History of the Hebron Lutheran Church, Madison County, Virginia
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7 /^. HISTORY OF THE l^hnm Su%rmt ©Ijurrtj, MADISON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 1717 TO 1907. BY REV. W. P. HUDDLE, PASTOR. HENKEL & COMPANY, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS, NEW MARKET, VA. 1908. This is a reprinting of the history of the Hebron Lutheran Church from 1717 to 1907 which was written by Rev. William Peter Huddle, with several printing errors correc ted. The history encompasses the arrival of the German Lutheran founders of the con gregation at Germanna in Orange County and follows closely the events which tran spired during the tenure of each pastor who served the church. The epilogue, written by Margaret G. Davis, surveys the history from 1908 to 1990. The 1940 bicentennial celebration of the church building is highlighted as well as its restoration to eighteenth century appearance. Three historical documents, located since the publication of the original text, are included as appendices. These are the letter of appre ciation to the European benefactors, a peti tion to the Colonial government to be exempt from paying taxes to the established church, and a four-page pamphlet written by John Caspar Stoever in 1737, to further the appeal for funds to build the church and a school. History of the Hebron Lutheran Church Madison County, Virginia 1717 to 1907 by Rev. W. P. Huddle With Epilogue 1908 to 1989 by Margaret G. Davis Hebron Lutheran Church Madison, Virginia Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 90-081747 ISBN:0-9626567-0-4 Copyright© 1990 by Hebron Lutheran Church Post Office Box 100 Madison, Virginia 22727 Printed in the United States of America by The Orange County Review Orange, Virginia VALLEY OF THE ROBINSON RIVER AND WHITE OAK RUN. COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY W. P. HUDDLE. (All Rights Reserved.) To Slijp Hipbrntt (Emtgrrgattim WHICH FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS HAS BEEN SO CONSIDERATE OF ME AND Mv FAMILY, 3) Sthúate THIS VOLUME. PREFACE. This little volume is the result of investigations begun in 1904, in order to write a short sketch of the Hebron congregation for publication in The Lutheran Visitor. The article appeared, July 27, 1905. Many mistakes are to be found in it. I pursued my investigations : the more I learned, the greater became my desire to preserve in permanent form, for my people and the church at large, the facts concerning this the oldest Lutheran congregation in the South. Many difficulties have had to be met, owing to the lack of early records. Mistakes may be expected, especially in the early Lhis- tory which is very misty and hard to clear up. There were miss ing links which I could not find. However, I have done my best with the material at hand, trusting that wherein I have failed the future historian will succeed. I have gone as far as possible to original sources for information. But I have been compelled to use translations from the Hallische Nachrichten and other German works. In addition to a number of foot-notes, I give the principal sources from which the material for this work has been gleaned. They are the Church Records, namely, Treasurer's Reports 1733 and 1734, 1799 to 1807, and 1840 to 1853; Subscription Book of Rev. Stoevér, 1735-1739 • Baptismal Register from 1750 to 1825 ; Register of Communicants from 1775 to 1812 ; Church Books from 1861 to 1907 ; Records of Spottsylvania, Orange, Culpeper and Madison Counties; Records of the Land Office, Richmond ; Documentary History of the Evan gelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States, 1748-1821, Philadelphia, 1898 ; Journal of the Presbyterian Histor ical Society, Philadelphia, 1903, Vol. II., Nos. 1, 2, 3, pp. 1-17, 98-110, 140-150 ; Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Richmond ;—[Moravian Diaries of Travel Through Virginia, Vol. XL, (1903-4), No. 2, pp. 113-131; No. 3, pp. 225-242; No. 4, pp. VIII PREFACE. 370-393; Vol. XII., (1904-5), No. i, pp. 55-^2; No. 2, pp. 134-153; No. 3, pp. 271-284; Early Westward Movement of Virginia, Vol. XII., (1904-5), No. 4, p. 350 f.; Vol. XIII., (1905-6), No. 4, pp. 362-373 ; The Germans in Madison County, Virginia, Vol. XIV., (1906-7), No. 2, pp. 136-170] ; History of the Lutheran Church in Pennsylvania, Vol. I., by Rev. T. E. Schmauk, D. D., Philadel phia, 1903; Hebron Lutheran Congregation in Madison County, Virginia, a series of articles prepared by Dr. Beale M. Schmucker and published in The Lutheran Visitor, Newberry, S. C, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 1886; The Lutheran Church in Virginia, 1776-1876, by Rev. D. M. Gilbert, D. D.; Minutes of the Virginia Synod, 1829-1906 ; Obituaries and Sketches of Pastors kindly furnished by friends. I am indebted to many brethren and friends for valuable help, to whom I wish