USA > Virginia > Some prominent Virginia families, Volume II > Part 4
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On the 3rd of January, 1783, I was united by the holiest bonds to the woman I adored. From the moment of our union to that of our separa- tion, I never ceased to thank heaven for this, its best gift. Not a moment passed in which I did not consider her as a blessing from which the chief happiness of my life was derived. This never-dying sentiment, originating in love, was cherished by a long and close observation of as amiable and estimable qualities as ever adorned the female bosom. To a person which in youth was attractive, to manners uncommonly pleasing, she added a fine understanding, and the sweetest temper which can accompany a just and modest sense of what was due to herself. She was educated with a profound reverence for religion, which she preserved to her last moments. This sentiment among her earliest and deepest impressions gave a colour- ing to her whole life. Hers was the religion taught by the Saviour of man. She was a firm believer in the faith inculcated by the Church ( Episcopal) in which she was bred.
I have lost her, and with her the solace of my life! Yet she remains still the companion of my retired hours, still occupies my inmost bosom. When alone and unemployed, my mind still recurs to her. More than a thousand times, since the 25th of December, 1831, have I repeated to my- self the beautiful lines written by General Burgoyne, under a similar affliction, substituting "Mary" for "Anna:"
Encompassed in an angel's frame, An angel's virtues lay ; Too soon did Heaven assert its claim, And take its own away! My Mary's worth, my Mary's charms, Can never more return! What now shall fill these widowed arms? Ah me! My Mary's urn! Alı me! Ah me! My Mary's urn!
As to the religious opinions of Judge Marshall the following extract from a letter of the Rev. Mr. Norwood may be entirely relied on :
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I have read some remarks of yours in regard to Chief Justice Marshall, which have suggested to me to communicate to you the following facts, which may be useful should you again publish anything in relation to his religious opinions. I often visited Mrs. Gen'l Harvie during her last illness. From her I received this statement. She was much with her father during the last months of his life, and told me that the reason why he had never communed was that he was Unitarian in opinion, though he never joined their society. He told her, that he believed in the truth of the Christian revelation, but not in the divinity of Christ, therefore he could not commune in the Episcopal Church. But during the last months of his life, he read Keith on Prophecy, where our Saviour's divinity is incidentally treated, and was convinced by his work, and the fuller investi- gation to which it led, of the supreme divinity of the Saviour. He de- termined to apply for admission to the communion of our Church-objected to commune in private, because he thought it his duty to make a public confession of the Saviour-and while waiting for improved health to enable him to go to Church for that purpose, he grew worse and dicd with- out ever communing. Mrs. Harvie was a lady of the strictest probity, the most humble piety, and of a clear, discriminating mind, and her state- ment, the substance of which I give you accurately (having reduced it to writing), may be entirely relied upon.
I remember to have heard Bishop Moore repeatedly express his surprise ( when speaking of Judge Marshall), that, though he was so punctual in his attendance at church and reproved Mr. -, and Mr. and Mr. when they were absent, and knelt during the prayers and responded fervently, yet he never communed. The reason was that which he gave to his daughter, Mrs. Harvie. She said he died an humble, penitent believer in Christ, according to the orthodox creed of the Church.
Very truly your friend and brother in Christ,
WILLIAM NORWOOD.
Anyone visiting Monumental Church, Richmond, Va., will notice the window above the gallery on the southeast side represents "Moses, the Lawgiver," and stands to the memory of the great Chief Justice John Marshall. He was one of the original pew holders, and his name is still on pew twenty-three. I saw the name when I visited the church (June, 1904) and his granddaughters, the Misses Harvie, attend this ehureh to this day (July, 1905). In 1824 La Fayette worshipped here and sat in the Marshall pew.
From the "History of the Monumental Church," by George D. Fisher, page 53:
A special convention was held at the capitol on Wednesday, the 4th of May, 1814. Present of the clergy: the Rev. Jolm Buchanan, D. D., John Cameron, D. D., John Dum, Wm. Meade, Oliver Norris, Andrew Sym, Wm.
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K. Wilmer. Of the Laity: Messrs. John Adams, Wm. Broadus, John Burford, Wm. Cameron, Daniel Carmichael, Edmund J. Lec, Edward McGuire, George Thornton. Afterwards increased by the admission of Janics McClurg, D. D., and Jolin Marshall.
On Thursday, May 5.
