Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-13
HAM CHAPEL.
The Question of Its Location.
PowHArAN, October 10, 1889.

pOwHATAN, October III, 1851.
To he Editor Of the Dispatch:
Some time since. being interested IN as
certaiuiug the location Of Ham chapel as
recommended by a report Of George Gar;
rinetOn. BENJAMIN Harrison. and Samuei
Scott presented 20 meeting OF the Nestry
held AT Pctcryille church on the "a OF Au-
gust. l7lj. for the parish OF ~. James
Southam ! wrote to Captain Edmund H.
Cooke. thinking that the location might
be somewhere in Cumberland near hlinI
as Cumberland az that time was part OF
Goochland. His lucid and satisfactory re
DIV will doubtless interest some OF YOur
readers Of autiQuaran tastes. The oIel-
nal deed from John Blewines to the land
which it does not fully describe. ! touIu
recorded in Goochland clerks Office IL
bears date on the 10th OF june i'4''
At the same meeting Of the vestry an
order was made for the location OF the
Upper chapel" on Tear Wallet Hiu, on
| the land Of Daniel Coleman, with the
+ length breadth. dimensions, &c. Tear
/ Wallet still stands and the site Of Ham
/ chapel. as recognized by Captain Cooke. ls
/ now appropriately occupied by colored
/ free school. For these two chapelS the
vestrv ordered $4,000 pounds Of tobacco TO
be paid. Whether the name of the church
ie Tear or Tar Wallet was the subject OF q
discussion between myself and the Hon.
Hugh Blair Grigsby The name IN the
order establishing the church IS Tear Wal
Jet, which then cOntcnded for. The order
j. slpned by William Randolph and George
Darlington (church wardens) and AleXan-
der Trent. Thomas Turpin, James Terry,
Nicholas Davies, Samuel scott, Creed Has
kins. James Barnes, and Benjamin Harm
son. / enclose the interesting letter OF
CAPTAIN Cooke for publication with this.
Yours Xc WILLIAM Pope DABNEY.
OAKLAND, VA, October 8. 1889.
NV Dear Sir,--I have been for some days
in receipt OF your esteemed favor OF 18th
September.
mind that Turkey Cock church and Ham
chanel were one and the same, though l
can give no proof of the fact. Doubtless
in sweeping away all marks and yestlges
OF the English after the Revolution tins
name was changed At any rate my earliest
recollection Of attending church was At the
Tpiscopal services held at Turkey Cock.
Nv recOuectiOns of the church are very
dim. bat am sure 1t was provided with a
chanccl The site OF 1t Is we'll known 10
me and doubtless is TO you, though II You
have any uncertainty on that score l could
satisfy YOU.
n would be difficult now to locate Car
tcr's line, which Is the starting point IN the
survey Of the five acres on which II stood.
Bishop Meade quotes from the vestry-
book Of Southam Parish. After speaking
of Tear Wallet he goes on to say The
next (church) was ordered 70 be on James
river. on Thomas Carter's land, and adds:
The next to be at or near the reading
place called Worley's. At the same time
Peteryille church is spoken Of rs having a
reader, and another chapel called Ham -
ordered TO bc examined" 50 II Is evident
he docs not consider the church built on
/ Carriers land the same as Ham chapel, but,
as Won know, Bishop Meade is not consld-
cred the best authority.
Sometime on your way to or from court
If Won will come here we Will drive 10y the
site Of the old church, as II IS not much
out Of our way.
Hoping that we may have that pleasure
at an early day, l remain, yours most truly.
EDNUND Il. CoCKE.
Hon. Uah0m Pope DaJHcy