USA > Virginia > Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia, Vol. I > Part 29
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Old Pongoteague-the first house of prayer erected in Accomac, and probably not much less than two hundred years old-still stands, a remarkable monument of former days, among some old trees, perhaps as ancient as itself. It is a brick building in the form of a cross. Though well-built, and in some parts still firm and unyielding, yet in others it gives signs of decay and ruin. Breaches in the walls are apparent, and the rains from above find their way through its mouldering roof.
I am sorry to be unable to give a list of the ancient vestrymen of Accomac. The only documents of which I have heard, from which to derive such list, and other particulars, perished during the last year. Would that all the friends, members, and ministers of the Church of Virginia, and any others who have any care for her past history, would but inquire for such documents, and search for them among the neglected papers of old family mansions . and clerk's offices ! How much might still be rescued from destruction and oblivion, which is worthy of preservation in some permanent form !
In place of a list of the vestrymen of the parish, I subjoin the following, of the families which from the earliest period to the
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present time have belonged to the Episcopal Church in Accomac. It has been furnished me by a friend, with the qualification that it is imperfect, and that there were others who might be added :- "Bowman, Cropper, Joynes, West, Satchell, Smith, Wise, Finney, Bayley, Snead, Parker, Stratton, Bagwell, Andrews, Arbunkle, Scarbrough, Robinson, Custis, Stokely, Poulson, Downing, Bell, Upshur, Pasamour, Teagle, Hack, Seymour, Kellam, etc."
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ARTICLE XXII.
Parishes in Norfolk County.
UNTIL the year 1691, that which is now Princess Anne and Nor- folk was called Lower Norfolk, in contradistinction to Upper Norfolk, now Nansemond. In that year Lower Norfolk was divided into Norfolk and Princess Anne, the parishes being still called Elizabeth River and Lynnhaven parishes.
The town of Norfolk was established in 1705. Colonel Byrd, in his Westover Manuscripts, in the year 1728, after speaking of its prosperous condition, says, "The worst of it is, they contribute much toward debauching the country, by importing an abundance of rum, which, like gin in Great Britain, breaks the constitution, vitiates the morals, and ruins the industry of most of the poor people of the country." Of the people of Norfolk he says, "The two cardinal virtues which make a place thrive-industry and frugality- are seen here in perfection ; and, so long as they can banish luxury and idleness, the town will remain in a happy and flourishing con- dition." Although it has not increased in numbers and wealth as some other places, if religion and morality constitute the real pros- perity of a place, then Norfolk has to this day flourished much beyond most other towns in our land, and her industry and frugality have ministered not a little to these.
Of the churches and ministers in Lower Norfolk before the year 1691, when the division above mentioned took place, we have but scanty accounts. I state it on the authority of one who would not speak unadvisedly, that, in the year 1637, one John Wilson was minister of Elizabeth River parish, in Norfolk county. From this until the year 1749 there is no information to be obtained as to this parish or its ministers, except that in the year 1724, when answers were sent to the Bishop of London's circulars, there were no ministers of the parish to furnish one.
On a loose piece of paper which has come into my hands, I find that, in the year 1728, a Mr. Thomas Nash-who was, I believe, both clerk of the vestry and lay-reader of the South Branch Chapel- gave in a list of births occurring in that part of the parish during the year 1727. The number of these shows that there was a
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considerable population at that time in the county, and that their reliance here, as in some other places, was on the cheaper supply of readers.
From the vestry-book, which begins in 1749 and ends in 1761,- twelve years,-I learn that the Rev. Charles Smith was the minister during all that period : how long before is not known, but it is probable from the year 1743, from the following inscription on his tombstone at the globe, near Portsmouth, as he was the minister of Portsmouth parish at his death in 1773 :-
" Here lies interred the Rev. Charles Smith, rector of Portsmouth parish, who died the 11th of January, 1773, in the 61st year of his age. He officiated as minister upwards of thirty years, and his conduct through life was unexceptionable. He was a sincere friend, a most tender hus- band, an affectionate father, and a humane, good man. He was esteemed and beloved when alive, and died universally lamented. In testimony of their tender regard, his son-in-law, James Taylor, and daughter, Alice Taylor, have erected this monument."
