USA > Virginia > A history of Bristol Parish, Va. : with genealogies of families connected therewith, and historical illustrations > Part 4
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 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
He tells of the soil, trees, reptiles, fish and streams. as Appomattox, Chippoks, Bailey's, Powell's and Ward's. He says a small tribe of Indians resided in Surry, on the cast side of the upper Chippoks, proba- bly at Claremont, the seat of Wm. Allen, Esq .; men- tions the pleasure grounds of David Meade, Esq .. containing twelve acres on the James. The population of the county was 3,654 whites, 4,519 blacks, of which about 1,200 reside in Blandford, which contains 200 houses. The present member of the Assembly is Car- ter Harrison. The remainder is descriptive of the general topographical features, &c. He speaks of the winter of 1791-92 as having been uncommonly severe.
This is probably the C. B. Harrison who presented to the Historical Society of Massachusetts a manuscript entitled "An account of the present State and Govern- ment of Va,." 42 pp. 1695-98, which has been printed in the Ist series, vol. 5, Mass. His. Soc. Coll.
35
BRISTOL PARISH.
1794 Jan. 20th) is the entry, "On the application of
REV. ANDREW SYME,
is unanimously elected minister of the Parish." George Keith Taylor was elected deputy to the Con- ention.
1795, Robert Bolling, deputy.
1796, Alexander Macrae, deputy.
1537414
1798, John Grammer, deputy.
1799, Committee for procuring subscription for build- :3 a church in town, John Grammer, delegate. Dur- .: { this year an act was passed by the legislature tripping the Church of property, the title to which Lid been recognized and confirmed by successive leg- , atures since the Revolution, and in ISO1-2, an act à as passed appropriating to the poor of the Parish all the glebe-lands, as they should become vacant by the deaths of the present incumbents. The church edifices, yards, plate, with private donations before 1777 were reserved, where there was any person in being, entitled to hold property under the original donors. Every one knows how shamefully these reservations have been violated, in many places by force of arms.
¿Soo, a committee was appointed to look into the value of the glebe. The committee reported that there were 190 acres worth $4 per acre, and were or- dered to give notice of sale. Subscriptions for the past year were 692 on the Petersburg side and 442 on the Blandford side.
ISO1 the vestry met at Mr. Syme's school-house, und a committee reported that permission had been given by the convention to sell the glebe.
-
:
86
BRISTOL PARISH.
1802, at a meeting of the subscribers to the fund for building a new church in the town of Petersburg. seven commissioners were appointed to choose and purchase a site for the same, collect subscriptions, &c. These commissioners soon reported that they had pur- chased a lot, and commenced the erection of the edi- fice, upon which they had expended $5,809. $1,800 of which had been raised by a lottery under an old act of the assembly (O tempora ! O mores!), and that $3,400 were still needed to finish the building.
1806 the commissioners reported that they had con- tracted with Mr. Brough to complete the building for $3,000, for the payment of which they had borrowed and paid Mr. Brough $2,075, leaving $925 due. After the church was finished the pews were rented for three years, and the money paid in advance, which produced the sum of $3,225, with which the borrowed money was repaid, leaving a small surplus on hand.
In 1808 a committee was appointed to arrange with the renters of the pews for the more general acconimo- dation of the community in the new church, which is the first time the new church is mentioned on the re- cord. The deed for the lot on which the church was built was recorded in the district court on the 15th March, ISOS. The commissioners conveyed the title to trustees for the use of the Protestant Episcopal inhabitants of Petersburg, and (with the approbation of the trustees) of any other Christian minister occa- sionally, when not occupied by the resident Episcopal minister. The minister and parishioners of Bristol Parish deserve commendation for their zeal in building a new church at a time when the church in the diocese was so depressed and disheartened. From 1802 to
37
BRISTOL PARISH.
.. 6 nothing else seems to have been done but ap- nting delegates to convention. In 1802 David ' itland was delegate. In 1804 John Grammer was : gate.
There is no record until 1807, when James Freeland s delegate. In 1809 Bishop Madison wrote to Mr. me requesting his presence, and that of a delegate : convention. William Baird was the deputy. The :: rval between ISOS and IS14 has been well called ..: dark day of the church.
From 1805 to IS14 the church had not life enough · bring its members into convention. To the honor : Bristol Parish it should be known that the church .ved through this dark day, never being without a minister or vestry, and scarcely ever omitting to ap- point delegates to the convention, even in those years when no convention was held.
