USA > Virginia > Colonial churches; a series of sketches of churches in the original colony of Virginia, with pictures of each church > Part 28
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 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
"Present-The Rt. Hono'ble Francis Nicholson Esq. Lt. Gov. & coun- cil.
"Major John Robins and Mr. Thomas Harmanson, Burgesses of the County of Northampton, on behalf of the County of Northampton, by their petition setting forth that the said county is one of the smallest in the colony, doth consist of a small number of tithables, and is divided in two parishes, by reason whereof the Inhabitants of both parishes are soe burdened that they are not able decently to maintain a minister in each parish and therefore prayed the said parishes might be joyned in one and goe by the name of Hungars parish, not being desirous to infringe any gift given to Hungars parish, and more especially one by the last will of Stephen Charlton, which parishes soe joined will not only be satisfactory to the inhabitants but make them capable to build a decent church and maintain an able divine; On consideration whereof Itt is the opinion of this board and accord- ingly ordered that the whole County of Northampton be from hence- forth one parish and goe by the name of Hungars parish, and that the same shall be noe prejudice to the gift of the aforesaid Charlton to the said parish of Hungars and it is further ordered that the Inhabitants of the sd. parish shall meet at such time and place as the court of the said county shall appoint and make choice of a vestry according to law. Cop. vera, test, W. Edwards, cl. cou."
Then, in accordance with the appointment of the court, at a meet- ing of the inhabitants of the said county of Northampton, at the
.
293
courthouse thereof, the 22nd day of June, 1691, the following vestry- men were elected :
Major John Robins, Capt. Custis, Capt. Foxcroft, John Shepheard, Benj. Stratton, Preeson Davis, Benjamin Nottingham, John Powell, Jacob Johnson, Thomas Eyre, John Stoakley, Michael Dickson. It was evidently soon after this step was taken that the Hungars church building was erected.
I have been unable to find the origin or meaning of the name Hun- gars, ncr when it was first applied to the parish. "Hungars Creek" occurs in the records in 1649, possibly earlier. Whether the parish gave name to the creek or the reverse has not been ascertained, nor any convincing explanation of the name itself offered. It has been said that a parish in Northamptonshire, England, bears the same, but the lists of English parishes in the Peabody Library, Baltimore, does not contain a Hungars in any shire. So many of the Indian names were retained that in default of tracing to any English source, I am inclined to believe this a survival of Indian nomenclature, especially in view of the fact that most of the Eastern Shore creeks still keep their original names, somewhat modified.
Thomas Palmer, clericus, succeeded Rozier; John Armourier was the next minister of the parish, and was followed as early as 1651 by the Rev. Thomas Higby, who married the widow of John Wilkins, vestryman. In 1656 Francis Doughty, brother-in-law of Governor Stone and non-conformist, is noted as "Minister and Preacher of Ye Word in this parish, now in Northampton county," and was exhorted by one Ann Littleton in her will to rear "My children in ye most Chris- tian faith." Rev. Thomas Teackle was officiating in the Upper parish (St. George's, Accomac,) during Mr. Higby's service in the Lower; all of his predecessors served but a short time, and the records show many suits for their salaries. "Mr. Teackle had his difficulties also, and to the end of his life sought his dues in a legal way."* He had, besides, diffi- culties not financial. His moral character was fiercely attacked (in one instance by Col. Scarburgh), but he retained the confidence and affection of the people. It is on record in the county that, "on April 28th, 1663, one John Stockley was ordered to give bond for good be- havior and to recant in presence of the congregations of Hungars and
*Rev'd Mr. Teackle acquired considerable land. A farm called Craddock, situated in Craddock's Neck (not far from Old St. George's church, Accomac), remained in possession of descendants of his own name until a few years ago. Many descendants on the Eastern Shore
and in Baltimore.
