History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1, Part 28

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1008

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THE NORFOLK ACADEMY.

In January, 1804, a charter of incorpora- tion was granted to the "Trustees of the the Norfolk Academy." composed of the follow- ing gentlemen : Thomas Newton. Jr., John Nivison, Thomas Blanchard. Theoderick Armistead, Robert Brough, John E. Holt. Lit- tleton W. Tazewell, Phillip Barraud, Alex- ander Jordan, Richard H. Lee and Arthur Lee. This corporation was endowed with all the powers usual to such bodies and is still a close corporation. that is, one in which va- cancies are filled by the vote of the remaining .nembers.

The original school building was situated on Church street, a part of its site now being occupied by the First Presbyterian Church. With the exception of one year, 1805. the school remained in its original location until it was removed in 1841 to its present site, in the square bounded by Bank street, Charlotte street, Cumberland street and Grigsby Place. The present building was planned by Thomas Ustick Walter. D. C. L., LL. D .. of Phila- delphija, the architect of Girard College and of extensions to many public buildings in Wash- ington, D. C. For 'classicalness of style and

for appropriateness of design, we doubt if its equal can be found among preparatory schools of the South. In 1862 the academy building was seized by the United States authorities and used by them for three years as a hospital, its name being the "Delemater Hospital.'

The character of the work done by the Norfolk Academy has always kept pace with the demands made upon preparatory schools by the leading colleges of Virginia and of the States north of us. Graduates of the Nor- folk Academy have won honor at the Univer- sity of Virginia. Johns Hopkins University, Lehigh University, Cornell University, Prince- ton University, Harvard University and the United States Academies at Annapolis and West Point, as well as at scores of minor col- leges in this and other States.

The first principal of the Norfolk Academy was Rev. James Whitehead, who remained in charge for only a short time. In fact there were frequent changes of administration until 1845, when Col. John B. Strange (V. M. I.) assumed charge of the school. He remained principal until 1855, and was succeeded by John S. Gamble, who, in turn, was' followed by William R. Galt. Froni 1865 to 1882. Rev. Robert Gatewood, who had been former- ly employed as assistant teacher at the acad- emy, was principal, and under his adminis- tration the school was particularly successful in the training of boys for the United States Naval Academy. In 1882 R. W. Tunstall and James H. Dillard were elected joint prin- cipals, but the latter resigned in 1887 to ac- cept a flattering offer in St. Louis, Missouri, as president of Mary Institute, from which place he was called a few years afterward to the professorship of Latin in Tulane Univer- sity, New Orleans. R. W. Tunstall was sole principal from 1887 to 1900, when he resigned to accept the professorship of Latin and Greek at Tome Institute, Port Deposit, Maryland. J. F. Blackwell, who had been his first assist- " ant for IT years, was elected principal in May. 1900. The present board of trustees consists of the following gentlemen : Richard H.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

Baker, Sr., president; Hon. William Lamb. vice-president : Smith N. Brickhouse, William WV. Chamberlaine, George W. Dey. Judge D. Tucker Brooke, Dr. Douglas C. Cannon. Judge F. M. Whitehurst. John B. Jenkins. Judge T. S. Garnett, H. B. Bagnall, and George Chamberlaine, secretary and treasurer.

The Norfolk Academy has had but one endowment in all its long history. this having been made by Dr. Augustine Slaughter, with the understanding that one or two poor boys should be educated annually from the inter- est derived from this sum, amounting to $4,454.17.

By an order of the court, this sum was used, together with other funds, in the erec- tion of the present building and a deed of trust upon the property executed by the trustees of the Norfolk Academy. In lieu of interest upon this mortgage, the academy has ever since educated from six to to boys annually free of charge. It will thus be seen that the Norfolk Academy has maintained its high character from tuition fees alone, which, in consideration of the moderate charges-$60 to $80 per annum-is rather remarkable. It seems strange that no public-spirited alumnus or philanthropist, except Dr. Slaughter, has seen fit to endow this school, which has been such a power for good in Norfolk and its vi- cinity, and it is to be hoped that its needs in this line will not very much longer remain unsatisfied.

NORFOLK'S LIBRARIES.

The recent handsome gift of Andrew Car- negie to Norfolk for the erection of a library building did much to increase the large and growing interest in the Norfolk Public Li- brary, which, though not generally known, has been in existence for nearly three-quarters of a century, but not without some interruptions. Some of this history has never been put be- fore the public, and to give it just at this time will serve to make it doubly interesting.

