TH E H ISTO RY

TRURO PARISH

IN VIRGIN IA

L REV. P HI LI P S AU HT ER D . D G , .

Ed ited

W ith N o tes a n d Add enda R By E V. E D IVARD L . GOODWI N

‘ H isto riog ra ph e r of ti n D z o c u e of Vi rg i n ia

P HILADELPHlA GE RGE W A OBS O . J C COMPAN Y P UBLIS HERS o 19 07 b C py right , , y

GE ORGE W . JACOBS CO M PAN Y

s e 19 0 8 Publ i h d January ,

All r igh t: raJ e r -v ed

P rin ted in U . S . A . IL L U ST RATION S

P OH I C K CH U R CH Fro nti sp iece

THE OL D VE S TRY B OOK Fa ci ng P a ge 3 4

P A YN E S U C 17 6 8 -1 86 2 CH R H ,

ORIGINAL P L AN OF POHIC K C H U RC H

POHICK C H U RCH I N TH E OLDEN

TI ME

I NT RODUCT I O N

When the English colonists made th e ir fi rst per manent settlement on the shores of Virginia they came to establish themselves as an English people in America . They did not emigrate for purposes of robbery , nor yet to escape conditions which were not to their liking at home , but they brought in with them all they could of the old England , cluding , as a matter of course , the English Church a hd English law , ecclesiastical and civil . They brought , too , as the event was to prove , the Eng lish genius for adapting old forms of government to new conditions of life . Thus in process of time the Parish and the Vestry in Virginia became quite different from the same institutions in the old country, though still based upon the broad sanctions of the ecclesiastical law of England . The Parish was established and its bounds were fixe d not by tradition , but by statute , and the Vestry , from an annual meeting of all the ratepayers to choose Churchwardens and discuss parochial a f fairs , became practically a close corporation of twelve of “ The most able and discreet persons ” in the Parish . These divided with the County Court the responsibility of local government , having as INTRODUCTION their especial charge the maintenance of religion and the oversight of all things pertaining thereto in the domain of charity and morals . These Ves trym en were described by Jefferson as being “ Usually the most discreet farmers , so distributed through their Parish that every part of it may be under the eye of some one of them . They are well acquainted with the details and economy of fin d suffic ie n t private life , and they inducements to execute their charge well in their philanthropy , in the approbation of their neighbors , and the dis tinction which that gives them . N o Parish in the Colony had a Vestry more dis tin uish e d ua lifie d g in its personnel , or more fully q i r . O for thei positions , than the Parish of Truro its earlier members indeed little has come down to us but their names inscribed on almost every page of the scant records remaining to tell of the settle ment of these upper reaches of the “ Northern N ” eck , and the establishment of religion and civi liz a tio n i n what was then but a wilderness . But later her Vestrymen are found ranking among the fi rst gentlemen of Virginia in position and in flu ence . Eleven of them sat at various times in the

. Fa irfa x e s House of Burgesses Two of them , the , were members of “ His Maj esty ’ s Council for Vir ” ginia . Another of her Vestrymen was George fi rs t Mason , one of the among the founders of the State and the great political thinkers of his age ; while still another was declared to be the ii INTRODUCTION

” Greatest man of any age , the imperial George

Washington .

These men , however exalted their native genius , had and needed to have their period of training , that their characters might be matured on lines of piety and righteousness , their opinions formed in full view of the needs and capacities of their fi e lds people , and their abilities ripened in the of practical experience . They received this training in part as Parish Vestrymen . It was no mean school in which to learn the rudiments of popular government , the foundations of human rights , or the reconciliation of diverse policies . The Vestry Records of Truro Parish have there fore a value quite unique as the sole and absolutely authentic record of the parochial administration ff and government of these great men . The a airs which occupied their attention seem small indeed as compared with those w hich afterward demanded the consecration of their powers , but they brought to them the same practical wisdom , scrupulous justice and exact attention to detail which char a c te riz e d them later as master workmen in making the history and building the liberties of a nation . For the recovery and preservation of these records we are indebted to the late Reverend

Doctor Philip Slaughter , Clergyman , Genealogist ,

Antiquarian and Historian , whose name will long be held in affectionate remembrance in Virginia . H e was the author of no large work, but his his iii INTRODUCTION

’ ’ S t S t . tories of . George s , Bristol , and Mark s

Parishes , and very many pamphlets , articles and published addresses , combine to form a great con tributio n to the historical collections of his native

. State , and an enduring monument to his memory A few years before his death he was so fortunate as to discover the whereabouts of the old Vestry Book of Truro Parish which had been lost to sight

- for three quarters of a century , and did not rest H e until it came into his possession . afterwards a c committed it to the Vestry of Pohick Church , c e pting only the small sum in return which it h a d it cost him to acquire , but not before he had com piled from its time - worn pages the History of Truro Parish which i s here presented to the reader . It was almost his last literary labor , and indeed the infirmitie s of age forbade his giving the work of his amanuenses his fina l revision and cor e n rections . The incomplete manuscript was A trusted to the Rev . Dr . Samuel . Wallis , then

Rector of Pohick , to be published when the means for doing so should be forthcoming . At the request of Dr . Wallis I have prepared the history for publication . The manuscript has been wholly re - written ; more copious extracts from the records of the Vestry have been incorporated , so that it now includes all that is of general value in

- the Vestry Book , the language and spelling of which have been preserved ; a few errors and over sights have been found and corrected ; and in one iv INTRODUCTI O N

place , for reasons noted in the text , a number of pages of my own have been inserted in lieu of the ’ author s . With these exceptions the continuous narrative is as nearly as possible as Dr . Slaughter i o wrote t . My own additions therwise appear in

- the form of foot notes and addenda .

L GOODW I N . EDWARD .

The Rectory,

Fairfax , Virginia .

T H E GE N E S I S O F TRUR O PARI SH

Among the prominent features in the physio g n o my of Eastern Virginia are the great rivers which run from the blue mountains and pour their streams into the bosom of the “ Mother of

Waters , as the Indians called the Chesapeake

Bay . Along these rivers , which were then the fi rst only roads , the settlers penetrated the wilder ness . This explains the seeming anomaly , that the fi rst Parishes and counties often included both o sides of broad rivers , it being easier to g to Court and to Church by water , than through forests by “ what were called in those days bridle paths . Hence Parishes were often sixty or more miles long and of little breadth . The space between the rivers was called Necks . Among the most his in toric of these was the Northern Neck , which cluded all the l and between the Potomac and the Ra ppa h a nno c k rivers from their head springs to the Chesapeake Bay . This was the princely plan ta tio n of Lord Fairfax . Within this territory were Fa irfa x e s the seats of the , Washingtons , Masons , M c Ca rt s y , Fitzhughs , Brents , Alexanders , Lew is e s s , Mercers , Daniels , Carters , Dade , Stuarts , Ta lo e s Corbins , y , Steptoes , Newtons , B rowns , TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

Lees , Thorntons , Balls , Smiths , and other leading families too many to mention , who dispensed an elegant hospitality at Northumberland House ,

Nomini , Stratford , Chantilly , Mount Airy , Sabine

Hall , B edford , Albion , Cedar Grove , B oscobel

Ma rl e b o ro u h W o o dsto c k Richland , g , , Gunston ,

VVo o dla w n . Belvoir , , Mount Vernon , etc B egin L ning at ancaster , county was taken from county ,

Parish from Parish , as the population of each 1 0 passed the frontiers , until in 73 Prince William was taken from Stafford and King George Coun Ch a a w a n sic k ties , above pp Creek and Deep Run , “ ” and along the Potomac , to the Great Mountains .

This became also Hamilton Parish ; which Parish , by an Act of the General Assembly passed at the 1 2 ff fi rs Session of May, 73 , to take e ect the t of the following November , was divided into two Par “ B O c k o ua n ishes y the river q , and the Bull Run ,

(a branch thereof, ) and a course from thence to the Indian Thoroughfare of the Blue Ridge of Moun ” ’ tains , (Ashby s Gap . ) All that part of Prince William lying below the said bounds was to retain “ the name of Hamilton , And all that other part of the said county, which lies above those bounds , shall hereafter be called and known by the name ” of Truro . The Parish was named after the Parish in Cornwall , in England , which is now the Diocese of Truro . n P T Such is the ge esis of the arish of ruro , which extended along the Potomac from the

2 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

mouth of O ccoquan to the Blue Ridge , including what are now the Parishes of Truro , Cameron , Fairfax and Within this territory there were three churches . Occoquan , William “ ” Gunnells , and a chapel above Goose Creek . The present writer has been so fortunate as to fin d the old Vestry Book of Truro Pari sh ; so long lost to the public eye that ev en Bishop M eade said he could “ hear no tidings ” of it and was con strained to construct his sketch of the Parish from such facts and traditions as he could gather from other sources and from his own rich personal fi rs knowledge . It is now possible for the t time to authenticate its history by its own records , 1 2 1 8 which are continuous from 73 to 7 5 , when the civil functions of the Vestries were devolved b y law upon the Overseers of the Poor . This book also contains a record of the proceedings of the 1 8 1 8 0 2 O v erseers of the Poor from 7 7 to , thus handing down the names of persons , many of h w om had been Vestrymen of the Church . The Vestry Book opens with a recitation of the Act of the General Assembly instituting the Par ish , the election of the Vestry and the proceedings fi r t of their s meeting . The Act of Assembly pre scribed that the Sheriff of the County should sum mon the freeholders and housekeepers to meet and “ elect so many o f the most able and discreet per

* These are Colonial Parishes . Those of more recent foundation M c Gi l l in the same territory are Johns , Upper Truro , , and a p art of Meade . THE H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH sons in the said Parish as shall make up the num " ber of Vestrymen in the said Parish twelve and no “ more . Which order being complied with , Five of the Vestrymen elected , to witt , Charles Broad water , Richard Osborn , John Lewis , Gabriel

Adams , and Edward Emms , together with D enis

M c . Ca rt y , John Heryford , and Edward Barry , having taken the oaths appointed by law , and Sub scribed to b e conformable to the doctrine and dis c i lin e p of the Church of England , took their first places in the Vestry accordingly . The Vestry th 1 2 met on November 7 , 73 , with the above gen l t e m e n present . Edward Barry was nominated for “ Clerk , and the question was put whether the said

Barry should enj oy the place or not , which was ’ carried in the said Barry s favour . And he was ” thereupon sworn , and took his place accordingly . “ H e was ordered to pro vide paper books for the minutes and orders of this Vestry , and that he be paid for the same at the laying of the next parish levy . John H eryford and Edward Emms were e chosen Churchwardens for that year , and wer At sworn accordingly . the next meeting of the 2 6 1 Vestry , held March , 733 , John Sturman and

Giles Tillett were added to the Vestry , and there were present a lso Francis Aubrey and William O r Godfrey , not previously mentioned . It was dered , that the Churchwardens give publick notice to workmen to appear at the next Vestry to be h eld for this parish to agree for the building of a

4 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH Church at the cross roads near Michael Reagans ”

. At 1 6 1 in this parish the meeting on April , 733 , Michael Ashford took the oaths and subscribed the An test as a Vestryman . agreement was made with the Rev . Lawrence D e Butts to preach three “ a t times a month for one year , Occoquan Church , ’ the new Church , or William Gunnell s , and at the Chappell above Goos e for the sum of eight thousand pounds of tobacco clear of the — Warehouse charges and abatements , And the said De Butts doth further agree to and with the

Vestry aforesaid , that in case he fails , or is by the weather prevented to preach at any of the places o af resaid , any of the times aforesaid , tobacco shall only be levied for him in proportion to his service .

M r. D e Butts seems to have been a bird of pass 1 2 1 1 2 age . From 7 to about 7 8 he was Minister of Washington Parish in Westmoreland County , o ffic ia te d where he had two churches , and also dur ing the week in the neighboring Parishes of S t .

‘ i D r . w a s Occoquan Church , wh ch Slaughter could not identify , none other than the old Pohick Church , which stood about two miles from the ferry over the Occoquan at or near Colchester . When fi r s t this Church was built is not known , but it was an Upper ” - - o f O v e rw h a rt o n . H Church , or Chapel Ease , in Parish When am a 1 1 7 3 0 ilton P rish was formed , January , , it was ordered that the freeholders and housekeepers meet “ A t the Church above Occoquan ” “ ” ferry to elect their Vestry , above meaning up the Potomac . NV h e n Truro was set apart two years later this Church falls again 1 7 i s a in a new Parish . After the year 3 3 the name Occoquan d p ‘ pears and that of Pohick is substitute d . The Church stood until d 4 superse ed by the new or present Pohick in 1 7 7 . “ ’ ” William Gunnell s Church was probably a temporary , or per b haps a rented , building , and may have been situated not far elow D i ffi c ul t R un . I , as the Gunnells owned land in that vicinity t dis “ ’ " t h e c appears after building of the Church near Mi hael Reagan s , and may be considered the fi rs t Falls Church . The location of the ” i h d Chapel above Goose Creek is not known . It was still un fi n s e 1 7 3 6 . at this time . being completed in TH E H I STO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

’ t Stephen s , Nor humberland ; Farnham , Richmond

County ; and Cople , Westmoreland , when they

1 1 S t . were vacant . In 73 he was employed in ’ 0 0 Mark s Parish , Culpepper County , at 5 pounds r of tobacco a se mon , and now is in Truro for one * At year . the expiration of this engagement he seems to have preached eight sermons in the Par 2 ish , for which he received 4 5 pounds of tobacco per sermon , and then he disappears from the

. record , having , we believe , gone to Maryland 1 th M r 733 , June o , . Richard Blackburn agreed with the Vestry to build a Church at the Cross ’ “ Roads near Michael Reagan s , Forty feet in length , two and twenty feet wide , and thirteen feet pitch , to be weather boarded , covered , and all the ’ inside work p e rfo rm d and done after the same manner the work upon Pohick Church is done , for the sum of thirty- three thousand five hundred pounds of tobacco . William Godfrey and Michael Ashford were “ to take care that the work upon the Church be well and suffic ie n tly done and per ” 1 2 : formed ? th . O ctober Jeremiah Bronaugh

* ” Paul Leicester Ford , in The True George Washington , sup r o ffi c i a t e d poses that this M . De Butts at the baptism of Washing ton . It is most improbable that such was the case . George Wash i n t o n g was born in Washington Parish , Westmoreland County Feb rua ry l 1 t h 1 7 3 1 - 2 ( i , Old style , ) and was baptized the third of Apr l

M r. following , according to the record in the family Bible . De Butts had left Westmoreland several years before , and was now o ffi c i a t i n g in Truro Parish .

TTh i s h 1 7 5 7 was known as the Upper C urch until , when the “ ” n fi r s t ame Falls Church is applied to it in the Vestry Book , prob m ably to distinguish it ore clearly from the Church in Alexandria . The Church was apparently built on land to which no title had been 1 7 4 6 acquired , for in the Church Wardens were directed to pay John Tramm el fi ft y shillings sterling for two acres of land at t h e a n d 1 9 t h Upper Church , on the of March of that year Trammel 6

THE HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI S H

G . . : (Rev . Charles Green , ) in these words Capt

Co lvill appears to have been a 1 3th Vestryman . This is no ted because when a Burgess for this County he promoted e dissolution of the Vestry — y hirn se lf . as illegal , the only illegal Vestryman ff 0 0 John Heryford o ered to sell 3 acres of land ,

Scituate , Lying and being upon Accotink , and near the plantation of David Jones , for a Glebe , 1 2 0 0 0 for pounds of tobacco . It was ordered that h e o ff H e r fo rcl the land laid at the cost of said y , and that John Sturman provide Deeds of Lease and Release for conveying the land sold to this o r parish for a Glebe . The Churchwardens were m 0 0 0 dered to receive of W . Godfrey 5 pounds of tobacco he had assumed to pay to this parish for the parish of Hamilton . “ At a Vestry held for Truro Parish on the 2 3d . —7 1 V\ h e re a s Co lvill . day of 7ber , 734 , John Gent one of the members of this Vestry , is in a short time bound for Great Brittain , and hath promised us that he will use his interest to procure a dis c re e t and Godly Minister of the Church of Eng land , to come over and settle in our said parish . And further that he will accommodate any such w person ith a free passage hither , on board any of his ships , if he is ready to come in any of them . and will accept of the same . We do therefore hereby impower and desire the said John Co lvill a fi a ir to negotiate the said in our behalf , either by making application to his Grace the Lord Bishop 8 TH E HI STO RY OF T RURO PARISH

of London , or by treating with any gentleman ua lifi e d q as aforesaid in his private capacity , who shall be willing to come over and settle here . And o f we do agree to accept , and provide for him , in as full and ample manner as the law of this Colony ” directs . Signed by the Churchwardens and the five * additional Vestrymen present . 1 l 1 th 734 . O ct . . After the expiration of the M r year for w hich the Rev . . De Butts had been employed he seems to have preached occasionally in the Parish , for at a Vestry of this date provision was made for paying hiin 1 9 70 pounds of tobacco “ for preaching eight sermons Payment was “ Mr a lso ordered for . Catesby Cocke for Clerks ” Fees , to John Trammell for grubing a place for ” “ the Church , to John Massey for keeping a house in for the minister to preach , and to the Church “ wardens to buy tarr for the Churches . The ” salary of each Reader in this parish was fixe d for 1 0 0 the next y ear at 0 pounds of tobacco . “

1 1 8 . 73 5 . Nov . th Augustine Washington gent . being this day sworn one of the members of ” this Vestry , took his place therein accordingly . “ ” “A W G. : . . C . interlines this note a fourteenth

L . W Vestryman , father to . the other Burgess when Truro Vestry was dissolved ” ?

* Nothing more is found in the Vestry Book in regard to thi s effort to procure a minister from England . Doubtless it was for t un a t e c . for the Parish that the plan , for some reason , mis arried F a t h e r T also of George Washington , who inherited Mount Vernon c i n from his brother , Lawren e Washington , the Burgess here d ic a t e d . O F TH E H I STO RY TRURO , PARI SH

re Payment was ordered to Catesby Cocke , for cording deeds and copies of the lists of tith a ble s in the 1 6 8 pounds of tobacco ; to Edward

Barry , Clerk of the Church , (Pohick , ) and Vestry , 1 0 0 5 pounds ; to Samuel Hull , Clerk of the

Ch a él p above Goose Creek , and Joseph John 1 0 0 0 son , Clerk of the new Church , pounds each , 0 0 and to Oliver Roe , Sexton at Pohick , 3 pound s “A h t a Vestry held for Truro Parish the 1 9 t .

1 6 —M r day of August , 73 , . Charles Green , being r Au usti ecommended to this Vestry by Capt . g z e Washington as a person qua lifi e d to o ffic ia te as a Minister of this Parish as soon as he shall receive orders from his Grace the Bishop of London to

r qualify himself for the same . It is therefore o dered by this Vestry , that as soon as the said ua lifie d re Green has q himself as aforesaid , he be c e ive d and entertained as Minister of the said Par ish . And the said Vestry do humbly recommend the said Charles Green to the Right Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax for his Letters of re c o m m e n da tio n and Presentation to his Grace the said

* All male persons of the age of sixteen years or upwards , and l " a so negro , mulatto and indian women of like age , ( except tribu “ tary indians to this government , were tithable or chargeable t h e for county and parish levies . But Court or Vestry , for reasons ” in charity , could excuse indigent persons from payment , and this 1 7 6 t i t h a b l e s . was frequently done . In 3 3 there were 6 7 in Truro Ten years later there were This indicates the growth of t h e

. population The Parish Levy varied widely year by year , the aver age being about 3 4 pounds of tobacco per poll . I O THE H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH Lord Bishop of London to qualify him as afore said .

Jeremiah Bronaugh , Church Warden . M c a r W illm C t . Denis . y Godfrey

August . Washington James Baxter Ric h d . Osborn Edward Barry ” John Sturman Thos . Lewis . 1 1 h October t . The Vestry met and made the usual appropriations for the o ffic e rs of the Church and for the support of the poor . They also made o ffic ia te a bargain with the Rev . John Holmes to “ W l‘ ' in the Parish , in these o ds Ordered that the L y . M r e d . John Holmes be received and enter a in e d t in this Parish , as Minister thereof ; and that ” he be provided for as the Law directs . Further , “ M r it was O rdered that the Reverend . John Holmes Minister of this Parish preach six times in each y ear at the Chappell above Goose Creek : and it is also ordered , that the Sundays he preaches at the said Chappell the sermon shall be taken A from the new Church . t the bottom of the page —“ is the following note , signed Cha . Green ; The Levity of the Members of the Vestry is worth l n a e d . Co lvill otice , They pp y to Collo entered

2 d . 1 an order , 3 Sept . 734 for him to procure them Cle r rna n B a gy from England . y the order on the other page they gave Cha . Green a title to the

P 5 11 . when ordained , and he had scarcely left the Mr country when they received . John Holmes into the parish as appears by the above order .

I I TH E H I STO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

N B M a . . r. Holmes was an Itinerant Pre cher with out any orders , recd . contrary to Law .

M r This note was made after . Green became

Rector of the Parish . The foregoing entries are the only evidence of the connection of Messrs .

De Butts and Holmes with the Parish . These facts were unknown to Bishop M eade , who never saw this record . This book also reveals the fact that the Rev . James Keith , of Hamilton Parish , r the Grandfathe of Chief Justice Marshall , also o ffic ia te d in this Parish , when it was without a A e n minister . t this very Vestry an order was te re d M r to pay the Rev . . James Keith pounds of tobacco for services rendered . On 1 2 th 1 the of April , 737 , a long contract with minute sp e c ifi c a tio n s is recorded with William Berkeley for building a Mansion house on the

Glebe , with kitchen , barn , dairy , meat house , and all other appurtenances to a well furnished coun s e c ific a tio n s try residence . The p as to the quality of the timber , the style of the work , etc . , would be a suggestive and p ro fita bl e study for modern

Vestrymen . The cost of the buildings was to be ’ pounds of tobacco . B erkeley s bond , to

Jeremiah Bronaugh and Thomas Lewis , Church n Warde s , with Lewis Ellzey, Hugh West , George

Harrison , and John Minor as bondsmen , and Val . S a in tc la re Peyton , Abraham and Joseph Cash as

. At witnesses , is also recorded in the Vestry Book the same time an agreement Wa s made with John

1 2 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH Summers to pale in the yard about the new Church after the same manner the yard about th e in Church at Pohick is paled , (only the pails to be s uffic ie nt sawed , ) to make good and shutters for the windows of the said Church , and to make and erect two good and substantial horse blocks , for

30 0 0 pounds of tobacco .

M . D . TH E RE V . CH L S G N AR E REE , , T H E FI RST RE GU LAR RECT OR

o r TRU R o PARI S H .

