Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-18

pertinent of this hardy aud indus
trious race of people, together
with their perfect submission to
the restraints Of the civil authority,
has always been proverbial. They
form at this day a most valuable
part of our community.
Among our early settlers, a mum
Der of Irish PresbyteriaDs removed
from Pennsylvania, and settled
along Back creek, the North noun
tain and OpequOn. a few Scotch
and English families were among
them.
The ancestors OF the Glasses,
Aliens, Vances, KerfOtts, &c, were
among the earliest settlers on the
upper waters of the Opequon. The
ancestors OF the Whites, Russells,
&C., settled near the North noun
tain. There were a mixture of
Irish and Germans on Cedar Creek
and its vicinity the Frys, Newells,
Blackburns, (b) Wilson's, &C., were
among the number. The Irish, like
the Germans, brought with them
the religion, customs and habits,
of their ancestors. The Irish we'd
ding was always an occasion Of
great hilarity, jollity and mirth.-
Among other scenes attending it,,
running for the bottle was much
practiced. 1t was usual for the
wedding parties to ride to the resi-.
dence Of the clergyman to have
the ceremony performed. In their
absence, the father or the next
friend prepared, at the brides res
idence, a bottle of the best spirits
that could be obtained, around the
eek of which white ribbon was
tied. Returning from the clergy
IN man's, when within one or two
miles OF the home Of the bride,
some three or four young men pre-
pared to run for the bottle. TAX
ing an even start, their horses were
put at full speed, dashing over
mud, rocks, stumps, and disre-
garding all impediments. The
race, in fact, was run with as much
eagerness and desire to win, as is
ever manifested on the turf by our
sporting characters. The father or
next friend of the bride, expecting
the racers, stood with the bottle in
his band, ready to deliver to the
successful competitor. On receiv-
ing it, he forthwith returned to
meet the bride aud groom. When
met, the bottle was first presented
to the bride, who must taste it at
least, next to the groom, and then
handed round to the company,
every one Of whom was required to
swig it.
The Quakers differed from all
other sects in their marriage cere.
mOny. The parties having agreed
upon the match, notice was given
to the elders or overseers of the
meeting, and strict enquiry fol.
lowed whether there had been any
previous engagements by either of
the parties to other Individuals
If nothing of the kind appeared,
the intended marriage was made
known publicly; and if approved
by all parties, the couple passed
meeting. This ceremony was re-
peated three several times; when,
if no lawful impediment appeared,
a day was appointed for the mar
riage, which took place at the
meeting-h in presence of the
congregation. A writing, drawn
up between the parties, purporting
to be the marriage agreement, wit
messed by as many of the bystand-
ers as thought proper to subscribe
their names, concluded the ceremO-
ny. They had no priest or clergy
man to perform the rite of matri'
mony, and the whol proceeding
was conducted with the utmost
solemnity and decorum. This mode
of marriage is still kept up, with
but little variation.
Previous TO the war Of the revO
luton, It was the practice to pub
lish the tans of matrimony, be-
tween the parties intending to mar
ry, three successive Sabbath days
in the church or Westinghouse
after which, if no lawful impedi-
ment appeared, it was lawful for a
licensed minister of the parish or
county to join the parties in wed.
lock. 1t is probable that this prac-
tice, which was anciently used in
the English churches, gave rise TO
the custom, in the Quaker society,
of passing meeting. The peace
able and general moral department
of the Quakers is too generally
known to require particular notice
in this work.
The Baptists were not among our
earliest immigrants. About four
teen or fifteen families Of that per-
suasion migrated from the state of
New Jersey, and settled probably
in 1742 or 1743 in the vicinity Of
what is now called GerardstOwn,
in the county Of Berkeley. (c)
Mr.. Semple, in his history of the
Virginia Baptists, states, that in
the year 1854, Mr.. Stearns, apreach-
er of this sect, with several others,
removed from New England. "They
koItod orat ~ Onaouon In Rarka