USA > Virginia > Fairfax County > Fairfax County > The history of Truro Parish in Virginia > Part 5
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"The Church Plate being also exposed to sale, was purchased by the said Daniel Mc.Carty, at the price of Twenty six pounds, Virginia Cur- rency, for the Use of the Parish."
The Vestry met again July 25th, 1767. Pres- ent, Col. Washington and Mr. Gardner, Church Wardens, and Messrs. Payne, Mc.Carty, Fairfax, Henderson, Ellzey and Linton. George Washing- ton and George William Fairfax exhibited ac- counts of tobacco levied in 1763, and the sale thereof and payments made to Edward Payne. Account received and approved. Mr. Payne ex- hibited similar accounts of tobacco levied in 1765. and of money received by him for building the new Church and the balance still due, which were approved. Tobacco in the hands of William Gard- ner, Collector, ordered sold. Balance due Mr. Payne on second payment for the Church to be
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
paid, and the residue of the money to remain in the Collector's hands, he giving bond with fresh security for its payment when demanded.
Col. George Mason, Capt. McCarty, Mr. Ellzey and Mr. Linton appointed to view the new Vestry House, and if they receive the same the Collector to pay Mr. Payne the contract price.
"George William Fairfax Esqr. having con- sented to import for the Use of this Parish (at the Risque of the Parish) two folio Prayer Books and a Quarto Bible, Ordered that upon receipt thereof the Church Wardens for the time being pay hini for the same, if they have so much money in their hands."
Orders for Processioning :- James Halley Sen, and Moses Simpson, between Occoquan, the Ox road and the County line. George Simpson and William Keen, between the Ox road and the Back- lick road from the Parish line down to the road that leads from Cameron by the Glebe to where it crosses Pohic, below Robert Boggess'. Wil- 4 liam Triplett and Joseph Cash, between the Back- lick road, the Parish line, Potowmack river and Pohic Creek.
On September 28th, 1767, the Vestry met for the fifth time during this fiscal year. Present, Rev. Lee Massey, Washington, Gardner, Mason, Posey, Payne, Coffer, Ellzey and Ford. The min- utes recite several former orders for the sale of tobacco and payments to be made by the Col-
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
lector, none of which had been complied with ex- cept one sale of 15,000 pounds to Mr. Hector Ross, for which his note was now given to the Church Wardens; it was ordered that Mr. Ross pay Mr. Payne what was due him on the second payment for the Church and for the Vestry House when it should be received by the viewers. And the Collector was to account with the Vestry at its next meeting for the tobacco remaining in his hands.
THE NEW POHICK CHURCH
1767. The annual meeting for laying the Par- ish Levy was held November 20th. Present, the entire Vestry.
"Resolved, that a Church be built at or as near the Cross Road leading from Hollis's to Pohic Warehouse as water can be had, which resolution was carried by a majority of seven to five."
Bishop Meade has handed down a tradition as to the part which Washington took in the location of this Church. Although no allusion is made to it in the Vestry Book it is good enough to be true and therefore we reproduce it, as follows: "The Old Pohick Church was a frame building, and occupied a site on the south side of Pohick run, and about two miles from the present site which is on the north side of the run. When it was no longer fit for use, it is said the parishioners
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
were called together to determine on the locality of the new Church, when George Mason, the com- patriot of Washington, advocated the old site,. pleading that it was the house in which their fathers worshipped, and that the graves of many were around it, while Washington and others ad- vocated a more central and convenient one. The question was left unsettled, and another meeting for its decision appointed. Meanwhile Washing- ton surveyed the neighborhood, and marked the houses and distances on a well-drawn map, and, when the day of decision arrived, met all the ar- guments of his opponent by presenting this paper, and thus carried his point." It was the Vestry, however, and not the parishioners, who fixed on the site. The old site was nearer to Gunston and the new one nearer Mount Vernon .*
To return to this Vestry meeting :- It was "Or- dered, that Mr. William Grayson be appointed At- torney for this Parish, and that he be paid fees only upon such suits as he obtains judgments for."
The Collector being still not ready to settle his accounts a special Vestry was appointed to meet in March following to receive from him the to-
*This story is given by Sparks in his Life of Washington, and is repeated by Lossing and others. The first discussion probably took place at the Vestry held on September 28th, at which time both Mason and Washington were present but four Vestrymen were absent. The question would naturally be deferred until Messrs. Fairfax, Henderson, Mc.Carty and Linton could be heard, and no mention of a fruitless debate would be made on the minutes. The interest taken in the matter, and perhaps the opposition to the new site, is indicated by the full atendance at this Vestry, and by the mention made of the vote by which the change in location was adopted.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
bacco due, and the Clerk was ordered to give his securities notice thereof.
