 | Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia. |  |
ARTICLE LXXV.
Parishes in Hampshire and Shenandoah Counties.
Having disposed of Berkeley county, I come to Hampshire, which
was formed into a county and parish in the year 1753. I perceive
how the parish of Hampshire was divided and one established in
Hardy in 1785, but of the ministers and churches of the same I
have but little to say. In the year 1771 the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, and
in the year 1772 the Rev. Mr. Manning and the Rev. Mr. Kenner,
were all ordained, in England, for Hampshire. Mr. Manning alone
ever reached there,—the others settling in parishes below the Ridge.
About the year 1812, or 1813, I remember to have seen a Rev. Mr.
Reynolds, who said that he was the minister in Hampshire and
Hardy. No churches, I expect, were ever built in these counties
until those I am about to mention. The Rev. Norman Nash, a
friend of Mr. Allen, desired to become a candidate for Orders in
Virginia, and be ordained without the knowledge of the languages.
To this Bishop Moore objected. Mr. Nash strongly declared his
conviction that he was called of God and moved by the Holy Ghost
to the work, but that he was advancing in years, and, having never
studied the ancient languages, it must be a long time before he
could be prepared for the ministry, if a knowledge of these were
requisite; that he might die before that period arrived, and that
if God should inquire of him why he had not obeyed his orders,
he could only say that Bishop Moore would not let him, until he
had studied Latin and Greek. Without entering into the merits
of the question between him and the Bishop, suffice it to say
that the latter yielded. Mr. Nash was ordained for the county of
Hampshire, where the ancient languages were but little known and
not much required. Hampshire may be truly called the hill-country
of Virginia,—not surpassed in high hills and deep valleys by
that of Judea itself. In one of its deep narrow valleys, and on its
hill-sides, a few families of plain people had settled, who retained a
strong attachment to the Church while all around had forsaken
her as the Babylon of prophecy. There was added to them one
which had emigrated from Scotland, with all the Scottish prejudices
against the Church; but the father of the family, on his way to
and become a thorough convert to his views of Episcopacy and the
Church. The old man was also a great reader of Scripture, and
spent many of his latter years in writing a full paraphrase of large
portions of it,—even of the prophetical books. At his death he
bequeathed them to Dr. Balmaine and myself for publication, if
we deemed them worthy. A box of considerable size was full of
these manuscripts, in very close, small hand. We were, of course,
afraid to venture on so great an undertaking. Into this hilly region
did the Rev. Mr. Nash enter, and never did man labour more
faithfully than he did. It might have been said of him, if he could
not say it of himself,—
Etiam hac defensa fuissent;"
for he was well suited to the work and place. Having spent his
earlier days in mechanical pursuits, he diligently employed his skill
in helping to erect and complete two log churches,—working with
his own hands in various ways. When completed, he used every
proper effort to fill them with Episcopal worshippers, and, for a
time, did in a measure succeed. But there are some winds and
tides against which even the power of steam proves ineffectual, and
there are some places and societies where the excellencies of our
Church system and service cannot avail against violent and long-established
prejudices, even though the Gospel be faithfully preached
in connection with it. Such was the case in relation to this part
of Virginia, where not only Norman Nash laboured zealously and
preached faithfully, but where his nephew,—Mr. Sylvester Nash,—
who succeeded him, did the same, and where other ministers have
lent their aid, and Bishops have not failed in their peculiar offices.
Bishop Moore visited these churches several times. Mr. Sylvester
Nash not only officiated for some years at these log churches, but,
by much solicitation and perseverance, succeeded in building a neat
brick church in Romney, the county seat of Hampshire, where materials
more abounded and the prospects for a time were more
flourishing, but he was not encouraged to make a permanent abode
there. The Rev. Mr. Hedges also made a few ineffectual efforts
after the resignation of Mr. Nash, and, within a few years past,
the Rev. Mr. Irish repeated the same, with the same result. Since
this last effort, the church has been consumed by fire. In the
many changes which are continually going on in society, we will
not despair of seeing her old bare walls clothed again with garments
of praise, and a crown once more on her head.
I come now—if not in the order of time, yet of geography—to
the county of Shenandoah,—originally called after Lord Dunmore,
but changed to its present title by reason of the conduct of Dunmore,
which made his name so hateful to Virginia. The parish was
named Beckford. All this region was settled by Germans and
Swedes. Hence it was that a Swedish congregation was here collected,
and that the Rev. Peter Muhlenburg—son of the Rev. Mr.
