University of Virginia Library

No. XX.

Further and more Accurate Information concerning Pohick
Church.

[Mr. Alfred Moss, the present clerk of Fairfax county, having carefully
examined all its records, furnishes me with the following statement. The
church at Pohick must have been completed in the year 1772, since a
certain number of its pews were sold in that year by order of the vestry.
A copy of one of the deeds is presented to the reader as probably the first
of the kind ever executed in Virginia. I have met with no hint of any
such thing in all my researches. The example was in a measure followed, a
year or two after, in Christ Church, Alexandria, as has been already stated.
It appears from the court-records that General Washington was vestryman in
1763. George Mason was elected first in 1749. Some objection was made
to him on the ground that he was not a resident in the parish, but it did
not avail. The Rev. Charles Green was the minister from 1738 until his
death in 1765. He came from Ireland, and in his will recommended his
wife to return thither. They do not appear to have had children. Mr. Moss
informs me that Payne's Church must have been built some time before
Pohick, as there is an old man now living in the neighbourhood who is
ninety-nine years old and who was baptized in it.]

This indenture, made the twenty-fourth day of February, in the year
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, between the
vestry of Truro parish, in the county of Fairfax, of the one part, and
Daniel McCarty, of the same parish and county, gentleman, of the other
part: whereas, the said vestry did, on the fifth day of June, in the year
1772, order sundry pews in the new church on the upper side of Pohick
to be sold, at the laying of the next parish levy, to the highest bidder for
the benefit of the parish, pursuant to which order the said pews were sold
accordingly by the vestry at the laying of the said next parish levy, on the
20th day of November, in the same year; and the said Daniel McCarty,
party to these presents, then purchased one certain pew in the said church
for the price of fifteen pounds ten shillings current money,—to wit: the
pew numbered 14, situate on the north side of the said church, and adjoining
the north wall and the rector's pew, being the second pew above
the pulpit, as by the proceedings and records of the said vestry, reference
being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear. Now this indenture
witnesseth that the said vestry, for and in consideration of the
said sum of fifteen pounds ten shillings current money, to them in hand
paid, for the use of the said parish, by the said Daniel McCarty, before
the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby
confessed and acknowledged, have granted, bargained, and sold, aliened
and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, alien and

confirm, unto the said Daniel McCarty, the said pew in the said new
church lately built on the upper side of Pohick, in the said parish of Truro
and county aforesaid, numbered and situated as above mentioned, to have
and to hold the said pew above described unto the said Daniel McCarty,
his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of him, the said
Daniel McCarty, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said vestry, for
themselves and their successors, (vestrymen of Truro parish,) do covenant
and grant to and with the said Daniel McCarty, his heirs and assigns, that
he, the said Daniel McCarty, his heirs and assigns, shall, and may forever
hereafter, peaceably and quietly have, hold, and enjoy the said pew above
mentioned and described, without the lawful let, hindrance, interruption,
or molestation of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof
the vestry now present (being a majority of the members) have hereunto
set their hands and affixed their seals the day and year first above
written.