Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
Historic peocomico.
Fascinating Story Of the Life of Vrgna Ancient House
Worship IN Wesmoreland County, Which Famous
Men and Women Attended.

man hoped that IT would remain for a long
time 20 come to answer the holy purposes
fof which It was originally designed
IL is said that the baptismal font was not
exempt from proclamation. as IL was once
taken several miles from the church edifiee
and used as vessel IN which to prepare
the excitements to ungocly mirth."
Bishop Meade in writing at the time
says In relation to the restoration OF the
ront and table; This. however. was not
iong permitted, for, In the absence OF every
member of our communion none being left
10 do IL, venerable old man OF the Pres
Dyterian connection, mortified at the dis
nonor zone 70 religion. took pains TO restore
the articles to the church" This good man
was MI Murphy Scotchman. who lived
at Ayrfleld. an estate Immediately adj
joining the church property.
other repairs have been made from time
to time. The first pews have been taken out
and more modern ones put in their places
The old sounding board and old fashioned
pulpit are both now of the past, ana a
reading desk and pulpit of more modern
aesisn substituted In fact, nothing re-
mains of the old furniture except the COM
inonlon table and baptismal font
The old brick wall surrounding tho
church and burying ground which OF late
years has been pushed from it's original
foundation In many places by trees that
mad been allowed TO grow against IL was
party restored some time since. Perhaps
one OF the most interesting relics OF the
vicinity was the old sundial which, some
years ago, was removed from its post be-
lore , the church and placed in the rectory.
rms diai, with a face but little marked by
exposure to the elements, is delight TO
visitors, and to such students of history OF
the Episcopal Church as Rev Dr. RAN
Epiphany, and Rev. Dr. Alfred Harding.
rector OF st. Pauls Episcopal Church, both
OF washington, 1t would doubtless prove
particularly interesting.
Down the long winding path that leads
through the front gate one seems to wan
der for considerable distance through beau
tilui forest Yistas until the end Is reached
and one Is content to SIT down beside a
spring of lnhpid water, where thirsty wor-
shipers OF the long ago. well as those Of
.ooay, nave ever been wont to refresh
themselves by the aid of a wrought-irou
ladie, said to have been placed there many
years ago by Mr.. Presiy Cox whose de-
scendants live In the neighborhood. II one
cares to examine the ladle closely the in
itiais p. c." can plainly be seen.
Inc early records of the church have been
lost, but Bishop Meade, in papers left, says
Inat the first minister of record was Rev.
Charles Rose, who served from 1704 to 1853
Rev. Thomas Smith was the rector from
lII3 to 1776, and was probably preceded by
Kew. Augustine Smith. Rev. James Elliott
was the pastor in ITO, and no record OF an
other is found until the b. ginning of the
pastorate of Rev. Washington Nelson, In
1885. Those who followed were Rev. Will
lam n; Ward. Rev. Theodore s: Rumney,
Rev. Edward MCGUIRE Rev. William Nc
CURE, Rev T. Grayson Dashields Rev.
John J. Lloyd. Rev. Pendleton Brooke Rev.
Rober A. Castleman, Rev David F. Ward.
Rev. Austin B. Chinn, Rev. Albert Rhett
Walker, Rev. Franklin A. Ridout and Rev.
Charles II. Gross.
The vestry IN 1855 included John Bushrod.
Daniel Tebbs, Richard Lee, Benedict Mid
dleton, Wiioughby Newton. Robert Md
dleton, George Lee, John Newton, Samuel
Oldham, Robert Carter. Fleet Cox and
James Steptoe. James d. Arrest, whose
family is connected by marriage with de-
scendants of the Carriers Lees and others
of the colonial history of Virginia, was one
of the best friends OF the church. During
his life he contributed largely to its repair
and was a regular worshiper within Its
walls. He resided at wilton" a colonial
estate on the Potomac and one time the
home of DR.. Wat II. Tyler, father of Arch
deacon Tyler of the Episcopal diocese OF
Virginia He is buried with his wife in the
cemetery located about the church.
Associated with the church was also
Henry Fttzhugh. He married Miss Lucy
Carter of Lancaster and their grand
daughter, Miss Elizabeth Grimes, was the
mother of Bishop Meade. Descended from
him was also an only son, William, founder
OF the historic seat Chatham, opposite
Fredericksburg. and whose daughter, Mary,
became the bride of George Washington
Parke Gusts and was the mother of Mrs
Robert E. Lee. DIR. James Steptoe was a
tiers Mary and Anne. who married Philip
Ludweu Lee and Samuel Washington. re-
spectlyeiy.
Henry Lee and George Lee, who lived at
Lee Hail. were also attendants. From
the son of Henry Lee sprung the dis
tinguished line of Gen. Henry Lee OF revo-
lutionary fame. Prominent in Cople par
isl: for q quarter of q century was Mich
olas Minor, whose son OF the same name.
reared In this parish bought SEQ acres OF
land In Loudoun county, on part or which
175s, and he was among the trustees first
named From him have descended many
prominent people in Loudoun county, Ken
lucky and other parts of the south Mich
olas Minor had q brother John whose de-
scendants intermarried with the Conrads
of Virginia.
There was no more prominent man in
the early life of Yeocomico thah Jonh
tryman of the church and one Of the bur-
eesses of Westmoreland county, whose
family name became later distinguished by
his grandson. Bushrod Washington, VINO
was a member of the Supreme Court of the
United States. He was fayorite nephew
OF General washington, who at his death
bequeathed him his library and military
correspondence. The daughter of John
Bushrod by her marriage with Colonel John
A. Washington left worthy line or de-
scendants, Including Mrs. Beverly Tucker
of Norfolk the Herberts OF Alexandra ana
the Peters OF Georgetown
Probably Yeocomico has never had a
more ardent supporter than Edward Col
viii Grifiith, who resided at Locust Farm
and who married O granddaughter of
ESQUIRE Lee" He left two children. Mrs.
Elenor Grifith Fairfax and DR.. Frederick
Grifath who have done much Tor the OLD
church In these latter days OF its history.
In Yeocomico's history there has probably
been no sadder death than that OF Kew.
lanes Henry Cox, which took place at the
ancestral home in this parish several years
ago. He was descendant OF Presly Cox
and of the family OF Col. Fleet William
COZ. one Of the best friends OF the old
church. In the death Of Mr.. Cox the Epis-
copaI ministry lost loyal worker Ior the
cause OF Christ's kingdom ana the country
an earnest Christian gentleman.
And now as the church In Virginia has
taken up the work Of restoration with
co will continue her proud ana stately
record down through the dim vistas or the
coming century with the same interest to
mankind AZ IN the past w, IA Z.