While there were many private libraries of

value known to have existed in Norfolk in the early part of the nineteenth centry, conspicu- ously those of Gen, Robert B. Taylor, Hon. Littleton W. Tazewell, Hon. William Wirt, Hon. William B. Lamb and others, there is no: public library known to have been in the city of Norfolk before March 22, 1827, when the Lyceum was opened through the exertions of Hon. William Maxwell, one of the most dis- tinguished lawyers that Virginia ever pro- duced, and who in late years left Norfolk for Richmond to become the editor of the l'ir- ginia Historical Register. and manager of the Virginia Historical Society.

The Lyceum was erected on the north side of Wolf street, which then ran, as now, from Catherine (now Bank ) to Cumberland. There was a small lane to the east of it, which has since become Chapel street, running through from Wolf to Freemason.

Besides having a circulating library, the building was used for public lectures and meetings of literary associations. The library lasted over a decade, when it was sold, and the building was purchased by the Odd Fellows, who enlarged it by putting a second story on the same. The building was subsequently de- stroyed by fire.

Some twenty years after, there was a li- brary established by the Washington Institute, which flourished for a while. but was broken up by the fever of 1855.

In August. 1870, the Norfolk Library Association was organized and Dr. Samuel Selden elected president. In October, 1872. it was chartered by the Circuit Court, and Dr. William Selden was selected president. He was followed in the presidency by a number of other leading citizens, and the library flour- ished; but it was moved from the Norfolk Academy to the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation Building on Main street, against the judgment of many of those interested. It re- mained there a very short time and was then moved to the present library building. The move from the Norfolk Academy, where the rent was free, proved very disadvantageous,

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

and after the subscriptions were all paid up "a library, and he responded very promptly the income was insufficient to keep the library through his secretary that he would give the going. and it was about to be sold in 1894 for ; city of Norfolk $50.000 towards the erection debt. when, with the consent of the stock- of a library building if the city would guar- holders, the books were transferred to a few antee an appropriation of $5.000 a year toward gentlemen upon the condition that they would ; the support of the library and a suitable pay the debts of the institution and organize , site. a public library. Col. William Lamb was Colonel Lamb, president of the Norfolk elected president and John L. Roper vice- . Public Library, went before the Councils and president of the new organization. William HI. Sergeant was elected librarian, a most fortunate selection, as he gave for a very small remuneration the benefit of his experi- ence as the former librarian of the Mercantile Library of Baltimore. In getting the charter from the legislature. the president bad inserted authority for the Councils of the city of Nor- folk to appropriate. a sum not exceeding $5.000 a year toward the support and main- tenance of the library. After the adoption of ! the charter. the Councils were persuaded to appropriate $1.500 a year. and they have con- tinued it to the present time.

The library has gone on increasing, and the attendance in the year 1900 amounted to 53,000. and 26.000 volumes were given out.

The librarian and his efficient assistant are to a great extent the instructors of our young people in their search after knowledge, espe- cially in their assistance to the young in pre- paring essays. orations and debates, and they have made the library the capstone of our pub- lic school system.

Recently Mr. Myers, one of the directors. wrote AAndrew Carnegie and asked that he ex- 1 tend the same generosity toward this com- . miunity that he had to others in the matter of '

requested them to make this appropriation and to request Mr. Carnegie to make the gift through this institution, which already pos- sessed a most valuable library, and whose pres- ident and directors were the trustees for the benefit of the public in the conduct of the library without any reward. except their satis- faction in contributing to the entertainment and instruction of the community by offering them the benefits of a well-conducted library, and both Councils responded favorably by a unanimous vote.

.At the same time. through a favorable de- cision of the Supreme Court of Virginia in the case in which the late H. D. Van Wycke , was interested, he left through his executor .. Capt. W. W. Old. about $15,000 toward the purchase of a lot for the public library.

It is now only a question of a short time before the city will have a public library build- ing for a well-conducted library, which will be a source of great pride to the community.

There are three collections of books ac- cessible to the public at Norfolk-the library of the Norfolk Library Association. 8.000. volumes; the Norfolk Y. M. C. A. Library and the Law Library of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.

CHAPTER XIII

CHURCHES AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN THE COLONY OF VIRGINIA-ELIZABETH RIVER PARISH-THE PARISH DIVIDED INTO ELIZABETH RIVER, PORTSMOUTH AND ST. BRIDE'S PARISHES ---- ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND NORFOLK LONG AGO-OTHER PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES IN THE COUNTY.

· THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. -

The Church of England was the Church of the Colony of Virginia and Governor Wyatt's instructions under date of July 24. 1621, re- quired him "To keep up religion of the Church of England as near as may be."

The Act of the General Assembly of March 5, 1623-24, provided :

That there shall be in every plantation, where the people use to meete for the worship of God, a house or roome, sequestered for that purpose, and not to be for any temporal use whatsoever. and a place empaled in. seque-tered only to the buryal of the dead.

That whosoever shall absent himselfe from divine service any Sunday without an allowable excuse shall forfeit a pound of tobacco. and he that absenteth him- selfe a month shall forfeit fifty pounds of tobacco.

That there be an uniformity in our Church as neere as may be to the canons in England; both in substance and circumstance, and that all persons yield readie obedience unto them under paine of censure.

That the 22nd of March be yearly solemnized as holliday, and all other hollidays (except when they fall two together) betwixt the feast of the annunciation of the blessed virgin and St. Michael the archangel, then only the first to be observed by reason of our neces- sities.

That no minister be absent from his Church above two months in all the Yeare upon penalty of forfeiting half his means, and whosoever -hall absent above fowre months in the year shall forfeit his whole means and cure.

That whosoever shall di-parage a minister with-

out bringing sufficient proofe to justify his reports whereby the mindes of his parishioners may be alien- ated from him, and his ministry prove the less effect- ual by their prejudication, shall not only pay 500 ib. waight of tobacco, but also aske the minister so wronged forgiveness publickly in the congregation.

That no man dispose of his tobacco before the minister be satisfied. upon pain of forfeiture double his part of the minister's means, and one man of every plantation to collect his means out of the first and best tobacco and corn.

The 22nd of March was set apart as a holi- day in commemoration of the escape of the Colony from entire annihilation by the terrible massacre by the Indians on the 22nd of March, 1622.

The fees of ministers for marriage were two shillings and for burying, one shilling. Their deportment was regulated by law. which prohibited them from drinking to excess, spend- ing their time idly by playing at dice, cards or any other unlawful game; and they were en- joined to occupy themselves with honest stud- ies, to excel others in purity of life and be ex- amples to the people. They were required on every Sunday before the evening prayer for an hour or more to instruct and catechise chil- dren. Parents and masters who neglected to send children to Sabbath-school were censured by the courts.

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From the earliest records of Lower Nor- folk County there was a church at Lynnhaven near the home of Capt. Adam Thorogood. At a session of the County Court held on the 21st of November, 1638, in compliance with an uniler from the "Governor and Council for the building and erecting of a Church in the upper part of this County, with reference to the Com- mander and Commissioners of the said Court for the appointing of a place fitting and con- venient for the situation and building thereof," the court appointed Capt. John Sibsey and Henry Sewell a committee to carry out the order, and the church was located on Mr. Sewell's land on a site donated by him for the purpose.

At the court held on the 15th of May. 1637, it was ordered that John Wilson, min- ister of Elizabeth River Parish, should solem- nize bans of matrimony between the parties therein named, so I conclude that he was the first minister of the parish. He had a hard struggle with poverty, his tithes were unpaid. judgments for his debts were obtained against him which he was unable to pay, and with the prison staring him in the face. he died in 1640. The sheriff was directed to take charge of his estate, collect the tithes due him and pay his debts, and it was ascertained that only two men in the county had paid their tithes for the previous year.

Notwithstanding this condition of affairs. Rev. Thomas Harrison became an applicant for minister of the parish and was appointed , by the court, on the 6th of July, 1640. Lieut. Francis Mason and Thomas Mears qualified as church wardens of Elizabeth River Parish.

On the 25th of May. 1640, the County Court ordered: "Whereas the inhabitants of this parish being this day confronted for the providing of themselves an able minister to instruct them concerning their souls hereat. Mr. Thomas Harrison. Clerk. hath tendered his services to God and the said inhabitants in that behalf which his said tender is well liked of, with the general approbation of the said inhabitants, the parishoners of the parish . built and erected here for God's science which