The Parish accounts, to meet which the annual Levy was laid, are given in full for this year, Waslı- ington having been Church Warden and principal administrator of Parish affairs.
Dr.
Tobacco.
£. s.
d.
To Rev. Lee Massey's salary .. 17,280
John Barry, Clk. of Pohic .... 1,000
Elijah Williams, do. Little-
john's 1,000
Do. for three days extra attendance 6c
Mr. Peter Wagener, Clerk of the County 627
Rev. Lee Massey, in lieu of a Glebe
4,000
Rev. James Scott, for 6 ser- mons 1,992
Samuel Littlejohn, Sexton,
&c. . 1,000
Charles Wright, Do. at Po- hic
560
Grafton Kirk for maintg. Sarah Jackson 400
William Cullison, per acct ....
I
O
O
John Hollis, for the board of Dorothy Chesher, from the 25th. of May to this date .. 200
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
Samuel Russell for his sup-
port, he being allowed to remove to Cameron 'Parish, his claim to continue. ... Mr. William Grayson, per acct Doctr. James Nisbett, per acct.
500
6 0 0
8
15
O
George Washington Esqr. per acct.
I I3 9
George Mason Esqr. for find- ing ellaments twice
200
William Gardner, bal. per acct. as Church Warden, exclu- sive of the Collection acct. that not being settled ....... Robert Loyd, for his support .. 500 500
500 & 3 12 3
John Hollis, for his support .. (These were also exempted from paying Levy in fu- ture.)
Thomazen Ellzey, per acct .. 3 IO 8
John Barry, Clk. Vestry, sal- ary and extra services .... Charles Wright, for making a back and hearth.
850
Thomazen Ellzey, for extra services
Tobacco for building a Church
5 0
5 O O
7,000 38,169 29 16 0
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
To 6 per Ct. for Collecting 38,169 1b. of Tobo. 2,290 To a fraction in the Collectors hands 254
Cr.
40,713
By 993 Tithables at 41 lbs. of Tobacco per Poll. . 40,713
Cash accounts due ordered paid out of money in hands of Mr. Hector Ross. John Posey and Thomazen Ellzey appointed Church Wardens for the next year.
1768. March 5th. Mr. Gardner settled his ac- count by paying 18,011 lbs. of transfer tobacco and 25 pounds in cash, which were lodged in the hands of George Mason Esqr. Mr. Gardner to have the privilege of exchanging four hogsheads of his own crop for transfer tobacco, and to redeem the money with 2,101 lbs. of transfer tobacco.
"Ordered, that Hector Ross pay out of the money in his hands to George William Fairfax Esqr. the sum of sixteen pounds, seventeen shill- ings current money, agreeable to the account lodged for surplices and books imported by him for the use of the Parish."
At a Vestry held at the new Church, (Payne's,) September 9th, 1768,* to view and examine the
*From Washington's diary, 1768. "Septr. 9. Proceeded (from Alexandria) to the meeting of our Vestry at the new Church and
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
work, they found it to be completed according to agreement except the brick pediments over the doors, "And being of opinion that the house can receive no damage from the weather for want of the pediments, and understanding that it is the general desire of the people in this part of the Parish to have the Church received, on account of the great inconvenience they at present suffer for want of it, we do accordingly receive the said Church for the use of the Parish, except the pedi- ments, which the said Edward Payne is still liable for and obliged to finish according to the Articles of Agreement." Col. George Mason was ordered to make to Mr. Payne the last payment on the Church, and also to pay an account for "making horse-blocks and benches, clearing the Church- yard, and for some additional work done to the Church over and above his agreement, which we think of service and ornament to the building." Messrs. Ford, Linton and Ellzey "dissented to re- ceiving the Church."*
lodgd at Captn. Edwd. Paynes." This Church was about seven- teen miles from Alexandria.
On July 16, 1768, he "Went by Muddy Hole and Doeg Run to the Vestry at Pohick Church stayed there till half after 3 oclock & only 4 members coming returned by Captn. Mc.Cartys and dined there."
