he opposed and the others advocated. Groundhog democracy was so rampant in the district that even this modest conservatism was snowed under. Shell was a man of considerable ability. As he was speaking from the steps of the courthouse old Charles Smith remarked to Colonel Jeffress that he knew Shell intimately and that he spoke not a word of his true sentiments but was one of the most thorough aristocrats going. Scoggin subsequently opposed Tom Campbell for the Senate but was defeated by Nottoway, which gave Campbell every vote polled except five. SOUTHSIDE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Of course our people have patronized various institutions of learning more or less liberally; but the chief association and interest have centered around old Hampden-Sidney and Charlottesville. Nottoway's names at Hampden-Sidney make up a long and honorable list. Many of them appear upon the graduate rolls and many more on the list of under-graduates. The Nottoway graduates of Hampden-Sidney down to 1852 were Dr. Jones (1791), Dr. Theodorick Pryor (1826), Dr. George Fitzgerald, Dr. R. B. Tuggle, Hon. A. D. Dickinson, James H. Fitzgerald, W. H. Anderson, A. H. Robertson, Roger A. Prayor (1846), John H. Knight (1848), E. O. Fitzgerald (1850), W. R. Carter (1852). Dr. James Jones's class at Hampden-Sidney in 1791 contained William M. Watkins, Moses Waddell, President of Franklin College, now Georgia University, and George Bibb, Governor of Kentucky and U. S. senator. At Hampden-Sidney our students generally united themselves with the Phip. Lit. Society,36 organized in 1805, Dr. John Peter Mettauer being one of the organizers; in fact, almost to a man save Dr. Theodorick Pryor and Gen. Roger A. Pryor, who joined the Union Hall. The Phip. Hall turned out all the lawyers and speakers, while the Union furnished the preachers and teachers. The name of W. Henry Anderson mentioned above claims a word further. The figure of this young man loomed considerably above the level of average ability, and his premature death in Georgia ended a career brilliant in its span and assured of higher renown. He was a son of Maj. H. R. Anderson, and after leaving Hampden-Sidney in 1839 studied law and removed to Georgia. His brother, the Hon. Clifford Anderson. is now a distinguished member of the Macon Bar. It is of interest to know that W. H. Anderson was the teacher who formed part of the subject of Johnny Reb's37 famous lecture "The Old Field School." 36 Philanthropic Literary Society.. 37 Pseudonym of Judge Fernandino R. Farrar. Richmond Enquirer, July 3, 1821: Hampden-Sidney College and the civilization of Southside Virginia. Hampden-Sidney students raised $93.8712 in aid of the Greeks in 1827.-Richmond Enquirer, April 20, 1827. By April 19, 1861, the students of Hampden-Sidney College had organized themselves into a company under the supervision of Col. Womack and had elected Rev. President Atkinson captain. A report in the Richmond Dispatch of that date says: "A secession flag now floats over the old college. When the ques-. tion was asked where shall ge get a pole? David Ross, the old college servant, said: 'I'll go and cut one and carry the big end.' David wants to go as cook. The State will accept their services, which have been offered to the Commonwealth." JEFFERSON DAVIS TO THE PHILANTHROPIC LITERARY SOCIETY. As one of the many tokens of the high regard the late President Davis always entertained for Virginia, I have in my possession a letter, written in his own hand and in his last years, which contains a most graceful tribute to the people of this Commonwealth and also to one of its colleges. The letter, dated 1885, was addressed to an officer of the Philanthropic Literary Society of Hampden-Sidney College, in response to his election as an honorary member of that body.38 My dear Sir: Beauvoir, Miss., April 13, '85. I thankfully accept the honor conferred by the Philanthropic Literary Society of Hampden and Sidney College. Venerable by long and useful existence, illustrious by the patriots, heroes and sages, whose names grace your rolls, I am grateful that you have deemed me worthy to be numbered among them. It has given me much pleasure to receive your assurance of kind regard, and especially to know that you of Hampden and Sidney emulate the example of your sires, whose dauntless maintenance of principle gave to them such fair claim that it was a matter of just pride to be a Virginian. Please present my cordial good wishes to your associate members and believe me yours Faithfully, JEFFERSON DAVIS. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. The catalogues of the University of Virginia credit us with the following graduates and undergraduates down to 1867: Colonel T. H. Epes (1826), Dr. Theodorick Pryor (1827), Peter 38 The letter was written to Mr. Watson and is still in Mrs. Watson's possession. B. Jones, T. Freeman Epes, Colonel W. C. Knight, W. B. Smith, Dr. J. M. Hurt, Dr. John C. Watkins, Samuel P. Fowlkes, Roger A. Pryor, John A. Morgan, William B. Taylor, Dr. Joseph D. Eggleston, John H. Knight, A. H. Robertson, E. O. Fitzgerald, Samuel Hardy, Judge Branch J. Epes, Thomas H. Fuqua, Charles A. Jones, Dr. Joseph A. Jones, L. H. Crenshaw, Captain John E. Jones, John E. Shore, Orlando Smith, Robert T. Carter, T. Lafayette Jackson, William H. Perry, John W. Wilson, J. P. Fitzgerald, H. P. Fitzgerald, John K. Jones, Thomas W. Ford, E. G. Booth, T. E. Royall, James F. Epes, F. S. Williams, John S. Hardaway, Richard H. Harris, John Clarke Howard. Class of 1826. A distinguished class: T. H. Epes, R. E. Scott, Lewis