Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia

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Over one hundred years ago the Episcopal Bishop, William Meade, put together an important body of records which he incorporated into a now-famous two-volume work called Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia. (Knowledge of the history of the Episcopal Church of Virginia, it should be pointed out, is essential to the genealogist since, prior to civil registration, the Church was the only body authorized by statute to collect and preserve vital statistics. The early parish records, therefore, are indispensable for research in Virginia genealogy.)

Compiled from parish records and vestry records, from moldy official documents, family records, and tombstone inscriptions, and from records in Lambeth Palace, London, Meade's narrative focuses on the history of the early Virginia parishes and provides details concerning the origins of the parishes, the drawing of parish lines, and the lives of the ministers and selected church members. Each chapter of the work also contains family histories and extensive lists of vestrymen, communicants, justices, and prominent figures. An appendix of 100 pages contains several interesting historical documents as well as lists of ministers and vestrymen of St. Stephen's and Wicomico Parishes, Northumberland County, and additional family histories.

"This book remains an indispensable storehouse of information about the ecclesiastical history of Virginia during the Colonial period."--Dictionary of American Biography

"Bishop Meade's two volumes are fundamental to the study of the parishes of the Episcopal Church in Virginia and their clergy and are an important source of information about many of the leading families of the state...."--The Virginia Genealogist.

Each chapter covers a geographic area (county or cities), and includes details on its parishes, churches, ministers and prominent familes

Most of the articles have sprinkled through them extensive extracts and abstracts from colonial documents, including, in addition to the vestry books, such sources as court records, private letters and monumental inscriptions. Many of these records had not previously been published, and, although many have since been placed in print in more modern and comprehensive editions, there are undoubtedly records here, especially among the letters and inscriptions, which have not been published elsewhere and which have subsequently been lost or destroyed.

Most of the genealogical material is presented in long footnotes. Although this material is not documented according to modern standards, the author would often have obtained the information from family members born in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, who were in a position to provide reliable data on the more recent generations. These genealogies will provide solid clues for further research.

The parishes focused on are in Volume 1 are: Williamsburg, James City, Hanover, Alexandria, Henrico, Hampton, Elizabeth City, Charles City, Middlesex, Prince George, Essex, New Kent, Caroline County, Lynnhaven, Antrim, Camden, Raleigh, Westmoreland, King George, Fairfax County, Shenandoah, St. Anne's in Albemarle, St. George's in Spottsylvania, St. Mark's in Culpeper, and St. Thomas in Orange County.

The Berkley, Blair, Burwell, Carter, Fontaine, Grymes, Harrison, Jones, Lee, Meade, Moore, Nelson, Page, Randolph, Robinson, Smith, Spottswood, Taylor, and Yeardley families receive detailed coverage; in addition over 3,000 other surnames are included.

The parishes focused on are in Volume 2 are: Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, Campbell, Bedford, Amelia, Nottoway, Prince Edward, Cumberland, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Louisa, Albemarle, Amherst, Nelson, Botetourt, Rockbridge, , Spottsylvania, Culpepper, Orange, Northumberland, Lancaster, Westmoreland, Richmond, King George, Stafford, Prince William, Fauquier, Fairfax, , Shenandoah, Augusta, Rockingham,. Also includes current West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, Montgomery, Frederick, Berkeley, Hampshire, Brooke, and Kanawha; also cities of Wheeling, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Weston, and Buchanon.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.


ARTICLE XLVI.
Antrim parish, Halifax county—Rev. Mr. Dresser's letter about it to Dr. Hawks —Sketch of its ministers—Rev. Alexander Hay—Evan Ragland, Esq.— Testimony to the religious belief of Patrick Henry—His answer to Payne's "Age of Reason"—Mr. Grammar—Rev. Mr. Clark minister in part of the county—His labours among the poor and servants...................................      9

ARTICLE XLVII.
Parishes in Pittsylvania, Henry, Campbell, and Bedford—Camden parish—No vestry-book—Records of court mortifying—Rev. Mr. Guilliam—Church and glebe—Vestrymen—Colonel Isaac Coles and family—Church built at the instance of Mr. Dresser—Patrick parish—Rev. Messrs. Webb and Wade—Moore parish, Campbell county—Succession of ministers—Church in Lynchburg— Russell parish—Imperfect list of its old churches—Church at Liberty.........    14