1814, on 28th December, the new church was conse- crated by the Rt. Rev. R. C. Moore, who at the same :. me confirmed twenty-five persons. Bishop Moore Lad himself been consecrated in May, 1814, as dioce- an of Virginia. This was probably the second church consecrated by him-the first having been the Monu- mental Church in Richmond. From 1814 to 1834 the Rev. Mr. Syme continued, without assistance, punc- 'ually to discharge the functions of rector of the Parish. During that time there are but few entries on the Parish records other than the annual election of vestrymen, and such arrangements as were necessary to keep the parochal system of the church in opera- tion. There are, however, a few items of intelligence which have some interest in themselves, and are neces- Sury to a complete history of the Parish.
:
38
BRISTOL PARISH.
In 1816, Messrs. Bolling, Mckenzie and Grammer were appointed to ascertain who were the proprietor of the lands adjacent to the church on Blandford hil !. and the most advisable means of procuring an add :- tion of from four to six acres to the burying-ground. During the above mentioned period, according to Mr. Syme's annual report to the Diocesan Convention, the condition of the Parish, from a variety of causes, was not at all prosperous. There was a gradual but small improvement in its condition, the number of commu- nicants having increased from forty in 1821 to fifty in 1830, and to seventy in IS34. The history of the Parish during this period was not altogether barren of interesting incidents, nor of spiritual fruits. Among the incidents to be remembered were two visitations of the Parish by Bishop Moore-one in IS24 when the Bishop was attended by the Rev. Dr. Wilmer, and ad- mitted to the order of deacons Messrs. John Cook and Lucius Carter; the other in 1826, when Messrs. John Grammer, B. O. Peers, Henry Aisquith and Leonard H. Johns were ordained to the same degree in the holy ministry. On this occasion the Rev. Mr. Ducachet was present and officiated.
The fact that the church in Petersburg survived the spiritual drought of this trying season is not the least among the evidences that she was not of man's plant- ing. Among the spiritual fruits attesting her vitality were the existence and good works of a small band of pious women, who projected and kept steadily in ope- ration an education and a missionary society-the for- mer of which rendered very efficient service to the Theological Seminary of the Diocese, and the latter employed several missionaries to labor in the regions
39
BRISTOL PARISH.
round about. The Rev. John Grammer and the Rev. John Cole were at one time in the service of this soci- Mr. Syme, in his official communications, fre- quently spoke in terms of warm commendation of the works of faith and labors of love of the excellent I dies, who watched and waited in the courts of the Lord's house when the fire upon the altar burned low and the glory above the mercy seat had almost de- parted. The writer of this sketch would take pleasure in adding his tribute of gratitude by giving their names a conspicuous place in this history, were he not fearful of shocking the sensitiveness of living worth, which shrinks from the world's notice. preferring the rewards promised to those who do not let their left hands know what their right hands do to the alms of public applause.
In 1834, Mr. Syme, in his_report the Convention, says: The incumbent being far advanced in life. the congregation with great liberality have adopted means to support an assistant. A young clergyman from New York has been engaged for the purpose; he is very acceptable to the people, and it is hoped, by the blessing of God, much good will result to all con- cerned. This young clergyman from New York was the Rev. Hobart Bartlett, a young gentleman of very sprightly talents and popular address, who ren- dered very efficient aid to Mr. Syme in building up the congregation from its former state of depression to one of comparative prosperity. In the minutes of the ves- try is recorded a grateful acknowledgment of his ser- vices by those who felt that his ministration had been a blessing to them. He, as well as the venerable rec- tor, has since gone down to the grave, followed by the
40
BRISTOL PARISH.
kindly thoughts of many surviving friends, who would throw the mantle of charity over their faults, and cher ish only the memory of their virtues.
