USA > Virginia > Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia, Vol. I > Part 46
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* Dr. Doddridge's letter to the Bishop of London, and the memorial of the five clergymen, I have in manuscript, taken from the archives of Lambeth; the others may be seen in Mr. Foote's first volume of Sketches of the Presbyterian Church of Virginia
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my own heart, and in the young people whom I am endeavouring to form for the service of the sanctuary." Mr. Davies's letter to the Bishop of London is like his sermons,-very long and very good. He declares that, so far from coming to stir up the beginnings of strife in Virginia, the work of separation had been going on among the laity for at least six years ; that a number of congrega- tions had been actually organized ; that he was called to supply them ;* that he had carefully forborne to assail any peculiarities of the Church, but contented himself with preaching the great doc- trines of the Gospel; that in so doing he had been the honoured instrument of converting a number of souls; that it must, of course, happen that some of those were brought up in the Episcopal Church ; that although he esteemed that Church as sound and evangelical in its doctrines, and believed that some of its ministers were so also, while others were only learned and moral men, yet he was obliged to say that many of them were immoral and irreligious, and that the laity also were in a most deplorable state of ignorance as to true religion, and many of them of intemperate and vicious lives. He also, I think, clearly shows that he had not violated the law as understood and acted upon in England .; It certainly came to be more and more thus understood and acted upon in Virginia, until the necessity for a license was done away by the destruction of the Establishment and the placing of all denominations upon an equal footing. While we rejoice that such is the case, we cannot join with those who condemn, as bigoted and intolerant, all who at different periods approved and promoted measures for preventing the introduction of different denominations. A sincere love of order, peace, and unity, may have influenced their policy and conduct. Experience shows that they were mistaken, and that all the inte- rests of Virginia would have been the better, and the condition of the Episcopal Church certainly not the worse, had a more liberal course been pursued from the first, and free permission granted to all denominations from the mother-country to settle here. But let none imagine that the desire to prevent inroads upon Church unity
* One of these was called the Fork Church, and some of his printed sermons are dated there. It was not, as some have supposed, that now called the Fork Church, and which was always an Episcopal Church.
+ Mr. Davies also unites with Dr. Doddridge in approving the plan of sending Bishops to Virginia, and declares that such was the case with his Presbyterian brethren of the North. This, however, he was obliged to retract, on discovering that he was mistaken. Their opposition was general and violent. This cannot be denied. The milder spirit of Davies revolted at it.
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was peculiar to the Episcopalians of Virginia. It belongs equally to all denominations, and all congregations, with their ministers. What Church previously established in any land or portions of a land, what congregation being first established in any village or neighbourhood, and having filled up the same, does not desire to retain possession, and think it hard that efforts should be made to divide, and sow discord and unhappiness therein ? We say not this to excuse our Church for wrong she hath done, or to cast undue blame on others. If we know our own heart, it is our desire to seek the truth and do justice to all. When we consider how much and what has been said, written, and preached against the Episcopal Church for more than a century,-what efforts have been made to excite political and religious prejudices against her,-and more especially what pains have been taken to bias the minds of the poor, to warn them against her assemblies, even since her ministers have been acknowledged to be evangelical, experimental, and faithful preachers, and holy men in their lives,-we cannot but ask the ques- tion, Which of all the Churches in Virginia has, in the sight of God, been most persecuted during the last hundred years ? We would beseech our Christian brethren, of other denominations especially, to consider whether, when seeking to array the rich and the poor, the learned and unlearned, against each other, they are not com- mitting a great sin against society and government, and against that God who has joined all together in his Church, and forbids us to separate whom he hath united. While so many have for so long a time been exposing the faults of our communion, and ques- tioning whether there has been or is true piety in the same, it may be permitted to one in these latter days, in imitation of those of other communions, to speak the praises of some who have been the subjects of God's grace among us, without denying the melancholy fact, that too many have in times past brought reproach upon our Zion and its sanctuary. He who undertakes the task has not only been for a long time going in and out among this people, becoming acquainted with several generations, but has inquired of our fathers who are no more, and searched much in ancient and veritable docu- ments, and in his own old age asks the privilege of gratifying his own heart, and the hearts of others, in bearing testimony to the piety of a goodly number, as pure perhaps as is anywhere to be found in this evil world, and especially in whose hearts was and is to be found a large share of the true spirit, not only of toleration, but of Christian kindness to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, by whatever name they be called.