ARTICLE XLYIII.
Parishes in Amelia, Nottoway, and Prince Edward—Raleigh and Nottoway parishes—Rev. Mr. Brunskill—His toryism—Threats in ohurch—Churches in Amelia—Families—Egglestons, Archers, Bookers, Tabbs, Banisters, &o. —Old Grubhill—Attachment to the name—Vestrymen—Rev. Messrs. Lee and Berkeley—Nottoway parish—Its ministers—Treatment of one of its old churches—St. Patrick's parish, Prince Edward—Its ministers—The Rev. Mr. McRoberts—Contest about an old church—Mr. William Berkeley—Rise and progress of Presbyterianism in this part of Virginia—View, of it confirmed and enlarged by a friend—Hampden-Sydney College—The Smiths and others —The Reads, Mayos, Carringtons, Venables, Watkins..............................    20

ARTICLE XLIX.
Parishes in Cumberland, Buckingham, and Fluvanna—St. James Southam— Vestry-book—List of its ministers—List of its churches—List of its vestrymen—Rev. Mr. McClaufine—Littleton parish—Rev. Mr. McCrae—Other ministers—Assault on Mr. McCrae—His defence by Patrick Henry—The Carringtons—Sermon by Mr. McCrae—Tillotson parish—Its ministers and churches—Parish of Fluvanna—Its ministers and church.........................    33

ARTICLE L.
Fredericksvillo and Trinity parishes, in Louisa and Albemarle counties—Vestry-book—Test-oaths and oaths of, allegiance—List of vestrymen before the division of the parish—List of vestrymen after the division—List of ministers —The Maurys—The Walker family—Old Walker's Church—The church's potition for funds to repair it—The new church......................................    41

ARTICLE LI.
St. Anne's parish, Albemarle—First churches ordered in the time of the Rev. Robert Rose—Other ministers—The Rev. Charles Clay—His patriotic sermon—Vestrymen in St. Anno's parish—Other churches—Later ministers— Old Ballinger Church—General Cocke—Church in Charlotteville—Mr. Hatch —Mr. Jefferson—Rev. Zachariah Mead—His mode of curing consumption— University—Its chaplains—Pestilence among the students—Extract from a funeral-sermon delivered by the author of these notices—Offence given by it.    48

ARTICLE LII.
Parishes in Amhorst, Nelson, Bototourt, Rockbridge, Greenbrior, and Montgomery—Ministers in Amherst and Lexington parishes—Churches in thesame—Churches in Lexington parish aftor the division—List of vestrymen, from the vestry-book—Amherst parish, in Nelson county—Ministers of it-Churches—Old one removed and repaired by Mr. Coles and Mr. Martin—Tho family of Cabells—Sermon of the Rev. Mr. O'Noale on' the death of two daughters of Nicholas Cabell—The Massio family—Mr. William Waller—Bototourt parish—Its ministers and churches—Old Major Burwell and his descendants —Church in Rockbridge—Its ministers and church—The prospect at Wytheville, Abington, &c....  67

ARTICLE LIII.
St. George's parish, Spottsylvania county—The Rev. Mr. Slaughter's history of it—Governor Spottswood—Germanna—Colonel Byrd's account of Fredericks-burg—List of its ministers—Of its churches—Of its vestrymen—The two Maryes—Rev. Mr. Thornton—General Washington's visit to Fredericksburg —Republican mode of choosing a minister—Rev. Samuel Low—Berkeley parish—Its ministers and churches.........................................................    68

ARTICLE LIV.
St. Mark's parish, Culpepper—Its first vestrymen—Qhurch at Germanna—Colonel Byrd's account of it and the place-—The German settlement there, and its removal—Numerous churches in Culpepper—List of vestrymen, from the old vestry-book—Tho Rev. Mr. Thompson—His letter to Mrs. Spottswood, and its effect—Mr. Woodville and family...............................................    74

ARTICLE LV.
Churches in St. Thomas parish, Orange county—The Rev. Mr. Earnest's account of them—Names and locations of the churches—Major Burton— Indian antiquities on the Rapidan River—Benjamin Cave an early settler —Plate, the gift of the grandmother of President Madison—Letter of James Madison, Sr. to Mr. Leland, tho Baptist preacher, about the use of our churches—The Rev- Matthew Maury and the Rev. Mr. Waddell employed to preach in them—Tho latter administered the Lord's Supper to our people —Mr. Wirt's account of him exaggerated—List of ministers—Rev. Mr. Maryo —Old Mrs. Madison's Confirmation by Bishop Moore...............................    84

ARTICLE LVI.
Genealogy of the Madison and Taylor families, from the papers and diary of President Madison and his father—President Madison's religious character —His mother's piety—His wife's baptism late in life— Attachment of the Taylors and Madisons to the Church—Philip Williams's oration on the death of Mr. Madison and view of his course in relation to the Church—Favourable opinion of his religious belief... 96

