USA > Virginia > Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia, Vol. I > Part 44
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 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
The petition is as follows :-
"To the Honourable the Legislature of the State of Virginia, the subscribers, inhabitants of the county of Caroline, beg leave to represent, that, beholding with concern the growth of a species of corruption at elec- tions, commonly called treating, as having a tendency to destroy national principles and individual morals, they presume to submit the following considerations to legislative deliberation :- 1st. Whether the best mode of enabling electors to judge of a candidate's qualifications is to deprive them of their senses. 2d. Whether corrupting and being corrupted is calcu- lated to produce sentiments of confidence between the people and their representatives. 3d. Whether true patriotism can exist on any other foun- dation than such confidence and esteem. 4th. Whether, in order to bring merit into preference, success should depend on expense. 5th. Whether, if a political body should appear, where wealth grew out of public spoils, until it was beyond competition, a check upon its pernicious influence will be erected by a consignment of legislation to riches. 6th. Whether liberty will be considered inestimable by those who are in the habit of selling it for a bottle of rum. 7th. Whether the dispensation of corrup- tion is likely to steel the mind of the elected against its introduction, in the exercise of several elective functions confided to the representatives of the people. 8th. Whether the consequences experienced from a sep- tennial repetition (as in England) of the practice we deprecate are suf- ficient to justify it as an annual custom, and whether virtue or vice is the safest basis for a republican government.
" If the Legislature shall view this mischief in the light we see it, we refer it to their wisdom as calling loudly for an effectual legislative remedy ; and we pledge ourselves to support an energetic law by with- holding our suffrages from all who shall infringe it. Edmund Pendle- ton, James Taylor, William Jones, Edmund Pendleton, Jr., Anthony Thornton, Charles Todd, Anthony New, Daniel Coleman, Henry Chiles, John Baylor, Mungo Roy, P. Woolfolk, John Minor, Jr., John Pendle- ton, Jr., George Gray, Norborne Taliafero, William Stewart, Thomas Kidd,
416
OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS, AND
David Dickerson, Philip Slaughter, John Walden, Robert Tompkins, Edmund Chapman, George Terrill, R. R. Tyler, J. Woolfolk, Thomas Harris."
Let us consider the above petition, and think upon its signers for a moment. If such a paper were now drawn up and signed by a number of persons, no matter how conscientiously, there are those who would regard it either as fanatical or as an assault on individual rights and liberty, and say, We will sign no such paper and come under no such pledge, but will vote for whomsoever we please, even though they or their friends liberally treat with the intoxicating draught. But how encouraging and strengthening it is to know that old Edmund Pendleton and many of the best men of Caroline county and Virginia, who had just come out of the war of the Revolution, and certainly had some just views of true liberty, did thus denounce an approaching evil, and call upon the Legislature to enact rigid laws against it, promising to sustain the same by their voices on the day of election! There is something of a moral grandeur about this movement of the venerable Pendleton and of his most respectable countymen which is worthy of admiration and imitation. Were he now living, we might surely calculate on his support of any wise and practical measure for the prevention not only of the one mentioned in the memorial, but of the nume- rous and most destructive evils of intoxicating drinks.
The following extract from the letter of a friend furnishes some additional information concerning St. Margarett's parish :-
" The Rev. Mr. Dick left one son bearing his name, who lived and died in this county; also two daughters,-one who married Mr. Vivian Minor, and who lived to a good old age, and retained to the time of her death a warm attachment to the Episcopal Church, travelling the distance of twelve miles to St. Margarett's, whenever its pulpit was filled, generally reaching it before those in the immediate neighbourhood,-and this after she was seventy years old. The other daughter married Mr. Robert Hart, of Spottsylvania, and also with her descendants continued true to the Church of her fathers. Mr. Boggs preached in this church for thirty years. In the year 1825, the Female Missionary Society of Fredericksburg sent Mr. John McGuire to preach for us, hoping to build up our waste places. By the blessing of God on this effort, a considerable interest was manifested by the few remaining members and others, and his preaching was attended by crowds, generally. The church was then in a very dilapidated condi- tion, but was soon after repaired. After Mr. McGuire located himself in Essex, the vestry called the Rev. Leonard H. Johns, who ministered to them for two years. It was during this time that more members were added. to the Church than at any other; but most of them were, I be-
417
FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA.
