USA > Virginia > City of Virginia Beach > City of Virginia Beach > Old houses in Princess Anne, Virginia > Part 2
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
From the following quotation the recognition of Lynnhaven Parish as such, with the designation of bounds and authority is authenticated.
(Hening's Statutes at Large, volume 1, page 250, March 1642/3, 18 Charles I).
Act XVI. Be it further acted and confirmed upon the petition of the inhabitants of Linhaven parish, by the Gov- ernor, Council and Burgesses of the Grand Assembly that the parish of Linhaven be bounded as followeth (vizt) To beginn at the first creek shooting out of Chesopiack bay called the Little Creek including all the branches of the said creek and thence extending to the head of Linhaven river, and thence down to the head of the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River to a creek on the northward side of the said branch called Broad Creek provided it be not prejudicial to
1
25
Old Houses in Princess Anne
the parishes of Eliz. River and Southern shoare by taking away any parte of the said parishes. And it is further enacted and confirmed by the authority aforesaid that the inhabitants of Lynhaven parish shall not be compelled by any officer to be exercised in martiall discipline beyond the lymitts of the said parish. And that the said parishioners shall have the free liberty and privilege of electing and choosing Burgesses for the said parish.
The bounds of Southern Shores we have been unable to find recorded. However, in a map of Princess Anne, lately made by Mr. C. Whittle Sams, he draws a line east and west about midway the county; from this line south to the North Carolina line he designates Southern Shores Parish. In that territory were located two reading places, one at Blackwater, the other at Knott's Island. This last bit of history may be found in the record of the church as published in the Southern Church- man during 1907.
Bishop Meade says the first church in Lynn- haven Parish was "about half a mile from Little Creek, which ran east and west in a narrow channel separated from Chesapeake or Lynnhaven Bay by a sand beach a quarter mile wide." Then the good Bishop goes on to tell the story of the digging of the ditch across the narrow strip of sand at the point of the present entrance to the Lynnhaven River; of how the tide rushed in, changing the river and overflowing the banks. This is a tradition that the whole of the countyfolk agree is true. Certain it is that there was a brick church on the western shore of the western branch of the Lynnhaven, that across the river was the Glebe Land, and that there
26
Old Houses in Princess Anne
were tombstones years ago in the bottom of the river at a point called "Church Point." The Bishop says that in 1819 Commodore Decatur, with a friend, deciphered some of the inscriptions on the tombs, the water being not very deep. Be it re- membered, however, that this was Lynnhaven Church, or Old Brick Church, not Donation as is recited in a review of "Old Virginia Parish Churches, Built Before the Revolution and Still Remaining" (Francis Marion Wigmore, Gunston, Virginia, author) by Bess Furman (Associated Press staff). In the Sunday edition of Virginia-Pilot and the Norfolk Landmark of May 26, 1929, page 8, part 5, in the fourth paragraph is told the incident of the submerged churchyard, the concluding sentence of which is, "This happened to the churchyard of Old Donation Church, Princess Anne County."
The site of the Old Brick Church is on a farm years known as Church Point Farm. It belonged to the John Thorowgood branch of the Thorowgood
Old Donation Church
27
Old Houses in Princess Anne
family and was a part of Adam Thorowgood's "Grand Patent."
In Deed Book I, page 68, at Princess Anne is recorded a deed for two acres of land on which the new brick church stands. This was 1694. The deed is made by Eban Ezar Taylor to the Parish Vestry. The next year Mr. Taylor makes a deed to Richard Corbette for the remaining acres of the tract, ex- cluding carefully the two acres he previously sold to the vestry "whereon the new brick church now standeth." In each deed Mr. Taylor recites the history of the ownership of the whole tract. Be- ginning with John Lankfield, the land escheated, was regranted, and so on he details the title. Many people have felt that this gives the date of the first Donation Church. No description of the property was given in the Taylor deed, so it was hard to prove that Donation was the church to which ref- erence was made. It seemed such a valuable clue that it was worth digging in the oldest record for any verification of Mr. Taylor's statements, and with the hope always that some description might be found. We were rewarded, for not only did we find that the tract was near Mrs. Mary Moseley, but it was by Robert Hodge, "at Samuel Bennett's Creek, in Linhaven at ye head of ye Cattayle Branch." This description locates the whole hun- dred-acre tract, on two acres of which we know the church was built. We also found a plat, signed by Jno. Wallop, the surveyor. The date of the plat was 1672. To us these records fixed beyond a doubt that by 1694 there was a brick church at Ferry, Donation it was later called.
