University of Virginia Library

ARTICLE LII.

Parishes in Amherst, Nelson, Botetourt, Rockbridge, Greenbrier,
and Montgomery.

In 1761, Amherst county and Amherst parish were separated
from Albemarle county and St. Anne's parish. In the year 1778,
Amherst parish was divided and Lexington parish established. In
the year 1780, the boundary-line was changed so as somewhat to
reduce Lexington parish. The line, as settled in 1780, we presume
is the same, or nearly the same, which now separates Nelson and
Amherst. Amherst parish was left in that part which is now Nelson
county. We have seen in our notice of the Rev. Mr. Rose,
that he became minister of this region about 1745 or 1746, by being
minister of all St. Anne's parish and Albemarle county, then
extending over Amherst and Nelson; that he had four churches
ordered by the vestry at one time,—two in what is now Albemarle,
and two in what is now Amherst and Nelson. He was
followed by the Rev. John Ramsey, who was minister in 1754 and
also in 1758,—how much longer not known. In 1773-74-76 we find
the Rev. Ichabod Camp minister of Lexington parish,—how long
before 1773 not known. He lived at the glebe near New Glasgow,
now in possession of Dr. Hite. The shell of the parsonage is still
to be seen.

About the commencement of the war, Mr. Camp moved to Illinois,
to a fort on the Wabash, and tradition says that he and his family
were destroyed by the Indians. The first minister of Lexington
parish, after its division from Amherst, was the Rev. John Buchanon,
in the year 1780. The following is the entry in the vestrybook:—"The
vestry, taking into consideration the distressed condition
of the parish for want of an orthodox minister, elect Mr. J.
Buchanon, a gentleman of fair character, &c." This is the same
person who afterward ministered in Richmond. He was ordained
in 1775, and had officiated acceptably elsewhere in Virginia. In
the year 1788, the Rev. John W. Hole was elected. In the year
1789, the Rev. Charles Crawford, a native of Amherst, was ordained
by Bishop Madison, and received as minister of this parish, and
continued its minister until 1815, when, from great corpulency,

age, and infirmities, he resigned. Those who have retained the
recollection of Mr. Crawford, and have knowledge of him otherwise,
bear testimony to his excellency as a preacher and a Christian.
The Rev. Silas Freeman succeeded him in 1823, and continued a
few years. The Rev. Charles Page followed him and laboured for
many years in that and the adjoining parish of Amherst, in Nelson
county. The Revs. Nelson Sale, Stewart, Black, Caldwell, Walker,
Caldwell again, and Martin, have followed in too rapid succession.
The Rev. Mr. Nowlin is the present minister.

The churches in Lexington parish were—Pedlar's, near the mountains,
where a new one was built some years since; Rucker's or
St. Matthew's, some miles from the court-house; Maple Run
Church, afterward moved to New Glasgow; and another called
Bent Chapel, which was near James River. This being burned
down was never rebuilt. The brick church now at New Glasgow
was built by a general subscription, but chiefly of Episcopalians,
and regularly assigned to them, but afterward claimed by others
and forcibly entered by the Campbellites. It was then bought, by
the Episcopalians, of the executors of David Garland, to whom it
legally belonged, being on his land, and was regularly consecrated
as an Episcopal Church. Another church of brick has within the
last few years been built at the court-house of Amherst county.
The following is the list of vestrymen of this parish from 1779:—

AMHERST PARISH, NELSON COUNTY.

We have seen that this was separated from Lexington in 1778.
It is not known how many churches there were in it at that time,
but certainly one at Rockfish Gap, near the mountain, and one
near James River, in the neighbourhood of the Cabells. The Rev.
Robert Rose, in his journal ending in the year 1751, often speaks
of being at the houses of the Cabells and preaching in that neighbourhood,
and doubtless a church must have been built there soon
after, called Key's Church. About the year 1780, it is believed
a Mr. Buchan was minister of that parish,—probably the same who
was afterward in Stafford. In the year 1790 the Rev. Isaac
Darneile appears on the journal of the Convention as minister of
this parish. Of him I have spoken on a former occasion, as one
who was always in pecuniary difficulties, who exchanged the pulpit
for the bar, and, failing in that also, left his family behind, and,
going to the South, spent some years there. In 1795 the Rev.
William Crawford, brother or near relative of Mr. Charles Crawford,
succeeded Mr. Darneile, preaching at Rockfish Key's, the old
court-house, and Hat Creek. Mr. Crawford was, I believe, the
last regular minister of this parish, until the Rev. Charles Page
undertook the charge of it, in connection with that of Lexington,
some years after the revival of the Church commenced. The Rev.
Mr. King and Dr. Stephens, of Staunton, had performed some
duties at Rockfish Gap Church before Mr. Page's more regular
assumption of the charge of the parish. The Rev. Frederick
Goodwin succeeded Mr. Page in this parish, and has continued to
be its minister until the last year. The Rev. Mr. Martin is its
present minister.[12]