RESOLVED :- That the appointment of a bishop for this diocese is highly expedient, and necessary for the maintenance and support of this church. On motion, made and seconded-
RESOLVED :- That the convention proceed immediately to the election of a person to fill the Episcopate in this State.
RIGHT REV. RICHARD CHANNING MOORE, D. D., Bishop of Virginia
Dr. James McClurg then presented a certified extract from the vestry- book of the Monumental Church in Richmond, showing the appointment of the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., of the city of New York, to the rectorship of that church.
On motion, ordered that the Secretary read sundry letters exhibited by members of the standing committee, from Dr. Moore and the Right Rev. Bishop Hubart, which was accordingly donc.
Dr. Moore was nominated to fill the office of bishop in this State. No other person being in nomination, the convention proceeded to ballot for a bishop.
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The Hon. John Marshall and Mr. Edmund J. Lee were appointed to count the ballots, who reported that there were twenty-three votes for the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., and one vote for Dr. John Buchanan, whereupon Rev. R. C. Moore was declared duly elected to the Episcopate in the diocese of Virginia, and the members of the convention proceeded to subscribe the testimonial required by the constitution of the General Church of the United States.
RESOLVED :- That the President be requested to apprize Dr. Moore of his election to the Episcopate, and that the Secretary do furnish forth- with a certificate of that appointment.
REV. JOHN BUCHANAN, D. D.
I must add a few notes about Rev. John Buchanan, D. D., rector of Henrico Parish :
On the 19th of December, 1822, died in the city of Richmond, the Rev. John Buchanan, D. D., Rector of Henrico Parish. For many years prior to the erection of the Monumental Church he was the only Episcopal min- ister in Richmond. To the congregation of that church on Richmond Hill (now called St. John's) he was as familiar as the Bishop himself, and was second only to him in their affectionate regard. He was at one time engaged as a private tutor to the children of Mr. Jaquelin Ambler, in whose family he had a comfortable home for ten years of his life.
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From the Richmond Enquirer, December 21, 1822 :
DIED :- At 1 o'clock on Wednesday night, the Rev. John Buchanan, a minister of the Episcopal Church, and for forty years a resident of this city. He was faithful to the duties of a minister and a man.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind; this is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
This excellent man seemed to have these two laws written on the tablets of his heart. But we forbear: a biographical sketch is promised us for Tuesday, by one who knew and can describe him well. He was buried within the old church (St. Jolin's), to the right of the altar.
(This biographical sketch is to be found in the "History of the Monumental Church.")
When Dr. John Buchanan first came to Richmond he was poor, but under the will of his brother James he inherited a handsome property. Mr. James Buchanan's residence was in a house facing James River, on a large lawn between Cary Street and the river, below Fourteenth Street, and above the old rock landing, through which the dock and Dock Street now pass, and kept refreshments there for himself and friends. When he died his property was estimated at about $80,000.
It is some evidence of his character that he evinced his grati- tude towards an early friend and benefactor, Mr. Jaquelin Ambler, or "Treasurer Ambler," as he was commonly called, by leaving the bulk of his estate to Mr. Ambler's four daughters, viz. : Mrs. Mary Willis Marshall, the wife of Chief Justice Marshall ; Mrs. Elizabeth Jaquelin Carrington, the wife of Col. Edward Carrington ; Mrs. Lucy Nelson Call, the wife of Daniel Call, Esq., and Mrs. Ann Fisher, the wife of Mr. George Fisher, all of whom were conspicuous members of the Monumental Church congregation.
The following account of Richmond, at the time of the removal of the seat of government there, is from the papers of Mrs. Colonel Carrington, from which I have already borrowed so largely, and I am sure so acceptably, to my readers :
It is indeed a lovely situation, and may at some future period be a great city, but at present it will afford scarce one comfort of life. With the exception of two or three families, this little town is made up of Scotch factors, who inhabit small tenements here and there from the river to the
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hill, some of which looking,-as Colonel Marshall (afterwards Judge Marshall) observes- as if the poor Caledouians had brought them over on their backs, the weaker of whom were glad to stop at the bottom of the hill, others a little stronger proceeded higher, of which, a few of the stoutest and boldest reached the summit, which, once accomplished, affords a situation beautiful and picturesque. One of these hardy Scotchmien has thought proper to vacate his little dwelling on the hill, and though our whole family can scarcely stand up all together in it, my father has deter- mined to rent it as the only decent tenement on the hill."