ARTICLE LVII.
Northern Neck of Virginia—Bounds ofc,the Northern Neck—Fairfax family— Its history in England—Four volumes of letters, &c. recently published— Their Protestant character at an early period—The Rev. Henry Fairfax— Rev. Denny Martin and Rev. Bryan Fairfax—History of Cromwell's great general, George William Fairfax, of Belvoir—Address to the descendants —The Carter family—John and his wives—Robert (alias King) Carter and his wives—Councillor Carter, of Nomini—His excellency but eccentricity—Mr. Charles Carter, of Shirly—His generosity to the widow of the Rov. Mr. Currie and to the poor—King Carter's character..................................... 105

ARTICLE LVIII.
Parishes in Lancaster, county—Old vestry-books—The loss of one of them— Discipline proved by them—Account of* my visit to Christ Churoh in 1837—The tombs of the Carters and their wives—The Kellys—The epitaphs—The repairing of the church—White' Chapel Church, St. Mary's parish—A list of tho ministers of both parishes—A liBfc of the vestrymen—Tombs at White Chapel—The family of Balls—The Rev. Mr. Waddoll—Records of the court —Letter of Joseph Ball, from London, to his sister, the mother of General Washington, concerning the project of young Washington's entering the navy —Also a lettex1 to his nephew after Braddock's defeat.......................... 115

ARTICLE LIX.
Parishes in Northumberland county—Wycomico and St. Stephen parishes—
Early history of the county—Ministers of the county—Old Wycomico—Visits of Bishop Moore and myself—Its downfall—The Bale of its bricks and non-payment—Its Communion-vessels in the church at Millwood—History of the Lee family—Richard Henry Lee and children—Old Stratford House built by Queen Caroline—Old   Northumberland   House—Mr. Presley, and Presley
Thornton—Postscript—Further notice of the Lees—The Corbin family—Old
vestry-book found—(See Appendix)....................................................... 131

ARTICLE LX.
Cople parish, Westmoreland—Ministers of it—Churches of it—Yeocomico— Visit to it in 1834—The McGuire family—The Nowton family—Tombstones and epitaphs in Cople parish—Contest about the church—Judge McComas's letter—Letter of Mr. Rogers, of Princeton, New Jersey............................ 147

ARTICLE LXI.
Washington parish, Westmoreland county—The ministers—Rev. Mr. De Butts —His letter to the Bishop of London—Rev. Archibald Campbell—History of himself and' family—Old Round Hill and Pope's Creek Churches—Other ministers—Washington's birthplace—A visit to it and the vault—Proposition before the Legislature, in relation to them—Leeds or Bray's Church—The town a cradle of Virginia patriotism-—Resolutions there adopted, (See Appendix)—Bishop Payne's letter about Old Round Hill Church, and his family —The Washington family—The wills of the two brothers John and Lawrence, the first settlers in Virginia—The vault at Stratford—Thomas Lee buried at Pope's Creek Church...... 158

ARTICLE LXII
Farnham and Lunenburg parishes, Richmoxid county—Records of the court at Tappahaunook—Magistrates of old Rappahannock county and Sittenburne. parish—Records of Richmond county—'Principal families—Farnham parish and churches-—Ministers—Vestrymen—Address of the vestry to it—Letters to and from Bishop Madison—My visit to Farnham Church in 1837—Lunenburg parish and churches—Ministers—Controversy between the Rev. Mr. Kay and some of his vestry—Rev. Mr. Giberne—Letter of a friend (Colonel Carter) in Lunenburg parish, concerning the old churches and ministers— The Tayloe family—Micous and Fauntleroys intermarry........................... 172

ARTICLE LXIII
Parishes in King George—Changes in their boundaries—Hanover parish—Its churches arid ministers—Its vestrymen, from the vestry-book and records of the court—Rev. Mr. Boucher—Letter of General Washington to him—Recent history of the parish—The Turner family—Brunswick parish—Its ministers, , churches, and* vestrymen^S-ErPaul's parish—Old vestry-bbok and register, begun by tho Rey. David Stuart, and continued by his son, William Stuart— Their long and excellent ministry—Other ministers—St. Paul's Church—My visit to it in 1812 or 1813—The old African woman—History of the Fitzhugh family........................................................................... ...... 183

