THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN NOTTOWAY COUNTY. 45 As far back as the days of the Reverend Samuel Davies, there were in Nottoway County (then a part of Amelia County known as Nottoway Parish) several families composed wholly or in part of Presbyterians. One of these families, named Wilson, lived at "Mountain Hall," near the line of Amelia and eight or ten miles from Paineville; another family, named Tanner, lived near-by on a part of the "Mountain Hall" tract; and a third family lived some two miles away. These people attended upon the sacramental seasons at old Pole Green Church in Hanover under the Reverend Samuel Davies. Jack Stewart, "the African preacher," used to relate to Dr. Jones (the words are repeated varbatim in the record) how they used to get ready and go off on horseback in these periodical journeys. Tanner afterward attended Briery Church, and his funeral, which took place after Dr. Jones had settled at "Mountain Hall," was preached by the Reverend Drury Lacy, one of the faculty of Hampden-Sidney. Captain Robert Smith, who resided in the fork of the Nottoway, was also a Presbyterian and attended Briery. Dr. Archibald Alexander preached at Captain Smith's house when he visited Nottoway as a missionary from Hanover Presbytery. A man named Chambers, of Captain Smith's neighborhood, died about 1790 and requested in his will that Rev. Drury Lacy should preach his funeral; so it is probable that he was a Presbyterian. With the extinction or emigration of these families, every vestige of Presbyterianism in the county was destroyed. Many years afterward, James Henderson and Robert Fitzgerald, who had commenced the mercantile business as co-partners near the courthouse soon after the Revolution, connected themselves with the College Church of Hampden-Sidney, then under the pastoral charge of Dr. Hoge. In 1823 or 1824 there were only three Presbyterians in the county, the venerable Mrs. James Henderson, of Nottoway Courthouse, the venerable Mrs. Shore, widow of Dr. John Shore, of Petersburg, and her son, Dr. Robert Shore, who had removed to and settled in the county a few years previously. A church was organized at Green's Church the third Sunday in September, 1824, by Dr. J. H. Rice. Robert Shore, Philemon Holcombe and John C. Hill were elected and ordained ruling elders. Robert Shore was the first delegate from the church to Hanover Presbytery, which met at Buckingham Courthouse on May 5, 1825. 45 Records of Nottoway Presbyterian Church, V. 1. EARLY MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. John C. Hill, elder, dismissed and recommended to the Amelia church. Robert Shore, elder. Philemon Holcombe, elder, dismissed and removed to Ten nessee. Mary Henderson, died October 1829. Rebecca M. Shore, dismissed to Petersburg church. Mary L. Lampkin, dismissed to Lunenburg church. Ann E. Caruthers, removed. Peter R. Bland, removed to Tennessee. Sarah Bland, removed. George Foster, died in 1837. Robert Dennis. Sarah D. Brodnax, removed to Tennessee. Harry, a colored slave. Elizabeth B. Jones (afterward Mrs. Epes). Frances Epes (afterward Mrs. Pryor). Martha Campbell (afterwards Mrs. Patterson). Ann Augusta Bland (afterwards Mrs. S. F. Cocke). Thomas F. Ward, elder, died in 1836. L. C. Bouldin, certificate from Petersburg church. Old Mrs. Bland, who was an Episcopalian, and lived in the lower end of Nottoway. Old Mr. Hawkes, who was a Methodist, and also lived in lower end of County. 1827. INFANTS. James Jones White, baptised April 18, 1829. Clifford Anderson, baptised 1834. MARRIAGE REGISTER. Dr. R. Shore to Mrs. Martha A. Hardaway, September 11, Miss Frances Epes to Dr. Pryor, December 21, 1832. ber 5, 1833. Dr. James Jones seems to have been one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Nottoway. Dr. Ruffner said of this church that soon after his conversion this Dr. Jones wrote to the Reverend J. H. Rice, asking him to send him a young minister. The minister sent was the Reverend W. S. White, who, a short time before, had been licensed to preach. Dr. Jones took him into his home and gave him all possible assistance in his work. Soon afterward a church was organized and Dr. Jones was made the first elder. The church referred to by Dr. Ruffner as organized under the ministry of Dr. White, with Dr. Jones as elder, was the Presbyterian church of Nottoway, later presided over by the venerable Theodorick Pryor. Dr. Jones said it was in 1823 or 1824 that Dr. Hoge and the Reverend J. H. Rice called at his house and spent the night. After much conversation on the state of religion in the community, they concluded that a missionary could do good among the people. Reverend Robert Roy was procured from Princeton Theological Seminary and after a year's labor, with the aid of Dr. John H. Rice, he succeeded in organizing a church in 1825. Dr. Jones relates that the