28
Old Houses in Princess Anne
The parish record of November 20, 1723, notes the Brick Church, the upper and lower chapel. In 1724 there was a new wooden chapel on Eastern Shore. July 7, 1725, Capt. Robert Vaughan was authorized to have repairs made to the chapel at Machipungo (Pungo, as it is now better known). In 1736 the vestry agreed that since the Old Brick Church was very dilapidated and not fit for services it could be used for a school.
In 1733 Peter Malbone was authorized to build and furnish the "new church" near "Ferry." In 1736 the "new church" (Donation) was received from the builders. This was at least the second building at this place. The Donation Church has been beautifully restored during the last few years, and now serves, as of old, in that community.
There is nothing left of the chapel at Pungo except a memory in the mind of some old-timer as to where the ruins were, and maybe a few bricks in a field. In 1779 Anthony Fentress was paid 20€ for the care of the chapel.
Eastern Shore Chapel-Built 1754
29
Old Houses in Princess Anne
According to a brick over the front entrance to Eastern Shore Chapel, the present brick building was erected in 1754. The following is a copy from the parish register of that time, telling of the building :
Lynhaven
Parish
At a Vestry held on the 1st of October 1753 Revd. Mr. Robert Dickson Minister
Capt. James Kempe, Capt. William Keeling, Ch. War- dens
Present Col. Antho Walke, Capt. Antho. Moseley, Maj. Thos. Walke, Capt. Jno. Whitehurst, Mr. Francis Land, Mr. William Woodhouse
Resolved by the majority of three voices of this Vestry that at or near adjoining the place where the present Eastern Shore Chapple now stands is a fit and convenient place to erect a new chapple & that the same be erected
Resolved that the new Chapple at the Eastern Shore be built Fifty five feet long, Twenty five feet wide in the clear, with a convenient large gallery not to be less than eighteen feet in width, at the West end, the Walls of the said Chapple to be eighteen feet in height, with three windows on each side, two at the East end and one in the gallery; the win- dows to be of the same dimensions with the church Win- dows. The Communion to be raild and ballasted neatly, the Walls of the said Church to be two brick and a half thick from the foundation to the Water Table and two brick thick upward; the windows to be of good crown glass 8x10 In. 6 lights by three beside the Arch; the middle isle to be five feet wide with a decent desk and pulpit; the whole Church to be compleatly painted where tis requisite of a sky colour; the covering of the said Chappel to be of good heart Cypress Shingles and all the rest of the work to be finished in a work man like manner after the model of the Church. At this Vestry the aforesaid Chappel being put up to the
30
Old Houses in Princess Anne
lowest bidder Mr. Joseph Mitchel of Norfolk having the last vote voted to undertake and compleat the aforesd. Chap- pel in a workmanlike manner by Xstmas, next come twelve months for Three hundred and twenty four pounds Ten Shillings and he is according to enter into bond for the good performance of the same
At a Vestry held this Twelfth day of March 1754 Prestt. Revd. Robt. Dickson Minister
Capt. James Kempe Capt William Keeling Ch Wardens Col. Anthony Walke Col. Nath Newton Majr. Thos. Walke Capt. George Wishart Mr. Jno Bonney Mr. William Wood- house Senr. & Mr. Francis Thorowgood Land Vestrymen This day received from Mr. Joseph Mitchel the New Eastern Shore Chapel and do discharge him from his obliga- tion of building and finishing the same, the above Vestry being satisfied with his performance thereof
Antho Walke
During the passing years when repairs were made to this Eastern Shore Chapel, its architec- tural design was not always considered. We under- stand that just now there is a movement on foot toward a restoration.
Much of the record of the court and of the vestry, from their inception in the county, deals with the effort to force the colonists to conform, certainly so far as outward observance, to the practices of the established Church of England, which was the Episcopal form of worship and church government. The Quakers seemed to be the sect most persistent in its determination to follow its own bent, meet- ing when and where it chose, flouting the consti- tuted authority in Lower Norfolk County by meet- ing at the home of Richard Russell. Governor
31
Old Houses in Princess Anne
Berkeley spurred the authorities on in their efforts to suppress the Quakers.
