Thomas County cat., 1886-12-02
PoHlcK CHURCH.


The vensrased Virginia Structure In which
Washington worshlped.
After q delightful drive through .
finely wooded and cultivated country l
arrived at Pohick Church, regarded with
SD much reverence by Americans. as it
was here for many years that General
Washington worshiped. Tho sexton
unlocked the large gate of the inclosure.
The site of the church was selected by
Washington on account of its central po-
sition, and its proximity to Mount Ver-
non. The contractor was Mr.. Daniel
French. 1t was begun in 1863 and
finished in 1872. The bricks were made
in the county and the stone was brought
from the Isle of Wight. The building
is 66l feet in length by 45 in width, and
the walls are % feet in height. The en-
tire cost was EST. The money for the
payment was raised by taxation. The
walls appear to have been broken. as
the repairs have been made with newer
bricks. The church has an ancient ap-
pearance, and is very much larger than
10 uSttstilN oCCu III tLC oAC
two large door on the western side and
one Oh the south side and twehty-six
windows. The steps are eight in num-
ber, built of the same stone as the trim
mings and easements of the doors. The
church has been thoroughly renovated.
There are two aisles and four rows of
substantial pews and beautiful chancel
inclosed with sem;circular railing.
During the civil war the regiments sta
toned at Alexandria 4uartered their
pickets in this church, and the Pennsyl-
vania and Iowa Union soldiers stab ell
their horses in it. The stone tagging
of the aisles was torn up and thrown
out, the pulpit and pews broken up and
pieces sent as mementoes or relies to
different States to relatives and friends.
Washington's pew met W tn the same
treatment. The spot on which it stood.
on the north side. is pointed out to
visitors. The roof of the church was
pierced with bullets: al. the plastering
1eli down; holes were chiSeled out in the
corners of the church, whic1 had stone
facingS, TO find the money supposed to
be in the cornerstone, and s02le MEM
bers of an Iowa regiment carved their
names in the west corner on the stone
facingS near the door.
The list of the names of the original
vestrymen of Pohick Church was kindly
furnished me bv Virginia gentleman
of Accotnk, who is quite an antiquar-
ian, and had copied them from the
vestrv book of 1772, which has been
found during the last three months in
the State of New York, where it had
been treasured and hid away by Vir-
ginia family. The first vestryman's
name on the list was that of George
Washington and then followed the
names of George Mason. of t.UnstOE,
who wrote the bill of rights of the State
ofVirginia; George W.Fairfax. baronet.
collector of the Kings customs for the
Cockborn. Colonel Daniel McCarty.
General William Payne, Thomas Wither
Golfer, and Mr.. Elizer.
Near the church is small grove.
There are also many graves. l read the
following inscription on tombstone
over hundred years old:
Ito the memory of Mrs Susanna
Mills. wife of John Mills (merc!,anD
who departed this life June y, 1774,
aged 80 years.
what err she was fOrbear to saw
Twill best be known on the great day,
When you and all and every one
Must give All account OF what was done.
TO say nu more. she lived approved,
Died iamented and below d..
AS | turned away to return hOmeward
my mind was filled with thoughts of the
different scenes which had been enacted
on and around this historic spot during
peace and war, under the same. soft
blue sky, with its feathery clouds and
the same beautiful surroundings of
emerald green meadows. yellow tinted
grain-fields, and distant hills flooded
with waves of light catching CLEANS OF
the suns glory.-Cor. Washington Star.