1 The Vestry which met on the 3th of August , fi rst 1 737 , was the which was held under the aus ic e s p of a regular Rector , and the following pro c e e din g s were entered on the minutes : “ Whereas at a Vestry held for this Parish on the nineteenth day of August one thousand seven

u M r. h ndred and thirty six , the now Reverend Charles Green was recommended to the Right

Honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax , for his presen ta tio n of the said Green to the Lord Bishop of

London for his ordination . And it now appearing to this Vestry, as well by the letter of the Honor E s r able William Gooch q . Lieutenant Governor

Mr. of Virginia , as the letter of the Reverend

James Blair Commissary , that the said Green is regularly and legally ordained . It is therefore ordered by this Vestry , that the said Green be n o i received into , and entertai ed as Minister , this

1 3 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO P ARl S H

parish ; and that he be provided for , as the laws of this Colony

This being passed there is noted as Present , the reverend M r. Charles Green Minister . “ Ordered , that the Church Wardens place the people that are not already placed , in Pohick and the new Churches , in pews , according to their ” several ranks and degrees . “ five Ordered , that the sum of two thousand hundred pounds of tobacco be yearly levied for

M r. the Reverend Charles Green , until the build ings that are to be erected upon the Glebe be com pleated according to agreement made with the ” undertaker . “ M r O rdered , that the Reverend . Charles

Green preach four times in a year only , at the r k Chappell above Goose C e . And that the Sun day he preaches at the said Chappell the sermon shall be taken from the new Church . At 1 a Vestry on the third day of O ctober , 737 , the usual appropriations for the salaries of the o ffi c e rs minister and other of the Church , and for the poor and other current expenses of the Parish ,

‘ r The Rev . M . Green was a Doctor of Medicine before he t ook orders , and appears to have practised to some extent afterwards . O n at least one occasion he was called in at Mount Vernon , for lack of a regular practitioner , and prescribed for the relief of Mrs . . H e w a s Washington a large landowner , and his Deeds , in which he is described as Doctor of Physic and Clerk of Truro Parish , are of frequent occurrence in the land records of the County. In his latter years his health appears to have been poor . In his will , pro 1 9 1h 1 7 6 5 h e bated August , , leaves acres of land , lying in

h i s . H Fairfax , Prince William and Loudoun . to wife e also men t t t , w t t ions cer ain rela ives in Ireland and advises his ife o rIe urn to that country , from which it is supposed that he was an rish man . 1 4

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

mission of 6 per cent . was paid for collecting the levy . “ t h Whereas e Rev . Charles Green hath this day agreed with the Vestry to take the tobacco levied to purchase books for the Chappell above Goose

Creek and ornaments for the Churches , at the rate of eleven shillings current money per hun H e dred . by the said agreement obliging himself h n d to and provide the said books and ornaments , fif fi rs being allowed ty per cent . upon the t cost in r accounting with the Church Wardens . It is o dered that the collector pay to the said Green the 8 0 0 0 sum of pounds of tobacco , it being the quan

M r. tity this day levied for the purpose aforesaid . Green also contracted to build the addition to the

Glebe house for the sum appropriated . Among the o ffi c e s of the Church Wardens was the duty of binding orphan and other indigent children as Apprentices ; and ten pages of the Ves try Book at this period are fille d with Indentures . Their sp e c ifi c a tio n s in regard to the duties and morals of those apprenticed , their being taught to read English and the “ Art and mystery of shoe making , or of a Carpenter , or Cooper , etc . , are curious illustrations of the times . At 6 th 1 0 a Vestry held . of O ctober , 74 , a peti r tion was presented from William Fairfax E sq .

Catesby Cocke , Gent . and Charles Green , Doctor “ of Physick , setting forth that the Church at Pohick is too small to admit of a commodious re

1 6 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI S H c e ptio n for the parishioners who resort to divine services at the said Church , and praying that they may be admitted to build a Gallery at the West end of the said Church for the reception and more e a sie accommodation of themselves and their fami lies , and that the same may be erected at their ma y own proper cost . It is ordered that they s have liberty to erect the same , o that it does dis commode the lights of the Church , or interfere with any other conveniency thereto belonging . “ C o lvill Col . John is appointed and chosen Church ” Warden in the room of Thomas Lewis . In 1 74 1 nothing appears on the record but the a n ordinary routine of laying levies , and making u n al appropriations for the poor , and the other current expenses of the Parish .

I NSTI TUT I O N O F FAI RFAX COUNTY

In 1 74 2 Fa irfa x County was taken from

William , and the boundary lines of Truro and of the new county

* Ac The t forming the new County , Consisting of the Parish of ” ( Truro , including what are now Loudoun and Alexandria Counties ,

s t 1 7 4 2 . H V l ( , , as well as Fairfax , ) took effect December , ening “ " fi rs t - H H The Court ouse was established on Freedom ill . a mile or two north of the present village of Vienna , on l and deeded to the County by William Fairfax . Probably that was then near - the center of population . In 1 7 5 4 the Court House was moved to l s t 1 7 5 7 . o ff Alexandria , and on July , Loudoun County was cut from A n 4 1 7 8 9 Fairfax . Act of Assembly was passed December , , direct ing two acres of land to be purchased and the county buildings to “ ' c O r e te t e o t e r d , r Pr e b erec” d Wi hin one mil f h ross oa s nea ic s d i n a r . y , that being near the center of the County But it was not 1 8 0 1 - H c until that the present Court ouse was ompleted , on land deeded by Richard Ratcliffe , and the Court removed . The village wh ich slowly grew up at the County seat received the n a me of I 7 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH Among the duties of the Vestries was the appointment every four years of reputable Free “ ” — holders to perambulate the Parish , going around the plantations a nd renewing the land marks . This was called To d this end the Parish was divide into precincts , like our modern Townships . These are reproduced because they throw light upon the geography and population of the precincts at the time of the sev P ro c e s eral processionings , and also because the s io n e rs named owned land within their several precincts at that date , and their names and locali ties are thus prescribed . At 8 th 1 a Vestry held the of August , 74 3 , for “ appointing Processioners , etc . Pursuant to an order of Fairfax County Court the Vestry pro c e e d e d and laid o ff the said Parish into precincts and appointed Processioners in manner following :

Ordered , that Richard Simpson and Thos . Ford procession all the pa tte nte d lands that lye

t h e k Providence , while County seat of Culpeper County was nown as Fairfax . The old Virginia habit of calling the County seat “ - H The Court ouse prevailed , however , and both villages lost their fi n a l l th e names , until y , aided by the mandate of the Post O e De “ ” “ ” “ a rt m e n t - H p , Culpeper Court ouse became Culpeper and Fair “ - fax Court House h a s now become Fairfax . * 1 6 6 2 This was a revival in Virginia , in about the year , of an old En g lish and Scottish custom which had already fallen into dis i use n t h e old country . Processionings were required every four . a years Origin lly the Vestries had only to mark out the precincts , a n d appoint the days , between Easter and Whitsunday , for the

i . processioning , which was performed by the part es interested but after 1 7 0 5 they had also to “ appoint at least two intelligent honest freeholders of each precinct to see such processioning performed , to take and return to the Vestry an account of every persons land they shall procession , and of the persons present at the same . These accounts were to be carefully recorded and preserved by the x Vestry in books specially provided . Three processionings fi e d the bounds of lands beyond dispute .

1 8 THE H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH between Occoquan and Pohick on the upper side Ox of the road , and between that and O ccoquan as far up as Popes head . and that they perform the same sometime in the month of O ctober or No ve mb e r next and report their proceedings accord ing to Law . In like manner it was ordered , that William Cha mpn e ys and Francis Cofer procession between O ccoquan and Pohick , and on the lower Ox side of the road , as far up as the head branches of Popes head ; that John Manley and John Brown procession between Pohick and Doegs Creek , 0 1 from the head branches of Pohick by C . Fitz hughs Rolling road , to the head of Doegs Run ; that Zephaniah Wade and Sampson Darrell pro cession between Doegs Run and Great Hunting Creek ; that Daniel French Senior and John Glad din procession between Great Hunting Creek and P imm e tts Run ; that James Robertson and Guy Broadwater procession between P imm e tts Run and Diffi c ult Run ; that John Trammell and John Harle procession between Diffic ult Run and Broad Run ; that Anthony Hampton and William Moore procession between Broad Run and the south side of Goose Creek as far as the fork of Little River ; that Philip Noland and John Lasswell procession between Goose Creek and Limestone Run as far as th e fork of Little River ; that Amos Janney and William Halling procession between Limestone “ Run and the south branch of Kito c ta n ; Between Kito c ta n the south fork of and Williams Gap , no

I 9 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

freeholder in this precinct . Between Williams

Gap , Ashbys Gap , the county line , and Goose

Creek , to the Beaver Dam , and back to the Gap .

No freeholder in this precinct . Between the Beaver Dam and the north east fork of Goose — Creek . No freeholder in this precinct . that Lovel Jackson and Jacob Lasswell procession b e tween the north east and north west forks of Goose Creek ; that John Middleton and Edward Hews procession between Little River and Goose Creek ; that William West and William Hall Junior pro cession between Little River and Walnut Gabbin branch ; that George Adams and Daniel Diskin Ca bbin procession between Walnut branch , Broad run and Cub run ; that William Berkley and Vin cent Lewis procession between Cub run and Popes “ head . Ordered , that the Processioners , accord ing to their j udgement , shape a line from the head of one branch to the head of another ; and that if ' any persons land crosses a n y of the n a tura l b o un da r s fi rst y mentioned , the set of Processioners are ” o l to g round the and .

Y D I S S L V D N E W Y VESTR O E , AND A VESTR ELECTED

In 1 74 4 it was represented to the General As s e mbly that divers members of the Vestry of Truro

Parish were not able to read or write , and were lifi not otherwise qua e d . The Vestry was dissolved

2 0 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

f by an Act of Assembly , and the Sheri f of the County was ordered to call a meeting of the free holders and housekeepers to choose a new Vestry of the “ most able and discreet persons in the Par

’ ish . In obedience to this order the following

r persons we e chosen to compose the new Vestry ,

Capt . John West Capt . Richard Osborn

. M r Capt Lewis Ellzey . Daniel French M r. M r John Sturman . Edward Emms

M r. Capt . John Minor Robert Boggess M l r \ . il . Hugh Vest Colo John C o lv

M r. r M . And ew Hutchinson r. Charles Broadwater

These persons , having taken the oaths required by law to be taken , subscribed the test , and to be conformable to Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England were sworn Vestrymen of the Parish of Bishop Meade expresses surprise at this dissolu tion in view of the number of intelligent men in the Parish , and supposes that it must have taken place elsewhere . But the Rev . Charles Green made a note in the Vestry Book which explains “ H e the proceeding . says that One of the causes assigned for the dissolution of the Vestry was that

‘ c These politi al oaths were three in number, and the third was quite long . They were oaths of allegiance and of abjuration of Popery and of the Pretender , etc and were required of all Civil and Military o ffi c e rs by the laws of England and of Virginia. They ' “ B . o l d s may be seen"in p Meade s Churches , Ministers and Familie I I . 4 1 h a s of Virginia , Vol . , p . It seems to ave required as many ix oaths and subscriptions properly to qualify a Vestryman in tho s e sa y s .

2 1 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH several of them were illiterate . There was but one of them illiterate , namely Edward Emms , who was ” T h e reelected . truth seems to be that the D ele gates to the Assembly and other leading men often had Vestries dissolved when they displeased

John West and Lewis Ellzey were sworn as

Church Wardens , and William Henry Terrett was elected Clerk of the Vestry . 1 1 th 74 5 , April 5 . Messrs . John West , Hugh

West , Hutchinson , French , Boggess and Broad water were appointed to view the most con ve n ie nt S a ilsbur place between y plain , Little river and Potomac river for a Chappel of Ease to be built , and to treat with the workmen about the ” ” building thereof, and report to the Vestry ? Also

‘ The Act of D issolving the Vestry of Truro was proposed in the H c E s . . 1 5 1 7 4 4 . ouse of Burgesses by Lawren e Washingt on , q , Oct , ’ H e n i n s . V . 2 7 4 . It will be found in g Statutes , Vol , p The pre amble states that “ many of them were never lawfully chosen or u i q a l fi e d ; that several are not able t o read or write . While the charge of illiteracy was doubtless overstated there can be no doubt that some of the Vestrymen were not lawfully chosen ; for while the law was very explicit in limiting the number of Vestrymen in a parish to twelve , there were at least sixteen at one time in Truro , and on three occasions thirteen were recorded as being present at a Vestry. B y an Act of Assembly in 1 7 4 5 the election of the new Vestry c o n fi rm e d a r was , and the s id Vest y was established as the legal . H V . 8 . 3 0 . Vestry of the Parish ening , Vol , p ' O n 1This Church was n ot buil t by the Truro Vestry. October 7 th “ t e ye r t w O , t t t e to b t of hiscsam a i as rdered ha h Church be uil be built at Ro ky run instead of the place already appointed , it appear ing there is no water there , and that the Clerk prepare deeds for Capt . Newton to sign and execute for land for the use of the Church . W e B o o k a n d After this hear nothing more of it in the Vestry , no t o b a c c o o was levied in this Parish for its erection . The site se l e c t e d t 1 7 4 9 a n d ell in Cameron Parish upon the division in , that the Church was built immediately thereafter we discover from a. fragment of the records of the County Court of Fairfax for that c . O n 2 1 1 7 5 2 r od w es e tru t y , , t e C t pe i “hi h cap d des c ion Jul h our L H r H ordered That ewis Ellzey , ugh West i . James amilton , Dem C a i rd e a s H v a n d sie and J me alley , or any three of them , iew mark a w a y for a ro a d to b e cl e a re d t h e mo s t conveni e nt w a y f ro m

2 2

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

and condition of the work , whether there is an de ” “ fi c ie n c y or not . Also it was O rdered , that the Minister preach eight times in the year at the New

Church , and that he do proportion the times equally from each The following items from the accounts current show the payments to the o ffic e rs of the Churches . : etc .

Rev . Charles Green , Salary

and cask lbs . of tobacco

Clerks at Pohick , Upper

Church , New Church , 1 2 0 0 and Goose Creek , each . Clerk of the Vestry 5 0 0 R Mary ennit . Sexton at

the Upper Church . w s Do . for a hing the sur plic e

Philip Howel . Sexton at

Pohick , and washing surplice twice a Hugh West , for ccount book

Do . for bringing said book from VVillia m sburg 5 0

* This Church w a s probably located near the present village o r Dranesville . T h e deed from Hutchinson to the Vestry is on record ’ O ffi c e d 1 9 t h 1 7 4 5 . H e in the Clerk s of Fairfax , ated August , con o ff veys two acres , near the Mountain road , to be laid at the ex pense of the Parish , so as to include the Church intended and g h O u d a reed to be built t ereon , with a spring , etc . the ivision o f t the Parish his Church fell in Cameron . 2 4 THE H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

Dr. Robinson , physick and 1 2 0 0 attendance on poor . a c Dr . Daniel Hart , per

count , for poor .

Various items , relief of the

poor , one year .

A MAN DAM U S

1 In the proceedings of the Vestry for June , 74 7 , it is said that a Mandamus was presented to the Vestry in behalf of William Grove ; who being ex a min e d denied that he knew anything of its being ’ p rosecuted , and also quit all claim to the Clerk s fi rs s place . This is the t instance of a Mandamu being served on a Vestry that I ha ve met with . It i s explained by a note on the margin by the Minis “ : ter , thus William Grove was recommended to me by Capt . Newton as a person capable to be

Clerk Etc . but on trial was found not capable .

Also he came into the County convicted , though probably he might have behaved well afterward . Ch a m n e s For these reasons I appointed W m . p y ” Clerk , which occasioned the Mandamus . William Grove was made S exton at the new h Churc . 1 8 e In 74 , in addition to the usual it ms , pay ments were made to John Graham , Valentine

Wade , Mary Willis , Baldwin Dade , John Carlyle ,

2 5 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI S H

and William Moore for levies overcharged , and to Dr . John Hunter for services to the poor .

FIRST D I V I SI O N o r TRU Ro PARIS H

B 1 8 y an act of the Assembly of O ctober , 74 , it w a s enacted that from and after the eleventh day of June then next Truro Parish should be divided , " by Diffi c ult Run and its meanders from the mouth to the head thereof , thence by a line to the head of Popes head run , and down the said run to the ” mouth thereof . All on the lower side of said runs and line to retain the name of Truro , and all on the upper side to be one other distinct Parish and called by the name of Truro w a s now limited to the foregoing metes and bounds ; and Cameron Parish had j urisdiction w above the said line , ith its own Minister and Ves 0 tith a bl e s try . The division transferred 7 7 to

1 2 0 . Cameron , leaving 4 in Truro Several of the

* ’ H e n i n s V o l . I . 2 14 2 7 1 . 1 7 5 7 See g Statutes , V , p p and In Fair fax County was divided and Loudoun County formed , the line “ : D i mc ul t P a t o w m a c k being as follows run , which falls into river , run and a line to be from the head of the said run , a straight ” course , to the mouth of Rocky run ; ( Now known as Little Rocky

R , ty t t B R . ) t t un emp ing in o he ull un THhis lef a small par of Cameron Parish , lying between Popes ead and the above line , . B f c l s t still in Fairfax y another Act , however , in e fe t January . 1 7 6 3 , this was taken from Cameron and added to Truro , so that

. H V o l . the parish and County lines should coincide ( See ening , V I I . 1 4 8 1 7 9 8 , p p and In the present line between Fairfax and Loudoun was established , being about eight miles west of the old line ; but of course at that date no change was made in the L i Parish lines by the eg slature , and Cameron again lay partly in . 1 8 8 4 Fairfax This fact was forgotten , however , and when in a r i new Parish was formed , almost entirely within the ter tory of Cameron , it received the name of Upper Truro Parish .

2 6 OF TH E H I STO RY TRURO . PARIS H

old Vestrymen also lived in Cameron . The new o i Vestry of Truro consisted ,

Hugh West , Abraham Barnes ,

George Mason , Thomas Wren ,

James Hamilton , Robert Boggess

Charles Broadwater John Turley ,

Mc . Ca rt Daniel y , William Peake ,

William Payne , Jeremiah Bronaugh . This is the fi rst appearance of the great Author

k Mr. of the Bill of Rights in the Vestry B o o . fe w Bronaugh died within a months , and was suc c e e d e d M r as Church Warden by . Mason and as Vestryman by John

- - 1 1 0 \ February 9 , 74 9 5 , the Vestry agree with

Charles Broadwater Gent . to make an addition to the Upper Church , according to plans produced , for pounds of tobacco . It was also ordered that the sills and sleepers of Pohick Church be repaired , the north side of the Church newly shingled with poplar or chestnut shingles , that windows be made in the “Justices Pew ” and in the “ ” Womens Pew , that the Church be raised and new blocked , and that a Vestry House be built , sixteen feet square , framed and clapboarded , to “ have a n inside wooden chimney and to be lofted ” Mc a r . C t with clapboards . Capt Daniel y under takes this work for pounds of tobacco , he

‘ This was the third Vestry of Truro . We miss henceforward s r everal familiar names , among them our old friends , Edwa d Emms , Richard Osborn and Andrew Hutchinson . It is very likely that two at least of these would be found on the fi rs t Vestry of Cameron . 2 7 TH E H I STO RY OF TRURO PARIS H having also the material in the old Vestry H ouse to make what use of he can in building the new . w After ard this work was ordered to be deferred , and two years later the contract , with the addition of a window by the pulpit and making good the M r pews and floor . was given to . Daniel French

- for sixty three pounds current money . O n 2 0 th 1 1 T the of May, 75 , it was ordered , hat the Clerk of the Vestry present unto the next Court of Claims and Propositions a petition in the name of the Minister , Churchwardens and Vestry ’ H o no ur l of this Parish to . House of Burgesses setting forth the in suffic ie n c y and inconveniency of the Glebe land of said Parish in order that an Act of Assembly be obtained for the Vestry to sell the same and buy land more convenient for the same uses , and also to pay the upper Parish of this County their proportion of w hat the said land ma y sell for In 1 75 2 an Act o f Assembl y granted the petition . The time for processioning the lands having come again , and the division of the Parish having changed its geography , etc . It was ordered that Jam es Donaldson and John Jenkins procession Diffic ult P imm e tts between and run , Guy Broad water and James Robertson betw een P imm e tts

‘ 8 1 7 5 2 . A From the County Court records , February th , peti tion for selling the Glebe lands in the Parish of Truro and pur chasing other lan"d more convenient presented and ordered c e rtifi e d to the Assembly . H I 2 7 0 . I c For the Act see ening , V , t is from this A t that we d c v is over the lines between Truro and Cameron , the Ac t pro iding for the division being lost except its t itle .

2 8 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

run and Four Mile run , Edward Masterson and William Gle a ding between Four Mile run and

Hunting Creek , Sampson Darrell and John Posey between Hunting Creek and Dogue run , Edward Violet and William Ashford between Dogue run and Accotink , Abraham Barnes and Robert Bog gess between Accotink and Pohick , William Rear don and John Hereford between Pohick and 0 c c o ua n q to Sandy run , Thomas Ford and Richard Simpson from Sandy run to Popes Head and the i l branches of D ffi c u t . 1 2 75 . The Glebe was sold at auction and r fift bought by M . William Ramsay for y pounds current money ; and 1 76 acres of land adj oining the old Glebe was bought of Rev . Charles Green in for pounds of tobacco . Proposals were vite d for buildings on the Glebe according to law . the dwelling house to be of brick , to contain in 1 2 0 0 the clear about feet , of one story and a cellar and convenient rooms and closets ; to be advertised in the Gazette and at the several Churches and Mr the Courthouse . In October . Thomas Waite contracted for the dwelling house and other houses 2 on the Glebe for 4 5 pounds current money, and

Rev . Charles Green undertook to do the rest of y the building necessar , apparently without com e n sa i n p t o . The Clerk of the Upper Church was directed to ” read prayers every intervening Sunday , and was 1 2 0 0 allowed pounds of tobacco for his salary . 2 9 THE H ISTO RY OF T RURO PARI SH

A LEX AN D RI A

1 th . On . 75 3 , June 4 the petition of Capt John e Rev M r West ord red that the . . Charles Green do preach every third Sunday at the Town of Alex fi rs andria . This is the t time Alexandria is men tio n e d in this record , and this is probably the date fi r of the st Chlrc h services there . Hitherto it has not been supposed that there had been Church ser 1 2 vice at Alexandria before 76 . It is not generally known that the site of Alexandria was included in a grant of land , acres , ) extending from VVil Hunting Creek to the Little Falls , from Sir liam Berkeley to Robert Howson . In O ctober , 1 66 9 , Howson , for six hogsheads of tobacco , con ve e d y these lands to John Alexander , who , with his brothers Robert and Gerard , had emigrated

I . from Scotland . (See Dinwiddie Papers , Vol . , p There had been for some years w arehouses ’ at Pohick , Hunting Creek , and at Thomas Lee s 1 8 land at the Falls , when , in 74 , a town named Alexandria was established by Act of Assembly \Va reh 0 us e l at Hunting Creek , sometimes cal ed

- B elle Haven . In 1 75 4 there is mention of the payment o f 1 0 0 “ pounds of tobacco to Capt . John West for part 1 6 of building the desk at Alexandria . And in 75 the Churchwardens are ordered to have seats made for the Church at ‘ Strange to say these are the only mentions made in this Ves s try Book of any levy or appropriation for building , furni hing or 3 0

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH than the time mentioned in your bond to compleat 1t O ’ rdered , that the King s Attorney do prose ” cute for this Parish . illia m a The Hon . W F irfax was appointed Ves

tr m a n W . y in the room of Hugh est , deceased The Churchwardens w ere directed to give notice for the impotent people of the Parish to appear before the Vestry the following May , and also any person w h o will undertake to board them . 1 September , 75 5 . The time for processioning

- o i b e land recurs , and some the details are given cause they throw light on the history of the Par ish . David Piper , John H ereford , and Marielles Littlej ohn are to procession the several tracts of land that have their beginnings between Occo quan , Potomac river , Accotink run and the road that leads from Hunting Creek through the Glebe land to Occoquan . John Peak , Daniel French , Ac John Posey , and Abednego Adams , between c o tin k , Potomac river , Hunting Creek and the road that leads from Hunting Creek through the

Glebe land . John Dalton , Thomas Harrison , John

Hunter , and Nathaniel Smith , between Hunting

Creek , Potomac river , and the road that leads from Aw b re ys ferry to the upper Church and the road that leads from Cameron to the said Church . Guy

Broadwater , James Robertson and James Donald Aw bre s son , between the road that leads from y ferry to the upper Church and the road from up

32 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

Diffic ult per Church to run , and then down the run to Potomac river , and then down the river to

Aw b re s . . y ferry Lewis Ellzey , James Hawley \Villia m ff Adams , and John Ratcli , between the iffi l road that leads from Cameron to D c u t run . a n d up the run and Parish line till the line comes to the road that leads from Cameron by Capt .

