USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 22
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REV. WILLIAM HILL.
taught in the Bible is a perseverance in holiness, and not in sin. This is the error of too many of the Baptists now-a-days, which brings Bible Calvinism into contempt, and gives currency to the doctrine of Arminianism so industriously circulated by some others." He parted company with these young ministers to make a second visit to Williamsburg ; their respect was mutual through life. The Baptist minister, a Mr. Armstrong, at Portsmouth, had been an officer in the Revolution, and while in the army had been repeatedly engaged in duels ; but professed conversion and commenced preach- ing while in the army, and what was a little singular, he thought duels justifiable, and told Mr. Hill that - " he was insulted by an individual while preaching in a Court-house, and after he had closed his worship, he sat down and wrote a challenge to the person before he left the bench." He also told Mr. Hill, this was not a solitary event in his history, and that he defended his course.
A letter was sent Mr. Hill, signed by several merchants in Williamsburg, saying it was not known, until he was gone, that he was a Presbyterian minister; and inviting his return with assurance of a decent audience, and respectful treatment. He returned on Wednesday the 26th, and found a large audience assembled in the old capitol. He preached Thursday at old Mr. Wilkinson's, and Friday at Mr. Dodd's, a funeral sermon. On Saturday, 29th, he crossed James River at Jamestown, after visit- ing the ruins, and rode on through the cold to get near Ellis's meeting-house in Surrey County. "Felt my heart somewhat warmed in conversing with a poor persecuted negro whom I met with, and who I verily believe loves Jesus, for he says he has been sorely chastised at times on account of his religion. I lodged at night with Mr. Moorings, a hospitable Methodist of Surrey County. O, what a pity it is that many Methodists have not as good heads as hearts." The next morning, Sabbath, 30th, he rode on some dis- tance and met his old college-mate, William Spencer, who had pro- fessed conversion a little before the revival in the College, and had left his studies and commenced preaching as a circuit rider. Mr. Hill preached with another minister. The congregation were vociferous in their expressions of interest, often entirely drowning the preacher's voice with shouts ; the negroes were fanatically wild. The young ministers spent a day or two together preaching repeat- edly, and discussing their different views and doctrines.
When about parting, Tuesday, Feb. 1st, Mr. Spencer refused to give Mr. Hill letters of introduction to any of the Methodists in l'etersburg, informing him that the Methodists were not pleased with his doctrine or manner of preaching, and he need not expect to be invited to preach any more for them in those parts. "I rode through excessively cold weather through Prince George to Peters- burg. But having no acquaintance in the place, and no letters of introduction, I met with a cold reception there. There was not a member of the Presbyterian church I could hear of in the place, and I could find no one willing to receive me and lend a helping
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band. I asked permission to make an appointment to preach in the Episcopal church, and in the Methodist meeting-house, the only places of worship in the town, and was peremptorily refused in both instances. I then went through the different taverns, and asked per- mission to use their public or ball rooms for an appointment to preach, but failed even in this." He then rode to a tavern eight miles in the country, and lodged with a company of boisterous revel- lers. The next day he visited the noted Episcopal minister, Deve- reaux Jarrett ; and being kindly received he remained about a week at the hospitable mansion of this excellent man, or visiting with him in the neighborhood around. Here Mr. David Smith having recov- ered from his lameness overtook him. On Tuesday, 8th, they left the neighborhood of this solitary but firm defender of evangelical truths, whose life will always be an interesting chapter in history, and rode over to Mr. Joel Tanner's, in Nottaway, a Presbyterian who had not been visited by a preacher of his own denomination for some years. The remaining part of the month he spent in Notta- way, preaching repeatedly at Peter Dupuy's, also at James Dupuy's, at Mr. Tanner's, at the meeting-house near Mr. Tanner's, at Robert Smith's, Thomas Jeffries', Mr. Hawson's, Mr. Ferguson's, at Row- land's church, (Episcopal), at Charles Anderson's, a Baptist minis- ter, where he met three other Baptist ministers, and at Mr. Vaugh- an's, in Amelia County, at Chinquepin church, and Grub Hill church, (Episcopal). The attendance was generally good, and the audiences were often deeply affected. The Rev. James Craig, of the Established church, interposed at Chinquepin, and would preach himself, and as no one was present of the neighborhood that would make the responses, he prevailed on Mr. Hill to make them. On Sabbath he interposed again, but the people insisted on hearing Mr. Hill, before they separated. Some of the people who heard Mr. Hill repeatedly, became very anxious about their souls' eternal welfare.