The following letter to Miss Caines, of London (who had lived in Virginia), will show what was the state of things at this time, in the year 1792, the date of the letter :
1128219
This evil (the want of public worship) increases daily, nor have we left in our extensive State three churches that are decently supported. Our metropolis even would be left destitute of this blessing, but for the kind offices of our friend Buchanan, whom you remember well, an intimate of our family. He, from sheer benevolence, continues to preach in our capital (Richmond), to what we now call the New School-that is to say, to a set of modern philosophers, who merely atteud because they know not what else to do with themselves. But blessed be God, in spite of the enlightened, as they call themselves, and in spite of Goodwin, Paine, etc., we still, at times, particularly on our great Church-days, repair with a choice few to our old church on the hill (St. John's), and, by contributing our mite, endeavor to preserve the religion of our fathers. Delightful hours we sometimes pass there, etc., etc.
The Rev. Mr. Warrington was the grandfather of Commodore Warrington. From his birth the latter became an object of peculiar interest to a lady in Williamsburg, whom I am unable to name or identify except that she was the aunt of Miss Frances Caines, the intimate friend of Miss Ambler, afterward Mrs. Edward Carrington, of Richmond, from whose papers I have often quoted. Both the young ladies had been companions of the mother of young Louis Warrington and took a lively interest in him on that account. Miss Caines and Miss Ambler corresponded for a long time after the former returned to England, as she was only a temporary sojourner in Virginia. The following extracts from one of Mrs. Carrington's letters to her old friend, Miss Caines, in 1820, will, I am sure, be gratifying to my readers, not only on account of what refers to young Warrington, but what relates to other subjects :
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At our advanced age, my respected friend, it would seem incredible that a renewal of intercourse should take place between us. Years have passed since I have had the pleasure of hearing from you, and but for the visit of my cousin (Jolin Jaquelin Ambler) to England, I might probably have gone to my grave without knowing what had become of you. Who can tell, but it may be a foretaste of a reunion in a better world that a merciful God has in store for us? The little book you presented to my cousin brought to my recollection the one you presented to me some forty years ago, entitled, "Sacred Dramas." It was a precious gift to me, and led me to peruse every succeeding work of that excellent author (Miss Hannah Moore) with delight and, I hope, with advantage. What a woman she is, and what a gift have her writings been even to our remote corner of the world! Whenever England is brought to my mind, I some- how or other so connect the names of Frances Caines, Hannalı Moore, and the hallowed spot of Barley Wood, that altogether it seems a paradise .. In one of your last letters you say, "Can it be possible that the Captain Warrington I have seen announced in the Liverpool papers, as lately arrived in England with despatches from America, is our dear little Louis ?" It was the same little Louis that we fondly doted on. His conduct through life has been distinguished-has raised him to high stand- ing in our navy-and no doubt some future historian will do him ample justice in his naval character. In private life he has been alike deserving.
Mrs. Carrington then mentions, in proof of his generosity, his dividing a thousand pounds, which had been left him by the aunt of Miss Caines, with two half sisters, who were in need. She speaks also of his having married a Miss Cary King, a sprightly and amiable girl, an old schoolmate of hers:
They are now living in great comfort near Norfolk, he holding some office in the navy-yard and standing high in the confidence of his country. It has been some years since I saw him, and on his last visit to Richmond my health was too bad to admit of my inviting him. It was, however, a visit of great interest to many, and produced an excitement that is rarely experienced. How would you have felt, my dear friend, had you seen him hailed as one of the choicest guardians of his country, called by the united voice of Virginia to receive a splendid sword as a token of her love and gratitude to him? It is impossible for me to describe the emotions produced in my mind, when I heard every voice united in commendation, and in rapture describe his modest manliness as he entered the Senate Hall to receive his merited reward. In an instant my thoughts flew back to your aunt's room, where you first saw the lovely boy ; and busy recol- lection carried me still further back-two years previous-when on a visit to Williamsburg I was ushered in to see your aunt, who laid him on my lap, and in agony left the room.
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Mrs. Carrington adds a passage from a projected novel of her Aunt Jaquelin, in which Louis Warrington was to be the hero :
"This must ever be the lot of our poor clergy-a scanty subsistence while living, and at their death poverty and misery is children's only inheritance." In which, however, we must beg leave widely to differ from this excellent lady; and must class this sentiment and assertion among many others in novels, projected or executed, as we believe the descendants of pious clergy- men have many special blessings entailed upon them. The prayers and example of Commodore Warrington's pious grandfather may have been among the means appointed by Providence for promoting the future great- ness, and, what is infinitely better, the future piety, of Commodore War- rington.
