USA > Virginia > Prince Edward County > Prince Edward County > A history of Prince Edward County, Virginia: from its formation in 1753, to the present > Part 14
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 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
The following is the charter membership list of the Church as of November 29, 1903:
T. B. Yeamen, L. J. Yeamen, W. J. Yeamen, E. T. Yea- men, J. R. Pollard, J. W. Pankey, J. W. Bagby, J. W. Allen, D. C. Allen, Mrs. J. R. Pollard, Mrs. J. W. Bagby,
232
History of Prince Edward County
Mrs. Mary J. Driskill, Mrs. Nolia Baker, Mrs. Lizzie A. Nelson, Mrs. Bettie Womack, Mrs. J. W. Allen, Mrs. D. C. Allen, Mrs. Emma Daniel, Carrie Yeamen, Sallie Yeamen, Pearl Yeamen, Mary Sue Yeamen.
1
233
History of Prince Edward County
SHARON BAPTIST CHURCH (SANDY RIVER)
Most of the subjoined material respecting this splendid old Church was supplied by Professor W. A. Harris of Rich- mond University. The old records of the Church have all been either lost or destroyed so that recourse had to be had to the Baptist archives in Richmond and Dr. Harris under- took an exhaustive search of the materials stored there. He says :
"In speaking of Prince Edward county, Jeter says: "The eastern, or lower, end of the county was quite destitute of evangelical, especially Baptist, preaching. Sandy River Church, an old framed, dilapidated, but spacious, colonial house of worship, occupied a central position in this region. It was open for preaching by all Christian denominations, and was occupied alternately by Rev. Jno. H. Rice, D. D., of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Matthew L. Dance, of the Methodist Church. Thither Divine Providence directed the steps of Witt. His first sermon at Sandy River, as stated in the Memorial Discourse by Rev. T. W. Sydnor, D. D., delivered before the Appomattox Baptist As- sociation, was preached on the fourth Sunday in February, 1827."-Life of Daniel Witt, by J. B. Jeter, pp. 146-7.
"In 1828, Sharon is given, (in the Association minutes, for the first time) with Daniel Witt as pastor and 71 mem- bers. In 1829 there were 84 members, and in 1831, 226, and in 1833, 289 members. The number gradually increased un- til, in 1864 there were 606 members, white and colored. From then until 1871 the members reduced to 137. (Suggestive of the dire results of the war .- Ed.)
"Daniel Witt was pastor of Sharon from its organization to his death, November 15th, 1871. Witt was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. J. H. Newbill in 1872.
234
History of Prince Edward County
"Under the caption: 'Concise View of the Churches,' I find these entries in the minutes of 1834-35:
1834-"Sharon is one of the most respectable churches in the upper country. Since its constitution, and the settle- ment of Elder D. Witt among them, it has been signally blessed. But the sickness of the minister's wife, and the dis- agreeable contentions with the Methodists, seem to have stopped their onward progress. They report no baptisms, but a decrease."
1835-"They are an active people, forwarding the reli- gious enterprises of the day. They have a temperance Society, a Domestic Missionary Society, a Foreign Missionary Society, and a Sunday School."
"The following is from Jeter's life of Witt, pp. 160-61: 'For many years' says Dr. Sydnor, in his Memorial Dis- course, 'he was pastor at Jamestown, in Cumberland, and at Union in Prince Edward; and for a few years at Lebanon, in Nottoway,' the two latter of these churches, as well as the flourishing Church in the town of Farmville, claimed Sandy River; or Sharon; as their mother, and Dr. Witt as the principal agent in their organization."
The controversy with the Methodists, referred to above by Dr. Harris, occurred in 1832-34, with respect to the building in which they had held their services jointly. During this dispute a line was surveyed directly through the building, the Methodists claiming one-half and the Baptists the other ! Surely a difficult situation if the brethren were to dwell at peace in Zion! The Baptists retained possession of the prop- erty. The matter was fully set out in a pamphlet of the day.