On Friday, April 1st, 1791, the Presbytery of Hanover, and the Commission of Synod, met at Briery church ; the opening sermon was preached by Robert Marshall, missionary. Mr. Graham, of Lexington, was present, and preached after Mr. Hill, on Saturday ; and on Sabbath " Mr. Graham preached in the forenoon, one of the greatest sermons I ever heard. I sat under it with great delight, and its fruit was sweet to my taste. I had a sweet time at the com- munion. Mr. Mitchel gave an impressive concluding address." On Tuesday the Presbytery and Commission assembled at Hampden Sidney, and were there met by Rev. Devereaux Jarrett, from Din- widdie, who took his seat as corresponding member, his old com- panion in the ministry having become a regular member. Mr. Jarrett "gave us an excellent evangelical sermon." Mr. Legrand was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry, having determined to become the settled minister at Cedar Creek and Opecquon, in Frederick County. Mr. Smith brought in the famous resolution on irregularities in church members, intended particularly for the churches east of James River. (See Sketches of his Life).
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REV. WILLIAM HILL.
After Presbytery, Mr. Hill resumed his missionary labors; and holding with his step-brother, Cary Allen, a series of meetings in Cumberland, passed through Charlotte, Halifax, Pittsylvania, Frank- lin, Montgomery, Wythe, on to Abingdon. On the 1st of June, Mr. Matthew Lyle, lately licensed by Lexington Presbytery, and sent out by the Commission of Synod, met him while he was staying at Captain Robert Woods' residence. In this neighborhood he had been preaching a number of days with great apparent effect. In the morning he had ascended Chesnut Mountain - " My mind was greatly elevated with the prospect, and prepared to adore the God of nature." He rejoiced greatly that he was to have the company of the young brother for a length of time. In his previous missions, he had been, with the exception of a short time with David Smith, without any regular companion, in his almost daily preachings, and his rides through heat and cold, through storms and rains, solitudes of the plains and of the mountains ; and had often suffered for want of that mutual aid rendered by missionaries who go out two by two.
Required by their commission to stay but a short time in a place, and having a large tract of country to pass over, they with regret left the neighborhood of Mr. Wood's, and went on through Frank- lin to Montgomery, preaching almost every day. They both gene- rally took part in the exercises ; either both preached, or one preached and the other followed with an exhortation, unless some preacher' of another denomination was present, and then sometimes all took part. Near Abingdon they visited Rev. Charles Cummings, the pioneer mininister, advancing in years. From that place they turned back on the last day of June. In this tour they passed over part of the track assigned to Mr. Alexander, within a year or two, so pleasantly alluded to in his memoirs. On their way out they preached, starting June 2d from John Martin's, near Chesnut Moun- tain - at Mr. John Dickenson's, on Pig River - at Iron Creek -at Mr. Turner's, on Fawn Creek -at the meeting house near Capt. Hairston's, the funeral sermon of old Captain Hairston - at Mr. Pilion's, on Smith's River -at the head of Smith's River; here having fasted on Saturday, his concomitant affliction followed him on Sabbath, the head-ache, but he preached twice, and Mr. Lyle once - at Major Eason's -at Captain Johnson's. On the night of Thursday, 16th, they were belated, and slept in a pen made for a barn, but without any roof of any kind, having their saddles for pil- lows and their great coats for a covering - getting from a miserable cabin a rye ashpone and a little sour milk for supper -at Mr. Whitlock's, on Little Reedy Island Creek, in Wythe County - at the lead mines in Wythe, entertained by Mr. Frisbee - at Graham's Meeting House -at Fort Chissel - Mr. George Ewing's, on Crip- ple Creek - at Thorn Branch Meeting House ; went to Mr. James Campbell's, a very kind and hospitable man, but inclined to Sweden- borg s doctrines - spent a day at Mr. Arthur Campbell's, who was strongly inclined to follow Swedenborg. While resting here "My friend and colleague Lyle and myself hit upon some subjects on
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which we differed widely in our sentiments, and each contending for his own opinion with a warmth disproportionate to the magnitude of the subject, the contest grew so sharp that like Paul and Barna- bas of old, we at last talked of separating. However we agreed to retire and pray together over the matter, and both became ashamed of ourselves, buried all our differences, and became more united than ever." Preached at Mr. Atkins' - at Major Bowen's, in a large room constructed for a ball-room, and met Rev. Charles Cummings, the pioneer of the Holston waters at Mrs. Beatty's-at Mrs. Beatty's -at Ebbing Spring Meeting House, and went on to Mr. Cumming's -and at Abington. From this place, on the last day of June, they turned their course back towards Cripple Creek, in Wythe County.
