USA > Virginia > Fairfax County > Fairfax County > The history of Truro Parish in Virginia > Part 8
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Mt. Vernon was the home of the beautiful Nel- lie Custis, Mrs. Washington's granddaughter, when Lawrence Lewis entered the bower. Two such bright particular stars thus moving in the same orbit, by a mutual attraction soon became one, according to that saying of our quaint old South,-"An invisible hand from Heaven mingles hearts by a strange secret and unaccountable con- junction."
Gen. Washington in his last will devises two thousand acres of the Mt. Vernon estate to Law- rence Lewis and his wife, Eleanor P. (Custis) Lew- is. The writer has a beautiful plot of this land, with endorsement: "A Plan of a part of Mt. Ver- non lands, N. W. of the road leading from the gum spring on little Hunting Creek to the ford of Dogue Run. Beginning at three red marked oaks on a rising therein, opposite to the old road which formerly passed through the S. end of Muddy Hole farm, including that part of Chaple land which be- longs to the subscriber, as also the Mill and Dis- tillery, showing the slopes, contents and relative
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
situation of every field, lot, meadow, and likewise the shape and contents of every piece of wood- land appertaining thereto; the whole having been laid down by an actual and accurate survey, Sept. 20, 1799.
G. Washington."
This survey was Washington's work less than three months before his death.
COL. WILLIAM GRAYSON. This gentleman, spoken of in the Records as the Attorney for the Vestry, merits special mention. He was the son of Benjamin Grayson, a wealthy merchant of Colchester, who married Susan Monroe of West- moreland. He was the brother of Rev. Spence Grayson, Rector of Dettingen Parish. William Grayson, born 1736, was educated in England and practiced law in Dumfries. On IIth of November, 1774, the Independent Company of Cadets was formed in Prince William and chose Grayson their Captain. The motto of the Company, was, "Aut Liber aut Nullus." A Committee consisting of Philip R. F. Lee was sent to wait on Col. Wash- ington and ask him to take command of the Com- pany as Field Officer. To this he assented, and when he took command of the Army he took leave of them in a formal letter. This Company offered to unite with the Fredericksburg Company and march to Williamsburg.
Grayson was often at Mt. Vernon, as stated in
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
Washington's Diary. In August, 1776, Washing- ton appointed him one of his Aids, and he was with him in many campaigns in New Jersey and New York, distinguishing himself by his gallantry at Monmouth, and was in hearing of the spicy colloquy between Gen. Washington and Gen. Charles Lee. Grayson and Lieut. Col. Jones were appointed Colonels of the two new Regiments raised in Virginia. He was put by Washington at the head of a Commission to settle the vexed ques- tions arising out of the capture of Gen. Charles Lee. In 1778 he was made Commissioner on the Board of War. Bishop White used to tell an an- ecdote of the bold and dashing way in which he, at this time, dispersed a mob near his house in Philadelphia. In 1784 he was elected to Congress, and also made a member of a Court for determin- ing a dispute between Massachusetts and New York. In 1778 he was a member of the Virginia Convention to consider the ratification of the Con- stitution of the United States, and spoke and voted against it, chiefly upon the ground that the pro- posed Constitution would destroy the rights of the States, and there were no adequate checks against the abuse of power, especially by the President, who was responsible only to his counsellors and partners in crime, the members of the Senate. And yet, though in the minority on this exciting question, he and Richard Henry Lee were chosen the first Senators in Congress from Virginia. He
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
served one session in the Senate, and died on his way to the second, on the 12th of March, 1790, and was buried in the family vault at Belaire in Prince William County. Although Col. Grayson filled so many public trusts with signal ability, he has, from want of a biographer, almost lapsed from history, while other inferior men live in story and song. In person he was six feet high, of a full habit and florid complexion, with black hair and eyes. With his varied culture he was elegant in conversation as he was able in debate. He mar- ried a sister of Gen. Smallwood, of Maryland, and left four sons, William, George, Alfred and Rob- ert, and one daughter, Helen, who married John Carter, of Loudoun, who went to Kentucky, and whose eldest son moved to Tennessee. Robert married Miss Breckenridge, of Kentucky.
