USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > The vestry book of Henrico Parish, Virginia, 1730-'73 : comprising a history of the erection of, and other interesting facts connected with the venerable St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia > Part 2
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¿ James Buchanan was an Alderman and Chamberlain of the City of Richmond from July rath, 1784 to July 9th, 1787.
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INTRODUCTION
between the Reverend Messrs. Buchanan and Blair, and of the generosity of the former to his more needy brother.
On the 15th of February, 1791, the Treasurer of the Parish, Jacqueline Ambler, reports to the Vestry the sum of thirty -four pounds, raised by a concert and the sale of an organ,
On the 25th of April following, a committee appointed to enquire into the property of the parish, report that "The Glebe, of Henrico Parish, consists of 196 acres of land by an old patent, the houses out of repair, it rents for £40 per an- num, and the supposed present value $1000. Personal prop- erty, one silver cup and salver." In 1814 the Richmond Church was repaired, the roof being shingled and much of the frame-work renewed, and the Monumental Church having been completed, the services of a minister to assist the Rev. Dr. Buchanan became necessary. On the 23d of July, 1814, an invitation was extended to the Rev. David Moore, of New York, the son of Bishop Richard Channing Moore, at a sal- ary of $1000 per annum, with the promise that he should suc- ceed to the permanent rectorship of the Parish, in the con- tingency of the death of the Rev. Dr. Buchanan. It would appear that the call was declined by Mr. Moore, for the Rev. Win. H. Hart, of New York, producing testimonials to the Vestry May 1st, 1815, he was thereupon chosen assistant minister of the Parish. On the 17th of May, 1816, Mr. Hart was authorized to treat for the purchase of an organ for the church, at a cost of $1100. Ben'j Watkins Leigh and Dr. John Adams were appointed lay deputies to the State Epis- copal Convention, in 1817. The following in relation to the
" Richmond in By-Gone Daya, Ed. 1860, p. 157-9.
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INTRODUCTION.
church-grounds appears in the. minutes of the Vestry, for April 28th, 1820: "Whereas sundry resolutions and & petition have heretofore been presented to the Honorable, the Common Hall of this city, by the Rector, Wardens and Ves- try of the Old Church on Richmond Hill, in relation to the burying-ground surrounding said church, and such resolu- tions and petitions having never yet been acted on effectually ; and whereas said burying-ground is now and has been for years past completely fillet with remains, insomuch that a grave cannot be prepared without exhumating the bones of those that have been previously deposited, thereby subjecting. the officers of said church to a state of co istant and painful embarrasment, and almost daily ontraging the feelings of our citizens-Therefore,
" Resolred by the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of said church, on Richmond Hill, that we do most solemnly and decidedly protest against the further admission of bodies into said burying-ground, and that we will use our utmost eu- deavor with the Common Hall of this City, to prevent the continuance of a proceeding so extremely indecorous and so repugnant to all the feelings of humanity."
A gate * was erected in June, 1820. by private subscrip- tion, in the north-west wall of the church-yard. At a called meeting of the Vestry, held November 8th. 1820, it was
" Resolved, That no old graves shall be disturbed for the purpose of interring new remains, except such as may have
* The only entrances to the church-yard in 18oo, and most probably, for a long while afterwards, were on the south-side, where there were two. It is now, and has always been impracticable for vehicles to enter the church-yard -bodies being carried in on biers. Atthe beginning of this century, the only approach to the church was by the steep ascent of the old road-way of 25th street, leading by the church. This is now, by excavation, some fifteen feet lower than formerly.
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INTRODUCTION.
relatives already, whose remains they may remove by and with the consent and advice of the Wardeus, for the time being .*
" Resolved, That a committee be appointed for the purpose of obtaining a burying-ground, and digesting a plan thereof : and handing around a subscription to the citizens generally, for the purpose of defraying the necessary expenses incurred thereby.
" Resolved, That the secretary be requested to cause the foregoing resolution concerning the grave-yard to be published in the Times and Compiler, twice a week for four weeks."
