The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-31
Aitl,a,olltl llspatrh.
THURSDAY AUGUST 81, 1876.
TnrwaIlct:.

The following note il highly interesting
to us, and, we doubt not, will be to many Of
our readers. Dir. Grigsby and Mr.. Brock
together can surely give us the true etymol-
ogy Of Tarwallet:
RICHMOND, VA, August 80, 1876.
Editors Of the Dispatch:
Your fattering call upon me through
your editorial columns Of this morning
found me without conjecture on my OWE
part regarding the point in questionable
origin OF "Tar Wallet as the designation
OF the old church in Cumberland county.
might urge, in your behalf, that tradi-
ton, unsupported by recorded evidence, is
the account advanced by your intelligent
correspondent ''W. d." may have been
the invention OF a period but little earlier
than our own day--by say generation OF
SO.
Your plea advanced for the rejection OF
the MISUNDERSTANDING incident upon the
score Of tririality I fear cannot be sustained,
il we are to accept our numerous native and
local eeymologies, so many OF which are
based upon circumstances not a whit more
important. Then, too, in the light OF the
investigations OF the elninently ingenius
John limbs as to the derivation Of the quaint
and uncouth terms designating famed local.
tiles OF London, or of the studies in family
nomenclature OF the even more distinguished
etymologist Lower, we might deem our.
selves warranted in the acceptance OF any
etymon however insignificant.
AS to "Tar Wallet" however, Bishop
Meade lin whose fascinating work, "The
Old Churches and Families OF Virginia. .
vol. H., p. 33-5, may be found all account OF
!, md no fhr1r \ M.
derS the name rs 'Tear or Tar Wallet"
Your theory as to the derivation OF tar
through the French terTe is undoubtedly an
insenius one, but difficulty lies in supply.
ing component word Of like origin to
complete the appellation. The name might
have originated with the Hugucnots, some
Of whom were settled in Virginia as early
as 1860, though the chief settlement was in
1890 and during the decade next succeed.
ing. As you state, they speedily spread
over q large tract OF country, including thu
region OF the old church. 1t is not likely
that the title Wallet Tor WalletD had it:
origin in the name Of an individual, for i
is hardly reasonable to suppose that TIT
name OF an alien would have been selected
in preference to that OF the owner OF TIT
land upon which the chuch was built
Daniel Coleman.
parish register, which was privatel.
printed from the original Ms. in 1860 by tn
late Thomas II. Wynne, am unable to flint
any other than the following surnames ap
preaching in photography or sound the dc
Sired word, and which might have in TIT
ruthlessness OF provincial corruption I'm
dergone the requisite transformation, saw
Naet and Sale, the last Of which find In
corrupted form-Abraham Sally-enumer
rated by Bishop Meade rs one OF the Iestry
men OF Southam Parish about 1850.
The very location OF the CHURCH, which
was upon hill, excludes the consideration
OF the only Typographical French term
can at this moment recall which might b.
made to approach Wallet in sound-yiz.
yallee.
Though unable to assist you myself,
have called to your rescue Mr.. Grigsby, VIII
has penchunt for chronological studies ant
who is eminently cngifted and accomplished
in the walks in which am but an humbl
plodder. am, very truly yours,
X. A. BROCK.