GEORGE JOHNSTON. This gentleman, one of the legal advisers of the Vestry, was the son of Dr. James Johnston who migrated to Maryland. The son came to Virginia and settled in Fairfax County, which he represented in the General As- sembly. Patrick Henry's famous resolutions were seconded by Mr. Johnston in a "speech of great eloquence and power." He married Miss Thomp- son, by whom he had two daughters, one of whom married Rev. Lee Massey, of Truro Parish, and the other married Robert Howson Harrison, one of Washington's aids. He married for his second wife Miss Mc.Carty, by whom he had five sons and
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
four daughters. Two of his sons were officers in the Revolution, and a grandson, Major George Johnston, in the Confederate States Army.
MARTIN COCKBURN, whose name so often ap- pears in the Parish Records, was a native of Jamaica. While travelling in Virginia, in his eighteenth year, with Dr. Cockburn, he became fascinated with Miss Bronaugh. She would not go to Jamaica, and he had to come to Virginia to win the prize. He bought a farm, Springfield, near Gunston, where they lived to a good old age. He was a polished Christian gentleman, much es- teemed by George Mason, as is attested by their correspondence still extant.
CAPT. CLEON MOORE, of Colchester, elected Vestryman in 1781, was badly wounded at the battle of Brandywine. He moved to Alexandria in 1800 and was appointed Register of Wills, which office he filled until his death in 1808. He was succeeded by his son Alexander, who was born at Colchester January 8, 1786. His first wife was the daughter of Col. Roger West, of West Grove, Fairfax County. Cleon Moore was the author of Washington's March. He was wont to tell this anecdote of himself, says Mr. Brocket, of the "Lodge of Washington":
During the Revolution he was stationed with a squad of men in the Northern Neck, without ra- tions. Chancing to see a flock of geese, belonging to a Mr. Page, he "impressed" them, except a
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
gander, to whose neck he attached a piece of paper, containing nine-pence, with these lines :-
"My good Mr. Page, Be not in a rage, Nor think it a very great wonder; We have taken nine geese, At a penny apiece, And sent the money home by the gander." [END OF DR. SLAUGHTER'S MANUSCRIPT.]
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THOMAS WITHERS COFFER, born 1713, and a Vestryman of Truro from 1765 to his death, in 1781, was a son of Francis Coffer, (born 1683, died 1740) and Mary Littlejohn Withers, his wife. His seat was at or near the present residence of M. D. Hall, Esq., whose wife is one of his de- scendants; so he was one of the "upper" Vestry- men, being a neighbor, as neighbors were ac- counted then, of Capt. Payne, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Ford and Mr. Ellzey. His wife was Mary Fargu- son, who was born in 1715 and died in 1758. Their son Francis Coffer was born in 1748, and was a Vestryman from 1776 to 1785. He married a
Miss Gunnell. Thomas Coffer, their son, born I773, was captain of a company from Fairfax in the war of 1812. He married Ann Simpson, and died in 1862, leaving eight children, namely: Wil- liam Coffer, married Miss Harmed, line extinct; Hannah Coffer, married Silas Burke; Jane Coffer, married Levi Burke; Elizabeth Coffer, married George Selectman; Thomas Coffer, married Jane Selectman; Henry Coffer, married Harriett Tay- lor; Joshua Coffer, married Hulda Simpson; Armi- stead Thompson Mason Coffer, died unmarried. The descendants of Hannah, Jane, Henry and Joshua Coffer have restored a pew in Pohick Church in memory of Thomas Withers Coffer.
TRIPLETT. The will of Francis Triplett of the Parish of Truro is dated October 4th, 1757, and gives the names of his children, Thomas, Wil-
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
liam, Daniel, John, Francis, Mason, Margaret (married Boylston,) and Patty. Of these William Triplett was a Vestryman of Truro from 1776 to 1785, being elected in the room of George Wil- liam Fairfax. He was a man of prominence in his neighborhood, and was among the friends in- vited by Mrs. Washington to the funeral of the General. Thomas Triplett was a trooper in the French and Indian War, March, 1756; and his brother Francis Triplett was in Col. George Wash- ington's regiment in the same war. The latter re- ceived a wound in the arm, for which 55 pounds was granted him by the General Assembly. He was afterward a captain of militia in Fauquier County, a Justice of the Peace and a Vestryman of Leeds Parish. His daughter Ann married Capt. Elias Hord. The Rev. Arnold H. Hord, of Philadelphia, is among her descendants.
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VESTRYMEN AND CHURCH WARDENS OF TRURO
PARISH. 1732-1785. (C. W .= Church Warden.)
Dennis Mc.Carty, 1732-4I.
John Heryford, 1732-43 died. C. W. 1732-4.
Edward Barry, 1732-44. C. W. 1737-44.