lieve, the seals of Mr. McGuire's ministry, though Mr. Johns's was very acceptable, and much beloved by all. Mr. Good succeeded Mr. Johns early in the year 1829, and remained until 1831, when he was compelled by ill health to leave the parish, much to the regret of all who knew him. The Rev. Mr. Cooke officiated frequently for us while we were without a minister. In July, 1832, Mr. Friend became our pastor : he continued to preach till June, 1835, in which time the St. Margarett's Church under- went considerable repairs and the church at the Bowling Green was built. Mr. Ward followed Mr. Friend and remained till 1840, when the Rev. St. M. Fackler took his place, continuing with us two years. The Rev. D. M. Wharton took charge of this and the churches in Spottsyl- vania in the fall of 1843."
The following letter from the Rev. H. M. Denison, formerly of Virginia, deserves a place in the article on Drysdale parish :-
" LOUISVILLE, April 29, 1856.
" MY DEAR BISHOP :- I have read with deep interest your account of many of the old churches and families of Virginia. Having just risen from the perusal of that on York-Hampton parish, it seems to me that you have not given all the credit it deserves to the character of the Rev. Samuel Shield.
" He was a clergyman of high character, and was a competitor with Bishop Madison for the Episcopate. He had at one time charge of Drys- dale parish, (now unrepresented in Convention,) lying in Caroline and the adjoining counties. He was great-uncle, I think, to the Rev. Charles Shield, grandfather of Dr. Samuel Shield, of Hampton, a worthy son of our Church, grandfather to Mrs. Colonel McCandlish, of W-, and grandfather to the wife of the Rev. Edmund Murdaugh ; so that the succession, both Christian and ministerial, is kept up in his family. But I take up my pen to mention to you the following incident, which will not be uninteresting to you even if it be without the scope of your pub- lished reminiscences.
" After the massacre by the British and Indians of a large portion of the inhabitants of the lovely Valley of Wyoming in Pennsylvania, the pa- rishioners of Drysdale, through their rector, Mr. Shield, as almoner, sent to the destitute and helpless women and children of the Valley the hand- some sum (for those days) of one hundred and eighty dollars to relieve their necessities. The transaction is thus recorded in the History of Wyoming, by the Hon. Charles Miner :-
"At a town-meeting held in Wyoming on the 20th of April, 1780, it was-
"'Voted, That whereas the parish of Dresden, [for Drysdale, ] in the State of Virginia, have contributed and sent one hundred and eighty dollars for the support of the distressed inhabitants of this town, [Wilkesbarre,] that the Selectmen be directed to distribute said money to those they shall judge the most necessitated, and report to the town at some future meeting.
"'Voted, That Colonel Nathan Denison return the thanks of this town to the parish of Dresden in the State of Virginia, for their charitable dis- position in presenting the distressed inhabitants of this town with one hundred and eighty dollars.'
27
418
OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS, AND
" Some five or six years ago I was at Dr. Samuel Shield's, in Hampton, and the doctor told me he had discovered my name among his grand- father's papers ; and upon examination I found the original letter of thanks written by my grandfather, Colonel Denison, to his grandfather, the Rev. Mr. Shield. It was threescore and ten years of age, but had evi- dently been preserved with much care; and I sent it at once to Mr. Miner, the historian. Very sincerely, but unworthily, your son in the Gospel. "H. M. DENISON."
419
FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA.
ARTICLE XXXVIII.
Parishes in Hanover County .- No. 1. St. Paul's and St. Martin's.
