's block, and was en- tirely defaced. Being of substantial materials, however, it admitted of a new face and polish, and is now restored to its former place, where it will answer, we trust, for a long time to come, the holy purposes for which it was originally designed. Nor was the baptismal font exempt from profanation. It was taken some miles from the church, and used as a vessel in which to prepare the ex- citements to ungodly mirth. This, however, was not long permitted, for in the absence of every member of our communion, none being left to do it, a venerable old man of the Presbyterian connection, inortified at the dishonor done to religion, took pains to regain it and restore it to its former place. It is a large and beautiful marble font, and by its side I took my station while I heard the renewal of baptismal vows from the lips of those who were con- firmed. The canvas on which the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Creed were impressed was so torn by the soldiers that they could no longer be permitted to retain their place, and are now lying in fragments in one of the distant and unoccupied pews.
"It deserves to be mentioned that whatever repairs have been put upon this house were at the expense of the good man mentioned above, and a worthy gentleman of New York, a member of our communion, and whose matrimonial connection in the family often brought him to that part of Virginia. A large and excellent stove, which completely warmed the whole church, was a present from the latter, and on the desk and pulpit the Bible and Prayer Book bear the name of J. Rogers, of New York."
"The good man mentioned above" was Mr. Murphy. who lived at Ayrfield, an estate adjoining the church. The "worthy gentleman of New York" was Mr. Wm. L. Rogers, of Princeton, New Jersey, who, as a member of the 36th Regiment of United States Infantry, was sta- tioned with his company in the vicinity of the church in the spring of 1814. In an interesting letter to Bishop Meade, which is published at length in his book, "Old Churches and Families of Virginia," he describes the condition of the church at that time and tells of his subse- quent efforts to repair it as follows :
"In the year 1820, being on a visit to Ayrfield, and see- ing old Yeocomico still a ruin, even more deplorable than when I left it, I proposed to Mr. Murphy to undertake its repair. To this he not only assented, but gave money, labor, and his personal service. The gentlemen of the neighborhood subscribed cheerfully and liberally, and the work was pushed forward by employing suitable me- chanics and importing from Alexandria lumber, shingles, paints and seven or eight barrels of tar for the roof, which had not had a shingle put upon it since the year 1788, at which time, I heard Mr. Murphy say, the gentlemen of the surrounding estates were assessed to meet the expense."
Other repairs and alterations have been made from time to time. The original pews have been replaced by more modern ones, and the old-fashioned pulpit with its sound- ing board is gone, and in its stead is a reading desk and pulpit of recent design. Nothing remains of the original furniture but the Communion table and the Baptismal font.
The old brick wall surrounding the church and bury- ing ground, which had been pushed from its original
foundation in many places by trees that had been negli- gently permitted to grow up against it, was partially re- stored during the pastorate of Rev. A. R. Walker, and neat and substantial iron gates hung at the three en- trances.
The old sun dial, which bears on its face the name Philip Smith and the date 1717, has been removed from its post before the church and is now kept in the Rectory. Its face has been but little marred by exposure to the elements, and it will soon be restored to its former stand.
At the foot of a hill in the shade of the forest nearby is a spring of limpid water where thirsty worshippers have long been wont to refresh themselves by aid of a wrought- iron ladle, placed there many years ago by kind-hearted Presly Cox, whose initials are impressed in its bowl.
The old oak shown in the illustration is the sole sur- vivor of the ancient forest that stood about this sacred edi- fice. Two of its companions have within the memory of the present generation decayed and fallen, and this, the last of its race, will in all probability, succumb before the year is out to the decay that has already struck into its vitals.
Mr. Win. L. Rogers says, that in 1814 the Church yard was strewn with fragments of broken tombstones containing the names of Washington, Lee, Parker and others. The old Parker home, "Springfield," was near
the church, and here no doubt worshipped General Alexander Parker, a soldier of the Revolution, who also fought with "Mad Anthony" Wayne in the Indian Wars.
