Second series

Introduction

. Fairfax's Grant — The first Settlements -west of the Blue Ridge, in Virginia — Grants to Vanmeter — Joist Hite removes to Virginia — Other Settlers — Frederick County set off — Extracts from the Records of Court PAGE 13-17

Chapter I. The Settlements On The Opequon

Verses by a Young Lady — Visit to the Church and Church-yard — The Early Settlers — Names of Families — Extent of Settlement — Missionaries — First Pastor — Second Pastor — Third Pastor — Inscription on a Tomb-stone — William Hoge — Robert White — Samuel Glass 18-24

Chapter II. Settlements On The Forks Of Shenandoah

Stone Church, Augusta — Grants to Burden and Beverly — Missionaries—Mr. Craig, the first Pastor — His Early Life — Emigrates to America while a Youth — Visits the Triple Forks — His views of the Congregation — His Domestic Arrangements — The old Burying-ground — Epitaphs of the three Ministers 25-34

Chapter III. Tinkling Spring

The Name — John Lewis — Col. Patton — John Preston — John Vanlear — John M'Cuo — James C. Willson 35-39

Chapter IV. Presbytery Of Hanover

— FROM ITS FORMATION TO ITS REMODELLING. Samuel Davies — Effort to remove Jonathan Edwards to Virginia — Formation of Hanover Presbytery — The Records — John Craig — John Todd — Extracts from the Records of the Council of State — Letter to Whitfield — Efforts for a College in Kentucky — Close of Life — Eobert Henry — Origin of Briery Congregation — Anecdote of Mr. Henry — His Death — John Wright — Causes of Toleration John Brown — John Martin — Some Acts of Presbytery 40-58 (v) VI TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter V. New Providence

Origin of the Congregation, from Mr. Houston's Letter — Building the Church — Classical School — Samuel Brown — His Birth — Education — Missionary Tours — Settlement — Labors — Estimation of his Charge — Of his Brethren — His Death 58-71

Chapter VI. Hanover Presbytery From

1758 TO 1770. Henry Pattillo — William Richardson — Andrew Millar — Samuel Black — Hugh M'Aden — Richard Sankey — James Waddell, D. D. — James Hunt — David Rice — Mrs. Samuel Blair's Sketch of Herself — James Creswell — -Charles Cummings — Samuel Leake — David Caldwell — Joseph Alexander — Thomas Jackson — William Irwin — Hezekiah Balch — The Presbytery of Orange formed 72-89

Chapter VII

i TIMBER RIDGE. First Inhabitants — Ephraim M'Dowell — Epitaph — Mary Greenlee — Missionaries — Call to John Brown — His Life and Labors — His Supporters, a list of — List of Subscribers, and the sums given for his support — The Alexander Family — Archibald Alexander 91-104

Chapter VIII. Hanover Presbytery

— FROM 1770 TO FORMATION OF VIRGINIA SYNOD. James Campbell — Samuel Edmundeon — Caleb Wallace — William Graham — James Templeton — Samuel M'Corkle — Samuel Stanhope Smith — John B. Smith — Edward Crawford — Archibald Scott — Samuel Doak — John Montgomery — James M'Connel — Benjamin Erwin — William Willson — James Crawford — Samuel Shannon — James Mitchel — Moses Hoge — John M'Cue — Adam Rankin — Samuel Carrick — Samuel Houston — Andrew M'Clure — John D. Blair. 105-113

Chapter IX. Settlements On The Holston

Letters from Ex-Governor Campbell on the Early Settlements on Holston — Call to Mr. Cummings — Incidents in his Life — The Campbells of Holston — Official Report of the Battle of King's Mountain — The Loss in Campbell's Regiment — Col. Patrick Ferguson — Incidents in his Life 114-133

Chapter X. Rev

MESSRS. JAMES MITCHEL AND SAMUEL HOUSTON, Mr. Mitchel's Appearance- — His Birth and Ancestry — His entrance on the work of the ministry — His Conversion — Visits Kentucky — Is Ordained — Removes to Bedford — The Great Awakening — Anecdote of his preaching in Newmarket — His Preaching — His Sickness and Death. Mr. Houston's birth and education — Journal of his military tour, and his account of the battle of Guilford — Enters the Ministry — Goes to Tennessee — Returns to Virginia — Settles at High Bridge — His Death — His Epitaph 133-149