It appears, by what we learn from the vestry-book and tomb- stone, that he was probably the minister of Elizabeth River parish and of a division of the same during the whole period of a more than thirty years' ministry.
In the year 1761 the parish of Elizabeth River, covering all Norfolk county, was divided into three,-Portsmouth, St. Bride's, and Elizabeth River. We cannot say whether Mr. Smith continued to minister in Norfolk and Elizabeth River after this, or at once chose Portsmouth town and parish as his place of residence and field of labour. In the years 1773-4-6 we find, on our old lists, the Rev. Thomas Davis the minister in Norfolk. He was one of the ministers who zealously advocated the Revolution, and preached on some public occasion by request of the Assembly. In the year 1785 he was the minister in Northumberland county,-afterwards in Alexandria, and lastly in Northampton, where he died. In the year 1785, when the first Convention was held in Richmond, no clerical delegate appeared from Norfolk, and it is probable there was no minister there, as two lay delegates were present, Dr. James Taylor (son-in-law to the Rev. Mr. Smith, we presume) and Mr. George Kelly. Although no clerical or lay delegation appears from Norfolk in the years 1786-88, yet it is believed that the Rev. Walker Maury was minister during a part of that time. The fol- lowing inscription on his tombstone in the graveyard at Norfolk, put there, it is believed, by the congregation, would indicate that he was the minister :-
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1
" Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Walker Maury, who departed this life in the city of Norfolk, October 11th, 1788, in the 36th year of his age."
He died of the yellow fever of that year. Mr. Walker Maury was the son of the Rev. James Maury and brother of the Rev. Matthew Maury of Frederickville parish, Albemarle, of whom we have written. He married a Miss Grimes, of the Lower Country. They were the parents of the ladies who married Mr. Isaac Hite and John Hay, of Frederick county, and Mr. Polk, of Washington. More pious and estimable ladies than the mother and daughters are not easily found. There were also several sons.
In 1789-91, the Rev. James Whitehead appears in the several Conventions as minister of Elizabeth River parish, Norfolk ; and again in 1805. During the interval no delegation appears. Soon after this, it is believed, Mr. Whitehead accepted a charge in Balti- more. From all the accounts I have received, Mr. Whitehead was a worthy minister of the Gospel. He was also a good scholar, and presided over the academy in Norfolk. He was the father of Mrs. Commodore Skinner, and other children, who inherit the father's attachment to the Episcopal Church.
It was during the ministry of Mr. Whitehead that a most unhappy and bitter controversy occurred in the congregation, concerning himself and the Rev. William Bland, who was the favourite of a portion of the congregation, and was claimed, by some, to be the minister, although he never had a seat in the Conventions. Mr. Bland was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1767, and had been floating about various parishes until he came to Norfolk. His only virtue was an attachment to the Revolutionary cause while he was minister in James City, and which brought him into some notice by our patriots in Williamsburg. He was a man of intemperate habits-at any rate while in Norfolk-but still had something about him which created a party in his favour. The controversy was car- ried on in the newspapers in Norfolk during the week, and also in the pulpit on the Sabbath,-the same pulpit serving both ministers, the one in the morning, the other in the afternoon. The following extract of a letter from my friend, Mr. John Southgate, of Norfolk, contains the most accurate account of the transaction which is to be had :-
"I think it was in the year 1790 or 1791 that I arrived in Nor- folk, at which time, or very soon thereafter, the controversy that you speak of commenced between the partisans of Bland and Whitehead, who
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were both elected by their separate vestries (for both parties had their separate vestries and wardens) to the rectorship of old St. Paul's. Of course a good deal of ill blood was engendered between the reverend gen- tlemen. This state of things lasted for some years, until Mr. Whitehead and his friends, who amounted to a large majority, perhaps nine-tenths of the church, and who were most moderate in their pretensions, for the sake of peace gave way, and occupied the court-house as a place of worship, and where the ordinances of the Church were for some time administered. In the year 1800, April 16th, the friends of Mr. Whitehead met for the pur- pose of making arrangements for building a place of worship, which they called Christ Church, at which time sixteen thousand dollars were promptly subscribed, and on the 24th of June of the same year the corner-stone was laid ; and, for the purpose of avoiding difficulties heretofore existing, it was determined that the appointment of the rector should be made by the pew-holders, and that annually .* Mr. Whitehead continued to be the pastor of the same until the early part of the year 1806, when he received a call to a church in Baltimore; and, what may surprise us at this day, his only compensation during sixteen years, for his services, was one hundred pounds or three hundred and thirty-three and one-third dollars per annum."