E llz e s Lewis y , and so down the said road to Cam C o x eron . Thomas Shaw , Presley , James Jugo D e mevill Dozier , Joseph Stephens , Sampson , and John Hampton between the road that leads from E llz e s Cameron by Capt . Lewis y to the Parish line , and so down the Parish line to O ccoquan ferry , and then up the road by the Glebe to Hunt ing Creek . 1 Mrs . Sybil We st is paid 8 0 0 pounds of tobacco

. W m for elements for the Churches . Payne and 1 Henry Gunnell chosen Vestrymen in 75 6 . 1 m e s tr m n 75 7 . Geo . W . Fairfax chosen V y a in the room of his father , Hon . William Fairfax , de * 1 ceased . Several part es were paid for attendance as witnesses in Churchwardens suit against Cole . 1 o f 75 8 . John West jun . becomes Clerk the

Vestry . George Mason , John West and Daniel

‘ i Will am Fairfax was a cousin of Thomas , Lord Fairfax , Pro p ri e to r i of the Northern Neck , and his agent in Virginia unt l he H o . himself came over. e was a Burgess from Prince William C 1 7 4 2 1 7 4 4 c ' from until . when he be ame a member of the Governor s Council . George Wi lliam Fairfax was a Burgess from Frederick - C o . 1 7 5 2 1 7 5 5 1 7 5 6 5 8 . H e c from to , and from Fairfax , also be ame 1 6 8 H a member of the Council in 7 . e was a half brother of the . L c Rev Bryan , ord Fairfax , afterward Rector of Christ Chur h , Alexa ndria . 33 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH Mcc arty to examine the Parish papers and report to the next Vestry . ’

1 . M r 759 . Waite , tho often admonished , having failed in doing his work at the Glebe build ings according to agreement , the Vestry take steps fina ll to annul his contract . William Bucklands y completes the work and is paid the balance due b e Waite . Processioners were again appointed , ing generally those who had served before . 1 1 760 and 1 76 . We have only the usual routine

Parish items and appropriations for salaries , main te n a n c e of the poor , Physicians and Lawyers ’ fees , etc . Mrs . Sybil West s account for elements for the Holy Communion is about 1 1 0 0 pounds of tobacco annually .

G O G Y M E R E WAS H I N GT O N , VEST R AN

h 1 6 2 . 2 t . 7 October 5 Ordered , that George E s r Washington q . be chosen and appointed one of the Vestrymen of this Parish in the room of Wil liam Peake Gent .

TH E FALLS CH U RCH

At a Vestry held at the Falls Church March

2 8 th 1 6 . , 7 3 Present , Henry Gunnell , William

Pay ne j un . Church Wardens , John West , William

s e n . . Payne ( ) Chas Broadwater , Thos Wren ,

‘ c From the Re ords of the County Court of Fairfax , February 1 sth 1 7 6 3 : E s r. c , George Washington q took the oaths ac ording to Law repeated and subscribed the Test and subscribed to the Doc trine and Discipline of the Church of England in order to qu a lify ” him to act as a Ve s trym a n of Truro P a rish . 34

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

M rt a c . Ca Abra . Barnes , D nl . y , Robt . Boggess , and

Geo . Washington , Vestrymen , Who being there met to examine into the state of the said Church , w greatly in decay and want of repairs , and like ise whether the same should be repaired or a new one built , and whether at the same place or remov ed to a more convenient one — Resolved it is the opinion of this Vestry that the old Church is un fit rotten and for repair , but that a new Church be built at the same place . Ordered that the Clerk of the Vestry advertise in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes for workmen to meet at the u 2 th said Ch rch on the 9 day of August next , if fi rst fair , if not the fair day , to undertake the build ing a Brick Church to contain 1 6 0 0 feet on the

floor , with a suitable gallery , and bring a plan for ” the Church and price according to the same .

There is no record of a meeting in August .

Probably no contractors appeared . “

rd . 1 6 . October 3 7 3 Ordered , that George

\Villia m Fairfax and George \Vashington E sqrs . be appointed Church Wardens for the ensuing year . “ O rdered , that the Vestry meet at Alexandria 0 11 the third Tuesday in March next in order to a gree with workmen to undertake the building a

Church at or near the old Falls Church , and that the Church Wardens advertise the same in the Vir ginia and Maryland Gazettes to b e continued six w eeks ; and that it will b e then expected of each

3 5 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI SH workmen to produce a plan and estimate of the ” expense . The Parish Levy called for pounds of tobacco ” towards building the Falls

Church , to be sold for cash by the Church War ” A dens for the highest price they can get . gain there is no record of the meeting appointed for 1 6 * March ( 7 4 ) being held . But in the annual Levy laid in October of that year an additional pounds of tobacco is levied “ for building Churches ” in the Parish , and ordered to be sold as before .

John Barry becomes Clerk of the Vestry .

CO N V o r TRU Ro M o r SE D D I I SI O N , AND FOR AT I O N FAI R FAX PARI S H — [ Note by the Editor . The facts in regard to the division of Truro , and the formation s of Fairfax Parish , are not recorded in the Ve try

‘ Perhaps the Church Wardens overlooked their charge to a d ve r tise for contractors until after this Vestry was to have met. But 1 7 1 7 6 4 a on May th , , their advertisement appeared in the Maryl nd Gazette , a copy of which is preserved in the Library of Congress . : and ran for six weeks , as follows “ c c 2 0 1 7 6 4 . Virginia , Fairfax ounty, Mar h , Notice is hereby given to any Person or Persons , who are will ing to undertake the Building a Brick Church at the Falls in Truro ( 1 6 0 0 s u e rfi c i a l Parish in the County aforesaid , to contain feet p Measure , with convenient Galleries .) That on the Third Monday in June next , there will be a meeting of the Vestry , at what is com A t mouly called the Upper Church ; which Time and Place , any n Person or Perso s , who will undertake the same , are desired to E x n tt , w t t s , E t t t p e c e , t a end i h heir Plan c and s ima e of he and o give Bond , with good Se urity. to the Church wardens of the said m c . Parish , for his or their true perfor an e George W . Fairfax George Washington 2 Church wardens . There is no record of a meeting of the Vestry on the third Mon s e c ifi e d i f day in June , as p above . and t is probable that this e fort to secure a builder to undertake the Church was not successful . The present Falls Church was built a few years later by James W ren . 36

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

” sented to the House and read . It was referred to Messrs . George Johnston and John West , the two Burgesses from Fairfax , to prepare and bring in a Bill agreeable to the prayer of the petitioners . M r o ve mb e r rd . N 3 . Johnston presented the Bill for dividing the Parish of Truro , and it was passed on the 6 th and agreed to by the Council on the 2 h 6 t . The Act provided that the division should 1 st 1 6 take place from February , 5 , the line being 7 ‘ “ — M r by Doeg creek from the mouth thereof to . W' ’ George ashington s mill , and from thence , by u a straight line , to the plantation , of John M nroe , and the same course continued to the line that di ” vides the counties of Fairfax and Loudoun . All

P o to ma c w a s between this line and the . to be the new Parish of Fairfax . Each Parish was to elect its Vestry , at a time and place appointed by the

ff . Sheri , before the second of , the following April

(See Hening , VI I I . The elections were held in Truro on March 2 5 th and in Fairfax on March

2 8 th .

This division w a s exceedingly favorable to the new Parish , but naturally it met with small favor

. N o t sh o rn o f in Truro only was she . much more than half her strength , but the congregation of

Pohick , her one remaining Church , was divided . and Mount Vernon , with several other plantations which naturally belonged to this Church both from proximity and association , was now in Fair h fax Paris . Accordingly when the House of Bur

38 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

gesses , after a recess of several months , met again h n d 1 1 6 in May , we , under date of May 4 , 7 5 , that “ A petition of sundry inhabitants of the Parish of

Truro , praying a more , equal division of the said

Parish , also several petitions in opposition thereto , ” were presented to the House and read . These were referred to the Committe of Propositions and “ Griva n c e s , to examine into , the allegations there o i , and report the same with their Opinion to the ” i M r House . O this Committee . Johnston was a member , as was also George Washington , who at that time represented the County of Frederick , n where he was also a large freeholder . O the

1 5th the Committee reported two resolutions .

First , that the petition from Truro , complaining of the inequality in the late division , and praying that a new division be made , by a line to begin at Clifton ’ s or Johnson ’ s ferry on the Potomac and to run from thence to the ford over Dogue run , and on by the line that was afterward adopted , was “ ” reasonable . Second , that so much of the peti tion from Fairfax Parish in opposition thereto as P a rish e s b e prays that if the , divided it be by other “ ” a ' th r in lines s e e set forth was also reasonable . fi rst The proposition was rej ected , and the Com mitte e ordered to bring in a Bill in accordance with second resolution . The new Act was ‘ the presented the same day and recommitted , reported 2 2 d 2 d with amendments on the , passed the 3 , agreed to by the Council and w a s signed by the

39 T H E H I STO RY OF T RURO PARI S H

n o n Gover or on June I st , so becoming a law that date . The prea mble of this Act states that Whereas it is represented to this present General Assembly that the lines and boundaries whereby the Parish of Truro , in the County of Fairfax , was divided into two distinct Parishes , pursuant to an Act passed for that purpose in the former part of this s o i present ession , Assembly, have made a very unequal division of the said Parish , by leaving nearly double the number of tith a ble s in the new P arish of Fairfax than there are in Truro Parish , Be it there o re ena cted &c (sic) f . That the said Act ‘ b e , and is hereby repealed , and declared null and

. And be it urther ena cted T void f , hat from and after the ninth day of June next the said Parish of Truro shall be divided into two distinct Par ishes , in the following manner , that is to say ; From the mouth of Little Hunting creek , up the same to the forks thereof ; thence up the meanders of the south branch thereof, to the Gum Spring thereon ; from thence by a straight line to the ford o i C o lc h e s Dogue run , where the back road from ter to Alexandria crosses the said run ; and from ” thence by a straight line to the forks of Diffic ult .

All above said lines to be Fairfax Parish , and all s below to retain the name of Truro . New Vestrie were to be elected in each Parish before the fi rst of August following . H enry Lee , John Baylis , s Foushee Tebb , Allan Macrae , and William Car

4 0 TH E H I STO RY OF TRURO PARIS H

a d gentlemen , were appointed commissioners to j ust and divide the cost of the Glebe and improve ments thereon , and of the Church p late , and the pounds of tobacco levied for building

Churches and not yet expended , between the two Parishes according to the number of tith a ble s in each at th e time of the fi rs t division . (See H ening

VI II . A plot and description of the above 1 1 6 line , made by the County Surveyor , June 5 , 7 5 , ’ is on record in the Clerk s o ffic e of Fa irfa x County . s It is evident that Washington him elf, and his immense estate at Mount Vernon , was the princi pal bone of contention between the mother and daughter Parishes . The lines propo s ed ran , th e one on the south , the other on the north , of fina ll it the estate . The one y adopted divided , leaving far the larger part , however , with the man

s . a c sion hou e , in Truro That he would take an tive interest in the settlement of the question was inevitable , and doubtless his direct agency is to be seen in the compromise petition which found favor with the House of Burgesses and was the basis of their legislation . The Act which was passed may well have been drawn by his . own pen . In contrast with the previous Act it is unusually spe c ific in its details , and would seem to indicate the S urve o r in hand of the y , its clearly described lines , and of the Church Warden in its accurate e num e r ation of the property and assets of the Parish . But t here is another silent witness to Washing 4 1 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

’ ton s concern in this division . In the Library of

Congress there is preserved , among his j ournals and some other manuscript papers , a single sheet of foolscap Written on both sides in his most formal fi rst hand , and giving the result , of the elections of Vestries for the two Parishes held in March , 1 6 first 7 5 , under the Act of Assembly , and then of those held in July of the same year under the pro fi rs visions of the second Act . The t page shows o f vo te rs a large preponderance , in Fairfax Parish fi rst th e at the elections , bearing out assertion that fi r the st division was very unequal . The second page , with the simple calculation at the bottom , shows the number of voters in the two Parishes at the second election to have been nearly the 1 same ; 334 in Fairfax and 3 3 in Truro . Later the Vestry Book records that the new division gave 1 0 1 tith a ble s 6 2 to Fairfax Parish 3 , leaving 9 in

Truro .

first Thi s paper shows that at the election , in 1 6 March , 7 5 , Col . Washington was elected a Ves t r m a n fi rst y of the Fairfax Parish , he being , for the moment , a resident therein . The life of this

Parish was exactly four months , and of this Vestry elect two months and three days , even if its mem

ua lifie d o r a n1z a tio n bers ever q or met for g , of which there is no evidence . In July, Mount Ver non having, in the meantime, been restored to

'

. W Truro , Col ashington was again elected a Ves

4 2 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH tr ma n y of Truro Parish , and was not eligible in any other . An accurate copy of this interesting paper , as written by Washington , will be found on the fol lowing pages , being here published in complete fi rst form , it is believed , for the time .

4 3 H I STO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

C OP Y OF P A P E R HI O ’ H I I G O I IN WAS NGT N S ANDWR T N . N W N H L A O F C ON R E T E IBR RY G S S .

( First Page . ) VE STRY CHOSEN FOR TRURO VESTRY CHOSEN FOR FAIR 2 8 th H 2 5 111 M A R C H 1 7 6 5 PARISH . ARCH PARIS . M W ith the Number O f Votes to with the Number of Votes to each . each

r 2 3 4 M . Edward Payne Colo . John West

2 1 0 M r Col o . George Mason . Charles Alexander

a t n D . c M r. C p . aniel Mc arty William Payne l 7 4 M r . t n . . Thos . Withers Coffer C a p John Dalton

1 6 9 C . . M r. William Gardner Geo Washington

W m . . 1 6 1 M a r Colo . George Fairfax j . Chs . Broadwater x H 1 5 8 r A l e r. C a t n . M . enderson p George Johnston

t n M r. C a p . Lewis Ellzey Townsend Dade

r M r. R i c h d . M . Thomison Ellzey Sanford

M r M r. W il l m . . Thomas Ford Adams

C a t n M r. John Ford p . Posey

M r. H ajr . Peter Wagener Daniel French Candidates then rejected Candidates then rejected

D o t r C o o k b urn M r. c . Thomas Wren

M r Benj a. Grayson . James Wren

u M r. c M r. Joshua Furg son Edward Bla kburn

M r. . M r. Edward Washington John West Junr

M r M r. William B aylis . Edward Dulan M M r. Henry Boggess r. Benja . Sebastian

M r. M r. William Linton James Donaldson

M r M r. H G . Marmaduke Beckwith enry unnel

M r. M r. John Thompson John Seal

M r M r. Thomas Lucas . Charles Thrift

M r C a t n . e . George Simpson p Sampson Darr ll

M r . B e nja. T a lbot

M r J . oseph Benne t M r J D a . ohn niel

H r. J oh n M onro e

M r . J a m e s Halley

4 4

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

L ife o f Jared Sparks , in his , Washington and also in the Writings of Washington which he u edited , not nderstanding the meaning of this V ’ paper nor V a shin gt o n s obvious purpose in pre it paring , published a small part of it only , namely the two lists of Vestrymen elected , the one in Fair fax Parish on March 2 8 th and the other in Truro 2 2 d Parish on July , in which the name of Wash in t n H e g o appears . thus gave rise to the ground less tradition , which has been so generally adopted VVa sh and perpetuated by succeeding writers , that in gto n s erved a s a Ves tryma n in both of these

Parishes , and presumably at the same time , though

Sparks is careful not to assert this . But had he published the whole paper the error would not have arisen . Bishop Meade says he had seen a printed list of these Vestries which was supposed to have come from “ A leaf of the old Pohick Vestry Book which had by some means gotten into the Historical S o c ie t y of New York Dr . Slaughter , at this place , e rifi e gives this list as V d by Mrs . Burton Har rison , who kindly inspected the missing leaf in the New York Historical Society rooms and sent me i ” a copy of t . This list agrees substantially with a s a r a s that given by Sparks , as do they both , f the o W y g , with the original list written by ashing ff ton , though both omit the titles before the di er

- ent names which Washington , with old fashioned

s . punctiliousness , was o careful to give The New

4 6 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

York list , however , whatever its source , i s not from a leaf of the Vestry B ook as Bishop Meade un

d e rs to o d .

fre ue n tl fin d s One q y ' the assertion made by careless writers that Washington was a Vestry

Church . man of Pohick , or some other , Such a VVa shin statement is , of course , inaccurate , and g ‘ ton himself would hardly have understood what it was meant by . In his day Vestries in Virginia c o n fin e d were to Parishes , usually containing two re or three Churches . Pohick is the only Church

' in \Va shin to n s maining which stood \ g time in the

Parish of which he was a Vestryman . The pres En t Falls Church and Christ Church , Alexandria , were built in Fa irfa x Parish soon after its separa tion from Truro . The Vestry chosen for Truro at the M a rch elec tions held but one meeting . This was on April 2 6 1 6 . , 7 5 , at the house of Samuel Littlej ohn [W e now resume the thread of the History as written by Dr . Slaughter . ] During the current year the Minister of the

Parish , the Rev . Charles Green , departed this life . There is no formal notice of his decease in the

Vestry Book . It was not the custom of the times to pass resolutions on such occasions . It is only ’ referred to in the business items , four months salary due being ordered paid to his executor . Falls Church and Alexandri a were no longer in

Truro , so it became possible to have another place

4 7 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

of worship . Accordingly the Vestry rented from Samuel Littlej ohn the tobacco house on his plan ta tio n fo r one thousand pounds of tobacco a year , , until a Church could be built in the upper part o f the present Parish , he agreeing to keep it clean An and provide water for the congregation . agreement was made with John Robertson to fit up this house with six benches the length of the house and two at the ends ; a reading desk and

Communion table , with a small window on each side of the desk ; to lay plank on the joists the width of eight feet , with a rail in front , and two 0 broad step ladders , and to st p the eaves ; all to be done in the plainest manner , within six months , 1 0 0 for 4 pounds of tobacco . Whe n the house was given up the plank used was to remain for the use of the Parish .

The Rev . James Scott , of Dettingen Parish , the l grandfather of the ate Judge Scott , of Fauquier , often o ffic ia te d in Truro in the interval between Mr . M r. the Rev Green and his successor , . Mas H sey . e received payment altogether for forty

2 . sermons , at 33 pounds of tobacco each The n Rev . John A drews , of Cameron Parish , also preached twice , at the same rate .

The Vestry , (that elected in July , ) had a pro 2 8 th 2 th tracted meeting on the , 9 and 3oth of No ve mb e r 1 6 , 7 5 , when the accounts between the two Parishes were settled as far as could be done at

4 8 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH that time . The settlement is spread upon the min utes in full , but is

It was ordered , That the agreement made with Samuel Littlej ohn by the former Vestry be con

' tin ue d ; That Elijah W illiams be appointed Reader ’ h at Littlej ohn s , and t at he attend there to read

Divine Service every Sunday , and that he be paid at the rate of 1 0 0 0 pounds of tobacco a year ; That At M r. George Johnston b e appointed to act as torney for the Parish , and that he return a list of all the j udgments obtained by him to the Church W a rd e n s by the fi rs t of November annually ; and t ’ r That the Vestry meet at M . William Gardner s on first Monday in February next to agree with workmen to undertake the building of a brick Church to contain 1 6 0 0 s upe rfic ia l feet ; the Church Wardens to advertise the same in as public a man b e a n d n ner as may , each workma to bring a plan E d and estimate of expense . George Mason and ward Payne were continued as Church Wardens for the next year , and the latter was appointed h Collector of the Paris Levy , giving bond and se L c urity as was the c usto mq John Barry was con

‘ A n echo of the contest over th e Parish l ines is found in two “ : M r T h o m i z e n items charged against Truro To . Ellzey for run ’ ” D i ffi c ul t ning the line from Johnson s ferry to the fork of , and 1 0 M a r. t i th a b l e s A j Wagener for copying six lists of in pril , 1 76 5 Le 6 0 ?The vy this year was pounds of tobacco per poll , as 2 against from 0 to 3 7 pounds for many years before the division . It continued to range at from 6 0 t o 8 0 pounds for six years follow ’ ing , while Payne s and the new Pohick Churches were being built . after which it gradually fell to about the former average . It is probable that th e Vestrymen themselves paid one - half of the tithes e s of the Parish , Washington and Mason being doubtless the larg t rat e paye rs . 49 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH tinue d as Clerk of the Vestry ; and the third Fri day in November annually was appointed as a day for mee ting .

’ P AY N E s CH U R CH

At a Vestry held for Truro Parish at William ’ rd th Gardner s on the 3 and 4 days of February , 1 766 M r . E dw d . C . W Present , Payne , .