*This Church is hereafter known in the Vestry Book as the Upper Church, but probably from the beginning was popularly known as Payne's Church. It stood on the present road from Fair- fax Court House to Fairfax Station, two and a half miles from the former and one mile from the latter. Its fate was that of many of its contemporaries. After the Revolution it was disused except for perhaps occasional services. Early in the last century the Bap- tists took possession of it as abandoned property, as the judgments of the Courts allowed them to do, and upon the division in that denomination in 1840 the Jerusalem Baptist Church, (New School,) was organized in the building and continued to use it until 1862.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
November 28, 1768,-The Levy includes 15,000 lbs. of tobacco for building a Church. Daniel Mc.Carty Gent. and Thos. Withers Coffer ap- pointed Church Wardens. Alex. Henderson and George Mason exhibited accounts of moneys from sales of tobacco which were approved. George Washington was ordered to pay Mr. Henderson eight Pounds, being balance in his hands of the sum received from Major Broadwater for de- ficiency in work done on the Falls Church. Mr. Henderson was also to receive from Capt. Mc.Carty 372 Pounds due on the purchase of the Glebe. William Weston's offer to cover the Ves- try House at Pohick, the Vestry finding the nails, and to keep it always clean and in good order for the purposes of the Vestry, for permission to make use of the said house, was accepted. Edward Payne was authorized to open a window in the west end of the upper Church to give light and air to the gallery, and bring in his account. It was Ordered that the Church to be built be of brick, and contain three thousand square feet from outside to outside; and that the Church Wardens
Other Denominations also held occasional services there. The building remained unaltered, and many of our old citizens remember its ancient interior. In the winter of 1862-63 a large body of Fed- eral troops were encamped in the vicinity, and by them the fine old Church was torn down, brick by brick, and the material used to build chimneys and hearths for their winter quarters. The tomb- stones in the large graveyard perhaps shared the same fate, for only one or two remain, though the yard is full of sunken graves. A small frame Baptist Church now covers part of the site of old Payne's, the foundation lines of which can still be traced.
The silver Communion service belonging to this Church was given by an old lady living in the neighborhood to the Rev. W. F. Lockwood about the year 1850, and was by him presented to St. John's Church, Centerville, where it is still in use.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
give notice in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes for workmen to attend at Pohick on the first Fri- day in March with plans and estimates.
At a Vestry held March 3d. 1769, Present, the Rev. Lee Massey, Minister, Daniel Mc.Carty, Thos. Withers Coffer, Church Wardens,
George Wm. Fairfax Edwd. Payne
George Washington
Thomazen Ellzey
George Mason
Wm. Gardner
Esqrs. Wm. Linton
Alex. Henderson Thos. Ford
Vestrymen.
"The Vestry having met pursuant to a former order to let the building of the new Church at Pohic,-Mr. Daniel French undertook the build- ing the new Church at the Cross Roads, for the sum of £877 Virginia Currency."
"Ordered, that Mr. Alexander Henderson pay to Mr. James Wren and Mr. William Wait each forty shillings, out of the money in his hands, for the plans furnished the Vestry."* Adjourned,
*This would seem at first glance to dispose of the tradition that Washington drew the plans for the present Pohick Church. Loss- ing states, however, that he had before him, when he wrote, the original plan and elevation which Washington drew, and gives a cut of them. But he does not say how he knew them to have been the original plans. Washington was very apt to possess him- self of a copy of such papers. The true story is possibly this: that the plans and specifications adopted were a composite of those
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
"not having completed their business," until April 7th. (But no meeting was held on that date.)
"At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at the Cross Roads leading from Hollis's to Pohick Warehouse Sepr. 2Ist. 1769 .-
"A spott was chosen to fix the new Church upon convenient to the said Cross Roads, and agreeable to a former order of the Vestry, bearing date the 20th. day of November, 1767. A yard was laid off for the said Church, and a certain quantity of land laid off for the use of the said Parish, for which the said Vestry do agree to pay Daniel French Gent. at the rate of one Guinea per acre, for what the same shall measure.
"At the same time the said Daniel French, who on the third day of March last undertook to build the Church for the sum of eight hundred seventy and seven Pounds, Current Money of Virginia, agreeable to a plan then exhibited, did execute an
presented by Mr. Wren, Mr. Wait(e) and perhaps Mr. French who received the contract, and were practically drawn up in detail at this prolonged meeting of the Vestry. In this work Washington would doubtless have a large share. In his journal he mentions this meeting: "Mar. 3d. Went to a Vestry at Pohick Church and returned abt. 11 o'clock at night." The Vestry Book says they ad- journed to April 7th, "Not having completed their business," that is not having drawn and signed the contract. As the Vestry usually met early in the afternoon they had probably given six or seven hours to the work, which would indicate very careful consideration and perhaps some differences of opinion to be reconciled.
The same general plan was followed in building all four of the Churches erected in Fairfax and Alexandria at about this time. It was quite the usual one of the period, omitting for the sake of economy the tower and the cruciform shape common in the Churches of an earlier date. The tower of Christ Church, Alexan- dria, is of comparatively recent construction, being less than a cen- tury old. The Falls Church was built by Mr. James Wren, and may represent the plan which he submitted to this Vestry.