The Governr. his Lve to ye gent of ye County of Lower Norffe
Gentlemen I thanke you for yor care of ye County & desire you to continue it, & Especially to pvide yt ye abominated seede of ye Quakers spread not in yor County which to prvent I think fitt to add these fower to the Commission vizt Mr Addam Thurrowgood Mr Wm Carver, Mr Wm Daynes & Mr Thomas ffulsher Mr Hall I heare is anncient. Once more I beseech you gent: to have an Exact care of this Pestilent sect of ye Quakers.
Yor most affectionate frend
William Berkley
Dated 27th of June 1663.
The following is a list of persons whose names were presented to the court in session in November, 1663. The "undershrieve," Thomas Lovell, pre- sented the names with the statement that they, as Quakers, were in meeting, contrary to Act at the home of Richard Russell on the "twelfth day of November."
Vizt John Porter Jun" who was speakinge
Richard Russell John Porter Sen" Michaell Mason Eliz ye wife of Ben: fforby the wife of James Johnston Mrs. Porter
Tho : hollaway & his wife Richard Yates Mrs. Mary Emperor Anne Godby Robte Springe
With divrse. others to ye number of 22 psons or more ye rest of whose names he did not Knowe
32
Old Houses in Princess Anne
However, the Quakers were not alone in the violation of the Acts having to do with religious observance. In February, 1662, the jury presented the whole county in general for breach of the Sab- bath, and Linhaven Parish in particular for not providing a reader as recommended by Act of the Assembly. The jury rather excuses the lack of service on the ground that there was a want of able and sufficient ministers to teach and instruct. They further offer financial assistance to "the uttermost of or abilities And doe hope yt ye rest of the In- habitants of the sd County Wilbe willinge to doe the Like."
The proclamation of Queen Anne in 1703 would seem to allow the colonists much liberty in the manner and matter of their religion. We quote the proclamation of religious liberty to protestants.
LIB. COUSIENIE TO ALL PROTEST & ESSENT
WHEREAS by one of her Majt. Royall Instructions to his excellency this day communicated to ye councell, his excelly. is directed to permitt a liberty of Cousience to all persons (except papest) so they may be contented with a quiet peaceable enjoymt. of ye same not giving offence of scaundall to ye Governmt. it is therefore Ordr. yt ye Court of each respective County within this Collony Transmitt to his excellency an Acct. of all separate congregations of re- ligious meetings of any person descenting from ye Church of England & of what number of psons yt ye sd meeting & every of them consist & yt they also certify to his excellency whether ye sd congregation or meeting be conformable to ye act of parlimt. made in ye first yeare of their lat Majt. King Wm. & Queen Mary entitled an act for excepting their Majt. protestant subjects descenting from ye church of england from ye penalty of several laws; whereas it is very
33
Old Houses in Princess Anne
necessary yt all county courts within this her Majt. Colony & dominion be provided with ye act of parlimt. & statutes of England for ye survice of ye sd Courts it is ordered that the Justices of peace of ye sd Serv. County take care to send for such a collection of ye sd acts as are now wanting in their Courts as yt they continue ye like care for ye futor yt ye Courts be duely provided with ye laws & Statutes of England as from time to time they come out-Read in open Court the 6th 8ber 1703 & Odr. to be recorded.
Will Roberson, CI. Curr.
In 1703 there is also recorded in Princess Anne a deed by James Kempe for land on which a meet- ing house may be erected. Mr. Kempe, or the person who wrote his deed, was reticent as to the name of the congregation or persons who were to benefit by his generosity.
Since none of the meeting houses, as they were called, of the sects, or societies, who made such a determined struggle for recognition in those early days are now standing, we shall pass to the year 1764. On July 16 of that year John Whitehead, Jr., and Mary, his wife, for the sum of one pound, five shillings, current money of Virginia, granted to the elders and rulers of the Baptist Church, called regu- lars, at Pungo, "one half acre where the meeting house now stands." The present Oak Grove Bap- tist Church stands on this spot. The old church building was long ago replaced.
The present site of Nimmo Methodist Church was deeded to the society of Methodists of Princess Anne County in 1791 by Anne Nimmo, wife of William Nimmo. The Nimmos lived close by the church. The same year a house of worship was here
34
Old Houses in Princess Anne
erected. The present building is the result of a remodeling process of forty, or more, years ago, conforming for the most part to the original foundations, we are told.
Other public buildings of the early days were stores, warehouses, markets; and courthouses, clerk's office and jails. Of the first group nothing remains, of the second we shall tell in our chapter on the town of Kempsville, for there it is that one courthouse and jail, of the several built in the county prior to 1880, still stand.