to return publicly my sincere thanks. The reader must remember that the first Lutherans settled in Essex County; that from 1720 to 1734, they were iii Spottsylvania County, though in the meantime they had moved to the Robinson River; and that Orange was formed from a part of Spottsylvania in 1734 ; Culpeper from Orange in 1748 ; and Madison from Cul peper in 1792. The congregation therefore has been located re spectively in the last four and the church in the last three coun ties. The engravings added at considerable cost, it is hoped, will make the work more valuable. I have added Appendices I. and II., giving respectively a short sketch of Mt. Nebo Lutheran church at Rochelle and copies of documents obtained from the public record office, London, England. With the hope that it may awaken, among our people, a deeper interest in the history of their church, increase their love for it, and arouse them to make greater efforts to transmit to their pos terity the priceless heritage they have received from their German ancestors, • this volume is sent forth on its mission. May the Lord bless this feeble effort to the good of His church and the glory of His name. Madison, Va., August /, 1907. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. GERMAN LUTHERAN COLONISTS NEAR GERMANNA, VIRGINIA. 1717-1725- PAGES. The Germans—First Lutherans in the Territory of the United States—Oldest Lutheran Church Built and Still Used by Lu therans—Settlement of the First Permanent Lutheran Colony in Virginia—German Reformed Colony at Germannain 1714— Names of Lutheran Colonists—Whence Came They and Why ? —Another Colony or Colonies—Life Near Germanna—Lu therans Sued by Col. Spottswood—Petition—Mr. Zollikoffer Sent to Germany—Rev. Anthony Jacob Henkel—No Church at or Near Germanna i_g CHAPTER XL THE REMOVAL AND SETTLEMENT OF THE GERMAN LUTHERAN COLONISTS ON THE ROBINSON RIVER AND WHITE OAK RUN. 1725-1733. AU did not Move at Once—Time of Removal—First Religious Services—Character of the Settlers—Two Men Sent to Ger many—First House of Worship—First Germans to Patent Lands—Date of the Organization of the Congregation—Oldest Pieces of the Communion Service—The Name Hebron—Did the German Reformed Worship in Hebron Church ? . 10-19 CHAPTER III. THE FIRST PASTOR, REV. JOHN CASPAR STOEVER, AND HIS WORK IN HOLLAND AND GERMANY. 1733-1739. His Early Life—Ordination—Spiritual Condition of his People —The "Glebe" Bought and First Parsonage Built—Did Rev. Stoever Establish a School?—Need of a Church and Commis sioners Sent to Europe — Petition of Germans and Court Order—Collectors in England, Holland, and Germany—Old Subscription Book—Results of Work in Europe—Last Pieces of the Communion Service—Rev. Stoever's Narrative—Stud ied at Darmstadt—Return Voyage—Stoever's Will—Death at Sea—"Augustine" Stoever 20-30 X CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. THE CHURCH BUILT AND THE CONGREGATION PERMANENTLY ES TABLISHED UNDER REV. GEORGE SAMUEL KLUG. 1739-1764. His Life Before Coming to Virginia—Second Farm Bought— Church Built—Slaves Bought—School-house Built and School Established—Moravian Missionaries Visit the Neighborhood of the Church—Pastor Klug's Visit to Pennsylvania—His Death—Buried Under Church . 31-38 CHAPTER V. REVS. JOHN SCHWARBACH AND JACOB FRANK—REV. PAUL HENKEL AS SUPPLY (?) 1764-1785. Rev. Schwarbach's Work in Pennsylvania and his Coming to Virginia—Letter to the Ministerium of Pennsylvania in 1768 —Letter from the Deacons of the Church—Last Account of Rev. Schwarbach at Synod—Extent of his Parish—His Work as Pastor—Ministry of Rev. Frank—Re-established School— Introduced Constitution—Built New Parsonage—Condition of Congregation—A Vacancy and Pastoral Services—Rev. Paul Henkel as Supply (?) 39~47 CHAPTER VI. PASTORATES OF REVS. WILLIAM CARPENTER AND MICHAEL MEYERHOEFFER. 1787-1821. Rev. Carpenter's Early Life and Preparation for the Ministry— The Annex to the Church Built and the Deed to the Church Lot Made—The Pipe Organ Purchased—School Continued— Rev. Carpenter Preaches in English—Teaches Daniel Flohr— Real Estate of the Church Increased—His Character, Work, Death—Rev. Meyerhoeffer Pastor—Preaches in English and German—More Land Bought—His Work Successful—Rev. Jacob Crigler—Gown Worn in Pulpit 48-57 CHAPTER VII. PASTORATES OF REVS. JOHN KEHLER, WILLIAM SCULL, THOMAS W. MILLER, AND SAMUEL ALLENBAUGH. 1821-1849. Rev. Kehler's Work in the Pastorate—Taught School—Rev. Scull—No Records of his Work — First Sunday-school on Record — Church Land Sold —Slaves Still Owned —Rev. Thomas W. Miller—Slaves Sold or Died—Work of the Con gregation and of the Synod Discouraging—Rev. Samuel Al lenbaugh—Church Very Weak —Meeting at the Hoffman Chapel—Synod held in Hebron Church—Dr. Schmucker's Visit 5s_68 CONTENTS. xi CHAPTER VIII. PASTORATES OF REVS. ALONZO P. LUDDEN, W. S. BOWMAN, D. D., AND LEVI KELLER. 1850-1S67. A Period of Growth—Successful Meetings Held by Rev.