The following description of the tomb of Daniel McCarty, the inscription on which is now almost entire- ly effaced, is taken from an article prepared by Mrs. Elenor Griffith Fairfax, a grand-daugther of Mrs. Downing Cox, daughter of "Squire Lee," which was printed in the Southern Churchman in 1888 :
"Close to the base of the right and east gable is the rocky foundation of a vault, in size 15x18 feet; it is now a grassy mound with several cedar trees growing upon it. Near the center of this mound is a gray stone tablet, much defaced by time, and it was only after repeated efforts that I have finally succeeded in making out the inscription, which is as follows, 'Here lyeth the body of Daniel McCarty, who departed this life the fourth of- 1724, in the forty-fifth year of his age. He was en- dowed with many virtues and good qualifications, but the actions proceeding from them bespeak their praise. Here also lyeth the body of Thaddeus McCarty, youngest son to Daniel McCarty, Esq., who died the 7, of Febru- ary, 1731, in the 19, year of his age.
Near this place likewise is the body of Penelope, wife to Daniel McCarty, second son of Daniel McCarty, Esq., and daughter to Christine Higgens, Gent., who departed this life the 26, of March, 1732, in the 19 year of her age, with one child.'"'
-
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE EXTERIOR
Photo by Frank J. Cullen (Copyrighted )
(1
THE ANCIENT BAPTISMAL FONT Photo by F. J. Cullen (Copyrighted )
THE FOLLOWING interesting account of the people connected with this old church is from the pen of Rev. G. W. Beale, of Hague, Va. :
"The present building (built in 1706) was not the earliest one known as Veocomico Church, the earliest vestry of which were Nicholas Jurnew', John Powell and Richard Holden, who were chosen August 22, 1655.
`Between the years 1655 and 1706 mention may be made of the following heads of families who were immigrants to Westmoreland and worshipped at Yeocomico :
(1) Col. Isaac Allerton, who found- ed his home at 'The Narrows,' on Machodoc and reared there a large family. He was a grandson of Wm. Brewster, the chief mover of Plymouth Rock settlement. His father of the same name, was one of the Mayflower pilgrims. A sketch of him and an outline of his descendants is in course of preparation at present by a descendant for the New England Historical and Genealogical Magazine. He died in 1702.
"(2.) Dr. John Gerrard, a refugee from Maryland, who located between Yeocomico and Machodoc creeks, and whose daughters intermarried with Robert Slye, of Mary- land ; Daniel Hutt, 'formerly merchant of London ;' John Crabbe, Col. Thomas Speake, Col. Valentine Peyton, Capt. John Appleton and Col. John Washington. Dr.
Gerrard, having married Mrs. Rose Tucker, relict of John Tucker of 'Tucker's Hill,' was stepfather to Rose and Sarah Tucker, the latter of whom was married to the emi- nent lawyer, Wm. Fitzhugh, and was ancestress to a long and distinguished line of that name, representatives of which are to be found in every part of the Union.
"(3.) Capt. John Newton, a successful navigator, who married Mrs. Rose Gerrard, and dying in 1695 at his seat called Wilmington,2 left a large family, to whom he be- queathed large properties in both Virginia and England. Prominent amongst his descendants may be named the late Hon. Willoughby Newton, Rt. Rev. John B. Newton, Gen. Newton, U. S. A., the Harpers of the well-known New York publishing house, and others of prominence too numerous to mention.3
"(4.) Samuel Rust, whose plantation still perpetuates his name and whose descendants, including Gen. Rust, of New York, are widely scattered, influential and useful.
"(5.) Col. George Eskridge, who founded 'Sandy Point,' and was a lawyer of eminence, who probably brought into the Northern Neck more English settlers than any man of his day. To him was committed the care and tutelage of Mary Ball, the mother of General Washington, when she was about 13 years of age-a sacred duty imposed by the young girl's mother in her last will and testament, and one which Col. Eskridge sacredly kept. A sketch of Col. Eskridge and compilation of his descendants is in course of preparation by the accom- plished hand of Mrs. Mamie Hope West, of Washington, D. C.