Owing to the low financial condition of the church, the pro- jeet of a new burying-ground was abandoned.
On the Ist of July, 1822, the Vestry appointed a commit- tee to consider and report upon a proposition made by a Mr. Day, of Maryland, to build a new church on the site of the old one on Richmond Hill. This scheme, so entirely repng- nant to a proper feeling of reverence anl to correct taste, re- sulted, as it entirely merited, fruitlessly.
The good and self-sacrificing Dr. Buchanan, who had been for sometime in such declining health that the principal duties of the rector had devolved upon his assistant, to the deep grief of his parishoners, dying on the 19th of December, 1822. on the 27th instant following, the Rev. Win. H. Hart was elected his successor.
On the 30th of March, 1824, Mr. Mark L. Chevers, who
¡ Burials in the old church yard are very infrequent now, being only allowed of those whose relatives have been interred there. They occur chiefly when some aged person has expressed the desire to be laid with parents of consort, oftenest in the same grave, when occurs (as has been witnessed by the editor) what was so long ago complained of by the church authorities.
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INTRODUCTION.
had for a series of years most faithfully discharged the duties of clerk of the Church Vestry, having received holy orders, tendered his resignation, which was received. Thereafter, the duties of clerk, secretary or register of the Vestry, appear to have been performed by one of their number.
In the minutes of a called meeting of the Vestry of Hen- rico Parish, held May 1st, 1826, the following, in reference. to the Glebe lands, appears : * " The Rev. Rector informed the Vestry that a short time subsequent to the death of our late lamented Pastor, the Rev. John Buchanan, the overseers of the poor of Henrico County laid claim to the land owned and occupied by the church as a Glebe, and advertised it for sale ; that thereupon he enjoined the proceedings and filed a bill in chancery to obtain ownership, whereupon the Chan- cellor (the Hon. Henry St. George Tucker) in the January term of his court. 1826, decided in favor of this church, and against all claims of the overseers of the poor aforesaid."
" Resolved, That the Rev. Wmn. H. Hart, Rector ; John A. Lancaster and John Dove, Wardens of this church, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to soll one right and interest in the Glebe lands, now owned and occupied by this Parish, adjoining the Varina estate, to Mr. Pleasant Aiken, of Petersburg, in such manner as to them may appear to the best interest of the Parish."
Provision was also made for the investment of the proceeds of such sale.
At an early period, two hundred acres of land were laid . off from the College or Company lands, near Houricopolis or Dale's settlement, for a Glebe, court-house, prison, &c .- ono hundred and ninety-six being for the former. It was the
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INTRODUCTION.
Rev. Mr. Selden, but is not known to have
residence · been occ y any succeeding rector. Sometime during the decad te last century, Col. Richard Adams, Senior, donated to Church on Richmond Hill, a commodious brick building, n · distant from it, to be used as a rectory. It has been the residence of the successive ministers since. *
An appeal from the decision of the Chancellor was taken by the overseers of the poor, and Mr. Aikon declined closing his purchase of the lands in question, until the decision of the Court of Appeals. On March 26th, 1828, at a meeting of the Vestry, it was,
" Resolved, That the Rev. Rector be requested to lease tho Glebe lands, adjoining Varina estate and belonging to the Parish, to such person and upon such terms, as he may think will best secure their preservation."
No further reference to the matter appears in the minutes of the Vestry, who afterwards preferred to surrender their apparently just claims, (which differing from those of other Parishes in the State, which had been acquired chiefly hy purchase with Parish funds, was derived direct by virtue of early gift from the London company. ) rather than enter into what was a repugnant, and which might prove, a protracted controversy.
The Rev Win. H. Hart resigning on the 13th July, 1828, the Rev. Win. F. Lee was elected Rector of the Parish.
In the year 1829, a proposition was made to remove the
"* It was but recently discovered that, by a singular oversight, no title to the pro- perty wis ever made by Col. Adams to the church. But by the commendable atten- tion of Mr. P. R. Carrington, a deed of date March 3d, 1871, executed by himself' administrator de bank non of R. Adams, Senior, is now on record in the Hustings Court of this city.