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ARTICLE XL.
Parishes in Prince George, Martins Brandon, and Bristol.
MARTINS BRANDON was a very early parish in Charles City when that county extended across the river. How long before we know not. Prince George county was taken out of Charles City in 1702. Bristol parish was cut off from Martins Brandon in 1642. We have already seen that the parish of Martins Brandon had been enlarged, in 1720, by the addition of those parts of Westover and Weynoake parishes which lay on the south side of James River. We have neither an old vestry-book nor register of this parish, nor even a report to the Bishop of London, in 1724, from which to gather any materials for a notice of it in early times. The first minister of whom we have any record is the Rev. Alexander Finnie, whose name is on the list of clergy on the Lambeth Record, for 1754, as rector of Martins Brandon. From our worthy citizen, the elder Mr. Edmund Ruffin-who, from his age and extensive acquaintance with many much older than him- self, and laudable curiosity about former days and men, is well qualified to speak on the subject of tradition-I have received some interesting accounts of Mr. Finnie. Although perhaps not so strict in some things as becomes one in so serious a profession, yet he was a conscientious and upright man, doing and saying whatever he considered his duty. Being also independent in his circumstances, and somewhat eccentric in character, he was the more fearless in preaching what he thought to be his duty. This eccentricity and independence were remarkably displayed in one department of the pastoral office,-the preaching of funeral ser- mons. He considered this to be an occasion in which he must make full trial of his ministry, by declaring the whole truth about the deceased for the benefit of the living. The old Roman maxim, " De mortuis nil nisi bonum," he eschewed in theory and practice. Whether they were rich or poor, high or low, he recommended their good qualities and warned his hearers against their evil ones. Some memorable instances are handed down. One wealthy lady left in her will a positive prohibition of a funeral sermon; but without avail, for he never departed from this practice. He re-
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garded it as his great instrument for doing good. Even this cus- tom, which we do not mean to defend, is better than those unfaith- ful, flattering, and fulsome eulogies which are so often uttered on such occasions. Better far have none at all, in most cases, and let " expressive silence" speak both the praises and censures of the dead. How long Mr. Finnie had been in the parish before 1754, and continued afterward, is not known. He was in other parishes besides this, and has left a respectable posterity in Vir- ginia. In the years 1773, 1774, and 1776, I find the Rev. William Coutts on the list as minister of Martins Brandon. In the years 1785 and 1786, the Rev. Benjamin Blagrove. In the years 1790 and 1794, the Rev. John Spooner. After this, the parish seems to have been deserted, as no delegation-either clerical or lay-ap- pears on the journal until the year 1829, when the Rev. Mr. Cole is a delegate from Surrey and Prince George .* Since that time, the parish has enjoyed the services of the Rev. Mr. Denison, Mr. Minnegerode, Mr. Murdaugh, and, being recently divided, has the benefit of the labours of the Rev. Mr. Johnson in the upper parish, in addition to those of Mr. Murdaugh in the lower.
I have no means of ascertaining what-if any-were the churches in Martins Brandon besides the Old Brandon Church, near the estates of the Harrisons at the two Brandons, and Old Merchant's Hope. A new church has recently been erected in place of the Old Brandon Church, and very near to it. At City Point also, some years since, the Rev. Malcolm McFarland, now of Baltimore, in some measure at his own expense, erected a neat brick church, and, for some years, served the people of that place and vicinity gratuitously. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Okeson. The Rev. Mr. Murray now occupies it. A parish by the name of St. John's has been organized at City Point.
BRISTOL PARISH.