Muhlenburg, father of the Lutheran Church in America—was sent
to take charge of it. A brief sketch of his history is necessary to
the proper understanding of his settlement at Woodstock, the county
seat of Shenandoah. He was born in the village of Trappe, in
Pennsylvania, in the year 1747, and baptized John Peter Gabriel
Muhlenburg. His father emigrated from Germany in 1742, and
became the founder of the Lutheran Church in this country,—living
at first, and for some years, in Philadelphia, then moving to Montgomery
county, Pennsylvania, and thence back again to Philadelphia.
His son was early destined in his father's mind and purpose to the
ministry, and educated with a view to the same. In the year 1763,
Peter, then sixteen years of age, and his two brothers,—Frederick
and Henry,—were sent to Halle, in Germany, for their education.
Before this time, his father had begun to fear that Peter's disposition
and habits were not suited to the ministry. In writing to a
friend, to whose care he consigned him, he says:—
"My son Peter has, alas, enjoyed but little of my care and control, on
account of my extensive official duties; but he has had no evil example
from his parents, and many reproofs and counsels. His chief fault and
bad inclination has been his fondness for hunting and fishing. But if our
most reverend fathers at Halle observe any tendency to vice, I humbly
beg that they will send him to a well-disciplined garrison-town under the
name of Peter Weiser, before he causes much trouble or complaint. There
he may obey the drum, if he will not follow the Spirit of God. My prayers
will follow him, and if his soul only is saved,—be he in what condition he
may,—I shall be content. I well know what Satan wishes for me and
mine."
I take the following account of him, until his settlement in Virginia,
from his life, written by Mr. Henry Muhlenburg, who was
either his brother or some near relative:—
"These anticipations were soon realized. Perhaps the young Americans
were looked upon as demi-savages by their German fellow-students, and
perhaps Peter's disposition was too fiery to submit to the strict discipline
of a German school,—at that time strict even to the verge of cruelty. Be
that as it may,—whether caused by one or the other reason, or by a combination
of both,—Peter was continually in trouble. Things went on from bad
to worse, until some time in the year 1764, upon the occasion of a public
offered to him by his tutor, which his hot temper would not brook, and it
was revenged upon the spot by a blow.
"This outrage rendered his expulsion inevitable. He did not, however,
wait for its official notification, but, collecting his little property, fled from
the University. A regiment of dragoons was passing through the town,
in which, upon the spur of the moment, he enlisted, little thinking that his
father had recommended that very remedy to cool his hot blood. Although
not eighteen, he was tall and well proportioned, and so desirable a recruit
was readily accepted. He thus left the University, little caring what became
of him, so rejoiced was he in being freed from what he deemed the
tyranny of rectors and proctors.
"The precise length of time he remained with this regiment, the writer
has no means of ascertaining. He must, however, have fully upheld the
character he had gained at the University, as appears from the following
anecdote connected with this regiment, related by himself, and still preserved
as a family tradition. Ten or eleven years after, the battle of
Biandywine was fought. In that action General Muhlenburg commanded
a brigade of Virginians, which, with Weedon's, was thrown forward, at the
close of that hard-fought day, to repel the victorious advance of the enemy
and give time to our shattered columns to retreat. The struggle was at
the point of the bayonet, and it so happened that this very regiment dismounted
was one of those opposed to Muhlenburg's command. The
General, mounted on a white horse, tall and commanding in his figure,
was very conspicuous at the head of his men leading on the long line of
Continentals: when the contending parties came near enough to be recognised,
many of the older soldiers (German enlistments being for life)
remembered their former comrade, and the cry ran along their astonished
ranks, `Hier kommt teufel Piet!' (Here comes devil Pete!) Finally he
was freed from the obligations he had so rashly assumed, in the following
manner. A colonel in the British army, whose name is unfortunately
forgotten, was leaving Hanover, where he held some official appointment,
for America. He had been, prior to this, long stationed in that country,
was a frequent visitor at the house of Dr. Muhlenburg, and knew the
family and Peter well. On his journey he happened to pass through the
town in which this regiment was then quartered, and, to his utter surprise,
recognised his young American acquaintance among its soldiers. He
sought him out, and learned the cause of his present position, after which,
by representing the matter in its true light, as a boyish student's freak,
and certifying to the respectability of his family, he easily procured
his discharge. Peter took leave of his comrades and accompanied his
kind friend to America, where he arrived some time in the year 1766.