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INTRODUCTION.
Old Church below the hill, or to build or purchase a new one." Divisions occurred in the congregation, which resulted in the. resignation of Mr. Lee and several of the Vestrymen, on the. 31st December, 1829, and the purchase of the Presbyterian church, situated ou the south-sile of Grace, between 17th and: 18th streets, which was built under the auspices of the Rev .. John H. Rice, D. D., and which from the design of its cupola,. was quaintly known as the ""Pine Apple Church." It re- ceived. under its new control, the name of Christ Church .. Mr. Lee remained its minister until his death. The church was demolished several years since. Mr. Lee is supposed toe have continued to minister to the congregration of St. John's until the installation of the Rev. Edward W. Peet, who was: elected to the rectorship February 24th, 1830.
At a meeting of the Vestry, held August 24, 1831, " The- Rector read to the Vestry a communication from certain per -- sons, asking the sanction of the Vestry to the establishment of a new Episcopal church within the Parish of Henrico, to be- located on a convenient situation on Shockoe hill. Where- upon,
" Resolved, Unanimously, that the Rector and Vestry of" Henrico Parish, regarding with pleasure the prospect of pro- moting the welfare of the Episcopal church within the Parish, do cheerfully assent to the erection of the proposed church on Shockoe hill : Provided, the said church be located on some spot west of the capitol."
This was the preliminary step which led to the erection of
* The Editor has been informed that the building of a new church was com- merced at the corner of 23d and Broad streets-that it progressed so far as the- first story of masonry, when the project was abandoned.
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INTRODUCTION,
St. Paul's Church. On the 25th of July, 1833, the Rev. Mr. Peet resigning, the Rev. Robt. B. Croes was elected Rec- tor of St. John's church. The church was repaired and en- Barged during the year 1830, and a brick building, for Sun- Bay school purposes, erected in the southern portion of the church-yard. *
Unhappy differences occurring between Mr. Croes and his congregation, led to the severance of his connection with the church on the 14th of January, 1836. The Rev. Wm. H. Hart was now elected Rector January 22d, 1836, and he ap- pears to have entered ou his duties sometime prior to the 16th of May, ensuing. He resigned the pastorate on the 28th of
* The present dimensions of the original portion of the church building corres- "pond very nearly to those specified in the text, measuring twenty-five feet, four inches in breadth, by sixty feet, six inches in length. There is reason to believe that a majority of the weather-boarding has occupied its present place since the period of .the first addition to the church, and perchance earlier, as with the exception of such .portions as were rendered necessary to be renewed because of a change made by the removal of the entrance to the church on the south-side, to the eastern end, ( which "was done within a few years past,) where it now occupies the place of a former win- dow, and repairs near the foundation because of decay, It is of the best yellow pine and is uniformly nearly an inch in thickness, the lower edge being beaded. The portions restored are much thinner and are unbeaded. The whole is nearly two inches wider than that covering the sides of the addition, or wing of the church, which was, originally ordered to be twenty-five by forty feet, through this original ad- dition there ran only one aisle, but there are now two, the wing having been enlarged as per the text anove, now measures thirty-eight feet in breadth, by forty-five and :a half feet in length. The belfry, at this period, was an open one, exposing the .bell. Some repairs were made to the church and steeple in 1857, and in 1866 the present much handsomer spire took the place of the old one. The gallery there .formerly stood a small organ) directed for the original church, still remains in the western end, and the entrance beneath it is yet used The remaining entrances, two in number, corresponding to the aisles, are in the northern end of the church. There is a door also in the base of the steeple, giving access to the bell. There, too, is a gallery within which is placed the church organ. There are now three windows on each side of the wing of the church, with lights measuring six by ten inches. The pulpit now occupies a central position in the southern side of the church. The cornice to the roof of the entire church buildings was probably added in 1835. There is a cellar beneath the old church building, in which burials of prominent individuals were made -- the remains of Dr. Buchanan are said to rest Bere.
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INTRODUCTION.