294
Nassawadox parishes the next time that the Rev. Thomas Teackle preached in the church, because said Stockley had said that the vestry was 'illegal and unfair' because not chosen by a majority of the people." Mr. Teackle officiated at old St. George's much longer than in Hungars parish; he probably ministered to both at the same time, for the supply of clergymen was seldom equal to the demand, and, faute de mieux, non-conformist divines were sometimes permitted to officiate, "so far as the laws of England and of this colony permit;" but that these loyal Churchmen accepted their services with reluctance, and dispensed with them as soon as practicable, is shown by the fol- lowing:
"Whereas, Mr. Daniel Richardson, o'r late minister, for want of orders, was found not Orthodox, and therefore hired him from yeare to yeare (to supply the place of minister so farr as the Lawes of England and this country could make him capable) until we could supply ourselves with an able Orthodox devine. And forasmuch as Mr. Isaac Key did present, whom we find very able and worthy, wee of the Vestry and subscribers hereof, doe certifye unto Your Honor that at a vestry, the 8th day of May last past, did discharge the said Richardson from his said ministry, and have since made choice of the said Mr. Isaac Key for o'r minister, who hath accepted and most willingly promised to serve; Wherefore we hereby request your Honor's confirmacon by Inducting him into this o'r parish as min- ister. And your Supplycants shall ever pray. John Stringer, William Kendall, William Walters, John Robins, James Pigot."
To this appeal Governor Berkeley assented in these words:
"This worthy, learned Gent., Mr. Key, is soe well knowne to me, that I am most certaine you will be happy in haveing soe deserving a person to officiate to you and advise and comfort you in all yo'r spirituall wants and necessityes, & I doe require that he bee immedi- ately Inducted. WILLIAM BERKELEY.
Nov. 18, 1676.
It will be observed that these Churchmen used the word "Orthodox" as applied to a "minister," to signify that he had been regularly ordained by an English Bishop. Bishop Meade says, "Such was the use of the word orthodox at that time."
Prior to the induction of Mr. Key (in 1671), the "Commissioners of Plantations" had sent over this query to Governor Berkeley:
"What coorse is being taken about instructing the people within your
295
government in the Christian religion, and what provision is there made for the paying of your ministry?" Which elicited the following reply from Berkeley:
"The same coorse that is taken in England, out of towns, every man according to his ability instructing his children. We have fforty- eight parishes in Virginia, and our ministers are well paid, and by my consent should be better, if they would pray oftener and preach less."
In or about the year 1653 Col. Stephen Charlton, a wealthy and very prominent citizen, bequeathed his Home-place (situated in Church Neck, at no great distance from Hungars church) to his daughter, Bridgett, for her life, and to her heirs; but if she had no child, then the land was to go to the church wardens, Argall Yardley and John Michael, and to the vestry of Hungars Parish for the support of a rector. It was stipu- lated that the church was to be open for divine service a certain num- ber of times in every year. Bridgett Charlton married, but had no child; and at her death the parish inherited it. It became the home of many successive rectors. The last resident was the Rev. John Ufford, who became rector in 1843, and resigned in 1850. In his time the church was dispossessed of the property-"robbed" of it, the Church people con- sidered. Bishop Meade says with regard to this act of spoliation:
"The peace and happiness of the Episcopal congregation in North- ampton has been much marred for many years by a painful and pro- tracted controversy with the overseers of the poor concerning the glebe. More than two hundred years ago the wealthy and pious Charlton, in view of his approaching dissolution, and in the event of one of his two daughters dying childless, left a portion of that earth which is all the Lord's for the perpetual support of the Church of his fathers, and of that religion which had been his happiness in life, and was now to be his consolation in death. He did this in the exercise of a right recog- nized by God Himself in the law of His Word, and secured to men by the laws of every government upon earth-the right of disposing of our
property by will. * * The Legislature of Virginia, both under the Colonial Government and since our independence, has, by several acts, ratified the Church's claim. But, after a long period of acquiescence in the Church's right, the overseers of the poor, under that act of the Leg- islature, which had never before been suspected of embracing this case, determined to claim it, and actually did sell it at public auction, conditionally. The question was brought before the Legislature, and a sanction for the sale sought for; but it was dismissed as unreasonable.