This interposition was probably the most fortunate event of his life; for,
although his family would sooner or later have procured his discharge, yet,
from the rarity of intercourse and length of time necessarily occupied, he
might have remained there a year or two longer and become utterly disqualified
for any other pursuits. As it was, the occurrence had a beneficial
effect upon his character and disposition, rendering him more tractable,
although most probably the taste for military life here acquired influenced
his whole future career.
"His father, who, as we may well conceive, had suffered much anxiety
on account of his son, in his joy at the lost being found, received him with
open arms, and granted him forgiveness for, and oblivion of, the past.
the completion of his education.
"It was now time for him to turn his thoughts to the selection of a
profession, and, had his own wishes only been consulted, he would doubtless
have chosen the army; but his father very earnestly desired that the
Church which he had founded in America should be supported and sustained
by the efforts of his sons. The uniform kindness which his many
youthful follies had met with at his father's hands inclined him to yield
to his wishes; and accordingly he commenced the study of theology,
under his father's directions.
"Early in the year 1768, he was ordained a minister of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, according to the rules and discipline of that sect, and
on the 12th of May was appointed assistant rector of Zion's and St. Paul's
Churches, in New Jersey. These congregations, commonly known as the
Valley Churches, were situated at New Germantown and Bedminster, in
Hunterdon and Somerset counties. On the 5th of February in the
ensuing year, he commenced officiating, and remained in that capacity for
several years.
"Retaining his strong partiality for hunting and fishing, (the bad inclinations
referred to earlier by his father,) he become thoroughly acquainted
with that part of the country,—a knowledge which, during the long stay of
the army at Morristown and its subsequent operations in New Jersey,
became of great value. While situated in New Jersey, his marriage with
Anne Barbara Meyer took place, the ceremony being performed on the
6th of November, 1770.
"For some years prior to this, the German inhabitants of the Middle
States commenced emigrating in considerable numbers to Virginia, settling
principally in the Valley of the Blue Ridge. These German settlements
gradually became large, particularly those in Dunmore; and, being
Lutheran, a congregation was formed at Woodstock, the seat of justice for
that county. This congregation desired a pastor, and accordingly application
was made to Dr. Muhlenburg to appoint one, with the request that
his son might be assigned to that situation. Some difficulties, however,
presented themselves. In order to meet the peculiar laws of the Colony
of Virginia on the subject of Church establishment, these Germans had
organized themselves as members of the Swedish branch of the Lutheran
Church, there being no difference between that and the German, save in
point of form only. Some congregations of the former existed at this very
time in Pennsylvania, and were in close connection with the Lutheran
Church proper. The Swedish Church, at the Reformation, differed from
the German in retaining its Bishops, and their discipline required that
pastors should be ordained and consecrated by a Bishop. This had not
been done in Mr. Muhlenburg's case, who had been ordained by his father
in accordance with the rules and discipline of the German Lutheran Church.
Another obstacle arose from the union of Church and State in Virginia,
where the Church of England was established by law, and, in order that
the rector might enforce the payment of tithes, it was necessary that he
should have been ordained by a Bishop of the English Church, in which
case he came under the provisions of the law, although not a member of
the Established Church. To meet these difficulties, it was deemed necessary
that Mr. Muhlenburg should be ordained anew, according to the discipline
prescribed by the Swedish Lutheran Church. Accordingly, he
resigned his charge in New Jersey, and made preparation for a voyage to
Bishop being competent for that purpose. He sailed from Philadelphia
for London on the 2d of March, 1772, and arrived at Dover on
the 10th of the following month. During this journey, Mr. Muhlenburg
kept a daily journal, now in the writer's possession, which is in many
parts highly interesting; but space forbids any extracts being here made.
From this journal, however, we-learn that, if any scruples did exist in his
mind with respect to his profession at the time of his entering upon the
study of it, they were now entirely removed, and he seems to have been
fully impressed with the serious nature of the duties he had assumed, and to
have brought to their discharge a spirit of pure and humble Christianity."
His biographer informs us that his stay in London was brief,
and that he was ordained at the same time with a Mr. Braidfoot
and Mr. White, the latter being afterward Bishop of Pennsylvania.