Charles Broadwater, 1732-33 and 1744-65. C. W. 1750-1, 52-3, 56-7.
Richard Osborne, 1732-48. C. W. 1747-8. John Lewis, 1732-33.
Gabriel Adams, 1732-33.
Edward Emms, 1732-48. C. W. 1732-6, 48-9.
Francis Awbrey, 1733-34.
William Godfrey, 1733-44.
John Sturman, 1733-46. C. W. 1743.
Giles Tillett, 1733-34.
Rev. Lawrence De Butts, Minister, 1733-34.
Michael Ashford, 1733-34.
Jeremiah Bronaugh, 1733-44, and 1747-50 died. C. W. 1734-7, 42-4, 48.
William Peake, 1733-44, and 1749-62 died. John Farguson, 1733-44. Thomas Lewis, 1733-44. C. W. 1736-40. James Baxter, 1734-36.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
John Colvill, 1734-48. C. W. 1740-2.
Augustine Washington, 1735-37.
Rev. Charles Green, Rector, 1737-64.
John Baxter, 1743-44.
Robert Boggess, 1744-65. C. W. 1748-9, 54-5, 59-61.
Daniel French, 1744-46.
Andrew Hutchinson, 1744-48. C. W. 1747-8.
John Minor, 1744-48. C. W. 1746-7.
Lewis Ellzey, 1744-48, and 1765. C. W. 1744-6.
John West, 1744-48, and 1750-65. C. W. 1744- 6, 55-8.
Hugh West, 1744-54 died. C. W. 1746-7, 48. George Mason, 1749-85. C. W. 1750, 55-6, 65-6, 73-4.
Daniel Mc.Carty, 1749-84. C. W. 1751-2, 53-4, 58-9, 64-5, 68-9, 75-6, 78-9, 81-4.
John Turley, 1749-56. C. W. 1754-5.
James Hamilton, 1749-56. C. W. 1750-I.
William Payne, Sr., 1750-65. C. W. 1751-2, 57-8.
Abraham Barnes, 1750-65. C. W. 1753-4, 59-61.
William Fairfax, 1754-57 died.
William Payne, Jr., 1756-65. C. W. 1761-3, 64.
Henry Gunnell, 1756-65. C. W. 1761-3.
George William Fairfax, 1757-76. C. W. 1763- 4, 70-I.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
George Washington, 1762-65, and 1765-84. C. W. 1763-4, 66-7, 74-5.
Edward Payne, 1765-74. C. W. 1765-6, 70-I, 73-4.
Thos. Withers Coffer, 1765-84 died. C. W. 1768-9, 71-2.
William Gardner, 1765-76. C. W. 1766-7.
Alexander Henderson, 1765-85. C. W. 1769- 70, 79-80.
Thomazen Ellzey, 1765-85. C. W. 1767-8, 72-3, 76-7, 81-4.
Thomas Ford, 1765-76. C. W. 1769-70.
John Ford, 1765.
Peter Wagener, Sr., 1765, 72-74 died. C. W. I771-2.
William Linton, 1765-70 died.
John Posey, 1765-70. C. W. 1767-8.
Rev. Lee Massey, Rector, 1767-77.
Martin Cockburn, 1770-79. C. W. 1772-3.
Thomas Pollard, 1774-84. C. W. 1774-6, 78-9.
Peter Wagener, Jr., 1774-85. C. W. 1776-7, 79- 80, 84-5.
William Triplett, 1776-85. C. W. 1777-8.
Francis Coffer, 1776-85. C. W. 1777-8.
Edward Washington, 1779-85.
William Deneale, 1781-85. C. W. 1784-5.
Cleon Moore, 1781-85.
John Gibson, 1784-85.
James Waugh, 1784-85.
Lund Washington, 1784-85.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
All Vestries were dissolved at Easter, 1785, by the Act of Assembly by which the Protestant Epis- copal Church was incorporated.
CLERKS OF THE VESTRY
Edward Barry, 1732-44.
William Henry Terrett, 1744-56.
John West, Jr., 1756-64.
John Barry, 1764-75.
Rev. Lee Massey, 1775-77.
Francis Adams, 1777-79.
Peter Wagener, 1781-85.
CLERKS AND LAY READERS AT THE CHURCHES
Joseph Johnson, New, or Falls, and Goose Creek, 1733-35.
Edward Barry, Pohick, 1736-39.
Samuel Hull, Goose Creek, 1736-40.
