The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-09
THE rIMEs-RlCHMoND.uv IVA SUNDAY JUNE 1895

OF Wight were ignorant OF the art OF
brick making. and seems rather sarcas,,
tic In questioning whether 1 deeHel
jamestown had a monopoly OF tre Lay
and the brick-makers. NOW, Mr. non Las
knows, and | know It. too, tnat II nag
been repeatedly sad OF the Smitnheii
church, as IL has been said OF all inc 90
brick structures IN Virginia, that IL was
built of imported brick. 81, '9ls , irsa
church there is printed evidence ~
"Howe's Virginia and Its Antiquities. n
Communication 20 Mr. Howe from re-
ed strong evidence" that the church was
built between the years lo5O ana Ioso-
Tradition, too. states tnat the pricn'
lime and timber were imported from Ens.
land" Here the tradition OF the origin
had rot as yet crystalizei on the yea.
1852. but the foreign origin OF the prick
Is asserted with devout faith. far from
declaring that jamestown nad ilonop
there was no evidence that any brick
buildings had been built in Virginia, sx-
cept by Virginia brick makers but d w
ferent matter. and no tradition or ms
remote period can be satisfactory unless
'iIported by contemporary evidence.
H. stating that Isle OF Wight was rep
resented in the House of Burgesses In
1919. MIR. Thomas should have SAID that
Captain Lawne's plantation was 50 repre-
sented He ought 10 know that tNe
wears later. IN lp-f, the tIlllTt DDfAldAttn
OF Isle of Wight. embracing the settle
ments of Bases Choice aud Warwick
Squeak. was but SO, and this, according
to the census. In 1880 the population Of
Virginia had doubled itself. and the whole
number then was 800 persons; and sup
posing Isle Of Wight had Increased pro-
pOrtiOnateiy, her total population was but
i06. Great mortality prevailed tnere
among the early residents as elsewhere.
Brick was undoubtedly made from an
early day I'm Virginia. but the struggle
with the first Inhabitants was one Tor SUD
sistenCe and they very sensibly c0ntented
themselves with slight cottages" till they
could do better. \ framed house with
brick chimneys was the rule till late IN
the nth century. Labor and materials were
excessively dear, and brick churches We're
n great luxury. Though Williamsburg
was settled In 1882 there was no brick
church here till 1874.
In concluding this paper | wish to deny
all charges. whether direct. by question,
or by innuendO. Of attacking anything or
anybody. The origin Of the Smithheld
church. Ike the origin Of jamestown. is
q legitimate subject Of enquiry. l stated
I'm my address that the brick church at
jamestown was burnt In 1916. but IL was
usual 10 rebuild on the walls of the burn
ed brick building; and for this reason |
do think that the tower al jamestown Is
perhaps an original portion of the old
brick church of 1898. But 70 talk about
prejudice as affecting me is absolutely
ridiculous | love Virginia and all her
counties. and feel that too little has been
done 10 preserve the records OF her glory
/ feel that we can dare the fullest eX-
posture Of light. I wish We had more
men filled with the taste Tor literature
and history as Mr. Thomas. | hope that
Mr.. Thomas will not let this little con-
troyersy discourage him. but go 10 work
and give us a thorough history Of the
SOuthside. drawn from the ancient rec
Ords. The books IN the Clerks Office al
Isle Of Wight Courthouse begin as early
as 1854. and give many instances OF fact
Of utmost Importance 10 Virginia. Berke-
ley has been often quoted as saying there
were no free schools In Virginia. but
found from the records IN Isle of Wight
county that Captain John Moon esiab-
lshed a free-school AS early as 1875; that
Henry King established another I'm 1853
and there were as many as four In 1924
| This Is certainly gratifying output and
| there Is no tradition about H. The his
tory Of the Puritan settlement I'm Isle OF
| Wight NansemCnd. and Lower Norfolk Is
| also full OF interest. while there is a
wealth Of family incident and social and
| political facts that needs only to be pre-
| scented 10 be appreciated. What n splen-
| did chance Mr. Thomas has These i'm
| vestigatiOns might enable him 10 deter
/ mine historically the foundation of the
| Smithheld church. and settle the origin
| OF Gen. Joseph Bridger, THE late groa
| Minister Of state that royal virtues had
and royal fate Besides Mr.. ThOma
would Doe doing honor 10 "A noble people
who have contributed their fun measure
/ 10 the history Of Virginia and mankind
LYON G.. TYLER.