University of Virginia Library

SUSSEX COUNTY.

A few words suffice for Sussex county, and Albemarle parish in
Sussex county. The parish, as has been stated above, was divided
from Lawn's Creek and Southwark parishes in 1738. We have an
old tattered register, which seems to have begun in 1738, and at
the bottom of each page is the name of William Willie, minister.
It continues until 1776 with the same name. I find the name of
William Willie, as its minister, on a list in 1754,—the earliest list to
be found on record. I find it also in a list for 1776 in an old Virginia
almanac. In both instances he is the minister of Albemarle
parish, Sussex. The parish, I doubt not, began and ended with
him, as does the old register, for we hear no more of him or the
parish after the year 1776. It is by far the most particular
register I have ever met with. It states the days on which he
preaches at each of his four churches,—St. Mark's, St. Andrew's,
St. Paul's, and Nottoway, and the number of persons present, and
occasionally other circumstances. It states the births, baptisms,
deaths, marriages, sponsors, names of masters, of bond and free,
black and white. So methodical and pains-taking a man, living for
thirty-eight years among a people (judging from the names in the
register) as respectable as any in Virginia, was, it is to be hoped,
a worthy minister in other respects.

In speaking of the church in Sussex as being born and dying
with Mr. Willie, we do not mean to say that there were no churches
and ministers in that region before,—the contrary being evident,—
but that its separate parochial existence commenced with him and
died with him so far as regular ministerial services were concerned.
Nor do we mean to say that no efforts have been made of late to
resuscitate it. Some years since a new church was erected by the

zeal of a few surviving friends and members of the church, and
the Rev. Mr. Withers, McGuire, and others, have performed
services in it. We hope the ground will never be abandoned, but
that in this and the neighbouring county of Southampton the
twelve churches which once were, but now are not, may in time
have their places supplied by the blessing of God on the labours
of faithful men.