The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-14

ST FAULTS CHURCH. This venerable relic
OF the past, which stands at the corner o
Church and Cove streets, has for years beer
one Of the chief attractions to strangers Wis
iting this city. 1t was built in the yeal
1879 OF English bricks, and was for long
time the only Episcopal Church in til is city.
When Norfolk was destroyed by the torch
OF the invading Britons, this Church in com
mon with nine tenths OF the houses in this
city, was victim OF the devouriug element,
aud was aeary consumed. It was subse.
auently rebuilt, aud from that time to the
present, with slight intermission, has been
used for the holy purpose ior which it was
originally designed
Meade, will furnish much Of interest to the
general reader. He saws:
Novolk County and its PARISHES Eti@a-
beth Ri s,, vt. Brides and Portsmouth, -
Until the year 1851, that which is now Prin-
cess Anne and Norfolk, was called Lower
Norfolk, in coatradistisction to Upper Nor.
folk, now Nausemond. IA that year Lower
Norfolk was divided into Norfolk and Prin-
cess Aune, and the parishes were called
Elizabeth river sadLynhaven parishes.
The town of Norfolk was established is
l705. Col Byrd, in his Westover manu-
scripts, in the year 1928, after speaking Of
its prosperous condition, says: "The worst
of ii is, they contribute much towards de-
bauchiDg the county by importing an album
dasce OF run, which Ii ke gin in Great Bri-
tain, breaks the constitution, sitiates the mo
rails, and ruins tue indusCry Of most OF the
poor people OF the county" o. the people
OF Norfolk ae says sine two cardinal
and frugality, are ssta n:re in perfection;
and 50 long AS they can baoisu luxury and
idleness, the i,Sh Will remain in a happy
and hourishing condition. Although it has
NOT increased iu numbers and wealth as some
other places, if religoa AID morality con
stiture the real prosperity Of a place, then
Norfolk has 10 this day fl yurisaed, much be.
You'd most other towns ia or land, and her
little to these.
OF the churches and ssMinister in Lover
Norfolk, before the year 1891, when the d.
vi sion above mentioned took dlsce, we have
but scsnty accounts. l state it on the au
thsrity of one who would not speak uuadvi-
sedly that in the year 1887, one John vii
sea was minister Of Elizabeth river parish,
in Norfolk county. From this until the
year l74s, there is no information to be OBJ :
tained as to this parish or its ministers, ex :.
cept that in tins year 1874. when answers
were sent 10 the Bishop OF Londoa's circu
lars, there were no ministers OF the parish to
furnish one.
On lose piece of paper which has come
into my hands, | End thAt iu the year 1928
q Mr.. Thomas Nash, who was believe
both clerk of the gestry aud lsy.reader Of
the South Branch chapel, gave in list of
births occurring in that part Of the parish
during the year l727. The number o! these
lation at that time in the e,unty. and that
their reliance here, as in me other laces,
was on the cheaper supply of readers.
From the vesery hook. Which begin ia
l74S and ends iu i76l-~twelve years-l
learn that the Rev. Charles Smith was the
minister during all that period, how long
before is not known, but it is probable from
the year 1884; from the following inscrip-
ton on his tombstone at the glebe, near
Portsmouth, as he was the minister of Ports
mouth parish at his death in IT'S;
Here lies inferred the Rev. Charles
Smith, rector of Portsmouth parish, who
died the 18th OF January, l773. in tue 6ist
years of his age de ofiiciated minister
upwards OF thirty years, aud his conduct
through life was unexceptionabe. He WAS
sincere friend, a most tender husband, IA
affectionate father, andia hn maze good m.n.
He was esteemed and beloved wAea slis.,
aud died universally lamented. In te.timo-
ny of their tender regard, ais SON in-!aw,
James Taylor, and daughter, Nice rHyio,
have erected this monument.
1t appears by what We i.drn ,tro toe
yestry book and tombstone, that he WAS
robably the minister of the Eliaabsth river
parish, and Of division oil the same, duriag
the whole period ofa more than thirty years
ministry.
In the year l76l the parish OF Elizabeth
river, covering all Norfolk coanty, was di-
yiaed into three --Psrtsmou b, So. Brides,
aud Elizabeth river. We cannot say wheth
er Mr.. Smith CONTINUED to minister ia Nor
folk and Elizabeth river alter this,or at once
chose Portsmouth tosn aoa parish as his
place of residence and neld OF labor. n the
wears l773-4.6 We End on oar old lists the
Rev. Thomas Davis, the minister in Nor.