On the 4th of July he makes this entry - " It is now the height of harvest, when the people are obliged to be at home, and our horses as well as ourselves need recruiting, we therefore declined making any appointments during the week. We continued at Mr. Ewing's. But to spend day after day doing nothing made the time' pass heavily, so that I wished to be at my employment again." After repassing the ground they had traversed, they sought the head waters of the Potomac, preaching on the fourth Sabbath of August at Mr. Dinwiddie's, on the dividing ridge between the waters of James River and the waters of the Potomac; "the head spring of each rises in the same hill about one and a half mile apart." Spending some days in preaching at Col. Poage's, in the upper tract in Pendle- ton, they passed on to Moorfield, in Hardy County, and preached a few sermons there in the absence of Dr. Jennings, the successor of Mr. Hoge. Going across to Winchester, they proceeded to New- town, and met their young friend Nash Legrand, the pastor of Cedar Creek and Opecquon ; with him they spend a few days, and witness the success of his ministry. The residences of Gordon, Allen, Glass, Gilkerson and Carlisle are mentioned as places of prayer-meetings and religious worship.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15th, Mr. Hill made his first visit to a congre- gation to which he afterwards preached a series of years ; "I preached to a large congregation at Bullskin. I preached at the same place at night with a more solemn impression than in the day. Friday, 16th, I preached at Charlestown, the congregation but small. I preached at Mr. John White's, an old Israelite indeed. The house could not contain the people, whose attention was very great indeed. Saturday, 17, I preached at Mr. Peter Martin's. At night I became acquainted with Mr. Moses Hoge, a very worthy minister, in Shepherdstown." On Sabbath having preached at Shep- herdstown and Martinsburg, he went to visit -"Mr. Vance, the pastor of Falling Water and Tuscarora, who was upon the borders of the grave, in the last stage of consumption."
"On Monday, 10th, he preached at Tuscarora to a small audience. " Mr. Vauce rode out, and lay in one of the pews while I preached." On Wednesday, 21st, he preached his first sermon in Winchester,
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REV. WILLIAM HILL.
where he spent many years of his after life. "Many could not get into the house, and had to return home without hearing the sermon. It was a solemn occasion, and many appeared deeply affected." After laboring with Messrs. Joseph Smith and James Hughes, from Redstone, at a communion service at Cedar Creek, he went to Win- chester on the 28th, to meet the Synod and the Commission of Synod ; and there, as in the preceding year, was taken sick. He was not able to resume his labors till November.
In this sickness he received attentions always remembered from a young Scotchman, William Williamson, whose acquaintance he formed on his mission, ending in a lasting friendship. At the fall meeting of the Presbytery in October, numerous calls and invitations were proposed for the services of Mr. Hill, which were referred to him. On recovering his health, he made choice of the congregations on Bullskin, and in and around Charlestown, Jefferson County. In the month of May, 1792, he was by Hanover Presbytery received back from the commission of Synod, and transferred to Lexington Presbytery for ordination and installation. When the Presbytery of Lexington met at Charlestown, May 28th, 1792, the credentials of Mr. Hill had not arrived. On the testimony of Mr. Andrew Law, a minister from New England, that he was present at the meeting of Hanover Presbytery, when the proper papers were ordered and made out, the candidate was received. The calls from Bullskin and Charlestown having been accepted, preparations were made for the ordination. On Thursday, 29th, Mr. Hill preached his trial sermon in Charlestown from Ist John 5th, 10 - He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. On Friday, the 30th, the ordination services were performed in the Episcopal stone church, near Charlestown. Mr. Hoge preached from the words - Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, - and gave the charge. Bullskin had been a congregation for some thirty years, and had enjoyed the services of missionaries, and some stated supplies from Donegal Presbytery. On account of the distance from the churches of Hanover and Lexington, Mr. Hill was the first minister from Virginia whose services they were able to secure. The congregation of Elk branch, situated between Charlestown and Shepherdstown, about this time was, by consent, so arranged that part went under the care of Mr. Hoge, and part under Mr. Hill.