I am now brought, in the order of time and geography, to Bristol parish. This parish was formed in 1662, on either side of the Appomattox River, beginning at its junction with James River, at City Point, and extending to the Falls. By the Falls
* I find that I was under a mistake in saying that, during this period, no efforts had been made in this parish and no minister employed. A very worthy young man from Rhode Island, whose name I am unable to recall, spent some time in most acceptable services here; but failing health put an end to them. Colonel Peterson, and other laymen, co-operated zealously with him.
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we presume must be meant those at or a little above Petersburg, though, as we shall see hereafter, the vestry, in the course of time, seem to have acted for a much larger territory.
It was called Bristol parish, because the river was then called Bristol as well as Appomattox. Within the bounds of this parish was the old settlement of Sir Thomas Dale, in 1611, called Ber- muda Hundred, at the junction of James River and Appomattox. Settlements were, from time to time, formed along the river up to the Falls, where is now the town of Petersburg. The mother or parish church was at Bermuda Hundred, opposite to City Point, and it was desirable to organize a parish and provide for those who were settling higher up the Appomattox or Bristol River. That the mother-church was at this place is evident from an early entry in the vestry-book, where, for the first and only time, the mother- church is mentioned,-and then in connection with the ferry at the Point, (City Point,) which is directed to be kept in good order for persons, on Sunday, going over to the "mother-church," called, in the Act of Assembly, the " Parish Church." The next place of worship in the parish was probably the " Ferry Chapel," near the Falls, and not far from the Old Blandford Church, which took its place in the year 1737 or 1738. From the year 1720, when the vestry-book begins, to the year 1737, the vestry-meetings are invariably held at the Ferry Chapel, and afterward at the Brick Church, on Wills's Hill, or Blandford Church. There was a church built, it is believed, in 1707, according to some marks on it, and called Wood's Church, about five miles from Petersburg, on the north side of the Appomattox. Of this we shall speak when treating of Dale parish, in Chesterfield, in which it now stands. The first and most accurate account we have of Bristol parish is from a letter to the Bishop of London, by its incumbent, the Rev. George Robertson, in the year 1724. He had been, at that time, its minister for nearly thirty-one years, and so continued for six- teen more, making in all forty-six years. The extent of the parish was twenty-five miles wide and forty miles long. It, of course, must then have extended up the Appomattox into Brunswick and Amelia. He complains that but a few of the masters send their servants to be catechized, as he exhorts them to do, though some do it at home and then bring them to baptism. He had one church and one chapel, at which he alternately preached, and had full congregations in good weather,-sometimes more than the pews would hold. His tobacco being of inferior quality, his salary was not more than forty-five or forty-six pounds sterling. His glebe
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had forty acres of barren land, with no house on it, and not culti- vated .* No public school nor library. His services were confined to the Ferry Chapel, at Petersburg, and to the mother-church, at Bermuda Hundred. Although Mr. Robertson had only these two places at which he officiated in 1724, we find the vestry determined to build chapels in the year 1721, three years before, at Saponey Creek and Nansemond Creek, a considerable distance up the river. These, however, were not built until the year 1727. Meanwhile, a chapel was built elsewhere-and, as we believe, lower down the parish-in the year 1723. The person contracting for it was a Mr. Thomas Jefferson ; and we suppose it to be the same building spoken of by Mr. Stith, in his "History of Virginia," in 1740, as being in Chesterfield, and which was so near to James River that a minister of Henrico parish connected it at a later period with his. It was called Jefferson's Church,-probably after the builder: I am not sure but that there are remains of it to this day.
