 | The history of Truro Parish in Virginia, |  |
Colchester
As Colchester was a conspicuous feature of
Truro Parish it may be well to record here that it
was established as a Town by Act of Assembly in
1753-4 on 25 acres of land belonging to Peter
Wagener, as being "Very convenient for trade, and
greatly to the ease of frontier inhabitants." The
Trustees and Directors were Peter Wagener,
Daniel McCarty, John Barry, William Ellzey, and
Edward Washington, all Vestrymen of Truro Parish.
1754. Messrs. George Mason, Daniel McCarty,
and Hugh West, who had been appointed to view
the buildings on the Glebe as they progressed,
made a report, showing the manliness of the times,
which some modern Vestries would do well to
imitate. They say the bricks are not fit to be
used, and that the following notice should be given
to Mr. Waite, the undertaker, and his securities:—
"Mr. Waite: The Vestry are of opinion that none
of the bricks of the two first kilns are fit to be
put into the walls of the Glebe House, but that
what is done be pulled down and done with good
bricks and that the cellar windows be done with
good ring oak or locust; and that in case you begin
anew that they will allow you six months further
it."
"Ordered, that the King's Attorney do prosecute
for this Parish."
The Hon. William Fairfax was appointed Vestryman
in the room of Hugh West, deceased. The
Churchwardens were directed to give notice for
the impotent people of the Parish to appear before
the Vestry the following May, and also any person
who will undertake to board them.
September, 1755. The time for processioning
land recurs, and some of the details are given because
they throw light on the history of the Parish.
David Piper, John Hereford, and Marielles
Littlejohn are to procession the several tracts of
land that have their beginnings between Occoquan,
Potomac river, Accotink run and the road
that leads from Hunting Creek through the Glebe
land to Occoquan. John Peak, Daniel French,
John Posey, and Abednego Adams, between Accotink,
Potomac river, Hunting Creek and the
road that leads from Hunting Creek through the
Glebe land. John Dalton, Thomas Harrison, John
Hunter, and Nathaniel Smith, between Hunting
Creek, Potomac river, and the road that leads from
Awbreys ferry to the upper Church and the road
that leads from Cameron to the said Church. Guy
Broadwater, James Robertson and James Donaldson,
between the road that leads from Awbreys
ferry to the upper Church and the road from upper
run to Potomac river, and then down the river to
Awbreys ferry. Lewis Ellzey, James Hawley,
William Adams, and John Ratcliff, between the
road that leads from Cameron to Difficult run,
and up the run and Parish line till the line comes
to the road that leads from Cameron by Capt.
Lewis Ellzeys, and so down the said road to Cameron.
Thomas Shaw, Presley Cox, James Jugo
Dozier, Joseph Stephens, Sampson Demevill, and
John Hampton between the road that leads from
Cameron by Capt. Lewis Ellzeys to the Parish
line, and so down the Parish line to Occoquan
ferry, and then up the road by the Glebe to Hunting
Creek.
Mrs. Sybil West is paid 1800 pounds of tobacco
for elements for the Churches. Wm. Payne and
Henry Gunnell chosen Vestrymen in 1756.
1757. Geo. Wm. Fairfax chosen Vestryman in
the room of his father, Hon. William Fairfax, deceased.[21]
Several parties were paid for attendance
as witnesses in Churchwardens suit against Cole.
1758. John West jun. becomes Clerk of the
Vestry. George Mason, John West and Daniel
to the next Vestry.
1759. Mr. Waite, "tho' often admonished,"
having failed in doing his work at the Glebe buildings
according to agreement, the Vestry take steps
to annul his contract. William Bucklands finally
completes the work and is paid the balance due
Waite. Processioners were again appointed, being
generally those who had served before.
1760 and 1761. We have only the usual routine
Parish items and appropriations for salaries, maintenance
of the poor, Physicians and Lawyers
fees, etc. Mrs. Sybil West's account for elements
for the Holy Communion is about 1100 pounds of
tobacco annually.
William Fairfax was a cousin of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Proprietor
of the Northern Neck, and his agent in Virginia until he
himself came over. He was a Burgess from Prince William Co.
from 1742 until 1744, when he became a member of the Governor's
Council. George William Fairfax was a Burgess from Frederick
Co. from 1752 to 1755, and from Fairfax, 1756-58. He also became
a member of the Council in 1768. He was a half brother of the
Rev. Bryan, Lord Fairfax, afterward Rector of Christ Church,
Alexandria.
| The history of Truro Parish in Virginia, | |