7I
THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
agreement and gave bond for the performance thereof, agreeable to a contract entered into with the Vestry on the said third day of March, and ordered to be ratified and confirmed, by certain instruments in writing on the seventh day of April following, but which for want of a meeting of the Vestry on that day, and the frequent disappoint- ments since, has never been done till now."t
"Resolved, that the Church Wardens procure from the said Daniel French a proper conveyance of the lot or parcell of land aforementioned." They were also directed to receive from Mr. Henderson the money in his hands due the Parish and pay Mr. French 200 Pounds, the first payment for the new Church.
A NOTABLE BUILDING COMMITTEE
"Resolved, that the Honble. George Wm. Fair- fax, George Washington & George Mason Esqrs. Captn. Daniel Mc.Carty & Mr. Edward Payne do view and examine the building from time to time, as they or any three of them shall see fitting, to
+Washington's diary casts some light on these "frequent dis- appointments," and would seem to indicate that they were not wholly accidental.
(1769) "Apl. 7. Went a fox hunting in the morning and catchd a dog fox after running him an hour and treeing twice. After this went to an intended meeting of ye Vestry but there was none."
"July 24. Went to an intended Vestry at ye Cross Roads, but was disappointed of one by Mr. Hendersons refusing to act." Mr. Henderson, living at Colchester, was probably one of the Vestrymen who joined with Col. Mason in opposing the new site for the Church. Is it possible that the art of filibustering was not unknown in those days?
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
whom the undertaker is to give notice when the different materials are ready."
"ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made the seventh day of April in the year 1769. Between the Vestry of Truro Parish in County of Fairfax, of the one part, and Daniel French of Fairfax Parish in the County aforesaid, Gent. of the other part, as follows, Vizt. The said Daniel French doth undertake and agree to build and finish in a workmanlike manner a Church, near the forks of the roads above Robert Boggess's, to be placed as the Vestry shall hereafter direct, of the follow- ing Dimensions and Materials, to Wit; Sixty six feet in length, and forty five feet and a half in breadth, from out to out, the Walls twenty eight feet high from the foundation, to be built of good bricks well burnt, of the ordinary size, that is, nine inches long, four and a half inches broad, and three inches thick, to be three bricks thick to the Water Table, and two and a half afterwards. The outside bricks to be laid with mortar two thirds lime and one of sand, and the inside with mortar half lime and half sand. The corners of the House, the Pedistals, and Doors with the Pediment heads to be of good white freestone, and the Returns and Arches of the Windows to be of rubbed brick. The Doors to be made of pine plank, two inches thick, moulded and raised pannells on both sides, and the frames thereof to be of pine clear of sap,
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
with locust sills. The Window frames to be of pine clear of sap, with locust sills; the sashes to be made of pine plank one inch and three quarters thick; the Lights to be of the best Crown Glass, eighteen in each Window, eleven inches by nine; the Win- dow and Door Cases to be made with double Arch- atraves; and the lower Windows to have weights and pullies. The frame of the Roof to be of pine, except the King-Posts which are to be of oak; and the scantling to be of a size and proper pro- portion to the building. The Roof to be covered with inch pine plank well seasoned, and cyphered and lapt one inch and a half, and then with cypress shingles twenty inches long, and to show six in- ches. A Modillion Cornice on the outside, and a Cove Cornice on the inside, and the Roof to be framed according to the Plan thereof annexed.
"The Floors to be framed with good oak clear of sap, and laid with pine plank inch and a half thick, and well seasoned. The Ends of the Sleep- ers next the walls of the House to have at least six inches hold thereof, and their other ends next to the Isles to be supported by flush and entire brick walls or underpinning nine inches thick and of a proper height. The Isles to be laid with flagg- stone, well squared and jointed.
"The Pews to be wainscoted with pine plank an inch and a half thick, well seasoned, to be quar- ter-round on both sides, and raised pannal on one
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
side; the seats to be of inch and half pine plank, fourteen inches broad and well supported. The Altar Piece to be twenty feet high and fifteen feet wide, and done with wainscot after the Ionic Order. the floor of the Communion Place to be raised twenty inches higher than the floor of the House, with hand-rails and Banisters of pine, and a Com- munion-Table of Black Walnut of a proper size. The Apostles Creed, the Lords-Prayer, and the ten Commandments to be neatly painted on the Altar-piece in black letters.
"The Pulpit, Canopy, and reading Desks to be of pine, wainscoted with proper Cornice, and ex- ecuted in the Ionic Order.