. . M r Colo Geo Washington . William Gardner

Capt . Daniel Mc . c arty Thomas Withers Coffer

W m : . . . W m Colo Geo Fairfax . Linton 8 Mr Al x r e . . . H enderson Thos Ford

Vestrymen . W h o being there met to enquire the most con ve nie n t place to erect a new Church , and to agree w ith workmen to build the same . “ 0 11 Resolved , that the new Church be built the O x middle Ridge near the road , the ground to be

Mr. o ff M r. laid by Edward Payne , William

M r ff M r. Gardner , . Thos . Withers Co er and

Thos . Ford , or any three of them , on the land sup M r Th o ma z e n posed to be belonging to . Ellzey , who being present consents to the same . “Agreeable to a plan and articles annexed there to M r. Edward Payne hath undertaken to build the said Church for the sum of five hundred and

- seventy nine pounds Virgini a Currency . “ O rdered that the said Edward Payne do paint

5 0

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

I h size , that is nine Inches long , four and an half ches broad , and three Inches thick , the outside Bricks to be laid with Mortar two thirds lime and w one third sand , the inside Bricks to be laid ith

Mortar half lime and half sand . The Corn ers of

81 rubb the H—ouse , the Windows Doors , to be of Brick The Arches and Pediment head s o f th e Doors and Windows to be of Bricks rubbed gauged and set in Putty . “ I n The Doors to be made of Pine Plank , two

F 0 11 ches thick . moulded and raised annells both sides . “ The Sashes to be made of Pine Plank , one Inch and three quarters thick , and to have Sixteen

- lights in each square Sash , of the best crown Gla ss , twelve Inches by ten . The Window and Door Arc h a tra ve s Cases to be made with double . “ The fl o o rs and Gallery to be framed with good

Oak , the Roof to be framed with good Poplar and the Scantling to be of a size and proper Pro portion to the Building . “ The Roof to be covered with Inch pine Plank cyphered and lapt , one and an half Inches . And y to be Shingled with good Cypress Shingles , twent

Inches in length and to show six Inches . “ The Cornish to be in Proportion to the hight of the Walls (which are to be twenty two feet and an half, ) with Dentile Blocks . “ T fl o o rs n he to be laid with pine Pla k , one and an half Inch thick , the Iles to be laid with Brick 5 2 THE H I STO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

T le s w y , the Pews to be ainscotted with Pine plank , 0 11 an Inch and an half thick , double work each side of the framing and raised pannel on one side . “ To hav e an Altar Piece sixteen feet high w w w w t elve feet ide , and done ith ainscot after the

Ionic order . The floor of the Communion place to be raised twelve Inch es higher than the floor of the house with hand rails and Banisters of black W' alnut . “ o f The Pulpit , Canopy and reading Desks to be

a VVa in sc o te d . bl ck walnut , with proper Cornish “ The Gallery to be supported by Collums turned

81 flute d \ , to come out as far as the second Vindow \ VVa in at the Vest end of the Church , to have a s c te o d front . and to hav e four Seats raised one behind and above another . The whole to be done and fin ish e d by the fi rst Day of October in the

Year one thousand seven hundred and Sixty eight . suffi c ie n t in and workmanlike manner , agreeable to the Plan aforesaid . “ I n Consideration whereof the said Vestry do agree to pay unto the said Edward Payne the sum of Five hundred a n d Seventy nine pounds Virginia fo llo w m Currency in manner g to wit , one third part of the said sum to be paid on the fi rst D a y of July next—another third part when the Church is covered , and the remaining part when the whole fin i h e d n work is compleated and s . In Wit ess whereof the said Parties (to wit) the Members of the said Vestry here Present and the said Edward

5 3 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH Payne have hereunto interchangeably set their fi r Hands the Day and Year s t above written . “ The said Edward Payne is also to Ceil , Plaister 81 Whitewash the inside of the said Church in a h n d proper manner , and to and put on Locks and

Hinges on the Doors hinges on the Pews &c . “

c . G \ Signed & o . Vashington

r i n presence of D a niel M c . C a ty W Go . m Lee Massey . Fairfax A John Barry . Henderson John Tillett William Gardner ff Thos . Withers Co er William Linton

Thos . Ford

E dw d . A true copy Payne .

Test , John Barry , Clk . Vestry .

TH E RE V L E M S . E A S Y E , SECO N D RECT O R At this same meeting of the Vestry the follow “ ' M r ing action was taken Whereas . Lee Mas sey , an Inhabitant of this Parish , having this day ff o ered to supply the place of a Minister therein , and the Vestry being of Opinion that he is a person ua lifie d well q for the sacred function , have agreed to recommend him to the favour of His Grace the Bishop of London and of the Governor of this

Colony, an Introduction to this said Parish , , for and to receive him upon his return properly quali ” h e d th to discharge the said o e e .

54 THE HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH In consequence of the aforesaid Resolve a Recommendation to his Lordship the Bishop of

London , and an address to his Honour the Gover M r nor of this Colony in favour of . Lee Massey re being made out , are ordered hereafter to be ’ c o rde df “ At a Vestry held for Truro Parish in the

County of Fairfax and Colony of Virginia , the fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty six .

To His Grace the Bishop of London . \Vh e re s M r a . Lee Massey purposes to enter into holy Orders and hath applied to this Vestry for their Recommendation to his Grace the Bishop of London and to his Honour the Governor of Vir ginia and offers and engages so soon as he shall be properly Ordained to return to Virginia and receive and accept of this Parish of Truro now vacant by the death of the late Rector , the Rever M r end . Charles Green , Provided we will keep the same vacant for him during our right of Patron a e g , or the Governor will be pleased to induct him it ’ into , if the Vestry s right of Patronage is ex ire d p when he returns . And the said Lee Massey having liv ed several years amongst us and his moral Character and unexceptionable Life and w us Conversation being ell known to most of , we beg leave to recommend him to his Grace the Bishop of London a s a Person well qua lifie d for the Sacred Function , and also to the Favor of the 5 5 THE HI STO RY OF TRURO PARI S H

E Honourable Francis Fauquier sq r. Governor of this Colony , and humbly entreat him to induct the M r said . Lee Massey into this Parish of Truro in case he should return after the expiration of our O n right of Patronage , which condition we do hereby agree and oblige ourselves to keep the said

Parish vacant accordingly , and to receive and pro M r vide for the said . Lee Massey as Rector there of according to the Laws of this Colony . In Testimony whereof we being Vestrymen of the said Parish of Truro , (and all that are now present , ) have hereunto set our hands the day and year above written . E d G o . dw . Payne Washington M c r m . W . Daniel Ca ty Go . Fairfax A . Henderson William Gardner i h ff . t r r Thos \V e s Co e Thos . Ford

' \ f\ illia m Lint o n

. ry . Copy John Barry , Clk . Vest

h 66 . Fe b . t 1 Fairfax County , Truro Parish , y 4 , 7

We the Vestry of Truro Parish beg leave to ’ r recommend to y . Honour s Notice and Favour , M r the B earer , . Lee Massey , who has an Intention of entering into holy O rders , provided he can have a certainty of this Parish , and as his Charac w us ter and Personal M erit is ell known to , we are very desirous of receiving him , and have given him the best Title in our Power . But it being 5 6 TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH probable that he cannot return from England while the Parish remains in our disposal , we most earnestly recommend him to your Honour ’ s good o ffic e s herein , and if you will b e pleased to favour him with an Induction or Presentation to this

r Parish , in case he retu ns after the Expiration of our right , we will engage to keep the same vacant * An for him as long as it is in our power . answer ’ w — ill very particularly oblige , Your Honour s

o b e dt . most . humble Servants

E dw d . Go Payne . Washington M a r o \Vm c . C t G . Daniel y . Fairfax A . Henderson William Gardner ‘ ff T W . hos . ithers Co er Thos Ford William Linton

n ble E s r. . To the H o . Francis Fauquier q Lieut

Governor of Virginia .

Copy .

V . Test John Barry Clk . estry At 1 0 th 1 66 a Vestry held July , 7 , there were present as above with the addition of Col . George

* These letters recall the old contest between the Governors and the Vestries in regard to the right of presentation and the induc tion of Ministers into the Parishes . The early Governors claimed the right of Patronage as the representatives of the Crown . and in some instances sought to exercise it by forcing unwelcome Ministers . upon certain Parishes . But the claim , or at least its enforcement was vigorously resisted . Many of the Vestries adopted the plan of a electing their Ministers year by year , thus avoiding a v cancy but saving the risk of having an inefficient or unworthy Minister sad d l e d A upon them and drawing his legal salary for life . law passed m 1 7 4 8 declared the sole right of presentation to remain in the Vestry for twelve months after a vacancy occu rred . After that it was supposed to rest with the Governor. This is the law the Vestry here had in mind . Fortunately the Vestry of Truro was saved from a l l trouble in respect to their Ministers by being able to choose good men a lready known to them a n d s ending them to En gland for orders . TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI S H

. n Mason Church Warde Edward Payne , who had been previously directed to enquire into certain d e fic ie n c ie s in the work ordered done on the Falls 1 6 h e Church in 7 3 , reported that had applied to the persons formerly appointed to view this work and they had denied having had any orders to view the same and refused to concern themselves . Whereupon it was ordered that Thomas P rice view the work and report what d e fic ie n c ie s appear

M r. therein , that Payne attend as representative of this Vestry and request the Fairfax Vestry to appoint a workman and one of their members to attend the view on behalf of their Parish . Tobacco on hand was ordered to be sold at July and August

Courts . At the regular meeting in November the Parish w a s Levy laid , amounting to pounds of “ tobacco ; of which was for building

M r. Churches . Col . George Washington and William Gardner were appointed Church War dens for the ensuing year , and were ordered to receive the money due from George Washington , m M r W . c Ca . t Geo . Fairfax , Capt y and William y Pa ne , former Church Wardens , and pay Edward M r Payne what was due to him . . Gardner was also appointed Collector .

1 6 . 2 d At 7 7 February 3 . a Vestry held this day E r there were present George Washington sq . and M r . William Gardner, Church Wardens , and M . c Ca rt Messrs Mason , Payne , Posey , y , Hender 5 8

THE H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH in the work of nine poun ds fourteen shillings and S Th ixpence . e Church Wardens were ordered “ to to apply Maj . Charles Broadwater (the Under taker of the said work) for the said sum and a c count w ith the Vestry of Fa irfa x Parish for their ” proportion of the same when i t is received . “ Ordered that a Vestry House be built at the new Church of the dimensions and in manner

Viz t . following of Brick , twenty by sixteen feet , with a large inside chimney , nine feet pitch from w the Foundation , ith Brick or Tile floor . covered P la ist with Cypress Shingles , Ceiling and Walls ered and whitewashed , one pannell Door in the broad side , with a Sash Window with twelve

Lights and pannel Shutters Opposite . Barge is Co rnis . Co rn board and The Barge boards and ,

Door Window and Shutters to be painted , a Lock to the Door . The said House to be furnished with a Table and three Benches , for making which and the C o rn is the Undertaker to b e allowed a sufh c ien c y of Planks out of the Parishes Plank now in ’ All Samuel Littlej ohn s Tobacco House . was to fin ish e d un be by Christmas , and Edward Payne d e rto o k the work for Fifty one pounds ten shill ings , current money .

2 2 d . The Vestry met again on May , the day of the sale , at the Glebe . Present , Rev . Lee Mas sey, Minister , George Washington and William

Gardner Church Wardens , and Messrs . Mason ,

y M c . Ca rt a n d . Pa ne , y , Posey Linton

60 H E O F .T H ISTO RY TRURO PARISH

Ni r Th o ma z e n h a vin re turn e d . Ellzey g a Plott of a Survey made of the Glebe Land , pursuant to a former order of the Vestry , containing three hundred eighty five Acres and an half onl y which said "uantity of Land being exposed to sale to the highest Bidder w a s purchased by Daniel Mc r Ca t . . y Gent at the price of Three hundred and twenty two pounds Virginia Currency , who gave M r S e c ur his Bond with . Richard Chichester his ity for the same , payable eighteen months hence . to George and William Gardner , ' Washington ” Church Wardens , for the Use of this Parish . “ The Church Plate being also exposed to sale , wa s M c Ca rt purchased by the said Daniel . y , at the price of Twenty pounds , Virginia Cur ‘ six ” e ren y, for the Use of the Parish .

2 th 1 6 . The Vestry met again July 5 , 7 7 Pres M r \ . ent , Col . Vashington and Gardner , Church

\ r r M . . c Ca t Vardens , and Mess s Payne , y , Fairfax , \Va shin Henderson , Ellzey and Linton . George g ton and George William Fairfax exhibited a c 1 6 counts of tobacco levied in 7 3 , and the sale thereof and payments made to Edward Payne .

M r. Account received and approved . Payne ex hibi e d 1 6 t similar accounts of tobacco le vied in 7 5 . and of money received by him for building the new Church and the balance still due , which were \Villia m approved . Tobacco in the hands of Gard

M r. ner , Collector , ordered sold . Balance due Payne on second payment for the Church to be

6 1 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

paid , and the residue of the money to remain in ’ s the Collector s hands , he giving bond with fre h security for its payment when demanded .

. M c a rt Mr . C . Col George Mason , Capt y , Ellzey M r and . Linton appointed to View the new Vestry

House , and if they receive the same the Collector

Mr. to pay Payne the contract price . “ E s r George William Fairfax q . having con sented to import for the Use of this Parish (a t th e Ri"sque of the Parish) two folio Prayer Books and a uarto Bible , Ordered that upon receipt thereof the Church Wardens for the time being pay him for the same , if they have so much money in their ” hands . s P r c e s sio nin — O rder for o g z James Halley Sen , O x and Moses Simpson , between Occoquan , the a n d road and the County line . George Simpson \Villia m Ox Keen , between the road and the Back lick road from the Parish line down to the road that leads from Cameron by the Glebe to wher e ’ W' il P o hic . it crosses , below Robert B oggess liam Triplett and Joseph Cash , between the Back P o to w ma c k lick road , the Parish line , river and F b o ie Creek . O n 2 8 th 1 6 September , 7 7 , the Vestry met for

fift fi sc a l . the h time during this year Present ,

Rev . Lee Massey , Washington , Gardner , Mason ,

ff . Posey , Payne , Co er , Ellzey and Ford The min utes recite several former orders for the sale of tobacco and payments to be made by th e Col

6 2 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH

lector , none of which had been complied with ex cept one sale of pounds to M r. H ector

Ross , for which his note was now given to the

' Church \Vardens ; it was ordered that Mr. Ross

r y w a pa y M . Pa ne w hat s due him on the second payment for the Church and for the Vestry House w hen it should be receiv ed by the viewers . And the Collector was to account with the Vestry at its next meeting for the tobacco remaining in his hands .

TH E N E W PO H ICK C H URCH The annual meeting for laying the Par 2 ish Levy was held November oth . Present , the entire Vestry . “ Resolved , that a Church be built at or as near ’ th e Cross Road leading from H o llis s to P o hic a re h o use W as water can be had , which resolution fi ” w a s carried by a maj ority of seven to ve . 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 B ook it is good enough to be it : true and therefore we reproduce , 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 fit was no longer for use , it is said the parishioners

63 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH were called together to determine on the locality

of the new Church , when George Mason , the com

' o f ‘ W a s hin to n patriot g , advocated the old site , pleading that it was the house in which their w fathers orshipped , and that the graves of many it w a d were around , hile Washington and others vo c a te d 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 , th e a r when the day of decision arrived , met all um e nts g of his opponent by presenting this paper ,

and thus carried his point It was the Vestry , w h o fix e d 0 11 however , and not the parishioners , the site . The old site was nearer to Gunston and ’< the new one nearer Mount V e rn o n fi — To return to this Vestry m e e tin g z I t was O r M r At dered , that . William Grayson be appointed torney for this Parish , and that he be paid fees ” only upon such suits as he obtains j udgments 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

* k Li This story is given by Spar s in his fe of Washington , and fi rs t is repeated by Lossing and others . The discussion probably 2 8 t h took place at the Vestry held on September , at which time both Mason and Washington were present but four Vestrymen were a bsent . The question would naturally be deferred until Messrs . H . c c a n d Fairfax , enderson , Mc arty and Linton ould be heard , no mention of a fruitless debate would be made on the minutes . The interest taken in the matter , and perhaps the opposition to the a t e n d a n c e a n d new site , is indicated by the full at this Vestry , by the mention made of t h e vote by which th e c h a nge in loca tion w a s adopte d. 64 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

bacco due , and the Clerk was ordered to give his securities notice thereof .

The Parish accounts , to meet which the annual

Le vy was laid , are given in full for this year , Wash in gto n having been Church Warden and principal ff administrator of Parish a airs .

s . d . Tobacco . ’

. sa la r . . 1 2 8 o To Rev Lee Massey s y 7, i P o h c . John Barry , Clk . of

Elijah Williams , do . Little j ohn ’ s

Do . for three days extra

s a ttendance M r n r . W a e e C1e rk o i Peter g , the County l Rev . Lee Massey , in ieu of a Glebe 4 0 0 0

Rev . James S cott for 6 ser mons

Samuel Littlej ohn , Sexton ,

P 0 Charles Wright , Do . at hic in Grafton Kirk for m a tg . Sarah Jackson 1 0 William Cullison , per acct . . o

John Hollis , for the board of

Dorothy Chesher , from the 2 th 5 . of May to this date 6 5 TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH Samuel Russell for his sup

port , he being allowed to

‘ t o remove Cameron Parish , his claim to continue M r . 6 0 William Grayson , per acct Do r c t . James Nisbett , per

acct . 8 1 5

George Washington E sqr. per acct 1 1 3 fin d George Mason E sqr. for lla m n ing e e ts twice . \Villia m Gardner , bal . per acct . W a rde n e xc 1u as Church ,

sive of the Collection acct . 1 2 that not being settled . 5 0 0 81 3

t . 0 0 Robert Loyd , for his suppor 5

. 0 0 John Hollis , for his support 5 (These were also exempted from paying Levy in fu

ture . )

Th o ma z e n . 1 0 Ellzey , per acct . 3

John Barry , Clk . Vestry , sal ary and extra services

Charles Wright , for making a back and hearth Th o ma z e n Ellzey , for extra services 5 0 Tobacco for building a Church 2 9 1 6 0 6 6

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

work , they found it to be completed according to agreement except the brick pediments over the “ n doors , And being of opinion that the house c a 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 it want of , 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 M r to make to . 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 . “ re Messrs . Ford , Linton and Ellzey dissented to c e ivin g the

t n E d w d . . l o d g d at C a p . Paynes This Church was about seven tee s dr . n mile from Alexan “ia O h 1 6 1 7 6 8 H July , , he Went by Muddy ole and Doeg Run to the Vestry at Pohick Church stayed there till half after 3 oclock 4 only members coming returned by C a p t n . Mc . c artys and dined there . ‘ rc e fter w t h e Vest y B o s t e This Chcu h is her a kno n in r o k a h Upper Chur h , but probably from the beginning was popularly ’ w P y . t to t t r kno n as Ha ne s Church I s od on he presen oad from Fair fax Court ouse 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 t i s t s took possession of it as abandoned property , as the j udgments of the Courts allowed them to do , and upon the d ivision in that 1 8 4 0 c ( .) denomination in the Jerusalem Baptist Chur h , New School 6 2 was organized in the building and continued to use it until 1 8 . 68 TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

2 8 1 68 — November , 7 , The Levy includes lbs . of tobacco for building a Church . Daniel

M . rt c a . f C y Gent and Thos . Withers Co fer a p pointed Church Wardens . Alex . H enderson and George Mason exhibited accounts of moneys from sales of tobacco which were approved . George M r Washington was ordered to pay . Henderson eight Pounds , being balance in his hands of the sum received from Major Broadwater for de

fi c ie n c M r. y in work done on the Falls Church .

Henderson w a s also to receive from Capt . M a r 2 c . C ty 37 Pounds due on the purchase of the ’ ff Glebe . William Weston s o er to cover the Ves t fin din ry House at Pohick , the Vestry g the nails , a n d 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 w est 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 serv ices there . The building remained unaltered , and many of our old citizens remember 1 8 6 2 - 6 its ancient interior. In the winter of 3 a large body of Fed fi n e eral troops were encamped in the vicinity , and by them the n l d 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 n o w 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 l F . given by an old a dy living in the neighborhood to the Rev. W . 1 8 5 0 S i . Lockwood about the year , and was by him presented to ’ c e h i . Joh n s Chur h , C nterville . w ere it s still in use 69 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH give notice in the Virginia and Maryland Gazettes for workmen to attend at Pohick on the fi rst Fri day in March with plans and estimates .

At d . 1 6 a Vestry held March 3 7 9 ,

Present , the Rev . Lee Massey , Minister , M c Ca rt Daniel . y , f Thos . Withers Co fer , Church Wardens

'

W m E dw d . George . Fairfax Payne George Washington Th o ma z e n Ellzey W m George Mason . Gardner

E rs . 111 sq W . Linton

Alex . Henderson Thos . Ford

Vestrymen .

The Vestry having met pursuant to a forme r order to let the building of the new Church at — P o hic M r. , Daniel French undertook the build ing the new Church at the Cross Roads , for the £ ” sum of 8 77 Virginia Currency . “ M r Ordered , that . Alexander H enderson pay

' Mr Mr . W to James Wren and . William ait each forty shillings , out of the money in his hands , for the plans furnished the Adj ourned ,

‘ This woul d seem at fi rs t glance to dispose of the tradition that w Washington dre the plans for the present Pohick Church . Loss i t h e ng states , however , that he had before him , when he wrote , 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 h im self of a copy of such papers . The true story is possibly this that the plans and s p e c i fi c a t i o n s adopted were a composit e of those 70 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

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 Cros s ’ Roads leading from H o llis s to Pohick Warehouse

r 2 1 st 1 6 . S e p . . 7 9 “ 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

2 o th . 1 6 . day of November , 7 7 A yard was laid o ff for the said Church , and a certain quantity of

o ff land laid for the use of the said Parish , for which the said Vestry do agree to pay Daniel

I re n c h . i Gent at the rate of one Guinea per acre , for what the same shall measure . “ At the same time the said Daniel French , who 0 11 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

t y M r. e , M r. t ( e ) er s M r. Fre w o presen ed b Wr n Wai c and p hap nch h received the contract , and were pra tically drawn up in detail at this prolonged meeting of the Vestry . In this work Washington would doubtles"s have a large share . In his journal he mentions : 3d . this meeting Mar . Went to a Vestry at Pohick Church and ' 1 1 . a d returned abt . o clock at night The Vestry Book says they ” j o urn e d 7 t h c t o April , Not having ompleted 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 i dria , is of comparatively recent construction , be ng less than a cen . M r t y w t y . s re , y ur old The Falls Chcurch as buil b Jame W n and ma represent the plan whi h he submitted to this Vestry. 7 1 TH E H I STO RY 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

ra tifie d c o nfi rme d ordered to b e and , 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 ”

n o w . ments since , has never been done till T “ Resolved , that the Church Wardens procure from the said Daniel French a proper conveyance ” of the lot or parcell of land aforementioned . They M were also directed to receive from r. Henderson the money in his hands due the Parish and pay M r 2 0 0 i . French Pounds , the f rst payment for the new Church .