John Bowie, Pohick, 1739-4I.
John Richardson, Goose Creek, 1741-45.
John Barry, Pohick, 1743-75. Also at Alexan- dria, 1759-65; and at the Falls, 1761-65; and at Littlejohns, 1766.
Walter English, Upper, or Falls, 1743-45.
John Wybird Dainty, Upper, or Falls, 1745-53; and Alexandria, 1754-57.
John Allen, Goose Creek, 1745-46.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
John Moxley, Goose Creek, 1747.
Thomas Evans, Goose Creek, 1748. William Donaldson, Upper, or Falls, 1754-55. John Lumley, Upper, or Falls, 1756-58; and Alexandria, 1758.
Thomas Lewis, Falls, 1759-60.
Elijah Williams, Littlejohns and Upper, or Payne's, 1766-69. Continued as Reader to 177I. Benjamin H. West, Upper, or Payne's, 1769-72.
Daniel Atkins, Upper, or Payne's, 1772-77; and at Pohick, 1775-77.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
The following is a list, in order, of the Overseers of the Poor, who succeeded the Vestries in caring for the poor of the County, and in certain other civil duties, from 1787 to 1802; from their records in the Vestry Book of Truro. Elections of Over- seers were held every three years.
Peter Wagener Thomazen Ellzey
Presley Gunnell
George Summers
Nicolas Fitzhugh
John Fowler John Moss Simon Sommers
Coleman Brown
Rezin Offutt
George Minor
Thomas Darne
Daniel Kitchen
Richard Simpson John West Roger West
William Gunnell, Jr. John Dulin
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
Daniel Mc.Carty Thomas Pollard Thomas Gunnell Thompson Mason Charles Alexander James Wiley
Francis Coffer William Violett Charles Thrift William Middleton
Edward Dulin James Douglass
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BURGESSES FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY
(Note: Each County was entitled to two Bur- gesses.)
Lawrence Washington, 1742-1749.
John Colvill, 1744-1748.
Richard Osborne, 1748-1749.
Hugh West, 1752-1754.
Gerrard Alexander, 1752-1755.
John West, 1756-1758, and 1761-1765, and 1766-1774.
George William Fairfax, 1756-1758.
George Johnston, 1758-1765.
George Mason, 1758-1761.
George Washington, 1765-1775.
Charles Broadwater, 1775.
DELEGATES TO THE CONVENTIONS 1775-1776.
March 1775. George Washington and Charles Broadwater.
July 1775. Charles Broadwater and George Mason.
December 1775. Charles Broadwater.
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
May 1776. John West, Jr., and George Mason. George William Fairfax was a Burgess for Fred- erick County, 1752-1755; Hugh West, 1756-1758; and George Washington, 1758-1765. Augustine Washington was a Burgess from Westmoreland. 1754-1758; William Fairfax a Burgess for Prince William before his promotion to the Council in 1744; and James Hamilton a Burgess for Loudoun for many years prior to 1771. All of those named above, with the exception of Lawrence Washing- ton, Gerrard Alexander and George Johnston, were Vestrymen of Truro Parish.
This list is gathered from Stanard's "Virginia Colonial Register," except in the case of Col. John Colvill, whom Stanard supposes to have succeeded William Fairfax as Burgess for Prince William in 1744. But beside the testimony of the Rev. Charles Green that he was "a Burgess for this county" in 1744, the Journal of the House of Bur- gesses for that year indicates that he was a mem- ber of the House when the Writ for the election of a successor to Mr. Fairfax was issued. The matter is set at rest, however, by reference to "The Poll for Election of Burgesses for Fairfax County in the year 1744," on record in the Clerk's office. Capt. Lawrence Washington received 152 votes; Col. John Colvill, 151; Capt. Lewis Elzey, 101; and others a smaller number.
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LIST OF VOTERS AT AN ELECTION OF BURGESSES IN FAIRFAX COUNTY IN 1744.
(Note :- Not all of these voters lived in Fair- fax. An elector could vote in every country in which he owned a freehold of 25 acres of improved land, or 100 acres if unimproved. Each name ap- pears twice on the poll lists, hence the variations in spelling.)
Benjamin Adams
William Barton
Gabriel Adams
Robt. Bates
Gabriel Adams, Jun.
