A LIST OF THE MINISTERS OF THE PARISH.
In 1677, Rev. Thomas Vicaris, who continued until his death in
1697, when the Rev. Joseph Holt was employed as a temporary
supply. In 1700, Rev. George Young was elected upon the nomination
of Governor Nicholson; he remained only a few months, when
the Rev. Emanuel Jones was chosen, who served until his death, in
the year 1739. Rev. John Read supplied the pulpit until the return
of Mr. Ford. In 1741, Robert Yates, a member of the congregation,
was sent to England for Orders. He continued the minister until his
death, in 1761. In 1762, Rev. James Horrox served in the place
of Mr. James Maury Fontaine, who had been sent to England for
Orders. In 1764, the Rev. James M. Fontaine was the minister
for a few months, and removed to Ware parish. The vestry then
elected one of their own body, Captain Charles Minn Thruston,
who went to England for Orders. In 1767, Rev. Charles M. Thruston;
he served until the year 1768, when he resigned. In 1768,
Rev. Arthur Hamilton: no mention of him after this year. 1776,
1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, supposed to be vacant. In 1782,
Rev. Thomas Price: not known how long he served. In 1790,
Rev. James Elliott. In 1791, Rev. James Fontaine was elected as
weekly lecturer; in 1792, Rev. Thomas Hughes. Mr. Hughes
was a member of the congregation, and ordained by Bishop
Madison.
We make the following significant extract from the vestry-book.
It has reference to one who had been the minister of the parish for
many years:—"Ordered, that Mr. Vicaris, the present minister,
continue in his charge and exercise his ministerial functions until
the next shipping, in hopes of his future amendment, he declaring
his willingness then to leave the place if not approved by the precinct
and vestry." He became a reformed man, and was minister
for some years. (By the next shipping was meant the next importation
of ministers from England.) On agreeing with a clergyman it
was ordered, "That he, the said clergyman, will behave himself in
his ministerial function upon all occasions."
The site of this church, now only marked by a few ancient tombs,
is claimed as private property. The glebe was sold under the law
of 1802. No information is possessed by the author concerning the
plate. The sermons of the Rev. Robert Yates were found in the
library of Mr. John Randolph, and were sold and purchased with
other books and manuscripts.[92]
Vestry of Petsworth Parish.
John Buckner, Robt. Lee, Thomas Royston, Philip Lightfoot, William
Thornton, Thomas Pate, William Pritchet, John Ascough, William Throckmorton,
William Hansford, Thomas Ramsey, Thomas Miller, Richard
Barnett, Ralph Greene, Robert Carter, Charles Roan, William Thornton,
Jr., Robert Cobb, Edward Porteus, William Grymes, Thomas
Buckner, James Dudley, John Evans, Colquit Wyatt, Robert Yeardley,
Captain John Smith, Richard Stignor, William Barnard, William Brooking,
Thomas Cook, Nicholas Smith, David Alexander, William Dodsley,
William Upshaw, John Pate, Robert Porteus, John Pratt, John Coleman,
Albion Throckmorton, Augustine Smith, Philip Smith, Richard Seaton,
Henry Willis, Francis Wyatt, Thomas Green, Thos. Booth, Sr., Bayley
Seaton, Thomas Stubbs, Francis Thornton, John Read, John Washington,
William Miller, Thomas Green, Captain John Alexander, Seth Thornton,
Samuel Buckner, Mr. John Throckmorton, Thomas Booth, John Royston,
David Alexander, George Reade, Gwynne Read, Bayley Seaton, Warner
Washington, John Stubbs, James Carter, James Hubard, Edward Wyatt,
John Shirmon, William Thornton, Richard Jones, Peter Kemp, Francis
Stubbs, Ludwell Grymes, John Wyatt, John Scott, Geo. Booth, John
Buckner, Chas. Minn Thruston, John Roots, Alexander Dalgleish, James
Hubard, Jr., Henry Whiting, Richard Taliafero, Lewis Booker, William
Duval, John Fox, Captain John Hubard, Jonathan Watson, Sterling
Thornton, Peter Wyatt, Wm. Sears, Robert Yates, Charles Tompkins, M.
Anderson, Benjamin Dabney, James Baytop, Lewis Booker, Jr., Christopher
Garland, Meaux Thornton, Major John Hughes, William Booth,
Francis Duval, Lewis Wood. [The remainder torn out.]