A NO TAB LE B U I LD I N G C O M M I TTEE

' l m ‘ nb e W . H o . Resolved , that the George Fair

81 E s rs . fax , George Washington George Mason q

n Mc . a r M r. w y Ca pt . Daniel C ty 81 Ed ard Pa ne do view and examine the building from time to time , fittin as they or any three of them shall see g , to

?Washington ’ s diary casts some light on these frequent dis ” appointments , and would seem to indicate that they were not wholly accidental . 1 6 9 7 . c a tc h d ( 7 ) Apl . Went a fox hunting in the morning and a dog fox after running him an hour and treeing twice . After this went to an intended meeting of y e Vestry but there was none . “ 4 y 2 . t t t t y t y e R , t Jul Wen o an in ended Ves r a Cross oad”s bu M r. w t y M r. H t t . Has disappoin ed of one b endersons refusing o ac enderson , living at Colchester , was probably one of the Vestrymen who joined with Col . Mason in opposing the new site for the I s i Church . it po s sible that the art of fi l i b us te r n g was not unknown in those days ? 72 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARISH whom the under taker is to give notice when the ff ” di erent materials are ready . ARTI C LE S O F A GREE M E N T made the seventh d a 1 y of April in the year 769 . Between the a iria x Vestry of Truro Parish in County of F , a a of the one p rt , and Daniel French of Fairf x

Parish in the County aforesaid , Gent . of the other i V z t . part , as follows , The said Daniel French doth undertake and agree to build and finish in a workmanlike manner a Church , near the forks of ’ B o e ss s the roads above Robert gg , to be placed as the Vestry shall hereafter direct , of the follow ing Dimensions and Materials , to Wit ; Sixty six

five feet in length , and forty 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,

P e dista ls the , 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

a n n e lls thick , moulded and raised p on both sides , and the frames thereof to be of pine clear of sap ,

73 TH E HI STO RY OF T RURO PARISH with locust sills . The Window frames to be of pine es clear of sap , with locust sills ; the sash to be made of pine plank inch and three quarters thick ; “ one the Lights to be of the best Crown Glass , eighteen in each Window, eleven inches by nine ; the Win d o w and Door Cases to be made with double Arch a tra ve s ; and the lower Windows to have weights

ullie s . and p 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 in shingles twenty inches long , and to show six 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 l of sap , and laid with pine plank inch and a ha f thick , and well seasoned . The Ends of the Sleep ers next the walls of the House to have at least n six i ches 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 j ointed . “ The Pews to be wainscoted with pine plank an inch and a half thick , well seasoned , to be quar

- s ter round on both ides , and raised pannal on one

74

TH E H I ST O RY OF T RURO PARISH there shall be a win dow ; and instead of the two s windows , there shall be two doors oppo ite 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 o ff the rubbish and litter from the Church Lott , so as to fit it for the Re ception of the Congrega tion ; and to h a ve those additional works done by the time appointed for the finishing the Church . “ I n 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 fi rst wit , Two hundred pounds on the day of Sep tember next ; Two hundred and twenty- five pounds thirteen shillings and four pence on the fi rst day of September , One thousand seven hundred and seventy ; Two hundred and twenty five pounds first thirteen shillings and four pence , on the day of September , One thousand seven hundred and seventy one ; and the remaining Two hundred and twenty five pounds thirteen shillings and four fi rst pence , on the day of September , One thou sand seven hundred and seventy two ; at which finish e d time the Church is to be . “ I n Witness whereof the said Parties , to wit , the

Members of the said Vestry here present , and the I nte rc h a n said Daniel French , have hereunto g 76 TH E H IST O RY OF TRURO PARI SH

s first ably et their Hands , the Day and Year above written .

n Signed and Delivered Danl . Fre ch

° M C a rtV C . \V in the Presence of Daniel c . E d d John Barry w . Payne

\Vm Go . . Triplett Washington

W m . Go . Fairfax

Jn o . Posey William Gardner

Tz . Ellzey . The next meeting of the Vestry was at Pohick

I 6 . Church , December , I 7 9 The Parish Levy — M r provided for the payment , To . Daniel French for 3 acres and 2 6 perches of land laid o ff for the

d . 2 s . use of the Parish as per Plat , 4 Pounds , 4 To M r . Ca t Capt c . y for advertising the letting of the

1 8 . Church , shillings For building the Church ,

81 c . pounds of Tobacco . Alexander Hen d e rso n and Thomas Ford appointed Church War dens . “

n . o n e Alexander H enderso , Gent of the Church

' W Au usus ardens for the ensuing year , and g Dar rell , having applied for the Collection of the Par ish Levy , the said Augustus Darrell is appointed ‘ it Collector , the Vestry being of opinion that 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 77 TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

Church Wardens should have a preference o f the ” collection to any other person . Peirce Bayly ’ s account as Collector and Sheriff “ ' w a s W approved . It was O rdered , that illiam E s r Grayson q . who has heretofore been appointed a to prosecute suits for this Parish , b e now p pointed Attorney in fact for the Parish , and that he receive all Moneys and Tobacco arising from

a n d Fines and Judgments , account with the Ves try annually for the same , at the laying of the Par ish

1 0 2 8 . 77 . Only one Vestry held , on November Parish Levy included pounds of tobacco for building the Church and as a fund for purchasing

E s r. H nbl e . a Glebe . o George William Fairfax q and Edward Payne , Gent . Church Wardens . Peter

Wagener and Martin Cockburn , Gents . are elected W' Vestrymen in place of illiam Linton , deceased , fi rst and John Posey , removed . (These are the breaks in the ranks of the Vestrymen elected in I July . 76 S. )

1 1 8 th . . 77 . July 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 t urb in f g public worship , and certain other o fences against decency fi n s and morality . The e 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 n accounts which are not given in detail . That the Church Warde s of Truro , Cameron and Fairfax Parishes did not fail in this duty of presentin g offenders is abundantly shown in records of the County Court . Presentments were usually made through the Grand f d ' y , t t , b t s et e t e Jur c he o fen er s Parish being designa ed c u om im s h Chur h Wardens themselves are named as prose utors . 78 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

doctrine and discipline of the Church of England , and were admitted as members of the Vestry .

M r . w They , with . Alex H enderson , ere added to those heretofore appointed to vi ew and examine

y the new Church . Peirce Ba ly , Collector , paid

fift r in y two hogsheads , lbs . nett , of c op to

6 0 2 . bacco , and four transfer notes . gross lbs It

h y e was ordered to be sold in lots , and the sale to be advertised in George Town , Alexandria , Dum

1 8 d . . 6 8 5 . fries and Colchester Pounds . and n were allowed the Collector for p r1z 1 g th e tobacco . “ Whereas it appears that the dimensions of the — Altar piece mentioned in the Articles w ith the U n d e rta k e r a c for building the new Church , are not cording to the proportions of Architecture , the Undertaker is authorized and desired to make the same according to the true proportions of the

y Ionic O rder notwithstanding . And the Vestr being of the opinion that the stone coins are coarse grained and rather too soft they desire the same w may be painted ith white lead and oyle , which they think will make them suffi cient . The Vestry ’ are also of opinion that the rub d bricks at the re turn of all the windows ought to be painted as near as possible the same colour with the arches . and the Undertaker is desired to do the same a c ” c rdin l h o g y Nov ember 2 9 t . The Levy is laid as usual , and the Collectors and Church Wardens accounts exhibited and approved . Daniel French a s seems to have died since the last meeting , pay

79 TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

ments are ordered made to his executor . It is seen later that his executor was Col . George

Mason , by whom Pohick Church was completed .

Rev . Lee Massey agreed to accept 5 0 Pounds in money in lieu of a Glebe , instead of the former

lbs . of tobacco . The same Processioners are appointed as four years before .

1 2 th . 77 . June 5 The Vestry being of opinion that it would be both ornamental and convenient to have the stone steps at the front door of the Church with three flights in place of only one in front , agreed to have them built in that manner , paying the difference in cost . The Church War dens were ordered to agree with workmen to have the roof painted . Also for building a Vestry

House of brick , twenty four by eighteen feet , nine feet pitch , plank floor , inside chimney and three windows . “ O rdered , that the six middle pews between the cross Isle and the Communion Table be sold for the b e n e fit of the Parish,(one pew to be set up at a time , ) to the highest bidder at the laying of the next Parish Levy , at six months credit , and that the Church Wardens and Vestry conduct the said sale and take proper bonds of the purchasers . And at the same time that the other six pews opposite them , on the other si des of the long Isles , be also sold to the highest bidder in like manner , or so many of them as will sell for the average price at ” which the fi rst six pews shall be found to sell .

8 0 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH The Church Wardens are directed to agree with persons to make such Carved O rnaments on a s the Altar piece they shall j udge proper , and uildin g g the letters thereon with Gold Leaf , pre l e 111 sented to this Parish by the H o nb . George W ” i x E rs Fa rfa and George Washington sq . 2 1 772 . November oth . Alexander Henderson 6 0 rendered his account , showing a balance of 4 H s . d . . e Pounds , 5 7 due the Parish is ordered to pay the Executors of Daniel French 2 2 5

1 s . d . Pounds , 3 4 , the last payment on the Church , and several other accounts due . Capt . Daniel M r 0 c . Ca t y this day paid 33 Pounds , part of his bond for the Glebe land ; which was lodged in the M r o f hands of . Henderson , out which he was to pay th e proportion due to Fairfax Parish of the money for which the Glebe and Church plate sold , upon order of the Church Wardens who were to settle the account thereof with the Vestry of Fair fax Parish . The sum remaining unapplied was to M r be left in the hands of . Henderson , he agree ing to pay interest on 1 5 0 Pounds thereof . The yard of the Upper Church was ordered inclosed with posts and rails , the posts to be split or sawed locust and the rails sawed . Also the steps and door sills to be repaired . “ The twelve pe w s ordered to be sold at the fif meeting of the last Vestry except the pew No . o r teen , were this day sold according to the said der , to the following persons , at the following

8 1 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH

Viz t . . prices , No three and No . four adj oining to C 0 1 G the south wall of the Church , to . eorge Mason a t - the price of fourteen Pounds eleven shillings and eight pence each , being the average price at which the six pews first set up between l the two long Isles and the Cross I sle so d . N O . h y e adj oining the south wall above and next to

M r. f front door to Thos . Withers Co fer , at the price of fourteen Pounds , thirteen shillings . No . M r thirteen adj oining the north wall , to . Martin fifte e n Cockburn , at the price of Pounds , ten shill l ings . No . fourteen adjoining to the north wa l ’ a n d next above the Rector s pew to Capt . Daniel

M c . Ca rt fifte e n y at the price of Pounds , ten shill

- . N O ings . twenty one , being one of the six center pews adj oining the south Isle next to the Com H o nble munion Table , to the . George William

E s r . . Fairfax q . at the price of sixteen pounds No twenty two and twenty three , two of the center l M r. pews adj oining the south I sle , to A exander

V iz t H enderson , . No . twenty two at the price of

- N O . thirteen pounds , and twenty three , next to the Cross Isle , at the price of thirteen pounds ten h shillings . No . twenty eig t , one of the Center pews adjoining th e north Isle a n d next to the l l n Communion Tab e , to Co o . George Washingto n at the price of sixteen pounds . No . twenty ine , th e one of the Center pews adj oining north Isle , M r to . Lund Washington , at the price of thirteen

. N O pounds ten shillings . thirty one of the Cen

8 2

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

ter pews , adj oining the Center Isle and next the M r Cross Isle , to . Harrison Manley at the price of fifte e n pounds , ten shillings . It is ordered that the Church Wardens take the bonds for the use of the fo r Parish , the above mentioned purchase money , from the sev eral respectiv e purchasers , according to the order at the last Vestry ; and that legal D eeds for the said Pews be made and executed by the Vestry to the said Purchasers for their Pews at the next meeting of the Vestry ; the said purchasers preparing Deeds for that purpose . “ fift e e n Ordered , that the Pew No . , adj oining to the North Wall of the Church and next abov e o r the pulpit , (which was one of the twelv e pews dered to b e sold at the last Vestry , but is not sold , ) be reserved for the Rector of this Parish for the

Time being and his Family, and is hereby v ested in the Rector of the Parish and his successors a c ” c r in l o d g y . 1 h A 773 . June 4 t . t a Vestry held for Truro — A Parish at the new Church at Pohick , Trust

. D eed for the pew above described , to the Rev Lee Massey “ for the use of himself and his Suc c e s so rs Rectors of this Parish forever , was this day executed by all th e Members present , pur suant to an order of the Vestry made the 2 oth . a d y of November last . “ I t appearing to the Vestry that the two lower pews between the two West doors are erected h n b e w ere the Fo t ought to , it is ordered that

8 3 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH the said two pews be taken down and the space ” left open . the H o nbl e Upon Motion of the . George Wil E s r liam Fairfax q . and Alexander Henderson ,

Gent . in behalf of themselves and the other pur chasers of the six upper middle pews above the

Cross Isle , leave is granted to the said purchasers to take up the stones in the Isles and to raise the said six pews at their own private e xpe n c e to the same height above the Isles and exactly in the same manner with the pews next to the Walls , they making good any Damage that may happen in doing the same ; and it is also ordered that the eight middle pews below the Cross Isles be raised in the same manner at the e xpen c e of the Parish . William Co p e in having undertaken to make a Stone Font for the Church according to a draught l in the 5 o th . plate in Langleys Designs being the uppermost on the left hand for the price of six fin din pounds he g himself everything , the Vestry agree to pay him that sum for finishin g the same . 2 2 d November . The parish Levy was laid and 2 1 8 accounts rendered . Alex . Henderson has pounds , thirteen shillings and ten pence half penny r in his hands belonging to the Parish . H e is o C o e in five dered to pay William p seven pounds , shillings for a stone Font and Step . George

Mason and Edward Payne , Gents . appointed

Church Wardens .

1 1 . 1 th . so n E s r. 74 February s George Ma , q 84

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

nineteen shillings and ten pence halfpenny Curr . sun d rie Money , for Alterations in the said Church and other work don e thereto not inserted in the Undertakers Articles ; the said account being Co e in sworn to by Going Lamphier , William p and William Bernard Sears was examined and a p proved ; and it is ordered that M r. Alexander H en ’ d e rs o n pay him (out of the Parish s money in his hands) the sum of Fifty six pounds sixteen shill ings and six pence halfpenny , being the balance due on the said account , after deducting the sum of twenty nine pounds three shillings and four pence for the price of two Pews in the said Church purchased by the said George Mason , and also thirty one pounds paid him by Capt . Daniel M Mr c . Ca rt y and . Martin Cockburn for their

Pews . “ The Trust Deed from the Vestry to the Revd . Lee Massey for a Pew in the new Church dated th 1 June the 4 . 773 , not having been admitted to

Record within the time limited by Law , the same is cancelled , and a new deed executed to him for the same Pew . “ Deeds were this day executed by the Vestry

iz t to the following Persons V . George William

Fairfax , George Mason and George Washington

E M c . a rt s r. C q , Messrs . Daniel y , Alexander Hen d e rs o n , Martin Cockburn , William Triplett , and John Manley H eir at Law of Harrison Manley f r . o decd , the several Pews in the new Church 8 6 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH near P o hic bought by them at Public Auction the 2 twentieth day of November 1 77 . The Pew then r bought by M . Lund Washington being after wards sold by him to the said George Washing M r 81 . ton , the Pew then bought by Thomas With ers Co ffer being afterwards sold by him to Mr. a c William Triplett , are conveyed by the Vestry

< c o rdin glyfi “ P e w O rdered , that the Upper in the new Church adj oining the South Wall be appropriated to the Use of the Magistrates and Strangers , and use the Pew opposite thereto to the of their Wives , and the two Pews next below them to be appro p ria t e d to the Vestrymen and Merchants and their

\Vives in like manner . And it is further ordered that the eight Pew s below and adj oining the Cross Isle of the Church b e assigned to the use of the most respectable Inhabitants and House Keepers of the Parish , the Men to sit in the four pews next a n d the South Wall , the Women in the other four n e xt the North “fall . “ The Church \Vardens having failed to let the building of a Vestry House at the new Church pursuant to a former order of this Vestry . and the Vestry being now of opinion that it will be to the Advantage of the Parish to let the inclosing of the Church Yard together with the building of the said Vestry House , Ordered that the Vestry be

‘ A copy of the deed for the pews purchased by Washington W ill be found in the Appendix . TH E HI STO RY OF TRURO PARIS H

r da 2 2 d called to meet on F y y the . of April in order to let the building the said Vestry House and in closing the said Church Yard , which inclosure is to be made of Brick one hundred and sixty feet square from out to out , three feet six inches high at the highest Part of the Ground , two Bricks o thick , to g one foot below the surface and to be covered with Cypress Shingles and Painted , to have three Pier Gates . The Church Wardens to advertise the above meeting in the Virginia and Maryland Gazette after the usual Form upon such

Occasions . “ Ordered that the new Church near P o hic be furni shed with a Cushion for the Pulpit and Cloths for the Desks 81 Communion Table of Crimson V e lve tt with Gold Fring , and that Colo . George

Washington be requested to import the same , as also two Folio Prayer Books covered with blue Turkey Leather with Name of the Parish there D e m e n sio n s on in Gold Letters , the of the said m Cushion and Cloths being left to W . B ernard h 0 1 Sears w o is desired to furnish C 0 . Washington w ith proper Patterns at the Expense of the Parish . “ R T P r Lee Massey , . . Alex . Hende son

T y G . . C . \V. Mason . Ellze

E d d \ V . W . f w . y C . Pa ne , Thos Co fer G . Washington Thos . Ford

r . \Va e n e r Daniel M c . Ca ty Pet g

Martin Cockburn . ”

. V . Recorded by John Barry , Clk 8 8

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARIS H nineteen shillings for carved work done by him in C o e i the new Church . William p n was paid for

” o u Co f extra work the same Church , and Francis fer for railing the yard and making stone steps at

L a n fi e r W m . the upper Church , and Gowan g and C o p e in for their trouble and attendance in meas uring the carved work on the Altar piece and Pul pit , the former thirty , the latter ten , shillings . “ O rdered that William Bernard Sears gild the

O rnaments within the Tabernacle Frames , the Palm Branch and Drapery on the front of the

Pulpit , (also the Eggs on the Cornice of the small

Frames if the Gold will hold out , ) which he agreed to do for three pounds ready money , to be done with the Gold Leaf gi v en to the Parish by Colo .

George Washington . “ The Vestry having reconsidered thei r order of yesterday directing the Church Yard to be in

r closed with Brick , And conside ing that the ex pence th ereof w ill be too burthensome to the Par ish at this time having j ust fin ish e d two expensive

Churches , and a Glebe not yet purchased , have changed their opinions , and do accordingly order that (instead of a Brick Wall) the said Church Yard be inclosed with a Post and Rail Fence in the following manner , to wit , with sawed Cedar o Posts to g two feet and a half in the ground , to fi rst be burnt , sawed Yellow Pine Rails clear of five sap , feet high from the surface to the top rail ,

Posts eight feet asunder , the whole to be well

9 0 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

payed with turpentine and red paint , with three Palisadoed Gates painted a Stone Colour with ” Locks . The roof and fence at the Upper Church were ordered painted .

Capt . Edward Payne resigned as Vestryman , M r and . Thomas Pollard was chosen in his stead . 1 2 th 774 . November 4 . The Parish Levy is

. \V laid , and accounts audited George ashington

E s r q . and Thomas Pollard Gent . are appointed ’ W fo r Church ardens the next year . Alex . Hen d e rso n M pays ov er to r. Pollard all money in his hands and is fully discharged of all accounts , and 1 C 0 . M r. Mason delivers to Pollard Col . George V ’ V a shin gto n s Bonds for his own pew and that of

M r \Va e n e r w a Col . Fairfax . . Peter g s chosen a \Va e n e r Vestryman in the room of Maj or Peter g , deceased .

1 1 6 d . 775 . November 3 The Levy shows 3 3 tith a bl e s 6 2 , as against 9 ten years before j ust after o i th e division . This indicates the growth the M r c . Ca t . population . Col . Dani el y and Capt Mar “ tin Cockburn w ere ordered to take into their possession the books belonging to the Parish ” lately kept by John Barry, decd . The Revd . Lee

M r. Massey was appointed Clerk of the Vestry .

M r . c . Ca t . Mason , Col . y , Capt Cockburn , Capt Pol M M r r. lard , Rev . . Massey and H enderson were appointed to prepare a plan for the employment of

9 1 TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARIS H

re and providing for the poor of the Parish , and port to the next Vestry .

1 6 th . At 776 . May the laying of the last Levy no Collector had been appointed , perhaps because ff O n none o ered . this day the Collection was let to the lowest bidder , agreeable to notice given , and was undertaken by William Bayly at nine per

Cent . The regular price heretofore had been six per Cent . The Levy was very small , only twenty P 11 pounds per 0 .

1 2 2 d . M r 776 . November . Peter Wagener

M r Th ma z e n and . o Ellzey appointed Church War dens , and ordered to receive from former Wardens all balances due the Parish , including General ’ George Washington s Bond and that of Col . George William Fairfax for which the General is liable , and to pay the several sums due the Parish 1 1 Claimants charged this day , amounting to 9 pounds six shillings and four pence . William f Triplett , Edward Ford and Francis Co fer were elected Vestrymen 1n the room of George William

E s r. Fairfax q removed , Thomas Ford deceased , and William Gardner removed . The Church War

C0 1 . dens with . Mason and Capt Cockburn , or any three of them , were appointed to look out for a tract of land suitable for a Glebe , and in case they succeeded were to report to a Vestry to be called for the purpose . The Levy w a s 30 pounds per 1 tith a ble s O n Poll , on 337 . the following April

9 2

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

Tith a bl e 1 1 . 1 appointed in his stead . s 3 6 Levy 5 P 11 lbs . per 0 .

1 8 . 77 No Levy was laid this year , as the Vestry found funds suffic ie n t in their hands for the main t e n a n c e o i h the poor for t e ensuing year .

1 h . 779 . December 8 t . Martin Cockburn Gent having resigned his office as Vestryman Daniel M rt E c . Ca d y j unior was elected in his stead , and ward Washington j unior was elected in place of Tith a ble s Edward Ford who refused to serve .

1 0 . 1 2 3 5 Levy lbs . per Poll . 1 8 0 2 th In 7 no Vestry was held . November 7 . 1 8 1 1 1 2 0 . 7 , a Levy was laid of lbs per Poll , on 4 4

Ti h l M T z c . r h o m a n t a b e s . Daniel Ca ty and e Ell zey w ere appointed Church Wardens or Overseers \ illia m D n e a l of the Poor . V e e and Cleon Moore w ere elected Vestrymen in the room of Thomas ’ r W ithers Coffer deceased and Daniel M c . Ca ty n ju ior who refused to act .