He further adds, that the disputes between the mother-country
were just commencing to be of intense bitterness, when Mr. Muhlenburg
removed with his family from Pennsylvania to take charge
of his congregation in Virginia. Arriving among them in the fall
of 1772, sufficient time was given him, before the breaking out of
hostilities, to become extensively acquainted throughout the valley.
With Washington and Henry he was soon on terms of personal
intimacy, for in June, 1774, he was with them in the House of
Burgesses, being sent as representative by the people of his county.
This friendship had afterward much weight in determining Mr.
Muhlenburg to enter the army. Dunmore county, afterward Shenandoah,
under the controlling influence of Mr. Muhlenburg, was
one of the first to step forward in opposition to British usurpation.
At the first meeting of its citizens he was chosen moderator, and
one of the committee of correspondence. Although still a minister,
he was sent to the House of Burgesses and Convention again and
again, and with all his zeal supported Mr. Henry in the boldest
measures he proposed. His character became so well known that in
1775 he was elected Colonel of the 8th regiment, without any other
knowledge of military matters than he had acquired when a truant
youth in Germany. Washington and Henry both urged his appointment,
for they had doubtless seen in which direction his talents moved.
His was the first regiment completed on the field. His biographer
endorses the tradition of his last sermon, which concluded with the
words that there was "a time for all things; a time to fight, and
that time had now come." The sermon finished, he pronounced
the benediction. A breathless silence brooded over the congregation.
Deliberately pulling off the gown which had thus far covered
his martial figure, he stood before them a girded warrior, and, descending
beat for recruits. From all the foregoing, we must conclude that
though he was doubtless conscientious and respectable, for that day
at least, as a minister, yet he still loved his juvenile sports of hunting
and fishing too much to excel in the duties of the sacred office,
and that he had never ceased to be more of the soldier than the
divine.
Testa diu."
Of the subsequent history of that Swedish Episcopal congregation
in Woodstock I have as yet been unable to obtain any accurate
information. Some time after the revival of the Episcopal Church
in Virginia, an effort was made by General Steenbergen, the
Arthurs, Blackfords, and Allens, to establish it in their neighbourhood,
and I paid them several visits; but the effort failed. The
same was done more than once by some friends of the Church at
Woodstock, headed by Mr. Williams, the old and much-esteemed
clerk of the county and staunch member of the Church; but with
like success.
I cannot take leave of this county and parish without a brief
notice of one remarkable locality in it. In the very centre of
Mr. Muhlenburg's parish, and only a few miles from his residence
at Woodstock, commence the mountains, almost touching each
other at first, and running parallel, so as to form a valley between.
After running some distance, they unite in one, which is
called the Massamatti Mountain. The valley between is called
Powell's Fort, and contains some thousands of acres. The mountains
on either side are called the East and West Fort Mountains.
The entrance to this valley is through a narrow defile, along which
a small but bold stream runs out into the surrounding country, with
high, steep mountains on each side, as if some convulsion of nature
had opened a passage for the waters. If the whole Valley of
Virginia was once a lake, emptying itself at Harper's Ferry, this
may be regarded as a lake within a lake, the smaller emptying
itself into the larger through this narrow passway, and both of
them sending their waters through Harper's Ferry and the Potomac
into the great Atlantic. Washington and Muhlenburg had
doubtless often been within and around this place, and the military
eye of each may have been caught by it, as one of the strongest of
nature's fortifications. In one of the darkest and gloomiest seasons
of the Revolution, when even the soul of a Washington began to fear
the stability of his fellow-citizens, they may have communed together
forces. Certain it is that Washington once referred to it as the
place to which he should conduct his wasted remnant, there to call
the God of nature to its defence, and bid defiance to the British
army; thus hoping to arouse his countrymen to renewed and more
vigorous efforts for liberty and independence. I can never look
at, (for it is, on a clear day, in sight of my own residence,) pass
by, or read of this spot, and recollect that proposal of Washington,
without remembering the Edom of Scripture,—the strong city, as it
is called; for, if travellers and historians be true, there is a strong
resemblance between them, as to their entrance, their valley, and
high surrounding mountains. The loose stones almost overhanging
this narrow pass, and covering the nearly-perpendicular sides of
other parts of the mountains, would have furnished weapons of defence
to a few brave men sufficient to overwhelm thousands of
assailing foes.
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