September, 1942, and on the 21st October following. the Res. Wm. H. Wilmer was elected to succeed him Mr. Wilmer declining, the Rev. J. H. Morrison was the choice of the Ves- try at a meeting held January 20th, 1843. He resigned his charge on the 15th of May, 1848. The Rev. Henry S. Kep- Jer accepted a call to the church May Ist, 1849. In the year 1852, a new wall on the eastern line of the church-yard being rendered necessary by the grading of twenty-fifth street, it was erected by appropriation of the City Council .*
The Rev. H. S. Kepler resigning the pastorate of the church June 28th, 1859, the Rev. Jno. Tevis Points accepted a call to the same on the 24th of October following. The church prospered greatly under his ministration, and by his pious zeal, self-sacrificing spirit, and warm solicitude for the welfare of his congregation, he greatly endeared himself to them. His useful labors, to the great grief of his flock, were most un- fortunately terminated by his death, which occurred suddenly on the 10th of June, 1860. A handsome monument of white marble, of obelisk form, marks his remains in the old church- . yard. The Rev. Wm. C. Butler accepted the charge of the church September 17th, 1860, and resigned the same Novem- ber 27th, 1861. The Rev. Robert Nelson appears to have principally ministered to the Church, during the periods suc- ceeding the resignation of the Rev. Messrs. Points and Butler and the installation of their successors. The Rev. William Norwood, D. D., was called to the rectorship March 18th, 1862. He resigned the same August 17th, 1868, and the
* The appearance of the wall at present indicates at least these several times of building or repair. Only tome portions of the wall, in the southern and the lower corner of the eastern line, being palpably the remains of the one originally erected.
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INTRODUCTION.
Rev Henry Wall, D. D., the present minister, succeeded him on the 10th of October, following. The communicants connected with the Old Church have numbered for a series of years past about one hunered, being sometimes a little less and frequently more-the constant removal of residents of Richmond Hill, to the western end of the city, prevents a more gratifying increase. The congregations, however, are often much larger, including transient visitors to the city, and resi- dents of the other hills.
The following gentlemen have successively composed the Vestries of the old church, since its organization in 1785;
Alex. McRobert, Robert Pollard,
Wm. W. Weymouth, Thomas Taylor, Samuel Scherer,
Philip MeRae, Eldridge Harris,
John Hague. Wm. Marshall.
Thomas Nicolson,
William Wiseham. Gen'l John Harvie,
Col. Jno. Ambler,
Col. Win. Mayo,
Col. Edward Carrington, Anthony Singleton, John Pendleton, W. Berkeley, Henry L. Shore, J. Williamson, Sam'l Greonhow,
Alex. McRae, Win. Hay, Dr. John Adams, A. Turner,
Hilary Baker,
W Shepherd,
Thos. Bohannan, Samuel G. Adams, John Warrock, Walter Shelfon,
John Enders, A. Lithgow, Col. Geo. M. Carrington, Jas. Whitlock, Capt. Jos. A. Myers,
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INTRODUCTION,
Philip Budlong, Dr. John Dove, W. A. Burton, Jno. HI. Cosby, Lewis Burwell, M. C. Lackland, Clement B. Weston, John A. Lancaster, Col. Reuben Tankersley, Bennett Crump, Thomas Pulling,
Wm. Mitchell, Jr., Jas. Snell,
Jno. Thompson, Maj. Francis Wicker,
Hugh C. MeNemara, Juo. Cosby. Sam'l Garthright,
Richard H. Whitlock,
Maurice Primrose, Samuel Sublott, Sam'l C. Nicholls, Dr. Jno. A. Carrington, Geo. W. Banks, Elias Reed, James Gibb, Dabney Garthright, Thomas Miles, John Van Lew, Dr. Richard A. Carrington,
Thomas Massie, Orrin Williams, John Womble, William Beers, Jas. Fisher, Jr., Win. B. Isaacs, Thomas M. Smith. J. HI. Grant, Dr. H. D. Taliaferro, Hugh Rileigh, Joseph M. Carrington,
- Wmu. Palmer, Thomas M. Alfriend, Wm. J. Yarbrough, James Carleton, W'm. Greanor, Geo. M. West, Oliver P. Baldwin, D. Coupland Randolph, Andrew Johnston, Dr. John Knox, Gen'l Alex. Brown, Allen Young Stokes, John Viles, Charles Camuman, David A. MeMinn,