1 8 2 . 2 2 d . 7 November The Vestry met . and Daniel M c Ca rty exhibited an account on oath against the Parish which showed it indebted to him in the sum of twelve pounds eight shillings paper fi c e rti e d . money , which was ordered to be Vestry 2 th adj ourned until the 4 , but that meeting was n o t held . 1 2 78 4 . 3d February . The Vestry met at Col a chester . The Vestry of this Parish having p pointed meetings at different tim es for two years y last past , and not a maj ority of the said Vestr

94 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH meeting to proceed to business ; It is now agreed upon and ordered that those of the Vestry who have resigned or removed others be chosen in ” their stead . “ John Gibson , Gent . is elected a Vestryman for this Parish in the room of His Excellency General s i n ifi e d Washington , who has g his resignation in ”

. c . a letter to Dani el Mc arty , Gent James Waugh was elected in the room of ff Thomas Pollard , removed . Francis Co er was desired to let the Vestry know at their next meet ing whether he would continue to serv e or not . Peter Wagener and William D e n e a l e were a p pointed Church Wardens or O v erseers of th e

Poor . A Levy was laid , which included lbs . of tobacco for the temporary support of such of the poor as are at present unknown , to be laid out by the Church Wardens at their discretion . “ This they considered absolutely necessary on a c cou n t of the severity of the winter and scarcity of corn . Lund Washington was elected a Vestryman the

M a rt . room of Daniel c . C y who now resigned Present at this meeting :

. C . . . Pet Wagener , W Alex H enderson

D n . W . e e l W m a e C . . , W Triplett

G. . h Mason Edward Was ington .

M c . a r Daniel C ty . Cleon

* i a i This meeting of the Vestry , which saw the formal res gn t on t of George Washington , was the last that was attended by hree of - h i s G i c . friends and old fellow Vestrymen , eorge Mason , Dan el M 9 5 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARIS H The last meeting of the Vestry under the old Re ime 2 th g was held at Colchester , January 7 , 1 78 5 . Like the preceding it was occupied solely e s in providing for the support of the poor , and i ll p e c a y for twelve families who are named . The old Colonial Church , which had been staggering for years under blows in flic te d by successive Gen eral Assemblies was now in the article of death . m e n The leading who , in the face of popular odium , stood by and attended it in its last hours , must have believed that when released from the coil of the State it would rise from the dust and put on more beautiful garments . The new (Christ) Church in Alexandria had been fin ish e d about the same time with the new

Pohick Church . Washington bought a pew in Christ Church on the day that the Church was e turned over to the Vestry by the builders . H gave for Pew number 5 , thirty six pounds , ten shillings . That pew has become historical . It

E . was afterwards occupied by Gen . Robert Lee , and there are tablets on the walls of the Church in memory of these two heroic characters and de y out Christians . This historic pew attracts every week streams of pilgrims to Christ

ty e e He de n . Col . son d C t . M c . C a rty Car and Al xand r n rso c Ma an ap c were his seniors in point of servi e , having served continuously sin e - 1 7 4 9 fi ve . M r. H fi rs t c , a period of thirty years enderson was ele ted 6 f on the new Vestry in 1 7 5 . The fi t h and only remaining member h o m a z f t t V t y , M r. T e n E y , w t t t t t o ha es r llze c as presen a i s las mO ee ing two months later, and afterward ontinued to serve as an ver seer of the Poor. ‘ a The pew which General Robert E . Lee rented and reg ul rly ’ occupied when at Arlington was a cross t h e a isle from Wa shington s pew.

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

five a nual rent of pounds , Virginia money , e ch ; and we hereby promise to pay (each for himself ro misin to p g pay) annually , forever , to the Min ister and Vestry of the Protestant Episcopal o r Church in Fairfax Parish , , if the Parish should be divided , to the Minister and Vestry of the Prot e sta n t Episcopal Church in Alexandria, the said sum of h y e pounds for each pew for the purpose of supporting the Minister in the said Church . Provided n e ve rth e ls s s that if any law of this Com m o n w e a lth us should hereafter compel , our heirs , executors and administrators or assigns , to pay

- to the support of Religion , the pew rent hereby granted shall , in that case , be considered as part

w e re ul re d . of what , by such law , be q to pay Provided also that each of us pay only in pro portion to the part we hold of the said pews .

For the performance of which payments , well and truly to be made forever annually , within six months after demanded , we hereby bind ourselves

(each for himself separately) our heirs , executors , fi rml administrators and assigns , y by these pres ents . In witness whereof , we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 2 5 th day of April in the year of our Lord 1 78 5 .

Witness present at signing and sealing . David Griffith at signing and sealing for (Seal) Philip Alexander .

W . G. . Washington , Bird Robert Adams

M . T P . . . Herbert 81 . Alexander Madden 9 8 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

T \ . Giles Cooke for . Vest W Barr Powell for . Herbert .

Geo . Washington (Seal)

Gr. R . Chapman for Adams .

W . Bird (Seal)

Robt . Macgill for M . Madden .

Thos . H erbert (Seal) Thomas West (Seal)

W . Herbert (Seal)

’ And yet W ashington occasionally attended P o hick Church when it was open for Divine Service , as the following item from his Diary proves :

2 d . 1 8 . Oct . 7 5 Sunday . Went with Fanny

B A . assett , Burwell Bassett , Dr . Stuart , George

\ M r y P 0 Vashington , . Shaw and Nell Custis to M r hick Church to hear a . Thompson preach who w us returned home ith to dinner , where I found

M r. . P a . Rev Jones , formerly a Chaplain in a Reg ’ im e n t . After we were in bed about eleven o clock

M r Mr. at night , . Houdon (sent from Paris by ff Je erson and Dr . Franklin to take my Bust , in behalf of the State of Virginia , with three young

M r. men , assistants , introduced by Perin a French gentleman of Alexandria) arriv ed here by water d from the latter place . 3 . O ctober . The two Rev e re n d gentlemen who dined and lodged here went away after breakfast . This is an illustration of the truth of the statement of his Pastor , Rev . Lee

Massey , that Washington never allowed company at Mount Vernon to keep him from Church , and

9 9 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARISH that he was the most punctual and constant a t tendant at Divine Service he had ever known . i Mrs . Lew s , (Nelly Custis , ) bears a like testimony as to his habit in New York and Philadelphia . As to the time of which we are now speaking she “ says : General Washington had a pew in Pohick

Church and one in Christ Church , Alexandria . H e attended the Church at Alexandria when the ” weather and roads permitted a ride of ten miles .

We have reached the dark age of Truro Parish . us There are no records to guide , and we have to avail ourselves of such side - lights as come from i other sources . It is not known def nitely when ’ Mr c i l . Massey s o ffi a relations with the Parish

M r. ceased . Tradition says he was followed by a Mr M o sc ro e Kemp and a . p , who did not walk worthy of their high vocation in several respects . Whether they had any o ffic ia l connection with “ the Parish , or were merely temporary supplies , * is not known . Towards the close of the century ,

1 8 L . some say in 79 , the eccentric Mason Weems

appears upon the scene . There is no proof of his

precise relations to the Parish . In his popular Life of Washington he calls himself “ Late Rector of ” Mount Vernon Parish , as if he did not know its ffi name . It is certain however that he was o ciating M r there about the beginning of this century . .

‘ i B ishop Meade , from whom this tradit on was drawn , had heard “ O o fii c i a t e d that these Ministers ccasionally at Dumfries , Pohick , and perhaps at ( doubtless a slip of the pen for n Brentsville ) . I do not fi d their names in any l ist s of the Clergy of that period. 1 0 0

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

i of the Church . O the congregation about one half was composed of white people and th e other of negro es . Among many of the negroes were to be discovered the most gratifying evidences of

i a n sincere piety , artless simplicity , passionate as pirations after Christ and an earnest endeavour to ” do the will of God . M r P o The light thus thrown by . Davis upon hick Church for one Sunday reveals a very ani mated and picturesque scene , and one by no means M r discreditable to . Weems . This single glimpse into the darkness which shrouded Truro Parish is the only authentic tidings we have of it until ’

1 8 1 2 i . . O N e ll , when the Rev Charles is in charge ’ ’ fi r M r ill t s O N e S . We t meet . in Thomas Parish , o ffic ia te d Orange County , where he and taught

1 - 1 0 0 H e - school in 79 7 8 . was one of the old time schoolmasters , (as we have seen in our History of ’

S t . Mark s Parish , ) who believed in what Hudibras called “ Apostolic blows and knocks more than he did in the Apostolic Succession . His whipping post was the back of a negro man , on which the bad boy was suspended and fla gge lla te d with hick ’ T lia fe rro s . H e . a ory switches taught at Col , near B ro mfie ld Pine Stake Church , and also in Parish , P P Madison County . Judge . . Barbour , of the

U . S . . Supreme Court , and the Hon Jeremiah Mor ton and Dr . George Morton were his pupils , and H e retained a lively impression of his discipline . also preached and taught school in Hamilton Par

1 0 2 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARISH

ish , Fauquier County , and represented it in Con ve n ti n 1 H o in 8 0 5 . e was likewise in D ettingen

Parish , Prince William County . The date of his incumbency in Truro Parish was the time of B ishop M eade ’ s effective ministry at Christ

Church , Alexandria . The family at Mount Ver non were attendants at Christ Church at this time , and some of them were among the first fruits of

M r. his ministry there . M eade was consequently intimate at Mount Vernon , and tells an amusing ’ “

M r O N e ill . H e : anecdote of . says The family M t at . Vernon and at Rippon Lodge (the Black H e burns) were fond of him . , always M t . spent his Christmas at Vernon , and on those occasions was dressed in a full suit of velvet , which

Gen . Washington had left behind , and which had ’

M r. e ill been given to O N . But as General Wash in gt o n was tall and well proportioned in all his ’

M r. O N e ill b e parts , and was peculiarly formed , ing of uncommon length of body and brevity of l diffic ult egs , it was to make the clothes of the one ,

M r. even though altered , sit well on the other . ( ’ O N e ill died , it is thought , in

Judge Bushrod Washington , (the son of John A in . and nephew of General Washington , ) who h ri M n H e e t e d t . o w . Vernon , was living there a t was a devout Communicant of the Church , and tended Divine Service in Christ Church , Alexan c o nve n dria , which he represented repeatedly in H tion . e was also a member of the Standing Com

1 0 3 THE HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

mitte e . H e to the end of his life married Jane , daughter of Col . Thomas Blackburn , of Rippon

Lodge , Prince William County , which was a cen in flue n c e ter of Episcopal . Two of the Misses n Blackburn , Ja e and Polly, married nephews of General Washington and lived in Jefferson Coun t y , and one , Judy , married Gustavus Alexander . The fi rst Richard Blackburn married a daughter

. O ve rw h a rto n . of the Rev James Scott , of Parish In his Convention Address in 1 8 38 Bishop Meade thus describes a Visitation made to Pohick

Church , and its condition , in the preceding sum mer : “ M y next visit was to Pohick Church , in the

Mt . vicinity of Vernon , the seat of General Wash in gto n . It was still raining when I approached the house , and found no one there . The wide — in open doors invited me to enter , as they do vite , day and night through the year , not only the field passing traveller , but every beast of the and s e e e m e d fowl of the air . These latter however to have reverenced the house of God , since few marks t of their pollution were to be seen throughout i .

The interior of the house , having been well built , C is still good . The chancel , ommunion table and C o r tables of the law 81 . are still there and in good T der . he roof only is decaying ; and at the time I was there the rain was dropping on these sacred h places and on other parts of the house . O the

doors of the pews , in gilt letters , are still to be

1 0 4

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH And shall it now be permitted to sink into ruin for want of a few hundred dollars to arrest the decay already begun ? The families that once wor shipped there are indeed nearly all gone , and those who remain are not competent to its complete repair . But there are immortal beings all around it it , and not far distant from , who might be for ever blessed by the word faithfully preached there in . The poor shall never cease out of any land , and to them the gospel ought to be preached . For some years past one of the students in our Theological Seminary has acted as lay reader in it , and occasionally a professor has added his ser M r. vices . Within the last year the Rev . John son , residing in the neighbourhood , has performed more frequent duties there . “ O n the day following I preached to a very con sid e ra bl e congregation in this old church , one third of which was made up of coloured persons . The sacrament was then administered to twenty ” persons . Some years later the Bishop wrote : I a m happy

Mr. to say that this report led the Rev . Johnson to its use , in a circular , by means of which he fifte e n raised hundred dollars , with which a new it roof and ceiling and other repairs were put on , by which it has been preserved from decay and fitted for such occasional services as are performed it in there . A friend , who has recently visited , forms me that many of the doors of the pews are

1 0 6 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PA RI SH

gone . Those of George Washington and George — Mason are not to be found , perhaps borne away as relics . Those of George William Fairfax , Mar M r c . C a t tin Cockburn , Daniel y , William Payne , ’ (read Triplett , ) and the rector s , are still standing ” and their names legible .

10 7 A LEX AN D ER HEND ERSO N

This gentleman was the son of Rev . Robert

c . H e Henderson , Minister of Blantyre in S otland 1 6 came to Virginia in 75 , and s ettled as a mer

. H e chant in Colchester , in Truro Parish married

Miss Sallie Moore of Maryland . His son , General re H enderson , says that during the Revolution he tired to a farm in Fairfax County for fear of fall ing into the hands of the English , as he had taken

- a very decided part against the mother country . H e , General Washington and George Mason , were commissioners on the part of Virginia who met with the Maryland commissioners , Stone , e 2 8 th Chas and Jenifer , at Mount Vernon on the 1 8 of March , 7 5 , made the compact as to the navi ga tio n and exercise o f jurisdiction in the waters of

Chesapeake Bay and Pocomoke . Col . H enderson represented Prince William County in the General 1 8 Assembly in 79 , having in the meantime moved to Dumfries , which had long been one of the chief marts of commerce in Virginia . The late Murray

Forbes , of Falmouth , son of D r . Stirling Forbes , b e an eminent physician of Dumfries , when a boy s came one of hi clerks , living in his family and sharing his kindness with his sons . Col . H ender so n established a branch of his busin es s in Alex

1 0 8

TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH

ants , Mrs . Dr . Nevitt , of Accotink , who , like her P 0 great grandfather , worships in the same old

hick Church . L U N D WAS H I N GT O N , who became a Vestry 1 8 2 man in 7 , was the son of Townshend Wash in to n Ch o ta n k g and Elizabeth Lund , of Creek ,

. H e 1 King George County was born October ,

1 1 6 . 737 , and died in 79 In his youth he was a manager of a large estate in Albemarle and H Orange . e was then appointed manager of Rav

C 0 1. ensworth in Fairfax by H enry Fitzhugh , of

King George . Subsequently he was chosen by Mt General Washington to superintend . Vernon , 1 H which he did until 78 5 . e was a man of great

bodily strength and activity , and made money for H e his employers and for himself . married his

cousin , Betsey Foote . E DW AR D VVAS H I N GTO N was chosen Vestry

° man in 1 779 . Lund Washington says of him “ Edward Washington lived a few miles from Col 1 chester when I went there to live in 78 6 . My

uncle , Lawrence Washington and I believed him to be a relative from his strong resemblance to ” 1 8 8 the family . His father was living in 7 , a very

old man . D R W A G N 1 1 . PETER E ER , Vestryman in 77 , f was an Englishman , and was Clerk of Sta ford

County before Fairfax was established . It was on his land that the town of Colchester was founded 1 in 75 4 , and he was one of the original Trustees

1 1 0 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARIS H

M a r y c . C t with Daniel y , John Barr William Elzy \ l1in t n H e and Edward Va s g o . married a sister of

M r. Speaker Robinson of the House of Burgesses . ( 1 75 0 ) Their daughter Elizabeth mar ri ed Rev n 1 8 1 Spence Grayson of Detti gen Parish , ( 7

w a s Peter Wagener , son of the foregoing , chosen Vestryman in 1 774 to succeed his father who died that year . H e was Clerk of Fairfax

County , and married a daughter of Daniel Mc .

Carty . Their son , B ev erly Robinson , married in 1 0 79 a daughter of Col . B enj amin Harrison of

Prince William County . A daughter of Peter

Wagener married Dr . Morton of Colchester , and

2 d . Col . Porter of Prince William . L W N C W \Vo o dla w n A RE E LE I S , of , was the son of Col . Fielding Lewis , of Fredericksburg , and his wife Betty , only sister of General Washington . H 1 e 6 . . was born April 4 , 7 7 Col Fielding Lewis , 1 1 8 1 by his last will , dated O ctober 9 , 7 , devised to his son Lawrence one thousand acres of land n e in the County of Frederick , one sixth of his groes and one third of his stock of cattle , horses ,

81 C . When Lawrence had attained the age of twenty one he was engaged by his uncle to live at M t . Vernon and aid him in recei ving strangers and entertaining the perpetual flow of company to that hospitable mansion . In his letter Gen . Washing “ ton said ' Your Aunt and I are in the decline of life and are regular in our habits , especially of ris fit ing and going to bed . I require some person

I I I TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

to ease me of the trouble of entertaining company , particularly of nights , it being my inclination to retire , and , ( unless prevented by very particular to company , ) I always do retire either to bed or my study , soon after candle light . In taking these b e duties , which hospitality always obliges me to o ff stow upon company , my hands , it would render ” me a very acceptable service . Mt . Vernon was the home of the beautiful Nel ’

. ra udda u h te r lie Custis , Mrs Washington s g g , 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 “ Ah South , invisible hand from H eaven mingles hearts by a strange secret and unaccountable con j unction .

Gen . Washington in his last will devises two

thousand acres of the Mt . Vernon estate to Law P rence Lewis and his wife , Eleanor . (Custis) Lew

is . The writer has a beautiful plot of this land , Mt with endorsement : A Plan of a part of . Ver N W non lands , . . of the road leading from the gum spring on little Hunting Creek to th e ford of

Dogue Run . B eginning at three red marked oaks 0 11 a rising therein , opposite to the old road which

formerly passed through the S . end of Muddy Hole b e farm , including that part of Chaple land which

longs to the subscriber , as also the Mill and Dis

tillery , showing the slopes , contents and relative

1 1 2

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH W’ ’ . 1 6 ashington s Diary In August , 77 , Washing ton appointed him one of his Aids , and he was with him in many campaigns in New Jers ey 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 H raised in Virginia . e 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 1 7 78 he was made Commissioner 0 11 the a n Board of War . Bishop White used to tell an e c do te h e of the bold and dashing way in which , at this time , dispersed a mob near his house in 1 8 Philadelphia . In 7 4 he was elected to Congress , and also made a member of a Court for de te rmin ing a dispute between Massachusetts and New 1 York . In 778 he was a member of the Virginia Convention to consider the ra tifi c a tio n of the Con stitutio n of the United States , and spoke and voted it c hie fl against , y 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 H enry Lee were chosen H e the first Senators in Congress from Virginia . 1 1 4 TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

served one session in the Senate , and died on his

e 1 2 1 0 way to the s cond , on the th of March , 79 , and was buried in the family vault at B elai re in

y . Prince William Count Although Col . Grayson fill e d so many public trusts with signal ability , he

r has , from want of a biog apher , almost lapsed

r from history , while other infe ior men live in story

. w a s and song In person he six feet high , of a fl o rid full habit and complexion , with black hair

and eyes . With his varied c ulture he was elegant H e in conv ersation as he was able in debate . 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

m . arried Miss Breckenridge , of Kentucky

G O G . E R E JO H NST O N This gentleman , one of

the legal adv isers of the Vestry , was the son of

Dr . James Johnston who migrated to Maryland . The son came to Virginia and settled in Fairfax in County , which he represented the General As l ’ s e mb y . Patrick H enry s famous resolutions were “ M r seconded by . Johnston in a speech of great ” H e Th o m eloquence and power . married Miss p

son , by whom he had two daughters , one of whom

married Rev . Lee Massey , of Truro Parish , and o n e the other married Robert Howson Harrison , ’ f H e o Washington s aids . married for his second fi e . c v wife Miss Mc arty , by whom he had sons and 1 1 5 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH four daughters . Two of his sons were o ffic e rs in the Revolution , and a grandson , Maj or George o h n sto n ‘ in J , the Confederate States Army . C C K B U N a MARTI N O R , whose name so often p 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

o g to Jamaica , and he had to come to Virginia to

. H e S rin fi e ld win the prize bought a farm , p g , near Gunston , where they lived to a good old age . H e e s was a polished Christian gentleman , much teemed by George Mason , as is attested by their correspondence still extant . M CA P T . CLE O N O O RE , of Colchester , elected 1 8 1 Vestryman in 7 , was badly wounded at the H e battle of Brandywine . moved to Alexandria 1 8 0 0 in and was appointed Register of Wills , which o ffic e he fille d until his death in 1 8 0 8 . H e was succeeded by his son Alexander , who was

8 1 8 6 . born at Colchester January , 7 His first wife was the daughter of Col . Roger West , of West

Grove , Fairfax County . Cleon Moore was the ’ H author of Washington s March . e was wont to Mr tell this anecdote of himself , says . Brocket , of the “ Lodge of Washington” During the Revolution he was stationed with ra a squad of men in the Northern Neck , without fl o c k tions . Chancing to see a of geese , belonging “ ” Mr c to a . Page , he impressed them , ex ept a 1 1 6

TH E H I STO RY O F TRURO PARISH

M C FF 1 1 T H O AS WI T H ERS O ER , born 7 3 , and a r 1 6 Vest yman of Truro from 7 5 to his death , 1 8 1 wa s f 1 68 in 7 , a son of Francis Co fer , (born 3 ,

1 0 . died 74 ) and Mary Littlej ohn Withers , his wife H is seat was at or near the present residence of M D . . Hall , Esq . , whose wife is one of his de “ ” s c e n da n t s : so he was one of the upper Vestry

a c men , being a neighbor , as neighbors were

M r M r. counted then , of Capt . Payne , . Gardner ,

M r. P Ford and Ellzey . His wife was Mary argu 1 1 1 8 son , who was born in 7 5 and died in 75 . Their ff 1 8 son Francis Co er was born in 74 , and was a 1 1 H Vestryman from 776 to 78 5 . e married a ff Miss Gunnell . Thomas Co er , their son , born 1 773 , was captain of a company from Fairfax in H 1 8 1 2 . e the war of married Ann Simpson , and 1 8 6 2 : died in , leaving eight children , namely Wil ff liam Co er , married Miss Harmed , line extinct ; ff ff Hannah Co er , married Silas Burke ; Jane Co er , ff married Levi Burke ; Elizabeth Co er , married ff George Selectman ; Thomas Co er , married Jane ff Selectman ; Henry Co er , married Harriett Tay ff lor ; Joshua Co er , married Hulda Simpson ; Armi

ff . stead Thompson Mason Co er , died unmarried

The descendants of Hannah , Jane , Henry and Joshua Coffer have restored a pew in Pohick ff Church in memory of Thomas Withers Co er .