My residence in Norfolk, as a Minister of Christ Church, for two years, enabled me to form a just estimate of his character. Though his station was at the navy yard in Gosport, and his residence there, he was a most punctual attendant on the Sabbath in Christ Church, Norfolk.
Mrs. Carrington speaks of the modest manliness, admired of all, with which he entered the Senate Chamber to receive the sword which was voted him by the Legislature of Virginia :
I have seen him on every succeeding Sabbath for the greater part of two years in a much more desirable and honorable place, when walking up the middle aisle of Christ Church with the same "modest manliness." There was in him the dignity of the soldier and the modesty of the Christian blended together. He was not then in full membership with the Church, though all thought he might with propriety have been. But even then, his devout behavior and reputable use of the prayer-book was an example to all others. As through life he had always, so far as I know and believe, been the friend of religion, and manifested it in those public ways required of naval officers, so, in his latter days, he sealed that testimony by entering into full communion with the church of his choice and of his ancestors.
P. S .- I have since discovered that the lady who patronized Louis War- rington was Mrs. Riddle, sister of the Rev. Thomas Warrington and great aunt of Commodore Warrington.
(This last article was taken from Bishop Meade's book, "Vir- ginia Churches and Families," pp. 233-34.)
1
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...
CARE
@Olilson Aliles Cary.
CARY COAT-OF-ARMS OF ENGLAND
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CHAPTER III
THE CARY FAMILY.
[Taken from the records of the family written by John Jaquelin Ambler, of Glen Ambler, Va., and his nephew, Dr. James D. Moncure, of Williamsburg, Va.]
COCKINGTON.
The following account of Cockington, the old family seat of the Carys in the County of Devon, is extracted from a work written about the commencement of the seventeenth century, found in the London Institution, having for its title: "Collections towards a Description of the County of Devon," by Sir William Pole, of Colcombe and Shute, Knight, who died A. D. 1635. Printed in London by J. Nicholas, anno MDCCXCI.
From the autograph in the possession of the lineal descendant of Sir William Pole, Sir John William de la Pole, Baronet of Shute in Devonshire, copied at the Library of the London Institu- tion on the 10th December, 1825, by J. J. Ambler.
Cockington was given by Robert Fitzmartin, Lord of Dert- ington, unto his youngest son, Roger, on condition that his posterity "tookc their name of their dwellings. Roger de Cock- ington succeeded hymne in King Henry II tyme."
The following is copied from the British Museum, Nov. 7th, 1825, by John Jaquelin Ambler :
Roger de Cockington had issue:
Sir Roger, unto whom succeeded,
Sir Roger, unto him:
Sir James Cockington, being the last of that name, and dyed about the beginning of the raigne of King Edward III, without issuc.
After hyme, Sir Walter de Woodland had Cockington; he was usher of the chamber of Black Prince, and Knighted by hyme Anno 24 of King Edward III, at what tyme the said Prince gave unto hym the manors of Mokesby, Tywornall, and Penmagne in Cornwall, and promisike unto hym
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a hundred marks of land yearly unto hym and the heirs of his bodie; in convenient tyme for ye mayntenance of his estate. This grant was dated ye 26 of April, Anno 24, King Edward III. He marryed Katheryne, daughter of coheire of William Polglas, but died without issue; and his wife had Cockington for her inheritance.
Robert Cary, sonne of Sir John Cary, had Cockington in King Henry IV tyme; he marrycd Margaret, daughter of Sir Philip Courtenay, of Poderham, and had issue:
Philip, which by Thomazine, one of yc daughters of William Orchard of Orchard, nere Taunton, had issue:
William Cary of Cockington, by first wife Anne, daughter of Sir William Powlet, had issue:
Robert Cary.
His second wife, Alis, daughter of Sir Baldwyn Fulford, and had issuc:
Thomas Cary, from whom are descended the famylyes of Cary in this part of England.
Robert Cary of Cockington first marryed daughter of Sir Nicas Carew, and had issue :
I. John Cary.
II. Thomas Cary of Cockington.
His second wife was Agnes, daughter of Sir William Holey, and had issue :
William Fokeray of Dartmouth.
Robert Cary.
Diggorg.