C. R. Taylor, J. M. Pullen, Lemuel Yerby, Geo. Bell.
INTRODUCTION. xvii
Thomas Potts, . Peyton Rhodes Carrington,
Col. J. D. Whitehead,' John F. Glenn,
Capt. Louis J. Bossieux, Geo. T. Baldwin, Capt. J. H. Greanor.
The list comprises very many of our most influential and valued citizens of successivo generations, and includes some names of a national reputation.
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AT a VESTRY, held October the twenty Eight, in the Year of OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY, at CURLES1) Church.
Prefent. The Reverend Mr. James Keith,
Richard Randolph,2 9.160 John Worfham, Jofeph Royal, John Bolling.
John Redford, Bowler Cocke, Henrico Pari/h. Dr.
To the Reverend James Keith,
To William Perkins, Reader,
To Richard Williams, ditto,
To Charles Griffith, ditto,
To Do. Clerk of the Veftry,
To John Hobfon, Sexton,
To John Ofborn, Ditto,
To Thomas Branch, for Ferriages,
To Thomas Jefferfon, 36 'Gi Do.
To Jofeph Wilkinfon, for Ann Hewett,
To the Church-wardens for the poor, viz : Abraham Robinfon, Pardue's Sons,
To Jofeph Wilkinfon, To Sarah Woodcock, for her fon,
To Hutchins Burton, for Sarah Rawlins,
To John Herbert,
To Abraham Bailey, for John Worth, Brought over, ₹ 25,800 1, 164 ling child fix months, 500 40
To Elizabeth Womack, for keeping a found-
To the Church-wardens, for Sufanna Wake- field, 800 64
To Richard Williams, Sexton, 600
* F gures illegit le in original.
1 Pounds of Tobacco.
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VESTRY BOOK OF
To Capte John Redford, for the railing of the Church, in full payment,
4,000 320
To William Bafs, ditto, 4,000 200
To Capte John Redford, for fix Benches, 16 200
To William Robertfon, for keeping Andrew Crawford four months and burying of him, 1,000
80
To Capte Jofeph Royal, for twenty-nine le- vies, entered in the lift and live in King William parith, 1,131
To Ditto, for nine Infolvents, 351
To Col" Francis Epps, as ₱ Acct., 1,113
To Jofeph Royal, for five Tithables, twice lifted, 195
To Jofeph Royal, Collect'd for good paiment, 541
40,231
2,904
Sallary,
4,023
Cafk,1 ) 2 /62
2,904
47,158
Due to the Parifh,
62
47,220
Henrico Parifb Cr.
By 1574 Tithables at 30th of Tob'o @ pole, 47,220
Ordered,
That Capte Jofeph Royal do receive, according to law, of Every Tithable p'fon within this parifh, thirty pounds of tobacco, being the parifh levy for this year, and that he pay the Several Allowances before mentioned to the refpective perfons to whom the fame are due.
JAMES KEITH, Minifter.
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. 5
AT A VESTRY held for HENRICO PARISH, the Twenty-Sev- enth of September, in the Year of Our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and thirty One.
Prefent.
Jofeph Royal, church-warden; Francis Eppes, John Red- ford, Bowler Cocke, Edward Booker, James Powel Cocke and John Worfham, Jofeph Mayo and William Worfham, Gen- tlemen take the Oath of Veftrymen for the Parifh.
Prefent, Jofeph and William Worfham, 'Gent.
Purfuant to an A& of Affembly of this Colony, directing due manner of proceffioning of lands, &c., the following pre- cinets are lay'd out and directed to be proceffioned for the parifh aforefaid, vizt : the North fide lower precinct from Tur- key Ifland Creek up to four Mile Creek, between White Oak Swamp and the River, and that part of this parifh from the lower line between White Oak and Chiquohomony as high as Thomas Matthew's plantation.