In the year 1727, it appears that four surplices were ordered, which shows that there must have been at least four churches then in the parish. In the year 1729, additions are made to each of the churches recently built at Saponey and Namoisen Creeks. In the year 1730, another church-between Smacks and Krebbs-is de- termined upon, for " the remote inhabitants" of the parish, on Flat Creek, near Samuel Cobb's, to be built by Richard Booker, with the privilege of putting up a pew for his family by the side of the communion-table. In 1733, a committee is appointed to examine the Ferry Chapel and see whether it is worthy of being repaired. The report being unfavourable, in 1734 it was determined to build a new one, on Will's Hill, of the best materials and workmanship, -sixty feet by twenty-five,-the aisle to be laid of white Bristol stone. Thomas Ravenscroft contracted to build it for four hun- dred and eighty-five pounds sterling. The building of this church involved the vestry in great pecuniary difficulty, so that the minis- ter, Mr. George Robertson, agreed to serve them gratuitously until they were relieved. The vestry seems also to have been tempted to resort to very doubtful means of discharging their engagements. The Assembly had established two new parishes in the year 1735, -viz .: Dale parish, in Chesterfield, taking in that part of Bristol parish lying north of the Appomattox, and Raleigh parish, now in Amelia, but then parts of Bristol and St. Andrew's parishes. After
* In reply to the question, Is your glebe-house kept in good repair ? he says, "Nonentibus nulla sunt accidentia;" (To nonentities no accidents happen.)
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the passage, but before the execution, of the law, a levy was made on these new parishes for the means of paying for Blandford Church. Complaint being made, the next Assembly declared the levy im- proper, and ordered it to be refunded.
In proof of an increasing population and desire for places of worship, we state that petitions for two new chapels were addressed to the vestry in the year 1737. In the year 1738 one was ordered to be built on the north side of Hatcher's Run, which was undertaken by Isham Eppes for one hundred and nineteen pounds and fifteen shillings ; and in the year 1739 one was ordered to be built for the convenience of the lower parts of the parish, and Mr. John Ravens- croft undertook to build it for one hundred and thirty-four pounds and ten shillings, on Titmassie's land. That on Hatcher's Run being burned down, another is ordered in 1740. Another at Jones's Hole was also completed that year. An addition being found neces- sary to Blandford Church, in the year 1752 it was ordered that one, thirty by twenty-five feet, be put to it, and that a brick wall be placed around it. Since the completion of Blandford Church in 1738, the vestry appears to have been duly attentive to the wants of the minister as to a glebe and glebe-houses. In the year 1761 we find another entry of an order for building a small church in the outward part of the parish. Again, in 1769, we find an order for one sixty feet by twenty-eight, in the upper part of the parish that lies in Dinwiddie county. On the approach of the war the vestry resolved to pay a salary of one hundred and forty-four pounds, instead of tobacco, and Mr. Harrison, their minister, agrees to wait three years for a balance due him, on account of the dis- tress of the country.
In the year 1789 we find Jones's Hole Church forcibly entered, through the windows and doors, for the purpose of worship,-the vestry giving notice that if this be again done, or the church en- tered without leave, the offending persons shall be dealt with accord- ing to law, which proves that the Episcopalians were the subjects of some persecution at that time. This forcible entry of some of our churches has continued ever since. Surely, in view of such forcible entries, when the Legislature confiscated the glebes, it would have declared the churches common, in the plainest manner, had such been the design of the law. Mr. Chapman Johnson once told me that, after the fullest investigation of the subject, he was well convinced that the law never contemplated any interference with the entire right of Episcopalians with the Church buildings. Nevertheless, we have not, like the dog in the manger, refused to
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use them ourselves or let others do it, but when reduced in num- bers so as to have only irregular or infrequent services, or having utterly failed in the neighbourhood of many of the old churches, have either allowed the partial use of them, or quietly surrendered them to others. With the above act in 1789 the records of the old vestry-book of Bristol parish terminate. To other sources we must be indebted for any information touching the churches in this parish after this. As to the numbers which, as we have stated, were built in different parts of the parish, without the towns of Petersburg and Blandford, we are unable to give any account of them, save that, with the exception of Old Saponey Church, -Mr. Jarratt's Church, as it has been often called,-they are gone, and the places thereof know them no more. Being of framework, they were not destined to much duration, and, being occupied and abused by all, soon came to desolation. Old Blandford Church also began to experience the effects of age, and the increasing prosperity and numbers of Petersburg, standing on the adjoining hill, made it ex- pedient to begin to think of deserting her, and preparing a place of worship more convenient to the majority of the worshippers. Accordingly, in the year 1802, measures were taken for building a church in Petersburg near the court-house. This answered the purposes of the congregation until the year 1839, when another and larger one was built in a more convenient place. That having been consumed by fire a few years since, another larger and more expensive one has recently been erected. Two other churches have also been built in Petersburg under the auspices of the Rev. Mr. Gibson within a few years past, the first of them being disposed of when the second was erected. A small missionary chapel was also erected in another part of the town, but has failed of its object.
