The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25
Hungcrs Church, Northampton
County.


Continuing our notice OF historic sRots
on the Eastern Shore. with its noted men
and stirring events during the early set
tlement of the colony, there is none, per-
hnps, of greater interest than old Hun
gers Church, which was built about 1896
and has stood in its same appearance fol-
the past four hundred years.
BY permission of the Eastern Shore
Herald OF February 2, 1906, n good rep
/ rcsentation of the old building Is given,
with extracts of records as taken from
an old copy of the Journal OF the House
Of Burgesses, 1863. which the editor
picked from rubbish pile in tho clerk 8
office recently, and is now preserved in
the State Library.
/ The name given to the stern Shore
by the Indians was Ackowmake, or Ac-
cowmake. This was changed in 1642
to Northton. or Northamton. by wealthy
and influential family named Robins, who
had come from shire In England Of
that name 1t was then divided into
two parishes. Hunger and Muwattocks.
| Being cut off by the bay. at one time
| Virginia and Accomack county were IN
I dependent territories. In 1851 the two
| parishes were made one and called Hun
gar. and about this time the first church
was built The name Hungar is evidently
! taken from one of the towns or parishes
| in England. as there was Hungars
Ford In Berkshire, from which some OF
the settlers had emigrated. Bishop
Meade. in his first volume. speaks at
length of "Hungar's Parish" It's first
minister was the Rev. William Cotton.
and the first vestry was appointed 1885,
But we will quote from the old record
AT a court holden in Accawmackc. the
14th day of Sept. 1886, Mr.. VIM Cotton
James City, for the building Of Par
sonage house upon the Glebe land which
is by this board referred to be ordered
by the vestry and because there have
heretofore been no formal vestry nor
vestrymen appointed. we have from this
present day appointed to be vestrymen.
those whose names are under-written:
"Wm. Cotton. minister: Capt. Thos.
Graves Mr.. Obedience Robins. Mr.. John
Howe, Mr.. VIM Stone. Mr.. Burdett, Mr..
VIM. Andrews, Mr.. John Wilkins. Mr.
Alex. Mountjoy, Mr. Edw. Drew. Mr.. Wm
Bcnman, Mr.. Stephen Charlton.
at vestry head. 10th day OF Sept.
! 1886 an order was made providing the
| building of the parsonage house.
"Att a council held att James City,
Apr the DIST, 1851. Present-The Rt.
Honoble Francis Nicholson Esq 1t.
Gov. e council. Major John Robins and
Mr.. Thos. Harmonson, Burgesses OF the
/ county OF northampton, on behalf Of the
| County. by their petition setting forth
/ that the said county is one of the small
est in the Colony. doth consist of a
small number of tithables, and is divided
in two parishes, by reason whereof the
Inhabitants of both parishes are soc bur-
dened that they are not able decently to
maintain minister in each parish and
II bo cnt1 CHI ,ye,bt
be ioyened in one and goe by the name
| of Hungars parish. not being DESTROYS to
infringe any gift given to Hungars parish,
and more especially one by the last will
of Stephen Charlton. which parishes soc
ioyned will not only be satisfactory to
the inhabitants but make them capable
TO build n decent church and maintain an
able divine. On consideration whereof
lit is of the opinion Of this board and
accordingly ordered that the whole county
of Northampton be from henceforth one
parish and goe by the name Of Hungars
| Parish, and that the same shall be no
prejudice to the gift of the aforesaid
(, Charlton to the said parish of Hungars
and 1t is further ordered that the inhabl
| tants of the sd parish shall meet Mt such
| time and place as the court OF the said
county shall appoint and mako choice
/ of a vestry according to law. Cop. vera,
/ test, w. Edwards, c cou"
! On the 22d day of June. 1901 the fol-
| lowing vestrymen were elected: Major
| John Robins, Capt Gusts. Capt. Fox
croft, John Shepherd. Benz. Stratton,
Price Davis. Benz. Nottingham. John Pow
ell, Jacob Johnson Thomas Eyre; John
stoakley, Michael Dickson.
It was evidently soon after this step
was taken. that the Hungars Church
building was erected.
The church in lower NORTHAMPTON was
older than Hungars. 1t was In what is
locally known as Magothy, bay section,
and on the old Arlington estate. I'M
fortunately 1t was allowed to go to decay,
and In 1924 the walls, and some of the
material was sold. and nothing but the
foundation is now left to mark the spot.
The communion set now used in Christ
Church, Eastville. vas "a gift of John
Gusts, Of Wmburg to the lower church
of EIungars Parish 1741," according to
the Inscription. The plato now used In
| Christ Church is Inscribed EEK dono
Francis Nicholson" 1t. Gov. 1690-2
Christ Church, Bastville, was built about
1896 or q. Old lIungars Church became
untenabe in 1850; it was repaired In 1851
and reduced somewhat In size, but prac-
tlcAlly unchanged in general appearance
| from its original style.
bishop Neade gives the following list
of vestrymen for Hunears Church since
| 1912:
Peter Bowdon. John Eyre Nathaniel
/ Holland, John Addison John Gofiigan,
John upshur. John Windee. I.ittleton
| Gpshur George Parker, William Satchell.
! Thomas satchell s. Pitts. jacob Noting
| ham. Isaac Smith. John II. Elliott, j. III.
| Harmlson, James Upshur Able p. Up
shur w. Danton, Charles West w. G.
! Smith, John Leatherbury. Severn II. Par
ker John ker L. n. Robins, N. J. Win
dee, Major Pitts G. f. wilkins simkins,
Fishec. Evans, Bell, Adams. Nicholson.
What is most interesting in the above
list Is to note the many families whose
descendants are scattered over Virginia
to this day, particularly those OF the
upshurs, Drews mud Parkers. who were
early settlers in Richmond. and the spe-
cial friends of the Hon. William Writ.
! Queries and Letters.
Gordon.
Dear Sir,-Wil you kindly publish in