H. Baugus, or Boggess
George Adams
John Baxter
Garrat Alexander
Thomas Beach
Bryant Aliston
Col. Blackburn
John Allan
Robert Boggess
John Ashford
W. Boylston, or Boilston
Michael Ashford
Thos. Bosman
William Ashford
Francis Awbrey
William Bowling Henry Brent
John Aylatt
Chas. Broadwater
Robert Baker John Ball
John Bronaugh
Moses Ball
Jeremiah Bronaugh
William Barker
Thomas Brown
John Canady
Wm. Barkley, or Buckley
Thos. Carney
William Bartlett
Richard Carpenter
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Guy Broadwater
THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
Job Carter
Wm. Champneys Nathaniel Chapman Josias Clapham William Clifton
Catesby Cocke
John Cockerell
Richard Coleman John Colvill
Samuel Comer
George Foster
Robert Forster
Daniel French Sen.
Daniel French (Jun.)
James Daniel
Joshua Garrett
Sampson Darrell
Thomas Darus
William Davie
John Gladding
John Goram
Edward Graham
John Graham John Grant John Grantum
Charles Green
Charles Griffin James Grimsley Edward Grymes William Grymes
Cornelius Eltenger Thomas Ellett John Elliott
Lewis Ellzey Edward Emms Col. Chas. Ewel(1) Bertram Ewell
"Esquire" Fairfax Jeremiah Fairhurst Thomas Falkner John Farguson Thomas Ford
Jadwin Crutcher Balden Dade
Townsend Dade
Owen Gilmore
William Gladding
John Dickins
Robert Dickins
Joseph Dickson, or Dixon
Daniel Diskin, or Deskins William Dodd
George Dunbarr Blanchr. Duntan
John Guest Henry Gunnell
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
William Gunnel
Joseph Jacobs
William Gunnel, Jun.
William Hairsling
William Hall, Sen.
Jacob Janney
William Hall, Jun.
James Jefferey
Thomas Hall
James Halley
Ezekiel Jenkins James Jenkins John Jenkins
William Halling
John Hamilton
William Jenkins
John Hampton
Thomas John
William Harle
James Keith
Samuel Harris, Sen.
Robert King
George Harrison
Richard Kirkland
Samuel Harrison
William Kirkland
Daniel Hart
William Kitchen
John Hartley
James Koon John Koon
John Hartshorne
Francis Haugo, or Hago Daniel Krouch
George Hester
James Lane
Robert Hester
Jacob Lawfull
John Hicherson
Abraham Lay
Jos. Higgerson
Thomas Lewis
Thomas Hicks
Thomas Lewis, Jun.
Thomas Hord
Stephen Lewis Vincent Lewis
John Hurst John Husk
Abraham Lindsey
Andrew Hutchinson
Moses Linton
Nimrod Hutt
Powell Jackson
Abel Jenny, or Janney Amos Jenny, or Janney
Jacob Lucas John Lucas
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
John Manley
Thomas Marshall
Joseph Reid David Richardson James Roberts
John Martin
Wm. Meckby, or Mc. Bee John Roberts, Sen. John Meade
John Melton
William Roberts
John Minor
James Robinson John Robinson
Thomas Monteith
William Moore
Richard Samford
Thomas Moseley
Robert Samford
Thomas Moxley
James Sanders, or Saunders
James Murray
John Musgrove
Lewis Sanders
Christopher Neale
Edmond Sands
Anthony Neale
William Saunders
Henry Netherton
Thomas Scandall
Philip Noland
James Scott
Edward Norton
Benj. Sebastian
Richard Omohundro
John Shaddedin
Thomas Owsley
William Shortridge
William Peake
Isaac Simmonds Baxter Simpson
Thomas Penson
William Perkins
George Simpson
Gilbert Simpson
Richard Simpson
William Simpson Jacob Smith
Nathaniel Popejoy
Christopher Pritchett
James Smith
Jacob Ramey
Thomas Smith
William Reardon
William Smith
I3I
Henry Peyton Vall Peyton George Platt
John Roberts, Jun.
THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
James Spurr Samuel Stone
Fielding Turner
Michael Valandigam Bond Veal
John Straham William Stribling
Zepheniah Wade
John Sturman
Samuel Warner
William Stutt
Lawrence Washington
Francis Summers
Henry Watson
Isaac Summers
James Waugh
John Summers
Hugh West
George Taylor
John West
John Taylor
Thomas West
W. H. Terrett
Richard Wheeler
David Thomas
Thomas Whitford
Daniel Thomas
Francis Wilks
Robert Thomas
Owen Williams
John Thompson
Walter Williams
Samuel Tillett
William Williams, Sen.
