Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-13
The ella ..p,r,sa of Augusta"

Established Church was branch of the Episco-
pal Church of England The early settlements
within the limits of the county were made in the
decade succeeding the year 1875; IN Act OF As
sembly. passed 1888, authorized the organization
of the county and parish of Augusta; the county
organization was effected about the year 100
with jurisdiction extending from the Blue Ridge
to the Mississippi River: the "Parish OF Angus
ta'7 was formally organized in 1910, over Jurls-
diction caterminous with the county. Pfesby-
te,ion CONGREGATIONS were formed also cotempora-
neously with the settlements OF the county But
the Established Church. struggled on against
this sturdy Scotch Irish sentiment, until about the
time of the Revelations. when it seems to have
died away as am Institutiou-even before the pas
sage of the ''Act for Religious Freedom"
The old Rec5rd Book of the Vestry is still ex-
tant, and we propose. as often as we have the
space. to publish such information from 1t as may
serve 10 illustrate the early history of our county,
and interest many ofour readers who haze not
convenient access, to the Records. We begin
with sketch of the Festry; next week we Will
give an account of the Church in Stanton:
"VIRGINIA Set:
"Be it Remembered that on the Day OF
NIDCCXLVE a Commission from under
the Hand Of the Honorable William Couch, Esq,
Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief OF
Virginia was Directed to the Sheriff of Augusta
County for Electiug Twelve. of the most able
Men of the Parish of Augusta to be sworn YES
try for said Parish. BY Virtue Of which Commits
sion the said Sheriff caused TO come to the Court
House of the said County all the Freeholders and
House Keepers of said County aud Parish, who
Elected james Patton, John Buchanan, John
Madison, Patrick Hays, John Christian, John
Buchanan. Robert Alexander, Thomas Gordon,
James I.ockart, John Archer, John Matthews
and John Smith, and they having Taken the
Oaths appointed to be Taken BY Act of Par
lament instead Of the Oaths of Allegiance and
SUPREMACY. the Abiuratiou Oath made and sub
scribed the Test and likewise to be contormable
to the Doctrine aud Discipline of England and
Were Sworn Vesry Men for the said Parish ac-
cordiugly, Sc"
The Vestry appears to have been elected for an
unlimited term oil office Most Of the original
members continued to serve until their death ;
some were members of the Vestry foSaearly thirty
years. Vacancies occurring by death, resignation
or removal seem to have been filled by vote OF
majority of the Festry. The regular meetings
were held probably in every month. The Juris-
dictjon extended to all matters pertaining to the
Church establishment and TO the oversight OF the
moor. the police, morals, and domestic affairs gen
orally of the County. The Vestry appointed the
'sProcessioners" to procession and report to that
body on the boundaries Of farms, in all the survey
ed and patented lands ofthe county. The Church
wardens. two of whom were appointed annually
from the Yestry, one By that body itself and the
other by the Minister, among other duties took
all the bonds for Apprentices, and were required
| bv law to make presentments semi-annGally tc
the Grand Jury for all moral delinquencles not
punishable by themselves.
Many memoranda like the following are report
ed to the Vestry. "Small sins'' it would seen
in that day, were moro expensive than now not
withstanding the recent enactment on the subJee
by the Common Council Of Stanton -
"AIemoranduln Of Money Reed BY john Chris
tian, Gent for We. Parish--Anno 1906.
james Alexander for Swearing ~ ~ !
! john Macune for Drunkenness III
! Michael Henderson for Swearing ~
James Davies for Swearing u
No change occurred in the personnel of Tho
yestry for ten years after the first election, AT
vestry held November 23d, 1855, "Sampsor
Archer is Elected Vestryman III the Room
! Col. Patton Decd, aud John Matthews Jun, l.
also Elected in the Room of Maj. John Smith
On the 10Th November, l757, 'Robert Breckln
! ridre Sent was Chosen in the Room of JohI
Matthews (Sen. Decd" November 29th. lI59
.Israel Christian, Gent. is Chosen in the Room
of Mr.. John Madison" Mr.. Madison lived a
Port Republic, and was the Father OF BISHOP
Madison November 18th, 1860, "Sampson MAI
4 thews, Gent. is Chosen in the Room OF Robert
Alexander who Resigned" May both, l|ol.
''Sampson Archer Gent. being about to Remove OUT
of this Colony has Resigned, upon which Randa
| Ioekhart is Chosen in his Room Felix I'll
bcrt's name first appears as Festryman abou
this date also. November 10Th. l102, "JohT
Poap is Chosen in Room of Patrick Hays, Re
| signed" November 10Th, 1903, George Skill
I lern was oChoson in Room" Of Randall Lockart
"John Christian, Gent. Declines to serve any
! lonrer, and George Mathews is Chusen in hi'
Room" November "a. l764, civilian Elem
ming, Gent. is Chosen in the Room of John Mat
| thews, Decd"
Alta Yestry, Sc, November 2!st, l767-
"Ordered that minute Be Taken that the fol
lowing Vestrymeu Hath Subscribed Declaration
/ in Vestry To be Confurnable to the Doctrine an'
Discipline of the Church Of England according II
Law, viz-Col John Buchanan, Mr.. Geo. Mat
thews Mr.. James I.ockart, Mr.. John Buchanan
| MIR. John Archer, Mr. Simpson Mathews, Mr.
John Poague and Mr.. William Flemming.
.'.Messrs Mathews, Lockart, P0ague, Mathews
Buchanan Enters their Descent against Mr. lsrae
J Christians Signing the Proceedings OF this Yes
try as He Refused Signing the Declaration i
Vestry-(P Proceedings signed by Christian)."
November 2ls,, 1863
'.Its ordered that Mr.. William Bowyer Is
Chosen Vestryman In Room OF Col. Buchana
Deceased and Mr. Thomas Madison, BE Chose
in Room of Capt Israel Christian and Capt. Pete
EIor in Room OF Maj. Robert Brecknrdge -th
said Breckenridge and Christian Having Refuse
Subscribing To the Doctrine and Disclplin of tn
/ Church Of England"
November 22nd i769-"Mr. John Poage Il
! srns Sc. and Capt. Alexander McClenahan n
p9inted in his Room" November 10Th, i1o4
F.sMr. Alexander Slnclear and MIR. Johh Ray
Sent. wsre unanimously Chosen IN Room OF NJ
John McC lenahau, Mr.. Archibald Huston, Ten
Disseast"