Thomas Cary of Cockington, second sonne of Robert Cary, by his first wife, marryed Mary of Southcot of Indeho, and had issue:
I. Sir George Cary of Cockington.
II. Robert Cary.
III. John Gregory Cary.
IV. Arthure Cary.
Sir George Cary of Cockington had first marryed Wilmot, daughter and heire of John Giffard of Yeo, the divorced wife of John Byry of Colaton, and had issue:
George Cary, which dyed without issue.
His second wife was Luce, daughter of Robert, Lord Richi, Earl of War- wick, but what issue there was I cannot write. He adopted George Cary, third sonne of his brother Robert, unto whom he gave Cockington. George Cary marryed Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir William Leanson, of Byry Pomeroy Baronet, and had issue.
"Baronage of England, etc.," by William Dugdale Narvoy, King of Arms; printed 1615.
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LORD HUNSDON CARY.
(I ELIZABETH.)
Of the family (anciently seated at Cockington in Devonshire) was the same William Cary, who being in the battle of Tewks- bury in the tenth year of Edward IV, on the part of the Lancas- trians, upon the loss of that day was taken in church, whereunto, with others, he fled for sanctuary and, notwithstanding promises of pardon, lost his head.
This William Cary had two wives: First, Anne, the daughter of Sir William Pawlet, Knight, from whom those of Cockington did descend; second, Alice, the daughter of Sir Baldwin Fulford, Knight, by whom he had issue :
I. Thomas Cary, and he had issue :
I. Sir John Cary, Knight.
II. William Cary.
Sir John Cary, Knight, by his wife, sister of Sir Anthony Denny, Knight, left issue :
I. Sir Edward Cary, Knight, who by Katherine, his wife, daughter of Sir Henry - -- , Knight, and widow of Henry Lord Paget, had issue :
I. Henry Cary, afterwards created Viscount Falkland and made deputy of Ireland; which Henry Cary departed this life in 1633, left issue by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and heir to Sir Lawrence Tanfield, Knight, Lord Chief Baron of the Ex- chequer Lucius Cary, his son and heir, who married Lettie, the daughter of Richard Morrison, of Tooly Park in County Leicester, whose great-grandson, being the only one of his father, emigrated to Virginia according to the traditions of the family, and was the father of Colonel Wilson Miles Cary, of Williamsburg (and sometimes of Cary's Brook), Virginia, and of Miss Mary Cary, who married Edward Ambler, Esq., of James Town, consequently this Lucius Cary is the progenitor of the Ambler family now in Virginia (1825).
[We think all this is. a mistake .- J. D. Moncure and Louise Pecquet du Bellet.]
Lucius Cary, being a person eminently learned, was made choice of by the late King Charles of blessed memory, for one of
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his principal Secretaries of State. Shortly after which, out of the great zcal to His Majesty's service in the rebellious times, adventuring himself in the battle of Newberry, 20th September, anno 1643, he then lost his life.
The younger branch of the family was more happy, the history of which the same old chroniele gives in these words. Having said thus much touching the deseendants of Sir John Cary, the eldest son of Thomas, I now come to William Cary, his second son.
This William Cary, being Esquire of the body of King Henry the Eighth, took to wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Bullen (some- times spelled Boleyn), Earl of Wiltshire (sister of the Lady Anne, second wife of King Henry the Eighth), by whom he had one son :
I. Henry Cary.
II. Catherine Cary, a daughter, married Sir Francis Knolles, Knight of the Garter and died of the sweating siek- ness in anno 1528, being thien of the bed chamber of that King.
Henry Cary (his son), in regard to his near alliance to Queen Elizabeth (being her mother's sister's son), was knighted soon after her coming to the crown, and upon the 13th of January next following, advanced to the dignity of a baron of the realm, by the title of "Lord Hunsdon," and took his place in Parliament, upon the 25th of the same month accordingly. Later Queen Elizabeth sent him with the order of the garter to the King of France, then at Lyons. And in 10 Elizabeth, being made Gov- ernor of the town and castle of Barwick, upon that insurrection of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland (which hap- pened shortly after), marehed there and had a skirmish with them at the river belt, being then General of the Horse; never- theless, they got from him into Scotland whereupon he prevailed with the Queen to proclaim pardon to all those, whom they had drawn unto them, in that desperate adventure. And in the next en- suing ycar aeeompanied the Earl of Sussex in making divers in- roads into that realm [the North]. Also about two years after (being still Governor of Barwiek), having by promise of moncy to some of the Scots got the Earl of Northumberland into his hands, he sent him to York, where he was shortly after beheaded.
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