Daniel Trammel
William Williams, Jun.
Thomas Willis
William Winsor
William Trammell
Thomas Wren
Francis Triplett
William Wright
James Turley
James Wyatt
John Turley
Daniel Young
Garret, or Gerrard, Trammel John Trammell
Thomas Windsor
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DEED FOR WASHINGTON'S PEW
The Deeds, nine in number, for the pews sold in Pohick Church, including that for the Minis- ter's pew, are recorded in full in the records of the Clerk's Office of Fairfax County. Bishop Meade says they are probably the first of the kind ever executed in Virginia, as he had met with no hint of any such thing before in all his researches. The Deed for Washington's pews is as follows :
"THIS INDENTURE, made the twenty fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand, seven and seventy four, between the Vestry of Truro Parish, in the County of Fairfax, of the one part, and George Washington, of the same parish and county, Gent : of the other part : Where- as the said Vestry did, on the 5th. Day of June, in the year 1772, order sundry pews in the new Church on the upper side of Pohick to be sold, at the laying of the next Parish Levy, to the highest bidder for the benefit of the Parish; pursuant to which order the said pews were sold accordingly by the Vestry at the laying of the said Parish Levy on the 20th. day of November, in the same year; and the said George Washington, party to these presents, then purchased one certain pew in
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
the said Church for the price of sixteen pounds current money, to wit the pew numbered 28, sit- uate between the two long Isles and adjoining the North Isle and the space before the Communion Table, and a certain Lund Washington, Gent; did at the same time purchase another certain pew in the said Church for the price of thirteen pounds ten shillings, current money, to wit, the pew num- bered 29 situate between the two long Isles and adjoining the North Isle & the first mentioned pew, & whereas the said Lund Washington hath since relinquished and given up all his right and title to the said pew numbered 29 purchased by him as aforesaid unto the said George Washing- ton, as by the proceedings and records of the said Vestry, Reference being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear. Now this indenture Witnesseth that the said Vestry, for and in con- sideration of the sum of twenty nine pounds ten shillings current money, to them in hand paid, for the use of the said Parish, by the said George Washington, before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby con- fessed and acknowledged, have granted, bargained and sold, aliened and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell alien and con- firm unto the said George Washington the said two pews in the said new Church lately built on the upper side of Pohick, in the said Parish of Truro and County aforesaid, numbered and sit-
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
uated as above mentioned, To have and to hold the said two pews above described unto the said George Washington, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of him, the said George Washington, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said Vestry, for themselves and their succes- sors (Vestrymen of Truro Parish) do covenant and grant to and with the said George Washington, his heirs and assigns, that he the said George Washington, his heirs and assigns, shall and may forever hereafter peaceably and quietly have, hold and enjoy the said two pews above mentioned and described, without the Lawful Let, Hindrance, In- terruption, or Molestation of any person or per- sons whatsoever. In witness whereof the Vestry now present (being a majority of the Members) have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Wm. Triplett, Wm. Payne, Jr., John Barry, John Gunnell, Thomas Triplett.
G. Mason (Seal) Daniel Mc.Carty (Seal) Alex. Henderson (Seal) T. Ellzey (Seal) Thos. Withers Coffer (Seal)
Thos. Ford (Seal) Pet : Wagener (Seal) Martin Cockburn. (Seal)
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THE HISTORY OF TRURO PARISH
"Received this twenty fourth day of February in the year 1774, of the within named George Wash- ington the sum of twenty nine pounds, ten shill- ings, current money, being the consideration men- tioned in the within Deed."
"Witness:" (The same signatures as above.)
Each Vestryman signed every Deed but his own, Washington's name always being second, ex- cept on the Deed to "George Mason of Gunston Hall," where it is first.
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R
Pohick Church in the Olden Time
WASHINGTON AS A CHURCH-GOER
In a popular work entitled "The True George Washington," by the late Paul Leicester Ford, the brilliant author devotes a few pages only to a sub- ject which demands a far more accurate and sym- pathetic treatment than is given to it, namely, Washington's religious training and habits. Re- ferring to Washington's services as a Vestryman, it is acknowledged that he was "Quite active in Church affairs;" but in touching these the author not only repeats all the traditional errors which, for lack of authentic data, have been made by previous writers on this subject, but he falls into a number of new and strange ones, and becomes involved in a most curious labyrinth of inaccura- cies. All these the foregoing pages will correct.
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