 ARTICLE LXIV.                  
Overwharton parish, Stafford county—Alexander Scott—-His tombstone—Rev. Mr. Moncure—His history by Mrs. Wood—Tomb of her mother—Death- of the Rov. Mr. Moncure—Letter of George Mason, of Gunston, on the occasion —Ministers after Mr. Moncure—Old Aquia- Church—Old Potomoc Church —Letter of Judge Daniel, giving an account of the old families around the, two churches................................................................................... 197

ARTICLE LXV.
Dettingen parish, Prince William county—Vestry-book—Ministers—Rev. James Scott—His descendants—His son and the duel—Churches in the parish—Old pieces of Communion-plate —Dumfries—Care of tho vestoy in having apprentices instructed—Rov. John Scott buried in tho old church at Winchester—His history—Ministers aftor him—Names of vestrymen and lay readers....... 207

ARTICLE LXVI.
Hamilton and Leeds parishes, Fauquier—Fate of the vestry-book—Rev. Mr. Keith—Rov. Mr. Brunskill—The churches—Other ministers—Rev. Mr. Thomson's patriotic sermon—Oakhill—The principal families—Rev. Mr. Lemmon—Judge Marshall—Anecdotes of him—Tenderness to Mrs. Marshall —His religious opinions—Letter of the Rev. Mr. Norwood........................ 216

ARTICLE LXVII.
Truro parish, Fairfax county—Rev. Charles Green—Rev. Lee Massey—Sermons of Mr. Massey—First vestry an unlawful one—Pohick Church, when built—Vestrymen of it—Contest between "Washington and Mason, about the site—My visit to it in" 1837—Its repairs—Sketch of the Mason family— Mother of Temple Mason—Her.pious letters—The Lewis family—Martin Cockburn—The Hendersons—The Rev. Mason Weans—Mount Vernon after the death of Mrs. Washington—The Blackburns—Judge Washington—Two letters from Mr. Stoddert, of Maryland, concerning the Rev, Lee Massey, George Johnson, and Martin Cockburn, and Mrs. Cockburn—Mistake in tho same—General Washington's English coach........................................... 226

ARTICLE LXVIII.
Religious character of Washington—The Rev. Mr. McGuire's book—Washington's early advantages under pious friends and ministers-#Early indication of pious feelings—His public documents prove it—The general voice ascribes it to him—His private devotion—His public acts when a young officer—His correspondence with Governor Dinwiddie—His private diary testifies to it— As General of the army, his orders are marked by it—His respect for the Sabbath as private citizen and President of tho United States—His condemnation of swearing, of gambling, of duelling—His belief of a special Providence—How far he was addicted to hunting—Was he a communicant?— Bishop White's account of it—His last moments.................... 242

ARTICLE LXIX.
Fairfax parish—Christ Church—Original names of Alexandria—Churches—
Ministers—Rev. Bryan Fairfax;—Rev. Dr. Griffith—Visit to the Falls Church
—Dr. McGraff—Griffith chosen first Bishop—His zeal in tho cause of the
Church—Correspondence with Dr.Buchanon—Case of the glebe—List of
vestrymen—George Taylor and Edmund I. Lee...................................... 256

ARTICLE LXX.
St. Paul's Church, Alexandria, Cameron and Shelburne   parishes, Loudon county—Separation from Christ Church under Mr. Gibson—^Purchase of ; Old St. Paul's—First vestry—Other vestrymen—New church—Liberality of Mr. McLean—Bishop Claggett—Bishop Madison—List of ministers—Came- . ron- parish—Its ministers arid churches—Shelburne—Its churches and ministers and vestrymen—Rev. Dr. Griffith—Rov. Mr. Dunn—The glebe—Lawsuit--Its vestrymen.................................................................. 271

ARTICLE LXXI.
Parishes in Frederick county—The Valley of Virginia—Mr. Jefferson's opinion of it correct—Germans the first settlers—The Hites—Presbyterians tolerated —First vestry condemned—Log churches—Lord Fairfax—List of the vestrymen—Lay readers—Ministers—Alexander Balmaine—Mrs. Hannah Washington—Cunningham's Chapol............................................................. 279

ARTICLE LXXII.
Continuation of ministers—Old parish divided into four—New churches—Free and common churches opposed—Burwell graveyard—List of vestrymen continued—The Burwell family—Governor Nicholson and Miss Burwell—Edmund Randolph—His account of tho infidelity of the age at William and Mary 287
ARTICLE LXXIII.
Norbourno parish, Berkeley county—The Shepherds—Shepherdstown and its churches—Charlestown and the old church—The Washingtons—The ministers of this parish—The Rev. Benjamin Allen—Martinsburg and the old church— The Pendleton family—Judge Pendleton's autobiography—The value of respectable birth—Colonel Edward Colston—Other families......................... 295