Mr. Whitehead was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Davis, from Alexandria, (the same who had formerly been minister in Norfolk,) who continued with us until October, 1808, having received a call from Hungar's parish, on the Eastern Shore. Mr. Davis was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Mr. Syme, who continued until February, 1815, when he was not re-elected. He, however, occasionally did the duties of the clerk and pulpit, in connection with the Rev. Mr. Brown, until July, 1816. At this time Mr. Brown either died or removed, and Mr. Syme was called to Hungar's parish. In August, 1816, the Rev. Samuel Low became rector of the parish, and con- tinued until his death in 1820. Mr. Low was the son of the un- happy man who was minister in Lancaster and Fredericksburg and gave much trouble to the Church, and of whom we shall have some- thing to say hereafter. His son was as a brand plucked from the burning in more ways than one. Being of a literary and poetic turn, and having some talent for the stage and passionately fond of it, he for a time addicted himself to its performances ; but the Spirit of God followed him even into that synagogue of Satan, and brought him forth and placed him on a higher and holier stage in the Church
* Although we can never be brought to approve of annual elections, and that by the pew-holders instead of vestrymen, yet it must be confessed that thus far it has happily succeeded in this congregation. But we are persuaded this has resulted from the peculiarly excellent materials of which it has been composed, and not from the mode of election. Painful fears have often been felt of evil in its ope- ration. May it long be averted by the good providence of God !
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of Christ. What little preparation he was able to make for the pulpit was chiefly made under my own roof. His father's sin and disgrace produced an abiding impression of pensiveness, if not of melancholy, on a naturally sensitive mind, and this was deepened still more by the early death of a lovely young woman (Miss Brown, of Norfolk) whom he married soon after taking charge of Christ's Church. His pious conversation and evangelical preaching began that work which to this day has gone on. His successor, Mr. Enoch Lowe, who had been a soldier in the late war and brought a soldier's spirit with him into the ministry, by a bold and fearless declaration of evangelical truth and a very impressive delivery, advanced the work with rapid strides. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Wickes, originally a Methodist minister. His preaching also was bold, impressive, sound, and experimental, and he was effecting much good when the destroyer came in the form of strong drink. He fell a victim to it, as many of God's ministers have done, who, listening to the voice of the tempter, "Ye shall not surely die," have fallen into the snare. Acknowledging his great guilt, and not denying it, as too many do, he submitted to the discipline of the Church, and afterward returned to the communion he had left.
In the year 1825, the Rev. George A. Smith became the minister of Christ Church, but was only able to continue one year, on ac- count of feeble health. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Du- cachet. On his being called to St. Stephen's Church, in Philadel- phia, in 1834, I was induced, under peculiar circumstances, to leave my old charge in Frederick to the care of another, and take the temporary charge of this congregation, not knowing how long it might seem to be my duty to continue. At the end of two years, among the happiest and perhaps most useful years of my ministerial life, I resigned the charge of it into the hands of the Rev. Mr. Parks, whose ministry was highly acceptable. During these two years I had also the care of the congregation at old St. Paul's, which was without a minister, and in almost a despair- ing condition. I was successful in keeping alive its hopes, and preventing a dissolution of the congregation, and placing over it the Rev. Thomas Atkinson, who was ordained a deacon by me while in Norfolk. On the resignation of Mr. Parks, the Rev. Upton Beale became its minister. His faithfulness in all the de- partments of the ministry, private and public, his sound judgment and prudence, and his unceasing labours and sound evangelical and experimental preaching, secured for him the increasing affec-
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tion. and esteem of the congregation until his death. To the Rev. Mr. Beale succeeded the Rev. George Cummings, who, after a ministry of a few years, was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Minnege- rode, who has just resigned the charge.
THE CHURCHES OF NORFOLK COUNTY AND ELIZABETH RIVER PARISH.
As we hear of a minister in 1637, we must suppose that some kind of a church was erected in Norfolk at that early period. The first churches were always rude and indifferent, destined soon to pass away. There were, indeed, very many such even to the time of the Revolution.
