Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-20
THE ANNALS OF ALEXANDRIA.
WV. F. CARNE.
THIRD SERIES.
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ON THE RIVERSIDE IN
l6S5-9O.
MARYLAND contributed no little to the settle
ment of OLD STAFFORD. St. Mary's, her capi-
tal was nearer the Virginia plantations on the
Potomac by many miles than was either James
town or Williamsburg, the vice-regal courts OF
the ancient dominion. So it happened that
lands on the Virginia side were often patented
by Marylanders, who, finding their fortunes
improved by crossing the Potomac, domiclllated
themselves 10 that colony. Inter-marriages
and relationships bouud the two communities
in indissoluble bonds. The Foulkes, Gerrards
and Brents, who appear among the leaders 10
the early days of Stafford, are OF the same
families, aud 10 many Instances are tile same
persons who figure largely in the early history
Of the Maryland shore. Many of these settlers
were Catholics. Their faith was an object OF
popular adherence in Virginia, and the statutes
of the dominion forbade It's public exercise
within her limits, and authorized the tender
ing of oaths denying its doctrines to any VINO
might be suspected of holding the prohibited
tenets. Years before Irish colonists had been
refused admission and forced back to Monserrat
because of their religious belief, while at
time but little autecedent to the period these
annals uow reach, Lord Baltimore was pub
licly insulted at jamestown for the same reason:
Nevertheless the Virginians who protessed
the ancient faith beside the Potomac possessed
facilities for its exercise uuknown to more Gen.
trail regions Priests, prescribed by statute,
might cross the river gather disciples to wor-
shin God in a manner made criminal by law;
and return as safely as they came. The changes
in MARYLAND consequent upon the accession OF
Cromwell to power 10 Britain cut on these
chances but there still remained loStafford many
who ardently desired the miuistratlons afforded
by the religion of their fathers. Accordingly
no sooner did James the Second, exhibit bis
determination to stretch the royal prerogatlve
so as to afford freedom of conscience to his
Catholic coreligionsts than a successful attempt
was made to secure the Kings protection to
the free exercise of the Catholic religion in the
Potomac country. Capt George Brent who
had long been commander of the Rangers, that
secuted the frontiers between the Potomac and
Rapp ahannock professed the prohibited faith.
Securing the assistance of some London mer-
chants, be procured from the King 'protec-
tion;'' for It's free exercise 10 Virginia. This
document, the only one Of the kind granted 10
Virginia, Immediately concerns the history OF
this region and merits place in these auDals,
1t is as follows:
James R.:
Right trusty and we'll beloved: We greet you
we'll, whereas our trusty and we'll beloved George
Brent of Woodstock, in our county Of Staff rd,
in our COLONY of Virginia, Richard Foote and
Robert Br;stow, of London Merchants q Mich
olas Hay ward of London Notary Public, Have
by their Humble petition informed us, That they
have purchased of our right trusty and wel-be-
loved Thomas Lord Cupeper, certain tract OF
land in our said COLONY between the rivers Of
Rappahannock and Potomac, containing of es-
timation thirty thousand acres lying IN or near
our said county of Stafford, some miles distant
from any present settlement or Inhabitants and
at or about twenty miles from the foot OF the
mountains upon part of which Tract of Land
the Pet rs have projected and doc speedily oe-
sign 10 build towne with convenient tortlnca-
tions and dc therefore pray that for the encour-
agement of Inhabitants to settle in said Towne
and plantation, wee would be pleased to grant
them the free exercise of their religion, Wee
have thought fit to condescend to grant their
humble request and we doc accordingly give and
grant to the Pets, and to all and every inhabl-
tants which now or hereafter shall be settled in
the said Towne and the tract of land beoI gng
to them as is above mentioned the free exercise
of their religion without being prosecuted or
molested upon any penall laws or olher account
Tor the same which wee doc hereby signihe unto
you to the end that you may take care, and give
such orders as shall be requisite-That they enjoy
the full benefit Of these our gracious Intentions
to them, Provided they behave themselves in
all civil matters SO as becomes pescesple ana
Loyal subjects, and for so doing this shall be
your warrant, and 50 we bid you HEARTILY fare
we'll.
"Given at our Court at Whitehall the 10Th
day of Feb'y, 1867 in the third year of our
FsIfn Kov.l siypst sSy Utf Ties o0@@snu
ITO VS our 1 risht Trusty and webeloved Francis,
Lord Howard of bingham our Lieutenant u
Governor General of our COLONY and Do
minions of Virginia in America aud to our
Chiefe Governor or Governors there for the
time being"
The thirty thousand acres of land over which
the protection thus granted extended, seems
from the specifications in the grant and other
circumstances to have been in the neighbor
hood OF the Court House of Prince William
county. Brentsville aud Bristoe have handed
down TO pasterlty the names of two of the pat
entees named in the Kings protection.
Of the tate OF the settlement We have no re-
cord, but the even}s which crowd around the
time aud place, leave little doubt that the pro-
prietors did not hesitate to avail themselves of
the freedom guaranteed under the royal Siguet.
The document arrived 10 Stafford iu the fall,
at time when Virginia was already excited
by the struggle between Lord Howard and the
Assembly as to the appointment of the clerk
of the House. 1t was alleged that "the King
would wear out the Church Of England for
whenever there was vacant office, be hlled 1t
with men Of a different persuasion. New and
dreadful dangers we're hioted at by those al
ready in the secret of the proposed movements
10 the Interest of William of Orange, on the
otberside of the ocean. The appointment OF
Allertou an old resident of Stafford and alleged
to Catholic, to the Council in the place of the
popular Philip Ludwell, added fuel to the fire
burning in many hearts along the Potomac shore.
To add to these discontents servile instruc-
ton was discovered 10 Westmoreland just 10
time to prevent it's bursting forth. Rumors of
1udian and t'popish" plots were circulated un-
til the community grew fairly mad with excite
ment. Monmouth's men, considerable mum
Der of whom had been transported to Virginia,
doubtless were largely implicated, desiring to