bigotry and ill-begotten zeal of the then existing denominations did much to oppose the progress of the Presbyterian church. This he attributed to ignorance and sectarian jealousy; they finally became co-workers in a movement that proved to be one of the greatest reformations that ever occurred in the history of any community. The county was irreligious throughout its length and breadth. Periodical jockey club meetings, revelling, balls, parties, barbecues, card and drinking parties, with a host of other dissipations of the most grossly immoral tendencies, obtained everywhere; but after this reformation all this disappeared. This account was penned by Dr. Jones in 1844. The next elder elected was Peter R. Bland, 1827. Dr. William J. Dupuy and Samuel P. Hawes were elected elders in 1830. Thomas F. Ward and Phil B. White were elected ruling elders in 1830. William S. White was elected pastor in 1829. Church on May 13, 1832. Reverend Theodorick Pryor was installed pastor in November 1832; the sermon was preached by Dr. Wm. S. Plummer; the charge was delivered by Dr. Burwell. Dr. Pryor was moderator of East Hanover Presbytery at Mt. Carmel Church, Powhatan County, in September, 1834. Susan Moore was expelled from the Church in 1834 for "the awfully aggravated sin of uncleanness." The Petersburg Intelligencer was started about 1785. John Dickson, editor, died in 1814. The paper was advertised for sale in the Richmond Enquirer, August 10, 1914. In 1819 the papers of Petersburg were the Petersburg Intelligencer and Petersburg Republican. The Richmond Enquirer of October 5, 1814, records the death of Samuel Pleasants, editor of the Virginia Argus. He was public printer of Virginia at the time. The Richmond Enquirer, September 14, 1814, contains the following: "We respectfully request our subscribers to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded by the members of the General Assembly to transmit the arrearages due to this office. Notes of the Virginia and Farmers' Bank will be received in payment." The Richmond Enquirer in 1814 was five dollars a year in advance. In 1819 the editor of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Herald, James O'Connor, died. With his death the paper suspended. About this time the Norfolk Beacon was started. The organ of the Democratic Party in Petersburg and for the fourth district in 1859 was The Press. In 1819, the Petersburg Republican was edited by Edward Pescud who married a daughter of Peter Francisco. ROADS. The road from Jeff's store46 to Nottoway Courthouse was in years gone known as "Dudley's Road"; the one to Miller's old store, as the "Raccoon Track." (Information from Colonel Jeffress.47) 46 Jeffress's store. 47 William C. Jeffress. The Namozine Road runs from Jennings Ordinary down past Fergusonville and Dennisville. The road crossing Lazaretta Creek just below Royall's and Jeter's Mill seat (Dyson's) shown to have been called Yarborough's Road, 1792. (Nottoway Deed Book 1, p. 275.) MAIL ROUTES. In 1818 there was no mail route to Jennings Ordinary. The two lines in that district were: From Richmond via Chesterfield Courthouse, Spring Hill, Colesville, Holcomb's, Dennis, Amelia Courthouse, Perkinsonville, Paineville, Deatonsville and Jamestown, to Farmville, once a week; 105 miles. The other route was from Petersburg via Dinwiddie Courthouse, Darvills, Village Hill, Morgansville, Blacks and Whites, 48 Hendersonville, Nottoway Courthouse, Hungarytown, Brydie's Store, Double Bridge, Pleasant Grove, Haleysburg, Wylliesburg, Bibbs Ferry, and Scottsburg, to Halifax Courthouse, once a week; 123 miles. In 1819 there was a mail route from Perkinsonville by Jennings Ordinary, Millers Tavern, Moores Ordinary, and Keyes', to Charlotte Courthouse, once a week; 45 miles. The mail left Perkinsonville every Friday at 4 P. M. and arrived at Charlotte Courthouse on Saturday at 5 P. M. (Return J. Meigs, Postmaster-General). SLAVERY. The emancipation of negroes with a view to their settlement in Africa received the support of conservative opponents of slavery, the sympathy of the churches, and the patronage of leading men among the slave holders of the border states, 18311840. Richmond Enquirer, 1854: "A Nut for Abolitionism." A bill, reported by Mr. Campbell49 to the Virginia Senate and passed, to allow certain free negroes in Nottoway the privilege of selling themselves into slavery again. They had been manumitted by a gentleman of the county and desired to be sold to their master's next of kin. A large number of respectable citizens of Nottoway added their recommendations to the aforesaid object. Pass issued to a slave: "Branch has leaf to pass to Francis M. Watson in Lunenburg County and return home tomorrow, March the 4 1862. R. A. A. Watson." Two negroes sold in 1790 at £25 credit. 48 Now Blackstone. 49 Thomas H. Campbell, of Nottoway County. on twelve months |