Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-10-30
CHURCH OF THE oLDEN TIa1Es.

CHURCH OE THE OLDEN TIMES.
The following very interesting description oil on
OF the Churche, Of the oden time, was kindly fur
nished IL. by gentleman OF this town, VINO recehny
visited Lancaster comfy free Press.
Among the memorials of early days IN virginia
which is so rich in relics from past years. one OF INT
most interesting is church in Lancaster county. l
is not 80 remarkable on account OF us great age
though few in this country can compete WIN IN hi
par,icuar-as for the the soundness OF the structure
which ha, stood go many years. OF the church a
Jamestown nothing remains but portion OF the tow
er This church in Lancaster is nearly as old, and
which is most surprisingly asscafcely begun TO sho"
the marks Of time.
It is in the form Of g yro,s with roofs crossing
each other at right angles, Hhere is door at each
end. except the EASTERN. TTH walls are OF the bes
English brick, laid solid in cement, and are thirty
inches in thickness, and apparently frner than when
fret erected Even the roof a9d other wood-woTk'
are in an almost perfect state OF preservation, while
brick wall surrounding the church. erected many
years subsequent. has nearly disappeared II IS nm
sbed inside with black walnut carved IN very ex-
pepsiye manner. The pews and doors have been re-
constructed,he only repairs tha! have been made on
the church.. aa, qT
This venerable structure was built by single in
dividuaI. named John Carter ] was not able 10 as
certain tbe exact ap. of the building but it is to be
found among the records Of the cour:y. was, how
ever assured that il is considerably above two hun
dred wears old! And this is corroJors'ed by other
circumstances Bv tradition it is known that for ma
nv wears, near half century, the owner attended d.
vine Service in this church. The time Of his death
is recorded on slab his grave, which is in one
Of the asIes of The church. This relates that he died
in the wear 1869, one hundred and eightyone years
ago. ia,
literal copy of it as it appears on the slab
@Here lyelh. buried ye body of John Carter Esq,
who died We 10Th day ofJan. Ammo Domini, 1869,
and also Jane ye daughter OF Mr.. Morgan Glynn and
George her SON and Eenor Carter.
Sarah We daughter Of Mr.. Gabull Ladlowe and Sarah
her daughter, which were all his wives sucksessive-
ly and dyed before him. ss,.s
Blessed are ye dead which Gle in ye lord even soc
saith ye spirit for they rest from there abours and
there works doth follow hem."
The number OF his wives has always been a moot
ed point. The inscription is singulary obscure on
this point and is worthy OF the Sphinx. One thing
is certain he had at least three wives "sucksessively"
some think he had five, and good grammarans, re-
gardess of age or sex, go even as high as six!
MANY anecdotes are told of this John Carter. lie
was an arbitrary, aristocra,c high.churchman. He
possessed tract of land about ten miles in length
and FIVE in breadth. He built the church costly as
it must have been, entirely at his own expense, and
slerward. presented Ito The Epscopalians OF the par
ish But he had gate and door cut out for his own
exclusive use, and permitted no person to enter there
in. His gate was very massive, and on shutting,
would slam so violently that he could hear it at his
own door; i've miles distant. This seems Incredible,
but from the situation Of his house, being hardly
half as far directly TO the church as indicated by the
road, it is possible.
His word was law throughout the parish, and he
sometimes used his authority with vengeance. lie.
had several overseers and it their duty to direct
and punish the laborers, and he directed and punish
ed the overseers. Tying up and whipping was his
invarabe means Of administering Justice and II an
overseer went contrary his wishes the first thing
10 be done was to have the unlucky individual bound
and he, with his own hands, would apply the lash
The only revenge the hapless culpr had was 10 turn
about and fog the men under his charge.
Another .od ssttler'' is the original pulpit bible
Long since title page and every thing else that could
give clue to its age have disappeared. II is curl
Gus Specimen of typography and probably one ol the
oldest samples of printing to be found in this coun-
try.
There are several tomb stones nearhe chnrch Of we'll
wrought and costly marble. They have been there
many years, though of much less age than the church.
Several have been shattered by lightning Some OF
The inscriptions on these would also puzzle reader
Of plain English and one in Latin, if Latin 1t Is' must
have been written in the infancy of the language,and
is worthy of the attention of AnllquarIes
The PEDIGREE OF WAsHlNcrcN.-A few copies OF
beautiful Illuminated Sheet drawn by Mapeson the EDITOR
and illuminaor of .Pears Of American Poetry" and Inc
Shakespeare Billiards." have just been received.
The Pedigres OF General Washington, as traced and n
Illuminated by Mr. Mapeson, carries back his descent To