"The inside of the Church to be Ceiled, Plaistered and White-Washed; no Loam or Clay to be used in the Plaistering. The Outside Cornice and all the Wooden-Work on the inside of the House (ex- cept the floors) to be neatly painted of the proper colours. Stone Steps to be put to the Doors, and locks and hinges; and hinges to the Pews, Pulpit and Communion Place.
"The whole Building to be compleated and fin- ished by the first day of September, which shall be in the year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and seventy two, in a sufficient and work- manlike manner, and agreeable to the Plan there- of hereunto annexed, except with this Alteration in the West end of it, that instead of the door
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
there shall be a window; and instead of the two windows, there shall be two doors opposite the two Isles.
"And the said Daniel French doth further agree to build two Horse-Blocks with each two flights of Steps; to fix six benches for the people to sit on under the trees; and to clear and remove all the rubbish and litter from off the Church Lott, so as to fit it for the Reception of the Congrega- tion; and to have those additional works done by the time appointed for the finishing the Church.
"In Condition of the Premises the Vestry do agree to pay unto the said Daniel French the sum of Eight hundred and seventy seven pounds Cur- rent Money of Virginia in manner following, to wit, Two hundred pounds on the first day of Sep- tember next; Two hundred and twenty-five pounds thirteen shillings and four pence on the first day of September, One thousand seven hundred and seventy; Two hundred and twenty five pounds thirteen shillings and four pence, on the first day of September, One thousand seven hundred and seventy one; and the remaining Two hundred and twenty five pounds thirteen shillings and four pence, on the first day of September, One thou- sand seven hundred and seventy two; at which time the Church is to be finished.
"In Witness whereof the said Parties, to wit, the Members of the said Vestry here present, and the said Daniel French, have hereunto Interchang-
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
ably set their Hands, the Day and Year first above written.
Signed and Delivered in the Presence of- John Barry Wm. Triplett
Danl. French
Daniel Mc.Carty; C. W. Edwd. Payne
Go. Washington Go. Wm. Fairfax
Jno. Posey
William Gardner Tz. Ellzey.
The next meeting of the Vestry was at Pohick Church, December 1, 1769. The Parish Levy provided for the payment,-To Mr. Daniel French for 3 acres and 26 perches of land laid off for the use of the Parish as per Plat, 4 Pounds, 2s. 4d. To Capt. Mc.Carty for advertising the letting of the Church, 18 shillings. For building the Church, &c. 34,900 pounds of Tobacco. Alexander Hen- derson and Thomas Ford appointed Church War- dens.
"Alexander Henderson, Gent. one of the Church Wardens for the ensuing year, and Augusus Dar- rell, having applied for the Collection of the Par- ish Levy, the said Augustus Darrell is appointed Collector, the Vestry being of opinion that it is improper for any member of the Vestry to be Col- lector of the Parish Levy. And it is ordered that the same be entered on the Records of this Parish; it having been heretofore customary that the
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
Church Wardens should have a preference of the collection to any other person."
Peirce Bayly's account as Collector and Sheriff was approved. It was "Ordered, that William Grayson Esqr. who has heretofore been appointed to prosecute suits for this Parish, be now ap- pointed Attorney in fact for the Parish, and that he receive all Moneys and Tobacco arising from Fines and Judgments, and account with the Ves- try annually for the same, at the laying of the Par- ish Levy."*
1770. Only one Vestry held, on November 28. Parish Levy included 56,330 pounds of tobacco for building the Church and as a fund for purchasing a Glebe. Honble. George William Fairfax Esqr. and Edward Payne, Gent. Church Wardens. Peter Wagener and Martin Cockburn, Gents. are elected Vestrymen in place of William Linton, deceased, and John Posey, removed. (These are the first breaks in the ranks of the Vestrymen elected in July, 1765.)
1771. July 8th. Messrs. Wagener and Cock- burn subscribed the promise of conformity to the
*Among the duties of the Church Wardens was that of present- ing to the Court of the County persons guilty of gambling, drunken- ness, profanity, Sabbath breaking, failing to attend Church, dis- turbing public worship, and certain other offences against decency and morality. The fines imposed in these cases went to them for the use of the Parish, and are sometimes mentioned in the annual statement, though usually they would be included in the Wardens accounts which are not given in detail. That the Church Wardens of Truro, Cameron and Fairfax Parishes did not fail in this duty of presenting offenders is abundantly shown in records of the County Court. Presentments were usually made through the Grand Jury, the offender's Parish being designated, but sometimes the Church Wardens themselves are named as prosecutors.
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