PORTSMOUTH PARISH, NORFOLK COUNTY.
Of this I have rather more information, though no vestry-book
after 1761 affords it.
We have seen that the Rev. Charles Smith was its minister when
he died in 1773. He was succeeded in 1774 by the Rev. William
Braidfoot. He was a native of Scotland, and had not been long
in the ministry when it became evident that war between England
and the Colonies was inevitable; and, as he believed the Colonies
were contending for their just rights, he warmly espoused their
cause, and entered the army as chaplain, continuing to fill that
station until the close of the war, when he returned to Portsmouth
parish, and died at the glebe about the year 1784 or 1785.
Mr. Braidfoot married a Miss Mosely, of Princess Anne, and left
one son, whose descendants are now living in Portsmouth. Mr.
Braidfoot was succeeded by the Rev. Arthur Emmerson, son of
one of the same name who was minister on the Eastern Shore.
The son was minister in Meherrin parish, Greensville, and in
Nansemond, before coming to Portsmouth parish in 1785. He
ministered there from that time until 1801, much esteemed as a
man and minister, though from feeble health unable to lead an
active life. His wife was the widow of the Rev. John Nivison.
He was followed by the Rev. George Young, who continued until
the year 1808 or 1809. After his death or resignation there was
a vacancy until the year 1821, when the present rector, the Rev.
Mr. Wingfield, began his labours in that parish. In the absence
of any vestry-book to supply the names of vestrymen before the
time of Mr. Wingfield, I mention the following names of old
friends of the Church:—Sproull, Chisholm, Agnew, Herbert,
Hansford, Joins, Dyson, Porter, Godfrey, Wilson, Wallington,
Tankard, Parker, Veal, Roberts, Nivison, Marsh, North, Edwards,
Davis, Luke, Cowper, Blow, Braidfoot, Dickson, Thompson, Young,
Kearns, Grew, Garrow, Kidd, Mathews, Brown, Etheridge, Mushrow,
Shelton, Pearce, Satchwell, Milhado, Cox, Butt, Maupin,
Swift.
As to churches, there were three built in Portsmouth parish,—
one in the town of Portsmouth, in 1762, on a lot in the centre of
the town, given by William Crawford, Esq., the original proprietor
of the land on which the town is built; one on the north bank of
the Western Branch, and one near a village called Deep Creek.
The church in Portsmouth was rebuilt and enlarged in 1829, under
the rectorship of Mr. Wingfield. The country churches have long
since fallen into ruins. When the present rector took charge of
the parish, in 1821, the vestry had long since been dissolved, and
the members of the three congregations had united themselves—
as in many other places—with the various surrounding denominations.
A few years since, another congregation was formed in Portsmouth,
a church built, and the Rev. James Chisholm called to be
its rector. After labouring zealously and preaching faithfully and
affectionately for some years, he fell a victim, during the summer
of 1855, to the yellow fever, when, with the spirit of a martyr, he
was nursing the sick and dying of his congregation and of the
town. For the particulars of the life and death and character of
this most talented and interesting young minister of the Gospel, I
refer my readers to the Memoirs of the Rev. James Chisholm, by
his particular friend and former parishioner, Mr. Conrad, of Martinsburg,—a
biography which for thrilling interest is not easily
surpassed. For the biography of his brother and companion in
toils and sufferings and death, the Rev. William Jackson, the
minister of St. Paul's, Norfolk, I refer in like manner for a faithful
sketch of him to the work of the Rev. Mr. Cummings.
I now add, what was omitted in the proper place, that it was to
the labours of the Rev. Mr. Boyden, during the rectorship of Dr.
Ducachet in Christ Church, that the congregation of St. Paul's
owed its revival after a long, deathlike slumber. Its life was continued
and its energies increased under his successor, the Rev. Mr.
Atkinson. The Rev. B. M. Miller, who followed him, increased it
still more, especially by his attention to the poor. The Rev. Mr.
Caldwell was doing a good work, when failing health required his
withdrawal. The Rev. Joseph Wilmer and Leonidas Smith had
each rendered temporary services, not to be regarded as those of
regular pastors, as had also the Rev. R. K. Meade; but it was
reserved for the Rev. William Jackson and his faithful and
acceptable services to fill the church to such overflowing that it
was evident, if his life had been spared, a new and larger church
would have been built for him. His successor is the Rev. Mr.
Okeson.