Chapter XI. The Captivity And Escape Of Mrs

INGLIS, 1756. George Draper emigrates from Pennsylvania — Residence on the Allegheny — Inroads of the Indians — Col. Patton killed — The Family taken Captive — -Go down the Kanawha to Ohio — Goes to the Big Scioto — Her Occupation — Goes to the Big Bone Licks — Escapes with an old Dutch Woman — Her Journey Homewards — Escapes the observation of the Indians in sight — Her Sufferings — The old Woman threatens to kill her — Reaches the Frontier — Is Recognised — Meets her Husband — The Search for her Child — Various Battles •with the Indians — -Her Son, the captive, comes home — -Is Educated — Married — His various removals, and Incidents in his Life 149-159

Chapter XII. Cornstalk

; AND THE BATTLE AT POINT PLEASANT. The Shawanees owned the Valley of the Shenandoah — First known of Cornstalk — His Endowments — An Indian Confederacy — An expedition against them planned — Point Pleasant the rendezvous — Tories collected — Gen. Andrew Lewis to command — -The march down the Kenawha — The approach of the Indians — The spirit of the Soldiers — Cornstalk leads the Indians — The Shawanees — Lewis prepares for Battle — The Fight commences soon after sunrise, and lasts all day — Attacked in the rear, the Indians retreat — The Governor arrests the pursuit — Cornstalk in Conference — Eminent Men in the Battle — Cornstalk visits the Point — Is detained as Hostage — His Son visits him — Is detained — Both Slain » -. 159-168

Chapter XIII. Rev

WILLIAM HILL, D. D. — FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS SETTLEMENT IN WINCHESTER. Birth-place — Education — Loses his Mother — Enters College — A Revival in College — Professes Religion — Is deprived of the use of his income — Revival on Guinea Creek — Mr. Hill lives at Col. Read's — Becomes Candidate for the Ministry — Is Licensed — A Missionary Tour — Interesting Incidents — Ride with Mr. Turner — Sick at Winchester — Second Mission — Visits Richmond — Col. Gordon's — David Smith — Methodist Meeting — Williamsburg— Mr. Holt— Third Mission — Has Cary Allen as his Companion — Goes over to the Holston — Matthew Lyle — Returns and visits the Potomac — Visits the Valley around Winchester — Ordained and settled in Jefferson County — His Endowments to Preach — Is Married — Winchester Presbytery formed 169-190

Chapter XIV. Rev

JAMES TURNER. His Birth-place and Parentage — His Appearance — His Early Habits — Marries — Is Awakened under Mr. Lacy's preaching — The Beefsteak Club — Mr. Turner visits his Mother in distress — Is hopefully Converted — Exhorts in Meetings — The Club broken up — Is taken on trial for Licensure — His Endowments as a Speaker — Co-Pastor with Mr. Mitchel — Anecdote told by his Son — His Appearance at Presbytery — At Synod in Lexington — His Will — His Death 190-201 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. Bethel And Her Ministers

Origin of Bethel — First Pastor, Mr. Cummings — Second Pastor, Mr. Scott His Origin — His entrance to the Ministry — The new Meeting-House — Memorial of Presbytery — The Memorial of Messrs. Smith and Todd — Convention of the Presbyterian Church — Soldiers in the Revolution — -Alarm at the approach of Tarleton — An old Soldier — Sacred Lyric by Davies — Mr. Scott's Appearance — His Preachinf — His Abilities — His Death — His Family — The Exercises — Rev. William M'Pheeters, D. D. — His Origin — His Pious Mother — Her Experience and Death — Letter from Dr. M'Farland — He enters the Ministry — Preaches in Kentucky — In Bethel — Called to Raleigh — Organizes a Church — Resigns the Pastoral Care — His Domestic Relations — A Letter from his Daughter — Death of his Son — His own Death 202-216

Chapter XVI. Archibald Alexander

— HIS LICENSURE AND SETTLEMENT IN CHARLOTTE. His first Ministerial Services — When taken under care of Presbytery — His Trial Pieces — His Companions in Study — His Examinations — Is made Elder — Goes to the Assembly — His visit to Mr. Hoge — His visit to Philadelphia — Graham's Attachment to the Youth — ■ His Trial Sermon for Licensure — His Examination and Licensure in Winchester — His Winter's Work — The attention excited by his Preaching — Becomes a resident in Charlotte — Is ordained — The Copartnership — Materials for Church History — Mrs. Legrand .... 217-223