From this Church there were but three who served in the Army or Navy during the world war; viz: Heber Weaver and Moncure Weaver in the Army, and Carroll Melvin Bass in the Navy. Heber Weaver saw active service in France.
235
History of Prince Edward County
The entire membership of the Church responded in a most fervent manner to all war appeals, and in observance of all conservation regulations.
As this Church has been a part of the "field" with Pis- gah Church of Rice, ever since the days of the saintly Witt, the same pastors have served them both, therefore a list of the pastors may be found in the sketch of the Pisgah Church.
The present pastor of both churches is the Rev. H. P. Dalton, who came to them, April 1st, 1922, from Boykins, Va., in succession to the Rev. G. F. Cook.
The officers of the Church are:
John H. Bruce, Clerk.
D. J. Weaver, Treasurer.
W. B. Gates, Sunday School Superintendent.
J. J. Gilliam, D. J. Weaver, W. M. Gilliam, J. T. Bruce, C. M. Bass, and W. B. Gates, Deacons.
236
History of Prince Edward County
SPRING CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH
This Church was organized in 1823. Unfortunately, like so many other churches, this organization set so little store by its earlier records, that they have either been lost or de- stroyed. Amongst its earlier ministers, were the noted Daniel Witt, D. D., and E. W. Roach, the last of whom served the Church for about forty years.
From records at present available, the following minis- ters have served the Church since 1875:
Rev. J. H. Newbill, July 3, 1875, to July, 1877.
Rev. S. J. Atkins, July, 1877, to July, 1880.
Rev. E. S. Taylor, 1880-1886.
Rev. S. J. Atkins, (second pastorate) 1887-1888.
Rev. W. B. Haislip, March, 1899, to October, 1889.
Rev. S. U. Grimsley, 1890-1892.
Rev. J. H. Couch, 1892-1903.
Rev. J. B. Williams, 1903-1910.
Rev. W. A. Pearson, 1910-1915.
Rev. Vernon I'Anson, 1916-1918.
Rev. W. W. Hamilton, Jr., April to August, 1919 (Sup- ply).
Rev. Elbert Y. Poole, 1919-1922.
During the pastorate of Rev. Vernon I'Anson a com- modious parsonage was erected, and during that of the Rev. Elbert Y. Poole, a new and modern Church structure was built at an expenditure of a little more than $20,000.
The present officers of the Church are:
Deacons: E. D. Carwile, B. L. Jordan, Hatcher Layne, A. L. Dickerson, H. I. Shorter, S. A. Wilkinson, and D. G. Womack.
237
History of Prince Edward County
Clerk: Robert St. John.
Sunday School Superintendent: E. D. Carwile.
The present membership of the Church is 303. Total amount raised for all purposes in 1921, $10,482.79.
The Church engaged heartily in all forms of war work during the great world war. The following members of the congregation served in various branches of the service: Wal- ter Chennault, Frank Chennault, Walter Overton, J. J. Over- ton, Jr., Paul Layne, Hatcher Layne, D. C. Morris, W. C. Morris, Edward Shorter, Jr., Everett Garber, W. A. Wat- son, Jr., Edward Roach, H. E. Hamilton, Leslie Carwile, W. M. Dickinson, John B. Cobb, Charles W. Putney. There were no causalties in the contingent supplied by this Church.
(Note: The foregoing sketch was furnished by the Rev. E. Y. Poole, the then pastor of the Church.)
238
History of Prince Edward County
BETHPEOR BAPTIST CHURCH
In 1913, the Spring Creek Baptist Church dismissed a number of its members to form the new Bethpeor Church, under the leadership of the Rev. W. A. Pearson, then pas- tor of the Spring Creek Church. Mr. Pearson served the two churches until 1915, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Vernon I'Anson, who served for two years, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Elbert Y. Poole, who resigned in the spring of 1922.
The present membership of this Church is 79. In 1921 the sum of $1,049.37 was raised by them for all purposes. W. H. Gilliam is the Clerk of the Church, and Ray Mickle is the Superintendent of the Sunday School. The Chapel House is valued at $2,500.