ARTICLE LXXIV.
Morgan's Chapel—The character of Morgan Morgan—The family—Benjamin Allen—Names of other ministers—New churches—General Charles Lee and his impious will—Other Generals around............................................... 302

ARTICLE LXXV.
Parishes in Hampshire and Shenandoah—List of ministers in Hampshire— Rev. Norman Nash and Bishop Mooro about tho study of the dead languages —The old Scotchman and his commentary—The churches built by the Messrs. Nash—Parish of Beckford, in Dunmore, afterwards Shenandoah, county— Settled by Germans—The Swedish congregation united with the Episcopal Church under Peter Muhlenburg, afterwards General Muhlenburg—Sketch of his history—Downfall of the Church—Recent and fruitless efforts for its revival.......................................................................................... 309

ARTICLE LXXVI.
Parishes in Augusta and Rockingham—First part of, the valley seen by the white man—Governor Spottswood's view of it from the Blue Ridge—First vestry—Its first ministers—Rev. Mr. Balmaine—His patriotism—Address ' » from the county on American affairs—Vestrymen and Burgesses—The Virginia Assembly driven to Staunton—-Met in the old church—Later ministers— New church—Present church—Old churches in Rockingham—Gabriel Jones —Peachy Gilmor—The Lewis family.................................................... 317

ARTICLE LXXVIL
Churches in Brooke county—Dr. Doddridge's account of the neglect of tho Episcopal Church in the West—Objections to it—Dr. Doddridge's history and, character—Ilis labours in Brooke county—The churches in it—The ministers—The case of Western Virginia—Proposition to divide the Diocese—The result—Extract from my pamphlet on tho subject..................................,. 327

ARTICLE LXXVIII:
Churches.in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Fairmont* Weston, and Buohanon—Dr. Doddridge the .first who preache(d in Wheeling—Bishop Chase moved its organization—Mr. John Armstrong the first, rector—Names of the first vestrymen—Succession of vestrymen-—Succession of ministers—Churches—  Action of the vestry as to the division of the Diocese—Mr. Simms—Judge Caldwell—Resignation of the Roy. William Armstrong—Church in East Wheeling established with the approbation of Mr. Armstrong—Its ministers —Glebe-house and church—Church in Clarksburg—Its ministers and church —Case of Mr. McMeohin—Mr. Despard—Church in Weston—Its ministers— Church in Fairmont—Its ministers Buchanon....................................... 836

ARTICLE LXXIX.
Churches in Kanawha, at Ravenswood, Parkersburg and its vicinity, Now Martinsville, and Moundsville—Rov. Mr.'Page first minister in Kanawha— Other ministers—The church in Charleston—Its history—List of vestrymen —Old Mrs. Quarrier and family—The Salines—Coalsmouth—Its churches— The Hudsons and Thompsons—Vestrymen—Stations on the Kanowha— Point Pleasant—Mercer's Bottom—Bruce Chapel;—Ravenswood Church—Its builders—Vestrymen—Ladies' association—Ministers—Bellvillo Church— Its builder—Parkersburg—Its church—Ministers—Vestrymen—Cow Greek Church—New Martinsville—Moundsville..............................................  344

ARTICLE LXXX.
The General Church—The Church in Maryland—Dr. Chandler's testimony— Bishop White's opinion of the old clergy—Sir William Berkeley's wish as to schools and printing—Church in South Carolina—Her first missionaries— The sermons of that day in England and America—Dr. C6k»'s estimate of the clergy—Tillotson's sermons the best in use—Tracts of the Christian Knowledge Society—Mr. Wllberforce—The Rev. Mr. Bacon, of Maryland— Instruction of servants—Moralizing preaching—My first acquaintances among the clergy—Bishop White, Dr. Abercroinbie, Bishop Hobart, &c.—Dr. Percy, of South Carolina—His tracts—His history—My tour in favour of the Colonization Society—Acquaintances formed—Results of it—General Convention—Hymns added to the Prayer-Book—History of it—Public baptism and pious sponsors recommended—Francis Key—Great deference for Bishops —A change in. that respect—Proposed alteration in the thirty-fifth canon— The general seminary—Judge Cameron—Bishop White's statement—My own. —Proposed changes in the service—Episcopal Sunday-School Union—Evangelical Knowledge Society—Missionary Society of the Church—Memorial and commission of Bishops—My letter to the commission—Concluding remarks. 351

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