296
'The question was taken before a court of law, and twice decided in be- half of the Church. An appeal has been taken to a higher court. Years have already been passed in painful controversy. Great have been the expenses to the Church, and much the loss in various ways. The peace of the county has been much impaired by it. Political ques- tions and elections to civil offices have been mixed up with it, and Chris- tians of different denominations estranged from each ather. Surely, when our Legislature reserved all private donations from the operation of the law which ordered the sale of glebes, if this case could have been presented to them, and they had been asked whether it could come un- der the sentence of it, the bitterest enemies of the Episcopal Church, and the most unbelieving foes of our religion, would have shrunk with horror from the suggestion."
To complete the story of this transaction, I will only say that the glebe was eventually lost to us. The very fact that the "lower glebes," and the servants and other appurtenances of both glebes were sold soon after the passage of that Act, while the right of the Church to the Charlton Glebe was not even questioned, shows conclusively to fair- minded people how the law was understood at the time. The farm is still known as the Glebe, and is a lasting witness against an injustice.
No sketch of Hungars Parish, however slight, could be complete with- out this story of our Glebe and its loss; but it is more pleasant to go back to the church itself. Concerning it, however, I have very scant in- formation. About 1750 "Richard Allen conveyed to John Haggoman and his family all his interest in and to a pew which he (the said Allen) had built in Hungars church." In 1759 Thomas Preeson, in his will, speaks of "the new church on Hungars Creek," for which he had deeded to the church wardens an acre of ground, and, in return, they had deeded to him "a Pew marked T. P.," in 1751; and in the deed (signed in 1752) it is stated that the church was "a brick church." The land he conveyed was not that on which the church stands, but on the opposite side of the county road, and was, I believe, intended for a burial place. In 1695 the Rev. Samuel Palmer was rector. In 1712 the Rev. Patrick Falconer is minister. He died in 1718, "and after having given much to the poor, he left his property to his brother James, in London, and desired that his body should be buried before the pulpit in old Hungars church." This was done; the sexton's fee for such interments being 300 pounds of tobacco.
Rev. Thomas Dell was the minister until 1729; John Holbroke, until 1747. Rev. Edward Barlow succeeded and died in 1761; Rev. Richard
297
Hewitt died in 1774; and in that year Rev. Mr. McCoskey became rector, remaining until his death in 1803, succeeded by Revs. Gardiner, Davis, Symes and Stephen Gunter. Rev. Simon Wilmer was rector as late as 1836. In that year Rev. W. G. Jackson was elected. After a very severe illness he resigned in 1841, and obtained a chaplaincy in the Navy. Rev. J. P. B. Wilmer (son of Dr. Simon Wilmer, and eventually Bishop of Louisiana,) was rector from 1841 to 1843, succeeded by Revs. John Uf- ford, James Rawson and J. M. Chevers, elected in 1855. Of his succes- sors I have not an accurate list, but Revs. C. Colton, A. S. Johns, Craig- hill, Ware, Easter, William Nelson Meade, Randall, Carpenter and Thomas are among them.
Prior to the Revolution the interior furnishings of Hungars church were very handsome-all of them brought from England, and most, if not all, of them gifts from Queen Anne. I have seen fragments of the chancel draperies; dark crimson velvet of superb quality, with gold em- broidery and bullion fringe, all of which had defied time and retained a brilliancy I have never seen surpassed. Alas! only fragments remain- ed; for in the antagonism to everything English, which followed the Revolution, the Church-still the "Church of England," and without Bishops of her own, fell upon evil times, and was pillaged and dese- crated, with none able to protect her. Most of the clergy, being English- men, returned to their own country. The deserted churches, still be- loved by the faithful, could not be preserved from vandalism, under the name of patriotism. The large pipe organ was taken from the church and destroyed. Tradition says the fishermen in the neighborhood used the metal as "sinkers" for their nets. The beautiful hangings were cut to pieces; doors and windows suffered to fall from their hinges, and nothing left in the church which was coveted by any chance intruder. I have known persons who remembered to have seen cows grazing on the grass growing in the brick-paved aisles of St. George's, in Accomac, and Hungars church, doubtless, fared no better. The silver and the altar linen-given by Queen Anne-were, however, carefully kept, and are still in use, I believe; that is, the silver is used, and the altar cloth kept as a priceless relic, for occasional use.