I have no information concerning the old churches except that contained in a vestry-book commencing in 1749 and ending in 1761. At the close of it a new vestry-book is spoken of as about to be. Doubtless there was one, but it is nowhere to be found.
In the year 1750, there is, in the old one, a record evidently alluding to St. Paul's Church that now is, and to one that had been there some time before, but how long cannot be ascertained. It is ordered in that year that Mr. James Pasteur be allowed to have the bricks and timber of the old church to build a house on the school-land,-a school-house, we suppose. This proves that the present St. Paul's was built before 1750, and that there was a brick church some time before this on or near the same place. It is otherwise known that St. Paul's was built in 1739. There is an entry showing that Mr. Smith, the minister, received sixteen thou- sand-weight of tobacco for preaching at the mother-church, (St. Paul's, in Norfolk) and four thousand for each of the three cha- pels,-that at the Great Bridge, where the first battle of the Revo- lution was fought, that at Tanner's Creek, and the Southern Branch Chapel. In the year 1753, a Western Branch Chapel is also spoken of. There are, I believe, some remains of one or more of these chapels to this day. In regard to St. Paul's; in the year 1750, we have an account of some of the interior of the same. It is ordered " that Captain John Cook, Captain John Shriff, Captain John Calvert, and Mr. Charles Sweny be allowed to build a gal- lery in the church in Norfolk, reaching from the gallery of Mr. John Taylor to the school-boys' gallery, to be theirs and their heirs' forever." Also, "that Mr. Mathew Godfrey, Mr. William Nash, Captain Trimagan Tatum, and Mr. William Ashley have leave to build a gallery from the pulpit to the school-boys' gallery, to be theirs and their heirs' forever." The whole church in each member
J30 .9MURS A
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, NORFOLK, VA.
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of the cross was, therefore, galleried by private individuals, except that set apart for the school-boys. It appears from the foregoing' extracts that there was one church (St. Paul's) and four chapels, with one minister and three readers. The readers were Chamber- laine, Granbury, and Nash.
One-half of the glebe rented for thirty-six shillings; but there were parish servants, and a parsonage which cost £131 10s. After the building of the new church (Christ Church) in 1800, St. Paul's was for a time loaned to the Baptist denomination, and was used first by the white and afterward by the coloured portion of that denomination. But in the year 1832 it was resumed and repaired by the Episcopalians and solemnly consecrated by Bishop Moore. It must not be omitted on our record that, during the war, all the combustible materials of St. Paul's were consumed by the fire which laid the town in ashes. The well-built walls, however, not only resisted the fire, but the cannon-balls of our foe. There is still to be seen a considerable indentation in the corner of one of them made by a ball from the frigate Liverpool, and the ball itself may also be seen in the vestry-room, although a Governor of Virginia has petitioned that it might be placed in the public library at Rich- mond. The communion-plate was taken by the enemy and carried to Scotland. Some tidings of it have recently been received, and hopes are entertained of its recovery .*
In relation to the other church in Norfolk, which was built in 1800, that was also destroyed by fire in the year 1827. A new one, the present Christ Church, was immediately erected, which, being planned before the new style of architecture was introduced, (one so unfavourable to both speaker and hearer, in winter and in summer,) is one of the most capacious and comfortable churches in the land, and when well lighted up at night, and filled with wor- shippers, as it almost always is, presents to the eye one of the most delightful spectacles on earth.t
* The following lines, taken from the Rev. John McCabe's fuller account of St. Paul's, in the Church Review, will interest the reader :-
On it, Time his mark has hung ;
On it, hostile balls have rung ;
On it, green old moss has clung;
On it, winds their dirge have sung : Let us still adore thy walls, Sacred temple, old St. Paul's."
+ Mr. Swain, the architect of this church, deserves to be mentioned for the extra- ordinary fidelity displayed in its erection.