THIS was separated from New Kent county in the year 1720, and the parish called St. Paul's. Its first minister was the Rev. Zacha- riah Brooke, who was still vicar of Hawkston and Newton in Eng- land, leaving a curate there. In 1724 he informs the Bishop of London that his parish is sixty miles in length and twelve in width, (before Louisa county was cut off;) that there were twelve hundred families in it; two churches and two chapels, at the former of which he preached on the Sabbaths, and at the latter during the days of the week; that there were about one hundred communicants at the churches,-at each church, I suppose, though it is not clear ; that the glebe and glebe-house were only worth the casks,-that is, the hogsheads in which the tobacco was put up, and which he received in lieu of them. Of the previous ministers we shall speak when treating of the parish of New Kent, from which it was divided in 1720. How long Mr. Brooke continued, I cannot ascertain. In the year 1738, fourteen years later, I find the following letter from the Rev. Charles Bridges, whose spirit breathes something of that which animates the present minister of our Mother-Church bearing the same name. It is addressed to the Bishop of London :-
"MY GOOD BISHOP :- The little good I find I am capable of doing, without your particular countenance, in first subscribing and getting sub- scriptions to that your excellent design of instructing the negroes here, according to the method proposed, and pressing the Commissary to follow you, and solicit the Governor and his interest,-I say, all that can be done in this affair without your charitable efforts will, I fear, to my great con- cern, come to nothing. The Commissary [Mr. Blair] and I grow in years, and the world hangs heavy upon us. I am roused sometimes and then call upon him, and then he is asleep, perhaps, and answers nothing, and I am ready to sleep too. Would to God your powerful voice would sound in our ears, to get up and be doing a little more good while there is time and opportunity, which would make us thankful to your goodness for so great a blessing, and especially to me, your obedient and most dutiful servant, CHARLES BRIDGES."
From this it would seem that he was much interested in the wel- fare of the servants, and doubtless made efforts in their behalf, as
420
OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS, AND
others of the clergy (from the reports to the Bishop of London in 1724) appear to have done, though, it is to be feared, feebly and with but little success. Many of the coloured children were baptized, and some of them taught the catechism. How long Mr. Bridges continued the minister in St. Paul's parish, Hanover, I cannot say, or who was the minister in the other parish,-St. Martin's,-for another had, in the year 1726, been cut off from it by that name; but in the year 1754 we find that the Rev. Patrick Henry was the minister of St. Paul's, and the Rev. Robert Barrett of St. Martin's. They continued such until the year 1776. Indeed, the name of Robert Barrett appears as the minister of St. Martin's in the year 1785. How long Mr. Henry continued after 1776 does not appear. In the year 1789 the Rev. Peter Nelson, of the same name, though of a different family, from those who formed a part of his congregation, was the minister of St. Martin's, and the Rev. Mr. Talley was minister of St. Paul's. Mr. Nelson, according to the journal, was minister in 1799, and some time after that united himself to the Baptist Church. The Rev. Mr. Talley became a Universalist, and died the death of the drunkard. The Rev. Mr. Boggs, of Spottsylvania, occasionally officiated in St. Martin's parish and at the Fork Church after this for some years; but so low was the condition of the Church, and so few dis- posed to respond, that he used to read only such parts as needed no response, and not all of them. Such was the case in other parishes also. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins, of Goochland, during a part of the same destitute period preached in Hollowing Creek Church, and perhaps Allen's Creek Church. With the commencement of the resuscitation of the Church in 1812, the hopes of the Episco- palians in Hanover began to revive. In 1815 the Rev. John Philips became their pastor. He was an Englishman of the Wes- leyan school, and was ordained for our Church by Bishop Moore. There were some things so peculiar in the person and character of Mr. Philips, that they deserve notice. His person was the most diminutive I ever saw or heard of in the pulpit, but it was remark- able for its quickness and energy of action. He required to be elevated on a high block or platform to be seen at all in the pulpit. When praying in private houses he always knelt in the chair, not by it. He was very animated in preaching, putting his soul and voice into his extempore sermons. He was ultra Arminian in doc- trine, and could not tolerate Calvinists. Had he lived in the days of Calvin, or even later, and possessed the power, he would have served him as he (Calvin) did Servetus. As it was, he could not
421
FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA.