The Rev. A. Syme was born in Lanarkshire, Scot- land, in the year 1755. He sailed from Greenock on Ioth February, 1790, and after a tempestuous voyage of three months landed in United States at Tappahan- nock, to fulfil an engagement as teacher in the families of Mr. Archibald Ritchie and Mr. Brockenbrough, the former the father of the old editor of the Enquirer, and the latter of the late president of the Bank of Virginia. His credentials show that he was ordained deacon by Bishop Madison in the Parish Church in Williamsburg on the 20th March, 1791 (second Sunday in Lent), and to the office of the priesthood, at the same place, by the same prelate, on the 4th March, 1792. After his ordina- tion he took charge of South Farnham Parish, in the county of Essex, which he represented in this Conven- tion of 1792-'93. The writer of this sketch addressed a letter to Mr. Thomas Ritchie, who had been one of Mr. Syme's favorite pupils in Essex, asking for infor- mation about Mr. Syme while he resided in Essex. Mr. Ritchie very politely forwarded this letter to Dr. John Brockenbrough, who was so obliging as to send the author a communication, from which the following very interesting extract is taken (1846): "Such infor- mation as I possess I take pleasure in communicating, especially as I entertained for Mr. Syme's character sentiments of great respect and veneration."
"In the year 1789 Mr. Hay, afterwards an Episcopal minister in Halifax county, was engaged in Aberdeen by the Rev. Mr. Cruden (who had been pastor in my native Parish, in the county of Essex, before the Revo-
BRISTOL PARISH.
:ionary war) to come to Virginia as a teacher in the nilies of my father and Mr. Ritchie. When Mr. ly's term expired, it being the preference of the nes to employ teachers from Scotland, my father re- tested his friend, Mr. James Dunlop of Glasgow, to ploy another gentleman to take the place of Mr. Hay, and Mr. Dunlop made an engagement with Mr. yme, who arrived in the United States in the year 1;00. Before his arrival I had been entered as a stu- dent at the Fredericksburg Academy, then in high spate under the Rev. Mr. Ryan, an eminent classical cholar and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. Having finished my studies at that academy, I re- turned home in 1790. From that period, until I left the country for Edinburgh in 1792, I had daily inter- course with Mr. Syme, and derived no little improve- ment from the association. We often read together portions of the Latin classics, and other works of literature, particularly the British periodicals (which my father regularly imported), in which Mr. Syme took great delight. He was a most agrecable inmate, and much esteemed and valued by my parents, and was, to all intents and purposes, a member of the family."
"While he had charge of this small private school, he was, at all proper seasons, preparing himself for his ordination, having studied divinity, to become a mem- ter of the Presbyterian Church ; and I distinctly re- member a conversation between him and Bishop Mad- ison, at my father's house, some time before his ordina- tion, on the tenets of the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches, in which they both came to the conclusion. that the main difference, with the liberal members of
42
BRISTOL PARISH.
each, consisted in the form of church governmer. Soon after Mr. Syme's return from Williamsbur where he had been ordained, I heard him preach 1. first sermon, at Piscataway church, where there w .. an immense congregation (of the different sects) ar. . he gave great satisfaction, I may say joy, to the Epis- copalians, who had been without a pastor from th .. breaking out of the Revolutionary War, and I ca: never forget the number of children who were brough: to the parson to be baptized."
In 1794 Mr. Syme succeeded the Rev. Dr. Cameron. as Rector of Bristol Parish. On 27th of July, ISO6. he married Jean, daughter of Dr. Cameron, then rec- tor of Cumberland Parish, in Lunenburg county. For forty-five years he continued to be rector of this Par- ish, until 1839, when he resigned, on account of the increasing infirmities of age. During these many years, he not only performed all the duties of the pas- toral office, but he kept a school, in which were edn- cated a large proportion of the people of Petersburg of both sexes. It is difficult to find a native of Peters- burg, or of its vicinity, who has not come into contact with this venerable man, in some of the relations in which he ministered to the temporal or spiritual well- being of the people, all of whom, with one voice, bear witness to the transparent candor of his mind, and the beautiful amenity of his manners, and unite in the tes- timony that he was "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."
After his resignation, he continued to reside in Petersburg, gradually declining under the weight of years, until he found repose in death. His death created a deep feeling throughout the whole commu-
43
BRISTOL PARISH.
S
y, which was attested by the fact, that though his eral took place in the week, it was the very largest .r seen in the town of Petersburg, whose whole pop- tion, of all ages, sexes and conditions, seemed to mn out to follow in procession, the venerable man, on whom they had been so long accustomed to look :hi feelings of reverence and regard, and as though y scarce could realize that he, who in his official ca- icity, had put so many under his feet, pronouncing ver them the words, "dust to dust," was himself mor- . . 1. and was obliged to have the same office done for aim. Conspicuous in this procession was the order of Free Masons, of which Mr. Syme had long been chap- 'in. After the services of the church had been con- cluded at the grave, the Masons surrounded it, to pay to their venerable chaplain, in the language of their craft, the " Grand Honors," previous to which, Mr. R. K. Meade made an appropriate address.