Chapter XVII. Rev

MESSRS. CARY ALLEN AND WILLIAM CALHOON. Parentage of Allen — His Peculiarities — His Reflections on the Hogs — His commencing a course of Classical Studies — His Comic Power — John Gilpin — His Conversion — Desires the Ministry — Difficulties in the way — Becomes Candidate — Is Delayed — Is Licensed — Goes to Kentucky with Robert Marshall — His Preaching on Silver Creek — Returns to Virginia — Incident in Campbell — Again visits Kentucky — Mr. Calhoon goes in company — Allen's attempt to imitate Calhoon — His Mission in Virginia — Col. Skillern — Sermon at his House — Address to the Negroes — His Interview at a Tavern — Infidelity rebuked in Lexington by him — Letter from Daniel Allen — William Calhoon — His Childhood — Enters College — Takes Allein's Alarm to William Hill — Becomes Candidate for the Ministry — Goes to Kentucky with Cary Allen — Settles in Kentucky — Removes to Virginia — Settles in Albemarle — Removes to Augusta County — His Characteristics — His Interview with William Wirt — Mr. Win's Conversion 223-240

Chapter XVIII. John

H. RICE, D. D. His Birth-place — His Parentage — His Early Training — Loss of his Mother — Makes profession of Religion — His Youthful Studies — Goes to Liberty Hall — Lives with Mr. Baxter at New London — Private Teacher at Malvern Hills — His Improvement and his Trials — Returns Home — His Sickness — Seeks the office of Tutor in College 241-247

Chapter XIX. Messrs

ALEXANDER AND RICE ASSOCIATED IN COLLEGE. Efforts of the Board to get a President — Mr. Alexander declines — Mr. Blair declines — Apply to Mr. Alexander again — He accepts — Removes to College — Rice and Alexander conjoined become lasting Friends — Arrangements for Preaching — Members of Hanover Presbytery — The Charitable Fund — Mr. Rice leaves College — Mr. Alexander visits Ohio — Mr. Speece becomes Tutor — The Subject of Baptism — Estimation of Mr. Rice 248-260

Chapter XX. George

A. BAXTER — FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS RECTORSHIP. Graham, Rice, and Baxter — Baxter's Birth-place and Parentage — Incident in his Early Life — His Teacher, M'Nemara — Member of College — Professes Faith — Mr. Stuart's Letters — Is Licensed — Marries — Col. Fleming — Chosen Rector of Washington Academy, Lexington 260-269

Chapter XXI. Messrs

ALEXANDER AND RICE A SECOND TIME ASSOCIATED AT HAMPDEN SIDNEY. Circumstances — Mr. Alexander goes to Assembly — By the residence of Dr. Waddell — Visits New England — Returns to the College — Becomes Son-in-law of Dr. Waddell — Call to Cumberland — Mr. Rice's Letter to Mrs. Morton — Specimens of Preaching — His Difficulties — Is Married — Becomes Candidate for the Ministry — Is Licensed — Minutes of Presbytery transcribed — Mr. Rice called to Cub Creek — Mr. Tompkins, a Baptist Minister — Second step towards a Theological Seminary — Dr. Alexander's estimation of Mr. Rice at that time 269-280

Chapter XXII. George

A. BAXTER, AND THE AWAKENING AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. Ministers of the Synod of Virginia — Mr. Baxter visits Kentucky — Letter to Archibald Alexander, giving in detail the facts and circumstances of the Revival in Kentucky — Revival in Bedford — Mr. Baxter, with some young people, visits Bedford 280-290

Chapter XXIII. Dr

BAXTER RECTOR AND PRESIDENT. His Income — His Duties in College — The Studies of College — Number of Students completing their Studies — Endowment of the College by the Cincinnati — Name of the Institution changed — Dr. Baxter as President — He is invited to other Institutions — His Domestic Affairs 290-294

Chapter XXIV. Rev

DANIEL BLAIN. Birth-place — Parentage — Childhood — Seeks an Education — Goes to Liberty Hall — Licensed — Is Associated with Mr. Baxter — Is Married X — One of the Committee on the Magazine — His Articles — An Ex tract — His Early Death — Mary Hanna — Letter from S. B. Wilson, D. D.— Matthew Hanna 294-301