The unhappy condition of the Church throughout Virginia in the years following the Revolution, and extending into the nineteenth cen- tury, is well known, and need not here be dwelt upon. The extracts which follow, from a letter written many years ago, will show how Hungars parish suffered. The writer, a most devoted Churchwoman, says:
298
"The Episcopal Church in Northampton has been small and feeble, to the grief of all the friends of Zion. I became a communicant on Christ- mas day, 1813. The communicants were Mrs. Jacob, Mrs. E. Satchell, Mrs. L. Stratton, Mrs. L. Evans, Mrs. H. Parker, Miss Anne Savage and myself. My inestimable friend, the Rev. Mr. Davis, was pastor. Seven other ladies soon after joined the little band. After Mr. Davis' death, the Rev. Mr. Symes, from Norfolk, became rector. Hungars and Ma- gotty Bay churches (the latter, that near Arlington) were both deserted, and worship was conducted in the Courthouse at Eastville. Mr. Symes toiled with untold difficulties for a very short time; removed to South Carolina, and there died.
"Not coming immediately to the rectorship, the Rev. Herbert Mar- shall, of Rhode Island, officiated for six months.
"Mr. Wilmer's ministry was much blessed. The communicants increas- ed to twenty-two in 1821; and among them were Mr. James Upshur, Mr. Wyatt, Dr. Winder and Mr. John Harmanson. This was a strong acces- sion; truly we thanked God and took courage. And here allow me to say, the want of male strength and co-operation has ever been the cause of the slow growth of our Church in Northampton. The four gentlemen named above died in quick succession, and the church was again left to the women-'last at the cross and earliest at the sepulchre.' In 1827 Dr. William G. Smith joined the church, and has been its consistent and valuable friend. With our subsequent additions and circumstances you are well acquainted. Our ministers have all been choice and faithful; the responsibility is our own. Being the oldest living member, per- haps 'the oldest inhabitant,' I have made these imperfect 'jottings' for your information."
My own recollections begin with the Rev. Simon Wilmer, but the memory is very vague, for I was not three years old at the time of his death. He was very absent-minded, and his wife equally so. Many memories of them lingered in the parish, and they were always spoken of with great affection. Here is a story often told, which exhibits their absent-mindedness: They had made a visit, their infant child be- ing with them; and when taking leave were at great pains to see that all their belongings were put into their carriage. Half-way down the avenue leading to the county road they heard a call, and stopped to see what was wanted. "Can we have left anything?" asked his reverence. His wife answered, "Everything that I can think of is here, even the baby's bottle! But there must be something!" The "something" was the baby himself, fast asleep on a sofa. This baby became the Bishop
299
of Louisiana, and was said to have been as absent-minded as his parents. The Rev. Stephen Gunter was Dr. Wilmer's predecessor.
I do not know at what time old Hungars was put in decent repair, and the services resumed, nor under which rector this was accomplished; but long before 1840 it was opened fortnightly for morning service, al- ternating with Christ church, Eastville. Many of the families in and near Eastville attended both churches regularly. The members of Hun- gars church living in the upper part of the parish also frequently at- tended the other church, for the parish was a harmonious unit.
The exterior of the church remained unchanged, but the interior never regained its Colonial splendor, and the chancel furniture and draperies were very simple and inexpensive. There was only one aisle; the pews were large and nearly square, with benches on three sides. Children sat on the front benches, facing their parents. The pulpit was at the side of the church, near a door.
Before 1850 the old church was pronounced unsafe, cracks having ap- peared in one of the gables, and the walls being slightly out of plumb. An attempt was made, by means of iron rods, to draw the walls back into position, but proving unsuccessful, the cracked gable was pulled down and a portion of each side wall, reducing the length by about one- third. It is, however, more than large enough for its present congrega- tions. The interior was altered in various particulars; two aisles took the place of one, thus reducing the size of the pews, while increasing their number; the pulpit was removed to the chancel.