As to the churches in the parish of Amherst and county of Nelson
of more recent erection, there was, until a few years since, one
called Calloway's Church, of whose date, however, I am unable to
speak positively, but think it must have been at a much later date
than the old ones which have long since passed away. This has
been deserted of late years for two new brick houses,—the one
called Trinity, near the residence (Oak Ridge) of old Mr. Rives,
and built chiefly, if not entirely, by him, and the other at New
Market, on the James River Canal, at the mouth of Tye River.
The old church at Rockfish has also been removed to a more convenient
place, not far off, and entirely renovated.

Amidst no little opposition, Captain John B. Coles and Mr.
Martin, two fast friends of the Church, determined upon the effort
for its removal and renewal, and invited all the neighbours—even
the poorest—to meet at certain appointed days for its prostration,
its removal and re-erection, and completely triumphed over all
opposition and falsified all unfavourable prophecies. In another
place I have stated that it has been for many years supplied with
occasional services by ministers from Albemarle county.

THE FAMILY OF CABELLS.

Among the numerous families of Amherst and Nelson who were
the active supporters of the Episcopal Church, the Roses and Cabells
were most conspicuous. Of the Roses, the descendants of
the Rev. Robert Rose, who died in 1751, leaving large estates to
his four sons, we have already written in our sketches of the father
in a previous article. Of the Cabells we will now make some
mention, abridging our notice from the various accounts we have
of them.

Dr. William Cabell, a surgeon of the British navy, emigrated
to Virginia about the year 1720 or 1725, according to different accounts.
It is said he owned twenty-five thousand acres of land on
either side of Upper James River, in the counties of Nelson, Amherst,
and Buckingham. He was one of the earliest vestrymen and
wardens in the Church, as established in that part of Virginia, and
was the intimate friend of the Rev. Robert Rose. Between the
years 1740 and 1750 he appears as chiefly concerned in the contracts
for the building of churches, &c. He had four sons,—William,
Joseph, John, and Nicholas. William, the eldest, was the owner of
the estate called Union Hill, in Nelson county, on James River.
Mr. Grigsby has given a very glowing account of this mansion and
the hospitality of its owner, and his great business-talents as a
farmer, and in other respects comparing his house to Mount Vernon,
except that it was larger, and himself to Washington, as to the
management of his estate, and methodical accounts kept by him.
He speaks of his association with Washington in all the great political
bodies in Virginia previous to 1776, as well as in that year, and
of his political career afterward, terminating in the adjournment of
the Federal Convention. It remains for me to add, that before and
after the death of his father, Dr. Cabell, he was also the active
vestryman and churchwarden in the parish, the intimate friend of
the Rev. Mr. Rose, who was often at his house. I have before me
subscription-papers and contracts in which he is leader in all Church

matters in the parish, especially after the Establishment was put
down and it became necessary to raise a salary for the minister by
private contributions. His son also, Mr. William Cabell, who was
a representative in Congress from this district before his father's
death, and in connection with his father, took part in the vestry-proceedings.
Of his other sons I have no account. Of his daughters,
one married Mr. Rives, the father of W. C. Rives and of a
number of other sons and daughters; another married Judge Cabell;
another the Rev. Mr. Legrand. The present Mayo Cabell,
of Nelson, and Mrs. Bruce, of Richmond, are also descendants of
Colonel Wm. Cabell. The second son of Dr. Cabell, father of the
family, was Joseph, of whom all the information I have is, that he
was also at various times in the House of Burgesses, and took
part in the Revolution, and was the ancestor of General Cabell, of
Danville, and of the Breckenridges of Virginia and Kentucky. Of
the third son, John, I learn that he was in the Convention of 1775
and 1776, and was the father of the late Dr. George Cabell, of
Lynchburg. Of the fourth son, Nicholas Cabell, of Liberty Hall,
I find that he was both in the field and the Legislature, and was
the father of the late Judge W. H. Cabell and Joseph C. Cabell.
I have also papers showing that he was a vestryman of the church
in this parish, and took a lively interest in its affairs. He was the
collector of the subscriptions made to the ministers after the Revolution:
to him Mr. Darneile applied in his difficulties, for relief,
and both himself and his brother, Colonel Wm. Cabell, acted as
friends to Mr. Darneile by advancing moneys for him. On a slip
of paper before me I find that he also collected what was given to
the Rev. Mr. Clay, while minister in Albemarle, for services
rendered at Key's Church, in Nelson, but which Mr. Clay requested
him to give to the poor of the parish.[13]