We have thus, contrary to our usual order, given in the first place an account of the churches of Bristol parish, and now pro- ceed to state what we have been able to collect of the history of its ministers. After the early mention of Alexander Whittaker, Mr. Wickham, and Stockam, who, from the year 1611 and onward, officiated at Bermuda Hundred, in connection with the church at Henrico City, about five or six miles off, on the north side of James River, we have no record of even the name of a minister until the year 1693, when Mr. Robertson came to it, and continued to be the minister till 1740.
At the death of Mr. Robertson in 1740, an agreement was made with a Rev. Mr. Hartwell to become the minister; but, misunder- standings taking place as to the terms, it was never carried
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into execution. Mr. Robert Ferguson was then chosen, and con- tinued to be the minister for ten years,-until 1750. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Eleazer Robertson, who continued two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Wilkinson, who resigned in 1762, and was succeeded by the Rev. William Harrison, who resigned in 1780, though continuing to reside in Petersburg until his death in 1814, being eighty-four years of age. The parish being advertised as vacant, the Rev. Mr. Kennedy and the Rev. Dr. Cameron were candidates in 1784. The latter was chosen, and ministered in the parish until 1793, when he resigned. Of him I shall speak in another place. In the following year the Rev. An- drew Syme was elected, and continued until his resignation in 1839, -a period of forty-five years. He continued to reside in Petersburg until his death, esteemed and beloved, by all who knew him, as "an Israelite in whom there was no guile." For further particulars of him the reader is referred to my article on South Farnham parish, Essex county, from which he removed to Bristol parish, and to the Rev. Mr. Slaughter's full and very interesting pamphlet on Bristol parish. For some years previous to his resignation of the parish, Mr. Syme, on account of increasing infirmities, had called for an assistant, and obtained the services of the Rev. Hobart Bartlett, from New York, whose fine talents, popular preaching, and agree- able manners contributed much to the increase of the congregation. In the year 1839 I was induced, under peculiar circumstances, to take the temporary charge of the congregation, but soon accom- plished the object had in view, and procured for the congregation the services of the Rev. Mr. Cobbs, now Bishop of Alabama. His ministry, during the few years of its continuance, was very pros- perous in all respects. During that period a general awakening of the souls of the people of Petersburg took place, and the ministers of all denominations laboured faithfully in prayer, and sermons, and exhortations, private and public. Instead of discouraging such extraordinary efforts for so extraordinary an outpouring of the Spirit of God as was granted, Mr. Cobbs came behind none, and went beyond some, in the frequency and continuance of his religious exercises. The result was, that no congregation was more highly blest in the results thereof. I laid my hands on the heads of ninety- three at that time, who, for the last three months, had been receiv- ing the daily instructions of their minister, either public or private, and of such other ministers as he was able to bring to his help. During Mr. Cobbs's ministry the ladies of the Wilmer Association- who had for so many years been the most active of all in support-
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ing beneficiaries at our Seminary, sending at times to the amount of five and six hundred dollars to the treasury-began to divert their funds from this to the promotion of missionary labours in the town of Petersburg. The result has been the establishment of the pros- perous church under the care of the Rev. Mr. Gibson. In the year 1843 the Rev. Mr. Slaughter accepted a call to this parish, after the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Cobbs. His services were so ac- ceptable to the people, that at the end of the six months which he had proposed to himself as a trial, he agreed to continue, nor did he cease to labour there until his health so failed as to make it improper to add further efforts. He was succeeded by the Rev. Horace Stringfellow, who continued until the year 1854. His place has been supplied during the present year (1856) by the Rev. Mr. Platt, from Alabama.
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