"(6.) William Payne, a merchant who operated a mill at the head of Bonum's creek, whose relict became the
I Nicholas Jurnew obtained a patent for Peekatone, in Westmoreland Connty, 18 October, 1650, which he transferred to Henry Corbin, who had another patent issued in his own name, 26 March, 1664. He was ancestor of Gawin Corbin.
"Wilmington is now owned by Mr. Robert H. Gawen, one of the committee mentioned in the text. There are several tombstones on this place, one of which is inscribed to the memory of Sarah, daughter of Col. Eskridge, and wife of Willoughby Newton, son of Capt. John Newton.
3This name is still represented in the congregation of Yeocomico in the family of Mr. Edward Colston Newton, youngest son of Hon. Willoughby Newton. He married Inncy Yates, youngest daughter of Dr. Wat. H. Tyler.
+Now owned by Mr. John R. Dos Passos, a prominent member of the New York Bar. 5Originally known as Rotank Creek.
wife of Col. Daniel McCarty, as did also some years later Mrs. Ann Fitzhugh, relict of Wm. Fitzhugh and daugh- ter of Richard Lee.
the same name, and later interpreter for the colonists. Presley Cox was founder of the home called 'Welton,' and through his sons, Fleet and Presley Cox, has had a "(7.) William Wigginton, who died in the vicinity of . long line of prominent and useful descendants.
the church in 1721, leaving a son and daughter, and from whom descended the Hon. Richard Wigginton Thomp- son, Secretary of the Navy under the administration of President Hayes.
"(8.) Samuel Bonum, who married Margaret Philpots and established his home on the creek which bears his name, where he died in 1702, leaving three sons, the elder of whom, Samuel, married Elizabeth Johnston, the elder half-sister of Mary Ball, with whom the latter made her home after her mother's death in 1721.
"(9.) Richard Lee, second of the name in Virginia, who, having succeeded to the estate of his brother, Dr. John Lee, who died without issue, established his home under the hill near the Hague, where his tomb yet remains and whose descendants in many parts of the country have made the family name famous in our political and military annals.
"(10.) Daniel McCarty, previously referred to, who represented the county in the Assembly of Burgesses in 1715, and was Speaker of the House, who was laid under the tomb which still marks his grave in Yeocomico church yard, and from whom have sprung a long line of descendants distinguished in political, military and literary circles. 1
"(II.) Presley Cox, believed to have been son of one of the earliest physicians who practiced medicine in Westmoreland, and whose wife was Margaret Fleet, daughter of Henry Fleet, son of the 'Indian Captive,' of
"(12.) Daniel Tebbs, who later became a vestryman of Yeocomico Church, and dying in 1760, left two sons, Daniel and William, from the former of whom sprung Daniel, William, John and Thomas Tebbs, all of whom were explorers and settlers in Kentucky where the descendents of most of them have been substantial and influential citizens.
"Later in the history of Yeocomico Church, and subse- quent to the erection of the present edifice, in addition to the names of families already named may be mentioned :
"(I.) Dr. James Steptoe, of Hominy Hall, 2a public- spirited citizen whose daughters, Elizabeth and Anne, were married to Philip Ludwell Lee and Samuel Wash- ington, and his step-daughters, Mary and Anne, to Thomas Ludwell Lee and Richard Henry Lee. From Dr. Steptoe's son, William, descended the Steptoes of Mid- dlesex County, the late Hon. Jos. Christian of the Virginia Court of Appeals, Dr. Wm. S. Christian and the wife and children of the late Hon. Jas. L. Wilson, president of Washington and Lee University. From his son, James, descended the Steptoes of Bedford and Campbell counties, the late Frederick Johnston, of Salem, Va., author of "Old Virinia Clerks," etc., etc.