E. Harvie, R. M. T. Hunter, Edgar Allan Poe, John B. Magruder, Hugh Pleasants. Nottoway had but one student at the University. JEFFERSON LITERARY SOCIETY. Some of the members, 1829-30. Major William C. Scott, Powhatan County, Va. 1830-31. Thomas Scott, Powhatan County, Va. HARRISON'S ACADEMY. Located at "Wigwam," Governor Giles's home. It was operative as early as 1826. In that year Dr. Richard F. Taylor, Sharpe Carter and Freeman Epes were students there. Old "Goat" Harrison39 was then a teacher there. WASHINGTON ACADEMY, AMELIA COUNTY. Organized about 1840. Bridgeforth and Archer40 were 40 The act incorporating the Washington Academy of Amelia, March 14, 1840, mentions, among the trustees, the names of Miles Archer and William Archer; Bridgeforth (probably Benjamin Bridgeforth) is not mentioned. JEFFERSON COLLEGE, AMELIA COUNTY. Jefferson College, in Amelia County, was formally incorporated by act of legislature, Dec. 26, 1800, with the following trustees: William Merewether, John Archer, Peterfield Archer, Daniel Hardyway, John Burke, David Meade, Everard Meade, Sr., James Henderson, Bennett Brown, Joshua Chaffin, Thomas Randolph, John Royal, John Randolph, Jr., William Daniel, James Jones, M. D., Peter Randolph, John Shore, Joseph Jones, Thomas Read, Sr., and John H. Foushee, gentlemen. The original petition to the legislature for incorporation, dated December 5, 1800, is in the Virginia State Library; it bears the names of the above trustees, and gives their residence as Amelia County with the exception of John Randolph, Jr., and William Daniel, of Cumberland County; James Jones, M. D., and Peter Randolph, of Nottoway County; John Shore and General Joseph Jones, of Dinwiddie County; Thomas Read, Sr., of Charlotte County; and John H. Foushee, of the City of Richmond. RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. EPISCOPAL. Vestry books of Southam Parish, Powhatan County: January, 1746, 1267 tithables; November, 1747, 1360 tithables. Inventory of the estate, real and personal, of the Episcopal Church in Nottoway Parish, taken by Stephen Cocke and Peter Lamkin, May 3, 1785: 340 acres of land, with glebe and houses thereon; rent, six pounds; personal effects, one cup and plate, etc.; two churches with three and a half acres of land; one chapel of ease.41 (Amelia Will Book 3, p. 441.) In 1796 there were 3371 tithes in Nottoway; in 1797, 3412 tithes. The county levy for this year was 7d per tithe, or $331.73. Vestry Book, Southam Parish, Goochland County.42 July 1747. p. 16. Thomas Watson appointed one of the processioners for the lands beginning "at Ham Chapel, thence by the new road near Mr. Scotts to Muddy Creek, up the same 41A supplementary chapel to ease or relieve the mother church and serve distant parishioners. 42In his "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," (1861) Vol. 1, p. 456, Bishop Meade states: "Goochland County was cut off from Henrico in 1727. In the year 1744 the parish of St. James Northam was restricted to the north side of the river, and that on the south side was called St. James Southam, both of them being in Goochland, which still lay on both sides of the river, and extended from the Louisa line to Appomattox River." to Barnets Road to Pruets Path, along the same to Ham Chapel." Merriman and Bond [Other processioners?] part of Watson's land marked. 1325 tithables in the parish, 1748. 1751: William Watson appointed processioner by vestry on Farewallet Creek and Guinea Road. 1755: William Watson appointed processioner for the lands on Little Guinea Creek, etc. He signed report with his mark in April 1756. Report shows he was then land owner. Report of other processioners shows his land adjoined one Samuel Meredith and that one Christopher Watson attended as witness upon processioners. 1759: William Watson appointed a processioner for land on Little Guinea. William and Christopher Watson named as witnesses to report, etc. 1763: Ordered that William Watson and others procession land between Jones's Creek, King William Parish lines, James River, Fire Creek to the Middle Road, the Middle Road to Mrs. Mayo's Road, thence to Buckingham Road. This report was made and signed by William Watson, 1764. 1765: William Watson's land processioned, Daniel Watson present. Chesterfield Deed Book 4, p. 163, shows deed from vestrymen of Dale Parish, 1760, conveying one half acre of glebe land, laid off in town, Gatesville, to Peter Eppes, gentleman, of Prince George. Under the architect Robert Mills was laid the corner-stone of the Monumental Church, Saturday, Aug. 1, 1812. Richmond Enquirer, July 27, 1814: Pew no. 3, Monumental Church, advertised for sale to highest bidder on Saturday, 30 July, at Mr. Lynch's Coffee Room; by order of the vestry. Delinquent pew holders also reminded that thirty days delinquency forfeits the pew. THE THEATRE OF 1811.43 A resolution of condolence was moved in eloquent words in the U. S. Senate in January following by Wm. B. Giles, then a senator of the State. See Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 14, 1812. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The First Presbyterian Church was founded in Richmond about 181244 by Dr. John Holt Rice. Until then he had preached in the old Capitol or Mason's Hall. 43 The Richmond Theatre, which burned December 26, 1811, with the loss of seventy-two lives. The Monumental Church was erected on its site. 441812; cf Richmond. First Presbyterian Church. "Proceedings of the Celebration of the Eightieth Anniversary of Its Organization, May 1, 1892." Richmond, Va., Whittet & Shepperson [1892]. |