1
1
CHAPTER IV
ITHIN the shadows of an old house fancy and fiction play havoc with facts and fig- ures. So vividly is one reminded of the romance and adventure of the day-by- day lives of these first builders of homes in Virginia, all sense of proportion and balance is lost! Far easier would it be to let one's feelings and imagi- nation run riot, picturing charming fireside episodes, or maybe conjuring scenes of thrilling Indian encounters, than to hold firmly to realities and recount only what is written record as we find it today of the times, the places, the people of nearly three centuries ago.
There are now standing in Princess Anne County seven houses which conform in most respects to every rule laid down for the judging of "oldest houses." These houses are of the story- and-half brick, sharp roof type. By reason of the bricks and method of bricklaying, three of the seven standout as probably antedating the other four.
In the three houses above designated as prob- ably the oldest, we find: first, the bricks are roughly and irregularly molded, showing less skill in workmanship; second, the English bonding is the method used in tying the bricks, for the most part. This method was used in England before the introduction there, after the London fire, of Flem- ish brickmakers and bricklayers, who, of course, pursued the Flemish method of bonding.
36
Old Houses in Princess Anne
The distinction between the two is: in English bond, bricks are laid in alternate courses of stretch- ers and headers, the pattern being preserved by the use of queen closers (half header) in making the quoin ; in Flemish bond, bricks are laid in the same course as alternate stretcher and header, the pat- tern being preserved by the use of king closers at the rebated openings.
The Wishart house is English bond throughout ; the Thorowgood house has both gable ends and rear of English bond, with front of Flemish bond ; the Weblin house has one gable end and rear of English bond, with front of Flemish bond. The other end of this house is evidently of a later period; bricks, bonding, chimney, all indicate a later date. In the attic we found the gum rafters were charr- ed by fire. The north gable has been built up from a sharp roof, the angle of which is easily traced by blue headers, to its present form of gambrel roof. These facts lead one to the con- clusion that at some time the
Original brick end of Weblin House.
1
37
Old Houses in Princess Anne
house was partially burned, one gable end being rebuilt in the fashion of the later day, the other gable run up to conform thereto. Each of these houses is worthy of detailed study.
Known throughout this section by all people and elsewhere by all connoisseurs of colonial architecture as "The Adam Thorowgood" house, stands this quaint Virginia home, beautifully re- stored, entirely and completely groomed in every detail. Scarcely does one ever fail to find reference to, and description of, this place where colonial architecture is the subject. Miss Grace Keeler is the present owner, and it is due to her that we have so splendidly preserved what must be one of the oldest brick houses in English-speaking America. Miss Keeler has not spared money, time, or per- sonal care in her work of restoration. Also the present owner has been most generous in sharing her treasure with those pilgrims who come to see, and stop to marvel at so perfect a shrine.
Adam Thorowgood (we use the spelling we find in all the oldest records, and also it is the spelling in a will which we have recently seen, made in the handwriting of John Thorowgood, his lineal descendant in 1800) came to Virginia about 1621 as an adventurer, and as such, and for inducing one hundred and five others to come at one time or another, in 1635, June 24th, by Governor West to Capt. Adam Thorowgood, 5350 acres, bounded on the north by Chesapeake Bay, ". .. granted unto him at the espetiall recommendation of him from their Lordshipps and others, his M'ties most hon- orable privie Councell the Governor and Councell of State for Virginia."
P
38
Old Houses in Princess Anne
Among the persons listed as making the hun- dred and five are, Adam Thorowgood, Sarah Thorowgood (his wife), Thomas Keeling, Henry Hill, William Kempe (whose wife was Mary, son Anthony, William was a Burgess for Upper Eliza- beth City 1629/30), George Whitehead, John Hill, Mary Hill, Mary Hill, Jr., Augustine Warner, William Burroughs and Anne Burroughs.
The Augustine Warner above noted is the an- cestor of the mother of George Washington and presumably the founder of Warner Hall in Glou- cester County, Virginia.
There is an interesting item about John Hill which we are giving; the Hill family, for so long a time, having been residents of Princess Anne. "Court held January 20th, 1647, Theise are to Certifie that Mr. John Hill appeared this day in Court, and declared himselfe to bee the age be- tweene ffifty and Sixty yeares, and hath Continued in this Collony of Virginia twenty-six yeares and upwards: Alsoe the said John Hill doth affirme himselfe formerly to have lived in the university of Oxford of the trade of Booke binder, and that he is the Sonne of Stephen Hill of Oxford aforesaid fletcher ; And the said John Hill is well at present, and in good health as appears to the court, and in likelyhood of life."