Chapter XXV. Dr

RICE RESIDENCE IN CHARLOTTE. Members of the Church — Colored Members — Mr. Rice teaches School — An Incident — Slave Population — Slaves Members, their condition — The Account of them by Rev. S. J. Price — Articles in the Magazine — Donation by Mr. Baker — Collections for a Library — Mr. Alexander removes from Virginia — Dr. Hoge chosen President — Reasons for accepting the Office — Dr. Alexander Moderator of Assembly — His Sermon — A Seminary determined upon — Mr. Rice opens Assembly — His Studies — His Desires — Anecdote of Drury Lacy — Mr. Lacy visits Richmond — Propositions to remove Mr. Rice to Richmond — Situation of Hanover Presbytery 301-310

Chapter XXVI. William Hill In Winchester

1800-1818. Population of Winchester — Unable to agree upon the Candidates — Turn their attention to Mr. Hill — Unanimous Invitation — His Influence — The Situation of the Congregation — A Revival — William Williamson — John Lyle — Mr. Hill's Preaching — His Domestic Engagements — An Incident 310-319

Chapter XXVII. Dr

RICE — HIS RESIDENCE IN RICHMOND. Richmond at the time of his Removal — The Burning of the Theatre — Renewed Efforts to get Mr. Rice to Richmond — He determines to go ■ — Removes to Richmond — Letter to Dr. Alexander — Reception in Richmond — Presbytery in Richmond — Installation Services — Virginia Bible Society — Difficulties to be overcome — An Incident — The Monumental Church — Friendship of Mr. Buchanan — New Church — The Christian Monitor — Death of Mrs. Morton — The last days of Drury Lacy — Application for an Act of Incorporation — Rev. Samuel J. Mills — The Magazine — The Printing Press — The Pamphleteer — The University of Virginia — Josiah Smith — Mr. Chester's Visit — Young Men'sMissionary Society — D. D. — Meeting of General Assembly, 1820 and 1822 — The General Association of Connecticut — Of Massachusetts — Dr. Sprague's Account 319-340

Chapter XXVIII. The Messrs

RANDOLPH. Theodore Tudor becomes a Pupil — Taken Sick — Visited by his Mother — She becomes a Believer — John Randolph of Roanoke — Tudor goes to Harvard University — Leaves College — Visits England, and Dies — Randolph's Letter to Rice — The Trials of John Randolph — His Opinion of Dr. Hoge — Letter to Judge Henry St. George Tucker — Death of Mrs. Randolph 340-349

Chapter XXIX. Rev

CONRAD SPEECE, D. D. — HIS YOUTH AND MINISTRY TO 1820. His Birth-place — Of German Origin — Samuel Brown encourages him — Begins his Classic Education under Mr. Graham — Great Success in Study — Makes profession of Religion — Begins the study of Divinity — Stops his trials on account of difficulty about Baptism — Becomes Tutor at Hampden Sidney — Is Immersed — Returns to the Presbyterian Church, and is licensed to preach — Settles in Maryland — Returns to Virginia — Settles in Powhatan — Removes to Augusta His Journal — His Installation — The case of George Bourne On account of his doings on the subject of Slavery. Mr. Bourne is deposed — The case goes before the Assembly — Back to Presbytery Again to Assembly — The Deposition Confirmed — Mr. Speece's opinions on Slavery > 349-365

Chapter XXX. John

H. RICE, D. D. — HIS REMOVAL TO TRINCE EDWARD Circumstances leading to his removal — The labors and last days of Dr.. Hoge — The estimation in which Dr. Hoge was held — The Assembly founds a Theological Seminary, excited by a memorial from Philadelphia Presbytery, on the proposition of Archibald Alexander — Mr. Hoge's death — Mr. Alexander chosen President of Hampden Sidney College — Mr. J. T. Cushing chosen Professor ■ — The Seminary transferred to Hanover Presbytery — J. H. Rice chosen Professor — He is chosen President of Princeton College — Letter from Dr. Miller — Letter from Dr. M'Dowell — Second Letter from Dr. Miller — Dr. Rice to Dr. Woods— Third Letter from Dr. Miller- Mental Exercises of Dr. Rice — Declines the Presidency of the College — Letter to Dr. Alexander — Death of Mrs. Wood — Fourth Letter from Dr. Miller — Visit to the Eastern Shore — Accepts the Professorship — Visit to the State of New York 365-387