I have also a manuscript sermon preached by the Rev. Charles
O'Neale, then probably a minister of some neighbouring parish,

afterward in Prince William, in the year 1794, on the occasion of
the death of two of Mr. Nicholas Cabell's daughters, Hannah and
Henningham, who died on the 7th and 8th of September of that
year, aged the one eight and the other six years. In this sermon
also we see the deficiency of the pulpit in that day. Once only is
there allusion to Christ, when he says that "to those who lead a
virtuous life, and die in the faith of Christ, the whole aspect of
death is changed," while in the sermon, which is on resignation and
preparation for death, he speaks of certain duties "to be performed
in order to make us acceptable to God," and at the close of it says
that "the best preparation for death is a virtuous temper and a good
life. When once you are furnished with these qualifications, you
may view it approaching toward you with a calm and constant mind,
free from any timorous and unmanly solicitude." Nothing is said in
the sermon about a new birth of the Spirit as a necessary qualification
for heaven, of faith in Christ and repentance toward God as
being the constant exercises of the true Christian, and from which
any good works can flow. There are many very good things said
about the vanity of earthly things and the duty of considering our
latter end, but they are such things as are common to the Christian
preacher and the pagan philosopher.

I might also speak of the Sheltons, Taliaferos, Thompsons,
Ellises, Davises, Tinsleys, Garlands, and others, as having been
fast friends of the Church in Amherst and Nelson, but refer to the
list of vestrymen for the purpose of showing who were her persevering
advocates.

There is one name on which I must dwell for a moment. Mr.
William Waller, lately deceased, was perhaps inferior to none of
the laity of Virginia in personal piety and hearty zeal for the

Church, as well as for all that was amiable and excellent in private
life. He was well known in our Conventions, which he delighted
to attend, and acted as an efficient vestryman and lay reader for a
long time. He has left a large family of children, who I trust will
follow his good example.

One word is added concerning the family of Massies, in Nelson,
not very far from Rockfish Church. It came at an early period
from England, and settled in New Kent, where several in succession
were vestrymen. Major Massie, of Nelson, after having served in
the Revolution, moved from New Kent about the close of the war,
and was a vestryman of the Church in Frederick county, with
Colonel Burwell, Meade, and others. From thence he moved to
Nelson, and lived in great seclusion the remainder of his days. He
had three sons, of whom Dr. Thomas Massie, of Nelson, was the eldest.

COUNTIES AND PARISHES OF BOTETOURT, ROCKINGHAM, ROCKBRIDGE,
GREENBRIER, AND MONTGOMERY.

When Frederick county was first divided from Augusta, the latter
was left with all of Western Virginia beyond the Alleghany Mountains,
then extending to the Pacific Ocean, or, as it was sometimes
said, to the "waters of the Mississippi."

In the year 1769, Botetourt was taken from Augusta, and also
extended westward indefinitely. At a subsequent period Montgomery
was taken from Botetourt. But in the year 1777, Rockingham,
till then part of Augusta, and Rockbridge and Greenbrier,
were cut off from Augusta, Botetourt, and Montgomery. In all
of these, parishes were also established by Act of Assembly. What
was done in them after this is unknown. In Rockingham, probably
before its separation from Augusta, there were, as may be seen in
our article on Augusta, two churches. In Rockbridge, when composed
of parts of Augusta and Botetourt, there may have been a
church or churches, but I have obtained no information of such.
Before this period the Presbyterians had made settlements in this
region, especially about Lexington. On none of our lists of clergy
or records do we find any minister belonging to Rockbridge after
its separation from Augusta and Botetourt. In Montgomery and
Greenbrier parishes and counties, we presume there were none. In
Botetourt parish, (for all the new parishes were called by the same
name with the counties,) we find that the Rev. Adam Smith was the
minister in the years 1774 and 1776. He was the father of Mr.
Alexander Smith, sometimes written Smythe, of Wythe county,
member of Congress, and General in the last war with England.

We know of no other but the Rev. Samuel Gray, who appears on
the journal of 1796, and who died in the parish poor-house, the
miserable victim of drink. In Fincastle there was an Episcopal
church on the spot where the Presbyterian church now stands.
A new church being built there, the Presbyterians worshipped in it,
and were perhaps most active in its erection. By an Act of the
Legislature, the lot of ground on which it stood was given to that
denomination. It was not until the Rev. Mr. Cobbs commenced
his labours in Bedford and extended his visits to Botetourt, that
any hopes were raised, in the breasts of the Episcopalians in that
county, of the establishment of the Church of their fathers and of
their affection.

