Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-02-27
Uawri,ten n'l~torr.
TDy Il Septllagerarian.l

jaccnt ncighhorhood. during these early
days, was principally cultivated by the
Iahors and influence of the twn local
preachers before named. 1.-The Rev. Will
liam Seymour and the Rev. William Lee
The meeting places Of the society were
mostly i'll private houses. Public wor-
slip WAS held in Il school house which
stood where the town hall now stands.
The itinelant or circuit preachers, ut
I'LL subordinate appointments. preached
on week days. Tie Sabbath day was
the regular appointment i'll this village
of either Mr. Lee or Mr.. Seymour, in
regular turn.
But in course of time the society had
so far increased as to render the little
school house inadequate for its further
accommodation A larger buil,lingwas
necessary. And, fortunately. these local
brethren lad some wise and efficient
members. both willing and able to CO.
operate with them in every good work.
Among these WAS Mr.. James Poulson.
Il man of considerable wealth and strong
christian character. a Mr.. Hopkins
was another.
On the site The present NJ. E.
Church, there stood al that dav Il horse
mill, about forty feet square; and i'll
planning ways and means, it WIS finally
agreed Ivy the brethren to utilize this
building for the purposes Of public wor-
ship. 1t WAS an apparently quaint idea
and yet, rs Il means adapted to an end,
was i'll every respect IL perfect success.
The tuidine and site having hpen Sc
cured from Mr.. Seymour, who'owncd
the land between Maine and BACK
streets down to the creek, the brethren
went to work with Il hearty will. and
soon completed what was one Of the most
commodious and convenient meeting
houses of that day. Besides the con-
siderable area of the first floor, galleries
were extended across the end and around
the sides of the building. and q neat coat
OF paint. inside and out, left this rather
unique and remarkable structure com
pleie. And here, sheltered under their
own vine and lig tree, and nurtured AMI
cared for by their own native pastors.
Onancock Methcdism fonrisled and
grew alace, until. from that day to this
it has been the leading denomination of
that neighIsrhood
Buta word. ill passing. with reference
TO some of these old christian families.
that their memory lie not lost to those
ncw enjoying the fruits of their pions
bors. OF that excellent man of God,
the Rev. VIM. Seymour. too much Call
not be said in his praise. His name and
memory should ut least pass down to-
the poslerily Of Onancock Methodism
us one of its most precious relies. The
date of his death is not known.tO the
writer. Two SONS and three daughters
survived him, and being Il lnall of con-
siderable wealth. these children were
well started in life with sufficient means
and good education. Fl. G. Seymour,
NJ. D.. the oldest son, was well known
in his day as a pr;tcticing physician at
Drummondtown. William, who WAS
educated for the practice of law, occu-
pied the family homestead for awhile,
finally moving to Carlisle, Pa. in order
TO enjoy the advantages of Dickinson
College, in that day one of the most
tlourishng Institutions in the country.
An only SOIL, Hugh Gordon, survived
the father for only a few years. He
was young man Of q eat piety and EN-
lnent promise. and died just us he had
completed all honorable collegiate course
leaving no one Of The family behind him
to perpetuate the Maine.
Tie Rev. VIM. Lee lived to ripe and
hoary old age. al Influential christian
and IL useful citizen. lie lett no Child
rem.
Mr.. James Poulson, so active and
useful in his day, 50 indispensable in tile
old horse meeting house. was a
man of such earnest purpose and practl-
cal ability that his Judgment WAS coll
suited and deferred to on all occasions.
1t WAS often said Ut him with Il sigh,
What Shall ne do when Father Poul-
son is taken from us? Who can fill his
place." Venerable old man! Tie wri-
ter will carryin his heart, as lang as he
lives. ;aviyid picture of his genial, kind
IL face, flame'l in by the long hoary locks
floating down OH his shoulders; and Of
ten recalls the pleasant seasons OF hos
pitalily enjoyed with his family i'll their
hclne OH tile banks of Onalcock creek.
Three SONS survived him-Edmund.
james and Robert. The last was educa-
ted 4 lawyer. He .eired the old family
homestead, which i'll later years ils been
renovated and improved and is now the
home Of his excellent widow and inter
esting children.
The first enterprise in behalf Of Il
! Methodist parsonage in Accomac coun-
ty originated with the Onancock society.
William Sel mour, Jr., before moving to
Carlisle. offered to sell The parcel of land
before alluded to as extending from the
church lot to the creek, for parsonage
purposes. This proposition was brought
before the Quarterly Conference by the
poulsons, Bagwells and others, and
stirred up no little discussion. In those
days an ordinary session Of the Quar-
terly Conference was rather different