"(2.) The Rev. David Currie, who married the young widow of Isaac Allerton, of "The Narrows," and subse- quently became rector of Christ Church in Lancaster, a position which he held for over a half century.
"(3.) Gawin Corbin, of Peckatone,3 who, dying in
1Daniel McCarty's will is recorded in the clerk's office of Westmoreland County. It is an interesting document. He disposes of large landed estates in Westmoreland, Northumberland, Richmond and Stafford Counties; and much personal property. He married Win. Payne's widow and must have resided on Payne's Plantation near Tucker Hill. He purchased of Wm. Payne II, his interest in his father's mill. The site of this mill was just below the spring near the Church. Later, in 1722, McCarty had land condemned for another mill lower down the stream.
2 Now owned by Mr. Dos Passos.
3The spacious brick mansion which once stood on this place was destroyed by fire some years ago. The farm is now owned by Mr. Dos Passos.
HOME OF AUNT BETSY LAWRENCE, THE JANITRESS
1760, bequeathed '£20 for the poor of Cople Parish, hav- ing numerous families and unable to support them. The same to buy coarse goods.' From Mr. Corbin, through his only daughter, Martha, have descended many names familiar in the annals of Yeocomico Church, including those of Tuberville, Taliaferro, Brown, Rose, Murphy, Brooks, etc.
"(4.) George Lee, who having removed from London about 1736, built his home known as Mt. Pleasant, near Hague, where he resided and served as clerk of the county for about 20 years. His second wife, who bore him four sons and two daughters, was the youthful relict of Law- rence Washington, of Mt. Vernon. Mr. Lee, through his son, Launcelot, who married Miss Mary Bathurst Jones of Northumberland, and secondly a Mrs. Cockrell, has numerous descendants, sprung from the Sangsters of
Albermarle, Chipleys of Winchester, Cockrells of Fair- fax, and others of the name of Lee.
"(5.) Robert Carter, known as "Councillor," whose family in point of size was second to none of his day in connection with Yeocomico Church. Of his children, seventeen in number, Priscilla married Robert Mitchell of Richmond County, where her descendants are still numerous; Ann Tasker married John Peck ;1 Hariet Lucy married John James Maund, whose name and blood are perpetuated among the Maunds of Baltimore and the Arnests; Sarah Fairfax, who married Dr. Chinn. Her posterity are found among the Chinns, Tayloes, Doug- lasses, etc. Julia, who married Dr. Robert B. Berkley, has numerous descendants in Kentucky. George and Tasker Carter, sons of Councillor Carter, have left de- scendants in Prince William and Loudan. He had also a daughter, Elizabeth Landon, who married Dr. Spencer Ball of 'Portisi,' Prince William County, and their de- scendants are among the Bests of Georgia ( from Rev. Hezekiah Best), and the Carters, Balls, Lewises and Weirs of this State.
"(6.) Henry Lee, co-temporary with Col. George Lee, mentioned above, who lived near the latter at 'Lee Hall.' From his son, Henry, who married Mary Bland, sprung the distinguished line of Gen. Henry Lee of the Revolu- tion and the prominent Virginia Confederates of the Lee name. Also from the first Henry, through his other son, Richard ('Squire' Lee), who married Sally Poythress, came Mrs. Mary Jones, grandmother of Hon. Wm. A. Jones; Mrs. John Augustine Smith, who dwelt in New York, and Mrs. Downing Cox, whose descendants wear the names of Griffith, Brown, Fairfax, Murphy, etc.
"(7.) Prominent in the affairs of Yeocomico Church and Cople Parish, of which he was a vestryman at the
1John Peck, was a graduate of Princeton, 1774, afterwards tutor in Mr. Carter's family at Nomini Hall. He is mentioned in The Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian (student at Princeton College, 1770-1772, and tutor at Nomini Hall, 1773-1774). Edited for The Princeton Historical Association in 1900, by John Rogers Williams, great grandson of Wm. L. Rogers.
