Historical collections of Virginia containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions : to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia : illustrated by over 100 engravings, giving views of the principal towns, seats of eminent men, public buildings, relics of antiquity, historic localities, natural scenery, etc., etc. |
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PRINCE EDWARD. |
 | Historical collections of Virginia |  |
PRINCE EDWARD.
Prince Edward was formed in 1753, from Amelia. It is 35
miles long, mean breadth 12 miles. The Appomattox runs on its
northern boundary, and with its branches, waters the county.
The soil is much like that in this section of the state, naturally
good; but injured by continual culture, without any regard to system.
Marl, coal, and copper ore, are found in the county. Pop. in
1840, whites 4,923, slaves 8,576, free colored 570; total, 14,069.
Farmsville is situated 70 miles southwesterly from Richmond,
on the northern border of the county, on the Appomattox. It was
established by law in 1798, on the property of Judith Randolph;
and Charles Scott, Peter Johnson, John Randolph, Jr., Philip Holcomb,
Jr., Martin Smith, Blake B. W. Woodson, and Creed Taylor,
were appointed trustees to lay off the town into half acre lots.
Farmsville is now a place of considerable commercial importance;
its trade is drawn from Halifax, Lunenburg, Charlotte,
Nottoway, and a part of Campbell. It is at the head of batteau
navigation on the Appomattox, although boats can go up much
higher. It is the fourth tobacco market in Virginia; and the
quality of its tobacco is nowhere surpassed. It contains 2 tobacco
warehouses, 10 tobacco factories, 7 or 8 mercantile stores,
a branch of the Farmers' Bank, 1 newspaper printing-office, 1
Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist church, and a population
of about 1400. The navigation of the Appomattox is good at all
seasons, and its navigation from this place to Petersburg gives
employment to about 40 batteaux, carrying from 5 to 7 tons each,
of the products of the country. Prince Edward C. H., Jamestown,
and Sandy River Church, are small places in the county.
"Hampden Sydney College originated in an academy in
which was afterwards incorporated as a college. The circumstances
leading to the establishment of the academy were these:
As Virginia was first settled by members of the Church of England,
and the emigration of dissenters not encouraged, it was
more than a hundred years ere they were found in any considerable
numbers. Some years previous to the revolutionary war, the
![illustration](https://iiif.lib.virginia.edu/iiif/uva-lib:427517/full/!1600,1600/0/default.jpg")
Hampden Sydney College.
Rev. Samuel Davies, of Hanover county, in conjunction withothers, formed the presbytery of Hanover. The principal mass
of Presbyterians then in lower Virginia was in Prince Edward
and the neighboring counties, among whom were some French
Huguenots. In a few years, as they increased in numbers, they
determined to establish a seminary, to be conducted on Presbyterian
principles; William and Mary, the only college in the state,
being fostered particularly by the Episcopalians. The academy
was accordingly established in Prince Edward, at a point convenient
for the Presbyterians of Virginia and North Carolina."[1] This
institution was founded in 1774, and was called the Academy of
Hampden Sydney. "It was chartered in 1783, and received its
present name from those two martyrs of liberty, J. Hampden and
A. Sydney. It was established, and has ever been supported, by
the private munificence of public-spirited individuals. It has an
elevated, healthy, and pleasant situation, one mile from the court,
house, and 80 from Richmond. Although the institution has had
to encounter many difficulties for want of funds, yet it has generally
been in successful operation, and has educated upwards of
2,000 young men; many of whom have been of eminent usefulness,
and some of great abilities. More instructors have emanated
from this institution than from any other in the southern
society, and an institute of education. There are also several
societies among the students, which are of great assistance
to them in the prosecution of their studies. The legislative government
of the college is vested in 27 trustees, who fill up vacancies
in their own body. By the census of 1840, this institution
had 65 students, and 8000 volumes in its library."
The presidents of Hampden Sydney have been—Rev. S. S.
Smith, 1774; Rev. J. B. Smith, 1779 to 1789; presidents pro tem.
to 1797; Rev. A. Alexander, D. D., 1797 to 1806; Rev. M. Hoge,
D. D., 1807 to 1820; J. P. Cushing, A. M., 1821 to 1835; Daniel
Carroll, D. D., 1836; William Maxwell, LL. D., 1839 to 1844.
The Union Theological Seminary is located in the immediate
vicinity of Hampden Sydney College. "The institution had
its origin in efforts made by the presbytery of Hanover and
the synod of Virginia, as early as 1812, to give their candidates
for the ministry a more complete theological education. It did
not, however, go into operation in a regular form until the year
1824." In 1841-'42 it had 3 professors, 20 students, 175 graduates,
and a carefully-selected library of about 4000 volumes. The
Theological Seminary, and Hampden Sydney College, have spacious
and showy brick buildings, sufficient to accommodate a large
number of students.