refrain from denouncing such in the most violent and offensive terms, in private and public, much to the injury of his usefulness and to the grief of his friends. But he was a faithful and conscientious man, and urged to repentance and faith and the new spiritual birth in the most earnest and effectual manner, on the Sabbath and from house to house. Religion was with him the fixed idea,-the one thing needful. He could talk of nothing else, for he knew nothing else, being a child in all other things. Wherever he was, this was the only theme. Nobody expected any thing else. He never left a house, though only calling for a few moments, without what he called a word of prayer. On his visits to Richmond, no matter into what house he entered, (and he entered many of the gay and fashionable, as well as of the serious,) he would say at parting, "Let us have a word of prayer ;" and then, kneeling in a chair, would offer up a most fervent and special prayer for the members of the same. Of course, there were those who amused themselves at this novel mode of proceeding, but there were those who felt it in their hearts, and if the old man caused smiles in some, he drew tears and sighs from others. The old and the young in Hanover felt the power of his ministry. They who embraced religion as presented by him embraced it as the power of God to the salvation of the soul. His converts were genuine, faithful, true-hearted ones. They saw his defects, but felt and imitated his virtues. They saw that there was such a thing as being entirely taken up with the service of God. During the few years he spent in the parish an entire change took place there, the effects of which are felt to this day. The manner of his death, which took place after his removal to Lunenburg, was as remarkable as that of his life. While riding in a plain convey- ance with Mrs. Philips, who always drove him about, as she did many other things for him, he expired without her knowledge, until, stopping at a tavern to water the horse which carried them, it was discovered that he was sitting by her side a lifeless corpse. Although it would be great folly for all ministers to copy after the example of Mr. Philips in all things, yet it would be well for us all to be ever seeking after his entire devotedness of spirit to the work of our calling. It is this spirit which insures the favour both of God and man, and makes those of humblest talents able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit. Mr. Philips was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Wydown, who con- tinued two or three years, and was followed by the Rev. Mr. Barns, who, after labouring two years, was obliged to desist from ill health. To him succeeded the Rev. Mr. Cook, who was the minister from
422
OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS, AND
1825 to 1834. The next was the Rev. Mr. Bowers, whose ministry, commencing soon after the resignation of Mr. Cook, continued until a few years since. The present minister is the Rev. Horace Stringfellow. There being no remnant left of the old vestry-book of this parish, I am unable to furnish a list of those who in its earlier days took the most active part in its concerns, and whose families composed its congregations. I can only speak of some few from my own recollection and knowledge. In my first visits to the parish, the aged forms of old Captains Shephard and Price pre- sented themselves as the last of a race of old lovers of our com- munion. Their memory is held in high estecm, and many of their descendants honour them by adhering to the Church of their ances- tors. Dr. Carter Berkeley, whose name may be so often seen on the Convention journals of the last and present century, and also on those of our General Convention, is too well remembered to be more than mentioned. Of his mother, of Airwell, a descendant of the Carters, inheriting all their devotion to the Church, one cir- cumstance is too interesting to be omitted. Airwell, the family seat of the Berkeleys, was the place where the communion-plate was kept. After the death of Mr. Berkeley, and death or resig- nation of the minister, by which, under the law, the glebes were forfeited, the overseers of the poor wished to do what was done in some other parishes,-viz. : bring the sacred vessels under the ope- ration of that act, but which in other parishes was scorned to be done. Those in Hanover, however, well knowing not only the pious attachment of Mrs. Berkeley to every thing belonging to the Church, but that she was a lady of dignity, firmness, and authority, instead of appearing in person to demand the plate, sent an em- bassy to her for the purpose, through whom she returned this an- swer :- "Tell the gentlemen to come and take them." They never came, and the vessels are now in use on every communion-day, in St. Martin's parish, Hanover. I cannot forbear remarking that there is no part of the conduct of the opponents of the Episcopal Church which appears so unamiable and unjustifiable as that in regard to the Church plate. It was almost always a private dona- tion, as the vestry-books and the inscriptions show, and even if it had not been, the framers and supporters of the law would have felt themselves insulted, if the insinuation had been made at the time of its passage that such an application of it would be made. But numerous instances have occurred in which such application has been made, while too many have been the cases where indi- viduals have seized upon them and made way with them for their
423
FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA.
private benefit. Returning from this digression, I would add to the list of true friends of religion and our Church the families of the Fontaines, descendants of the good old Huguenot of whom I have yet to speak; of the Nelsons, connected with the minister of whom I have already spoken, but who did not follow his example; of the Morrises, the Wickams, Taylors, Winstons, Pollards, Robin- sons, Pages, Prices, Shepherds, and others.