PRESENT INTERIOR
A BIT OF THE CHURCH YARD
time of his death in 1760, was John Bushrod, one of the Burgesses of Westmoreland, whose family name became distinguished by his grandson, the Hon. Bushrod Wash- ington,1 of the Supreme Court of the United States, a favorite nephew of General Washington, to whom he bequeathed his home, library and military correspondence. The daughter of John Bushrod by her marriage to Colonel John A. Washington, left a worthy line of descendants, including besides the last private owner of Mt. Vernon, Mrs. Beverly Tucker of Norfolk, Mrs. Julian Howard, the Herberts of Alexandria, and the Peters of Georgetown, D. C., and Rockville, Md.
Southern Planter,' 'Don Miff,' and other interesting pro- ductions. John Augustine Smith, president of William and Mary College, and later professor in Columbian Uni- versity, New York, was the youngest son of Rev. Thomas Smith. Mary Jacqueline Smith was married to Philip Lee, and of their four daughters one married James C. Anthony of Richmond, whose daughter was the first wife of the Rev. Randolph of the Diocese of Virginia.
"(9.) Identified with Cople Parish and worshippers at Yeocomico during the latter half of the 18th century were John Tuberville and his family, a daughter of which was married to Dr. Motram Ball and resided in Fairfax County. Through their sons, Stephen Motram and Wil- liam Warring Ball, they have many descendants, among them the children of the late Col. M. Dulany Ball of Alaska, Mrs. Rebecca French Addison of Richmond, the children of Rev. W. E. Judkins and others. John Tuber- ville had also a daughter who married Major Catesby Jones, whose sons, Thomas Catesby and Roger, were respectively Commodore, U. S. N., and Major General, U. S. A. From their daughter, Martha, sprang Julianna Gordon, the mother of the late mayor of Baltimore city, Thomas G. Hayes. The sons of John Tuberville were Major George Lee Tuberville, of 'Epping,' and Major John C. Tuberville, of the war of 1812-14, the former of whom has descendants in Westmoreland County, Rich- mond City, Petersburg and other parts of Virginia and North Carolina.
"(10.) John Campbell, long Commonwealth's Attorney for Westmoreland County, founded the home known as 'Kernan,' near Yeocomico. His eldest daughter was mar- ried to Geo. W. Smith, son of the Governor of that name who perished in the burning theater in Richmond in 1711. Another daughter was married to Samuel A. M. Leland of Northumberland; another to the late Judge Robert
"(8.) The Rev. Thomas Smith was longer identified with Yeocomico Church than any other rector in its his- tory. His accomplished wife, Mary Smith, was of Shoot- ers Hill in Middlesex, and of a family whose descendants have enriched our state literature with 'Memoirs of a 1A portrait of this distinguished Virginian will shortly be unveiled in the Court room of Westmoreland Circuit Court, by Hon. T. R. B. Wright, Judge.
Mayo ; another to Landon C. Berkley. A fourth daughter was married to Dr. John Mayo and the youngest of them to the Rev. Charles H. Boggs. From this family have sprung in recent years several valuable additions to the ministry of the Episcopal Church, as well as godly women in whose veins flows the blood of Archibald Campbell, William McCoy and Mr. Leland-all prominent names among her clergy when Virginia was a colony.
"(II.) Associated with Yeocomico Church was Henry Fitzhugh, whose mother was married to Daniel McCarty in the early childhood of this son of her first marriage. The earliest impressions on the lad's mind in connection with divine worship were probably received in this church. He married Lucy Carter of Lancaster, and their grand- daughter, Elizabeth Grimes, was the mother of Bishop William Meade. From him also came an only son, Wil- liam, founder of the historic seat called 'Chatham,' oppo- site Fredericksburg, whose daughter, Mary, was married to George Washington Parke Custer, and was mother of Mrs. Robert E. Lee.