The Rev. Moses Hoge, President of Hampden Sydney College, was one of the
most able and venerable clergymen of the Virginia church; and his memory is now
cherished with peculiar affection by many in the south. During a long life of clerical
service, he maintained a character among the best and greatest men in that country,
for sagacity, theological learning, sound judgment, patriarchal simplicity, and unaffected
meekness and humility. As a preacher, he was not eloquent, in the usual acceptation
of the word; that is, he was far from the artificial elegancies of rhetoric; but his fervor
of devotion and of argument often burst forth in a glow and flame which enkindled whole
assemblies. This, together with the sanctity of his manners, made him a great favorite
with John Randolph, who often rode many miles to hear him, and often spent much time
in conversing with him on religious subjects. The widow of Dr. Hoge is now living, at an
advanced age, in Charlotte. Three of his sons became ministers. Of these, the eldest,
the Rev. James Hoge, D. D., of Columbus, Ohio, is one of the most distinguished men
in the Presbyterian church. Dr. Moses Hoge was universally respected by his brethren,
as a counsellor and an example; indeed, it would be difficult to name a man of his profession
who had attained to more remarkable mildness, uprightness, or benevolence.
He died in the city of Philadelphia, and his remains were buried in the church-yard of
the Third Presbyterian Church, Pine-street.
Among the Presbyterian clergy of Virginia, an eminent place is due to the late Rev.
John Holt Rice, D. D. He was born in Bedford county, Nov. 28, 1777, and died in
Prince Edward, Sept. 2, 1831. He was graduated at Washington College, and was
afterwards a tutor in Hampden Sydney, where he was the intimate friend of such men
as Speece, Alexander, and Lyle. He was the founder of the Union Seminary, at the
head of which he passed his last years. For a portion of his life he labored among the
negro slaves; and the fruits of this remain, in great numbers who not only believe in
Christ, but are well instructed in the reading of the Scriptures, and are in regular connection
with the Presbyterian church. Dr. Rice's years of prime were spent as a pastor,
in Richmond. Here he was successful in a high degree, both as a preacher and an
author. The Evangelical and Literary Magazine was under his editorial care, and its
most valuable contents are from his pen.
Dr. Rice was characterized by great independence of mind. He abjured all human
authority, and was bold in the expression of his views. Yet he was "swift to hear,
slow to speak." His thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and his learning was in proportion;
which was remarkable. As a writer, he greatly surpassed most of his coevals in ease,
fertility, and force. By frequent journeys through the northern and eastern states, he
liberalized his views, enjoyed valuable intercourse with the first minds in New England,
especially with the professors at Andover and New Haven; yet, from first to last, he
was a thorough-paced, enthusiastic Virginia patriot. He was an American of the old
stamp, loving and admiring his country with the fervor of a youthful passion; and he
transferred the same regards to the church of which he was an ornament and a champion.
His letters to Mr. Madison, and his correspondence with Bishop Ravenscroft,
may be adduced in proof. As a pulpit orator, Dr. Rice was not graceful or mellifluous;
but he was more—he was luminous, instructive, convincing, persuasive, and elevating.
His greatest discourses, like those of Robert Hall and John M. Mason, were unwritten.
In these, as in his life, he evinced the truth, purity, uprightness, and benevolence of the
Gospel. Though naturally irascible, he became an example of meekness, and overcame
evil with good. His favorite maxim was, Love is Power. There are thousands in Virginia
to whom this meager notice will seem far below the truth. Dr. Rice's life was
written by Wm. Maxwell, LL.D. (Phil. 1835, one vol. 12mo.)
When Tarleton was in this county, in the revolution, he passed near the residence of
Joshua Davison, a gallant dragoon of Lee's legion, who, having received a severe wound
in the sword-arm at the Guilford C. H., returned home to recruit. Davison resolved to
have a look at the enemy, and, loading an old squirrel-gun, set out in search for them.
He followed on their trail a short distance, when he was perceived by a British dragoon,
who, rapidly advancing, drew his sword and exclaimed, "Surrender immediately, you
rebel rascal, or you die!" "Not so fast, my good friend," replied Davison, "I am not
prepared to yield;" when, raising his squirrel-gun with his left hand, he shot him dead,
and seized and carried off his horse and plunder in triumph. Some time after, on being
asked if he was satisfied with killing a single man, "By no means," he replied: "I reloaded
my piece and went in pursuit; but my firing had excited such alarm, and Tarleton
fled with such expedition, that I never could have overtaken him, or I would have
had another shot."[2]
There died in this county, in 1819, a slave named Wonder Booker, belonging to George
Booker, Esq., who had reached his 126th year. "He received his name from the circumstance
that his mother was in her 58th year at the time of his birth. He was of
great strength of body, and his natural powers, which were far superior to those of people
of color in general, he retained in a surprising degree. He was a constant laborer
in his master's garden until within eight or ten years of his death."
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