Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-28
MAKEM|E, FATHER
OF PRESBYTER|ANS.
LIVED IN AcCOMAC
Irish Minister Came to
Maryland in 1880; Or
dained 1852.
CARRIED HIS WORK THROUGH
VIRGINIA AND THE CAROLINAS
Became Possessed Of Much
Property on Eastern Shore
Through Marriage.
ny FRANCES LAN1<ronD TAYLOR


To few beyond the Eastern Shore of
virginia IL IT known that Francis
MAX cmic; the father of thc Prcsby-
terian Church in America. lived in
He was i,.nrn in Rathmelton. County
Donegal: Ireland. about 1858. Spayne
pious at IL" lie was enrolled ns !,
student al the University Of Glasgow
IN y, The third class. February. 1878. on
i IN I.tS. -; 1850. ne appeaTsd before
from his minister. Mr.. Thomas Drn.
nor, May % he delivered his private
homNy on Matthew l1:2S. and was ap-
ordained in 1852.
During the year 1850 Judge Will
liam stevens. n member OF Lord Bal
t,moses council: wrote to the Irish
m .,;s;a, OF Lagoon, urging, tina,
statement, Of the Spiritual destitu-
iion existing In those regions.
Mackenzie OT-rs Himscif.
fhe sympathy of tho young minis
trri"i student was aroused and he
offered his services to his country
The a3r %iF Of 5:os u distant chimes for
lie came TO America by way OF the
liarbadoes lis landing. which was
ABOUT 1853. marked an era in the de-
! ism.
~ Rohoboth. Md. he established
he first regular Presbyterian Church
We read OF Mackenzie on the Eliza.
beth River In Nansemond County
preach!nG 70 a congregation OF Dis
S:Hlcrs. lie also continued his mis-
Sl"h"ry work Into the Carolinas.
Acquires wife and Property.
Later he settled in Onancock. mar
r%lng, there. Naomi Anderson. daugh-
marriage he acquired consider BILE
property.
Ills name appears on the county
records for inc hrsts. time In 1880.
] ,rsa OF Intolerance than beyond tho
bay, and Mackenzie had many friends
lie had gone on his way. quietly
preaching at hts own home. and paid
his tithes lie was man OF letters
volumes: Hebrew. Greek. Latin, Eng
iish theology and law.
\ The clerEymen OF the established
Mackenzie 10 be arrested for preaching
\ without a license. lie was taken 70
Williamsburg and there. pleaded his
Burgesres He put UP such n stiH
l:irElment that the Governor licensed
HIS dwelling IN Onancock us a place
/ %; worship and gave him the right to
! preach anywhere in the colony.
lie must have visited many places
/ Tor me Toleration act. passed April
70. 1899. was attributed to his iniiu-
cncc.
/ No Fixed SALARY.
II Mackenzie evidently had no fixed
salary for he writes proudly In regard
10 preaching without compulsory sup
h port. Whatever others have doneI
dare affirm ! have never bargained
Win any people about maintenance.
freely offered: and never enjoyed any
maintenance. but what was most
freely offered ! deny not to the mag
H tenances when necessity requires 1t;
though could wish it were voluntary
II offerings"
H In 1851 nc went to England. re-
II manning away year
n Makemie planted the seed OF Pres
by, erh;ri A., In Philadelphia in 1es2.
h mon ever heard in the Quaker City at
the Barbadoes store there.
by the year l7oG there were quite a
scattered among the different col
First Presbytery Formed.
II In answer TO call from Mackenzie
a these men, journeyed far to assemble
7 in Philadelphia. where n meeting was
effected and the first Presbytery in
as it's moderator.
| Before returning to Virginia he de-
they stopped in New York. There
Mackenzie was arrested by order of
Lord co cornbnry, Governor Of New
II Il
] Cornbury describes Mackenzie in a let
ter to tho Lords OF Trade as, "a
preacher, doctor of physic. mer-
chant. an attorney, a counsellor at
| law, and what Is worse Of all, "a dis
tur1cr of governments"
After two months in Jail Mackenzie
set for June, 1907 When the case
/ was called. the grand jury examined
four. witnesses who testified that Ma
|. kcmie had preached no false doctrine,
and acquittal followed. Notwithstand
ing this. his bail was not discharged
until he had paid the. whole cost of
eighty pounds. seven shillings and
siXpcnce.
Mackenzie moved from onancock to
"n6f on e Gessk
built church In the county. but
Maryland beasts three he built and
Had Zig Financial Interest.
BESIDES being active from n. re-
iisious standpoint. Mackenzie was busy
the, West Indies, he owned a grist
mill and n store. was a slave owner
and carried on large farm.
ability and his gratitude for her help
by making her executor Of his large
aaests are 70 s Ss Rln ts% o. M vi se
piier." All of his books. except forty
each to his wife and two daughters.
he wilied to Mr.. Andrews, OF the
First Church of Philadelphia, and his |
successors of the Presbyterian or
Independent persuasion" the books to |
be put upon record and remain as "a |
constant library for ye use OF fore |
said minister or ministers success
sively for ever" To Mr.. Andrews he |
also left his black camlet cloak, and |
his new cane. bought and fixed in
To his daughter, Elizabeth. no gave |
$50 acres Of land on the south part |
acres OF swamp called "Dumfreece"
near Pocomoke Bridge, also either
the marches on the south side OF |
cock.
ITO his daughter Anne, 174 acres
on Watts Island $50 acres on the |
south slde OF Matohatank Creek, an
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