"(12.) John Critcher of 'Waterview" may be named in this connection, one of whose sons, Henry, was among the early settlers in California, and another, the late Hon. John Critcher, prominent as a member of Congress, judge, officer in the Confederate Army, and practitioner at the bar. Representatives of his family reside in Alexan- dria and Hampton
"(13) John Murphy, a Scotch immigrant, employed on his arrival in Virginia as clerk for the firm of Henderson, Ferguson & Gibson, established the home called 'Ayrfield,' in close proximity to Yeocomico Church, and from him, staunch Presbyterian though he was, have descended many of its zealous supporters, amongst whom are those of the Murphy name, of that of Mayo, McGuire, Turner, Taliaferro, and others.
1 Now owned by Mr. John R. Dos Passos.
PULPIT AND READING DESK
"(14.) Of Cople Parish and vicinity of Yeocomico Church was Raphael Thompson, of 'Barnesfield,' who married Anne Fauntleroy of Farnham. Their son, Lewis A. Thompson, removed to Kentucky, and left descendants at Lexington in that State. Others of the Thompson family were long identified with Yeocomico.
"(15.) John Rochester, who became a vestryman of Yeocomico in 1785, subsequently removed to New York State and settled in or near the site of the city which bears his family name.
"(16.) John Peck, who intermarried with a daughter of Councellor Carter, subsequently owned the Rochester's plantation near Lyells. His son, also named John, inter- married with a daughter ( Anne) of the Hon. Walter Jones. Two of their daughters were married, one to Dr. F. Duvall Jones, and the other to Col. J. Lucius Davis, U. S. A., and subsequently of the C. S. Army.
"Prominent in Cople Parish for a quarter of a century after the erection of Yeocomico Church was Nicholas Minor, whose son, of the same name, reared in this par- ish, bought 360 acres of land in Loudan County, on a part of which the town of Leesburg was established in 1758, and he was among the trustees named by an act of Assembly. From him have descended many prominent people, chiefly in Loudan County and Kentucky, also Mrs. Gillison McGee, Mrs. Annie E. Babcock, Mrs. Emma H. M. Snow and Mr. Nicholas Minor Goodlet of South Orange, N. J.
"Nicholas Minor had a brother, John, amongst whose descendants are the Conrads of Winchester."
The early records of this parish have not come down to us, and it is impossible to give an accurate list of the successive clergymen who had charge of this old church. From Bishop Meade we learn that the first minister of whom we have any record was Rev. Charles Rose, 1754- 1758.1 In 1773 Rev. Thomas Smith was minister, as he was in 1776. He was probably preceded by Rev. Augustine Smith. In 1779 Rev. James Elliot appears,2 and we hear of none other till Rev. Washington Nelson in 1835. In 1842 Rev. William N. Ward succeeded him. He was succeeded by Rev. Theodore S. Rumney, D. D., in 1849, who was succeeded by Rev. Edward McGuire in 1850. He was followed by Rev. William McGuire in 1852, who was succeeded by Rev. T. Grayson Dashields in 1854. Mr. Charles P. Rodefer was minister during the civil war, and for some time after he left the parish had no minister. Within the present generation
the following clergymen have officiated in the order named: Rev. John J. Lloyd, D.D., Rev. Pendleton Brook, Rev. Robert A. Castleman, Rev. David F. Ward, Rev. Austin B. Chinn, Rev. Albert Rhett Walker, Rev. Franklin A. Ridout and Rev. Chas. H. Gross.
Besides the election of vestrymen in 1655, mentioned by Mr. Beale above, we have the record of an election held in 1755, when the following were chosen : John Bushrod, Daniel Tebbs, Richard Lee, Benedict Middleton, Wil- lowby Newton, Robert Middleton, George Lee, John Newton, Samuel Oldham, Robert Carter, Fleet Cox, James Steptoe.
At an election immediately following the Revolution the following vestry was chosen: Vincent Marmaduke, Jeremiah G. Bailey, John A. Washington, Samuel Rust, John Crabb, Richard Lee, George Garner, George Tuber- ville, Patrick Sanford, John Rochester and Samuel Tem- pleman.