TRI P LETT . The will of Francis Triplett of the th 1 Parish of Truro is dated October 4 , 75 7 , and

W iL. gives the names of his children , Thomas ,

1 1 8 TH E HI STO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

liam , Daniel , John , Francis , Mason , Margaret O i (married Boylston , ) and Patty . these William Triplett was a Vestryman of Truro from 1 776 1 8 to 7 5 , being elected in the room of George Wil H liam Fairfax . e was a man of prominence in in his neighborhood , and was among the friends vite d by Mrs . Washington to the funeral of the

General . Thomas Triplett was a trooper in the 1 6 French and Indian War , March , 7 5 ; and his brother Francis Triplett was in Col . George Wash ’ in n gto s regiment in the same war . The latter re c e ive d a wound in the arm , for which 5 5 pounds was granted him by the General Assembly . H e w as afterward a captain of militia in Fauquier

County , a Justice of the Peace and a Vestryman of Leeds Parish . His daughter Ann married

. . H Capt . Elias Hord The Rev Arnold . Hord , of

Philadelphia , is among her descendants . VESTRY M EN AND C H U RCH W ARD E N S O F T RU RO

1 2 - 1 8 PARI S H . 73 7 5 . = W . Churc h . (C . Warden )

M 2 - 1 c . Ca rt 1 . Dennis y , 73 4

- - 1 2 . C . W . 1 2 . John H eryford , 73 4 3 died 73 4

- - 1 2 . C . W . 1 . Edward Barry, 73 44 737 4 4

- - 1 2 1 6 . C . Charles Broadwater, 73 33 and 74 4 5 — - - W . 1 0 1 2 6 . 7 5 , 5 3 , 5 7

- - 1 2 8 . C W . 1 8 . Richard Osborne , 73 4 . 74 7 1 2 — John Lewis , 73 33 .

1 2 - Gabriel Adams , 73 33 .

- - - 1 2 8 C W . 1 2 6 8 . Edward Emms , 73 4 . . 73 , 4 9

1 - Francis Awbrey , 733 34 .

- 1 . William Godfrey, 733 44

- 6 . 1 1 C . W . . John Sturman , 733 4 74 3

1 - Giles Tillett , 733 34 .

1 - Rev . Lawrence D e Butts , Minister , 733 34 .

1 - Michael Ashford , 733 34 .

- - 1 1 0 . Jeremiah Bronaugh , 733 44 , and 74 7 5 died

- - C W . 1 2 8 . . 734 7 , 4 4 , 4

- - 1 1 6 2 . William Peake , 733 44 , and 74 9 died

- Fa r uso n 1 . John g , 733 4 4

- - 1 . C . W . 1 6 0 . Thomas Lewis , 733 4 4 73 4

- 1 6 . James Baxter , 734 3

1 2 0

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH

- - 1 6 2 6 1 6 8 . C . George Washington , 7 5 , and 7 5 4 — W 1 6 66 - 7 34 , 7 , 74 5 — - - 1 6 . C . W . 1 6 6 0 1 Edward Payne , 7 5 74 7 5 , 7 ,

- ff W . 1 6 8 . C Thos . Withers Co er , 7 5 4 died .

- 1 68 1 2 . 7 9 , 7

- 6 1 - 1 6 . . 66 . C W . William Gardner , 7 5 7 7 7 1 — 1 6 6 8 . C . W Alexander H enderson , 7 5 5 . 7 9

- 0 8 0 . 7 , 79

- - - Th o m a z e n 1 6 8 . C . W . 1 6 8 2 Ellzey , 7 5 7 7 , 7 3 , — 5 - 6 8 1 . 7 7 , 4

— - 1 1 6 0 . 6 6 . C . W Thomas Ford , 7 5 7 . 7 9 7

1 6 . John Ford , 7 5

- r C . S 1 6 2 . Peter Wagener , . , 7 5 , 7 74 died W

1 1 - 2 77 .

- 1 6 0 . William Linton , 7 5 7 died

- - 6 8 . 1 6 0 . W . 1 C . John Posey , 7 5 7 7 7

- . 1 6 . Rev Lee Massey , Rector , 7 7 77

- - C . 1 2 . 1 0 . W Martin Cockburn , 77 79 . 77 3

- - - 8 . 1 W . 1 6 8 . C Thomas Pollard , 774 4 . 774 , 7 9

- — W . 1 6 e r. 1 8 C . Peter Wag ner , J , 774 5 . 77 7 , 79

- 8 0 8 . , 4 5 — - 1 8 1 6 8 . C . W . . William Triplett , 77 5 777

- 1 - 8 W . ff 1 6 8 . C . . Francis Co er , 77 5 777 1 —8 Edward Washington , 779 5 .

- - 8 . 1 . W . 1 D e n e a l e 1 8 8 C . William , 7 5 7 4 5

1 8 1 - 8 Cleon Moore , 7 5 .

- 1 8 8 . John Gibson , 7 4 5

1 8 - 8 James Waugh , 7 4 5 .

- 1 8 8 . Lund Washington , 7 4 5

1 2 2 TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

1 8 All Vestries were dissolved at Easter , 7 5 , by the Act of Assembly by which the Protestant Epis copal Church was incorporated .

CLER K S O F T H E VEST RY

1 2 - Edward Barry , 73 44 . — 1 6 . William Henry Terrett , 74 4 5

- r. 1 6 6 . John West , J , 75 4

1 6 - John Barry , 7 4 75 .

1 - Rev . Lee Massey , 77 5 77 .

1 - Francis Adams , 777 79 .

- 1 8 1 8 . Peter Wagener , 7 5

C LER K S AND L AY READERS AT T H E C H URCH ES

Joseph Johnson , New , or Falls , and Goose

1 - Creek , 733 3 5 .

1 6 - Edward Barry , Pohick , 73 39 .

1 6 - 0 . Samuel Hull , Goose Creek , 73 4

1 - 1 John Bowie , Pohick , 739 4 .

1 1 - John Richardson , Goose Creek , 74 4 5 .

1 - John Barry , Pohick , 74 3 75 . Also at Alexan

- - 1 6 1 6 1 6 - dria , 75 9 5 ; and at the Falls , 7 5 ; and at

1 66 . Littlej ohns , 7

1 - Walter English , Upper , or Falls , 74 3 4 5 . VV bird 1 — John y Dainty , Upper , or Falls , 74 5 5 3 ;

- e 1 . and Al xandria , 754 5 7

- 1 6 . John Allen , Goose Creek , 74 5 4

1 2 3 TH E HISTO RY OF TRURO PARIS H

1 John Moxley, Goose Creek , 74 7 . 8 1 . Thomas Evans , Goose Creek , 74

- - 1 . William Donaldson , Upper , or Falls 75 4 5 5

1 6 - 8 John Lumley , Upper , or Falls , 75 5 ; and

1 8 . Alexandria, 75

- 1 6 0 . Thomas Lewis , Falls , 759

Elijah Williams , Littlej ohns and Upper, or ’ - 1 66 6 . e 1 1 . Payne s , 7 9 Continued as R ader to 77 ’ - H 1 6 2 . B enj amin . West , Upper , or Payne s , 7 9 7 ’ 1 2 - Daniel Atkins , Upper , or Payne s , 77 77 ; and

1 - at Pohick , 775 77 .

O V ERSEERS O F T H E P 0 0 R

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 1 8 1 8 0 2 civil duties , from 7 7 to ; from their records in the Vestry B ook of Truro . Elections of Over seers were held every three years . Peter Wagener Presley Gunnell Th o ma z en Ellzey George Summers John Fowler Nicolas Fitzhugh John Moss Coleman Brown Simon Sommers Rezin O ffutt George Minor Thomas Darne Richard Simpson Daniel Kitchen ] r John West William Gunnel , J . Roger West John Dulin

1 2 4

BURGESSES FR O M FAI RFAX C OUNTY

(Note : Each County was entitled to t w o

gesses . )

1 2 - 1 Lawrence Washington , 74 74 9 .

C o lvill 1 - 1 8 John , 744 74 . 1 8—1 Richard Osborne , 74 74 9 .

1 2 - 1 Hugh West , 7 5 75 4 .

1 2 - 1 Gerrard Alexander , 75 75 5 .

1 6 - 1 8 1 6 1 1 6 John West , 75 75 , and 7 7 5 ,

1 - 1 766 774 .

1 6 - 1 8 George William Fairfax , 75 75 .

- 1 8 1 6 . George Johnston , 75 7 5

- 1 8 1 6 1 . George Mason , 75 7

- 1 6 1 . George Washington , 7 5 775 1 Charles Broadwater , 775 .

DELE GAT ES T O T H E C ONVENT I O NS

1 March 775 . George Washington and Charles

Broadwater . 1 July 775 . Charles Broadwater and George

Mason . 1 December 775 . Charles Broadwater .

1 2 6 TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

1 6 . r. . May 77 John West , J , and George Mason George William Fairfax was a Burgess for Fred

1 2 - 1 1 6 - 1 8 erick County , 75 75 5 ; Hugh West , 75 75 ;

- 1 8 1 6 . and George Washington , 75 7 5 Augustine W’ Washington was a Burgess from estmoreland . 1 7 5 4 - 1 75 8 ; William Fairfax a Burgess for Prince William before his promotion to the Council in 1 74 4 ; and James Hamilton a Burgess for Loudoun 1 1 for many years prior to 77 . 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

Co lvill , whom Stanard supposes to hav e succeeded William Fairfax as Burgess for Prince William

1 . in 74 4 . But beside the testimony of the Rev “ Charles Green that he was a Burgess for thi s ” 1 s county in 74 4 , 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 M of a successor to r. Fairfax was issued . The h matter is set at rest , owever , by reference to The P 0 11 for Election of Burgesses for Fairfax County ’ in the year on record in the Clerk s office . 1 2 Capt . Lawrence Washington received 5 votes ;

. C o lvill 1 1 . 1 0 1 Col John , 5 ; Capt Lewis Elzey, ; and others a smaller number .

1 2 7 LI ST O F VOTERS AT AN ELECTI ON OF BU RGE SS E S IN FAI RFAX COUNTY

I 1 N 74 4 . — (Note z Not all of these voters lived in Fair An fax . elector could vote in every country in which he owned a freehold of 2 5 acres of improved

1 0 0 . a land , or acres if unimproved Each name p pears twice on the poll lists , hence the variations in spelling . ) Benj amin Adams William Barton

Gabriel Adams Robt . Bates H Gabriel Adams , Jun . . Baugus , or Boggess George Adams John Baxter Garrat Alexander Thomas Beach Ali Bryant sto n Col . Blackburn John Allan -Robert Boggess

W . B o ilsto n John Ashford Boylston , or

Michael Ashford Thos . Bosman William Ashford William Bowling Francis Awbrey Henry Brent A John y la tt Chas . Broadwater Robert Baker Guy Broadwater John Ball John Bronaugh Moses Ball Jeremiah Bronaugh William Barker Thomas Brown

W m . n Barkley, or John Ca ady

Buckley Thos . Carney William Bartlett Richard Carpenter

1 2 8

THE HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH William Gunnel Joseph Jacobs

William Gunnel , Jun . Abel Jenny , or Janney

H a irslin William g Amos Jenny , or Janney

William Hall , Sen . Jacob Janney

f r William Hall , Jun . James Je fe ey Thomas Hall Ezekiel Jenkins James Halley James Jenkins William Halling John Jenkins 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 Hartshorne John Koon

Francis Haugo , or Hago Daniel Krouch George Hester James Lane Robert H ester Jacob L a w full John H ic h e rso n Abraham Lay

H i e rso n Jos . gg Thomas Lewis

Thomas Hicks Thomas Lewis , Jun . Thomas Hord Stephen Lewis John Hurst Vincent Lewis John Husk Abraham Lindsey Andrew Hutchinson Moses Linton Nimrod Hutt Jacob Lucas Powell Jackson John Lucas

1 30 TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH John Manley Joseph Reid Thomas Marshall David Richardson John Martin James Roberts m M kb W . e c M c . B e e o h n . y, or ] Roberts , Sen

John Meade John Roberts , Jun . John Melton William Roberts John Minor James Robinson Thomas Monteith John Robinson William Moore Richard Samford Thomas Moseley Robert Samford

Thomas Moxley James Sanders , or James Murray Saunders John Musgrove Lewis Sanders C hristopher Neale Edmond Sands Anthony Neale Saunders Henry Netherton Thomas S c a n da ll Philip Noland James Scott

Edward Norton Benj . Sebastian Richard Omohundro John S h a dde din Thomas Owsley Willia m Shortridge William Peake Isaac Simmonds Thomas Penson Baxter Simpson William Perkins George Simpson H enry Peyton Gilbert Simpson Vall Peyton Richard Simpson George Platt William Simpson Nathaniel Popej oy Jacob Smith Christopher Pritchett James Smith Jacob Ramey Thomas Smith William Reardon William Smith 1 31 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

James Spurr Fie ldin g Turner Samuel Stone Michael V a la n diga m John S tra h a m Bond Veal William Stribling Z e ph e n ia h \Vade John Sturman Samuel Warner Willia m Stutt Lawrence \Vashington Francis Summers Henry Watson Isaac Summers James Waugh John Summers Hugh West George Taylor John West John Taylor Thomas West

W . H W . Terrett Richard heeler David Thomas Thomas W' hitford Daniel Thomas Francis VVilk s Robert Thomas Owen \Villia m s John Thompson \Valter Williams

W . Samuel Tillett illiam Williams , Sen

un . Daniel Trammel William Williams , J

Garret , or Gerrard , Thomas Willis Trammel William Winsor John Trammell Thomas Windsor William Trammell Thomas Wren Francis Triplett Willia m Wright James Turley James Wyatt John Turley Daniel Young

1 32

TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI SH the said Church for the price of sixteen pounds 2 8 current money, to wit the pew numbered , sit uate between the two long Isles and adj oining the North Isle and the space before the Communion

Table , and a certain Lund Washington , Gent ; did at the same time purchase another certain p ew in the said Church for the price of thirteen pounds ten shillings , current money , to wit , the pew num bered 2 9 situate between the two long Isles and adj oining the North Isle 81 the fi rst mentioned

81 pew , whereas the said Lund Washington hath since relinquished and given up all his right and title to the said p e w numbered 2 9 purchased by him as aforesaid unto the said George VVa shin g 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 c o nfirm e d and sold , aliened and , 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

1 34 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI SH ua te d 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 enj oy the said two pews above mentioned and I n described , without the Lawful Let , Hindrance , te rru tio n p , or Molestation of any person or per sons whatsoever . In witness whereof the Vestry now present (being a maj ority of the M embers) have hereunto set their hands and a ffix e d their fi r seals the day and year st above written .

Signed , sealed and delivered in the presence of

W m . W m r Triplett , . Payne , J . , John Barry , John

Gunnell , Thomas Triplett .

G. Mason (Seal)

M a r Daniel c . C ty (Seal)

Alex . Henderson (Seal) T . Ellzey (Seal) ff Thos . Withers Co er (Seal)

Thos . Ford (Seal) Pet : Wagener (Seal)

Martin Cockburn . (Seal)

I 3S TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH Received this twenty fourth day of February in 1 the year 774 , of the within named George Wash ‘ in to n g the sum of twenty nine pounds , ten shill ings , current money , being the consideration men ” i n t o e d 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 ”

fi rst . Hall , where it is

WAS H I N GT O N A S A C H U R C H - GO ER 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 j c e t which demands a far more accurate and sym it pathetic treatment than is given to , namely , ’ R e Washington s religious training and habits . fe ’ rring to Washington s services as a Vestryman , it is acknowledged that he was “ "uite 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 subj ect , but he falls into a number of new and strange ones , and becomes involved in a most curious labyrinth of in a c c ura ci es . All these the foregoing pages will correct . In discussing Washington ’ s habits in regard to church attendance he fi rst quotes the well known testimony of the Rev . Lee Massey , his pastor and “ close personal friend , as follows I never knew so constant an attendant at Church as Washing

ton . And his behavior in the house of God was ever so deeply reverential that it produced the ff c happiest e e t on my congregation , and greatly

assisted me in my pulpit labors . No company ever

I S7 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI SH

withheld him from Church . I have been at Mount Vernon on Sabbath morning when his breakfast table was fi lled with guests ; but to him they fur n ish e d no pretext for neglecting his God and 10 5 ing the satisfaction of setting a good example . For instead of staying at home , out of false complais ance to them , he used constantly to invite them to ” accompany him . The author thereupon expresses the opinion “ that this was Written more with an eye to its ih ” flue n c e on others than to its strict accuracy ; and “ — a t continues , During the time Washington tended at Pohick Church he was by no means a ‘ strict Church goer . His daily Where and How ’ my Time is Spent enables us to know exactly h o w 1 6 0 often he attended Church , and in the year 7 he went j ust sixteen times and in 1 76 8 he went fo urt e e e n , these years being fairly typical of the period 1 76 0 M r As to the veracity of the Rev . . Massey , whose testimony is so summar i ly set aside as dis ingenuous , we have the witness of his friends and neighbors , the Vestrymen of his Parish , who , as we c e rtifi e d have seen , over their own signatures to “ His moral character and unexceptionable life and H e conversation . seems indeed to have been a — H e re man of almost super conscientiousness . tired from the practice of law because , as his

T . grandson , Col . J. Stoddert , a gentleman of the highest standing , who remembered him well ,

1 38

TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARI S H Figures standing alone are often seriously mis

a d o f Mr. leading , n those by which the testimony Massey is sought to be impeached need some ex fi rs t planation . In the place it is not quite certain that we can gather from Washington ’ s diary “ Ex ” a c tl s y how often he attended Church . The cu to ma ry and habitual is j ust what is usually omitted from a j ournal in which the record of a day is com pressed within the compass of a few lines . A care ful reading of this diary , kept for some years on the blank pages of interleaved almanacs and after

- wards in small note books , will show that while at home at Mount Vernon it was c hie fly a record of the company he entertained , of his visits to his friends , of his surveys , his adventures in the hunt

fi e ld . On s s ing , etc Sundays he would ometime mention going to Church quite incidentally , and it is seen that for a month or two he attended about as regularly as services were held . Then for two or more months perhaps there will be no mention of Church at all , and no explanation of why he did not attend if he did not . But when , for instance , he “ Dined at Belvior ” with such and such guests he might very well have gone to Church on the way , or the neighbors he had to dinner he would quite likely have brought from Church with him .

The more usual record for Sundays , however , is ” “ ” At At . “ home all day, or home all day alone This would seem conclusive until we fin d that it is also a common formula for week days on W hich 1 4 0 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH

there was nothing of special note to record . It may simply mean that he dined at home without company ; and especially so if he failed to make the entry on Sunday night but deferred it until he would be at his desk on Monday . Very occasion ally he gives a reason why he was prevented from ” Church . But even if we grant that the above estimate c i ’ Washington s attendance at Church is s ub s ta n tia ll r n e y correct , other considerations must be bo in mind or our conclusions will be wholly at fault . It must be remembered that from 1 76 0 to 1 76 5 there was but one minister in the whole of Fair fax County, and he an old man in failing

Mr. health . Green ministered alternately at three t e a Churches , situated at a distance of about nine , , and eighteen miles respectively from Mount V e 1 non . This would allow him to preach seventeen or eighteen times in a year at Pohick . After the M r division of the Parish . Massey had but two Churches and could preach twenty - six times a year at each , when the weather , the numerous water courses , and the state of the primitive road ways through marsh and forest permitted a con g re ga tio n to gather from distances of from five to fif e e n a irfa x t miles . Residents of F can appreciate what eighteen miles , going and coming , in the “ ” Mount Vernon chariot or even on horseback , must have meant ; and can still understand the statement of Mrs . Nellie Custis Lewis that Wash

1 4 1 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH in gto n attended Church When the weather and h roads permitted . Moreover Washington was a h sent from home for several months of eac year , frequently in the wilds of western Virginia or on the Ohio . While Visiting relatives in the low er counties he mentions frequently the Churches he a r d attended , probably as interesting memoranda , the same was the case when he was in P hila d e l “ At phia . the B erkeley Springs he twice attended ” A Church forenoon and afternoon . t Fredericks burg he “ Went to prayers (lay reading) and dined ”

. O n afterwards at Col Lewis . hearing that the smallpox had broken out among his servants in

Frederick , he starts at once to visit them and “ Took Church on my way to Colemans . These and many such references indicate his habit . The argument from silence is never a very safe one , and his frequently omitting to mention going to Church in the regular routine of life at Mount Ver “ B non does not , we think , prove that he was y no ” means a strict Church goer , especially in view of the conditions existing . It is interesting to note ‘ that twice within two weeks Washington makes record of having stood as Sponsor at the baptism of infants . According to the best evidence we have he was a regular Com munic a n t during the period under discussion . In 1 770 and in 1 772 he mentions being at Church on

Christmas day , which was always a Communion occasion . 1 4 2

TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH political dependence and forced to rely upon the voluntary and intelligent support of her own chil dren . Having adopted these views he pursued them to the end with a consistency and clearness of vision which was rare among his contem r i po a r e s . The various Acts of the General Assembly by which the complete disestablishment of the Church was brought about were the following . O h 1 2 1 6 Co nve n the th of June , 77 , the State tion , composed almost wholly of Churchmen , adopted without a dissenting voice , that famous “ Declaration of Rights ” which declared in its con “ cluding article That religion , or the duty which C RE ATO R we owe to our , and the manner of dis it charging , can be directed only by reason and conviction , not by force or violence , and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion , according to the dictates of conscience ; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice

ds Christian forbearance , love , and charity , towar ” “ ” each other . This Bill of Rights , as it is usually called , was from the pen of Mason , and while it is quite possible that some in the Convention si nifi c a n c e failed to perceive its full g , it led , as it was mean to lead , to the withdrawal by the State

of all support or supervision of religion . The fi rst General Assembly of the Common wealth under the new Constitution met in O cto

1 6 . ber , 77 Among its earliest Acts was the one

1 44 TH E HISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

An f s o entitled , Act for exempting the di ferent c ie tie s of Dissenters from contributing to the sup port and maintenance of the church as by law e s ta blish e d , and its ministers , and for other pur ” poses therein mentioned . Mason was Chairman of the Committee which brought in this Act , and it is supposed to have been written by his own hand . The Act is very long , almost every section fi rs t having its own explanatory preamble . The section repeals within this Commonwealth all Acts of Parliament directed against dissent or dissent ers . The second exempts all dissenters from the im established Church from all lev ies , taxes , and