During the ministry of Mr. Gray, some of the descendants of
Major Burwell, an old vestryman of the church in King William,
had removed to the neighbourhood of Fincastle. General Breckenridge,
and Watts, who had not forgotten the Church of their
forefathers, were also there. Woodville, son of the old minister
of Culpepper, one of the Taylors from Old Mount Airy, in the
Northern Neck, Madison, son of Bishop Madison, and others who
might be mentioned, were there to encourage the effort at establishing
a church. And yet, on my first visit to that county after
my consecration, only one solitary voice was heard in the responses
of our service.

After some years the Rev. Dabney Wharton, from the neighbouring
county, took Orders and entered on the work of resuscitating
or rather establishing the Church there, and during his residence
in the parish did much to effect it. The Rev. W. H. Pendleton
succeeded him for some years, and, though removing for a time to
another, has returned to a portion of his former field. He was
succeeded by the Rev. Mr. McElroy, in 1847. The Rev. George
Wilmer also spent some years there, first as minister to the whole
parish, and then to a portion of it, which was formed into a distinct
parish, now in the county of Roanoke. New churches have been
erected in each portion,—one at Big Lick, in Roanoke, another at
Fincastle, a third at Buchanon. The Rev. Mr. Baker has for some
years been the minister of the two congregations in Fincastle and
Buchanon. The new church at Buchanon deserves a word of
special notice. It is chiefly the result of female enterprise. A
lady well known in Virginia, who occasionally visited it in the
summer season, fleeing from the sultry heat of Richmond, determined
to effect it by collections, far and near, of only twelve and
a half cents from each contributor, and by dint of perseverance,

succeeded in the course of a few years,—at least, so far as to secure
the object. A neat, well-filled brick church is now to be seen at
Buchanon.

Although there was no church in Rockbridge county in former
times, so far as I am informed, I must not omit to mention a most
successful effort of later years. About the year 1839 or 1840, the
Rev. William Bryant, a native of Virginia, and a graduate of West
Point, who had left the army of his country to enter the army of
the Lord and become one of the great company of preachers, was
induced by his friend, and almost brother, as well as fellow-student
at West Point, Colonel Smith, of the Military Institute at Lexington,
to come and seek to establish an Episcopal church at that
place. Difficult as the work seemed to be, and most doubtful the
success of it, especially to one of so meek and quiet a spirit, and
destitute of those popular talents in the pulpit so much called for
in such positions, he nevertheless, in humble dependence on divine
assistance, undertook the task and succeeded far beyond general
expectation. With generous aids from other parts of the State,
and active exertions on the part of the few friends in Lexington,
a handsome brick church has been built and a respectable though
still a small congregation been collected. The Rev. Mr. Bryant
was succeeded by one of our present missionaries to China,—the Rev.
Robert Nelson,—who, pursuing the same judicious course and putting
forth the same efforts with his predecessor, carried on the work
with the same success, until in the providence of God he was called
to a distant field in which he had long desired to labour. The Rev.
William N. Pendleton has now for some years been labouring as his
successor.

Higher up the valley, in what was once Montgomery county and
parish, but is now not only Montgomery, but Wythe, and Washington,
and others, we cannot read or hear of any effort being
made in behalf of establishing the Episcopal Church until within
the last twenty years, when the Rev. Mr. Cofer was sent as missionary
to Abingdon, in Washington county. Some years after his
relinquishment of the station the Rev. James McCabe occupied it,
and during his stay, I believe, a neat but very small brick church
was put up. He was succeeded for two years by the Rev. Mr. Lee.
It has now for some time been without a minister, though we hope
for better times.

As emigration and natural increase of population shall follow
the railroad up this narrow though fertile valley, and whenever the
mountains on either side shall be cleared of their forests, we may

surely hope better things for our Church. Already are there many
interesting families inheriting an attachment to the Church of their
fathers to be found along the great highway leading through this
part of Virginia and the West. At Wytheville the indefatigable
efforts of a mother and daughter have raised a considerable sum of
money for the erection of a church. The tongue hath spoken, the
pen hath written, and hands have laboured, in the cause, and none
of them in vain. A most eligible sight, at great cost, has been
obtained, and perhaps great progress made in the erection of a
church. Other openings, I am told by those who have made recent
missionary visits to this upper valley of Virginia, are likely to
present themselves. The Rev. Frederick Goodwin has just settled
at Wytheville.