Chapter XXXI. Dr

RICE — HIS ENTRANCE ON THE WORK OF THE PROFESSORSHIP. State of Hanover Presbytery — Of Hampden Sidney — President Cushing — Mr. Rice's situation, by an eye-witness — Mr. Marsh — The Professor's House. — The Inauguration — The first class of Students — Mr. Marsh employed — Funds of the Seminary — A great Southern Seminary — Dr. Alexander's visit — Mr. Roy appointed Agent — Little Scholarship — Funds transferred to the Trustees of General Assembly — The Assembly accepts the keeping of the funds, and takes the oversight of the Seminary — The nine Resolutions — The Synod of Virginia agrees to take the place of the Presbytery — The Synod of North Carolina agrees to join with Synod of Virginia — Dr. Caldwell in debate — Matthew Lyle — -The Episcopal Controversy — Review of Bishop Ravenscroft's four Sermons and his Pamphlet 387-410

Chapter XXXII. Dr

RICE — HIS AGENCIES. Reasons for entering on them — Visits New York in summer of 1827 — Extracts from his Letters — Goes up the North River — Visits Philadelphia in the fall of 1827, and winter of 1827-8 — Mr. Nettleton's visit to Virginia followed by great religious excitements — Dr. Rice's Letters about it — Mr. Goodrich chosen Professor 410-428 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter XXXIII. Last Labors Of Dr

RICE. He preaches the Sermon before the Board of Foreign Missions — James B. Taylor — Dr. Rice's Library bought for the Seminary — Dr. Rice's plan for a full course of study under four Professors — Students reduce the price of board — Dr. Rice states his position — The Boston House — Agency in North Carolina — Hanover Presbytery divided — A Series of Letters addressed to Ex-President Madison — Visit to New York — Goes Home Sick — His last Sermon 428-435

Chapter XXXIV. Last Illness Of Dr

RICE. Confined to his House — Letter to Dr. Wisner — Memorial to the Assembly on Foreign Missions — Its disposition- — Mr. Staunton assists Dr. Rice — Illness increases — Drs. M'Auley and M'Dowell elected Professors — Mr. Ballentine attends upon Dr. Rice — The Closing Scene of his Life — Major Morton — The Burial 435-144

Chapter XXXV. Spirit And Example Of Dr

RICE. 1st. Indefatigable in his Efforts — 2d. Earnest in Intellectual Improvement — 3d. A Friend of the Colored Race — 4th. Was fond of his Pen — 5th. A quick sense of the Ridiculous — 6th. Happy in his Domestic Relations — 7th. Always caring for the Seminary — Letter to Dr. M'Farland — 8th. Excels in the Class Room — 9th. Abundant in Labors — His Resolutions 411 -156

Chapter XXXVI. Dr

BAXTER INAUGURATED PROFESSOR. Chosen Professor — Enters upon the duties of his Office — His Inaugural Address — Dr. Hill's Charge — The State of the Southern Churches 456-463

Chapter XXXVII. Dr

HILL FROM 1818 TO LEAVING WINCHESTER. Domestic Affliction — Winchester, a visit to, in 1853 — Burial of Elizabeth M. Hill — Visit to the Grave-Yards — Daniel Morgan — Gen. Robedeau — Judge White — Various Inscriptions — Dr. Hill finds Trouble — Proposes a renewal of their Covenant to the Church — His habits in Discussions — Some Collisions — Subject of Dancing — Choice of a Successor — A new Church organized — John Matthews, D. D.- — Mr. Riddle settled in Winchester — Is removed to Pittsburg — Dr. Hill resigns his Charge — Removes to Presbytery of West Hanover — To Alexandria — To Winchester 463-480

Chapter Xxxviii. Dr

SPEECE — THE CLOSE OF LIFE. His views of Theological Seminaries — An active friend of the Temperance Cause — State of the Question — Death — Dr. Baxter's opinion of him — New Measures — Dr. Ilendren's opinion of him — His Library — Poetry, the last from his Pen 480-486