Church at Mr. Sewell's Point who to testify their zeal and willingness to promote God's science do hereby promise and the Court now sitting doth likewise order and establish the same to pay 100 pounds yearly to the said Har- rison salary. as long as he shall continue min- ister to the said parisli, a recompense of his pains and in full satisfaction of his rates (tithes) within the limits which is to be paid to him as follows: Captain John Sibly, Lt. Francis Mason, Mr. Henry Sewell are to pay for themselves and the inhabitants of this parish for Capt. Willoughby's plantation to Daniel Tanner's Creek thirty-two pounds. ten shillings sterling. Mr. Cornelius Lloyd, Mr. Henry Cotten and Job Hill are to pay for the inhabitants of the Western Branch and Carney Point thirty-three pounds sterling. Mr. Wm. Julian. Mr. John Gatier. Ensign Thomas Lam- bert. Thomas Swayn. Thomas Meare and Ira Atkins are to pay thirty-six pounds sterling for the inhabitants from Daniel Tanner's Creek and of all the Eastward and Southward Branches. In testimony whereof we the said undertakers have hereunto subscribed our nanies.

"Whereas there is a difference among the inhabitants of the aforesaid parish concerning the employing a minister being now enter- tained to have among tlicm the inhabitants from Daniel Tanner's Creek and upward the three branches of the Elizabeth River. in re- spect they are the greatest number of teachable persons not thinking it fit and equal that they should pay the greatest part of one hundred pounds, which is by aforesaid Act alloted for the minister's annual stipend unless the said minister may teach and instruct them as often as he shall teach the parish Church at Mr. Sewell's Point. It is therefore arranged amongst said inhabitants that the said minister shall teach every other Sunday antongst the inhabitants in Elizabeth River at the house of Robert Glascock until a convenient Church be

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is agreed to be furnished at the charge of the inhabitants of Elizabeth River before the first day of May ensuing." It was not finished. so the court ordered its completion and services were held in it in October, 1641.

. When Henry Sewell died. his wife soon followed him to the grave. They were buried under the chancel of the church and Rev. Mr. Harrison performed the last sad rites and for his services charged 1,000 pounds of tobacco, for which he sued the administrator, and the court gave judgment and ordered the tobacco to be paid in 10 days. Rev. Mr. Harrison be- came imbued with Puritanism and on the 15th of April. 1645, charges were preferred against him by Mathew Phillips and Thomas Ivey. church wardens of the parish. "For not reading the book of common prayer and for not ad- ministering the sacrament of baptism accord- ing to the canons and order prescribed, and for not catechising on Sunday in the afternoon ac- cording to Act of the Assembly." The matter was transferred to the Quarter Court at James City for trial : but Mr. Harrison shortly after- ward moved to Plymouth. Massachusetts.

August 10. 1648. Capt. John Sibsey. Fran- cis Mason. Thomas Lambert, John Hill, Cor- . nelius Lloyd, Henry Catlin and Thomas Sayer. vestrymen of Elizabeth River Parish, met and elected Mathew Phillips. Thomas Browne, John Fferinghaugh and Thomas Ivy to fill vacancies in the vestry. They adjourned to meet in October, when they added Sheriff Richard Conquest to their body and directed that Rev. Richard Powis, who had been preaching to the inhabitants of the parish for about four years, should have and receive one year's full tithes in tobacco and corn. John Hill and William Crouch were elected churchwardens for Elizabeth River Parish. In 1640 William Crouch and James Warner were churchwar- dens.

The churchwardens were required to keep the church in repair. provide books and orna- ments, to collect minister's dues, and render an account of disbursements, to present to court blasphemous, wicked and dissolute persons, to

cause vestries to be summoned to meet within one month after receiving order for proces- sioning land, to give notice at church of per- sous and times appointed to procession, to ex- amine in presence of vestries, and compare with the originals, the registers of returns made by processioners, and certify the same. to bind cut by order of court children of poor persons unable to maintain or educate then.

The law required that 12 of the most able men of each parish should be chosen by the major part of the parish to be a vestry, out of which number the minister and vestry were to make choice of two churchwardens yearly.

On the 17th day of January. 1734. Rev. Moses Robertson, John Ellegcod. churchwar- den. Col. George Newton. Maj. Samuel Boush. Stephen Wright. John Corprew. Thomas Wright and Willis Wilson. Gents .. vestrymen, . conveyed to Samuel Smith the Glebe. now em- braced in the city of Norfolk. On the 5th of March, 1761. the General Assembly at Will- iamsburg. Virginia, upon the petition of the in- habitants setting forth the great inconveniences of so large a parish, divided Elizabeth River Parish into three distinct parishes from the Ist of May. 1761. All that part of the old parish lying northward and eastward of the Elizabeth River and the Eastern Branch was to retain the name of Elizabeth River Parish. All that section between the Eastern and Southern Branches of the Elizabeth River. running up New Mill Creek to Rothery's Mill. thence south 30 degrees west to the great Dis- mal Swamp. as far as the line dividing the Colony from North Carolina, and then down the said line to the line of Princess Anne Coun- ty. thence along that line to the Eastern Branch. was named St. Bride's Parish. And all that section west of this parish was named Ports- mouth Parisli. St. Bride's alludes to the spirit- ual marriage of St. Catharine who. according to legend, had the bridal ring placed on her finger by cur Savior in his childhood. As St. Catharine was never married corporcally; she has been called the "Bride of Heaven." that is "Saint Bride." The vestry of the old Eliza-