The extracts from Mr. Hill's journal have been given at some length for two reasons : 1st. This is the only journal written by Dr. Hill, and is the only one containing much information about his field of early labor, written by any one ; and 2d, in it he draws his own picture most graphically. The youthful missionary was the old man of fourscore. He revised his journal, and gave some explana- tory notes, completing the portrait of himself and the times and the people. There was always a warmheartedness in him. What he did, he did with all his might. He was weary of rest days - as at the house of Mr. Ewing - no matter how kindly cared for; and
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would without hesitation encounter great difficulties to fulfil appoint- ments, or gain a favored purpose. He could, all through life, ride in the rain, ford rivers, cross mountains to preach to a small audi- ence, and then feel ashamed of himself that his message was not botter delivered. The propensity to merriment would show itself, as with Mr. Turner ; but never broke forth in the pulpit. There he was always grave and solemn. He struggled to the last of life with that fiery temper that was kindled against Lyle in argument, and allayed by prayer. Tall, slim, broad-shouldered, he possessed a fine figure for an orator. His breast was thin, in his youth, and showed a tendency to flatness, indicative of inherent weakness. Till after his twenty-seventh year, he dreaded consumption, and expected an carly death. This expectation, in connection with his ardent tem- perament, made him reckless of danger and exposure ; he would die like a true soldier, in the field. As he approached his thirtieth year, his chest enlarged, and the predisposition to stoop gave place to a bold manly bearing, and his voice . became more strong and penetrating. In preaching in the woods, the largest crowds ever assembled in the valley could hear with case, and felt, under his vehement and often passionate declamation, his power to excite their stormy passions to a tempest. Always grave in the pulpit, he sometimes forgot himself when he would unbend in private inter- course, and fail to follow out the deep impression he had made in public ; but he admired the man that could, without sternness, be a preacher everywhere. Warm in his attachments, and, unless re- strained by the high motives of the gospel, strong in his resentments, the ardency of his temperament, his lively feelings, and a fund of kindness, softening the natural severity of his temper, made him an interesting companion and a valued friend. His power of sarcasm sometimes appeared in the pulpit ; his mirthfulness never.
He presided over a classical school in Charlestown for a length of time, with great ability as a teacher and disciplinarian. The remuneration he received, after paying the expenses of the school and the wages of assistants, was small, but necessary to make up the deficiency of his salary in the support of his family. His con- nection with the school, consuming time and wasting his strength, he considered necessary to the welfare of his congregation, which he thought could not flourish without good schools. William Naylor, in after life a lawyer of eminence and an elder in the church, was one of his assistants. Mr. Hill thought that he might preach more effectually, in this way, and his labor was not in vain.
In the fall of 1792 he was married to Miss Nancy Morton, daughter of Col. Wm. Morton, of Charlotte, and took over to Jefferson, to bless his house, one of the sweetest flowers ever trans- planted from the lowlands to the fertile valley of the Shenandoah. Of lovely form, and small delicate frame, of indescribable simplicity and sweetness of manners, forbearing in her disposition and devout in her faith, she reigned in her husband's heart till death; receiving from him in his age the same respectful, assiduous attention, with a
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greater display of unchecked fondness than when he was striving to win her youthful love. Mr. Williamson, also very happily married, tells of him, in his early matrimonial days, that reading that verse of Paul in which he says -- "husbands, love your wives," his single comment was, "Thankee, Paul, for that."
The Synod, at its meeting in Harrisonburg, Sept. 26th, 1794, resolved to divide Lexington Presbytery. "The dividing line shall begin on that part of the boundary line between the Presbyteries of Lexington and Redstone, on the Allegheny Mountains, where Hardy County is divided from Pendleton, running thence with the line dividing the counties until the same reaches the corner of Rockingham County ; from thence in a direct course to the place where the great road through Keezletown to Winchester crosses the Shenandoah ; from thence to Swift Run Gap on the Blue Ridge, which reaches the boundary of the Presbytery of Hanover." The members living north-east of said line-Moses Hoge, Nash Legrand, Wm. Hill, and John Lyle, and William Williamson formed the Presbytery of Winchester. The first meeting was held December 4th, 1794, in the stone meeting-house, Winchester, now occupied by the Baptists; members in attendance were Messrs. Hoge, Legrand and Williamson, with elders William Buckles, Alexander Feely and James Perry. Mr. Hoge opened the meeting with a sermon on the words, " The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed." The members all lived in Virginia, and west of the Blue Ridge. Mr. Hoge, the oldest member, and the first of the Presbytery located in the prescribed bounds, occupied the lower end of the Shenandoah Valley from the Ridge to the neighborhood of Martins- burg. Mr. Hill was next above him with similar boundaries. Mr. Legrand's charge reached across the Valley, and extended from below Winchester to Shenandoah County - some families from that county attending Cedar Creek meeting-house. Mr. Williamson, Warren County and a small part of Shenandoah. Mr. Lyle lived upon South Branch of the Potomac, in Hampshire County ; and for a time was head of a popular and flourishing school. Mr. Legrand's charge was considered the most inviting; and he exerted a wider influence than his brethren for a series of years, and then gave way to Mr. Hill.