Prefent, the Reverend James Keith.
Jofeph Pleafants and Stephen Woodfon are appoint'd to fee the proceflioning made to the lower precinct, on the North fide between the River and Swamp, and John Cocke and Thomas Wilkins in the precinct, back between the two Swamps and four mile creek.
From flour Mile Creek to the River at the Mouth of ffield's Creek, all Within the Main Road to the River, John Redford and Benjamin Burton are appointed to see proccffioned.
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From ffour Mile Creek bridge above the Said Creek, croffing Northerly as the Said Creek tendeth to the head, and thence Out to Thomas Matthew's, thence up Chiquohomony Swamp to upland Brook bridge, thence as the road tendeth to Rocketts, thence to the Mouth of ffield's Creek, thence to the place be- gan at, by Joell Walker and James Cocke to be proceffioned.
From upland brook bridge, up the branch to the head to John Walford's on Do., thence down the faid Run to Tuckahoe Creek, thence as the faid Creek tendeth to the River, thence down the River to Rocketts, to be proceffioned by John Price and John Williamfon.
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VESTRY BOOK OF
From the Mouth of Deeprun up Tuckahoe to the Mouth of Chumley's branch, thence along the County line to Hanover line, thence down Chiquohomony Swamp to the Mouth of up -. land Brook, thence up the Brook to the bridge, to be proceffion- ed by Robert Mofby and John Shepperd.
The ffirft precinct on the South fide James River, to begin at the mouth of powel's Creek, Running up the river to the Ware run, thence up the faid Run to the Appomattox Road, thence along the faid Road to the parifh line, thence down the faid Line to the place began at, to be proceffioned by William Mofeley and Robert Ealam.
From the Mouth of Ware run up the river to the Mouth of ffalling Creek, thence up the Said Creek Oppofite to Tallies' Old plantation, thence acrofs to Grill's Old plantation on Swift Creek, thence down the faid Creek to the parifh Line, thence along the Said Line to Appomattox Road, thence along the faid Road to the place began at, to be proceffioned by Henry Van- derhood and field Jefferfon.7 /
From the Mouth of falling Creek up the river to the Mouth of Powhite Creek, thence up the Said Creek to Lucy's Spring, thence croffing to Lodwick Tanner's on Swift Creek, thence down the faid Creek to Grill's Plantation, thence acrofh to Tullitt's Old plantation, thence down falling Creek to the Mouth thereof, to be proceffioned by Wharham Eafly and Thomas Harris.
ffrom the Mouth of Powhite up the River to the parifh line, thence along the parifh Lines to the County Lines, thence along the County line to Swift Creek, thence down the Creck to Lodowicks Tanner's, thence to the Mouth of Powhite Creek to be proceffioned by John James Fflourenoy and Francis fflour- noy.
From parifh line on the South fide Swift Creek, along the faid Line to Appomattox River, thence up the faid River to the Mouth of Middle Creek, thence to Swift Creek, as Straight a Courfe as may be gueffed, to Robert Arfhurst' plantations, thence down the faid Creek to the place began at, to be pro- ceffioned by William Locket and Benjamin Loket, Jun'r.
From the Mouth of Middle Creek on Appomattox River, up the Same to the County Line, thence along the said Line to
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
- Swift Creek, thence down the faid Creek to the said Robert Arthurft's plantation, 'thence to the head of Middle Creek, thence down the faid Creek to the place began at, to be pro- ceffioned by Edward Hafkins and Creed Haskins.
JAMES KEITH.
AT A VESTRY held for the parifh of HENRICO, at CURLES Church, October the Eleventh, in the Year of Our Lord One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Thirty-one
Prefent. The Reverend Mr. James Keith.
William Randolph, Efq.
Richard Randolph,
Francis Eppes,
John Redford,
James Powel Eocke,
Bowler Cocke,
Edward Booker,
William Worfham,
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