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

luth River Parish having been guilty of illegal practices oppressive to the inhabitants was dis- solved. and all the acts were declared null and void. The sheriff was directed to advertise one month before the 8th day of June a con- venient time and place where the freeheldere and house-keeper's of the parishes. respectively. should meet and clect 12 of the most able and discreet persons of the respective parishes to be vestrymen. The vestry of St. Bride's Par- ish was directed to sell the glebe land of the old parish and divide the purchase money be- tween the three vestries to be applied toward purchasing glebes in their respective parishes for the use and benefit of the ministers.

The vestry of the old parish. having levied and collected considerable money to build walls around the churchyards. was directed to make division thereof between the three parishes in proportion to the number of tithables in each parish, to be used toward building churches and such other public uses as the vestries should think proper. The first election for vestry- men in the three new parishes resulted as follows :

ELIZABETH RIVER PARISH.

No. of Votes.

Mathew Godfrey 201

Saunders Calvert. . . . 157

John Hutchings .. 193

Lewis Hansford. 146

Joshua Nicholson 188

Charles Sweny 144

George Abyvon. 181

Christopher Perkins. . 133

Robert Tucker 171

John Tucker 131

William Orange 167

William Ivy 109

June 4th, 1761.

PORTSMOUTH PARISH.

No. of Votes.

No. of

Votes.

John Tatem. 281

George Veale. 219

Thomas Creech. 280

Thomas Veale. . 219

James Ives 279

Thomas Grimes 169

John Ferebee. 279

Wilham Crawford 159

Giles Randolph. 213

Jeremiah Creech. 129

John Herbert

253

Richard Carney. 128

June 5th, 1761.

ST. BRIDE'S PARISH.

No. of

Votes.

John Portlock 251

Samuel Happer 232

Robert Tucker. :. 250

James Wilson 202

James Webb 249

Henry Herbert .. 205

Joshua Corprew 249 John Wilson. 186

William Smith 240 Malachi Wilson, Jr. .. 176

Thomas Nash, Jr.

239

William Happer .. 155

June 6th, 1761.

These vestrymen-elect subsequently' ap- . peared in court and qualified by taking and subscribing to the following oaths :

I. do declare, that I do believe that there is not any transubstantiation in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, or in the elements of Bread and Wine at or after the consecration thereof by any per- son whatsoever. I. . do declare that I will be conformable to the doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Eng- land.

As provided in the Act of General As- sembly dividing Elizabeth River Parish into tliree, Henry Herbert, William Smith. John Portlock. Thomas Nash. Jr .. James Wilson, Joshua Corprew and John Wilson, vestrymen of St. Bride's Parish. soll the glebe land at public auction to John Tucker for three pounds and six pence per acre, 172 acres, amounting to 520 pounds and six shillings .- their deed is diated October 20. 1761.

August 1, 1763, William Smith and Ann his wife conveyed to James Pasteur, minister, John Portlock, churchwarden, and James Webb. Joshua Corprew. Robert Tucker. Jr., Thomas Nash, Jr .. Samuel Happer. William Happer. Malachi Wilson. Jr., John Wilson, James Wilson, Jr .. and Henry Herbert. vestry- men of St. Bride's Parish. 200 acres of land in said parish for £350.

October 12, 1765. Samuel Boush and Cath- arine his wife. in consideration of £125. con- veyed to Rev. Thomas Davis. minister, Will- iam Orange and Joshua Nicholson, church- wardens, and John Hutchings. Sr .. William Ivy. Robert Tucker. George Abyvon, Lewis Hansford. Mathew Godfrey. John Willough- by. John Hutchings, Jr., and Paul Loyall, vestrymen of Elizabeth River Parish, four lots or two acres of land known by the numbers 49. 50, 57 and 58.

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History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1, Part 28

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1008