University of Virginia Library

Deed for Washington's Pew

The Deeds, nine in number, for the pews sold
in Pohick Church, including that for the Minister's
pew, are recorded in full in the records of the
Clerk's Office of Fairfax County. Bishop Meade
says they are probably the first of the kind ever
executed in Virginia, as he had met with no hint
of any such thing before in all his researches. The
Deed for Washington's pews is as follows:

"This Indenture, made the twenty fourth day
of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand,
seven and seventy four, between the Vestry
of Truro Parish, in the County of Fairfax, of the
one part, and George Washington, of the same
parish and county, Gent: of the other part: Whereas
the said Vestry did, on the 5th. 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 Parish
Levy on the 20th. day of November, in the same
year; and the said George Washington, party to
these presents, then purchased one certain pew in

the said Church for the price of sixteen pounds
current money, to wit the pew numbered 28, situate
between the two long Isles and adjoining the
North Isle and the space before the Communion
Table, and a certain Lund Washington, Gent; did
at the same time purchase another certain pew in
the said Church for the price of thirteen pounds
ten shillings, current money, to wit, the pew numbered
29 situate between the two long Isles and
adjoining the North Isle & the first mentioned
pew, & whereas the said Lund Washington hath
since relinquished and given up all his right and
title to the said pew numbered 29 purchased by
him as aforesaid unto the said George Washington,
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 sum of twenty nine pounds ten
shillings current money, to them in hand paid, for
the use of the said Parish, by the said George
Washington, 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 George Washington the said
two pews 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 two pews above described unto the said
George Washington, his heirs and assigns, to the
only proper use and behoof of him, the said George
Washington, 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 George Washington,
his heirs and assigns, that he the said George
Washington, his heirs and assigns, shall and may
forever hereafter peaceably and quietly have, hold
and enjoy the said two pews 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.

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
Wm. Triplett, Wm. Payne, Jr., John Barry, John
Gunnell, Thomas Triplett.

• G. Mason (Seal)
• Daniel Mc.Carty (Seal)
• Alex. Henderson (Seal)
• T. Ellzey (Seal)
• Thos. Withers Coffer (Seal)
• Thos. Ford (Seal)
• Pet: Wagener (Seal)
• Martin Cockburn. (Seal)

"Received this twenty fourth day of February in
the year 1774, of the within named George Washington
the sum of twenty nine pounds, ten shillings,
current money, being the consideration mentioned
in the within Deed."

"Witness:" (The same signatures as above.)

Each Vestryman signed every Deed but his
own, Washington's name always being second, except
on the Deed to "George Mason of Gunston
Hall," where it is first.

Pohick Church in the Olden Time