The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-08
COLONIAL CHURCHES
IN KING: William | IN
Peculiar Names and the Way
They Origi-
mated.
Especial to The Times Dlspatch.)

WEST POINT, VA. April BIN Ye
olden 1'ime,' there were five Colonial
churches in King William county, as
far back as ''early In the eighteenth
century, ten miles interviewed between
them One, at West Point, situated about
two squares from York River. All that
Is known OF this one is that 1t was on
the site upon which tho Baptist Church
now stands. built in 1876 by the untirng
efforts Of Rev. Alfred Bagby and q
church composed Of two men and nine
women. Several tombstones, some Of
them enclosed by brick wall proved
about all that is know OF a church in
the town. Ten miles further on, on the
main highway, is old West Point Church,
then comes near the Courthouse Ac-
qulnton, ten miles further Cat-tail
Church, and "Mangohick," In the eX-
IRENE upper end Of tho county
Acauinton, in Indian pnrlance, meant
a ..canoe." 1t is not known why this name
was thought applicable to church.
bishop Meade, In his Od Virginia Par
ishcs," refers to Acquinton Church in
the following language: 1T is large
old church in the form OF a cross, having
the aisles paved with flagstones. lie
was mistaken or rather misinformcd as
to the shape Of the building.
Acqulnton Church was built in 173322,
Of imported glazed brick and was rectan-
gular In shape, with the pulpit in the
form Of an inverted bottle just inside
the main entrance. The high back pews,
therefore, faced both pulpit and door,
rendering 1t unnecessary for any one
into church. G MI K . T.. -
It was abandoned by the TInisropalians
about one hundred years ago, and sub
sequently used by various denominations,
until 1t fell exclusively into the hands
Of tho Methodists, who repaired It. and
put on a new roof. the old pointed one
having fallen IND removed the pews and
put In modern nulnit.
1t was at this church that the cele-
brated "Parson'' Skyren, about the last
of the old line Episcopal minister's
preached his eloquent sermons, when. so
anxious were the people to hear him
that "they brought seats with them and
filled the aisles," whever he officiated
1.-The good Parson' moved to Hampton
The walls ofssAcqunton&areatl n2sa1ne as
erected in 1882, and are probably safe to
stand another century.
At Auburn" the old Pelnberton home,
built by Wilson Coleman Pemberton over
one hundred years ago, in the front yard.
is a stone pedestal, which one supported
n marble basin,--thc old baptismal font
of Acqunton Church, sent over from
England when the church was built,
d732) When the old Episcopal churches
were practically abandoned In the latter
part Of the eighteenth century. this relic
found Its way to the Pemberton place.
The basin has long since disappeared,
the pedestal remains.
"Cattail'' Church, is. so named from the
low. swampy. marshy conditions of4the
land surrounding 1t. which brought forth
'lbundantly "Cat-o-nine" tails, or for
brcvity, cat-tails.
"Arangohick" derives It's Indian name
from tho village nearby. which In turn
was named by the Indians, "I'rewatcr"
was sold at the village store. and this
same store. was a great place of rem
devious for the country gentleman to
meet and drink and discuss the ques-
tons Of the day.
Often they would imbibo too freely
and would make a dlsagreeablc noise, and
the Indians, ALWAYS hanging around,
designated 1t as the place where, Man
go-hick."