Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-03-13
Unwritten History.
TBy a Septuagenarian.l

In those old days there was one bell
of the Eastern Shore which stoutly re-
sisted every christian influence. The
Methodist revival that followed the re-
mark;lblo conversion Of Fox hunting
i Tom Burton, and which spread broad
cast through most sections of the pen,
Ursula, spent its religious fervor in vain
against the boundaries of this modern
Sodom.
Between Garrison's chapel and John
sons the Methodist had no society;
between Ilollies and Red Bank the
Baptists had no foot-hold, and the Epls-
cop.lians, attempting 10 divide the in
tervenlng space between Hnngar's and
st. Georges parishes, by planting a
church at Belle Haven, practically
failed in the effort.
And, as might have been expected, a
rank growth of scepticism and infideli-
ty took root and 1ourished in many
parts of this territory. The church
shared SO little respect within its bor-
ders that ministers of the gospel cross
ing over 1t were not infrequently jeered
and insulted. The feeling was especial-
ly strong against Methodist itinerants.
In 1918 the conference sent to the Cir
cuit minister by the name of Herrln.
The name passed into apopular joke In
that region. In Belle Haven the fe'-
lows contcnde.l that Herrin was as
and even drove bets on it. s'in0'
word, it was section entirely uncu=
waited by Gospel labor, apparently Unit
liable, and almost destitute Of religious
influences.
But a worthy citizen of those days re-
siding in that nci ghborhood and doubt
less awake to The needs of the occasion,
actually built at his own expenseahouse
for public Worship. 1t was designed us
Il Union church, to be open to all de-
nominations; but for awhile it was sup
Piled only by the rectors OF the Episco-
pal church passing through that section.
The itinerants rarely used it, but the
Baptists having added some repairs to
it subsequently, it somehow passed un-
der their control by the right of quiet
possession. During the year lSOS, the
Rev. Thomas A. Elliott, an itinennt,
who WAS visiting his home in Accomac,
made an appointment to preach i'll this
Union church. On his way to the place
however, he was informed that the
doors would be closed against him,
which he actually found to be the case;
but a stand being improvised i'll the
shade of some neighboring trees he
filled lis appointment out of doors.
The next effort made to fill up the
chasm between Garrison's and John
sons was made by the Rev. Mathew
FLOYD. Having become the owner of a
parcel of land below the village of Had
lock. he furnished site and succeeded
in building at that point what WAS
known as Floyd's Chapel. Here occa-
sional services were held and society
organized. but upon the subsequent re-
moval of Mr.. Floyd, the building was
suffered to go by default, the society
moving down to Franktown and estaO-
fishing itself there.
And, as if to make this benighted
region proof against christianity, there
emigrated to it somewhere about 1925,
a Capt. Biglow, an avowed disciple of
Tom Payne, who boldly put forth the
doctrine that i'll tho matter of moral re-
.ponsibility there was no prominence
between man and a beast. Prospect
ing through the e. Shore for Il business
place, he finally located at Downing's
wharf. Here he established aship-yard.
castor-bean factory and store, and be-
gan a lourishlng business, contributing
very materially to the thrift and enter
prise of that section. Tho schooner
Cleopatra, well known in her day, was
built in Blglow's yard, and the wriGer
recalls another of larger tonnage and
heavier draft which having been with
difficulty safely gotten to sea over the
bar, never ventured to return. But
the push and energy of the man, to-
gether with the opportunities opened
I'm by his business. infused new life in
to the neighborhood and furnished en-
ployment for many of its citizens. His
influence and popularity naturally ex-
banded. and Biglow's wharf in time be-
came notorious as one of the most i'm
portant and thriving sections Of the
county. There must be yet many peo-
pie alive OIL the E. Shore who attended
the famous boat launchings from his
ship-yard, and which drew such i'm
mense crowds OF special ors from all
parts of the peninsula.
But the Captain had in his creed at
least the merit of consistency. He
practiced what he preached. Ills work.
men were speedily taught to disregard
the sanctity of u day If rest. In tie
ship-yarl the quiet of the Sabbath WAS
rudely broken with the noise of hammer
and saw. The smoke from his furnace
fires curled up dcialtly above his fac
tory roof. And thus-to the wondering
eyes of his little world was presented
the novel sight Of I; restless, hurrying
business that knew no respite through
the whole seven days of the week.
Meantime The Captain distributed the
writings of Tom Payne to his neighhsss
and flooded the neighborhood wit:s