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I would that it were in my power to furnish a larger list of the vestry of the old church in Norfolk, but the brief term of twelve years, to which the vestry-book is limited, forbids. Among the first was Colonel Samuel Boush, who gave the land on which St. Paul's and its graveyard stands, and whose tombstone, at the door of the church, tells where his body lies. Himself, Colonel George New- ton, Colonel William Crawford, Captain William Hodges, Captain Willis Wilson, Mr. Charles Sweny, Captain James Joy, Captain John Shriff, and Mr. Samuel Boush were the first vestrymen on the book. The two last were in place of Mr. John Scott and Cap- tain Samuel Langley, former vestrymen. To the above, at different times, were added, Colonel Robert Tucker, Mr. Mathew Godfrey, Mr. James Webb, Thomas Newton, Major John Willowby, Captain George Yeale, Mr. Robert Tucker. This list comes down to 1761. Should the new vestry-book which then commenced be discovered, the list can be greatly enlarged .*
* I must not omit to mention, among the families of Norfolk county, that of Dale- an ancient and respectable one of this and surrounding counties, nor can I other- wise than specially refer to one member of it, Commodore Richard Dale, who was born in this county in the year 1756. At an early period-twelve years of age- he chose the sea for his habitation. Five times was he taken prisoner by the British during the war of the Revolution. He was in the Mill prison, at Liverpool, but escaped, and was seized by a press-gang, carried back, and thrown into a noi- some dungeon for forty days. Being released, he was again thrown into the Black Hole for singing rebellious songs. Again escaping, he fled to France, and was appointed first lieutenant in the Bon Homme Richard, in the fleet of Paul Jones, which spread such terror along the western coast of Scotland. In the desperate action with the Serapis he distinguished himself, and was wounded in the head. Being appointed captain of an armed merchantman in the American service, he con- tinued to command her to the end of the war. In 1794 he was made captain in the United States navy; and in 1801 he commanded the Mediterranean squadron. In 1802 he retired to private life, and spent the remainder of his days in Phila- delphia, where he died in 1826, aged seventy years, loved and honoured by all who knew him. But I should not have introduced his name into this work except for the fact that his religious character, for many years before his death, was as marked as his military one had been before. My acquaintance with him com- menced about six or eight years before his death, and was most intimate to the last. His house was my happy home during our General Conventions.
He was one of those open, honest men who could and did speak freely on all subjects to all men and yet not give offence. It was expected of him to reprove sin and irreligion, no matter in whom it was seen. He took an active part with the philanthropic of Philadelphia in all their great plans of benevolence. Espe- cially did he patronize all religious efforts for the seafaring race. He had a large sailors' loft for a chapel, which was always considered as Dale's Chapel, and which he often attended, even though he must leave his own church to do it. A pious old Presbyterian minister was the officiating clergyman in it, and was most devoted
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ST. BRIDE'S PARISH, NORFOLK COUNTY.
Of the position, lines, and boundaries of this we have no accu- rate idea, but must refer our readers to the delineation of it in the Act of Assembly, in 1761, which carved it out of Elizabeth River parish. (See Henning's Statutes, 1761.) Having no lists of clergy from 1758 until the year 1773, we must begin with 1773, when, as well as in 1774, we find the Rev. James Pasteur its minister. In the year 1776, the Rev. Emanuel Jones, Jr. becomes the minister. How long he may have continued is not known. We know nothing more of the parish until the year 1787, after the Revolution, when the Rev. Needler Robinson appears on the list for one year, and one only, as minister of St. Bride's parish. We presume he was the last of her ministers.
Which of the old churches were embraced within her bounds I know not, nor whether she erected any new ones.
PORTSMOUTH PARISH, NORFOLK COUNTY.
Of this I have rather more information, though no vestry-book after 1761 affords it.
We have seen that the Rev. Charles Smith was its minister when he died in 1773. He was succeeded in 1774 by the Rev. William Braidfoot. He was a native of Scotland, and had not been long in the ministry when it became evident that war between England and the Colonies was inevitable; and, as he believed the Colonies were contending for their just rights, he warmly espoused their cause, and entered the army as chaplain, continuing to fill that station until the close of the war, when he returned to Ports- mouth parish, and died at the glebe about the year 1784 or 1785.
to his work. I have attended with the old commodore in that loft, and preached to his congregation with great satisfaction. Although full of charity to all others, and holding no exclusive views, yet was Commodore Dale warmly attached to the Episcopal Church, and may be regarded as the father of St. Stephen's, which was built for his nephew, Dr. Montgomery. It was good to see his large manly form go through all the postures, and hear his bold seaman's voice in all the responses of the Liturgy.
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