Bishop Meade gives the following list of vestrymen for Hungars church since 1812:
Peter Bowdoin, John Eyre, Nathaniel Holland, John Addison, John Goffigan, John Upshur, John Windee, Littleton Upshur, George Parker, William Satchell, Thomas Satchell, S. Pitts, Jacob Nottingham, Isaac Smith, John T. Elliott, J. H. Harmanson, James Upshur, Abel P. Upshur, W. Danton, Charles West, W. G. Smith, John Leatherbury, Severn E. Parker, John Ker, T. N. Robins, N. J. Windee, Major Pitts, G. F. Wil- kins Simkins, Fisher, Evans, Bell, Adams, Nicholson.
YEOCOMICO CHURCH, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
BY THE REV. J. POYNTZ TYLER.
T HE section of country in which this venerable building is sit- uated is identified with the very early history of Virginia. The county of Westmoreland was cut off from Northumber- land in 1653, and extended along the Potomac as high as the Falls above Georgetown. This large territory was subsequently divided, and in time the country was included in a narrow strip of land be- tween the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers. There were two par- ishes in the county; the upper, Washington, and the lower, Cople Parish.
Bishop Meade states in his "Old Churches and Families of Virginia," that there were originally two churches in this latter parish-one on the Yeocomico creek, from which it takes its name, and the other about ten miles distant, on Nominy creek, from which it also is named. The latter was destroyed by fire soon after the late war with England, and has been replaced by a brick one of more modern style. The plate belonging to this was carried away by Admiral Cockburn and his party, when they were on a pillaging expedition along the Potomac.
Concerning the subject of the sketch, Bishop Meade says: "Yeoco- mico church 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 surrounded by a brick wall, now fast mouldering away, it cannot fail to be an object of interest to one whose soul has any sympathy for such scenes. The old church has suffered, as have many, others, in the stormy times of the nation's history. During the last war with Great Britain, 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 entirely 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 an- swer, we trust, for a long time to come, the holy purposes for which
YEOCOMICO CHURCH, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VA.
301
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 excitements of 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 man of the Presbyterian connection, mortified at the dishonor done to religion, took pains to regain it and restore to its proper place."
It is a large and beautiful font, and by its side the Bishop took his station while he heard the renewal of baptismal vows from the lips of those who were confirmed.
Bishop Meade also mentions the fact that the canvas on which the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and Creed were impressed, was so torn by the soldiers that it was necessary to remove it, and that some necessary repairs had been put upon the church by a worthy gentleman of New York. It deserves mention that the good friend who restored the font was Mr. Murphy, of Ayrfield, and the other worthy gentleman was Mr. W. L. Rogers, of Princeton, New Jersey, who, as a member of the 36th Regiment of United States Infantry, was stationed with his company in the vicinity of the church, in the spring of 1814.
Mr. Rogers states, in an interesting letter to Bishop Meade, that in 1820, being on a visit to Westmoreland, and the old church being still in ruins, he proposed to Mr. Murphy to undertake its repair, with the result that active measures were taken, and in connection with other friends, the work of renovation was accomplished.
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 sounding board, is gone. In its place are a reading desk and pulpit of recent design.
The baptismal font and communion table alone remain of the original furniture.
The old brick wall around the church and burying-ground, which, in many places, was pushed by the growing trees from the original foundation, was partially restored under the rectorship of the Rev. A. R. Walker, and neat and substantial iron gates were hung at the three entrances.
The old sun dial, which bears on its face the name of 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
302
by exposure to the elements, and it will soon be restored to its former place.
At the foot of the hill is a limpid spring, where thirsty worshippers have been wont to refresh themselves by aid of an iron ladle placed there many years ago by kind-hearted Presley Cox, whose initials are impressed on the bowl.
In a recent history of the church, published by the committee having the bicentennial exercises in charge, and from which much of this article is prepared, is the following interesting statement:
"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 Sunday, and attend divine ser- vices, under penalty of the forfeiture of a goodly quantity of tobacco. "With the rise of Republicanism, the sins of the fathers of the Church 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 the beasts of the field, the roosting-place of birds of the air, and the habitat of all creeping things-its sun-warm bricks the striped lizards' paradise. Later, it was the scene of the conflict between rival sects that fought for the right of exclusive occupancy; and during the Civil War it afforded shelter for the home guard."
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.