1 Arrival in the Virginia colony After the development of the colony of James City (Jamestown) in the 1620’s, the settlers moved northward along the waterways. One of these areas was Old Rappahannock, which later became Essex County, Virginia. It is here we find the earliest roots of Bartholomew Vawter, Cornelius Noel, William Hodgson, Thomas R. Page and many others. Most of these men and families arrived in the 1650’s to original “Kings” land; land that had never before been titled. We do not yet know the parents of Bartholomew Vawter but several Vawter names are found early in the history of Virginia. Bartholomew was an adult when first seen in 1687 and married in 1690 so the Vawter lineage at this time begins with him. To understand the development of this area, a brief history of Old Rappahannock County and the part the churches played in politics and community development is necessary. In the book, History of Old Rappahannock County Virginia 1656-1692 by Thomas Hoskins Warner pub. 1965, Warner publisher, Virginia, we find the explanation of the Vawter’s settlement and growth. Much of the business of the community revolved around the church and until the early 1700’s ministers were sent from England. The colonists in support of the King and the clergy paid a levy or tax each year. A vestry was chosen of the men of the parish to oversee this levy and take care of the day to day business of the area, along with the courts and Kings’ agents (governors). In 1653, the county of Lancaster was divided upper and lower, with the upper forming Rappahannock County. In 1656, it is shown the levy for the church was 10,716 pounds of tobacco. Tobacco was the currency for the entire area. Until the levy was paid to the church, tobacco could not be sent back to England for sale and no products could be returned for use. Only raw materials were allowed to be produced in the colonies. By law, the goods and commodities were brought from England. The people and churches were located on the waterways as that was the means of transportation. No roads were known and the Indian trails later became the first road ways and are still the highways in many part of today’s Virginia. The county was divided into parishes, which was the area a minister could cover and tend to the business of the church. The first known parish in Rappahannock was Sittingbourne parish. We find a deed as early as 1662 that states, “ John Barrow sold one acre of land to the parish of Sittingbourne, lying about the church for use of the burying place”. The people were buried in the “burying place” it was not called a cemetery for many, many generations. These “burying places” were deeded through the families and sometimes family “burying places” were established; especially if the church was across the river or a long journey. Evergreen trees planted in rows generally surrounded these family places. In some areas these trees can still be found, although no grave markers remain. The people were buried in funeral clothe as their best clothes were willed to children and grandchildren as great (winter) coats, boots, suits and dresses were scarce. Coffins were not always used but cloth was wrapped around the person and a marker was placed near the gravesite. A black arm band or black attire was worn for a period of 30 days to state the death of a family member, although during great epidemics of plague, cholera, malaria and small pox some times so many died that mourning was impossible. Bloodletting and alcohol were used as medicines and many times the minister was also the doctor. A Chirgeon (surgeon/doctor) was a blessing for the area, if available, but their talents were still limited. The churches had to be guarded during service from the Indians so locating them near water offered better protection. However, these beach areas were generally marshes, which held malaria and yellow fever so the churches were not attended well in the summer months. No fireplaces or other means of heat was available in the winter months and travel in snow treacherous. As more people moved into the area it became necessary in 1681 to divide Sittingbourne Parish again. The lower retaining the name and the upper area becoming St. Mary’s Parish. In 1688, Christopher Blackbourne (shown as Xpher because the colonists did not write the word Christ but showed it with an X when it was someone’s name) was fined 1000 pounds of tobacco for not collecting St. Mary’s Parish taxes. Mr. Blackbourne gave the name to the creek Blackburn’s creek, which is where Vauter’s Church of today now stands. In 1691, the courts fined the Parish of Sittingbourne and its inhabitants for not “entertaining” a minister or providing a reader and letting 2 the church go into disrepair. The sheriff was sent to the churchwardens for an answer. Although we believe our ancestors went to church every week or were extremely pious like the Puritans, the truth being, life was hard and travel to church dangerous and disease rampant. When the fevers were going around, no one wanted to be in a group where they might catch something for which there was no cure. The ministers often traveled to several churches to preach and acted more like county officials and businessman than preachers. The troubles with Sittingbourne not having a minister and keeping things going continued until 1693 when they finally petitioned for the parish to again be divided. The parish was on both sides of the river and travel was difficult; so the north side of the river and the south separated. Thus St. Ann’s parish came into being and eventually the Vauter’s Church was built. A church is known in the area very early; but the brick Vauter’s Church, which is still operating today as the 11 th oldest continuously used church in Virginia, was built in 1731. Roads were eventually developed and the land opened to new settlements. Indians had no horses and travel in early days was by water or on foot. These footpaths became the highways of today. Three famous paths marked the boundaries for many properties and markers for travelers. The road known as Kings highway was first called Rappahannock Path. It was developed into a cart path starting in 1662. This Kings’ Highway ran north and south winding uplands toward where Vauter’s Church stands today. Church road led to the church near the water and was later used for the hauling of lumber and tobacco for loading on to ships. The “rolling roads” were built by all able body men of the area and land owners were fined if they did not keep the “rolling roads” on their property in good repair. The “rolling roads” were to roll the large 700 to 800 pounds tobacco casks (hogs heads) by oxen and slaves to the ships for England. The ferries and wharves were established at regular places to accommodate travel across the oceans and to Jamaica where rum and sugar were returned in exchange for the tobacco. After the departure of the Indians, the hills and surrounding areas filled up rapidly and these “main” roads became the means of transportation. Canoes and small sailing vessels carried the people to church and to visit each other at their plantations and homes. Houses were located near water ways whenever possible as carts and carriages were only for the very rich. Single horse riding was done by men and women and continued as the migration started westward into Kentucky, southward to the Carolinas and other areas. Bartholomew Vawter is seen starting in 1687 in records of “old” Rappahannock County. In 1691, when Essex and Richmond Counties were formed from Rappahannock, his name is then seen continuously until his death in 1717. Bartholomew’s headright grant was recorded in 1691. A headright was 50 acres of land given to the person paying for the importation of a colonist. This could be from England, Jamaica or other areas. The fact that he is seen in public record in 1687 is not unusual, as headrights were often not recorded until the land transferred or was developed. A tax was paid on plantations and a house had to be built within a certain time so many times land speculators did not claim headrights for many years. John Vawter, son of Bartholomew, actually purchased 6 headrights in Caroline County, as the individuals did not want to develop their land. However, this does not prove that Bartholomew arrived from overseas at this time; he could have left Virginia, traveled to Jamaica or England and returned at a later date. He does not seem to have been an indentured servant that is currently found. The Vawter lineage spread out from Essex to Carolina, Orange and all the counties surrounding Essex. Essex lands were known as early as 1607 when Captain John Smith traveled through the area and where he was taken to be slain by the Indians but Pocahontas saved his life. He traveled the Rappahannock trail, which became Kings’ Highway. John Smith almost lost his life when at a point on the river he was stung by a sting ray, the area known as Stingray Point yet today, although few would know the reason for the name given almost 400 years before. In 1608, one of Smith’s men died of a fever on Essex soil, the first white man to be buried there.