The author of this history who, at the date of Mr. Syme's death, was the rector of St. Paul's church, preached his funeral sermon from the text, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Six months after, he preached a sermon on the occasion of Mrs. Syme's death, from the words, "They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided." Mr. and Mrs. Syme were buried in the same grave, and both these texts were inscribed upon their tomb. The sermon on Dr. Syme was published entire in the first edition of this history, (1846). To make room for new matter it is now omitted.
But I have anticipated the regular course of my narrative. To return to the point of departure.
October 17th, 1837, the vestry, after due delibera-
F
44
BRISTOL PARISH.
tion determined that "the interests of the Church a' the convenience of those attending public wors !. therein, render it expedient to accept the offer $4,000 made by the Common Hall of the town Petersburg for the lot and appurtenances, at pres occupied as a place of worship by the Protestant Ep copal church in this Parish." Messrs. Rt. Bolling a. Wm. Corling, the surviving trustees of the chur. property, were authorized to convey the same to t' mayor and members of the Common Hall, and it w. ordered that the proceeds of the sale should be de posited with Rt. Bolling, subject to the order of tl .. vestry.
The new church was consecrated by Bishop Moon on 5th April, 1839.
On the 11th May Messrs. C. F. Osborne, J. McFar- land, and Dr. Stockdell were appointed a committee t wait upon the Rt. Rev. Wm. Meade, the assistar bishop of Virginia, and invite him to become the rec- tor of the Parish. Bishop Meade promised to confer with the bishop and clergy at the approaching conven- tion at Norfolk, and with their approbation to accept the invitation. After the convention, Bishop Meade a: the close of a sermon preached in St. Paul's church announced his acceptance of the invitation, and in a few weeks entered upon his duties as pastor of Bristol Parish.
On the 7th of June the bishop called the vestry and recommended that as early a call as possible should be given to the Rev. Mr. Cobbs to become the permanent pastor of the church. Whereupon, the bishop was au- thorized to wait upon Mr. Cobbs and inform him that it was the unanimous wish of the vestry that he should
.
45
BRISTOL PARISH.
come the rector of Bristol Parish. Mr. Cobbs hav- . agreed to become the permanent pastor of the rch, Bishop Meade felt himself at liberty to resume Episcopal functions, which he did accordingly, after winting as pastor for six weeks.
Bishop Meade's ministry in Petersburg is believed to ve been attended with the happiest effects in har- . nizing whatever of discordant elements there may Ve been in the congregation, and reuniting them in . bonds of Christian love. He, himself, alludes to - brief charge in Petersburg, in his report to the Lavention of IS40, it the following words:
"After the Convention in Norfolk, I took temporary harge of the church in Petersburg, where I spent six eks amidst a most affectionate and interesting con - ogation, to whom I became very tenderly attached, ad unto some of whom, I am not without hope, God's word was blest. I confirmed 15 persoms, admitted 20 to the communion and baptized 27 children during my ty there. It was a matter of great comfort to my Wind to be able, on leaving them, to announce to the ongregation the acceptance of a call to the Parish of the Rev. Mr Cobbs, who has since entered on the Ities of his charge, and will. I hope, be a blessing Com God to the people of that place."
The Rev. Nicholas H. Cobbs was born in Bedford county, Virginia. on 5th April, 1796. He was the eld- 's sont of John Lewis and Susan Cobbs. He married Lucy H. L. Cobbs, his first cousin. He was ordained deacon in May (S24 in Trinity church, Staunton, by the Rt. Rev. R. C. Moore, and priest by the same
40
BRISTOL PARISH.
bishop in the Monumental church, Richmond, in : following May. The first year of his ministry v spent in preaching at different points in Bedford, in Botetourt. In Bedford his labors were soon bles- in the erection of two new churches and in the orga zation of a flourishing parish. By his missionary bors at Liberty, in Bedford, in Botetourt, and cls where, he laid the foundation of other churches a: parishes. In his reports to the Convention he mour over the desolation around him, and pleads plaintive. for "four or five missionaries, to occupy vacant fick which may soon be lost to the church." Bishop Moor in reporting his visit to the Parish, in November IS2 says: "I cannot leave this Parish without noticing ho" the rich blessing of Heaven has been poured out o: the zealous exertions and affectionate preaching . Mr. Cobbs. But a few years since, and there were no more than two or three communicants in this county and not a place of public worship belonging to t !:: church. Now there are more than 70 communicant (these were soon increased to 100), and three places e: public worship where service is regularly held, besides many private houses which are freely thrown open for religious exercises. But what has been more impor- tant and pleasing are the evidences of real piety, and the animation and lively zeal with which the services of the church are conducted."
