The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-06
URsfSA. March 81. lSS

tRslNA, MATCH 5l, 1851.
Ed. HERALD We notice most CORES
pondents, while speaking of points of in
terest in and about the National Capitol,
omit to speak of the old E. P. Church, at
Alexandra, known as "Washington's old
church"
Happening to visit Alexandria recently,
We spent considerable time in acquainting
ourself with the history of this church. We
found, by consulting the church records.
that on the first day of February, 1765,
being the 4th George III, by virtue Of an
act passed the previous year, the parish of
Fairfax was formed out of Q portion of
Truro. On March 2sth of the same year,
twelve gentlemen were chosen as vestrymen.
Col. George Washington, who was only 50
years of age, being one the number. In .
few years need of a new church building
became apparent, and in 1766 the vestry Or
dered levy on the parish of 81, ,ls4 pounds
of tobacco, for the purpose Of building two
new churches, one at The Falls" and one
at Alexandria. In January, l767. james
Parsons agreed to build the latter church for
fG00. A portion of the specifications may
be ofintersst to modern building commit
tees. The shingles were TO be of the best
juniper wood, throe-fburth inches thick, 10
inches long, to show G inches. Mortar for
outside wall to be two-thirds lime, one
third sand; inside to be one-half lime and
one-half sand. Arches and pediments 70 be
of Tuscan order. The alter, pulpit and
canopy of the Ionic order.
In I772 Parsons having failed to complete
the church, the vestry made an agreement
with Col. John Carlyle for an additional
sum of f220 On the 9th of February, 1773,
the building was formally delivered to the
vestry. One the same day ten pews were
offered for sale. Col. Washington purchas-
ed pew No. 5, for the sum of f36 10s., the
highest price paid. tVisitors TO the old
church, especially the ladies, seem anxious
to seat themselves in Washington's old pew J
The vestrymcn had power over matters of Q
lector went forth to levy upon every land
owner in the parish. The bound appren-
ticcs to their masters, and indentures of the
same were duly recorded on the vestry
books. Fines for penal offenses were i'm
posed by them. Thus, Thos. Lewis, hunt
ing on the Sabbath, IS.
Upon the vestry devolved the relief OF
the poor, SICK, etc. One of these items en-
tered on the books in 1770 is worth mention
ing "To Townsend Dade, setting . poore
woman over the ferry, "a pounds Of tobac-
CO." In 1776 the sexton, John Rhodes, re-
c.ived 5oopounds of tobacco for his servic-
es. The act of yestry in 1776, affords the
reader an idea of prices during the revolu-
tionary war. Cloth for the poor, IS per
yard.
Space will not allow us TO mention furthe,
Of these entries. There are two tablets oil
marble placed in the center wall, one on
each side of the pulpit one to the memory
of George Washington, the other to Rober,
Edward Lee. We found Mapy names oi
inte.ess recoI,e,t in he books, The
Lees, Herbers, Clusters, etc. The writer
had the pleasure of making the &C.
quaintance of some of the descendants ol
those familiss Col. Herbert, living in
Alexandria, who belongs TO the Fairfax
line, is a very pleasant gentleman. Robert
S. Lee, isa young man Of splendid physical
appearance, as well as possessing the art Of
making himself agreeable.
On one of the principal streets leading
from the river is large hotel part Of the
rear of this building, low section
with three dormer windows, is the old
Carey House." which was occupied 6 the
headquarters of General AraddoSk. The
room in which Col. Washington made hia
last appeal to Braddock. prior ts the cam
paign which resulted SO distPously In the
engagement of tue Monoasahels, In ITS,
remains unchanged and ID worth visit.
Near this is the Marshall House." built
upon the site of the one in which Col. Ellis
worth was shot in 1861. Mac.