 | The history of Truro Parish in Virginia, |  |
The Rev. Lee Massey, Second Rector
At this same meeting of the Vestry the following
action was taken: "Whereas Mr. Lee Massey,
an Inhabitant of this Parish, having this day
offered to supply the place of a Minister therein,
and the Vestry being of opinion that he is a person
well qualified for the sacred function, have agreed
to recommend him to the favour of His Grace the
Bishop of London and of the Governor of this
Colony, for an Introduction to this said Parish,
and to receive him upon his return properly qualified
to discharge the said office."
"In consequence of the aforesaid Resolve a
Recommendation to his Lordship the Bishop of
London, and an address to his Honour the Governor
of this Colony in favour of Mr. Lee Massey
being made out, are ordered hereafter to be recorded."
"At a Vestry held for Truro Parish in the
County of Fairfax and Colony of Virginia, the
fourth day of February in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and sixty six.
To His Grace the Bishop of London.
Whereas Mr. Lee Massey purposes to enter into
holy Orders and hath applied to this Vestry for
their Recommendation to his Grace the Bishop of
London and to his Honour the Governor of Virginia
and offers and engages so soon as he shall
be properly Ordained to return to Virginia and
receive and accept of this Parish of Truro now
vacant by the death of the late Rector, the Reverend
Mr. Charles Green, Provided we will keep the
same vacant for him during our right of Patronage,
or the Governor will be pleased to induct him
into it, if the Vestry's right of Patronage is expired
when he returns. And the said Lee Massey
having lived several years amongst us and his
moral Character and unexceptionable Life and
Conversation being well known to most of us, we
beg leave to recommend him to his Grace the
Bishop of London as a Person well qualified for
the Sacred Function, and also to the Favor of the
this Colony, and humbly entreat him to induct the
said Mr. Lee Massey into this Parish of Truro in
case he should return after the expiration of our
right of Patronage, On which condition we do
hereby agree and oblige ourselves to keep the said
Parish vacant accordingly, and to receive and provide
for the said Mr. Lee Massey as Rector thereof
according to the Laws of this Colony.
In Testimony whereof we being Vestrymen of
the said Parish of Truro, (and all that are now
present,) have hereunto set our hands the day and
year above written.
| Edwd. Payne | Go. Washington |
| Daniel Mc.Carty | Go. Wm. Fairfax |
| A. Henderson | William Gardner |
| Thos. Withers Coffer | Thos. Ford |
| William Linton | |
| Copy. John Barry, Clk. Vestry. |
Fairfax County, Truro Parish, Feby. 4th, 1766.
Sir,
We the Vestry of Truro Parish beg leave to
recommend to yr. Honour's Notice and Favour,
the Bearer, Mr. Lee Massey, who has an Intention
of entering into holy Orders, provided he can
have a certainty of this Parish, and as his Character
and Personal Merit is well known to us, we
are very desirous of receiving him, and have given
him the best Title in our Power. But it being
while the Parish remains in our disposal, we most
earnestly recommend him to your Honour's good
offices herein, and if you will be pleased to favour
him with an Induction or Presentation to this
Parish, in case he returns after the Expiration of
our right, we will engage to keep the same vacant
for him as long as it is in our power.[26] An answer
will very particularly oblige,—Your Honour's
most obedt. humble Servants.—
| Edwd. Payne | Go. Washington |
| Daniel Mc.Carty | Go. Wm. Fairfax |
| A. Henderson | William Gardner |
| Thos. Withers Coffer | Thos. Ford |
| William Linton |
To the Hon.ble Francis Fauquier Esqr. Lieut.
Governor of Virginia.
Copy.
Test John Barry Clk. Vestry.
At a Vestry held July 10th, 1766, there were
present as above with the addition of Col. George
been previously directed to enquire into certain
deficiencies in the work ordered done on the Falls
Church in 1763, reported that he had applied to
the persons formerly appointed to view this work
and they had denied having had any orders to view
the same and refused to concern themselves.
Whereupon it was ordered that Thomas Price
view the work and report what deficiencies appear
therein, that Mr. Payne attend as representative
of this Vestry and request the Fairfax Vestry to
appoint a workman and one of their members to
attend the view on behalf of their Parish. Tobacco
on hand was ordered to be sold at July and August
Courts.
At the regular meeting in November the Parish
Levy was laid, amounting to 55,860 pounds of
tobacco; of which 35,000 was for "building
Churches." Col. George Washington and Mr.
William Gardner were appointed Church Wardens
for the ensuing year, and were ordered to
receive the money due from George Washington,
Geo. Wm. Fairfax, Capt. McCarty and William
Payne, former Church Wardens, and pay Edward
Payne what was due to him. Mr. Gardner was
also appointed Collector.
1767. February 23d. At a Vestry held this day
there were present George Washington Esqr. and
Mr. William Gardner, Church Wardens, and
Messrs. Mason, Payne, Posey, McCarty, Henderson,
to an Act of the General Assembly entitled
an Act to empower the Vestry of Truro Parish in
the County of Fairfax to sell their Glebe and
Church Plate—Ordered that the said Glebe and
Church Plate be sold at Public Vendue on Friday
the 22d of May next. The sale to be upon the
premises, and the Purchaser or Purchasers to be
allowed eighteen months credit, giving bond with
good security."
The Church Wardens were ordered to employ
a Surveyor to run the lines of the Glebe land and
to make a plot thereof. Also to advertise the
same with a proper description of land and improvements,
and the Church plate, in the Virginia
and Maryland Gazettes.