I must also add a few words concerning the widow of General Nelson. The old lady (who was blind for the last seventeen years of her life, and who lived a much longer period than that in Hano- ver) was an example of the sweetest piety. We have said on a former occasion that we often administered the Holy Communion to her and numbers of her descendants in her room, and on one occa- sion to more than forty, in that and the passage adjoining, nearly all of whom were her children, grandchildren, and great-grand- children. I omitted to mention one constant recipient of the sacra- ment,-her old and venerable servant, the only property she had in the world, for the house in which she lived, humble as it was, was not her own, and the small funds she annually received were the interest of a few thousand dollars which at her death belonged to some kind creditors of General Nelson, who allowed her the use of it during life. This servant was a member of the Baptist Church, who thought the rule which forbade intercommunion with others was more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Having been taught to read, and reading well, she was a great comfort to her mistress, and read to her all the best books on religious subjects as they appeared, during many of the last years of her life. At her death, she bequeathed to this servant all she had to bequeath,- her freedom,-well knowing that the whole family would see that freedom should not become poverty and want to her. There was, indeed, one small legacy she had been saving; it was twenty dol- lars, which was found carefully enfolded, with a direction that it be given to her minister. In proof of the rigid economy she had practised, and the strict principle on which she had practised it, it is not unworthy of being told, that only a few nights before her death, and when a number of her children and descendants were sitting around the fire, and supposing she was asleep, the silence was broken by her saying, "Don't bury me in my new gown," to which one of them playfully replied, "Oh, no; don't be troubled : we will put all the old rags around you that we can find." Her remains lie buried at the east end of the Old Fork Church in the
424
OLD CHURCHES, MINISTERS, AND
midst of a number of the family. * As my object is to seek to do good, by referring to excellent traits in the character of some of the best members of our Church, I must add a few words concern- ing one of the sons of this venerable lady. There are still some
* In connection with old Mrs. Nelson, the following circumstance deserves to be mentioned, not more to show the patriotic spirit which animated the breasts of young and old at the breaking out of the war, but chiefly to illustrate the parental authority and filial submission which characterized the days of our forefathers. When the British were about landing on James River, and Yorktown was peculiarly exposed, General Nelson, then in arms against them, was obliged to send Mrs. Nel- son, with an infant three weeks old, to the upper country. When near Williams- burg she met a company of youths, some of them mere boys, armed with their guns, and marching down to fire at the enemy. On meeting the well-known old English coach, they halted and presented arms to Mrs. Nelson, wishing to show her all honour. She received their salutation very courteously, but, perceiving among them two of her own sons, mere boys at the preparatory school, she directed the coach- man to stop, and, opening the door, requested them to enter the carriage. Mortify- ing as it must have been to them, they were too much accustomed to obey to think of refusing. Taking them with her, she sent them to Philadelphia to complete their education, placing them under the care of Mr. Rittenhouse. One of these youths, Mr. Thomas Nelson, was afterward private secretary to General Washington while President, and a great favourite with him and Mrs. Washington. This is only one of a thousand instances which might be adduced to prove that, however we may in in some respects have improved on the manners and habits of our ancestors, we certainly have not in the prompt submission to the will of parents and authority of teachers. The Revolution, with all its blessings, has nevertheless been attended with one evil,-that of insubordination to those in authority, whether parents or others. I shall have occasion to speak of one of the old clergy, who, though im- portuned to resume the office of teacher after the establishment of our independence, could not be prevailed on to undertake it, saying that it was hard enough to govern boys before, but as for these little democrats he would have nothing to do with them. So important do I deem this subject, that, at the risk of seeming to be very egotistical, as I must have often done already, I add the following. Soon after my father's death my mother sent me to Princeton College. While there, the great re- bellion took place, in which one hundred and fifty out of two hundred took part, and for which they were all sent home. Being among the dismissed, and returning home and unable to justify the act, my mother, who was of the old Virginia school, hesitated not to send me back again, with acknowledgment of error and promise of future good behaviour. Nor did I hesitate to obey, for the habit of submission to her authority had been established from my earliest years. There were fifty other sons at that time whose parents or guardians adopted the same course. I fear that it would be difficult now to find many who would follow their example, even in re- lation to the misconduct of boys at a high-school, so independent have our sons become. I am not given to croaking, or to complaining that "the former days were better than these," as I believe the contrary to be true ; but in this respect I believe there is a deterioration. It is due to those who were concerned in the above-men- tioned rebellion, to say that, with a few exceptions, there probably never was a col- legiate outbreak in which there was less guilt than in this, by reason of misunder- standing and the artful imposition of some ringleaders. Still, it was hard to retract and ask pardon.
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.