The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-03-26
EARLY HISTORY OF ALBEMARLE
CHURCHES"

published in the Charlottesville (Va.,) Chron
icls some interesting facts concerning tn
early history of some of the churches in th
county of Albemarle. The most of it is her
transferred to our columns, as it is we'll t.
tell such things "to the generations follow
ling"
COtemporary with that very remarkable
man, "John Craig" whose name is, as you
know, household word in your native coun
ty, was Rev. Samuel Black, who, also ma
tive of the North of Ireland, was received as
probatoner in the ministry by New Castle
Presbytery, Delaware, was ordained at the
Forks of Brandywine in 1877, and soon after
came to Virginia. He settled in the western
part of Albemarle, directly under the shadow
of the Blue Ridge, and founded the two Pres
byterian congregations Of Mountain Plains,
in Albemarle, and Rock6sh, in Nelson. Note
the fact of his ordinstion at the Forks of
Brandywine, as veryaisseresting historical
coincidence is connected With it and the sub
sequent history of Rock6sh church. Mr..
Black was the eleventh minister, in order OF
the Presbytery of Hanover, which was form
ed at a meeting of the Synod of New York,
September Sd, 1855. He is described by
DR.. FOote as an amiable man, of retiring
disposition, and as infrmities came upon him
he secluded himself more and more from the
labors of the ministry. Some difficulties
arose between him and bis congregations -
He retired from public services altogether,
owing to these difficulties and his sensitive
feelings, sooner than be would have done 10
other circumstances. His family, as kind
and retired IS himself, never urged him to
more prominent stand or more vigorous ef-
forts in his old age He was orthodox in
doctrine and correct in his views of religious
action and Christian principles, as has been
evidenced by the fact that goodly number
of pious people were found on Rockfsh; and
his successors in the ministry saw evidence
that God had blessed the ministry of His
word by him. No production of his pen re-.
mains, aud no great act marked the even
tenor of his way. His Influence, like that
of multitudes. will be known in its wider or
UdTTOW6T 'uo. SlOos AAS
died about the year 1771.
The Synod of New York, after coDstitut-
ing Hanover Presbytery as stated, ordered
that it's first meeting "should be in Hanover,
on the first Wednesday IN December next
(1755). and that Rev. Samuel Davies should
open the Presbytery by sermon. A petit
ton, directed to Mr.. Davies and John Todd,
(the clerk), from the people living in Abe
marie near Woods Gap, (believed to be what
is now Jarman's,) was referred by them to
the Presbytsry, representing "their destitute
circumstances in the want of gospel ordi-
nauces, and requesting some supplies from
US; the Presbytery therefore appoint the
Rev. Samuel Davies to preach there on the
second Sabbath in March next, and that Mr..
Brown (this was the Rev. John Brown, of
New Providence, in Augusta, snd son.in-law
of John Preston, the fodT1sr of the Preston
family,) desire some of tvs people to appoint
the place of meeting, to bs out Of the bounds
of Mr.. Blacks congregation, at some con-
venient place." Unless We had access to
the records of Hanover Presbytery we are
unable to present anything like history OF
Mr.. Blacks sphere of labor at either Noun
tain Plains or R,ckfsh. We presume the
records of these two old churches have all
been lost, aud we are from necessity CON-
PEELED to come down from the time of Mr..
Blacks deash Ia It'll to 1919, when, on the
1st of May, Matthew Plson, now vener-
able elder of Tinkling Spring church, nearly
four-score in years, resided for about two
years within the bounds of Mountain Plains
congregation. We are Indebted to his kind
ness for the subjoined narrative, which we
give for the most part'is his own language.
CAT this dateI csms to reside with my
uncle, John Pllso1, whoshsd opened store
on what was knowp, as the 'Old Wallace
Farm, and be boarded b the family of Mr..
William Wallace, the gsandfather of M. W,
| W allace, merchants of Eillsboro. John Pill
son removed to Albemalle in 1906 from the
bounds Of Tinkling Spring church. William
| Wallace married Mary PIlson, sister of my
grandfather, Samuel Pildon, an elder of Tink
/ ling Spring church ulHer its founder and
| first pastor, Rsv.. John Craig, and next under
Rev. James Waddell, eqe Blind Preacher,
immorsalized By Writ.
eAt tho date at which | lived with my
1 uncle, he boarded in tie family of Richard
wallace, William Wapsce's family was ther
scsttered over several States. William, tht
(. Oldest, died at home Samuel removed tt
Kentucky, married q Miss Anderson, an(
settled there; MichseInSrried Miss Lavinia
the Oldest daughter Of William Lobban, o
Avon, in Nelson county; John married Bet
sey Smith, of Nelson; Hannah married Johr
Lobbsn; Richard married late in life Mary
Christian, of Augusta, and Polly, who never
married, and was great sufferer from rheu
matism, was born, died and sleeps in the sol
| Of her old homo. nv sssfsrger part of th
family attended sersts ss Waynesbora. I
part of' the congregstSn Of Thinking Spring
at that time under the psstorste of the Rev
John McCue, and, succeeding him, under tn
Rev. James c. Wilson.
CAT this date there was no Presbyterian
preaching at either Mountain Plains or Rock
fish, and l am unable to say how long thi
had been the case. The Walaces and som
other families of the stricter sort of Presby
teriaus would not attend other churches
, In 1919 there was preaching at Mount Ed
, always a Baptist church, by two Baptis
preachers, one of whom was the Rev: y
Herndon, pretty fair preacher and pleas
ant gentleman. At Mountain Plains, o.
every other Sabbath, the ReV. Bepjami
l Ficklin preached, good man of fine sens
and devoted piety, but of limited education
"Inssmuch as the old Mountain Plain
church, that may have been built for and OF
cupied by the Rev. Samuel Black, its fri
pastor, has long since passed away, it is pr'
per that shall place on record desoriptio
of it. 1t was framed and weatber-boarde
after the old style, Of fair size, neither ceile
nnr nlastarad. The nnlnit was in the sid