"The Rev. Lee Massey having produced to this
Vestry a presentation to the Rectory, Benefice and
Cure of this Parish under the hand of Francis Fauquier
Esqr. Lieutenant Governor &c. of Virginia
and under the Seal of the Colony, dated January
the I4th. 1767, Ordered that the said Lee Massey
be accordingly received into this Parish as Minister
thereof, and be provided for pursuant to the
Laws of this Colony." Mr. Massey was also allowed
"the Annual Sum of 4000 pounds of tobacco
in lieu of a Glebe until one is purchased."
James Wren and Thomas Price, the workmen
appointed to view the work done to Falls Church,
reported that there appeared to be a deficiency
sixpence. The Church Wardens were ordered
to "apply to Maj. Charles Broadwater (the Undertaker
of the said work) for the said sum and account
with the Vestry of Fairfax Parish for their
proportion of the same when it is received."
"Ordered that a Vestry House be built at the
new Church of the dimensions and in manner
following Vizt. of Brick, twenty by sixteen feet,
with a large inside chimney, nine feet pitch from
the Foundation, with Brick or Tile floor, covered
with Cypress Shingles, Ceiling and Walls Plaistered
and whitewashed, one pannell Door in the
broad side, with a Sash Window with twelve
Lights and pannel Shutters opposite. Barge
board and Cornis. The Barge boards and Cornis,
Door Window and Shutters to be painted, a Lock
to the Door. The said House to be furnished with
a Table and three Benches, for making which and
the Cornis the Undertaker to be allowed a sufficiency
of Planks out of the Parishes Plank now in
Samuel Littlejohn's Tobacco House." All was to
be finished by Christmas, and Edward Payne undertook
the work for Fifty one pounds ten shillings,
current money.
The Vestry met again on May 22d., the day of
the sale, at the Glebe. Present, Rev. Lee Massey,
Minister, George Washington and William
Gardner Church Wardens, and Messrs. Mason,
Payne, Mc.Carty, Posey and Linton.
"Mr. Thomazen Ellzey having returned a Plott
of a Survey made of the Glebe Land, pursuant to
a former order of the Vestry, containing three
hundred eighty five Acres and an half only, which
said Quantity of Land being exposed to sale to
the highest Bidder was purchased by Daniel
Mc.Carty Gent. at the price of Three hundred and
twenty two pounds Virginia Currency, who gave
his Bond with Mr. Richard Chichester his Security
for the same, payable eighteen months hence,
to George Washington and William Gardner,
Church Wardens, for the Use of this Parish."
"The Church Plate being also exposed to sale,
was purchased by the said Daniel Mc.Carty, at
the price of Twenty six pounds, Virginia Currency,
for the Use of the Parish."
The Vestry met again July 25th, 1767. Present,
Col. Washington and Mr. Gardner, Church
Wardens, and Messrs. Payne, Mc.Carty, Fairfax,
Henderson, Ellzey and Linton. George Washington
and George William Fairfax exhibited accounts
of tobacco levied in 1763, and the sale
thereof and payments made to Edward Payne.
Account received and approved. Mr. Payne exhibited
similar accounts of tobacco levied in 1765,
and of money received by him for building the
new Church and the balance still due, which were
approved. Tobacco in the hands of William Gardner,
Collector, ordered sold. Balance due Mr.
Payne on second payment for the Church to be
the Collector's hands, he giving bond with fresh
security for its payment when demanded.
Col. George Mason, Capt. McCarty, Mr. Ellzey
and Mr. Linton appointed to view the new Vestry
House, and if they receive the same the Collector
to pay Mr. Payne the contract price.
"George William Fairfax Esqr. having consented
to import for the Use of this Parish (at the
Risque of the Parish) two folio Prayer Books and
a Quarto Bible, Ordered that upon receipt thereof
the Church Wardens for the time being pay him
for the same, if they have so much money in their
hands."
Orders for Processioning:—James Halley Sen,
and Moses Simpson, between Occoquan, the Ox
road and the County line. George Simpson and
William Keen, between the Ox road and the Back-lick
road from the Parish line down to the road
that leads from Cameron by the Glebe to where
it crosses Pohic, below Robert Boggess'. William
Triplett and Joseph Cash, between the Back-lick
road, the Parish line, Potowmack river and
Pohic Creek.
On September 28th, 1767, the Vestry met for
the fifth time during this fiscal year. Present,
Rev. Lee Massey, Washington, Gardner, Mason,
Posey, Payne, Coffer, Ellzey and Ford. The minutes
recite several former orders for the sale of
tobacco and payments to be made by the Collector,
one sale of 15,000 pounds to Mr. Hector
Ross, for which his note was now given to the
Church Wardens; it was ordered that Mr. Ross
pay Mr. Payne what was due him on the second
payment for the Church and for the Vestry House
when it should be received by the viewers. And
the Collector was to account with the Vestry at
its next meeting for the tobacco remaining in his
hands.
These letters recall the old contest between the Governors and
the Vestries in regard to the right of presentation and the induction
of Ministers into the Parishes. The early Governors claimed
the right of Patronage as the representatives of the Crown, and in
some instances sought to exercise it by forcing unwelcome Ministers
upon certain Parishes. But the claim, or at least its enforcement,
was vigorously resisted. Many of the Vestries adopted the plan of
electing their Ministers year by year, thus avoiding a vacancy but
saving the risk of having an inefficient or unworthy Minister saddled
upon them and drawing his legal salary for life. A law passed
in 1748 declared the sole right of presentation to remain in the
Vestry for twelve months after a vacancy occurred. After that it
was supposed to rest with the Governor. This is the law the Vestry
here had in mind. Fortunately the Vestry of Truro was saved
from all trouble in respect to their Ministers by being able to choose
good men already known to them and sending them to England
for orders.
| The history of Truro Parish in Virginia, | |