239
History of Prince Edward County
THE ESPISCOPAL CHURCH IN PRINCE EDWARD
The Espiscopal Church of Virginia began with the first settlement of the first Colony in 1607. It immediately en- countered immense difficulties from the scarcity of ministers of and character. The clergy of England were strangely reluct- ant to undertake work in the new mission field of America. Of those who did come, but few were faithful and duly qualified for the station. Indeed some them were men of very ques- tionable character. given to swearing and drunkenness.
By Act of the Assembly of 1755 the new Espiscopal parish of Prince Edward county was established under the name of Saint Patrick. The county of Prince Edward had been separated from that part of Amelia in which the parish of Nottoway was constituted, and the parish of Saint Patrick was made to correspond with the bounds of the new county of Prince Edward. In 1788 the county of Nottoway was established substantially on what are its present lines. The Act of the Assembly speaks of two new churches being re- cently built in the lower part of Nottoway Parish, and re- quires that the Nottoway Parish refund a portion of the money which had been raised from the whole parish before the division, for the building of these two churches, to the new parish in Prince Edward county. Services were held ir- regularly until 1779, when for a time, Saint Patrick's had no representative, either clerical or lay, in any convention of the Church. During this initial period the parish was served in turn by the Rev. James Garden, and the Rev. Archi- bald McRoberts. During Mr. McRoberts' time there were three churches in Prince Edward, viz: The Chapel, or Wat- kin's Church, situated about eighteen miles from Prince Ed- ward Court House, on the Lynchburg Road; it was this con- gregation that followed Mr. McRoberts when he relinquished his Episcopal ministry to form an Independent Church in 1799; French's Church, situated about a mile from the Court House; and Sandy River Church, about eight miles from the
240
History of Prince Edward County
Court House on the Petersburg Road. None of these churches have survived to the present. Of course, in these early days, the Episcopal Church in Virginia occupied the same relation to the Government as did the Episcopal Church in England; it was the established Church; all others were known as Dissenters.
The decline of the Episcopal Church in Prince Edward was no doubt hastened by the defection of McRoberts; the questionable character of some of its ministers; and the rise of Hampden-Sidney College and the Presbyterian Church. Certain family connections made the decline certain. "Thus Anne Michaux, daughter of one of the original refugees, and who, having fled from France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, settled at Manikin, married Richard Woodson, Esq., of Poplar Hill, Prince Edward, sometimes called Baron Woodson, on account of his large possessions. This lady - - lived herself to a great age, but, of a numerous off- spring, only two daughters survived, one of whom was mar- ried to Nathaniel Venable, son of that Alvan Venable one of the vestrymen of a parish in Louisa; - the other to Francis Hopkins, Esq., clerk of Prince Edward. - Joseph Morton, the ancestor of the most numerous branch of the Mortons, of Charlotte, married a sister of Richard Woodson. The progenitor of the Mortons of Prince Edward and Cum- berland, married a Michaux. Other familes of Scots or Scotch-Irish and Huguenot race were settled in both coun- ties." Thus the intermarriage of Episcopalians with these peoples, mostly Presbyterians, was the real basis of the de- cline of the Episcopal Church in Prince Edward, at this time.
The following entry in the minutes of the Assembly held at the capital at Williamsburg, November 22, 1781, is sug- gestive of the impending decline: "Sundry inhabitants of Prince Edward county pray that all the old vestries may be dissolved by the Act of Assembly and new ones elected by the body of the community at large, Dissenters to be equally
.
241
History of Prince Edward County
competent with conformists to the post of vestrymen, and the sole proviso to be 'attachment to the present form of govern- ment.' Referred to the next Assembly, and, June 9, 1782, rejected."
The following most interesting excerpts are taken from an historical sketch contained in the Parish Register of John's Memoral Church, Farmville, Va., and written by the Rev. Philip Slaughter, Historiographer of the Diocese, of St. Patrick Parish, and Witmer Parish, Prince Edward county.