Just here it may be pertinent to say something concerning the granting of land in the early days. From a report on Virginia recorded in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, volume I, page 155, we find reference to a Discourse of the old Virginia Company, drawn up and presented by
39
Old Houses in Princess Anne
the members of the former London Company in 1625, to The Board of Trade and Plantations. The original of this paper is filed in the British State Papers Office, Colonial Department, volume 3, No. 40. From this Discourse we see given as one of the reasons the colony had not so much prospered up to this time (1625) was attributed, among other reasons, to "There being no Dividents of Land laid out." This, of course, has no reference to the gifts by the wholesale made by the crown to certain favorites of the king, but rather has reference to individual ownership among the adventurers.
Again quoting from the same volume of the Virginia Magazine, Mr. W. G. Stanard, formerly Registrar of the State Land Office in Richmond, Virginia, says in substance: The records of the patents recorded for Virginia begin in 1623, only a few years after right of holding property was con- ferred upon societies and individuals. With the exception of a brief interval before 1623 the con- tinuity is substantially unbroken. The granting of lands in Virginia was in the hands of the company from 1606 to 1625. The condition for making grant was meritorious service of some kind; emigration of patentee to Virginia in person, or transportation to colony of some one at own expense, or purchase of a share of the Company. Valuable service was estimated by the colonial authorities. Purchase of a share in the company carried a grant of 100 acres, to be increased to 200 acres when the first 100 acres had been seated. Pay for self, one's own servant, member of the family, or any one else, entitled one to 50 acres per person so paid for. After the dis-
40
Old Houses in Princess Anne
solution of the old Virginia Company, service played small part in obtaining land. Head rights became the chief factor and so continued until the right to purchase public land with money was established in the eighteenth century. Throughout the colonial period head right was in force.
The first grant we find recorded in the Land Patent Books at Richmond is to Richard Stephens for 60 roods in James City at his dwelling house . "that others may be encouraged by his example to enclose some ground for garden." This was 1623. In passing it is interesting to note that this same Richards Stephens fought the first duel of which we have record. His antagonist was George Harrison. Richard Stephens married Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Persey, before 1644/5. She, as the widow Stephens, married Sir John Harvey, some- time Governor of Virginia.
The first we know of our Mr. Thorowgood as a landowner is recorded in Elizabeth City Land Patent Book. There is a bill of sale made to Capt. Adam Thorowgood by John Grundy in 1626-one hundred and fifty acres on Southampton River. The next record is to Mr. Adam Thorowgood, gentleman, 200 acres (purchased from Capt. Stephens) on Back River, adjacent to John Rob- inson and William Capps. Granted by Governor Harvey in March 1634. Immediately following this grant is the record to Mr. Adam Thorowgood, 200 acres on Back River, due him as adventurer.
And this brings us back to the point of digres- sion, Adam Thorowgood, the patentee of 5,350 acres of land, situated on Chesapeake Bay, readily
41
Old Houses in Princess Anne
recognized as within the confines of the present Princess Anne County, though at the time of first issuance, 1635, this part of Virginia was designated Lower Elizabeth City Shire.
Subsequently Mr. Thorowgood patented smaller acreages along the Lynnhaven River and Bennetts Creek, bringing his total land in this vicinity to nearly 7,000 acres. For some good reason, no doubt, this 5,350-acre patent was renewed, as were several others in this territory, in 1637. As this is the year Norfolk came into being as a county (Mrs. Philip Alexander Bruce claims it is the first division called county in Virginia) it may account for the step. However, in 1643, three years after the death of Adam (1) Thorowgood, we find again recorded in almost identical words this same 5,350 acres to Adam Thorowgood. In court records the Thorow- good family in the following years always referred to this as "The Grand Patent."
Mr. Thorowgood was a man of consequence in the colony. In the first volume of Hening's Statutes we find the Assembly at "James Citty" on the 20th day of March, 1628/9, giving permission to com- missioners to hold court monthly within the cor- poration of Elizabeth City and "partes near ad- joyning." For this court there were named eight commissioners, viz: Capt. Thomas Purfury, Capt. Edward Waters, Lieut. Thomas Willoughby, Lieut. George Thomson, Mr. Adam Thorowgood, Mr. Lunell Coulston, Mr. William Kempe, Mr. John Downman. A like permission was given and com- missioners appointed on the same day for holding monthly courts in the "upper partes."
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.