The illustrations here shown are from recent photo- graphs and show the building as it now appears.
It would be beyond the scope of this publication to include mention of all who have been connected with this church in recent years. Some of the names associ- ated with its early history are still found among its worshippers.
Prominent among these in the last generation was Mr. John E. R. Crabbe, a native of Westmoreland, who after a successful career as a member of the mercantile
1I have seen somewhere mention of Parson Bricken, who preceded Mr. Rose as minister of Yeocomico and Nomini Churches .- Mayo.
"The early ministers made their homes at the Glebe. This historic old place is now owned by Mr. N. T. Ames. Rev. Thomas Smith, with five of his children, is buried there.
ONE OF THE OLD RESIDENTS
firm of Johnson, Sutton & Co., of Baltimore, returned to Cople Parish, where he made his home at Mt. Pleas- ant, the old Lee plantation. He was a liberal contrib- utor and a zealous supporter of the church. His son, Mr. Walter Randolph Crabbe, has been for many years Registrar of the Parish.
Mr. James D. Arnest, whose family is connected by marriage with descendants of the Carters, Lees and others of its Colonial history, was one of Yeocomico's best friends. He contributed largely to its repair and was a regular worshipper within its walls. He resided at "Wilton," a colonial estate on the Potomac, one time the home of Dr. Wat H. Tyler, father of Archdeacon Tyler. He is buried with his wife in the new cemetery at the rear of church.
Col. Robert M. Mayo, gallant commander of the 47th Regiment, Va. Infantry, C. S. A., third son of Judge Robert Mayo, and a descendant of the Murphys and Campbells of its early history, was for many years a prominent member of its vestry and a liberal contributor to Yeocomico. His grave is in the new cemetery there.
Mr. Edward Colvill Griffith, who resided at "Locust Farm," married a grand-daughter of "Squire Lee." Through his daughter, Mrs. Elenor Griffith Fairfax, and liis son, Dr. Frederick Griffith, this church has received many zealous supporters. His grandson, Mr. Frederick
WILTON Once the home of Dr. Wat H. Tyler, father of Archdeacon Tyler, later of Mr. James D. Arnest, and now owned by his neice, Mrs. Geo. F. Brown.
Griffith, of Hague, Va., has been for more than seven- teen years an influential member of the vestry.
The descendants of Presley Cox still perpetuate his name in the neighborhood of Yeocomico. In the family of the late Col. Fleet William Cox, Yeocomico finds some of its best friends. In the sad death of one of his sons, Rev. James Henry Cox, which occurred at his an- cestral home a few years ago, the Episcopal Ministry lost an earnest worker, and the world a Christian gentle- man.
There has been recently unearthed in the ruins of the McCarty vault parts of the tombstone of his wife, who was Elizabeth Pope, daughter of Humphrey Pope and Elizabeth Hawkins. She was the widow of William Payne, by whom she had four children. She afterwards married Daniel McCarty, Esq., to whom she bore eight children, four sons and four daughters, and died at the early age of thirty-nine years. The broken pieces of the stone were put together and an unsuccessful attempt made to photograph them.
ALL THAT COULD BE FOUND OF THE INSCRIPTION IS HERE GIVEN.
h the body of Elizabeth er of Humphrey Pope Gent. by is wife first the wife of ne Gentleman to whom sh
ns and two daughters & las Daniel McCarty Esqr. to
was married the 19, of Oct are four sons & four dau Barbara A the 30 of Nove 7th of Novem f March 1705
1709 Bu
709 Sarah 20
O and Thaddeus the IDER 1712 She was born of June 1677 & depa e 21st and was entomb ch 1716 in the
year of her A Fixt my faith com lisht church of E ans fo N
свет латинячая
C F SUDWARTH, PRINTER 510 12TH STREET, N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C.
J
REPRINTED 197
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.