"Saint Patrick should not be confounded with plain Pat- rick Parish, which is in the county of Henry, the latter county and parish dividing between them the honors of the name of the 'Forest-born Demonsthenes,' Patrick Henry. These names are redolent of the Revolution and of a new era : Prince Ed- ward and Saint Patrick point to the old regime, when princes and saints were above par. Prince Edward county was taken from the county of Amelia by Act of Assembly, in 1753, and the Parish of Saint Patrick from the Parish of Nottoway, in 1755.
The first vestry met at the Court House, September 9, 1755. Present : Jno. Nash; Jno. Nash, Jr .; David Flournoy; George Walker; Thos Scott; Jno. Leneve; James Wimbish; Thos. Hawkins; Peter Legrand; and Charles Venable. These qualified by taking the oaths required by law in Court, sub- scribing to the test, and the promise of conformity to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England. Hugh Challis was chosen Clerk and ordered to get a book in which to record the proceedings of the Vestry. - This book lies before me, having been found (among the papers of Nathaniel Venable, a Secretary of the Vestry, in Colonial times) by Mr. A. P. Venable, and kindly sent to the writer.
The next Vestry meeting was at Sandy River Church, December 3, '1755. The Rev. James Garden (who, as ap-
242
History of Prince Edward County
pears in the 'Lambeth Archives,' was licensed for Virginia by the Bishop of London, September 2, 1754), produced a letter from the Hon. Thos. Dawson, Commissary for Vir- ginia, recommending him to this Parish, 'upon which, and upon the knowledge of this Vestry, he is unanimously chosen Minister.' -
The Wardens were order to pay £250 for 300 acres of land for a glebe when they were satisfied with the title, which came originally from J. Morton, Patentee.
In 1757 R. Burk; Philemon Holcombe; Jno. Graham; R. Woodson; and Zachariah Leigh were added to the Vestry, and Nathaniel Venable made Clerk.
In 1760 Obadiah Woodson was added to the Vestry, and the keys of the Glebe houses were received from P. Legrand and delivered to the Rev. Mr. Garden. The following minute occurs at this date: 'Whereas, the upper Church is situated among the Dissenters, the Vestry think that service should cease there from this time.'
3rd December, 1761, the Vestry ordered new churches on the land of Messrs. Buchanan & Co., Merchants of Glasgow, near Robin's Spring; the other near where Sandy River Church now stands; dimensions 48 ft., by 28 ft., and that £100 per year be levied for building these churches. 1762 a chapel was ordered on O. Woodson's land in the upper part of the Parish. Col. John Nash and P. Legrand were given leave to build pews in the upper Church with windows. John Nash, Jr., was given leave to build a gallery for his family in the upper Church, and John Leigh, one in Sandy River Church.
1763. Three acres of land were bought for Sandy River Church.
1766, Peter Johnston, Vestryman, in place of Woodson, deceased.
243
History of Prince Edward County
1766. Dials on good posts were ordered at each Church; service to begin at 11 o'clock a. m .; April to October, and at 12 o'clock the rest of the year; and the Communion ad- ministered at Christmas, Easter, and Whitesuntide; a gallon flagon, pint cup, and salver of silver, with table cloth and napkin to be provided.
1772. 'Ordered that Peter Johnston import superfine crimson broadcloth, to be made up with silk lace and tassels, and proper cushions, for the use of the Church.'
Rev. James Garden died, Feb., 19, 1773. On the 10th of August, the Revs. Moss; Ogilvie; Saunders; and McCart- ney's names were before the Vestry, which chose the Rev. James McCartney 'in consideration of the character given him by gentlemen from North Carolina.' At this date, David Rice was Clerk (Lay Reader) of Sandy River Church, which was about eight miles from the Court House on the Peters- burg Road; Richard Byrd was Lay Reader at French's, sometimes called 'Middle Church,' one mile from the Court House; and John Crockett of the Upper Chapel (Watkins) about eighteen miles from the Court House on the road to Lynchburg. When the minister attended one Church, Lay Readers served the others. Buffalo Church had disappeared from the record.