In September, 1834, at the request of the last con- vention Mr. Cobbs became chaplain at the University of Virginia. In the report of his ministry there, he speaks thankfully of the students' prayer meeting, in which the cause of religion at that institution is a spe- cial object of supplication, and says, "If ever he has
47
BRISTOL PARISH.
. ard carnest and fervent prayers, it has been while tening to those pious young men praying for a spirit- .1 blessing upon the University of Virginia, and looks .ward in pleasing anticipation to the time when that .. stitution will send forth many champions of the ospel."
In 1836 he had returned to Bedford, and reported the establishment of a new Parish (West Russell), which was put in charge of Mr. Sale, one of the seals : ) his ministry.
Bishop Meade had been intent upon having Mr. Cobbs succeed him in Bristol Parish, and accordingly te was chosen rector of St. Paul's, Petersburg, and entered upon his ministry then in October, 1839, and performed his duties with unsurpassed zeal and devo- tion. He soon won the hearts of his flock, and his labors were abundantly successful. During his minis- try in Petersburg there was a very unusual religious awakening, involving all the denominations, and affect- ing, more or less, the whole population of the city. The congregation under his charge shared in the gene- ral feeling which Mr. Cobbs encouraged by all lawful expedients, never departing from the prescribed ser- vices of the church. The present writer had the privi- lege of being one of the ministers invited by the rector to come to his help during the daily services which were held for several months at this propitious season to break the bread of life to hungering multitudes who thronged the House of God, and he could but admire the beautiful adaptation of the services of the church to such an exigency, supplying fit words to all the varying moods of truly religious feeling, from the lowest depth of penitence to the highest height of
48
BRISTOL PARISH.
praise, and keeping all the tendencies to extravagance incident to such occasions within the scriptural limi .. "Let all things be done decently and in order."
In Bishop Meade's address to the Convention "' Staunton, in 1842, he thus speaks of the results of th revival to the congregation of St. Paul's. "I sper. a week in Petersburg, enjoying much pleasure in be- holding the rich fruits of God's grace, in blessing thic word, frequently and faithfully preached, and the ser- vices of the church zealonsly used by the rector ar other brethren, who, for the last three months, have been almost daily meeting with the people in the House of God, where they never seemed weary of calling on Him in prayer and hearing the truth."
"One of the results of this great grace, upon the means of heaven's appointment, was the confirmation of ninety-three persons, who, it is hoped, not merely with the mouth, but with the full consent of the heart. renewed that 'solemn vow, promise and profession made at their baptism,' and which none can make unless they are renewed in the spirit of their minds." "While in Petersburg I also admitted the Rev. Aristides Smith to priest's orders, the candidate being presented by the Rev. Mr. Grammer, and the sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Cobbs."
After just four years faithful service in Petersburg, during which he made his mark upon many minds, loving and beloved by all, he resigned his charge Oc- tober, 1843, and accepted a call to St. Paul's Church. Cincinnati, where he officiated until July, 1844, having accepted the bishopric of Alabama, to which he had been elected the previous May. He was consecrated bishop of the diocese of Alabama on 28th October,
49
BRISTOL PARISH.
: 44, during the session of the General Convention of :... it year in Philadelphia. The author regrets that he is not received the materials for which he has been king to enable him to construct a sketch of his Episcopal career of seventeen years in Alabama. But fe doubts not, there are many surviving memorials of Al's work among the institutions of the church in that Hocese, and he is sure that the belief has many monu- ments in the hearts of its ministers and people. He led at his home in Montgomery, Alabama, on the 11th January, 1861. Like Bishop Meade, with whom he was so long associated, he was taken away from the evil to come in the form of houses desolated, churches in ruins, young men untimely slain, maidens insulted, old men and matrons mocked, and an interdict laid vi et armis, upon his diocese, because its bishop and ministers would not mock God by hypocritical prayers. His sun went down as the "war-clouds rolling dun" rose on the horizon.
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.