‘ positions whatever towards supporting and main taining the said Church or its ministers . The tith a bl e s Vestries , however , could still levy on all for arrears in the salaries of ministers , for paro chial engagements already entered into , and for the poor Section four contains this important provision : That there shall in all time coming be saved and reserved to the use of the Church as by law established the several tracts of Gleb e lands a l already purchased , the churches and chapels — b e ready built , all books , plate , and ornaments , longing or appropriated to the use of the said ” church , and to each parish all private donations i n which may have been made to t . The ext sec tions reserve for future determination , when the th e opinion of the country shall be better known , question whether the support of ministers and

1 4 5 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARISH teachers of the gospel of the different denomina tions shall be provided for by a general assessment or be left to voluntary contributions . And be cause the support of the clergy might fall too h e a v ily on the members of the established Church in some parishes under the exemptions allowed dis senters , they were left to be supported for the present by voluntary contributions , and all acts for the support of the clergy by levies were suspended

y until the end of the next session of the Assembl . The remaining sections provide for taking lists of

tith a ble s . The act for the support of the clergy con tinued to be suspended from time to time by the Assem 1 bly until the session of October , 779 , when so much of that act , and of every other act , as pro vide d for salaries for the ministers of the Church of England , and authorizing levies for the same , fi ll was n a y repealed . The question between assessments and vo lun

. tary contributions was , however , still undecided During the session of Assembly beginning Octo 1 8 ber , 7 4 , a measure was introduced known as the

Assessment Bill , providing for the legal support of ministers and teachers of religion of all denomina tions by a general assessment upon the people of u the State . It was supported by Edm nd Ran dolph , Patrick H enry , Richard H enry Lee , John

Page , Edmund Pendleton and others , while a de te rmin e d opposition was led by James Madison . 1 46

TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH devoted Churchmen is a surprise to us at this d a y . The tradition and custom of many centuries was hard to be overcome , and the maintenance of religion without th e sanction a n d support of the government in some form was to them an untried u experiment . and of very doubtf l success . Their opportunism was the child of their fears for re li io n g and the Church . But the public sentiment manifested in the re spouse to the Remonstra n ce paved the way for u the adoption of the Stat te of Religious Freedom , ff inspired by Mason , written by Je erson , and ff passed through the e orts of Madison . This bill had been reported in 1 779 by the Committee a p 1 6 pointed in 77 for the revi sal of the laws , con ff sisting of Thomas Je erson , George Wythe , a n d George Mason , Edmund Pendleton , Thomas

Ludwell Lee , all of them old Vestrymen of the

M r. Church . Mason resigned from the Commit

Mr. tee on the ground that he was no lawyer , and un Lee died , before the report was made , but not til the plan of the work was settled and in a c o n s id

c d n . rable egree carried into executio This act ,

1 8 . however , was not passed until 7 5 The kernel “ fi of this famous bill , the rst act of religious free dom that ever passed a legislative assembly 0 11 the ” face of the earth , is contained in the words , “That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any—religious worship , place , or ministry whatsoever , but that all men shall be free to pro

1 4 8 TH E HI STO R Y O F TRURO PARISH

fess , and by argument to maintain , their Opinion

81 C . in matters of religion , The real disestablishment of the Church had o c “ curred a year before in th e Ac t for Incorporating w a s the Protestant Episcopal Church . This a p ssed in response to a petition of the Clergy , who , it would appear , desi red to be themselves incor p o ra te d . But the Assembly would have none of a nd this , formed the minister and Vestry of each l parish respectively a body corporate and po itic , empowered to hold , acqui re , and dispose of prop e rt y for the use of the Church , and to make rules f A11 and orders for managing its temporal a fairs . d present vestries were issol v ed , and the method of electing the Vestries e v ery three years is pre scribed . All former acts relating to the powers or d uties of vestries or ministers , and all acts touch u ing pon doctrine , discipline , or forms of worship l are repea ed . The vestries were authorized to reg nla te all the religious affairs of the Church in Con ve n tio n , to consist of two deputies from each par h ish , of w om the minister , if there was a minister , should be one . This Act was repealed two years n fi rs t later , but not u til under its sanction the Con ve ntio n of the Church met , and the Diocese of 1 8 1 8 . Virginia was organized , May th , 7 5 S o far the legislation affecting the Church had been guided , and in large part induced , by H er

n . Oi own so s , nourished at her side that which fo ll o w e d l another story might be told . The repea .

1 49 TH E HI S TO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

1 in 799 , of all laws relating to the late protestant ” 1 8 0 2 c o n fi s c a t episcopal church , (sic) , the Act of

ing the glebes , solemnly saved and reserved for the use of the said Church by two previous Acts o f the Assembly , and claiming the right , though for it c o nfi s c a tin bearing to exercise , of g the church buildings also , and the persistent refusal through many years to allow the Church to hold charitable funds or secure incorporation for her educational institutions ; these sho w an animus which we re j oice to believe has almost disappeared , giving

way to the sweeter claims of reason and charity .

1 5 0

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARISH result from religious services in this hitherto ’ ” 1 1 moral waste of the Lord s Vineyard . In 84 s “ he make his last report , and adds The minister of Truro Parish respectfully reports that the ve n e ra bl e Church e dific e in which he o ffic ia te s has been rescued from further decay and dilapida H e tion . makes no mention of the number of

Communicants , but during the four years of his ministry there he baptized four white and eighteen o ffi c ia te d colored infants , and at eight marriages and four burials . H e rendered occasional services at old Aquia Church in Stafford County and in the

old Court House at Dumfries in Prince William . H e was also employed as a tutor for the children

of the last Mrs . George Mason , of Gunston Hall . ’ M r After . Johnson s retirement the Church was sometimes opened for Divine service by Students o c from the Theological Seminary , with perhaps c si n l a o a visits from the Professors . The Metho

dists also preached there from time to time . In 1 H r 8 1 R T . e 6 . C the Rev . . Brown , of Fairfax . ported that he had Also taken charge of Pohick

Church , near Mount Vernon , with fair prospects ” of success . But the outbreak of war made his

ministry there a short one . When the war was over it was found that Pohick

had fared comparatively well , for there was left of Oi in it the walls , the roof and the ceiling . the te rio r woodwork there also remained the original dis cornice , while the stone font was afterwards

1 5 2 TH E HISTO RY OF TRURO PARISH covered in a neighboring farmyard where it had i re h a bili been used as a watering trough . O its ta tio n and consecration Bishop Johns wrote a few months before his death : “ d 1 8 October 3 . 75 . I consecrated Pohick

Church . Morning service by the Rev . Dr . Pack m . M c I lh en n . ard and the Rev Dr . y Sermon by y self . This venerable building , in the location and erection of which General Washington was so a c tive , was for many years the Parish Church of the family at Mount Vernon . It was during the late war shamefully damaged by its military invaders , who left it to crumble under the wasting influen c e s o ff of the weather , and to be carried at pleasure by any one who fancied its material for private

. S o disa use , after the war of the Revolution , p “ pe a re d the church in which the Father of his ” Country was said to have been christened , and such seemed to be the doom of the church of his manhood , but its sad condition came to the knowl edge of a generous Christian gentleman of New

York , who enquired , then came and looked , and then never intermitted his efforts till the ruin was thoroughly repaired . A new chancel with all its appropriate furniture and a handsome communion service was provided , a font in front and a con ve nie nt robing room on one side of the chancel re sto ra and a good pipe organ on the other . The tion was complete , and the large congregation now assembled were gladdened by the presence

I S3 TH E H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARISH of the benefactor to whose sympathy and services

they were so largely indebted , and who was now with them uniting in the consecration of the y e n e ra ble building which he had been the honored agent in rescuing from ruin and preserving fo r their great benefi t and the honour and worship of

God . Until an ordained minister can be procured to offi ciate regularly for this congregation stated services will be rendered by students of the Semi

nary appointed for the purpose . 1 8 8 1 A In September , , the Rev . Samuel . Wallis ,

newly ordained , took charge of Pohick , and from H e this moment the real revival of its life began . found but ten Communicants . But his faithful work among the people of a widely scattered com munity soon resulted in gathering a large and in t e re ste d congregation , to whom he ministered for thirteen years . A rectory was secured and other

parish property added , and the active interest of ’ the Mount Vernon Ladies Association was e n

r 1 8 . listed in the church . M . Wallis resigned in 9 4 Bishop Newton thus speaks of his ministry there “ The history of old Pohick Church for the past thirteen years , its resuscitation and progress , s peaks with no uncertain sound in favor of a long A S . and faithful pastorate . When Rev . . Wallis entered upon the work as a D eacon it was one of H e the least promising fi e lds in the Diocese . left it , when elected a Professor in the Theological

Seminary , with the church building in good con

I S4

THE H ISTO RY OF TRURO PARISH

: R . G. T F. of Pohick Church Nevitt , . Chapman ,

H . Charles Landstreet , Charles Potter, J. Clag Kurhlin . M . . N . B . gett , J Lewis , Dr Nevitt , Seth g ,

W . R. A . e C . Ward , Landstreet , Jam s H aslip ,

Th e isz K George Erskine , John , John . Nevitt ,

H . Harrison Dodge , John Landstreet , Joseph

M R . W . L G W m . . Specht , . . Reid , Nevitt , Gail

A . P H . L . lard , J. . Mason , Corbin Thompson ,

W . N B . F . Denty , George . Milstead , . Nevitt , Dr P . Caton . The present Vestry consists of M essrs Thomas M F Chapman , William . Nevitt , John Landstreet,

H . M D . . P . M . D . P . . N B . W . . Nevitt , , Caton , , J H Mason , Harrison . Dodge , George N Milstead , L A B F. . . . Nevitt , Corbin Thompson , D enty, and

Luther G. Reid .

TR R ha EI O LI VET C H U RC H ; U o PARI S H . A C p bearing this name was for many years a Mis sion station in charge of the students of the s Theological Seminary of Virginia . Thi was de stroyed during the war . A second Chapel was s s built on the same ite , and wa consecrated by 2 d 1 8 2 n Bishop Johns , June , 7 . Twe ty years later the present Church was built on a different and

F M . better site , and was consecrated by Bishop . th 1 8 8 Whittle , April 4 , 9 . Olivet became con

n e c ted 1 8 8 1 Mr. with Pohick in , when the Rev .

re Wallis took charge of them , and has since mained u nder the care of the Rector a nd Vestry

1 5 6 TH E H I STO RY OF T RURO PARI SH

of Pohick Church . It is situated near Franconia

Station .

K C A P L . PO H IC H E This is a small Chapel , situated about four and a half miles northwest of

Pohick Church , to which it belongs . It was built 1 0 ff in 9 3 through the e orts of the Rev . Everard R A Meade , and was consecrated by Bishop . . Gib 1 2 son on October th of that year . C U C TRU R o ZI O N H R H , PARI S H

This Church , at the county seat of Fairfax u 1 8 County, was fo nded in the year 4 3 by the Rev

M r. Richard Templeton Brown . Brown was at re that time Rector of the Falls Church . In his port from that Church to the Diocesan Council of 1 8 4 3 he makes the following note : “ - O n 8 th Fairfax court house . the of February last we had the pleasure of organizing a new con re a tio n g g at this very destitute place , and prompt measures were adopted for the immediate erection e difi c of a plain and substantial Church . The e has fin ish e d been commenced , and , if not entirely , will

y be used during the present ear . Some of the most influe ntia l citizens of the place and neighbor hood are interested in the work ; the ladies also are zealously engaged ; and we trust that , by the blessings of God , the Church at this place will ex n fl e n e ert a wide and purifying i u c . Communicants

5 . Families who will be regularly connected with 1 2 first the Church , about . The services were at r held in the Cou t House , but when for some reason its use was forbidden Mrs . Daniel Rumsey “ ” of Mount Vinyard , a Baptist lady , declared that she “could not see the Ark of the Lord refused a

1 58

TH E HI STO RY O F TRURO PARI SH when the people returned to their desolated s home , they found only the foundation of their

Church remaining . It had shared the fate of per haps a maj ority of the country churches in that “ beautiful section , where they Made a solitude and ” c o n flic called it peace . Early in the t it had been used as a storehouse for the munitions of war , and rapidly becoming dilapidated it had been fina lly torn down by Union soldiers to provide material for their winter quarters on a neighboring hillside . 1 8 6 There was no minister until February , 7 ,

W . A when the Rev . . Alrich was ordained to the diaconate and sent to undertake the work o f re suscitating the Church at this point , in connection with Centerville , and Haymarket in Prince Wil

H e 1 8 . liam County . found Communicants Ser

. H e vices were held in the Court House reported , “ however , A deep interest manifested in religious sa c rific e matters , and a willingness to make every

for the sake of the Master and his cause . The people , in their impoverished condition , are

' now making an earnest e fl o rt to rebuild their ”

. O h 1 1 868 Churches December 3th , , Bishop Whittle visited the congregation and confi rmed H re fourteen persons in the Court House . e

ported the new Church as being under roof, but s it completion delayed for want of funds , and adds , “ I think there is no congregation in the Diocese

more deserving of help than this , where the peo ple have shown such a determination to help them

1 60 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

. Mr selves . Alrich resigned , and was succeeded

1 86 . M in June , 9 , by the Rev William . Dame , who i rema ned during the year of his diaconate . The

D . Rev . Hanson B oyden succeeded him in the 1 8 0 summer of 7 , and gave the whole of his short fif n re ministry of te e months to this Parish . H e signed on account of failing health on O ctober I st ,

1 8 1 . 7 , and died less than three months later “ Bishop Johns said of him : His ministry was short and emphatic . The distress which his early death caused to the people whom he served affords a i fe c tin g evidence of his personal worth and minis ” te ria l fide lit y and usefulness . M c ill The Rev . John G took charge during the 1 2 summer of 8 7 . The second Zion Church was now completed , and being furnished and freed from debt was consecrated by Bishop Johns on

6 th 1 8 . the of D ecember , 75 It is a frame build ing and w a s erected on the foundation of the orig inal Church at a cost of about On the day following its consecration Christ Church at Chan tilly was also consecrated . This , with the Church at Centerville , which was also rebuilt , though really in old Cameron Parish , were supposed to r be in Truro and were under the charge of M . M c ill 1 G . 8 8 In 4 these Churches , with that at

Herndon and the mission at Clifton , were formed e into a Parish call d Upper Truro . Mr Mc ill 2 1 . G d 8 8 resigned April 3 , 7 , and was succeeded by the Rev . Frank Page during the fol

1 6 1 TH E H ISTO RY O F TRURO PARI SH

1 8 8 2 lowing summer . In the year the present Rectory property adj oining the Church was pur chased for M r. Page resigned November

1 1 8 8 . 9 th , 9 During the earlier part of his rector five ship he ministered at no less than Churches , but after the formation of Upper Truro Parish his labors were c o nfin e d to Zion and the Falls re Churches . After his removal the Church

1 8 0 M r . Gle ve mained vacant until July , 9 , when . J land Hall , formerly a Presbyterian minister , but now a candidate for orders in the Episcopal — Church , came as a Lay Reader and continued to officiate as such until his ordination to the Diaco 1 8 1 nate in June , 9 ; after which he continued as

- - in 1 8 2 . 1 minister charge until July , 9 Dur ug the

A . M r. W following year services were held by . R . Goodwin , candidate for orders , and other stu dents from the Theological Seminary . In the

1 8 D . b e summer of 9 3 the Rev . Thomas Lewis came the minister , in connection with Trinity

Church , Manassas ; the old partnership with the

Mr. Falls Church having been dissolved . Lewis 1 8 6 remained until May , 9 , when failing health H compelled him to resign . e was followed by the

W H K . Rev . . . Pendleton , who served the same 1 0 0 Churches until early in 9 , when , the work hav i ing outgrown the capacity of a single min ster , he resigned Zion Church and c o nfin e d his labors to An the neighboring Parish . alliance was then formed with the Church of the Holy Comforter at

1 6 2

TH E H I STORY OF TRURO PARI SH

W . H un tt Mr 0 0 M r 0 . . C e r . , Joseph p and James M . Love have served continuously on the Vestry

- i for thirty f ve years , equalling the record of those C o lo m a l v eteran Vestrymen , George Mason and

M c Ca rt . Daniel . y B esides these the Vestry at

E . M . R . . D present consists of Messrs Moncure . , i h R Ble t . W Lee , Thornton , g , . Moore , Keith , and

Burrows . CH P L O F n S P D TRU R o P AR A E T H E Go o H E H ER ,

I S H . This Chapel , situated one and a half miles ’ north of Burke s Station , grew out of Sunday School founded at Ashford school house many years ago by the Misses Fitzhugh and others ,

f H . and continued chie ly by Mrs . Upton Her bert , under the Rectorship of the Rev . Frank B . ff . b e Page y the earnest e orts of Mrs Herbert , gan in 1 8 8 2 and continued through more than a decade of years , the means were collected and the

Chapel built . It was consecrated by Bishop John A B . . 1 st 1 8 6 . . S . Newton , December , 9 The Rev

Wallis , of Pohick Church , held services for a num ber of years in the school house and afterward in 1 8 the new building . Since 9 4 it has been under the charge of the Rector and Vestry of Zion

Church .

1 64 I N D E X

NO T E : F o r m an y Pr o p e r Nam e s n o t fo und in th e e s e e e o f Ve e o e s o e Vo e s Ind x und r Li sts stry m n , Pr c s i n rs , t r ,

e tc . o o th e o o , and th r ugh ut b k .

o f G e e e Vi i o i o De Acts n ral As s mbly , rgin a , Intr duct n .

2 17 2 2 2 6 2 8 38 40 . c a o i 9 6 . i e i , , , , , , y , D s stabl sh

s G e 4 e o f 1 43 . Adam , abri l , . m nt ,

Al exandria 30 . Firs Church e 15 6 1 6 9 , t Church Pl at , , , ,

ih 3 0 . C 1 4 5 . , Christ hurch ,

4 7 9 7 . C e i e o f , hurch Ward n s , Dut s

R e v . W . A . 1 60 . 1 6 7 8 . o i 12 0 . B e Alrich , , , Li st , e R e v o 4 o e Andr ws , . J hn , 8 . c m Ove rs e e rs o f th e

Ashfo rd , M ich ae l , 5 . P o o r , 9 3 .

s e e t B 14 6 . C e L a e e A s ssm n ill , l rks and y R ad rs ,

o e fo r 32 49 i o i 12 3 . Att rn y s Parish , , , L st ,

6 4 . e o f th e Ve s Cl rks stry , Li t 4 Aubr e y , Franci s , . o f, 1 23 . B 2 7 1 1 e . o 7 8 6 . arn s , Abrah am , C ckb urn , M artin , ,

B 4 . o 49 . C o e Fra n cli s 2 . o . arry , E dward , J hn , ff r , , 9 Th s

B e e s 7 . t e 4 411 . axt r , Jam , Wi h rs , Family ,

B o f ts 144 . 1 1 ill Righ , 8 .

B 6 . o o e e s 9 1 6 . lackburn , Richard , Fam C k , C at by , ,

il 10 3 . o e e 31 . y , C lch st r ,

lumfi e l d R e v o e 15 . l o 7 ff. 12 7 . B . o vi e o . , J s ph , C l ll , C J hn , , 1 t fo r B B o e o e 2 . o gg s s , R b rt, C ntrac s Church uild

B o o O e & c . fo r i 5 1 73 . ks , rnam nts , ngs , ,

e 1 5 6 2 6 7 8 8 . Dam e R e v. W . M . 1 6 1 . Church s , , , , , ,

v . 1 1 B R e v. e e 5 . B o e R e . D . H 6 . De y d n , , utts , L awr nc , ’ B o o 2 3 . e e e t o S t e C o n ve n radd ck s R ad , D l gat s at - B o e e 4 2 7fi . i o 17 7 5 6 12 6 . r adwat r , Ch arl s , , t n , ,

4 l 9 4 . Br o n augh , Je r e miah , 11. De n e a e , William ,

Br o wn R e v. R . T . 1 5 8 . Di o ce s e o f Virginia Organ , ,

B e o i z e d 1 49 . urg ss e s fr m F airfax, ,

o f 12 6 . e e e Li st , Dran svill , Church n ar , 2 2 2 6 C am e ro n Pari sh , , , 2 4 .

1 61 . C r e ih 22 2 4 . z e e s 2 1 12 7 . o hu ch s , , E ll y , L wi , , Th m

2 5 . . Ch a mp ney s , William , az e n , 4 4fi

o o e e e 411 . Ch ap el Ab o ve G s Cr k , E mm s , E dward ,

Co o e 17 . 5 . F airfax unty f rm d ,

B e 26 . Church , Th e C o lo n ial , in o undarie s chan g d , I N D E X

Co H F airfax ur o us e 17 He e . U . H 16 4 . t , , rb rt , Mrs ., 1 5 8 . e e o H r f rd , J o hn , 4fi . x C F airfa Pari sh 3 6 . o n e s H o e R e v. o 1 , t t lm s , J hn , 1 . o e v r l in e s , 3 9 . Final Ac H o o o e e t l y C mmun i n , El m nts e i 40 . Ve e fo r 3 4 66 stabl shin g , stri s , , .

- e l e c e d 4 4 5 . , H s o e 2 111 . t utch in n , Andr w ,

Fairfax, G e o rge o i t o i 5 7 William , Inducti n , R gh , .

3311 , 12 7 . o J hnso n , J o s e ph , 7 . o rd Tho m as 1 10 . o o L , , R e v. W . P . C . J hns n , ,

- William 32 3 1 2 7 . 10 6 . , , Th J o hn s o n G e o 3 4 Fall s Church , e fi rs t, o r t , rge , 8 , 9 , ’ 1 15 . William Gunn e ll s 5 . Th e K e e o . r R e v. e 12 . s c nd o U pp e r ith , Jam s , K o 6 11. Th e t l m an , Re v. H . F . 15 5 . Church , h ird , , L e e R e v o r e e 3411 . , . H . B . J r. 163 . pr s nt Church , , ,

Fa r us o n o L e e Gen . R . E . e w g , J hn , 7 . , , hi s p in o o 8 4 Chri s Church Al exandria F r nt in P hick Church , , t , ,

15 2 . 9 6 .

o e 10 8 . e e o f e o e o F rb s , M urray , L tt r s R c mm ndati n

o 9 2 o and Pr e s e n a i o n 10 13 , F rd , E dward , . J hn , t t , ,

5 5 5 6 5 9 . 44 , Th o m as , 4 411 . , , e o e e e o e e wi s J o hn , 4 . awr e nc , F rd , Paul L ic st r, q u t d , L , L

11 1 . N e e s 6 . 137 . M rs . ll i Cu ti s ,

e 2 1 10 0 . 112 . Th o m as 7 . R e v. Fr nch , Dani e l , , 7 0 11. ,

Th o m as D . 1 62 . G e 411 . , ardn r , William , 4

to i 4 411 . Gib so n , J o hn , 9 5 . Lin n , Will am ,

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