Sandy River Church, after the Revolution, became the source of a bitter contention between the Methodists and the Baptists, the details of which may be seen in a pamphlet of the day. The dispute was referred to Judge Bouldin and Mr. Charles Smith. The Baptists, I believe now hold it.
The latest record in the old Vestry Book is December 1774; many leaves having been torn out. We know from other sources that the Rev. Archibald McRoberts was minis- ter of the Saint Patrick, 1777-78. (There is a deed recorded in Prince Edward of date, August 14, 1778, from Thos. Scott; Benjamin Haskins; Thos. Haskins; John Nash; Peter
-
-
244
History of Prince Edward County
Johnston; Peter Legrand; Philemon Holcomb; and William Bibb, Gentlemen: Vestrymen of Saint Patricks Parish, to Archibald McRoberts, conveying 500 acres of land, adjoining Nathan Venable and Daniel McGehee.)
In 1779, when the Church of England was tottering to its fall, he deserted the sinking ship, and set up an 'inde- pendent' Church at the Upper Chapel, which soon came to grief, and he joined the Presbyterians, who were then riding the top of the wave in Prince Edward. - Many Epis- copalians became trustee of Hampden-Sidney College, and one (Cushion), at a later period, presided over it. Two Presby- terian waves; one from Hanover, and the other from the Valley, met and culminated in Prince Edward, and many Episcopalians, (sheep without a shepherd) were carried away by them. The Episcopalian Church having never been allowed to have an American Bishop to watch over and confirm its members and ordain its ministers, and having now cut off from the Church of England, was in a state of supended ani- mation, from which many thought she never would be awak- ened.
Rev. Devereux Jarrett of Bath Parish, one of the few burning and shining lights of that dark day, sought by his evangelistic fervor and electrical eloquence to keep alive the smouldering embers upon her altar. Outside of his own Parish he traversed twenty-nine counties in Virginia and North Carolina, lifting up his voice like a trumpet; pro- phesying that the old Church was not dead, but sleeping, and would again rise from the dust and be a praise in the land. In 1781-82 Jarrett preached at Sandy River and French's. Saint Patrick's sleep has been long and deep; quite, or nearly a century ! - One cannot but think that the descendants of the Woodsons; Reades; Venables; Wimbishes; Flournoys; Scotts; Nashes; Goodes; Haskins; Leighs; Legrands; Hol- combes; Byrds; Berkleys; Johnstons; Buiks, and scores of other names recorded in this book, whatever may be their
245
History of Prince Edward County
1
present connection, will look - with approving eye and helping hand at the effort to resuscitate the Church of their fathers."
John's Memorial Church, Farmville, is the only Epis- copal Church now surviving within the bounds of Prince Edward county.
Property is still held for Church purposes on the road leading from Hampden-Sidney College to Pamplins, on which stands a modest meeting house known as Saint Ann's Church, or Spring Creek Mission. Occasional service is con- ducted by the Rev. Thomas H. Lacy, of Richmond, Virginia, though there is no Church organization and no Church mem- bers there now. It appears that a party of English people, . from Dorsetshire, settled in that part of the county sometime shortly prior to 1870, and these gave land for Church pur- poses and erected a modest building, and, among them, main- tained the Church. They later returned to England and from there deeded the property to the Church, as appears from a deed recorded in the Clerk's Office at Farmville, in Book 31, page 257, the purport of which is that T. A. Homer, and W. C. Lacy, Dorsetshire, England, convey to John Sid- dons and Henry Jacob of Prince Edward county, Virginia, trustees of the Spring Creek Episcopal Mission Fund, one- half acre of land in Prince Edward county, and described as follows: "Fronting 275 links on the public road leading from Hampden-Sidney College to Pamplins depot, and extending 185 links back on each side, being part of the tract of land formerly owned and occupied by Henry Collett, and now occupied by Thomas Homer." The deed was signed by T. A. Homer, W. C. Lacy, and was dated May 10, 1874, and ac- knowledged by them in England before one, Cam Lyker, a Justice of the Peace, on May 23, 1874.
