Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26

] also find that the name Of the farm IL
Bradley" At least the old residents in that
locality say that that is the name they have
! always known it by. The farm is located on
about three miles below Colchester, and Is now
owned by Mr. JeTIison, The farm Is not in any any
Pohick so far as l know. as yon will lind in
DIR. Siaughter's history of Truro parish that
, the Glebe land was located near Accotink sta
ton. Fairfax county. which is six or seven
miles from Bradley. the original site Of the
burial place Of Rev. Lee Massey.
Springfield was the home Of Martin COCK
burn. who was brother tunele) of Admiral
Cockb,mn. who burned the Capitol in 1914.
Springfield is situated on the west side Of the
some Of the old neghbors thst the original
Cockburn home burned some years ago.
and the house that is on It now has been
built since the old burned. You eau
understand that Springfield, Gunston and Brad
ley were all in close proximity to Colchester
Martin Cockburn was a vestryman az oIo
Pohick for many years, and 1t is reasonable TO
suppose that he was man of some influence
in this community. As you doubtless know, the
poral affairs. as well as the spiritual affairs
OF the community. and they acted in the same
capacity then as the board of supervisors does
in the county now. They collected all the
tithes In tobacco potatoes or cordwood. or
whatever the parishioners had for SALE and
paid all the debts in the same way. even in
paying the minster-so many cords of wood or
so many pounds of tobacco. as tie ease might
be. Very truly yours. C. THOMPSON.
A few days later the following let
ter came from Mr. Thompson:
The following is the inscription on the
tombstone of Re-. Lee Massey:
I'm memory of the Rev. Lee Massey, who
parted this life September the 23d. 1874 Sec
ond rector Of Truro parish Ordained by the
Bishop of London on the recommendation Of the
vestry. 1906 Removed from Bradley. 1905"
AS you will the transfer was made in
1908, and Rev. Eyerard Meade, assisted by
some of the vestry. was responsible for having
under the pulpit in Old Pohick Church. You
will also notice that the Rev. Lee Massey was
the second pastor Of Pohick Church and not
the first, has been stated.
I wish to correst the statement / made you
| about the old farm adjoining Springfield. In
stead Of the name being wellington" it is
Lexington, p" and was originally owned by Viii
! liam Mason and afterward by George Mason.
evidently descendant Of the original George.
who wrote the bill of rights.
Trusting this will be Of some service to
You; l am, very truly c: THOMPSON:
resident of the Occoquan neighbor-
hood, and had been a vestryman of
Truro parish before being called to
the ministry. and at different periods
had been lawyer. clergyman and ply
stefan. In the writings of Bishop
Meade may be found references to Mr..
Massey and his predecessor, the Rev.
Mr.. Green. Bishop Meade wrote: .In
the years 1854, 1853 and 1864 I have
evidence that the Rev. Charles Green
was the minister Of Truro parish and
probably lived in the neighborhood of
Gunston, the seat of the Mason fam
| lily, near which stood the old church
which was superseded by Pohick or
Mount Vernon Church. Mr.. George
Mason makes mention of him in let
tiers dated 1864. I think it probable
Gen. Washington also mentions the
same person as visiting Mount Vernon
in 1860, when Mrs. Washington was
sick. How long he may have been a
minister I cannot ascertain"
Continuing, Bishop Meade turns to
Mr.. Massey. of whom he writes:
Mr.. Green was succeeded by the Rev. Lee
Massey either in or before the year 1857 as
that is the date of of his sermons preached