Chapter XXXIX. Going Into The Convention

Position of the Southern Churches in regard to matters in Controversy — 1st. Examination of Ministers — 2d. Churches formed on the Plan of Union — Plan of Union — 3d. Case of Rev. Albert Barnes — 4th. Cause of Foreign Missions — Reception and disposition of Dr. Rice's Memorial — Presbytery of Baltimore resolves to engage in Foreign Missions — Western Foreign Missionary Society formed — Report laid before the Assembly, 1832 — Central Board of Foreign Missions — Western Board transferred to Assembly — Not Accepted — Dr. Miller's Letter about Dr. Rice's Memorial — 5th. The Act and Testimony — Against Errors — 6th. The Subject of Slavery — Lastly. A Division of the Presbyterian Church — Position of the Virginia. Synod — Act of the Virginia Synod, adopted at Petersburg — The Virginia Presbyteries determine to go into Convention 486-512

Chapter XL. The Convention Of

1837. The President— Movements of Southern Members — Committee of Business — Resolutions Proposed — Errors Condemned — In Doctrine, Order, and Discipline — Memorial Prepared — Miscellaneous Resolutions 513-520

Chapter XLI. The Assembly Of

1837. Expectation of the Churches — The Opening Services — The Presentation of the Memorial — The Report of the Committee on it — Resolution abrogating the Plan of Union — Debate upon it — Postponement of the Debate on Errors of Doctrine — Resolution for Citation — Debate upon it- — -Messrs. Beman and Plumer — Committee on the State of the Church — The peaceable division of the Church contemplated — The Committee Disagree — Their Reports — Dr. Baxter's Principle on a Constitutional Question — Brought forward in Convention — And in the Assembly — Debate upon its application to the Western Reserve — The Vote — Foreign Missions — Preparations for a Lawsuit — Errors Condemned — Protests Entered — Where they may all be found — Adjournment of the Assembly 521-538

Chapter XLII. The Division Of The Virginia Synod

The Excitement on account of the action of the Assembly — Dr. Baxter's Position and Course — Watchman of the South — Action of the Presbyteries — Action of the Board of Directors of Union Theological Seminary — Resignation of Professors — Position of Drs. Hill and Baxter — Division of Presbyteries, beginning with Abington — Election of new Professors — Records of Hanover Presbytery — Dr. Hodge's and Dr. Hill's History of the Infancy of Presbyterianism in America — Later Researches — The time Makemie came to America — The Separation of the opposing parts of the Synod — Rev. Wm. M. Atkinson — His Labors, Sickness, and Death — His Birth — Entrance on the Ministry — His Lovely Character 538-556 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter XLIII. George

A. BAXTER, D. D. — CLOSING SCENE OF HIS LIFE, Circumstances of his Last Days — Dr. Hendren's estimation of Dr. Baxter — Mr. Bocock's Address — Dr. Baxter's Writings — Mr. Morrison's Letter 556-564

Chapter XLIV. Recollections Sacrament At Monmouth

Dr. Leyburn's Recollections of Mr. Turner — Of Mr. Mitchel — Of Dr. Speece — Of Dr. Baxter — The Sacrament at Monmouth 565-573

Chapter XLV. Rev

CLEMENT READ. His Ancestry — Genealogy of Families — The Carrington Family — Mr. Read's Education — His Wife's Ancestry — His Entrance on the Ministry with the Republican Methodists — Mr. Lacy's Letters about the Union of Denominations- — Mr. Read joins the Presbyterian Church — A Calvinist in Creed — His View of the Duties of the Church — His Habits 573-580

Chapter XLVI. Messrs

LOGAN, BOWYER, AND ANDERSON The Labors of Mr. Logan in the Ministry — Judge Johnston's Letter concerning Col. Bowyer — Mrs. Bowyer— Col. Anderson — His Military Life — His Character 580-586

Chapter XLVII. Fredericksburg John

B. HOGE AND JAMES H. FITZGERALD. Location of the City — Orphan Asylum — First place of worship for the Presbyterians — John Mark — First Presbyterian Minister — Recollections of Fredericksburg — The Worshippers at the Presbyterian Church — The Order at Church — The Meeting of Synod — The Preaching of John B. Hoge — Of Dr. Alexander— Sketch of John B. Hoge — Of James II. Fitzgerald 586-596 SKETCHES OF VIRGINIA.

INTRODUCTION.

. THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA. The first habitations of white men, west of the Blue Ridge in Virginia, designed for a permanent residence, were erected upon the waters that flow into the Cohongorooton, and with it form the Potomac. The grant of the northern neck, to the ancestors of Lord Fairfax, claimed for its western boundary a line from the head-spring of the Rappahannoc, supposed to rise in the Blue Ridge, to the head-spring of the Potomac, supposed to rise in the same ridge, or not far to the west. The Shenandoah, or more probably the Monoccacy, was reckoned the main branch of the Poto mac. As the beauty and fertility of the country, west of the Blue Ridge, became known by hunters and explorers, Lord Fairfax naturally searched for the longest stream that passed through the Blue Ridge at Harper's Ferry, gave the name of Potomac to the Cohongorooton of the aborigines and looked for its head-spring in the distant ridges of the Allegheny.

The name Potomac, became by general use the appellation of the river, that is the dividing line between Maryland and Virginia, from its mouth to its head spring. The western or south-western lines of the grant being ex tended so far into the Alleghenies, Lord Fairfax claimed that ex tensive and fertile country embraced in the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, Frederic, Clarke, Warren, Page, Shenandoah and Hardy. While the claims of Fairfax to this ex tended grant were not admitted in Virginia, or established in En land, warrants for surveying and appropriating extensive tracts, west of the Blue Ridge, were granted, by the governor of Virginia, to enterprizing men, on condition of permanent settlements being made, on portions of the territory covered by the warrants. John and Isaac Vanmeter obtained, from Gov.

Gooch, a warrant for 40,000 acres to be located among the beautiful prairies at the lower THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN end of the valley. This warrant they sold to Joist Hite of Penn sylvania, who proceeded to make locations of the land, and to in duce emigrants from the European nations to take their residence on his grant. Of the streams that water the extensive western section of Fair fax's grant, all of which seek their outlet by the Cohongorooton, at Harper's Ferry, the Opecquon, taking its rise at the base of the North Mountain a few miles west of Winchester, and winding its way through the middle of the valley to the main river Potomac, claims for her banks the honor of the first settlement. The Cedar creek, rising in the same mountain a little farther south, and wind ing across the valley into the Shenandoah, divides the honor with the Opecquon, or claims indisputably the second place.

The Shen andoah claims the third for its banks above its first forks, in the counties of Page, Warren and Shenandoah. About the same time Linvel's creek in Rockingham, in Beverly's grant, was chosen for a settlement. And then in quick succession the adjoining head streams of the Shenandoah and the James, and the waters that run among the Allegheny ridges into the Potomac, and the Potomac itself, were adorned with habitations of white men associated for mutual defence and improvement. A dispute immediately arose between Fairfax and Hite, and other grantees. Fairfax obtained from the crown the establishment of his boundaries, on conditions, — one of which was that the grants already made by the king's officers should remain undisturbed by any claim of Fairfax. Hite was thus confirmed in his grant, and those that bought under him were secured in their possessions.

Fairfax, how ever, pretended that Hite had not fulfilled the conditions of his grants, for besides the grant obtained from the Messrs. Vanmeter, he had with M'Kay, Green and Duff, received warrants to locate 100,000 acres in the bounds of the so called northern neck; and he proceeded to grant away large quantities of the land covered by Hite's warrants. This proceeding led to a lawsuit, which was finally settled in 1786, in favour of Hite. While all that bought under Hite were secured by the compromise with the king, those who bought under Fairfax and settled on Hite's grants, were com pelled by this decision to hold their titles from Hite. The lawsuit alarmed many emigrants, and the hopes of greater security allured them on to the head waters of the Shenandoah, and a large region of country, of which Staunton is near the centre, was occupied more rapidly than the lower end of the valley, unsurpassed as it was in beauty and fertility, and untroubled as a great part of it was by the opposing grants and the lawsuit.

Those that first came into the valley for a residence, were Scotch- Irish, more or less direct from Ireland, through Pennsylvania ; Germans, also through Pennsylvania, more or less direct from the parent land ; and the Quakers or Friends, of English origin, also from the state of Penn, their American founder. A large part of the valley, from the head springs of the Shenandoah to the THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA. Potomac, or Maryland line, a distance of about 150 miles, em bracing ten counties, was covered with prairies abounding in tall grass, and these, with the scattered forests, were filled with pea vines. Much of the beautiful timber in the valley has grown since the emigrants chose their habitations. Joist Hite removed his family to Virginia in 1732, and took his residence on the Opecquon a few miles south of Winchester.