Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-18

law VI L dUGOus liz Wdo eo OAAN s-
mel of the militia of Augusta county.
When Justices of the Peace for the coun-
ty were appointed, in 1745, Pattons name
was first on the list. He was also, at the
same time. commissioned as the first High
Sheriff of the county. The day after he
qualified, the Sheriff "moved the Court to
be informed how he was to secure his prls-
oners, there being no prison." Beverley
had provided a rude Courthouse, out no
Jail. The Court, however, ordered the
Sheriff to summon a guard, and ''to pro-
vide shackles, bolts handouts, &c. A
committee was also appointed to "bulid
prison and erect stocks.'
The Church of England being estab-
lished by law throughout the Colony 1t
was incumbent upon the people of the new
county to elect vestrymen for the parish
The first election was held in 1746, and
here again we find Patton's name at tbs
head Of the list. 1t is probable that all
the vestrymen, except John Madison, were
sturdy Scotch Irish Presbyter1ans, and it is
not a little curious to find men of that race
and faith serving in such a capacity. They
doubtless accepted the office to comply with
the law of the land; but they took care to
maintain their independence, and to pro-
tect the people from religious oppression.
At the first meeting Of the Yestry, April 6,
1747, the Rev. John Hindman appeared with
letters from 5he Governor and others, recon-
mending him for employment as 'Rector of
the Parish.' The Vestry, however, were in
no hurry, and proceeded to drive bargain
with Mr.. Hindman. They agreed to ac-
cept him, provided he would not insist upon
the purchase of Glebs lands, &C., for two
years; that he "agree to preach in this
Courthouse, and in peoples houses of the
same persuasion''-therew was to be no in
trusion upon the Dissenters; and, more
over, he was not to complain to the Gov
ernor in regard to the hardness of his ves-
trymen. Upon acceding to these terms, Mr..
Hindman was installed as Rector, with the
annual salary of $50, Or $l6666s. He stood
it for only three years. Then Mr. Robert
plying for the vacant place; but he was
unanimously rejected, the Vestry mot be-
ing acquainted with him." and resolving
to receiyc no minister ''without a trial first
had"
J As soon as the County was fully organ
J lied, it became entitled to representation
in the Virginia House Of Burgesses. Col.
| John Wilson was elected Burgess by the
people of the county, in 1746, and served
, continuously till big death in 1775, as We
learn from the inscription on his tomb
J stone in the old Globe buryng- ground.
Patton was probably Wilson's colleague
for several years. The records of the
County Court show that he Vas a member
of the Honssoo-ss sometime between 1746 and
: 1855.
AS stated, Patton was one of the found
r ers of Thinking Spring church. In 1747,
7 William and James Thompson conveyed to
, James Patton, John Christian, John Fin
? ley, James Alexander and William Wright,
f ''chosen commissioners and trustees" for
/ the use of ''the Presbyterian congregation
of Tinkling Spring." 10 acres of land.
The Rev. John Craig, pastor of Augusta
| church and Thinking Spring for thirty four
years, from 1740 to 1774, left behind him
at his death an autobiography, most OF
, which appears in Foote's Sketches of
, Virginia, Second Series" OF his congre-
CATION, Mr.. Craig (without giving dates)
, says: "The people agreed to have two
meeting houses, expecting they would be-
como two congregations, which is now
come to pass. That part now called Tink-
ling Spring was most in numbers, and
richer than the other, and forward, and
had the public management of the affairs
of the whole settlement; their leaders
close handed about providing necessary
things for pious and religious uses, and
could not agree for several years upon a
plan or manner, when or how to build
their meeting house, which gave me very
: great trouble to hold them together, their
/ disputes ran so high. A difficulty happen
ed between Colonel John Lewis and Colo
J mel Patton, both living in that congrega-
ton, which was hu1tful to the settlement
but especially to me L could neither bring
obtain both their friendship at once ever
after. This continued for thirteen or four
teen years, till Colonel Patton was mur-
dered by the Indians. At that time he was
fri JI1,x with A ;cI a.
Lewis was friendly with me till he died."
GAS to the other part of the congrega-
tion," says Mr.. Craig, ''now called Angus
ia, the people were fewer in numbers, and
much lover as to worldly circumstances,
but a goodnatured, prudent, governable
people," &C. &c,,-in short, everything
that rejoices pastors heart, although Mr..
Craig intimates that they let him pay more
than his fair share of the expense of build
ing the stone church. 1t cost him one
third of his estate.
The feud between Col. Lewis and Col.
Patton must have begun in 1741 or 1742.
What it was all about, we do not know,
but it probably related chiefly to the loca-
tion OF Thinking Spring church. Mr.. Craig,
himself, was not lamb-like neutral in the
strife. He, and doubtless Col. Lewis,
also, wanted the church built north of the
site finally selected; while Col. Patton and
most of the people insisted upon Tmkling
Spring as the place. Mr.. Craig at last ap-
pealed to James Pilson, an aged man, to
settle the controversy, and when the latter
cast his vote for Thinking Spring, the irate
pastor is said to have exclaimed: care
you against me, too, Jimmy? Well, I am
resolved that none of that water shall ever
tinkle down my throat" And he kept his
word.
In 1751, Governor Dinwiddie appointed
James Patton, Joshua Fry, and Lunsford
Lomax commissioners, to meet the Indians
at Logtown, on the Ohio river, and con-
clude treaty with them, The Governor