CHAPTER XIV.
REV. JAMES TURNER.
AT the base of the Blue Ridge, in the County of Bedford, Vir- ginia, and in sight of the Peaks of Otter, James Turner had his birth-place and his burial. His parents were of English descent. His mother eminent for her piety in her unobtrusive life, gave birth
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to this son May 7th, 1759, in the midst of the troubles of the Indian wars. Her efforts to train him in his boyhood, to walk in the paths of true wisdom, were ultimately crowned with success. In his early years, the Rev. David Rice, the apostle of Kentucky, was the pastor of the church at the Peaks, to which his mother belonged. Classical schools were cherished by the citizens of Bed- ford from the earliest settlement, and were much encouraged by Mr. Rice. The capacity of young Turner for language was found to be of a high order. He mastered the Latin Grammar in two weeks ; and his proficiency in Greek was remarkable. His classical education, however, was never completed, and his Greek studies were not prosecuted to an equal extent with the Latin. In Mathe- matics and Philosophy his education was entirely neglected. He learned to speak the English language with purity and elegance, and was never at a loss for fitting words.
Having made choice of the law for his profession, he set out for the residence of the gentleman with whom he intended to pursue his studies with a wardrobe befitting his circumstances. While on his journey he was robbed of his clothes and money; and returned home mortified, and abandoned his scheme for a profession. In after life he was accustomed to speak of this frustration of his early designs with thankfulness, as one of the means used by the Lord to bring him to a heavenly life.
In early manhood his personal appearance was commanding ; tall in stature, masculine in frame, with great activity and strength. In disposition kind, and in manners attractive. His sense of honor was quick, his integrity unimpeached. He possessed in a high degree the power of making mirth ; and at gatherings in the neigh- borhood, and on court days, he indulged his vein of humor upon the follies and improprieties of others, for his own amusement and the enjoyment of the company. The life of the circle in which he moved, a party was not complete unless Turner was there. Unhap- pily he indulged himself in witty oaths " to point a sentence " and provoke a laugh. - The use of ardent spirits was universal among his companions ; card-playing was the amusement of all. Professional gambling was dishonorable. Horse-racing was patronized for the excitement, and the supposed improvement of the breed of horses. In all these Turner took a part with unbounded glee and humor. It was not uncommon for men to call at taverns and take a game of cards for a drink of spirits ; or to stop in the woods to play for sport, or for a small sum of money. The Rev. James Mitchel, with whom Mr. Turner was afterwards associated in the ministry, used to relate - that one day passing Turner, in his wild days, with some others, playing cards by the road-side, Turner, with a great deal of profane mirth, insisted he should dismount and take a hand with them. In one of the trials of the speed of his horse, common in those days, he was thrown, and for a time was supposed to be dead. In the early part of the Revolutionary war he served a short time in
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the army. The camp was not inviting, and he declined becoming a soldier in the regular army.
Pugilistic encounters to ascertain who was the "best man," were common in the mountainous regions of Virginia while Turner was a youth. When parties from different neighborhoods met, it was a point of honor to determine, by an encounter, who was the best boxer. One match led to another, and sometimes ended in a gene- ral fight. Challenges were sometimes passed by individuals, or sent from one neighborhood to another for a trial on a given day, at an appointed place, not uncommonly the court-house. Frequently the combats were ended without much injury ; one party finding himself getting the worse, would yield, and cry " enough." Sometimes the angry passions, excited by ardent spirits, raged with terrible ferocity. In some places gouging became an art, and biting of the ears and nose a science. Barbarity has its limits ; and to gouge both eyes was esteemed cruel and dishonorable. These customs have passed away, and scarce a relic of the victims can be found. Mr. Turner, by his frolic and fun, gave cause for many of these fights and was too high spirited to refuse what he had provoked. He received no lasting bodily injury, nor is there any tradition of his having inflicted any. In his ministerial life he seldom referred to any of these scenes. Once, however, illustrating the power of sympathy between a speaker and his audience, he said that when in his early days he got a hard fight on his hands, and was evidently getting worsted, a shout from his friends of " Well done, Turner !" -" Well hit, Turner !" would rouse him up, and he would put in a blow so much the better. The expression of his friends that he would gain the mastery often made him gain it. Through his whole life he was an example of the power of sympathy.
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