Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-06
YEOC0MIC0 CHURCH.
SOMETHING ABOUT IT'S EARLY
WARDESs AND MINISTER'S.
It's Ruin, Repair, and Recent Rec
tors-Ifs History in Wars-Early
Graves of the McCarty Family,

Among the interesting architectural
relics Of Colonial times in Westmoreland
county IS Yeocomico church, situated near
fuckers Hi, on the road leading from
the Hague TO Sandy Point. The edifce
ls In the form Of the letter T. with three
doorways, the main one of which Is pro-
tected by an open vestibule. a massive
door which swings on great iron hinges
admits from the yestibule into the
church. Entrance at this point is also IA
cIlitated by smaller and lighter door
set into the larger one, and similarly hung
with iron hinges. The building is plain
and simple, showing little OF elegance or
ornamentatlon. and dates from the year
l706 1t Is located in a spacious yard
around which there formerly stood high
and massive wall OF bricks, similar 10
those OF which the house IS constructed.
\ number Of trees with branching arms
surround the enclosure and shelter the
building from the storms.
Beside the walk leading 20 the vestibule
from the gateway In the front wall stands
q sunCial which has made note of the
days Of sunshine since 1857. II bears the
name Of Philip Smith. its probable donor,
and one OF the early sherihs OF NOrthum-
berland. An item In the record Of the
county. under date OK August O.. 1856
names Nicholas Jurnew. John Powell,
ana Richard Holden az the first church
wardens OF YeOcomicO. Under the hill
near the churchyard Is a spring OF good
water Here for many. many years was
kept an iron ladle chained 20 the body
Of a tree. The ladle bore the Initials "P
c." which offer the only clue we possess
20 the name Of It's unknown donor. The
ancient tree having fallen into decay, the
ladle. / am told. is now sacredly pre-
served IN the church, and still often aids
In refreshing the lips OF the thirsty wor-
shippers.
Earliest among the clergymen who have
stately OBLIGATED at Ye0comico was pro-
baby, ParsOD Bricken, q few traces Of
whose ministry shortly after the cree
ton OF the church, stiil survive. The
Rev. Charles Rose, brother 70 Rev.
Robert Rose, whose Ms. Journal is
happily preserved. was settled In care OF
the parish 10 which Yeocomico belonged
prior TO the middle OF the last century.
He was succeeded. 1t seems. by the Rev.
Augustine Smith, whose term OF service
was brief.
The longest and most important pasto-
rate OF leOCONllcO CuuTtu uHleT the ta-
tablishmen, was that held by the Rev.
Thomas Smith, beginning about the
wear l754 and continuing until his death,
May %, 1889. He was sent at the age OF
y years from King and Queen county TO
London. and placed in care OF a merchant.
He was literally educated at Trinity Col
lege. where he graduated. He was or
dained by Bishop Porteus. and at the age
OF q he returned TO Virginia, and as
suned the care Of Cople parish. where he
sDent the remainder OF his life. lie mar
ried a lady by the name OF Smith. OF
"shooter's Hill," Middiesex county, and
resided ct the Glebe, which belonged
Jointly 10 Nomini and Yeocomlco churches.
He lies buried at the bottom OF the gar
den there with five OF his children. and
ia the only rector OF. Yeocomico who du-
ring its history OF nearly two and half
centuries has found a grave within It's
parish bounds.
DISTRESSING INCIDENT.
The occupancy Of the Glebe by this
GOOD man was marked by a distressing
,ncident-the accidental death OF his
dauebte, Ann. who. one summer day,
while picking some berries preparatory 70
q meal. was Instantly killed by the fall
ing OF brick from the dining-room
chimney. which had been struck by light
ming.