-
246
History of Prince Edward County
JOHN'S MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH, FARM. VILLE
The Church known locally as Saint John's Protestant Episcopal Church, but properly, John's Memorial Protest- ant Episcopal Church, was organized in 1880, in the house then occupied by Mr. L. M. Blanton, and now occupied by Dr. L. D. Whitaker. For a time, services were held in the Court House. During the year of the organization; 1880; the present Church property was purchased, as appears by deed dated October 1st of that year and recorded on page 30 of book 34, in the land books in the Clerk's office. As there recited, one-half acre of land was conveyed by Ellen W. Berkeley, widow, through R. M. Dickinson, Commissioner appointed by the Circuit Court of Prince Edward county at the September term of the court of that year, to James M. Johns, by whom it was conveyed to the members of John's Memorial Church for purposes of public worship.
By the same instrument Alfred Moth, L. M. Blanton and L. C. Irving were constituted trustees to the use of the Church. The price paid for the land was $400.
The instrument is signed by :
R. M. Dickinson, Commissioner ; Ellen M. Berkely;
J. M. Johns; Pauline C. Johns, wife of J. M. Johns.
The present rectory property was acquired under a deed dated March 27, 1883, and appearing on page 198 of book 35. in the Clerk's office at the Court House. No price is stated in the deed. The premises were formerly occupied by Col- onel R. A. Booker, and are located at the corner of St. George and High Streets.
Thus the efforts of several years, to establish an Epis- copal Church in Farmville were at last being rewarded.
247
History of Prince Edward County
In March 1879, the Rev. Frank Stringfellow became Rector of the Parish, and it was as a result of his labors that the Church was organized and the Church property bought. The first building was erected under his supervision. He was sent to Farmville with the hearty approval of Rt. Rev. F. M. Whittle, D. D., Bishop of Virginia, and his short minis- try was eminently successful.
Rev. F. D. Lee was his assistant for a year. Rev. Arthur S. Lloyd was placed as Deacon in charge of the Parish in 1880. He resigned to go to St. Luke's, Norfolk. He was followed by the Rev. J. W. Ware, who resigned to go to Saint James, Ashland, Virginia.
Rev. Baker P. Lee, deacon, was sent to the Parish in 1896, by the Bishop. In two years he was followed by Rev. Walter B. Capers, deacon.
July 1, 1901. Rev. Stephen O. Southall accepted a call to the Parish, and took charge. April 1, 1903, he resigned and accepted the Rectorship of Bath Parish, Dinwiddie County.
In January, 1904, Rev. Randolph Royall Claiborne of Forest, Va., (Saint Stephens Church) was called to this Parish. March 1st he accepted the call and took up the work, which also included the country work; All Saints, Grace, and Guinea. December 25, 1906, he resigned to go to Saint Francisville, La.
The Church then remained without a rector until July 1st, 1908, during the greater part of which time the Rev. George G. Matchetts, (perpetual Deacon from the Dioscese of Pennsylvania) acted as supply.
On July 1st, 1908, the Rev. Dudley Boogher, of Saint An- drews Church, Clifton Forge, Virginia, took charge of the work in Farmville, (the churches of Cumberland county being ministered to by the rector of Powhatan Court House) and continued until June 5, 1914, when his resignation was ac-
248
History of Prince Edward County
cepted that he might take charge of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Parkersburg, W. Va.
In November, 1914, Rev. Frederick Diehl, rector of Saint Paul's Church, Wellsboro, Pa., was called. He accepted the call and began his rectorship, January 13, 1915. In the mean- while the rectory was enlarged and much improved. Mr. Diehl left February 1, 1917, to take charge of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The Rev. Charles Pay Holbrook, rector of Saint Andrew's Church, Beacon, N. Y., was called on May 6, 1917, and began his work in Farmville, June 10, of that year. In 1918 two flags were placed in the Church; the National Colors on the Gospel side of the arch, and a service flag, with ten stars, on the Epistle side. These ten stars represent the following sons of the Parish :
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.