Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-07
OLD BRICK CHURCH.
THE ANCIENT EDIFIcE NEAR SMITH
FIELD, ISLE OF WIGHT.
Hui,t In 1892 Under the superintendent
Of Joseph Bridgcr-Iis Curious His
tory-Enort 10 Rebuild.
crhe Southern churchnan)

The Old Brick Church, lour anu
half miles from smithneld on the road
from Smithfeld to Chuckatuck ana SUI
folk. was built in 1852. under the superin-
tendence of a certain Joseph Bridger,
whose son. General Joseph Bridger. died
in lCs9 and was buried on his the White
Marsh farm, two and hall miles dis-
tant. This General Joseph Bridger was
a historic character and from his marble
slab. from his family history, ana from
the various histories Of Virginia I'VE learn
that he was one OF the Councll OF state
TO King Charles H.. and that ne uled on
the 18th OF April. 1859. at the age or %.
The history of the church ana the GATE
OF it's erection was handed down from
father To son in this family Win
certainty and distinctness that pre-
Guided the possibility Of doubt.
This General Joseph BrIdger left three
sons and four daughters. They married
and had n numerous progeny, and the ira
difions of the church were preserved m
violate In all branches OF the family.
( representatives OF the family stlli reside
md have always resided. In the immediate
vicinity OF ;hc church. and accept without
question the authoritative declarations OF
their ancestors.
NESTRY-BOOKS BURIED.
The two old vestry-books OF this church
were buried In 1881 on the farm now be-
longing to John +. Scott by the wife OF
Francis Young. the deputy OF Nathanei
Hurwcl. the clerk. who had LETT TINS
county and section. Mr.. Young was at
the time absent from home In the reSl-
mont of General John Scarsbrook Wits.
and his wife buried all Of the records Of
being
seized and destroyed by Tarlcton, when
he made his raid In Smithheld for this
and other purposes.
In consequence 81 this burial the records
OF the county became damp and injured.
and all OF them prior 10 lo66 have mould
cred into dust.
They did not crumbe into dust. how
ever. before Nathaniel Young, Clerk the
son of Francis. read in the first vestry-
book the statement that the old brick
church was built in 1872
Nathaniel Young communicated this
fact to Dr. John r. Purdie, now in his
S6th or S1th year Of age. who has ire
quently verbally and in writing, repeated
the statement. The same statements were
made TO Nathaniel Il. Young, the present
Clerk.
STILL EXTANT.
The second vestry book. still eXtant'
and in excellent preservation. beginning
in 1921, speaks OF the church in question
as The Old Brick Church. II was, by
this still existing record. The Old Brlck
Church at that very early date. In That
Old vestry book. under date of october II,
1884, there is the entry of an order that
Peter Woodward DO reshngle The Old
Brick Church with good cypress shin
giles Of good substance and well nailed for
100 pounds Of tobacco" sc.
II is nothing uncommon for good
heart cypress shngle TO last for 100 years.
Joseph Noteworthy. who died at a green
OIL age IN March, 1852 ana whose family
internairlcd with that OF the Brtdgers.
frequently said that he was told by hli
father that the old church was not re-
shinglcd between 1852 and 1871. He did
not know OF the above entry, and 1t was
not fou1i for many years after ms
death. fIc also stated, as part OF his
family history, that a Miss Nors worthy
was buried in the aisle Of the church in
loo.
When the violent storm Of 1877 blew
down the roof and Frustrated part Or
the eastern wal, two bricks were found
i'm the debris. enc whole and the other
broken in two on the whole brick there
were some strange characters which,
when the mortar was removed. revealed
the figures 1852. on one piece OF the
broken brick was the figure ! ana on the
other piece was the figure ., both illed
with mortar. The brick having been
broken by the violence Of the fall the in
terVenins figures were never found, but as
the broken pieces were in every respect
in size shape. color. and subsanc'-like
the whole brick. il was easy 70 see that
the figures and stood between the
and Q The broken pieces when brought
together fitted into each other exactly.
And thus the church by its disaster in
1871 proved its erection I'm 1892.
ITS MINISTER'S.
The ministers officiating al the church,
so far as at present known. were:
Rev. Mr. Falker in 1912 Oienning's
Stat, p. 210.
Rev William Housden now spelled
Hodgden). in 1880 SENATE Document 1874.
D. 1913. and Virginia Magazine Of History
and Biography. p. 2i2-0.
Rev. Thomas Bailey. in 1924.
Rev. Mr. Barlow. l725 to 1926.
Rev John Gammill. 1929 to l7i3.
Rev John Reid. ZIG to l7j1
Rev Mr.. Miner, 1866 to 1770.
Rev. J. II. Burgess. l113-4-'5-'G also
a member Of the Committee Of Safety.
Rev. Samuel Butler 1850
Rev. W. G. II. Jones. 1886 to 1890
Rev Mr. Hedges, 1881 to 1888
An effort is being made 10 rebuild the
church as 1t was. 1t is estimated that
81 200 will complete it. Any contribution
sent to the Rev. F. G.. Scott or James T.
Andrews treasurer. Smithfield, Va, VIII
be very gratefully received.